Breakfast Club

Breakfast Club is the quintessential high school movie. While being a fun John Hughes movie, there are morals to be learned. Each character is a different archetype of the kids you’ll see in any given high school still today. The jock, the nerd, the rebel, the good girl, the weirdo. Not many movies pull this off quite as well, but throwing these different people together, having them really get to know each other, shows the viewer that, even though they seem different, we’re all the same deep down.  If you look past the surface differences, you can see the things you have in common with nearly anyone.

Older kids and up

Ferris Beuller's Day Off

John Hughes strikes again! No lessons learned this time though, unless you count Cameron learning that he needs to experience life more and have more fun. Instead, Ferris is just the coolest kid ever. Everything goes his way, everyone loves him. Well, everyone except his principal and sister. Join him on a day where he skips school and forgoes all responsibility and see one of the most fun movies ever made.

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Older kids and up.

Middle School: Worst Year's of My Life

I don’t want to spoil anything about this movie, but though it comes across, in any preview you’ll see, as a light-hearted comedy, this movie made me ugly cry like no other. Based on a book series by James Patterson, the story follows middle schooler Rafe and his mission to free his school from the tyranny of an oppressive, rule-driven principal.

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All ages

Karate Kid

Wax on, wax off. Crane kick. Sweep the leg. This movie is iconic. A bullied kid learns the ways of karate, not to get revenge, but to learn to defend himself and find and inner confidence. Multiple morals here, non-violence, ignore the bullies, try hard at everything you do.  If the bullies don’t leave you alone though? A crane kick can always come in handy.

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All ages

Dead Poet's Society

A lot of topics covered in this movie aren’t for the little ones. Granted, younger kids would be bored with this movie anyway, but prepare for serious subject matter. Dead Poet’s Society proved Robin Williams’ acting chops beyond comedies. He’s simply wonderful as the teacher who truly cares for his students and wants them to learn to live, learn to enjoy life, learn to sound their barbaric yawps and seize the day!

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Teens

Back to School

The late, great Rodney Dangerfield decides at an old age (was he EVER young?) to go back to college so he can teach his son to enjoy the college life himself. Extravagant, boisterous, loud, uncaring about the rules, many of the college professors find him hard to deal with. Rodney goes back to school, but the school may not survive the experience!

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Teens

Mean Girls

Another movie that shows the trouble with cliques and bullies. A girl (Lindsey Lohan) arrives in a new school divided by the cliques and ran by the titular mean girls. Quickly, she has to learn the ropes and learn how to deal with the bullying. The language content, especially of the mean girls, is not for the younger kids.

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Teens

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

Harry Potter is a modern day fairy tale. It has all the fairy tale clichés, dragons, monsters, giants, and the mistreated kid that has to overcome all the things stacked against him. However, the book series and the movies grow so much past that. They’re fun to watch. They’re adventurous. They’re magical. You grow to love the characters or at least the ones that you’re allowed to say their name.

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All ages, especially for the earlier installments.

Kindergarten Cop

Ah-nold is generally known for his action movies. However, as the out of place strong man, he is often very hilarious. No time is he more out of place that being in charge of a bunch of little kids! Don’t worry, though, this movie still ALSO has plenty of action. He is a cop after all. Remember, though, don’t suggest his headache is a tumor!

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Older kids and up

Real Genius

Real Genius is pure fun. A school filled with super genius kids gets embroiled in a scheme by a teacher, working with the government, to develop advanced weapons. Don’t worry, though, a young, rebellious Val Kilmer is there to save the day and have fun while doing it!  Plus, you’ll never be able to hear Tears for Fears’ “Everybody Wants to Rule the World” again without thinking of this movie…and popcorn.

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Older kids and up

Akeelah and the Bee

The stress of getting up in front of your classmates for a spelling bee, and potentially being humiliated, definitely says “back to school.” In this movie, Akeelah discovers she has a talent for spelling and combines that talent with perseverance to reach for her dreams.

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All ages

Monsters University

In the prequel to Monsters, Inc, you get to watch how Mike and Sully came to be the most successful scare team ever as the guys head off to college. Just like the rest of us, the monsters have to deal with bullies, cliques, humiliation, tests, grades, and failure. The only difference? When they do it, it’s animated and hilarious.

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All ages

School of Rock

A rock’n’roller gets kicked out of his band and finds himself down on his luck. In a desperate ploy to make some money, he pretends to be a substitute teacher. Of course, the only topic he knows is rock’n’roll, so THAT’s what he teaches…even though it’s not what he’s supposed to be teaching. Along the way, he does succeed at teaching the kids confidence and how to be kids and not worry too much. In turn, they teach him to be an adult!

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All ages

High School Musical

It’s high school…with musical numbers! The school jock falls for the school nerd and joins the school musical to spend time with her. With all their time being spent in the musical, they neglect their responsibilities to the basketball team and the academic decathlon, sending ripples throughout the entire school.

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All ages

Diary of a Wimpy Kid

Entering into middle school, Greg Heffley schemes and connives to be the most popular boy in school. Though most of his plans backfire, they sure are fun to watch. The wildly successful book series gets turned into a really fun and family friendly movie series, starting with this entry.

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All ages