The 5 Best 2010s Teen Comedies On Netflix Right Now
When most people hear the words “teen comedy,” they might instinctively think of iconic ‘80s or ‘90s films like Fast Times at Ridgemont High, The Breakfast Club, Clueless, or Dazed and Confused.
While there’s no denying that each and every one of those movies is perfectly deserving of their favorable status today, it’s also worth recognizing the sheer number of fantastic teen comedies that have come out in more recent decades, including such modern classics as Ladybird, Easy A, The Perks of Being a Wallflower, or Booksmart, among others.
Fortunately, Netflix’s streaming catalog seems to feature a sizable volume of teen comedies from the 2010s, many of which serve as a viable viewing option the next time you’re looking for something to watch online. From rowdy party films to light-hearted romantic comedies, here are five supremely entertaining teen comedies currently streaming on Netflix.
#realityhigh (2017)
The 2010s equivalent to Pretty in Pink or Sixteen Candles, #RealityHigh hits many of the same notes audiences associate with a vintage John Hughes film from the 1980s. In spite of these similarities, what sets #RealityHigh apart from its predecessors is the intrinsic focus it places on social media – namely, in how it shapes a younger person’s psyche slowly over time. While other movies like Eighth Grade might have done a better job handling this contemporary talking point, #RealityHigh still manages to explore its subject matter with thought-provoking sensitivity and nuanced complexity.
The Babysitter (2017)
Netflix has produced dozens of gripping horror movies over the years, from self-referential slashers like the Fear Street franchise to suspenseful Stephen King adaptations like 1922 or Gerald’s Game. Falling into the center of this eclectic mix is 2017’s darkly comic slasher film, The Babysitter. A tongue-in-cheek take on the traditional slasher narrative, The Babysitter leans heavily into its basis in overly-stylized horror stereotypes, ensuring a film that unfolds like a gory cross between Scary Movie and Scream.
Project X (2012)
Anyone who has ever thrown a high school party recognizes the inherent dangers they’re inviting into their room. Admittedly, Project X might take some liberties in dramatizing the anarchic nature of a high school party – but not by a totally ridiculous margin. Conjuring up an epic party that puts the swarays of Animal House to shame, Project X’s simple yet hilarious premise of a party slowly spiralling out of control provides nothing but laugh-out-moments, complete with wrecked Mercedes, scorching flamethrowers, drug-fueled teenagers, and a humorously demented Miles Teller smashing garden gnomes, among other party favors. Watch this soon–it leaves Netflix January 31st.
The Perfect Date (2019)
Like many other teen comedies from the 2010s, The Perfect Date may rely too heavily on familiar themes from other, arguably far better films before it. Yet at the end of the day, this cozy 2019 romantic comedy proves engaging enough to maintain viewers’ interest throughout, thanks in large part to the agreeable performances of its main cast (none more so than lead actor Noah Centineo). Taking a page out of Easy A’s playbook and mixing it with elements of Risky Business, it’s a fancifully fun romcom viewers might find themselves returning to again and again for any impromptu date nights in their near future.
Secrets in the Hot Spring (2018)
Imagine having to spend the night at an isolated hotel you strongly suspect of being haunted … with two people you can hardly stand being in the same room with. Such is the unique concept behind 2018’s wholly underrated horror comedy Secrets in the Hot Spring – one of the best Netflix films most people have never even heard of. Dovetailing buoyant comedy with a tried-and-true haunted house premise, Secrets in the Hot Spring delivers a ceaseless number of chills and thrills throughout its fast-moving hour and nine-runtime.
