Every great movie and TV show about teenagers has three things in common. Firstly, they're all rich in relatable-yet-universal detail. Even if something clearly isn't based on reality, it's obvious that it has been made by someone who has invested their own high school experience into every second. Secondly, they each transport the audience back to their own time walking the corridors, wishing they didn't have so many textbooks to cart around and living life by the bell. And, last but not least, every one resonates not only with viewers who are still catching the school bus at present, but also with everyone who has been there, done that and kissed it all goodbye.
Plenty of flicks and programs have fit the above description over the years, with high school-set fare comprising its own genre. If getting transported back to your adolescence is your idea of a great day or night on the couch, we've teamed up with streaming service Binge to pick five must-watch options that'll do just that — including via a 14-day free trial for new customers.
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When the 2020 Emmy Awards handed out its gongs, a big upset hit the Lead Actress in a Drama category. Zendaya got the nod, and became its youngest-ever winner in the process. Of course, anyone who has watched Euphoria wasn’t shocked at all. Playing Rue Bennett, a high schooler who has long tried to self-medicate her way out of her struggles, she’s fantastic. She’s also a major reason that the show’s eight-episode first season quickly proved such a hit — and that the series will not only return for a second season, but is also dropping two specials in the interim.
A sex-, drug-, lust- and love-fuelled teen drama mightn’t sound like HBO’s usual wheelhouse; however, fans of the US network already know one key truth: that it rarely puts a foot wrong. Not only is Euphoria vivid, energetic and dazzling to look at, but it’s unflinchingly honest, raw and authentic as it follows Rue and her friends as they navigate their turbulence of being teenagers.
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In 2018’s Skate Kitchen, filmmaker Crystal Moselle let audiences air and ollie through New York, with the entrancing and often dreamlike teenage drama stepping inside an all-female skateboarding crew. Even better: it was based on a real-life group of the same name, and starred its members. Now, because this story just keeps getting better, the director has brought all of the above back for TV spinoff Betty.
You don’t need to have seen the film to enjoy this slice-of-life look at these girl skaters’ lives, however. All you need is a couple of hours to watch these young women hit their boards, navigate the normal adolescent experiences, and cope with all the ups and downs of trying to literally glide through a male-heavy realm. And, to simply enjoy spending time with these friends — because Moselle is particularly skilled at making her viewers feel like they’re part of the gang.
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Wrapping up high school with the party to end all parties is a rite of passage. Watching movies about the experience has become one as well. Most of their classmates would’ve pegged Booksmart‘s Amy (Kaitlyn Dever) and Molly (Beanie Feldstein) for preferring the latter over the former — but, on the night before graduation, after buckling down, studying hard and getting great grades for their entire lives, these two besties are determined to treat themselves to one stereotypically OTT night out before heading off to college.
Making her directorial debut, actor-turned-filmmaker Olivia Wilde might have chosen a familiar narrative; however, absolutely nothing about this affectionate and engaging instant-classic teen flick ever feels routine. That includes the genuine rapport between its delightful stars as their characters let loose, and learn plenty about each other and themselves across the course of the wild evening.
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It made stars out of Adam Brody, Rachel Bilson, Mischa Barton and Ben McKenzie. It made everyone want to visit Orange County. And, in perhaps its longest-lasting effect, it also ensured that everyone would always sing the word ‘California’ in their heads in exactly the same way as the show’s earworm of a theme tune (as you are right now after simply reading this sentence).
We’re talking about The OC, of course, which sits alongside Beverly Hills, 90210, Dawson’s Creek and Gossip Girl as a teen TV drama all-timer. The 2003–7 show might’ve only run for four seasons, but its culture clash-driven setup — sparked by the adoption of a troubled teen by a wealthy family — and heightened adolescent antics had a hefty impact. If you’ve ever celebrated Chrismukkah, you know what we’re talking about.
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The 80s were a booming time for teen movies, but one film from the era will always stand out from the crowd. Like protagonist, like picture, clearly. Ferris Bueller (Matthew Broderick) might be the most popular student at his suburban Chicago high school, but he’s not one for blending in — even when he’s skipping school with his anxiety-riddled best friend Cameron (Alan Ruck) and laidback girlfriend Sloane (Mia Sara), all while their principal is on their tail.
Almost 35 years since it first reached cinemas, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off has become not just a classic but an iconic flick — and, no matter how many times you rewatch it, it’s easy to see why. Written and directed by the great John Hughes (Sixteen Candles, The Breakfast Club), it’s as amusing as it is entertaining. And yes, it’ll have you wanting to sing ‘Twist and Shout’ in a parade.