28 Best Back to School Movies for Tweens and Teens

It’s that time of year again – back to school. Enjoy these fun Back to School movies for kids and teens to prepare for going back to class or to celebrate another school year! Some are classics and some are newly released, but they all share the joys and turmoil of being a student at school.

Best Back to School Movies for Kids and Teens

These Back to School movies offer a mix of comedy, drama, romance, and relatable experiences that teens often encounter during their school years. Some of these movies about going back to school are rated PG to R, so choose the appropriate age rating for your kids and teens.

If you need some more laughs, these back to school memes will also help prep you for school.

Mean Girls (2004) – A comedy that follows Cady Heron (Lindsay Lohan) navigating the complicated social hierarchy of high school. Rated PG-13.
Clueless (1995) – A modern adaptation of Jane Austen’s “Emma,” set in a Beverly Hills high school, focusing on fashion, friendship, and romance. Alicia Silverstone and Paul Rudd star in this timeless classic. Rated PG-13.
The Breakfast Club (1985) – Five high school students from different cliques spend a Saturday detention together, leading to unexpected connections and revelations. Rated R. This film is for more mature audiences like teens.
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (2001) – Adaptation of the first of J.K. Rowling’s popular children’s novels about Harry Potter, a boy who learns on his eleventh birthday that he is the orphaned son of two powerful wizards and possesses unique magical powers of his own. He is summoned to become a student at Hogwarts, an English boarding school for wizards. There, he meets several friends who become his closest allies and help him discover the truth about his parents’ mysterious deaths. Rated PG. This one is good for older kids and tweens.
Easy A (2010) – A high school girl’s life (Emma Stone) takes a turn when rumors about her promiscuity start circulating, based on Nathaniel Hawthorne’s “The Scarlet Letter.” Rated PG-13. This movie is better suited for teens.
Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986) – A high school student’s elaborate scheme to skip school for a day of fun and adventure. Rated PG-13.
10 Things I Hate About You (1999) – A modern adaptation of Shakespeare’s “The Taming of the Shrew,” revolving around the complexities of high school relationships. Starring Julia Stiles and Heath Ledger, this is a great movie, but there are a lot of sexual jokes and innuendos, so I’d save this one for older teens.
Pitch Perfect (2012) – A musical comedy following a college freshman who joins an a cappella group and learns about teamwork and friendship. This film has one of the best soundtracks and is perfect for anyone who has ever been into music or drama. Rated PG-13.
High School Musical (2006) – A Disney Channel original movie centered on the lives of high school students and their love for music and performing. The original is the best, but number 3 also ranks high up there. this is great for older kids and tweens full of wonderful musical numbers.
Dead Poets Society (1989) – A more serious film about an English teacher (Robin Williams) who inspires his students to appreciate poetry and seize the day. Rated PG, but I would recommend this one for teens.
Napoleon Dynamite (2004) – Quirky and offbeat, this film follows the daily life of Napoleon (Jon Heder), an awkward high school student with a unique personality. Rated PG. This is a great movie for tweens and teens.
She’s All That (1999) – A popular jock bets he can transform a nerdy girl into the prom queen, leading to unexpected romantic developments. Rated PG-13.
He’s All That (2021) – An influencer specializing in makeovers bets she can transform an unpopular classmate into prom king in this remake of the teen classic “She’s All That.” Starring current TikTok star Addison Rae.
Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret (2023) – A retelling of the classing Judy Blume book, 11-year-old Margaret and her family move to a new town and Margaret starts to contemplate everything about life, friendship and adolescence. She relies on her mother, Barbara, who offers loving support, and her grandmother, Sylvia, who’s coming to terms with finding happiness in the next phase of her life. Rated PG-13.
High School Musical 3: Senior Year (2008) – The final installment of the “High School Musical” series starring Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens, focusing on the characters’ experiences as they approach graduation. This one will really tug at your heartstrings if you’re a senior. Rated PG.