Prom season is right around the corner! Channel your excitement by watching some of the best prom movies ever made! Prom themed movies have always had a timeless appeal. Hollywood is crazy about prom, it has been a steady and active theme in Hollywood for decades. Prom themed movies also have so much range, many of them are chick flicks, rom coms, but these movies never disappoint!
Some of these movies have only gotten better over time, the movies highlighted in this blog are truly cinematic masterpieces and some of the best movies about prom they absolutely should be on your watch list!
Prom Culture
Prom culture is highly significant in the US and prom is a very emotional and grand event for most high school attending teenagers. The reason why the prom theme is so popular among Hollywood movies is because prom is something that every American teen experiences and the sentiment around it is felt by teens throughout the country.
The whole prom experience is a very exciting and sentimental event in a teenager’s life. From deciding who to take to prom, deciding what to wear the whole process is thrilling!
Pretty in Pink (1986)
Pretty in Pink is one of the most iconic prom themed movies, in this 80’s prom movie you will see Molly Ringwald sport one of the most iconic prom dresses of all time, the pink polka dot halter neck prom dress worn by her character ‘Andie’ was largely inspired by Molly Ringwald’s personal style.
The movie, directed by Howard Deutch, is an American teen rom-com about love and social cliques in American high schools in the 80s. The main Character ‘Andie’ is an outcast at her high school, often bullied by the rich group of students. She works at a record store and her friends are her boss, Lona, and Duckie, who also goes to the school with her and is in love with her.
Blane, who is one of the ‘richie’ popular kids asks out Andie and she finds it almost too good to be true. She agrees and as they begin going out she realizes how hard it is to be with someone from a different social class. Blane’s friends are not happy that he is spending time with Andie and he begins distancing himself from her. Andie confronts him and they get into a fight which leads her to storm off.
Andie later decides that she will attend her prom solo and makes her own prom dress out of Lona’s old one.
Blane feels bad about not being honest with Andie about his true feelings and declares his love for her and they reconcile at the prom. Like most rom-coms this movie had a feel-good happy ending where the guy gets the girl!
She’s All That (1999)
She’s All That is one of the classic 90s prom movies, directed by Robert Iscove. Starring Freddie Prinze Jr, Rachael Leigh Cook, Matthew Lillard and Paul Walker. The movie is a modern adaptation of the play Pygmalion and the 1964 film My Fair Lady.
The story starts with a bet, Zack who has just had a break up with his girlfriend Taylor after he found out that she cheated on him , bet his friend Dean that he can make any girl in the school prom queen in six weeks. Zack chooses Laney as his target who is a shy art student. She rejects his advances initially but caves when he asks for help with his art. They begin to get to know each other and one day Zack convinces Laney to attend a party and lets his sister give Laney a makeover. Taylor gets jealous of Laney and publicly humiliates Laney at the party.
As the movie continues Laney is shocked to find out that she has been nominated for prom queen. The rest of the movie goes on as Zack starts to develop real feelings for Laney and through some obstacles they end up together!
Mean Girls (2004)
When I say this, and I do not say this lightly, mean girls shaped the 2000s. The movie had such a huge impact in that era. Written and directed by the hilarious Tina Fey, the satirical interpretation of high school life and social hierarchies was simply spot on. The movie produced so many iconic scenes, which are still relevant today.
Mean Girls gave us one of the most iconic characters in movie history, Regina George, the role of the popular high school ‘it girl’ was played so spectacularly well by Rachael McAdams. The soundtrack of the entire movie is worth mentioning, as it complemented the scenes exceptionally well.
Cady Heron is the new girl and it is the first time 16 year old Cady is attending high school as her research scientist parents and her were in Africa for 12 years. She befriends Janice and Damien who explain the social cliques and warn her about ‘the Plastics’ , a trio of mean girls. Cady is introduced to the Plastics when Regina invites her to sit with them at lunch. Soon, Cady begins to get closer to the plastics and it starts to reflect in her behavioral changes as well. The movie showcases betrayal and friendship in a very sarcastic and witty manner.
The Perks of Being a Wallflower (2012)
The Perks of Being a Wallflower is a romantic/thriller movie that follows the journey of Charlie (Logan Lerman) through his struggles with depression. He has just been discharged from a mental health institution right before his freshman year of high school and he befriends only his English teacher.
As Charlie continues with his high school he befriends two seniors Sam and Patrick. One of the best scenes of the movie is when Sam, Patrick and Charlie are all in a pick up truck and are listening to ‘Heroes’ by David Bowie. The line ‘we are infinite’ resonates with the group and is also a really iconic part of the movie.
This movie is a little more on the serious end, but a great piece of cinema.
10 Things I Hate About You (1999)
10 Things I Hate About You is one of the best prom movies. The movie is a modern retelling of Shakespeare’s Taming of the Shrew. Directed by Gil Junger and starring Julia Stiles and Heath Ledger the movie starts with Cameron (Joseph Gordon Levitt) who is a new student falling for Bianca, who is Kat’s (Julia Stiles) sister. Bianca informs him that she is not allowed to date unless her sister Kat does, and tells him to find someone for Kat to date so that she can freely date Joey, who she likes.
Michael Joey and Cameron come up with a plan to get Patrick (Heath Ledger) to date Kat so that he can take Bianca to the prom. Joey convinces Patrick by paying him to take Kat to the Prom. Kat rejects most of Patrick’s advances but caves when he serenades her in the football field along with the high school marching band to the song ‘Can’t Take My Eyes Off You’. As the movie continues Kat finds out about the arrangement and is heartbroken.
For an assignment students were asked to write their own version of Shakespeare’s sonnet 141 and Kat reads aloud a poem titled ‘10 Things I Hate About You’ revealing that she still loves Patrick. Patrick Surprises Kat with a personal gift that he bought with the money Joey paid him and confesses his true feelings, Kat forgives him and they reconcile with a kiss.
The movie explores teenage angst, love and identity in a sensitive and relatable manner. The movie has had a great impact on teens and the sequence behind prom.
Wrap Up
These movies about prom are really very well crafted and thought out movies, with great casts and cinematography. The enduring appeal of prom culture is also very well represented in these movies, and if you haven’t already watched them, you must now!
Prom is the most memorable experience in one’s school life, movies about prom night may glorify prom night to be something it’s not but that doesn’t take away the fact that prom is probably going to be one of the most distinctive things about high school you will remember down the line.
It is also vital that your prom and the after party is well planned and thought out. That is where HolidayKeepers comes in, choose HolidayKeepers for your prom venues and after party venue needs!
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FAQs:
Q: Is 10 Things I hate About You a prom movie?
A: Yes, it can be considered a prom movie as the base of the plot revolves around Prom
Q: Who directed Mean Girls?
A: Mean Girls was directed by comedian and Saturday Night Live host Tina Fey
Q: Who are the main cast of Pretty in Pink?
A: The main cast of Pretty in Pink is Molly Ringwald, Jon Cryer and Andrew McCarthy
