The 7 Best Teen Comedies From The 2000s
Just as the ‘80s and ‘90s brought with it a healthy tide of popular teen comedies, the 2000s boasted an equally large assortment of worthwhile coming of age films.
Capturing the signature fashion sense, slang terms, and underlying angst experienced by countless 2000s-era teenagers, these teen comedies eloquently lived up to the heights set by The Breakfast Club, Dazed and Confused, or 10 Things About You before it, achieving coveted cult status with each passing year since their respective release.
While there’s no shortage of great teen comedies originating from the 2000s, certain films from the decade continue to rise to the forefront of our individual imaginations. From light-hearted romantic comedies like She’s the Man to bittersweet dramedies like Juno, here are our absolute favorite teen comedies from the 2000s, ranked in order from worst to best.
Bring It On (2000)
You don’t have to be a cheerleader to fall in love with 2000’s Bring It On (although it probably helps). On the one hand, Bring It On serves as a supremely satisfying teen comedy, kicking off an expansive franchise that’s spanned six sequels and a short-lived Broadway musical. On the other hand, Bring It On also succeeds as a hilarious teen satire lampooning the ultra-competitive nature of high school sports, right down to the ruthless aggression displayed by athletes who want nothing more than to be the very best there is.
She’s the Man (2006)
As anyone who has seen Romeo + Juliet or 10 Things I Hate About You are sure to know, the ‘90s came filled with stylish adaptations of classic Shakespearean plays, many of which were updated with more relatable high school settings. Borrowing a page from these films’ playbook, She’s the Man takes the underlying narrative of Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night and moves it to a 2000s-era preppy boarding school. Led by a fantastic performance from Amanda Bynes, She’s the Man captures the signature sense of humor found within the Bard’s original play, punctuated by constant plot twists, chance encounters, and hilarious misunderstandings among the hapless characters throughout.
Ghost World (2001)
Based on Dan Clowes’ wildly successful comic book of the same name, Ghost World traces the friendship of cynical best friends Enid (Thora Birch) and Rebecca (Scarlett Johansson) as they face the uncertain future following high school graduation. Retaining all of Clowes’ biting humor and off-beat characterization, Ghost World’s quirky nature and edgier sarcasm may not be to everyone’s liking. Yet even then, there’s no question the film remarkably captures the bittersweet experiences that come with growing up, right down to wondering whether your childhood best friend will still be in your life post-graduation.
Napoleon Dynamite (2004)
On paper, Napoleon Dynamite is a film so exceptionally bizarre, it’s almost hard to believe it ever became so universally accepted by mainstream audiences the world over. Perhaps because it’s so notably strange, Napoleon Dynamite quickly became an unexpected cult sensation when it first debuted in 2004, capturing audiences’ attention with its eccentric characters, deadpan humor, and random bursts of slapstick comedy. To this day, we can safely assure you that it remains a teen comedy unlike any other in the genre’s history – a description not meant to be taken lightly.
Juno (2007)
In contrast to the lighter teen movies of the 2000s, Juno appears as a wholly different kind of comedy film. While it contains its fair share of laugh-out-loud comedic material, Jason Reitman’s 2007 dramedy openly discusses far more serious subject matter in the course of its brisk hour and a half runtime (including, most obviously, unplanned teenage pregnancies). With Elliot Page handing in a career-making performance as the confident yet conflicted lead character, Juno deserves praise for its delicate handling of a sensitive talking point, balancing out its humor with relatable drama throughout.
Mean Girls (2004)
Few films have shaken the foundations of pop culture to the same extent as 2004’s Mean Girls. Written by SNL wunderkind Tina Fey, Mean Girls delights at exploring the intricate dynamic that makes up high school social life, one where the cliques you belong to essentially define who you are as a person. While numerous films have analyzed this distinctly adolescent subject matter, Mean Girls finds a way to tread new ground in the genre, handing in a teen comedy that’s spanned sequels, reboots, and full-fledged Broadway adaptations.
Superbad (2007)
More often not than not, teen comedies fall into one of categories: the raunchy and low-brow party film (American Pie) or the slightly more realistic dramatic comedy (Juno). In this sense, Superbad falls somewhere in the middle of each category, freely alternating between these two wildly opposing comedic subgenres. Mixing together the unruly hijinks of Dazed and Confused with the contemplative nature of a classic John Hughes film, Superbad is that rare teen film that focuses on the deeper implications of high school graduation – namely, the uncertain dread we feel growing up and losing touch with our best friends. Sure, it may come packed to the brim with underage drinking, uproarious parties, and enough potty humor to fill a season of Family Guy, but it’s emotional underbelly makes Superbad a film worth watching again and again and again.
