The recent release of Riverdale's Lili Reinhart, could have taken: moving to LA or raising a baby. The film proved to be a hit with many viewers who could empathize with her character and even relate to life's dilemmas, causing eager college freshmen to question their decision.
Coming-of-age college movies have situated themselves firmly within the world of cinema, providing comfort for those first-day nerves. Here are ten college flicks guaranteed to put you at ease and help you find that same excitement of applying.
College Road Trip (2008)
Stream On Disney+
College Road Trip was a welcome addition to the comedy college genre, the star-studded cast brought to life the excitement of applying to college. The movie takes viewers on a road trip alongside Melanie and her dad to decide which college is best for her overprotective father and her plans to live an independent life away from him.
College Road Trip puts a hilarious spin on the anxieties some parents face when watching their children fly the nest whilst also encouraging current freshmen to relive the elation they felt when picking their chosen college. The father-daughter road trip captures this life-changing milestone through humor and is guaranteed to leave any nervous viewers excited about their future.
Everybody Wants Some!! (2016)
Stream On Showtime
Everybody Wants Some!! is considered Richard Linklater's best movie and for fans of the 1970s and '80s, is the perfect feel-good watch. The film follows Jake as he enters the world of college and begins living with his baseball team, where he learns to experience college life to the max.
Everybody Wants Some!! perfectly embodies the realization of the newfound freedom of college and builds upon that throughout the film, with many scenes showing the boys partying, getting up to mischief, and dabbling with romance. The film highlights the role of college friendships, including how they can become both a system as well as an influential group of party goers, encouraging viewers to find their people!
The Waterboy (1998)
Stream On Peacock, Tubi, & TruTV
The Waterboy is one of Adam Sandler's more inspiring parts, but he certainly lives up to his much-loved role as a comedy actor. In the '90s movie, he plays a water boy called Bobby Boucher until his coach realizes he is more talented than first thought due to his impressive tackling skills.
The Waterboy is the ultimate underdog story that left many fans cheering on Bobby as he was finally taken seriously, capturing the community spirit of college football. The movie encapsulates the liveliness, morale, and sense of belonging that comes with American football especially when played at the college level, making it an exciting watch for young hopefuls that hope to their college team.
Monsters University (2013)
Stream On Disney+
Monsters Inc, with the movie reminiscing on Mike and Sully's college days. The animated flick captures the beginning of college education to the end whilst remaining comically lighthearted yet moving.
Despite its animated nature, the movie does an incredible job of representing the complex feelings that come with moving away from home and embarking on a new journey of independence. Monsters University stays true to its Disney roots and provides viewers with a happy ending that many viewers found to be representative of their own college days.
Life Of The Party (2018)
Rent On AppleTV
Life Of The Party puts a fun twist on the typical college flick when college student Maddie finds herself being accompanied to college by her mother after she decides to return to education. This upbeat flick sought to represent a different age range than the average college student, making it a refreshing and welcoming change.
The movie's main character Deanne remains a reminder to older viewers that it is never too late to chase your dreams, nor is it too late to experience every element of college. Melissa McCarthy showcases how older students can also undergo a transformation in college and receive a newfound feeling of self-worth that promotes college as an empowering experience that is worth those first-day jitters.
Bad Neighbors (2014)
Rent On AppleTV
Bad Neighbors was a must-see movie in 2014 and has continued to be rewatched by fans of Zak Efron, Seth Rogan, and Rose Byrne. The movie pays homage to its title through its plot that follows parents Mac and Kelly as they meet their new neighbors who disrupt the quiet suburbia with their chaotic fraternity parties.
Bad Neighbors might not contain inspirational messages about studying or university life, but instead, paints college nightlife as an exciting must-have experience. Through strobe lighting, loud music, and an incredible cast, the movie s fraternity parties as a memorable and fun side of academic life that even Mac and Kelly reminisce on fondly, despite their anger towards the noise!
The Social Network (2010)
Stream On Hulu
The Social Network is easily David Fincher's best movie, with many film buffs listing it as a cult classic as it tells the story of the rise of Facebook, which is still a prominent fixture in contemporary living today. Jesse Eisenberg stars as a young Mark Zuckerberg, who created Facebook while in college.
This interesting flick may not offer the happiest viewing experience, but it does help to alleviate the stress potential college students may feel. The Social Network prompts freshmen to think about what they could achieve whilst also encapsulating the essence of university life through its scenes of both partying and studying, highlighted through its studious location.
Mona Lisa Smile (2003)
Stream On HBO Max
Mona Lisa Smile is a somewhat underrated watch with a star-studded cast and an incredible story of female empowerment as well as college life. Starring Julia Roberts as an art teacher in the 1950s, her character seeks to change the futures of her female students by challenging the role of women within society and encouraging them to aim higher.
The film educates its viewers that no dream is unachievable and succeeds in exploring the doors' that education opens whilst also presenting the idea of it as a privilege. Mona Lisa Smile features college as a positive and ive environment that encourages its students to see their potential and even the ways they can change history by studying, comforting viewers who may be nervous about leaving their current system behind.
Legally Blonde (2001)
Stream On Amazon Prime Video & Showtime
Legally Blonde may be the most popular feel-good "chick flick" to date, but the movie is also a great comfort film for anyone packing up for college. Elle Woods finds herself single after being dumped by her boyfriend for not matching his level of intelligence, but he is soon made to regret his decision when she becomes a student at Harvard too.
The movie is set on a college campus, allowing viewers an insight into where they will be living and studying whilst promoting the academic side of college. Elle displays how one can balance a social life and their degree through an exciting portrayal of college life that emphasizes the final feeling of accomplishment, reminding fans about the ultimate end goal.
Pitch Perfect (2012)
Stream On FuboTV & Peacock
Pitch Perfect has become a much-loved franchise within the world of cinema, with many die-hard fans still playing Barden Bella's acapella tunes. The first movie centers around Beca in her first year of college when her love of music leads to her stepping out of her comfort zone and ing a female-only acapella group.
This fun flick is the perfect watch to settle any first-day nerves, with the majority of the film's plot focusing on how college can be the place you find both yourself and your people. It showcases the importance of college societies and their variety, Pitch Perfect highlights the transformation one can undergo through college in a positive light that is guaranteed to excite viewers rather than terrify them.
