With the arrival of freezing temperatures and dramatic winter storms, many college girls are finding themselves going out less and spending more time tucked inside warm dorm rooms. So what better way to have fun and stay cozy than by getting together a group of friends and watching some classic teen comedies? Here’s a list of what I consider to be some of the best and most underrated chick flicks from the past few decades!
The ’80s
1. “The Breakfast Club” (1985)
2. “Pretty in Pink” (1986)
3. “Heathers” (1988)
John Hughes basically defined the teen genre in the ’80s, and with films like The Breakfast Club and Pretty in Pink it’s not hard to see why! Both films honestly, hilariously, and emotionally portray the struggles of high school and family drama, which still make them relatable thirty years later!
Heathers is a black comedy about a girl who gets wrapped up in a dangerous plot to get revenge against her popular girl clique. Filled with incredibly witty one liners, Heathers is basically a much darker predecessor to Mean Girls featuring some amazing ’80s shoulder pads and plaid skirts.
The ’90s
1. “Clueless” (1995)
2. “10 Things I Hate About You” (1999)
3. “Jawbreaker” (1999)
There’s something unique about the whimsical vibe of many ’90s films that almost feels like you’re watching a fantasy. I mean who wouldn’t want to have Cher’s amazing computerized closet from Clueless? These movie picks showcase completely different sides of the teen genre with Clueless being a lighthearted friendship and growing up flick, 10 Things dealing with a difficult (and often sarcastic) pursuit at romance, and Jawbreaker taking a dark, ridiculous look into the life of a high school Queen Bee. All three are thoroughly exciting and have some truly awesome soundtracks.
2000s
1. “Bring it On” (2000)
2. “Legally Blonde” (2001)
3. “John Tucker Must Die” (2006)
Now of course Mean Girls has come to be seen as one of the most iconic chick flicks of all time—A totally deserving honor. But with that in mind I decided to showcase three other titles that are just as fun and entertaining. The early 2000s were clearly a time for girl-power, and each of these feature female leads working hard for a goal. Whether that goal is a cheerleading championship, a law degree, or destroying the life of a cheating boyfriend, these movies will all have you laughing out loud and feeling pretty powerful.
2010s
1. “Easy A” (2010)
2. “The Perks of Being a Wallflower” (2012)
3. “Vampire Academy” (2014)
It’s still too early to tell which recent movies will be remembered for years to come, but in my opinion these three definitely embody the same clever, original vibes of the ones that came before. Easy A was an instant success that catapulted the hilarious and charming Emma Stone into stardom. Both The Perks of Being a Wallflower and Vampire Academy were based on popular novels. Perks is a deeper look at loneliness and starting high school while Vampire Academy is a vampy supernatural action film. The strengths of both lie in their depictions of incredible friendships between the characters.
So when BU announces the next snow day, grab some friends, pop a ton of popcorn and enjoy some new (or old) movies!