A Glean movie guide
Definitive 90s Teen Classics
As if you could pick just one.
From high school hierarchies to rebellious nights, these are the films that defined a decade.
Handpicked for this guide
The movie list
- 01
Clueless
The ultimate 90s trendsetter that brilliantly satirizes Beverly Hills social hierarchies.
Shallow, rich and socially successful Cher is at the top of her Beverly Hills high school's pecking scale. Seeing herself as a matchmaker, Cher first coaxes two teachers into dating each other. Emboldened by her success, she decides to give hopelessly klutzy new student Tai a makeover. When Tai becomes more popular than she is, Cher realizes that her disapproving ex-stepbrother was right about how misguided she was -- and falls for him.
- 02
10 Things I Hate About You
A witty and charming modernization of Shakespeare that features a standout breakout cast.
On the first day at his new school, Cameron instantly falls for Bianca, the gorgeous girl of his dreams. The only problem is that Bianca is forbidden to date until her ill-tempered, completely un-dateable older sister Kat goes out, too. In an attempt to solve his problem, Cameron singles out the only guy who could possibly be a match for Kat: a mysterious bad boy with a nasty reputation of his own.
- 03
Scream
A meta-horror masterpiece that revitalized the slasher genre by playing with its own rules.
A year after the murder of her mother, a teenage girl is terrorized by a masked killer who targets her and her friends by using scary movies as part of a deadly game.
- 04
Dazed and Confused
A hazy, nostalgic look at the final day of high school that captures the essence of teenage freedom.
The adventures of a group of Texas teens on their last day of school in 1976, centering on student Randall Floyd, who moves easily among stoners, jocks and geeks. Floyd is a star athlete, but he also likes smoking weed, which presents a conundrum when his football coach demands he sign a "no drugs" pledge.
- 05
Cruel Intentions
A dark and stylish tale of manipulation and high-stakes wagers among Manhattan's elite youth.
Slaking a thirst for dangerous games, Kathryn challenges her stepbrother, Sebastian, to deflower their headmaster's daughter before the summer ends. If he succeeds, the prize is the chance to bed Kathryn. But if he loses, Kathryn will claim his most prized possession.
- 06
Boyz n the Hood
A powerful and critically acclaimed drama about the challenges of growing up in South Central Los Angeles.
In the middle of the Los Angeles ghetto, drugs, robberies and shootings dominate everyday life. During these times, Furious tries to raise his son Tre to be a decent person. Tre's friends, on the other hand, have little regard for the law and drag the entire neighborhood into a street war...
- 07
The Craft
A supernatural cult classic that explores teenage alienation through the lens of witchcraft.
A Catholic school newcomer falls in with a clique of teen witches who wield their powers against all who dare to cross them -- be they teachers, rivals or meddlesome parents.
- 08
American Pie
The raunchy, era-defining comedy that became the blueprint for the late-90s teen sex farce.
At a high-school party, four friends find that losing their collective virginity isn't as easy as they had thought. But they still believe that they need to do so before college. To motivate themselves, they enter a pact to all "score" by their senior prom.
- 09
Romeo + Juliet
A visually explosive and high-energy adaptation that remains an iconic piece of 90s pop culture.
In director Baz Luhrmann's contemporary take on William Shakespeare's classic tragedy, the Montagues and Capulets have moved their ongoing feud to the sweltering suburb of Verona Beach, where Romeo and Juliet fall in love and secretly wed. Though the film is visually modern, the bard's dialogue remains.
- 10
Election
A sharp and biting satire of high school ambition and the adults who get caught in the crossfire.
Tracy Flick is running unopposed for this year’s high school student election. But Jim McAllister has a different plan. Partly to establish a more democratic election, and partly to satisfy some deep personal anger toward Tracy, Jim talks football player Paul Metzler to run for president as well.
- 11
Empire Records
A beloved cult favorite celebrating music, independence, and the bonds formed in a record shop.
The employees of an independent music store learn about each other as they try to stop the store from being absorbed by a large chain.
- 12
Can't Hardly Wait
The quintessential graduation party movie that weaves together dozens of teenage storylines in one night.
It's graduation day at Huntington Hills High, and you know what that means - time to party. And not just any party, either. This one will be a night to remember, as the nerds become studs, the jocks are humiliated, and freshman crushes blossom into grown-up romance.