A Glean movie guide
The Ultimate 90s Teen Movie Guide
As if you could pick just one.
Nostalgic classics, high school hierarchies, and the films that defined a decade.
Handpicked for this guide
The movie list
- 01
Clueless
A sharp, stylish, and endlessly quotable modernization of Jane Austen’s Emma set in Beverly Hills.
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 charming Shakespearean retelling featuring an iconic breakout performance from Heath Ledger.
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
Dazed and Confused
The ultimate hangout movie, capturing the rebellious spirit of the last day of high school.
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.
- 04
Scream
A clever, self-aware slasher that revitalized the horror genre for a new generation of fans.
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.
- 05
Boyz n the Hood
A raw and influential masterpiece about growing up amidst the challenges of 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...
- 06
Cruel Intentions
A sleek and scandalous drama of manipulation and romance among Manhattan’s elite private school 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.
- 07
Romeo + Juliet
Baz Luhrmann’s neon-soaked, hyper-stylized take on the world’s most famous star-crossed lovers.
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.
- 08
American Pie
The era-defining raunchy comedy that set the standard for the modern high school sex romp.
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
The Craft
A moody supernatural thriller that explores the empowerment and isolation of high school outcasts.
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.
- 10
Election
A biting and brilliant satire that turns a student body election into a high-stakes power struggle.
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 vibrant tribute to 90s alternative culture set entirely within an independent record store.
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
An energetic ensemble comedy capturing every high school archetype at one wild graduation party.
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.