Top 10 High School Movie Cliches



Ah high school, where the place you sit dictates your social status. In the classroom, the smart kid sits in the front, the slacker in the back, and your crush is probably sitting juuuuust close enough to make things awkward. But there’s a much more important seating chart to abide by: the cafeteria. Don’t be fooled by the open seats. Whether you’re poking at mashed potatoes indoors or lounging around outside, everyone reports to his or her respective cliques in an orderly fashion, and no clique shall cross paths with one another.
 

If movies have taught us anything, it’s that the bathroom -- especially the high school bathroom -- is a magical place where the most necessary conversations take place. It’s the go-to spot for true high school camaraderie, or a place to talk to friends about potential love interests. It’s especially great for bitching about someone we don’t like, or having catty conversations about a student who, unbeknownst to us, is in the bathroom stall behind us. Did we mention that the bathroom doubles as a place to have an emotional breakdown? Don’t worry, your insecurities are safe within those tiled walls.
 



There can be only one, no seriously, there’s always only one teacher we can relate to. All other high school movie teachers are so unbearable that it’s hard to believe that they’re allowed to keep their job. That’s why we cling to the one good one. This is the teacher who inspires us to better ourselves, the teacher who’s willing to take a chance on his or her students. They may try a bit too hard at first -- so much so that it’s either hilarious or cringe worthy -- but by the end of the movie, they’ve uplifted us all.  
 

Sure, we’re all the new kid on the first day of school and go through the everyday stigma, but then there’s... The New Kid. This particular breed of new kid comes in a variety of flavors. There’s the “new to the city” kid, the “I’m gonna be popular” and/or “date someone popular” kid, the “not really new but leaves an impression on the first day” kid, and the “mysterious” new kid who shows up mid-semester, who’s either drop dead gorgeous or has rumors circulating about why he or she transferred schools. Whatever the case, they’re new, and they must be investigated immediately.
 

If you thought the bullies in junior high were terrifying, wait until you meet the high school movie bullies. That’s not to say that bullying isn’t a serious issue, but movie bullies are so over-the-top that they should probably have a segment on “America’s Most Wanted.” This goes beyond name calling and knocking over someone’s books - movie bullies have a frightening bloodlust and an alarming amount of support. While it’s important to stand up for yourself, it’s hard to believe that the adults in these movies would let anyone get away with this kind of brutality.
 

Have you had sex yet? You better get on that right away, especially if you’re in high school. Um... we should probably clarify what we mean. According to the movies, high school is the peak time to lose that pesky virginity, because being a virgin is completely blasphemous. Characters will go through incredible lengths to not only get to the bedroom, but they’ll also practice in comically bizarre ways. The resulting sex can range from painfully awkward, surprisingly good if your partner is whom you least expect it to be, or heart-meltingly romantic. 
  

Getting married, having children, getting your dream job, purchasing your first home... none of those things matter. The most important moment in our lives is senior year, more specifically, our senior year in high school. Essentially, senior year is the last year of our lives, so we have to do the absolute most before we walk across that stage. Your crush? Tell them your feelings. Your parents? Stop letting them dictate your life. Your friends? Spend every last minute with them because you’ll never see them again. Life ends after high school... until college, but that’s another story.
  

Nerdy girls are the worst, what with their glasses and... um... what’s wrong with nerdy girls, again? When it comes to the bottom of the high school barrel, nerdy girls are squished into the dustiest of corners until the popular girls get a hold of them or the jocks make a random bet. Their male counterparts will most likely crawl out of the barrel without the need of that all-important makeover... unless that makeover comes with a radioactive spider. On rare occasions, the nerdy girl is kept in-tact, but that’s usually because she did something one time in band camp. 



They’re the ultimate high school power couple. Whether they stay together or not is irrelevant, just know that, at some point, the captain of the team and head cheerleader were an item - or they were at least lusting after each other. He’s either an incredibly dumb jock or an attractive douchebag, while she’s either a shallow ditz with a heart of gold, or a certified “mean girl” who gets her comeuppance... even if it takes a decade. Together, this couple will either be the main character’s lovable, dumb friends, or their worst nightmare -- there is no in-between. 
Before the bell rings and we head home for the day, let’s let these honorable mentions get some extra credit:
 
Boy Bumps Into His Crush
  
Where Are the Parents?!
  
The Lone Black Kid

   

Ain’t no party like a high school party cuz a high school party don’t stop. No, seriously, it doesn’t stop until all those loose ends are tied. Unresolved feelings, sexual tension, necessary apologies, shocking reveals... it all comes to a head on the dance floor. There are two potential locations for this shindig: the school dance -- particularly Homecoming or Prom -- and that one kid’s house. You know the kid. The kid with the rock star house, an endless supply of booze, and no adult supervision... even if there’s a serial killer on the loose. 


Do you agree with our list? What high school movie cliches still linger in the back of your lockers? For more educational top tens published everyday, be sure to raise your hand and hit the subscribe button for MsMojo.