Roll Credits: The Best Films to Celebrate Graduation Season
Movies that capture that end-of-an-era vibe!
Class dismissed! Or is it? Graduation season is a great setting for a movie because the end of school is a great time to reassess priorities and take big chances. There are high stakes all around: who is taking who to prom? What is everyone doing next? Is this your last chance to talk to a person who you never got to know but wanted to? Is this the last time characters will all be together or will they go their separate ways? And either way: will they stay friends? Graduation is both a beginning and an ending, so it’s a perfect place for storytelling. We put together a list of some of our favorite graduation-themed films!
Can’t Hardly Wait
What’s a better graduation movie than one that is about the most epic graduation party ever? Can’t Hardly Wait (1998) is a teen comedy that captures the chaos and excitement of the quintessential “last party,” where a group of classmates confronts unspoken crushes, lingering regrets, and the thrill of new beginnings. Here, everyone is invited and co-mingling: the nerds, jocks, popular and unpopular kids are all blurring the lines of the designated social silos that have guided their high school experience. With nothing to lose, lovestruck Preston is going to tell his dream girl Amanda that he’s been in love with her for years, and the entire film centers around this quest. But other kids’ lives change as well as they step out of their comfort zones for one night only. With its ensemble cast and nostalgic ‘90s soundtrack (featuring Third Eye Blind’s “Graduate” of course), the film perfectly encapsulates the bittersweet moment of leaving adolescence behind.
Booksmart
Like Can’t Hardly Wait, Booksmart (2019) is a sharp, hilarious coming-of-age film also about the epic last night of high school. Two overachieving best friends feel that while their academics were fantastic they missed out on some key high school experiences, and they have one night to catch up. They try to cram four years of missed high school shenanigans into one wild night before graduation. The movie is hilarious with clever dialog but it’s also a deep celebration of friendship, and captures the pressure and excitement of transitioning into adulthood. It’s a great graduation movie because it reminds us that success isn’t just about academics—it’s also about the memories we make, the risks we take, and the people we grow with along the way.
High School Musical 3: Senior Year
Viewers of a certain age fell in love with High School Musical and its sequel which aired on the Disney Channel and launched the careers of Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens. For the third and final movie, a theatrical release was planned given its successful predecessors. High School Musical 3: Senior Year (2008) follows Troy, Gabriella, and their friends as they face the end of high school and the tough choices that come with growing up. All the kids are signed up for the spring musical, which will be called Senior Year. What follows is a meta-narrative as the gang faces issues that come up in the musical itself, such as who they’re taking to prom. And Gabriella, accepted into an honors program, leaves high school prematurely and almost misses out on all the fun. But with energetic musical numbers and heartfelt moments, the film captures the excitement of graduation and moving onto the next phase of life. At the end of the movie, the seniors graduate, taking final bows–literally–as it marks the end of the High School Musical era.
Dazed and Confused
Dazed and Confused (1993) is a cult classic: It’s the last day of high school in 1976, and the film follows a group of high school students as they celebrate, rebel, and navigate teenage life. While there’s no central protagonist, the film follows several groups of interconnected social spheres. With its laid-back vibe, iconic soundtrack, and memorable characters, the film captures the spirit of youth and the freedom that comes with the end of a school year, including a bit of reckless behavior and partying. It's a great graduation movie because it embraces the uncertainty of the future while celebrating the wild, fleeting moments that define growing up.
10 Things I Hate About You
Based on Shakespeare’s Taming of the Shrew, 10 Things I Hate About You (1999) is a witty and charming teen romance that reimagines the play in a high school setting. The rebellious senior Kat Stratford is bitter and seems to dislike almost everyone, but her bubbly younger sister Bianca isn’t allowed to date until she does. Kat has more on her mind than boys, like convincing her father to let her go to Sarah Lawrence for college. New student Cameron has his eye on Bianca, but is warned by a friend that the only way to make it happen is to have someone charm Kat first. Enter the mysterious Patrick Verona, who the boys bribe to take Kat out on a date. Despite the setup Patrick and Kat find a real connection, and her edges soften. And when she finds out about the scheme, everyone’s world might come crashing down–but not before everyone gets to go to prom. With its sharp dialogue, memorable performances, and emotional depth, the film explores themes of identity, love, and self-discovery. It's a great graduation movie because it highlights the importance of staying true to yourself while embracing change—perfect for anyone standing at the edge of a new beginning.
Lady Bird
Lady Bird (2017) is a heartfelt coming-of-age film that follows a strong-willed teenager navigating her final year of high school. Christine, who calls herself Lady Bird, has big dreams of attending college on the east coast, but doesn;t have the financial means to escape her Sacramento existence. She has a specifically turbulent relationship with her mother, and their conflict centers around her desire to find her own identity. Lady Bird’s last year of high school is a whirlwind, and she finds herself in the school play, with a new boyfriend, and meeting new friends at a new job. Set against the backdrop of college applications and big life changes, it beautifully captures the emotional intensity of growing up. It’s a great graduation movie because it speaks to the struggles and hopes of leaving home, one’s parents, finding your place in the world, and learning to appreciate where you came from.
She’s All That
In the late 90s classic movie She’s All That (1999), popular high school senior Zack has a bright future ahead: he’s an athlete, top of his class, and can have anything he wants. He makes a misguided bet with a classmate to turn shy, artistic classmate Laney into prom queen in a matter of weeks. Laney and Zack start to hang out, and they unexpectedly fall for each other. But the secret of his bet and the reason they started talking in the first place hangs over Zack, as well as his desire to pursue a different path after graduation than the one that’s expected of him. With its mix of humor, transformation, and heart, the film captures the highs and lows of teenage identity and love. It’s a great graduation movie because it highlights the journey of seeing people—and yourself—more clearly before stepping into adulthood, reminding us that growth often comes from the most surprising places.
Pretty in Pink
We couldn’t put together a graduation movie list without including a John Huges classic. Pretty in Pink (1986) is a beloved teen drama that follows Andie, a smart and independent high school senior, as she navigates love, class differences, and self-worth in the lead-up to prom. Andie has the best of best friends in the eccentric Ducky who she sometimes underappreciates in her quest to be noticed by the (rich) guy of her dreams. But in the end she realizes that being herself, and looking toward the people that love her the most, is the best way to align her priorities–and this might mean she gets everything she wants. With its iconic fashion, emotional depth, and unforgettable soundtrack, the film captures the complexities of teenage life and the desire to stay true to yourself. And who could forget this iconic dance? It’s a great graduation movie because it celebrates individuality, resilience, and the courage to forge your own path as you prepare to leave high school behind.
Say Anything
The last summer after high school feels like a hiatus before real life begins, so it is the perfect time to throw caution to the wind and lay your heart on the line–didn’t we all learn that from John Cusack? Say Anything (1989) is a heartfelt romantic drama that follows Lloyd Dobler, an underachieving but sincere teen, as he pursues a relationship with Diane Court, the class valedictorian, during the summer after their high school graduation. With its iconic boombox scene and emotionally honest storytelling, the film explores love, ambition, and the uncertainty of the future. There is a great deal of vulnerability and hope when stepping into adulthood right after graduation, and this movie reminds us that sometimes the bravest thing you can do is follow your heart.
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