Top 7 Back To School Movies

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I can't believe it's already August with September quickly approaching! That means school is back in session all over the country. Soon, the air will begin to chill and the breeze will blow. New book bags, freshly sharpened pencils, and scary new teachers mark the beginning of a new semester for everyone from kindergarten to grad school.

These movies may not all literally be about school, but they still capture the vibe of this time of year.

[Disclaimer: I know there are plenty of college party movies out there, but none of them fit the spirit of this collection. That's a different type of list for a different time.]

1. Clueless (1995)
Harkening back to an age of hackey sacks and ska, Clueless is a coming-of-age story in the 90s. Hilarious and fun, it stars the late Brittany Murphy, Alicia Silverstone, Donald Faison of Scrubs fame,  and a much younger Paul Rudd. As IF!

2. Mean Girls (2004)
Now a whole decade old, I would argue that this is a modern teen comedy classic. It was written by Tina Fey, and she was just getting started in the whole thing of writing feature films. Lindsey Lohan is enjoyable and perfect as Cady.  A great back-to-school pic.

3. Monsters University (2013)
This movie was sadly overshadowed by that other Pixar movie about the snow. Even though Monsters University is a sequel / prequel, I think its exceptionally creative and fun. If you never saw it, or only saw it once, give it another chance. It's a wonderful and family-friendly celebration of being who you are, pursuing education, friendship, and monsters.

4. You've Got Mail (1998)
Behold, the late 90s! This charming and sweet rom-com was a potent combination of Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan. The internet technology is charmingly dated, but not absurdly ancient. It's a lot of fun watching Hanks and Ryan discover each other in this great Nora Ephron late summer / early fall romance flick.

5. Coach Carter (2005)
Yeah, it's kind of cliche melodrama about "saving" the inner-city kid. But, I still really like the positive message, the basketball drama, and Samuel L. Jackson. And, it's based on a true story.

6. Disturbia (2007)
Pre-crazy Shia LaBeaouf is teenager Kale Brecht, who starts the summer off in some hot water. What unfolds is a surprisingly entertaining thriller about paranoia, danger, and trust.

7. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007)
I love Harry Potter, and this installment of the series deals with some "school" issues. Harry and friends face Dolores Umbridge, a new professor at Hogwarts who has been sent to teach the dark arts. However, she teaches the watered-down generic version, so Harry has to take control of his own education.





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