6 Great High School Movies With an "R" Rating

Hey everyone! Zach Who Watches Movies here with a couple great movie recommendations for you all. This weekend the new movie Dope hits theaters and it centers around a group of High School seniors who get mixed up in a drug deal gone wrong. The film looks like a great time and I am super excited to see it but it go me thinking about High School movies. More specifically, High School movies that seem to be made for a more adult crowd. I always find it interesting when a movie about teenagers seems to be made more for an older audience. 

I took these thoughts and decided to compile a list of fantastic movies set in High School that are more enjoyable for adults than for actual High School students. The OCD in me wanted this list to be five films but I couldn't bring myself to exclude any of these from the list, so I didn't. Each of the six movies I am going to talk about below have stood the test of time as great works of art and two of them are actually some of the greatest works of film I have ever seen. High School is such a monumental phase in all of our lives that even years after we'eve left we still find so much intrigue in those four crucial years. If for any reason you haven't seen any movies on this list then seek them out. Each of these films are incredible and are must views in my opinion for any movie geek. 





1. Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982)

Cameron Crowe's first film, he wrote the screenplay off of his own book by the same name. He wrote the book after going undercover at a San Diego high school to write an article for Rolling Stone. While there he met all kinds of people and experienced all kinds of things. He took those experiences and made them into one of the greatest high school coming of age stories. Fast Times at Ridgemont High is the perfect representation of high school life in the late 70's and early 80's in California. We get to watch as a variety of high school kids from each classic niche find who they are over the course of an entire year of school. We see the freshmen perspective as well as the senior and what it is like for these kids to cope with giant changes. 

Although Fast Times is a film about real high school students this is one that is definitely more enjoyable as an adult. As someone who is still in school you may only find yourself identifiable with one area of the film and uncaring of the rest. Watching this movie some years after leaving high school you can appreciate every facet of this film and what it all means. The picture deals with the more adult themes of being in high school like sex, drugs, peer pressure, and finding who you are. The kids are either going into high school or getting ready to leave, two events that will literally change you as a person. With the perspective you get with age the more understanding that comes with it. You may have never been the stoner kid but while watching Spicoli (Sean Penn) stumble through school you will feel like you might have been. It's an incredible work of art that is required viewing for all movie nuts. You can find this movie everywhere on BluRay for like $8, see this movie.

2. The Breakfast Club (1985)

I don't think I need to say too much about this movie. An obvious choice but I couldn't leave it out, John Hughes 1985 masterpiece is not only one of the best high school movies ever made but I'd argue it as one of the greatest movies ever made. This film is definitely enjoyable for students but really hits home for the adult crowd. A theme you will notice through this list is that these movies all tackle the maturity of high school. The Breakfast Club explores the psychological damage those four years can cause and how ruthless kids can really be. When five students, representing each of the major stereotypes, are forced to spend a Saturday in detention together they come away with an entirely new perspective on life. I am sure most of you have seen this but if you have't, seek it out. Everyone should see this movie. 

3. Heathers (1988)

You all know 2004's Mean Girls, its a crazy fun movie about the battleground that is High School. Well, Heathers is more or less the original Mean Girls and I think it is actually more ruthless. Michael Lehmann's movie stars Winona Ryder and Christian Slater in a twisted movie that you've probably never seen anything like. It's a wacky 80's comedy with a wonderfully dark twist. When Veronica (Ryder) tries to be a part of the popular crowd, more specifically a group of girls who are know as the Heathers (what do you know, they are all named Heather) she realizes that being popular isn't all that its cracked up to. After meeting a new boy the two decide to execute a plan that they can never go back from.

This movie may be the most adult of the bunch. For starters the film is absolutely hilarious and earns its R rating and that alone lifts it up to stand out above the rest. Then the film takes a crazy twist, a dark twist, and turns into a bonkers high school movie. I won't spoil anything but just know that while even being a far fetched comedy this movie still functions just as well as the rest on this list. Among all of the craziness it is still a story about a girl trying to find herself and make High School as good as it can be. It seems a lot of the younger crowd hasn't seen this movie and that should change. It's a wonderful embodiment of 80's cinema.

4. Dazed and Confused (1993)

Much like The Breakfast Club, this movie kind of speaks for itself. It is one of the greatest films ever made in my opinion and should be seen by everyone at some point in their life. The movie follows two main groups of kids, one is a bunch of soon to be freshmen and the other is the kids about to head into their senior year. Its the last day of school and summer has finally come and with summer comes freshmen hazing. We get to watch as they all figure out how to enjoy their summer while still enforcing long time traditions, no matter how inappropriate they may be. The film is an incredible look at the "class system" of high school and how idiotic it is and just because we did things one way in the past it doesn't mean it was right and we should carry it on. Richard Linklater directs a masterpiece in film making and will make you wish you could go back to the first day of summer senior year all over again
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5. Rushmore (1998)

How could I talk about High School movies and not mention Rushmore? This is maybe the most unique of the bunch and I love it so much more because of it. The film is directed by Wes Anderson and anyone who knows his work knows he has a very specific style. To sum it up into one word, it's quirky. Rushmore is just that and in the best ways. Max (Jason Schwartzman) is an eccentric young mind who found his way into a highly prestige private school after writing a play back in primary school. When hes put on Academic probation and falling in love with a teacher he find himself dealing with problems no teenager in this world should be worrying about. 

Anderson is known for making movies about kids acting like adults and if you are a fan he does it better than anyone. This is what makes Rushmore a movie for adults, It deals with themes that no kid still in high school would have any real understanding of. He falls into an odd love triangle with two adults and it throws his world on its head. The film is quirky, hilarious, emotional and extremely well written and directed. Wes Anderson isn't for everyone but if you are a fan of his style and have't seen this one you are truly missing out. 

6. Superbad (2007)

Last but definitely not least is one of my favorite comedies of the 21st century, Superbad. I was actually in High School when this movie came out and I saw it in theaters. I thought it was the greatest movie ever at the time and thought it was impossible to love if you weren't in High School. I was wrong, watching this film now I think it is even more funny. Age has given me so much more to laugh at in this movie, whether it be jokes that just went over my head or certain themes that held no weight with me then. The film follows a pair of best friends in the last week of High School. They are getting ready to move onto to college and finally part ways. They refuse to accept change so easily though and make it a mission to make these final days of school the best of their lives. This leads them on a crazy series of events that will change their friendship forever. I'm sure most of you have seen this movie but I recommend revisiting it soon as I think you will see it has aged wonderfully and that it actually may be more enjoyable for you now. 



So there you have it, six fantastic films that are set in High School but best enjoyed by adults. They are all incredibly made films and if you have't seen any of them hunt them down and watch them. There will never be a shortage of High School movies as they are four of the most important years of our lives and I believe these to be the best of the bunch. Dope hits theaters this Friday and stars Shameik Moore and Blake Anderson. Ill be checking it out either Thursday night or Friday and my review will be up shorty after. As always you can find me on twitter @ZachWWMovies, smell ya later!