5 Movies to Help You Mentally Prep for the School Year

I think by now, we all know that high school is not like the movies, but that doesn't make high school fantasies any less fun to watch. Despite literally never using my locker or dropping my books dramatically, I still love watching all of the classic tropes that make high school seem like an exciting place to be. However, even though everyone enjoys watching Ferris Bueller sing on top of the parade float or see Samantha Baker eat birthday cake on top of a table with Jake Ryan, you can't help but feel these classics are a little outdated. Whether you're looking for something to make the last days of summer go faster or just hoping for some first day outfit ideas, we've got you covered with this list of the five best back to school movies, that weren't written by John Hughes.

Edge of Seventeen- (2016)

Synopsis: Haillee Stienfeld stars as Nadine Franklin, an angry and rebellious teenager whose only friend starts going out with her popular and hot older brother. Now completely alone, Nadine starts confiding in her equally gruff history teacher, played expertly by Woody Harrelson, makes friends with a shy fellow student who is head over heels in love with her, and sends a risky text to her crush. It's a very sweet and tender movie about family, friendship, and looking past the surface.

Iconic Quote: "Your head is too big for your body. It looks ridiculous, and you'll never be able to fix it." - Nadine

Never Been Kissed - (1999)

Synopsis: Nobody cries in a bathroom like Drew Barrymore. Barrymore stars as newspaper editor, Josie Geller, whose dreams of being a reporter come true when she's sent to pose undercover as a high school student to find an interesting story for her newspaper. The only problem is that when she was at school, in the 80s, she was picked on mercilessly by the cool kids. With the help of her cool brother and fellow journalists at the Chicago Sun, Josie has the opportunity to become popular at last.

Iconic Quote: "I CAN grab the bull's balls!"

Miss Stevens- (2016)

Synopsis: If you're still mad at Timothee Chalamet for how well he plays hot jerk Kyle Scheible in Lady Bird, take a trip back in time to 2016 when he played the shy and sensitive Billy in Miss Stevens. Miss Stevens is about a slightly alcoholic English teacher, still reeling from the death of her mother, who agrees to chaperone three students at a drama festival over the weekend. It's a sweet movie that reminds students everywhere that teachers are people too.

Iconic Quote: "I'm just having trouble caring about a lot of things right now."- Billy

To All The Boys I've Loved Before- (2018)

Synopsis: Based on the bestselling novel by Jenny Han, this Netflix original has snuck it's way into my heart and become one of my favorite guilty pleasure movies. After losing her older sister to college, shy yet charismatic high school junior Laura Jean starts the school year worried about being all alone. Then one day, the secret letters she wrote to her five biggest crushes mysteriously get sent out, including one that she wrote to her sisters ex-boyfriend. This sweet movie not only boasts of great chemistry between the two leads, Noah Centineo and Lana Candor, but also of some really great sister bonding moments, and a true-to-life, sarcastic little sister."

Iconic Quote: "If you need me I'll be in the nurse's office, with a migraine, googling Justin Trudeau shirtless."

The D. U. F. F. - (2015)

Synopsis: I agree that this movie has a sexist premise and that it's definitely the most cheesy of all the movies on this list, but The DUFF holds a special place in my heart. It was the first movie I ever got to go watch with friends at the theater and remains a sentimental piece from then the beginning of my teenage years. Mae Whitman plays Bianca, a high school student who is perfectly happy with her two best friends, until she finds out that she's the DUFF, or Designated Ugly Fat Friend, of their friend group. After lashing out at her friends, who have no idea what she's talking about, Bianca enlists the help of the jock next door Wes, played by Robbie Amell, to help her escape her role. Anyone who has watched the whole movie could tell you that The Duff makes a joke of itself in the best way possible.

Iconic Quote: "Why was I Bosley? There were THREE Angels!"