HPPH's favourite teen movies

Ian's pick: Heathers (1989)

"Heathers will always be the greatest teen film because it threw a grenade into the genre and blew it up and every film in its wake is still trying to pick up the pieces.

Daniel Waters’ script is one of the greatest pieces of English literature of the last 40 years; it’s written with such an acidic tongue that Oscar Wilde would blush at some of the dialogue. There is barely a day where I don’t quote Heathers, consciously or not. It’s the kind of genius that only naivety can produce: he wrote it for Stanley Kubrick to direct… He never heard back so some guy called Michael Lehmann directed it in the end.

Dan has become a good and supportive friend of mine over the years and I’m still in awe I know the guy who wrote Heathers." - Ian, Volunteer.

Ian has interviewed Heathers' director Michael Lehmann here and writer Daniel Waters here.

Martha's pick: Juno (2007)

"I was obsessed with Juno as a teenager. The story of an unexpected, unwanted teen pregnancy sounds like it would be really stressful but, as well as the emotional side, it’s also really funny (such a great script!) and sweet. The cast is excellent and, for me, the star of the show – above even the hamburger phone – is the soundtrack. As well as watching the DVD endlessly at sleepovers, I listened to the CD of the soundtrack on repeat. The indie folk songs from Kimya Dawson, The Moldy Peaches, and Antsy Pants capture just how sweet this film is. Maybe the cutest song of all is 'Anyone Else but You', which features multiple times in Juno and inspired me and my best friend to be cute (or cringy, however you’d like to see it) teenagers playing guitar and singing it together." - Martha Boyd, Digital Marketing Coordinator.

Ollie's pick: Booksmart (2019)

"My go-to comfort film, Booksmart came as a breath of fresh air on its release, and for me somehow gets funnier and more charming with each watch. Female-led in every sense – from its stars and director, to writers and producers – this high-school graduation comedy is far funnier, kinder and less toxic as a result. It also does a great job with queer representation, challenging screen stereotypes with its lesbian lead, as well as her crush Ryan – casually distinguishing between sexuality and gender in a surprisingly refreshing way.

There are so many brilliant characters to love too, with Skyler Gisondo’s tragic but incredibly sweet Jared, and his iconic bestie Gigi (played to perfection by Billie Lourd), two personal favourites of mine. Whatever their weird relationship is, I’m into it. If that wasn’t enough, Booksmart also has a top-tier soundtrack, and a top-tier cameo – from the only good thing to come out of Friends – Lisa Kudrow." - Ollie, Marketing & Communications Manager.

Suman's pick: 10 Things I Hate About You (1999)

"Pure 90s goodness, and endlessly quotable, 10 Things I Hate About You brought Shakespeare to the masses in ’99 with its retelling of The Taming of the Shrew.

If the outfits, soundtrack, and Heath Ledger singing 'Can’t Take My Eyes Off You' on the bleachers weren’t enough for you, the cultural references throughout this film make for such a treat when watching with friends and really add to how rewatchable it is – I think I’m still picking up references I’ve missed after countless rewatches.

Although the protagonists, Kat Stratford and Patrick Verona, are fantastic and packed with grungy and rebellious 90s energy (seriously, why has no one sung to me on the bleachers yet), I think the beauty of 10 Things I Hate About You lies in how much detail is paid to the supporting characters: from the headmistress writing a pornographic novel in her spare time, to the Stratford’s fearful gynaecologist father, this film really feels like the quintessential teenage experience because of how immersive it is – it really feels like you’ve just graduated from Padua High! Class of ’99 baby! Gonna miss you all! See you all at Bogey Lowenstein’s party – I’ll be the one dancing on the table to Biggie’s 'Hypnotize'." - Suman, Volunteer.

We showed 10 Things I Hate About You as part of our Guilt-Free Pleasures strand last summer. Keep up with the programme here.

Jordan's pick: The Girl Who Leapt Through Time (2006)

"Let’s not talk about why Satoko Okudera’s screenplay, which loosely updates Yasutaka Tsutsui’s 1960s novella, is so associable with for a teenager – which I believe I would have still been when I first saw the film, if one in university rather than secondary school – or former one. Let’s talk about my sister. My sister is so stupid…" - Jordan, Cinema Services Coordinator.

Rowan's pick: The Rocking Horsemen (1992) 

"Nobuhiko Obayashi’s The Rocking Horsemen is pure joy and stands out to me in the pantheon of high school coming-of-age classics due to its emphasis on the magic of music and the bonds created by it. It’s a lovingly warm depiction of teenage friendships and the somewhat naive, youthful yet optimistic mindset that anything is possible if you work hard at it. While remaining very grounded for an Obayashi picture, The Rocking Horsemen provides whimsy in spades and is a must-watch for anyone who tried their hand at music at a young age." - Rowan, Volunteer.

Ellie's pick: Center Stage (2000) 

"The definitive film for dance-obsessed teens. Set in a NYC ballet school, 12 young dancers from different backgrounds across America fight it out for a place in the parent company whilst navigating love triangles, eating disorders and extreme injuries. 

With a screenplay by Carol Heikkinen, who wrote another teen classic, Empire Records and directed by Manchester theatre legend Nicholas Hytner, it’s a '00s film of the genre that’s held up surprisingly well; much better than Save The Last Dance...

As with most teen dance films, dance is used as a vehicle for the teens to realise their class, race and sexual differences and then come together by doing what they do best: performing a big, mixed-style dance number at the end. 

Brilliant costumes (shoutout to the leather pants and Jody’s tearaway tutu), a modern-twist ballet number to Jamiroquai’s 'Canned Heat' and a baby Zoe Saldana in her first screen role, Center Stage is a film I could watch over and over. But I’ll always blame it for making me believe one day two men would also fight over me by going head-to-head in a pirouette competition." - Ellie, Venue Coordinator.

Lou's pick: The Outsiders (1983)

"There were lots of teen films I watched on repeat during the 80s, so it's hard to choose one!

I didn't see The Outsiders when it was released at the cinema, but on video a few years later. I was starting to take an interest in films and had heard of Francis Ford Coppola, so I think that was what initially made me choose it at the rental shop. And the cast had gone on to make other very successful movies!

 It's similar in theme to West Side Story- gangs from different sides of the tracks, and it's about friendship and loyalty and finding your place in the world. It's quite a sad film, but I think that was part of the appeal as a teenager - that it was dealing with more adult themes.

I watched it with my kids years later and felt that it stood the test of time." - Lou, Volunteer.

Charlie's pick: A Goofy Movie (1995)

"While A Goofy Movie might first and foremost be considered a children’s film, the genre it is obviously trying to emulate is the teen flick. The catch is, there’s certain things you can get away with in a film both about and for adolescents that you can’t in a film primarily aimed at minors. There’s nary a drop of sex nor drugs to be found here, but it nevertheless hints at certain more mature issues in intriguing ways. 

While this is a coming-of-age story of sorts, it doesn’t quite have the gall to say the word 'puberty' out loud (Monster House has the upper hand in this respect). And yet, Max’s fears surrounding his fruition are made plain in a startling opening dream sequence that depicts him internally struggling to distance himself from his father’s emasculating shadow, as the age-driven dynamic in their relationship starts to shift, and the pressure to forge his own identity reaches intolerable heights. 

Even his mounting romantic passions are accentuated by the differing designs of the male and female characters: masculinity is reflected in the more vulgar, doglike appearances of its beholders, while femininity emulates the human figure almost exactly, complete with idealised proportions and gloveless hands, only an odd button nose left to distinguish them from perfect anthropomorphism. It’s a strange fixation, as though the studio thought audiences wouldn’t empathise with Max’s desires unless they themselves were given greater leeway to feel a similar way.

Nevertheless, what it all amounts to is an endlessly charming tale of the reconciliation of a father and a son – one which, for all of its heavily dated music, technology, and colloquialisms, straddles the line between genre and sentiment superbly. 

After all, arguably the most important achievement for the teen movie is in fact not to be timeless, but to be simultaneously of its time and behind the times; to evoke the heyday of a generation right as it has begun its fateful scattering into obscurity, so that we may watch and remember a time in our lives so vividly that it might have only ever truly existed in Polaroids." - Charlie, Volunteer.

Alice's pick: The Beat That My Heart Skipped (2005)

"Whilst definitely not a “teen” film – it was a film I watched as a young person first figuring out about the wonderful world outside of English-speaking cinema.

I remember picking up Da battre mon cœur s’est arrêté from HMV in the world cinema section – not knowing anything but just wanting to broaden my horizons – I was a bit of an edgy emo so there was a tiny bit of smugness attached to this purchase too.

The director you’ll know from the controversial Emilia Pérez, but this film is nothing like that. It’s a gritty, neo-noir where a man has to decide if he will continue down the path of crime and seediness or pursue a career as a pianist.

I thought, at the time, I was buying some tiny unknown international cinema (it won a BAFTA, 8 Césars, and a Silver Berlin Bear) but, as Bong Joon-ho said, 'once you overcome the one-inch barrier of subtitles, you will be introduced to so many more amazing films'." - Alice, Venue Coordinator.

Wendy's pick: Clueless (1995)

”Clueless is one of the more timeless teen comedies of its era for a range of reasons, not least the charming and funny performances by its incredible cast including Alicia Silverstone, Paul Rudd and the brilliant Brittany Murphy who sadly passed away in 2009 before really even getting started as a performer. However, setting aside the practical elements (cast, soundtrack, script, etc) Clueless has my heart because it is a fundamentally good-hearted film. It prods and makes fun of its characters but always with kindness because it believes they are fundamentally kind characters. It’s a gentle and loving world which, 30 years on, continues to make it an incredibly fun place to spend a couple of hours.” - Wendy, Head of Cinema.

Thanks for reading about our favourite teen movies! If you'd like to come see Clueless with us, you can find times and tickets here. And Bend It Like Beckham is showing on Sat 28 Jun at 18:00 and you can book tickets here.