Can you believe the school year is just around the corner? Some teachers I know are starting school meetings next week! Instead of dreading the impending classrooms, textbooks, and homework, check out one or more of these films to help you (or your kids) get in the mood for going back to school.
This list includes films that take place in elementary school, middle school, high school, and college. I even found a few that focus on the teachers. Happy viewing!
Rating: PG
Wonder tells the story of a boy with facial deformities who, previously homeschooled, is now enrolling in a private school for the first time in fifth grade.
Rating: Not Rated (I would say PG)
An orphan is adopted by an older sister and brother duo. A red-headed wild child, Anne Shirley, turns the town upside down with her arrival. School is especially challenging for such an outspoken girl – not the academics but the social politics. A beloved book, this is my favorite video version of Anne of Green Gables.
Rating: Not Rated (I would consider it G)
In Curious George: Back to School George, the monkey, can’t wait to go to school to learn new things and make new friends.
Rating: G
Daniel Tiger is going to school where learning and using your imagination is fun. You can never go wrong with Daniel Tiger, especially for your really little ones.
Rating: G
Eight-year-old Arthur the aardvark is headed back to school with his friends. As always, there are problems to solve and adventures to go through. Arthur Goes Back to School includes four different Arthur episodes.
Rating: PG-13
School of Rock is about a man who becomes a substitute teacher after being kicked out of a rock band. He then tries to turn his class into a rock band to win a local contest.
Rating: PG-13
Diary of a Wimpy Kid portrays a boy trying to survive middle school. Through bullying, friendships, and putting in efforts to excel at anything, middle school can be a challenging time to navigate.
Rating: PG
Akeelah and the Bee tells the story of an eleven-year-old girl who participates in a spelling bee to avoid detention. She realizes she has quite the gift for spelling and may end up going very far in the competition despite numerous obstacles.
Rating: PG
The first in a long series, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone begins the tale of Harry Potter entering the Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry. Harry quickly makes friends at his new school who will help him fight evil.
Rating: PG
In Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life a student vows to break every school rule after his principal ruins his sketchbook.
Rated: R
In Fast Times at Ridgemont High an assortment of high schoolers go through teenage ups and downs focusing on the main issues of sex, friendship, drugs, and peer pressure. It’s a bit raunchy but funny and definitely memorable.
Rated: R
Have you even gone through puberty if you haven’t seen The Breakfast Club? This ultimate ’80s teen movie has a very famous cast of characters (Molly Ringwald, Emilio Estevez, etc). Five high schoolers are stuck in Saturday morning detention together. Each seemingly represents a very typical stereotype; the jock, the pretty popular girl, goth, nerd and the rebel. Throughout the day the teens ultimately share secrets and bond together.
Rated: PG-13
The SNL cast brings you a new generation of comedy. Mean Girls is ridiculous, yet you find yourself smiling while watching it and quoting the movie for a long time afterward. The main character is starting a new school and doesn’t understand the unwritten rules for how to be cool. As a joke, she tries to fit in with the popular girls but is the joke on her? Female backstabbing, jealousies, and friendship are all topics in this film.
Rated: PG-13
Ferris Buehler’s Day Off instilled in many generations how fun playing hooky can be. Three friends skip school and have an outrageous day of fun while the principal goes all out to try and catch the ringleader lying about being sick.
Rating: PG
A very popular musical, Grease is the story of a group of friends during their senior year of high school. A transfer student is the love interest of one of the most popular boys in school. Their summer romance wasn’t meant to last throughout the year. Will their friends and reputations stand in their way?
Rated: PG-13
Two teenage sisters couldn’t be more opposite. One, a staunch feminist with no time for men or dating who can’t wait to go away to college. The younger sister, popular and boy-obsessed. Their father forbids the younger sister from dating until the older one has a boyfriend. A plot is formed to get the older sister dating the new boy in school. Yes, I ran out to get the soundtrack immediately after viewing this film. And yes, everyone who sees 10 Things I Hate About You develops a little crush on the unforgettable Heath Ledger.
Rating: PG-13
Drew Barrymore stars as a journalist going undercover as a high school student to score her first major story. When she ends up falling for one of her teachers she becomes the story. Never Been Kissed is a feel-good movie about a nerd getting a second chance at high school.
Rating: PG-13
My sister and I loved this movie growing up, probably because of Adrian Grenier. In Drive Me Crazy, two next-door neighbors are in completely different cliques at school. Nicole is the popular prep while Chase is not. These two previous best friends make a deal to go to Homecoming together to fool others but they might end up fooling themselves.
Rating: PG
A town that forbids dancing? Yep, that is until Kevin Bacon shows up and shakes things up. Prom is very important to high school students in Footloose.
Rating: PG-13
The Perks of Being a Wallflower follows a freshman, Charlie, who has some psychological problems. He is befriended by two seniors. Through friendships, love, parties, and betrayals the school year passes.
Rating: PG
October Sky is the true story of a high school student who learns how to build rockets despite his coal miner father’s resistance. With the help of a teacher, a national science fair could become a reality for the boy and his friends.
Rating: R
Two rookie cops go undercover as high school students to bust a drug ring. The cop who used to be popular in high school is struggling to fit in and the nerdy cop is suddenly in his element. 21 Jump Street is cheesy, funny, and an easy movie to have on in the background.
Rating: R
A preppy student is determined to be student class president but a teacher decides to try and stop her overachieving ways by recruiting an opponent. How far will he go to stop her ambition? Reese Witherspoon and Matthew Broderick shine in Election.
Rating: PG-13
Legally Blonde stars Reese Witherspoon who decides to apply for Harvard Law School after being dumped by her boyfriend. A valley girl through and through, she doesn’t exactly fit in with the Ivy League students. But with a little effort, she may just surprise everyone.
Rating: R
A young man is a janitor at MIT and has a gift for mathematics. A professor recognizes his talent and works with the man on math each week. Part of the agreement is that the young man sees a therapist. The therapist will end up changing his life forever. Good Will Hunting is an Oscar-winning movie starring Matt Damon and Robin Williams.
Rating: PG-13
In Pitch Perfect, a college freshman joins The Bellas – a female acapella group. They work hard to get back to a national competition.
Rating: PG
Wow, what a moving film! Mr. Holland’s Opus covers the career of a band teacher who really wants to be a composer. From inspiring students year after year, to discovering his only son is deaf, this movie covers the gamut.
Rating: R
After being dumped by her wealthy fiance, a woman takes a job as a middle school teacher to save money for breast implants. She’s a horrible teacher but pretends to be amazing to catch the eye of a colleague. Bad Teacher stars Cameron Diaz and Justin Timberlake.
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