50 Greatest College Movies Of All Time Ranked

For most people, college is a precious time in their young lives, because it's the final years before they're obligated to face the daunting reality of adulthood. They're able to discover new things about themselves, and meet different people who will widen their understanding of the world. They can create significant and formative memories that will stick with them throughout their entire lives. This is why college movies are so popular: They offer pure nostalgia for a time of freedom with (comparatively) little actual responsibility.

Even if your experiences of higher education don't quite line up with the adventures we see on screen, you'll definitely find the movies we've gathered for this list entertaining, engaging, and relatable. The 50 titles below have everything you're looking for in college movies: fraternity and sorority parties, stereotypical jocks and nerds, unforgettable adventures with friends, terrifying and inspiring professors, thought-provoking discussions, and underdog stories that'll make you cry.

Following a violent altercation involving a rival dance crew that led to his younger brother's death, DJ Williams (Columbus Short) moves in with his aunt and uncle in Atlanta in hopes of avoiding more trouble. There, he enters Truth University, a historically Black college, where he gets suddenly pulled into the competitive world of stepping competitions. He finds himself in the middle of the long-time rivalry between competing fraternities Theta Nu Theta and reigning stepping champions Mu Gamma Xi. In order to have a chance at winning nationals and dethroning Mu Gamma Xi, DJ must overcome his selfish tendencies towards dancing and learn how to become a better teammate.

"Stomp the Yard" is the story of a young man who, after experiencing a heartbreaking tragedy, tries to find redemption in step-dancing. This 2007 film features an entertaining but not-so-unique storyline that is elevated through its solid and thrilling dance performances, which do a great job of spotlighting the art of step-dancing. It hails from French filmmaker Sylvain White, who's best known for directing "The Losers" and "Slender Man." Despite receiving poor reviews, it still went on to become the first film to break the number one streak held by "Night at the Museum" at the box office.

With his first major leading man role in "National Lampoon's Van Wilder," blockbuster star Ryan Reynolds plays Van, a charming and confident college student who's in his seventh year at Coolidge College. He's the most popular guy on campus, known for his lavish lifestyle which includes spending most of his time organizing big social events and fundraisers in support of other fellow students. After his father finds out about his non-academic activities that have kept him from graduating, he decides to stop paying his tuition. To pay for college, Van starts putting his social skills to good use, becoming the ultimate party promoter. Soon, his hijinks catch the attention of student journalist Gwen Pearson (Tara Reid), who has been assigned to write a feature on him.

At the time of its theatrical debut, "Van Wilder" was considered a box office success with a worldwide gross of over $38 million against a budget of only $5 million. Reynolds' signature comedic charm is evident even early on in his career, and the film also features fun appearances from future TV stars Sophia Bush of "One Tree Hill," Simon Helberg of "The Big Bang Theory," and Aaron Paul of "Breaking Bad."

After receiving critical success co-writing "The Hangover," longtime collaborators Jon Lucas and Scott Moore made their directorial debut with "21 & Over." The film introduces us to Miller and Casey as they surprise their best friend Jeff on his 21st birthday, encouraging him to have a fun night out to celebrate. Jeff is interviewing for medical school in the morning, so he's understandably reluctant to go out. But thanks to his friends' persistence, Jeff eventually agrees to just one drink. However, things don't go as planned, with Jeff ending up totally out of control. "21 & Over" then features a series of drunken mishaps throughout the night, as Miller and Casey try to find Jeff so that he doesn't screw up his interview.

This 2013 film is brought to life by Miles Teller, Skylar Astin, and Justin Chon. Their characters' relatable chemistry makes their onscreen friendship more believable and engaging, with fun and ridiculous antics that are definitely the highlight of the film.

After her husband of 23 years suddenly divorces her, a devastated Deanna Miles (Melissa McCarthy) is at a loss about what to do with her life. In "Life of the Party," she ultimately decides to pursue her dream of finishing college after having dropped out when she got pregnant with her daughter Maddie over two decades ago. She enrolls at her daughter's school, where she'll not only be able to spend more time with Maddie, but have the full college experience. This includes befriending Maddie's sorority friends, attending parties, and hooking up with a frat boy. 

Although her age initially serves as a challenge, Deanna goes on to overcome other people's judgments and embraces the senior year she never had. McCarthy delivers a brilliant leading performance that is both funny and heartwarming at the same time. Deanna's self-discovery journey serves as an inspiration, proving that there's no age limit in pursuing your dreams.

After working as the waterboy for the University of Louisiana's football team for nearly two decades, socially awkward Bobby Boucher Jr. (Adam Sandler) gets suddenly fired after Coach Red Beaulieu has had enough of his incompetence. However, this allows Bobby to get the chance of playing on the football field when Coach Klein (Henry Winkler) of the losing Mud Dogs team discovers his hidden talent for the sport. He becomes the unlikely star player, helping them overcome their comically long losing streak. With Bobby playing, Coach Klein will finally have his shot at defeating his longtime rival Coach Red, who stole his playbook decades earlier. However, Bobby must keep his football career a secret from his overbearing mother (Kathy Bates).

Like most of Adam Sandler's comedy movies, "The Waterboy" isn't exactly a critical darling. Still, it certainly is one of Sandler's most memorable characters to date, due to his endearing lead performance. Sandler is joined by a talented cast, including Oscar-winner Kathy Bates, whose performance as Bobby's overprotective mother makes her an instant fan favorite, despite acting as one of the antagonists of the story.

In "The House Bunny," Shelley Darlingson is having the best time of her life living in Hugh Hefner's luxurious Playboy Mansion. This all changes after her big 27th birthday celebration, when Shelley receives a letter from Hugh, stating that she must now leave the mansion due to her age. A confused and devastated Shelley has no idea what she'll do next, especially when she doesn't have any work experience besides being a Playboy Bunny. Soon after, she discovers the perfect job by applying to become the House Mother for Zeta Alpha Zeta, a sorority of outcasts that is on the brink of disbandment. With her knowledge about parties and boys, she confidently takes on the task of helping the Zetas get their new pledges before the council officially takes away their house.

This comedy is led by the ever-charming and likable Anna Faris, who gives hidden depths to her stereotypical dumb-blonde character. Her comedic talent and endearing charisma make the film all the more enjoyable. This 2008 film features a highly entertaining but cliché storyline that gets elevated by its interesting cast of characters. Faris is joined by future Oscar winner Emma Stone, Kat Dennings, and Rumer Willis, who all give stand out performances.

"With Honors" is an underrated dramedy that features a heartwarming storyline involving the unlikely friendship between a bright college senior and a witty homeless man. The film centers around Harvard graduate student Monty Kessler, who's on the cusp of getting his PhD. However, due to unforeseen circumstances, he accidentally loses his thesis, which is the only thing he needs to achieve his academic goal. Later on, Monty finds out that his thesis is now in the possession of Simon Wilder, a homeless man who strikes up a deal with Monty. A desperate Monty agrees — every day he meets Simon's demands, Monty will get one page of his thesis. Monty brings Simon to his shared apartment where he gets to meet Everett (Patrick Dempsey), Courtney (Moira Kelly), and Jeff (Josh Hamilton), who are all clearly not amused by the whole arrangement. However, as they continue to spend time with Simon, the four roommates will learn some important life lessons from him, leading them to realize that they can't be taught everything in a classroom.

Despite receiving very poor critical reviews, it has proven to be a hit with audiences. Leading the 1994 film is the brilliant duo of Brendan Fraser and Joe Pesci, whose chemistry shines through all of their scenes. Pesci's performance as Simon Wilder makes him the heart of the story, as he effectively brings out the humanity in the other characters.

"Sydney White" is a modern reimagination of the classic fairy tale "Snow White." It follows the story of college freshman Sydney who tries pledging to her late mother's sorority Kappa Phi Nu in her memory. As soon as she arrives on the campus, Sydney garners the attention of everyone with her charm and personality, which automatically makes her a threat to Kappa Phi Nu's narcissistic leader Rachel Witchburn. To stop Sydney's rising popularity, Rachel sabotages her induction to the sorority. With nowhere to stay, Sydney finds a safe haven at the Vortex, a rundown house for students who got rejected by the Greek houses. She meets seven dorks who willingly welcome her into their circle. Together, they come up with a plan to stop Rachel's tyrannical reign over the campus by enlisting Sydney to run against Rachel in the student elections.

This 2007 film is a coming-of-age romantic comedy set against the background of Greek-letter organizations and student politics. It is a unique interpretation of the "Snow White" story and a much-welcome adaptation, especially in a time of countless modern "Cinderella" retellings. Former Nickelodeon star Amanda Bynes delivers a sweet, witty, and charming performance, which serves as one of her final roles before going on an indefinite acting hiatus in 2010. She is joined by Sara Paxton, who gives a wonderfully wicked performance as the film's antagonist.

Set in 1953, "Mona Lisa Smile" introduces us to Katherine Watson, who gets hired as the new art history professor at the all-female Wellesley College. At first, Katherine gets intimidated by her class of smart and confident women, who have apparently read and memorized the entire syllabus, leaving her with a big challenge for the rest of the semester. Seeing that the girls are being trained and taught to conform to societal standards, Katherine decides to introduce them to a future where they can live for themselves. Katherine uses modern art and new thought-provoking insight to convey her message to the class. This is met with mixed reactions, particularly from conservative student Betty Warren, who is firmly against Katherine's subversive teachings. Despite this, Katherine continues to inspire her class full of talented women.

This 2003 film is a period drama about challenging stereotypes with timely issues that women still face today about being forced into a box of acceptable activity. It offers a satisfying storyline that features a stellar all-star cast led by Julia Roberts, who is brilliant as a woman far ahead of her time. It is also often likened to the 1989 coming-of-age film "Dead Poets Society," in terms of tone and themes.

Joel Schumacher's "St. Elmo's Fire" follows the lives of seven friends as they navigate the challenges of the real world. Together they will the problems that come with growing up, including the ones that will test their friendship. After graduating from Georgetown, Alec, an aspiring politician, continues his long-time relationship with architect Leslie, as the question of marriage looms over them. The story will also find their friends at different stages of their lives: Kirby, who's saving up for law school by working as a waiter; Kevin, a cynical writer who has been harboring a long-time crush on one of his friends; Billy, who can't seem to get out of his toxic marriage and resolves his problems through drinking; Jules, who's having a hard time maintaining her luxurious lifestyle; and Wendy, a social worker who's comes from a privileged background.

This 1985 film is a coming-of-age drama about adulthood, friendship, and love. It is led by seven of the most influential stars in the 1980s, who were famously dubbed "The Brat Pack," including Emilio Estevez, Rob Lowe, Andrew McCarthy, Demi Moore, Judd Nelson, Ally Sheedy, and Mare Winningham. Despite its negative reviews at the time of its theatrical debut, it still went on to become a cult classic, thanks to its realistic storyline and characters.

"Accepted" is a highly enjoyable comedy featuring a ridiculous and funny storyline. It follows troublemaker Bartleby Gaines who, after getting rejected by all the colleges he applied to, decides to simply create his own college, the South Harmon Institute of Technology. With the help of his friends who are having similar college dilemmas, he creates a fake acceptance letter and a fake website, then transforms an abandoned building into a full-fledged college in an attempt to deceive his parents. All of his plans go smoothly until they discover that a whole bunch of other rejected kids also got accepted into their nonexistent school through a flaw in the website. After realizing that they're all like him, Bartleby ultimately decides to accept them into the campus. Now, Bartleby and his friends must find a way to make this work before any of the adults find out about the truth. 

Despite its improbable plot, it leaves audiences with a moral lesson about going against what's conventional and expected. It also highlights the negative side of the educational system, and how it fails to give second chances to those willing to learn. Leading this 2006 film are an impressive group of actors including Justin Long, Jonah Hill, Blake Lively, and Lewis Black.

"Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising" is the sequel to the 2014 blockbuster film starring Seth Rogen, Rose Byrne, and Zac Efron. It takes place two years after the events of the first film, where it continues to follow Mac and Kelly, a married couple who previously got involved in an all-out war with a fraternity. Now, their plans of selling their house might fall through after discovering that a sorority has officially moved in next door: the newly-formed Kappa Nu. Things get worse for Mac and Kelly after finding out that past nemesis Teddy Sanders has returned, and is the one helping Kappa Nu organize their parties. Mac and Kelly battle against college kids once again, but this time, their enemies are much smarter and ruthless, under the leadership of the tenacious Shelby Robek.

This 2016 sequel may not be as hilarious as the first installment, but it still retains its entertaining storyline. Rogen, Byrne, and Efron once again deliver top-notch comedic performances as their chemistry elevates all of their scenes together. Chloë Grace Moretz is a great addition to the cast, as the fearless sorority leader who is a formidable foe for the leading trio. It also features then-newcomers Kiersey Clemons, Beanie Feldstein, and Awkwafina, who are all entertaining in their respective supporting roles.

"Higher Learning" follows the story of three freshmen as they try to fit in and navigate college life at Columbus University. We meet Malik Williams, a high-school track star who got into Columbus on an athletic scholarship; Kristen Connor, a naïve and sweet young woman from California; and Remy, a quiet and socially awkward young man who's having a hard time making friends. The three of them will head in different directions, where they'll meet all kinds of people with wildly varying backgrounds, from queer activists to white supremacists.

This 1995 drama film hails from the late John Singleton, who was best known for his acclaimed work on "Boyz n the Hood.” Unlike most of the films in this genre, "Higher Learning" is a rare and honest portrayal of college life. It deals with serious and timely issues concerning gender, racism, harassment, and more, giving the film a more mature and dark tone. It features a very talented cast of then-rising actors Ice Cube, Regina King, Michael Rapaport, Kristy Swanson, Jennifer Connelly, Michael Rapaport, and Omar Epps, with the formidable Laurence Fishburne reuniting with his "Boyz n the Hood" collaborators Singleton, Ice Cube, and King.

"The Rules of Attraction" hails from Oscar winner Roger Avary, who is best known for co-writing the acclaimed black crime comedy "Pulp Fiction" with Quentin Tarantino. It is based on the 1987 novel written by Bret Easton Ellis, who is also the author of the novels "Less Than Zero" and "American Psycho," both of which were adapted for the big screen.

The film takes place at Camden College following three students — Lauren Hynde, Paul Denton, and Sean Bateman — as they get involved in an unlikely crazy love triangle. Sean (the younger brother of Patrick Bateman, the main character of "American Psycho") is a drug dealer who becomes infatuated with Lauren after he assumes that anonymous purple love letters were written by her. Lauren is a virgin who's saving her first time for her long-distance boyfriend, despite her growing attraction to Sean. And to make matters more complicated, Paul is Lauren's bisexual ex-boyfriend who has also fallen for Sean.

This dramedy film is led by James Van Der Beek, Shannyn Sossamon, and Ian Somerhalder. Despite its poor critical reviews and disappointing box office performance upon its initial release in 2002, it has since developed a cult following. In an interview with SCAD, Ellis confirmed that out of all the film adaptations of his novels, "The Rules of Attraction" is his favorite, because of its faithfulness to the source material.

Set at a historically Black college, "School Daze” gives the audience an interesting portrait of the college lives of Mission College students during homecoming weekend. It's a social commentary about various issues within the Black community including colorism, hazing, elitism, and political activism that are told within the context of a musical comedy. The film introduces Vaughn "Dap" Dunlap, a student activist who's protesting for the school to divest from South Africa; Julian "Big Brother Almighty" Eaves, the leader of Gamma Phi Gamma who's committed to strengthening the fraternity; Darrell "Half-Pint" Dunlap, Dap's younger cousin who is undergoing a grueling initiation process to become part of Gamma Phi Gamma; and Jane Toussaint, the leader of the sorority Gamma Rays and Julian's girlfriend.

"School Daze" is an eye-opening look into what can create divisions within the Black community. Despite being portrayed as an off-beat musical, it tackles deep and serious topics that are rarely discussed in mainstream movies. This 1988 film serves as Spike Lee's second directorial effort following the critical success of "She's Gotta Have It." It features a stellar cast including Lee, Laurence Fishburne, Giancarlo Esposito, Tisha Campbell, Kyme, Ellen Holly, Art Evans, Ossie Davis, as well as a brief appearance from Samuel L. Jackson in one of his earliest roles.

Based on Ben Mezrich's 2003 novel titled "Bringing Down the House," "21" centers around Ben Campbell, a math genius who's studying at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Despite receiving high grades thanks to his out-of-this-world calculating skills, it won't matter at all if he can't come up with $300,000 to pay for his tuition fee. Soon, his talent catches the attention of Professor Micky Rosa, who invites him to join his Blackjack Team, where they use card counting to win at casinos. Blackjack takes over Ben's life as he begins to neglect his personal life in exchange for the brief luxury he's experiencing. However, after making a mistake, Ben discovers Micky's true colors. Now, he must find a way to escape and stop his professor's scheming ways before it affects his future.

This 2008 heist drama is actually inspired by the real-life story of the disbanded MIT Blackjack Team. It's an entertaining and fast-paced thriller that gives audiences insight into the slick world of gambling, where wishing for luck is useless when you're up against the smartest people in the world. "21" is led by a cast who all give engaging performances, including Jim Sturgess, Kate Bosworth, and Laurence Fishburne. Despite being considered a box office success, the film was met with controversy due to its questionable casting choices – it features an all-white cast, even though many of the real-life members of the Blackjack Team were of Asian descent.

"Road Trip" follows the misadventures of Josh Parker and his friends as they embark on a retrieval mission from New York to Texas. Josh is currently in a long-distance relationship with his childhood best friend Tiffany Henderson, who decides to study in Austin. Despite their history, distance proves to be challenging for both of them, as their communication continues to lessen over time. In order to mend the problem, Josh decides to mail Tiffany his video-taped love messages — but he makes the mistake of accidentally mailing his girlfriend a sex tape featuring him having an affair with classmate Beth Wagner. In a desperate attempt to save his relationship, Josh and his friends go on a road trip to prevent Tiffany from seeing the sex tape. What comes next is a series of comic mishaps including a wrecking car, stealing a school bus, and many more shenanigans that will make their trip longer than expected.

Before becoming an Academy Award-nominated filmmaker for his work on "Borat," "The Hangover," and "Joker," Todd Phillips first made his scripted feature directorial debut with this 2000 raunchy buddy comedy film. It is an absolutely hilarious film filled with ridiculous and insane over-the-top moments, executed perfectly by its main cast led by Breckin Meyer, Seann William Scott, Paulo Costanzo, DJ Qualls, Tom Green, and Amy Smart.

"Damsels in Distress" hails from Oscar nominee Whit Stillman, who directs his first film in over a decade with this 2011 comedy film. It takes place at a prestigious college following the trio of Violet, Rose, and Heather — an unlikely group of eccentric women who are interested in helping their fellow schoolmates by managing the school's suicide prevention center as well as dating uncultured fratboys in an attempt to change their ways. Instead of giving counsel to students who are struggling with their mental health, the girls instead give them free donuts and tap-dancing lessons. Their latest goodwill project comes in the form of Lily, a newly-transferred student. Violet, Rose, and Heather welcome her into their group in order to teach her how to dress, talk, and walk properly. But their friendship will be challenged once they find themselves romantically involved with men who test their patience and sanity.

The film features an odd and humorous storyline that offers a satirical view of college life.  the ensemble cast is the talented Greta Gerwig, who shines through her wit and charm. Joining her are Megalyn Echikunwoke, Analeigh Tipton, Carrie MacLemore, Adam Brody, and Billy Magnussen, who all give delightful supporting performances.

On the morning of her birthday, Tree Gelbman wakes up in the dorm room of a stranger named Carter Davis. Everything seems normal until the night of her sorority's party, where she gets attacked by an unknown assailant wearing a creepy baby mask. However, just as the killer is about to stab her, she suddenly finds herself in Carter's dorm room again wearing the same shirt she was wearing in the morning and waking up to the same ringtone. Soon, Tree realizes that she is stuck in a never-ending time loop where she keeps dying at the hands of the masked killer. Tree tries to enlist the help of Carter who, despite being doubtful at first, helps her with her "Groundhog Day" dilemma by suggesting that finding out the identity of the killer might be Tree's only key to escaping the loop. What comes next is a series of trial and error involving Tree trying to one-by-one eliminate possible suspects while repeatedly getting murdered in every way imaginable.

"Happy Death Day" is a dark slasher comedy that hails from "Paranormal Activity" director Christopher Landon and Blumhouse Productions. It offers a unique and hilariously entertaining storyline to a familiar genre. This 2017 film is led by the brilliant Jessica Rothe who is phenomenal in her leading performance as Tree, certifying her status as a formidable new scream queen of this generation. She was also recognized by critics, who praised her for a delightful breakout performance.

"Legally Blonde" is based on Amanda Brown's 2001 novel, inspired by her own experiences while studying at Stanford Law School. The film follows Elle Woods, who may look like your stereotypical "dumb blonde," but is actually a smart young woman full of determination, heart, and spirit. Everything seems perfect until her boyfriend Warner breaks up with her because he wants to be with someone more serious when he enters Harvard. In an attempt to get back the love of her life, Elle Woods decides to also apply to Harvard Law School and become the serious woman that Warner is looking for. With her perseverance and a little bit of luck, Elle gets admission to Harvard, where she eventually realizes that Warner will never take her seriously no matter what changes she makes. This motivates Elle to prove herself as a reliable and formidable lawyer not just to the people who keep on underestimating her, but to herself.

This 2001 classic comedy film is led by Reese Witherspoon, who delivers a wonderful leading performance as Elle Woods. Witherspoon absolutely shines through all of her scenes as she perfectly embodies her character's charm, wit, humor, and tenacity. "Legally Blonde" was both a box office and critical success, which resulted in Witherspoon receiving her second Golden Globe nomination. Witherspoon is joined by an equally amazing cast including Selma Blair, Luke Wilson, Jennifer Coolidge, Ali Larter, Holland Taylor, Victor Garber, and Matthew Davis.

"Drumline" brings the audiences into the competitive world of show-style marching bands. The film introduces Devon Miles (Nick Cannon), a gifted drummer who believes that he's better than everyone. Because of his natural talent, Devon gets a full scholarship at Atlanta A&T after being invited by Dr. Lee, the head of A&T's prestigious marching band. However, as soon as pre-season band camp starts, it becomes evident that Devon is struggling with the team's concept of "one band, one sound," as he likes to make himself stand out at the expense of the team's dynamic and teamwork. Despite this, Devon's college life seems to be going well, especially when he finds romance with student dancer Laila, and is chosen as one of the band's highest-level players. Now, Devon just needs to learn how to overcome his inflating ego and become a better team player before his self-absorbed attitude catches up with him.

This 2002 film is a coming-of-age drama featuring an entertaining storyline that gives a rare spotlight to college marching bands, which have often been overlooked in other college sports films. It includes thrilling band performances, leaving the audiences in awe of their talent, passion, and musicality.

"Revenge of the Nerds" is classic 1984 teen comedy that features your stereotypical "nerds vs. jocks" storyline brought to life by stars Robert Carradine, Anthony Edwards, Ted McGinley, and John Goodman.

Set at the fictional Adams College, the film follows best friends Lewis Skolnick and Gilbert Lowe who are forced to leave their dormitory on their first day after the members of the fraternity Alpha Betas take over the freshmen dorms. Unfortunately, losing their dorm is only the first of the many pranks that they will have to endure, under the direction of the frat's leader and star quarterback, Stan Gable. As the nerds grow increasingly fed up with the Alpha Betas' continued harassment, they try to come up with plans to retaliate against the pig-headed fraternity's unacceptable actions with the help of new allies they meet along the way.

Like most 1980s sex comedies, "Revenge of the Nerds" sure does feature a number of red flags that wouldn't be tolerated in today's cultural landscape. This includes a scene where Lewis has intercourse with Stan's girlfriend by pretending to be him, which makes his act considered legally "rape by deception." In an interview with GQ for the film's 35th anniversary, director Jeff Kanew along with writers Steve Zacharias and Jeff Buhai addressed the controversial scene, confirming that they regret writing and including that kind of offensive scene, especially when it wasn't really necessary to the story.

If you or anyone you know has been a victim of sexual assault, help is available. Visit the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network website or contact RAINN's National Helpline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).

"Old School" begins with Mitch Martin, a lawyer, coming home early from a work trip to find his girlfriend cheating on him. Mitch moves into a new house located near a university and allows his friends Frank and Bernard to throw him an epic housewarming party, which is attended by college students. Following the success of the party, the three friends realized that this could be their last opportunity to relive the glory days of their college years. 

In an attempt to remain near the campus and continue having wild parties, they decide to start their own fraternity consisting of misfits and even non-college students. Meanwhile, as Mitch tries to move on from his previous relationship, he once again meets his high school crush, Nicole. This 2003 comedy film is led by Luke Wilson, Will Ferrell, Vince Vaughn, and Ellen Pompeo, with Ferrell delivering an especially memorable performance as the uncontrollable Beanie.

"Neighbors" is a comedy film that highlights a delightfully funny storyline about coming to terms with adulthood. In the film, new parents Mac and Kelly Radner decide to move into the suburbs in hopes of raising their baby daughter Stella in a better environment. However, their brief peace and quiet is soon upended by the arrival of Delta Psi Beta, led by its charismatic president Teddy Sanders, who move into the house right beside Mac and Kelly. Teddy immediately charms them and promises to manage the noise, under the condition that they always call him first instead of contacting the police. However, things don't go as planned, as both parties forget each other's promises. Despite asking the officers to keep their identities anonymous, Teddy inevitably finds out about their betrayal. This signals the beginning of a war between Delta Psi Beta and the Radners, which includes various elaborate pranks that will push both sides to their limit.

It features great performances from Seth Rogen, Zac Efron, and Rose Byrne, whose engaging chemistry makes the film's ridiculousness work. Byrne is also particularly praised by critics for effectively showcasing her comedic talents and wit through her character, who acts as the most logical one among the trio. In addition to receiving positive reviews, it also became a box office hit with a worldwide gross of over $270 million which marks Rogen's highest-grossing live-action film to date.

"We Are Marshall" is a sports drama film based on real-life events centering around the devastating 1970 plane crash of Southern Airways Flight 932, which took the lives of 75 people, including 37 collegiate football players of the Marshall University Thundering Herd as well as their five coaches, two trainers, the athletic director, 25 boosters, and five airplane crew members.

This 2006 biographical drama recounts the aftermath of the tragedy, as the university and its local community try to overcome their griefs by rebuilding the football team in hopes of honoring those who were lost. Helping the team rise back up is Jack Lengyel, who signs on as the team's newest coach. Determined to lead the team to victory, he will do everything he can to encourage his players and fellow staff members that they have what it takes to win it all.

The film marks director McG's first time directing a drama, and his only one to date after being known for his work on comedic action films such as "Charlie's Angels," "This Means War," and "The Baby." Oscar-winner Matthew McConaughey leads the heartfelt and inspirational story with his emotional and genuine performance. Joining him are Matthew Fox, Anthony Mackie, Ian McShane, Kate Mara, and January Jones, each giving engaging performances that help convey the film's tone and message to the audience.

Inspired by the early college years of former U.S. President Barack Obama, "Barry" follows 20-year-old Barack, who's arriving for the first time in New York City to study at Columbia University. Because of his Biracial background, he's having a hard time fitting in with the people around him, who are constantly expecting different things from him. This results in him struggling to find his real identity when he feels either too Black or not Black enough to belong. As Barry tries to figure out his place, he meets Charlotte, a young woman who will help change his perspective. The film also addresses Barry's complicated relationship with his parents as well as the realizations he'll learn about his community.

Led by Devon Terrell and Anya Taylor-Joy, this 2016 film is a coming-of-age drama about a young man grappling with his identity and finding his place in an unfamiliar world. It isn't your typical biographical drama, showing the life of a person from the beginning to the present. This film offers a more human story featuring a version of Barack Obama who is far from the confident political figure we know today.

"Scream 2" takes place two years after the gruesome events of the original. The sequel follows Woodsboro survivor Sidney Prescott, who is now a college student at Windsor College along with fellow survivor Randy Meeks. Thanks to Gale Weathers' bestselling book about the Woodsboro murders, everyone now knows what happened to Sidney, especially since it is now being immortalized by a movie called "Stab." However, Sidney's two-year period of peace ends when a new Ghostface resurfaces, killing a number of Windsor College students. Given the popularity of the case, a copycat killer seeks to follow in the footsteps of original killers Billy Loomis and Stu Macher. Sidney must once again discover the identity of the killer (in accordance with Randy's movie sequel rules, of course).

This 1997 film is directed by Wes Craven from a screenplay written by Kevin Williamson. It's one of the most effective horror sequels, able to take the stakes and action to a higher level. This installment officially establishes Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox, and David Arquette's legacy status within the franchise and horror genre. Campbell's leading performance as Sidney also evolves into a more confident and fearless version of the character. Joining the returning characters are an all-star cast including Sarah Michelle Gellar, Laurie Metcalf, Liev Schreiber, and Timothy Olyphant.

Serving as the second directorial effort from "How I Met Your Mother" alum Josh Radnor, "Liberal Arts" centers around Jesse Fisher, a 35-year-old man who's at a point in his life where he's unhappy and discontented with everything. One day, he gets a call from one of his favorite college professors, who invites Jesse back to his alma mater to attend his upcoming retirement party. Jesse immediately accepts the opportunity of going back to the place that he believes was home to the happiest time of his life. There, he meets 19-year-old sophomore Zibby, who shows interest in Jesse despite their 16-year age gap. He feels the same attraction towards her but tries to stop himself from acting on his feelings.

This 2012 comedy-drama is also written by Radnor, who co-stars alongside Marvel star Elizabeth Olsen. Joining them are Richard Jenkins, Allison Janney, John Magaro, and Zac Efron. The film offers a charming, smart, and lighthearted story about growing up and facing the consequences that come with adulthood. It is an impressively well-written film that features great character development, effectively handling the age gap issue between the two characters without ever justifying it for the sake of romance.

"Black Christmas" is one of the earliest slasher films to date, inspired by the urban legend called "The Babysitter and the Man Upstairs." The story is set during winter break at a sorority house, where a group of young women receive an obscene phone call from a creepy stranger who threatens to kill all of them. After the threatening phone call, Claire goes unexplainably missing, which initially gets ignored by the police. However, when the police officers discover the disfigured body of another missing local girl, the hunt for the serial killer begins, and the number one suspect is the sorority girls' unknown caller. Unbeknownst to them, the suspect is actually much closer to his potential victims than the police have ever imagined.

Led by 1970s stars Olivia Hussey and Margot Kidder, the film features a disturbing storyline that would terrify audiences, and it developed a cult following over the years. It also serves as a major influence on John Carpenter's 1978 iconic horror film "Halloween," which has often been regarded as an unofficial sequel to "Black Christmas."

As a former child prodigy, high school student Mitch Taylor gets a prestigious invitation to become one of the youngest students to attend Pacific Technical University. At the university, Mitch gets introduced to his roommate Chris Knight, a wildly intelligent but free-spirited senior. In addition to becoming roommates, Professor Jerry Hathaway pairs Mitch up with Chris for an important laser project in hopes of influencing Chris to straighten up. However, the results are the complete opposite as Chris takes Mitch under his wing and tries to show him the importance of enjoying life's every moment. But as they develop the proper power source for the laser, they grow suspicious about Hathaway's intentions with the project. After confirming their doubts, Chris and Mitch must come up with a plan to stop him from using their invention to cause harm to others.

"Real Genius" is an underrated 1980s teen classic featuring an entertaining sci-fi comedy story about a pair of young geniuses who get involved in a secret government project. Leading the film is Val Kilmer, who delivers an absolutely brilliant performance as a charming nerd who defies stereotypes. Joining Kilmer are Gabriel Jarret, William Atherton, Ed Lauter, Sandy Martin, and Yuji Okumoto in his feature acting debut before landing his iconic role as Chozen Toguchi in "The Karate Kid Part II."

"Pitch Perfect" introduces the world of collegiate a capella competitions as it follows the Barden Bellas, an all-female singing group recovering from being disgraced during a previous onstage mishap. On the first day of school, Becca (Anna Kendrick) meets Aubrey and Chloe — the co-leaders of the Barden Bellas — who invite her to join their team. Despite not being interested in any college activities, Becca eventually decides to audition for the Bellas due to a deal she made with her father involving her dreams of becoming a DJ. Through her reluctant involvement, she makes Aubrey and Chloe realize that the team needs to move past its old ways and find a new sound if they ever want a chance at winning against their rivals, the Treblemakers.

This 2012 music comedy film pairs a hilarious script with catchy songs destined to become brain worms, including the famous Cups scene featuring lead star Anna Kendrick singing the song "When I'm Gone," which reached the top 10 on the US Billboard Hot 100 charts.

Sci-fi and horror filmmaker Fred Dekker makes his feature directorial debut with "Night of the Creeps," a campy horror thriller centering around college students as they encounter alien slugs who turn humans into zombie-like creatures. The story begins with Chris Romero (Jason Lively, older brother of Blake Lively) as he tries to join a fraternity in hopes of impressing his crush, Cynthia Cronenberg. As part of the initiation process, Chris and his best friend J.C. Hooper are tasked with stealing a cadaver from the university's lab and leaving it on the doorstep of their rival fraternity. Because of this, they accidentally release a walking corpse, whose brain is infested with black slugs. Chris must team up with Detective Ray Cameron to stop the slugs from continuing to spread before it's too late.

"Night of the Creeps" is an underrated cult classic that offers an outrageous sci-fi premise disguised as a teen comedy story about a nerd trying to save the most popular girl in school. It features an interesting combination of different elements, including aliens, an axe-wielding killer, zombies, fraternities, sororities, a college dance formal, and one night of pure entertaining chaos.

Starring veteran comedian Rodney Dangerfield, "Back to School" follows Thornton Melon, a self-made millionaire businessman who enters university in an attempt to spend more time with his college son (as well as receive the academic education that he's been lacking). After Thornton's son Jason reveals to him that he's unhappy with college and is planning to drop out, a worried Thorton decides to enroll in Jason's school as a student in hopes of encouraging him. Despite his age, Thornton instantly becomes popular on campus due to his generous spending and party-loving ways. His popularity also improves Jason's social standing, who's finally living the college experience that he had been hoping for. But Thornton eventually realizes that not everything is about money, after his bribing and cheating ways jeopardize his admission to the school, his potential romantic relationship, and most importantly, his bond with his son.

"Back to School" is a feel-good comedy that features a great cast led by Dangerfield, who shows off his reliable comedic talent and charisma as Thornton Melon. Joining him are Oscar nominee Sally Kellerman, Keith Gordon, Paxton Whitehead, a post-"Karate Kid" William Zabka, and Robert Downey Jr. in one of his early roles as a 1980s teen star.

Set at a prestigious Ivy League college, "Dear White People” follows the different perspectives of Black students as they witness the beginning of a race war on campus. Samantha White is a Black media arts student at Winchester University — a predominantly white college — who launches her radio show, "Dear White People," where she voices her opinions about racist microaggressions (or just plain aggressions). The radio show causes uproar among white students who find the show rude and offensive. Meanwhile, other fellow Black students think that what Sam's doing is unnecessary and will only cause them trouble. In retaliation, Kurt — a white student who's the head of the campus humor magazine and son of the university president — organizes a blackface-themed party that ultimately sparks racial tensions.

This 2014 film is a dark comedy satire from writer and director Justin Simien. In an interview with IndieWire, Simien reveals that the film is not entirely about racism, but rather, it's an exploration of racial identity for young people in modern America. It offers a thoughtful and clever storyline brought to life by a very talented group of actors led by Tessa Thompson, Teyonah Parris, Tyler James Williams, and Dennis Haysbert. At the time of its debut, the film instantly became a critical darling with critics praising Simien for his intelligent writing.

"Starter for 10" centers around Brian Jackson, a freshman student at Bristol University who's from a working-class background in Essex. Despite his intelligence and ability to easily retain information, he's completely clueless when it comes to talking to girls. Soon, he becomes involved with two beautiful but very different women: the alluring and glamorous Alice Harbinson and the opinionated student activist, Rebecca Epstein. Brian is torn between them — he considers Alice as his dream girl, but also finds a strong connection with Rebecca. Meanwhile, Brian also gets a chance to become a member of the school's University Challenge team, where he meets Patrick Watts, the team's arrogant captain who's desperate to win at all costs. Now he must find a way to focus on the quiz show competition, while also figuring out his true feelings for Rebecca and Alice.

This 2006 coming-of-age dramedy film is elevated by the leading performance of James McAvoy, who makes his character a perfect mix of awkward and charming. McAvoy is joined by a wonderfully talented cast of rising British stars Alice Eve, Rebecca Hall, Dominic Cooper, James Corden, and Benedict Cumberbatch.

In "The Sure Thing," after entering a New England university, freshman Walter "Gib" Gibson has a difficult time forming a connection with women as he gets constantly dumped. In an attempt to change his luck, his best friend Lance invites Gib to spend his Christmas break in California with the promise of setting him up with his dream girl, who is considered a guaranteed "sure thing." An excited Gib is able to find a carpool ride to California. But before he gets there, he must share the trip with the beautiful but serious Alison, one of the girls who previously dumped him. At the beginning of their long journey, they can't help but display their mutual annoyance with one another. Their constant bickering leads the unlikely duo to an unforgettable adventure full of mishaps. Along the way, they eventually find themselves falling for each other, but the only problem is neither of them wants to admit it.

This underrated coming-of-age romantic comedy film from Rob Reiner serves as his second directorial effort before he went on to direct a string of massive hits that included "Stand by Me," "The Princess Bride," "When Harry Met Sally," and "Misery." Leading this endearing but mature film are Daphne Zuniga and John Cusack, who delivers the first breakout performance of his career.

"The Freshman" stars Matthew Broderick as Clark Kellogg, an incoming college freshman from Vermont who will study film at New York University. On his first day in the city, Clark gets instantly hustled by fake taxi driver Victor Ray, who runs away with all of Clark's belongings. Soon after, Clark runs into Victor by chance, and the con man plans to repay him by getting him a job with his uncle, Carmine Sabatini. To Clark's surprise, Carmine Sabatini has an uncanny resemblance to Don Vito Corleone, the iconic character from Francis Ford Coppola's "The Godfather." What comes next is a series of unbelievable experiences for Clark, who is now stuck in the middle of his very own gangster movie after he confirms his suspicions about Carmine's association with the Mafia.

This 1990 crime comedy film is definitely entertaining, especially when the great Marlon Brando portrays a parody of his most memorable character. Despite being a clear satire of "The Godfather," the film's story, fortunately, didn't get lost in its own gimmick, thanks to the cast's solid performances and delightful storytelling.

Set two years after the events of "21 Jump Street," "22 Jump Street" continues to follow the friendship and partnership between officers Morton Schmidt and Greg Jenko, who are given another undercover assignment after one failed mission involving The Ghost, an elusive drug supplier. They're once again back under the supervision of Captain Dickson, who orders them to act as students at a local college in an attempt to investigate a new synthetic drug becoming popular among the students. While Jenko instantly becomes a jock, Schmidt finds himself having trouble socializing with other students. However, he does attract the attention of a beautiful art student named Maya, who, little does he know, is actually the daughter of Captain Dickson. As Jenko and Schmidt try to navigate the college experience, they must also find leads for their mission, as all clues and evidence suggest that the drug might be connected to The Ghost.

Like the first film, this buddy action sequel is a comedy marvel thanks to the dynamic chemistry between Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum. The film's closing credits are also one of its highlights, as it pokes fun at the franchise by showing countless potential sequels if they continue to follow the same route.

"Monsters University" serves as the long-awaited prequel to the acclaimed 2001 film "Monsters, Inc." It is set several years before the events of the first film, as James P. "Sulley" Sullivan (John Goodman) and Mike Wazowski (Billy Crystal) begin their freshman year at the prestigious Monster University. As a child, Mike always dreamed of becoming a Scarer, and he attempts to make his dreams a reality by entering MU's competitive Scaring program. There, he meets Sulley, who is a natural-born Scarer, but is too lazy to make an effort and do the extra work that would allow him to truly excel. After both fail the final exam, they must set their rivalry aside and team up for the upcoming Scare Games competition if they want a chance at returning to the Scaring program.

Even though the first film is more heartwarming and emotional, "Monster University" showcases a very human story about friendship, perseverance, and teamwork. Pixar is able to give a new different dynamic between Mike and Sulley's relationship, who were first introduced to fans as the best of friends.

Before becoming a college English professor, Grady Tripp was a novelist who found success with his debut novel titled "Great American Novel." Several years after its publication, Tripp is experiencing writer's block, as he struggles to finish the first draft of his second novel. While trying to think about the perfect ending for his novel, Grady must also deal with personal matters regarding his affair with Sara, the married university chancellor, who reveals that she's pregnant with Grady's child. Things begin to get worse when he finds himself caught in a series of mishaps caused by his strange student James, who's a bright but enigmatic young writer. To add further fuel to the chaos, Grady's editor Terry Crabtree visits him in hopes of getting a new update about his second novel.

"Wonder Boys" features an exceptionally acclaimed cast led by Michael Douglas, who delivers a brilliant leading performance. Its dark humor is elevated with its witty and sharp dialogue, as well as its fascinating characters. The film also serves as a well-written character study centering around Douglas' Grady and Tobey Maguire's James, both of whom are the standout performers of the film.

"The Paper Chase" depicts law school as a hellish place where weak-hearted students are expected to drop out, and the survivors merely try to hold on to their sanity. The film revolves around James Hard, a first-year law student who experiences a bad first day after failing to come prepared for Professor Charles W. Kingsfield Jr.'s notorious contract law course. As he continues to be intimidated by Professor Kingsfield, James also strives to earn the teacher's approval and respect. While trying to keep up with the demands of law school, he unexpectedly meets the beautiful Susan Fields who, unbeknownst to James, is actually the daughter of Professor Kingsfield.

The film is notable for the performances of Timothy Bottoms and John Houseman, the latter of whom earned an Academy Award for best supporting actor for his widely-acclaimed performance as the film's strict professor. Houseman went on to reprise the role in the TV adaptation of the same name, which ran for four seasons from 1978-1986.

Despite his short stature, Rudy Ruettiger dreams of playing for the University of Notre Dame's Fighting Irish football team. However, his lack of athletic skills isn't the only thing stopping him from entering Notre Dame — he also doesn't have the money or the grades that would grant him access to the school. But after years of perseverance and countless obstacles, Rudy finally gets admitted to the University of Notre Dame. Now it's up to him: Will he continue fighting for his chance to play football, or will he accept it as a pipe dream and move on?

"Rudy" is a feel-good sports drama based on the real-life story of Daniel Ruettiger, an entertaining underdog tale that will leave audiences elated. Leading this sentimental and inspiring biographical film is "The Goonies" star Sean Astin, who brilliantly embodies Ruettiger's unstoppable spirit, admirable strength, and endearing vulnerability through all of his scenes. With his innate charm and likeability, Astin succeeds in captivating audiences.

"The Great Debater" is based on an American Legacy article from Tony Scherman, which recounts the historical win of the Wiley College debate team in 1935. Melvin B. Tolson is a professor at Wiley College who serves as a coach of an all-Black debate team, consisting of four intelligent students: Henry Lowe, Hamilton Burgess, James Farmer Jr., and Samantha Brooke, the team's first female member. Tolson teaches them the power of words and how they can use them to their advantage. Set in a period of Jim Crow laws and mob lynchings, Tolson's debate team cleverly and powerfully uses their words to fight against injustice and inhumanity. As they achieve victory after victory, they find themselves up against Harvard University's debate champions.

The film features an underdog story that is cleverly and thoughtfully written: For a movie that heavily features debate speeches, it does a terrific job making the main characters' monologues concise, solid, and gripping. As Denzel Washington's second directorial effort, "The Great Debater" shows his promise as a filmmaker.

In many ways a spiritual sequel to the 1993 classic teen film "Dazed and Confused," Richard Linklater's "Everybody Wants Some!!" is a coming-of-age comedy centering around a group of college baseball players. Set in Texas, 1980, Jake Bradford is an incoming college freshman who moves into the baseball team's house. The film follows Jake's adventures with his new friends as well as his budding romance with performing arts major Beverly, all of which happen over the course of three days, just before the official start of the first semester.

Regardless of its poor box office returns, "Everybody Wants Some!!" received critical acclaim for its feel-good story that is reminiscent of Linklater's iconic high school comedy film. However, unlike "Dazed and Confused," "Everybody Wants Some!!" feels a bit more mature despite all the crazy shenanigans of its characters. Linklater once again does a wonderful job of effectively portraying an important transition in a young adult's life. If the 1993 film is about figuring out what to do next, this 2016 film is about adapting to a brand new chapter in your life.

Set at Faber College, "National Lampoon's Animal House" follows freshmen Larry Kroger and Kent Dorfman who first try their luck pledging at the prestigious fraternity of Omega Theta Phi. However, after failing to meet the Omega's standards, they turned their attention to the rowdy Delta Tau Chi house. The carefree and friendly Deltas immediately accept Larry and Kent as their new members by giving the duo their respective Delta names, Pinto and Flounder. But because of the Deltas' notorious reputation on campus, Pinto and Flounder's time with the fraternity might just be short-lived — Dean Vernon Wormer threatens to disband them, with the help of the Omegas. Despite the threat of getting their charter revoked, the Deltas continue their troublemaking ways, masterminding various pranks to further annoy Dean Wormer and the Omegas.

Considered one of the best comedies of all time, "National Lampoon's Animal House" features many memorable moments, including the now-infamous Toga Party scene. Leading this hilariously entertaining 1978 film are Tim Matheson, Tom Hulce, Mark Metcalf, Donald Sutherland, and the incomparable John Belushi, whose delightfully chaotic performance as Bluto is one of the film's many highlights.

"3 Idiots" centers around Farhan and Raju's quest to find their college best friend Rancho, who they last saw at graduation. A decade later, new information about Rancho's whereabouts finally emerges, leading them to embark on a trip across the country in hopes of finally seeing their beloved friend. Throughout the journey, Farhan will bring audiences back to their college years as he reminisces about their fond memories with Rancho. His story starts from their very first day at the Imperial College of Engineering, a prestigious school notorious for its strict and cutthroat atmosphere under the supervision of Dr. Viru Sahastrabuddhe aka Virus. Despite his mischievous and carefree personality, Rancho is the number one student, but he strongly believes that Virus' way of educating his students through fear is wrong. Thanks to his kindness, Rancho is able to change the lives of his friends, who are grateful for his unwavering loyalty and unconditional friendship. 

Bollywood superstar Aamir Khan stars in one of his most memorable and popular roles to date — His amazing portrayal of Rancho is both endearing and captivating, making him an instant fan favorite. "3 Idiots" also effectively addresses serious topics concerning the flawed education system in India by sensitively portraying the dire consequences of the social pressures that students must endure every day.

Set at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, "Good Will Hunting" begins when Professor Gerald Lambeau challenges his students to solve the complicated mathematical problem he writes on the blackboard. The next day, to his surprise, someone has already succeeded in his seemingly impossible task. Unbeknownst to him, the scholar he's looking for is actually Will Hunting, a 22-year-old janitor who happens to be a mathematical genius. He eventually gets caught by Lambeau, who's astounded by his hidden intellect and sees major potential in his future. After getting into another fight, Lambeau comes to his rescue by offering him a deal. In addition to studying mathematics with Lambeau, he is required to receive psychotherapy sessions in an attempt to mend his aggressive and careless behavior. Will meets psychologist Dr. Sean Maguire, played by Robin Williams, who will forever change his life.

This film is an impressive coming-of-age drama about two intelligent people finding connection through their similar experiences, as they help heal each other from the pain of the past. "Good Will Hunting" is brought to life by the dynamic chemistry between Matt Damon and Robin Williams, whose scenes together are pure perfection.

"The Social Network" is an engaging biographical drama about Marz Zuckerberg and the founding of Facebook. After getting dumped by his girlfriend for being self-centered and insensitive, Mark Zuckerberg — a Harvard sophomore and a computer genius — creates a website called Facemash, which allows male students to rate the physical appearance of their female classmates. This leads Mark to the idea of The Facebook, which he starts with the help of his best friend Eduardo Saverin. As their social networking website becomes successful among the Ivy League schools, they catch the attention of Napster founder Sean Parker. However, Parker's involvement ultimately results in the deteriorating friendship between Mark and Eduardo, who sues Mark for his betrayal. In addition to Eduardo's lawsuit, Mark must also deal with another lawsuit involving the Winklevoss twins, who are accusing him of stealing their idea.

From acclaimed filmmakers David Fincher and Aaron Sorkin, "The Social Network" boasts an incredibly well-written screenplay and top-notch performances, particularly with Jesse Eisenberg and Andrew Garfield in the two lead roles. The film was popular at the box office, earning a worldwide gross of $224 million. It also successfully nabbed three Oscar wins out of eight nominations including best adapted screenplay, best original score, and best film editing.

Based on Charles Webb's 1963 novel, "The Graduate" follows 21-year-old college graduate Benjamin Braddock (Dustin Hoffman) as he returns home to his parents in Pasadena, California. As he works out what he wants to do with his life, he embarks on an affair with Mrs. Robinson, the wife of his father's law partner and a woman he has known since childhood. And to make matters worse, his parents keep on encouraging him to date Mr. and Mrs. Robinson's daughter Elaine. As he spends more time with Elaine, Ben unexpectedly finds himself falling in love with her. Now, he must find the courage to end his affair with Mrs. Robinson, before Elaine or anyone else ever finds out about it.

Considered one of the greatest films of all time, "The Graduate" captures a uniquely youthful experience of feeling aimless and without purpose, with strong performances from Dustin Hoffman and Anne Bancroft. The final scene of Ben rescuing Elaine from her wedding and escaping on a bus is hauntingly beautiful and honest, creating one of the most iconic movie endings ever and further establishing the film's status as a pop culture staple.

Damien Chazelle's acclaimed music drama film "Whiplash" follows first-year student Andrew Neiman, a 19-year-old aspiring jazz drummer who gets the opportunity to become part of the prestigious Shaffer Conservatory Studio Band led by conductor Terence Fletcher. Despite initially portraying himself as a kind and understanding bandleader, Fletcher's true colors are revealed during band practices. As it turns out, Fletcher exercises an authoritarian style of leadership where he tends to verbally and physically attack his students whenever they can't keep up with him. Despite being continually humiliated and berated by Fletcher, Andrew still values the conductor's opinions and pushes himself in the hopes of gaining Fletcher's coveted approval. However, his obsession with perfection leads him to further isolate himself, and the band takes over his life.

Miles Teller and J.K. Simmons star in this 2014 psychological drama about the lengths that a person's willing to go to for their ambitions and dreams. Both give their heart and soul to perfectly embody their respective characters' level of intensity. Their scenes together are powerful, if incredibly anxiety-inducing.