School’s back in session and everyone is already missing their long summer days and even longer summer nights. We’re getting prepared by organizing everything we own by color and alphabetizing all of our books. Wait, that might just be me… but either way, we are all getting ready to go back to school. Whether you’re in high school and ready to graduate or you’re working on your Bachelor’s degree, we all understand the start of school stress and how important it is to carve out some time to destress in between classes. What better way to destress than to watch a movie about someone else going through the struggles of school? Of course, when we think back-to-school, there are some obvious movies like Mean Girls, Billy Madison, and The Breakfast Club, so let’s find some that are a little outside of the box but will fill you with nostalgia and good vibes.

Love, Simon (2018)

Kicking off this list with a coming-of-age and sexuality story called Love, Simon. Love, Simon stars Nick Robinson as Simon Spier, a high school student who hasn’t told his family or friends that he is gay. On top of all of that, he has e-fallen for another boy in his school who is also in the closet. So, not only is Simon wrestling with how to tell his friends and family he’s gay and figure out who his anonymous online crush is, but he also has to do homework on top of that! Love, Simon is available to rent or buy on Prime Video.

Teen Witch (1989)

Teen Witch is a CLASSIC, and if you haven’t seen it, you need to watch it for the street dancing scene alone. Robyn Lively stars as Louise Miller, a nerdy high schooler who seeks out a psychic played by Zelda Rubinstein. The psychic, Madame Serena, tells her that on her 16th birthday, she will come into her magical abilities and be a full-fledged witch. The psychic is right, and Louise receives her powers on her birthday. Of course, she does what any high school girl would do; use them to make her popular. As we can predict, getting everything you want isn’t all that it’s cracked up to be, so Louise runs into some teenage witch problems. Teen Witch is available to stream on Tubi and MGM+.

Dead Poets Society (1989)

Dead Poets Society is one of the most amazing Robin Williams films he’s done, which is saying a lot considering so many of his films are wonderfully nostalgic and incredible. Dead Poets Society focuses on Williams as John Keating, a new professor at an all-boys prep school. The prep school is known for its tradition and rigid structure. They stay true to their old ways and don’t like change. However, Keating comes in and shows his students a whole new world of how to seize every opportunity and expand their horizons. He helps many to come out of their shells and shed the shame of external pressure from parents and other faculty. Dead Poets Society is for anyone who is struggling with what they want to do and who they want to be, which is the majority of us at any point in high school or college. This film is available for rent on Prime Video. 

Fast Times At Ridgemont High (1982)

Fast Times At Ridgemont High is for all of the students who just want to have fun, party, and not take life too seriously. Fast Times is about a ragtag group of teenagers just trying to survive high school and college, having jobs, tough teachers, and failing love lives. It’s the ultimate coming-of-age movie that will have you giggling and, at times, relating too on such a deep level. Even if you can’t relate, it’s almost guaranteed that one of the students will remind you of one of your friends or classmates. Fast Times is available to stream on AMC+ or Prime Video. 

Election (1999)

Reese Witherspoon, Chris Klein, and Matthew Broderick star in Election, a high school comedy about becoming student body president. Witherspoon plays Tracy Flick, a shoo-in for president because of her overachieving and unethical ways. Jim McAllister (Broderick) realizes that Tracy is playing dirty to win the election, so he helps Paul Metzler (Klein) run for president and hopefully win against her. When you’re in high school, it feels bigger and more important than it actually is, so Tracy takes this incredibly personally and starts a war. Election is appropriate to stream this year as we are in an election year, and it may give a light-hearted break to the actual Presidential election. Election is available to stream on Paramount+. 

Accepted (2006)

“Ask me about my wei-”, well, if you’ve seen Accepted, you know the line. If you haven’t, Accepted is a hilarious story of a desperate high school senior who has received rejection letter after rejection letter from colleges he’s applied to. Bartleby Gaines (Justin Long) decides that enough is enough and he won’t be humiliated by his lack of acceptance, so he creates his own college, which is crazy ambitious, to be honest. Blake Lively, Jonah Hill, and Maria Thayer star alongside Long in this truly hilarious movie about creating your own future. Accepted is available to stream on Starz. 

Freedom Writers (2007)

Freedom Writers is the most tug-on-your-heart-strings movie on this list, but it is a must-see. Hilary Swank is Erin Gruwell, a teacher in a very racially divided high school with a group of at-risk teenagers who is set on getting these kids to graduate. When many have given up on their students because changing the system is too hard, Erin steps up and dedicates all of her time to helping these students learn and prosper. Erin gets these students to engage in class by asking them to write what they know and what they feel. Freedom Writers is based on a true story and if you watch it and don’t shed a tear or feel inspired, maybe you need to keep your own writing journal. You can watch Freedom Writers on Paramount+ with Showtime.