Movies

30 Movies to Get You in the Prom Spirit

From the '70s to today.
By Sara Delgado and Gianluca Russo
Scenes from prom movies
Everett Collection. Courtesy of Liz Coulbourn

Prom season is upon us, and regardless of where we are in life, we can all join in on the fun with prom movies—so that's whether you are planning your own prom this year, have already done prom years ago, or are looking forward to prom in future years.

There’s something about prom that just makes it one of the best plot points when it comes to coming-of-age stories and YA rom-coms. A prom scene feels almost magical, and that’s why it’s become such a trope in teen movies and beyond. The excitement of a big night like prom is something we can all enjoy as spectators before, during, and long after our high school years.

If you are looking for a love story to celebrate prom season from the comfort of your home, we have gathered the 30 best prom movies to get you in the mood. Happy watching!

She's All That (1999)

Can a jock turn his high school's biggest nerd into prom queen? She's All That explores whether or not that's possible in a funny, adorable way when Zack Siler (Freddie Prinze Jr.) takes on the challenge to make over Laney Boggs (Rachael Leigh Cook). Although released in 1999, this teen rom-com still holds up today as one of the best—so much so that Netflix even remade it in 2021 with Addison Rae. (If you want a great watch, we’d stick to the OG, though!)

Lady Bird (2017)

We'll take pretty much any excuse to watch Saoirse Ronan and Timothée Chalamet on screen together, TBH. Lady Bird is one of the best recent coming-of-age films, and its story resonates with so many who feel different or out of place. The film follows the captivating story of Christine “Lady Bird” (Ronan) and her mother (Laurie Metcalf).

G.B.F. (2013)

The experience of being a G.B.F.—a.k.a. Gay Best Friend—is one that many can relate to, and this 2013 tongue-in-cheek film captures that perfectly. When Tanner (Michael J. Willett) is outed at school, the three most popular girls—including Fawcett Brooks, played by Pretty Little Liars' Sasha Pieterse—compete to see who can make him their G.B.F. before prom night arrives. The film is light-hearted, with comedic moments, though it touches on many relatable topics like coming out, self-acceptance, and finding your place—and style—in the world.

Mean Girls (2004)

Will any prom be as momentous as the North Shore High School Spring Fling? Whether you were rooting for Regina (Rachel McAdams) to win the crown in her post-bus-accident glory or stan Cady's (Lindsay Lohan) now-iconic tiara-breaking scene, Mean Girls is one of the few movies we can watch time and time again without getting bored.

Alex Strangelove (2018)

Alex Truelove (Daniel Doheny) seemingly has the picture-perfect life: good grades, an amazing girlfriend named Claire (Madeline Weinstein), and a hilarious crew of friends. But things get a bit complicated when he gears up for having sex for the first time. On top of that, he can't stop thinking about Elliott (Antonio Marziale), whom he met at a party. It's difficult to find prom movies with queer storylines, which is why Alex Strangelove is truly special.

High School Musical 3: Senior Year (2008)

Remember when Gabriella Montez (Vanessa Hudgens) ditched prom by leaving for Stanford after singing an iconic musical number about how it would be a night to remember? Ah, the memories. High School Musical 3 is Disney royalty at this point, and the film's prom number is one of the best from the trilogy. This final movie in the series follows Troy Bolton (Zac Efron) and the East High gang as they navigate senior year and the choices that come with it.

Prom Night (2008)

If you're into prom but want a more cynical take on the occasion, Prom Night may be the perfect thriller film for you. High schooler Donna Keppel (Brittany Snow) is forever traumatized when she witnesses her teacher murder her family at a young age. And when prom night comes around, what initially starts as an evening of glitz and glam quickly turns into a murderous occasion that this group of teens can't escape—all tracing back to that traumatic evening years ago. Prom Night is scary, chilling, and the perfect twist between prom and Halloween.

Prom Night (1980)

If you are a film buff, you will also want to watch the original Prom Night film that 2008’s reboot was based on. The first in a four-part slasher franchise, it features a group of high school seniors, led by a young Jamie Lee Curtis, as a masked killer seeking revenge turns their prom day from dream to nightmare.

To All The Boys: Always and Forever (2021)

Remember when the To All The Boys I've Loved Before franchise had us all in a chokehold following the love story between Lara Jean Song Covey (Lana Condor) and Peter Kavinsky (Noah Centineo)? Well, the franchise’s last installment, To All The Boys: Always and Forever, finally takes the two lovebirds to prom. Of course, the second movie, To All the Boys: P.S. I Still Love You, also features a ball, so what we are saying is this is the perfect chance to have a TATB marathon.

10 Things I Hate About You (1999)

Truly a classic, 10 Things I Hate About You is the go-to prom flick and one of the best rom-coms overall. A modern retelling of Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew, this film follows high schoolers Cameron (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) and Bianca (Larisa Oleynik) who fall in love but are being separated by her overbearing father. Their plan to get around his strict rules is complicated as they set up Bianca's older sister Kat (Julia Stiles) with brooding, rebellious Patrick (Heath Ledger). Romantic and relatable, there's no question why so many people love rewatching the film every year.

Selah and The Spades (2019)

Inside the popularity politics of the prestigious Haldwell School, queen bee Selah Summers (Lovie Simone) runs one of the school's five factions. More specifically, the one in charge of selling drugs to other students. As the end of her senior year approaches, she's tasked with finding a new protégé to take her place in the faction. That's when she finds Paloma (Celeste O'Connor), a new transfer student who Selah believes will be perfect for the job. Chaos ensues as they attempt to train Paloma in their ways, and the film's ending prom scene is a chaotic moment you won't see coming.

Carrie (1976)

If you only watch horror movies, even to get in the prom spirit, then Carrie should be on your watch list. The 1976 classic is full of twists and turns. Given how often it's been referenced in pop culture, the ending won't be much of a surprise, but if you are still in for the sinister ride, then Carrie is the prom film for you. The film follows Carrie White (Sissy Spacek), a heavily bullied teenager, as she first discovers her telekinetic powers. Warning: If blood grosses you out, you may want to pass on this horror-filled tale.

Never Been Kissed (1999)

Arguably one of Drew Barrymore's best films, Never Been Kissed is a nostalgic 1999 movie full of laughable moments and heartfelt ones. What could go wrong when a journalist (Barrymore) posing as a high school student falls in love with her new professor (played by Michael Vartan)?

Drive Me Crazy (1999)

Was 1999 the year of every major prom-themed rom-com? Seems like it! Drive Me Crazy follows two neighbors (played by Melissa Joan Hart and Adrian Grenier) who pretend to date in hopes of getting their crushes to notice them and become jealous. A classic plot line done right, Drive Me Crazy is an uplifting story full of romance.

Pretty in Pink (1986)

To be quite honest, we'll watch any film starring Molly Ringwald. Pretty in Pink follows the complications that come with dating outside your social circle—the horror!—and the mayhem that can come with that. Andie (Ringwald) is thrown off guard when Blane (Andrew McCarthy), one of the most popular boys in school, asks her on a date. Could it be true love, or is it just a ploy to embarrass her?

The Perks of Being a Wallflower (2012)

It seems like a whole generation of teens grew up on The Perks of Being a Wallflower, and there's a good reason why: It's really that good. Navigating topics like fitting in, new friendships, young love, and more coming-of-age issues, whenever you need a feel-good moment, this movie is there for you. Starring Emma Watson and other big Hollywood stars, the film follows Charlie (Logan Lerman) as he battles depression and anxiety while trying to fit in and make new friends throughout freshman year.

Napoleon Dynamite (2004)

If you like your coming-of-age with a heavy dose of humor, then Jared Hess’s Napoleon Dynamite is the prom movie you were looking for. The film follows our titular nerd, Napoleon Dynamite, played by Jon Heder, in his ordinary life as a high-school student, with class president elections, looming prom day with a crush, and quirky family issues galore.

The Prom (2020)

If you like your prom movies with a musical core, then Ryan Murphy’s The Prom, which adapts the Broadway musical of the same name, might be right up your alley. Set in a high school in Indiana, the whole plot is set in motion when the head of the PTA cancels prom after catching wind that Emma Nolan (Jo Ellen Pellman ) plans on attending the soirée with her girlfriend Alyssa Greene (Ariana DeBose). The movie features a star-studded cast with Meryl Streep, Nicole Kidman, Keegan-Michael Key, Andrew Rannells, Kerry Washington, and many more.

Grease (1978)

Also within the musical scope, there’s nothing quite more iconic when it comes to prom movies than Grease. The ‘70s classic follows the story of Danny Zuko (John Travolta) and new transfer student Sandy Olsson (Olivia Newton-John) as their relationship develops from crush to love, one song and dance at a time—including prom.

Footloose (1984)

Another prom musical classic, though this one is from the ‘80s, is Footloose. The movie, directed by the late Herbert Ross and written by Dean Pitchford, follows the story of Chicagoan teenager Ren McCormack (Kevin Bacon), who moves to a small town in Utah where a local minister (played by HBO’s new Dumbledore, John Lithgow) has imposed a ban on dancing that he’s set on overturning. Like Grease, you’ll surely recognize plenty of the songs in the movie’s soundtrack.

Prom Pact (2023)

If you love School Spirits and want to see Milo Manheim in a high school prom rather than a high school purgatory, then look no further than Prom Pact. The movie follows the story of high school senior Mandy Yang (Peyton Elizabeth Lee) and her best friend Ben (Manheim) trying to escape a sea of ‘80s-themed promposals as they come up with their own prom pact. However, Mandy has one goal: getting into Harvard. When she finds out she has been waitlisted, she comes up with a ploy to get closer to her high school’s all-star jock Graham Lansing (Blake Draper) and his Harvard alum father. And, of course, first impressions won’t be the only thing that matters.

Back to the Future (1985)

Robert Zemeckis’s seminal Sci-Fi film starring Michael J. Fox and Christopher Lloyd is as much about time travel as it is about prom, so it’d be a crime not to include it in this list. The first is a series of three movies; Back to the Future is a movie you’ll never grow tired of rewatching. And if you haven’t ever seen it, well, it’s time to change that!

A Cinderella Story (2004)

Okay, so the main event from A Cinderella Story is not a prom per se, but rather a high school Halloween dance, but the vibes are still very similar, and we’d take any opportunity to watch the romance between Princeton Girl (Hilary Duff) and Nomad (Chad Michael Murray) flourish again.

Twilight (2008)

Again, Twilight might be a vampire movie, but it is also a prom movie, and who wouldn’t want to have an excuse to hit play on this gem long before the fall, when we are all required to do our annual rewatch. Spoiler alert if you are somehow one of the two people on earth who’ve not watched Twilight yet, but the first movie ends at senior prom with Edward (Robert Pattinson) and Bella (Kristen Stewart) slow dancing and opening up before the iconic neck kiss.

Prom Dates (2024)

If you are looking for another queer prom movie, Prom Dates, starring High School Musical: The Musical: The Series’s Julia Lester and Ginny & Georgia’s Antonia Gentry. The coming-of-age comedy follows two friends who have always looked forward to prom, but right before the big event, they break up with their dates. Chaotic!

Blockers (2018)

If you made a pact to lose your virginity during prom night and your parents tried to stop you, how would you take that? That’s precisely the premise of Blockers, which is directed by Pitch Perfect writer Kay Cannon and stars John Cena, Leslie Mann, Ike Barinholtz, Kathryn Newton, Geraldine Viswanathan, and Gideon Adlon, among others.

Romy and Michele's High School Reunion (1997)

Starring Mira Sorvino and Lisa Kudrow, 1997’s Romy and Michele's High School Reunion follows the story of two friends on a quest to change their lives before they meet their high school bullies again after all hell broke loose at prom ten years prior.

The Spectacular Now (2013)

Based on Tim Tharp’s novel, A24’s The Spectacular Now follows the story of high school students Sutter (Miles Teller) and Aimee (Shailene Woodley), seemingly polar opposites who, of course, attract. If you are looking for fewer dance scenes and more drama with an indie vibe, this one should be on your list.

Jawbreaker (1999)

“This movie walked so Scream Queens could run,” that’s the first comment you’ll see in the YouTube video for the trailer of Jawbreaker—and they are not wrong. If you want a kitschy and campy prom movie, with plenty of Y2K looks to boot, this is your pick. The movie, starring Charmed’s Rose McGowan, was a box-office flop and didn’t fare well with critics either, but it has found its public years later. It follows the story of the most popular girls in high school who accidentally kill the prom queen with a jawbreaker after a failed kidnapping prank.

Can't Buy Me Love (1987)

If you love a fake dating trope and want a prom take, Can't Buy Me Love, named after the classic Beatles song, might be right up your alley. It stars a young Patrick Dempsey as Ronald Miller, a nerdy teenager who hires Cindy Mancini, the school’s most popular cheerleader, played by Amanda Peterson, to be his girlfriend for a few weeks.