It’s back-to-school time and for many that means it’s time to say farewell to summer. Not ready for it? Here are 5 movies to get you in the back-to-school mood!

While the kids may be dreading going back to school, parents seem to be going through the opposite. Many are ready for a bit of independence and some quiet time. These are some of the best movies that fit the back-to-school theme that many of us are feeling right now.

What Are The Best Back-To-School Movies?

Some kids are already back at school, and we’re sorry we weren’t there to give you this list ahead of time. However, many more are going to be going back to school this week or after Labor Day Weekend. Saying goodbye to summer and hello to the 2024-2025 school year doesn’t have to be a sad thing. It can be something exciting! You just have to be in the right mood and have the right perspective.

Just like there are many TV shows and movies that take place in an office setting, just as many probably take place at a school. It could be an elementary school, junior high, high school, a fictional wizarding school, college, boarding school, or even some sort of trade school! It doesn’t matter! Which ever school you might be preparing to go back to, there’s a movie or show that focuses on what you’re about to do. Sometimes they can be fun experiences and other times they can be the school from Hell. No matter what you’re looking for, you can find it.

To make the list of the best movies to get you in the mood for back-to-school I couldn’t just go with my favorites. They aren’t all popular enough. Instead, I wanted to focus on movies we are all familiar with, and movies you can enjoy with the family! I also think these movies stand the test of time. Where Grease might have been a popular movie at one point, but I feel like it doesn’t represent anybody’s experience today. So, it will not be on the list. Neither will Fast Times At Ridgemont High or Accepted which are both great movies (in my opinion) but I felt like there were more family-friendly movies out there that everyone can enjoy together.

What do you think are the best movies to get you in the mood for back-to-school? Did they made the list?

• Billy Madison

  There’s no way I’m the only one who had the “Back To School” song stuck in my head the whole week leading up to going back to school. Adam Sandler’s singing will forever be stuck in my brain for that. Billy Madison is a great back-to-school movie because it brings us back and makes us wonder what it would be like going back to school as adults. It’s nostalgic and it’s hilarious. Definitely one of my favorite movies to get in that back-to-school mood.

• Mean Girls

  Mean Girls is a national treasure. Sure, things went downhill for Lindsay Lohan shortly after, but the movie remains a gem! It’s one of those movies where there’s a laugh in every scene and it remains timeless today. Moving when you’re in high school would be rough, and this showcases exactly why. I’m sure everyone in school has a Regina George in their life and this helps you feel like you are not alone.

• Harry Potter And The Sorcerer's Stone

  Honestly, any Harry Potter movie would work as a back-to-school movie except for maybe the last 2. Harry, Hermoine, and Ron opt not to return to Hogwarts in the 7th book (7th and 8th movies) so maybe don’t go for those ones. However, the other movies are great! I picked the first one because of the anticipation of going to an unfamiliar school. I thought it best represented the feeling of going back-to-school. Sure, it would be great to get the kids to read the books during Summer Reading, but closing out the summer with a Harry Potter movie can be fun for the whole family. You can even make Butter Beer! It’s delicious.

• School Of Rock

  Jack Black is at his very best in School Of Rock. It’s also a different take on going back-to-school. In the movie, Jack Black pretends to be something he’s not so he can have a job at the school and can afford to pay rent and such. However, the students and their interesting personalities give the movie life. It’s a great back-to-school movie that can inspire the kids to follow their dreams. You can learn a lot more at school than just math and science. It is what you make it!

• Old School

  Just like Jack Black is at his best in School Of Rock, Will Ferrell is at his best in Old School. To me, this is the best role he’s had. He’s so great as Frank as we watch him get married and slowly ruin it all. The “we’ve got to keep our composure” freak-out is peak Will Ferrell. Nobody gets angry like him. It’s also a refreshing back-to-school take because it’s about grown men who live like they’re back in college for a bit. Who wouldn’t want that? It would be glorious.

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