Top four movies that will put you in that back-to-school mood

These films won’t fail to put an end to your back-to-school blues

Isabella Sanchez / Assistant Arts & Culture Editor / The USD Vista

Whether students spent summer going to the beach, going out with friends or simply glued to their bed binge watching “Manifest,” gearing up for late night study sessions, pop quizzes, and being around way more people than we are accustomed to can all be very overwhelming. Subsequently, it is easy to forget what makes school bearable in those difficult times: seeing your best friends, meeting new people, and making unforgettable memories on and off campus. 

While these positives may be easy to forget in the midst of the back-to-school craziness, the following movie list will be enough to put you in the mood to crack open your books and get back in that school groove.

“Superbad”

This classic comedy follows the lives of two inseparable best friends, played by Jonah Hill (Seth) and Michael Cera (Evan), who have ambitious goals of their own before graduating high school. In their journey to establish themselves as “cool” kids rather than losers, they find themselves making unforgettable memories together. If this doesn’t prompt good ol’ nostalgia for those stupid yet hilarious moments with friends, then have a word with McLovin (because those moments are the best ones).

“10 Things I Hate About You”

Shakespeare’s “Taming of a Shrew”’ gets a modern twist with this ‘90s rom-com featuring Julia Stiles and Heath Ledger. The story mirrors that of Shakespeare’s but is a little less convoluted and more teen-friendly. 

Bianca (Larisa Oleynik) can only date when her snarky boy-hating older sister Kat (Julia Stiles) does, so little does Kat know that the rebel, Patrick (Heath Ledger), giving her attention is not just a coincidence. 

This film has every aspect of school that makes the long walks to class worth it: budding romance, new friendships, and fun times with one’s peers. 

And with its famous scene of Patrick serenading Kat with the help of the entire marching band, the film almost makes you wish you could be on the receiving end of a grand romantic gesture as soon as you step foot on campus again. 

“Clueless”

A ‘90s staple, “Clueless” follows glamorous teenager Cher (Alicia Silverstone) in her newfound objective to help others—which, for her, means graciously sharing her expertise in all important areas of life: romance, fashion, and looking good. 

After a successful matchmaking mission with her two professors, Cher moves on to her next “project”—Tai, played by Brittany Murphy, who is next in line for Cher’s helping hand. After Tai surpasses Cher’s popularity (Uh as if!), she starts to realize that when it comes to actually helping others she is…clueless. Behind the makeup montages lies a film about finding your way, friendship, and most importantly fashion—all things very representative of being back on campus.

“The Breakfast Club”

This ‘80s classic explores how the lives of completely different high school students—a brainiac (Anthony Michael Hall), a criminal (Judd Nelson), a basketcase (Ally Sheedy), an athlete (Emilio Estevez), and a princess (Molly Ringwald)—intersect and how they ultimately end up as close friends by the end of their shared Saturday detention. While hopefully students won’t find themselves in detention, they will encounter many new and interesting faces on campus. Take a note from the Breakfast Club and get to know somebody different from you, as one of the most exciting parts of school is meeting and forming friendships with a diverse group of people.

It is no secret that being back on campus is a little daunting if not overwhelming for the first few weeks, so take some time to soak in the back-to-school nostalgia with these movies as a reminder that the Sunday scaries don’t necessarily have to be so scary.