20 movies which make you wish you'd gone to college

Film critic Jo Berry didn't go to university (which may have been wise in the current climate), but here are her choice of 20 films which make her realise that she just may have missed out on a true experience....

1. National Lampoon's Animal House (1978)
"Toga! Toga! Toga!" + John Belushi's Bluto + Kevin Bacon being spanked + 'double secret probation' = the best college comedy ever.
See a toga-wearing John Belushi above.

2. The Sure Thing (1985)
John Cusack has the road trip from hell with prissy Daphne Zuniga as he heads from his Ivy League college across the US to California in search of a promised 'sure thing' in this classic romantic comedy. Take notes when he shows her how to shotgun beer – it's an essential skill.
Watch a classic scene.

3. Good Will Hunting (1997)
Oscar-winning drama about a janitor at MIT (Matt Damon) who has a gift for mathematics, and psychiatrist Robin Willams and mathematician Stellan Skarsgard who battle over his genius. Being brainy's never been more romantic than when Damon insults a Harvard boffin to win the hand of Minnie Driver, but it's actually the onscreen bromance between Ben Affleck and Damon that's most touching.
Watch Matt Damon and Minnie Driver bonding over organic chemistry...

4. Circle Of Friends (1995)
Minnie Driver again, this time in her breakthrough role as the dumpy young Benny, who heads off to university in the Dublin of the 1950s with best pals Eve and icy Nan (Saffron Burrows), who cosies up to Benny's crush (Chris O'Donnell).
Watch Chris O'Donnell have a rather unfortunate reaction to an anatomy lesson - and Minnie try to support him.

5. Starter For 10 (2006)
Cheeky James McAvoy is the University Challenge-addicted boy who wins a place at Bristol University in 1985, and tries out for the quiz show team to get close to a girl in this cute comedy with a memorable soundtrack (The Cure, New Order, Style Council, Echo And The Bunnymen, Tears For Fears).
Watch this great scene of the team meeting up (a wonderful performance by Benerdict Cumberbatch)

6. Flatliners (1990)
Medical students practice on themselves  – trying to 'flatline' and experience death before being brought back – and it all has rather nasty consequences in this flashy chiller. While I don't particularly want to see the Other Side, sharing a scalpel with the stars – Kevin Bacon, Kiefer Sutherland, William Baldwin (and Julia Roberts) would have been fun ...
Watch the trailer.

7. Brideshead Revisited (2008)
This so-so film version of Evelyn Waugh's novel boasts those dreaming spires of Oxford's academies, and adorably foppish college students lolling about the place in long scarves as Charles loses his innocence and his way when he meets the unbalanced Sebastian and his posh totty sister before World War II.
Watch the three of them together.

8. Hoop Dreams (1994)
Superb three-hour documentary following two inner city African American kids from school, through college, as they follow their dreams of becoming basketball superstars. A sharp social commentary about class privilege and the racial divide that's unforgettable.
Watch the trailer.

9. We Are Marshall (2006)
Based on a true story, this college movie is inspiring (if a little cliched) stuff. In 1970 the football team of Marshall University was killed in a plane crash – this drama follows the one player and coach who missed the flight trying to rally the grieving town into finding a new team. Matthew Fox and Matthew McConaughey star.
Watch this inspiring speech (but ignore the misspellings in the intro!)

10. The Way We Were (1970)
Classic romance starring Barbra Streisand as Katy, the frizzy-haired political activist who falls for middle class Hubbell (Robert Redford) at university in the 1930s, and then meets him again during the war and takes him to bed despite their different political and social standings. The 'Your girl is lovely, Hubbell,' scene will reduce even manly viewers into a pile of sobbing mush.
Watch the end of the film with that classic scene (cue some "memories")

11. The Paper Chase (1973)
Cracking drama, with Timothy Bottoms as the Harvard law student struggling to survive being taught by strict professor Kingsfield (the marvellous John Houseman), and complicating matters by dating Kingsfield's daughter (Lindsay Wagner). One of the few movies that shows just how hard college can be...
Watch Timothy realise that Lindsay is Kingsfield's daughter

12. Educating Rita (1983)
Willy Russell's play became a fun screen comedy with Julie Walters as Rita, the mouthy hairdresser who wants an education, so signs up to the Open University and discovers whisky-sodden Frank (Michael Caine) is her English Literature tutor. Of course, she inspires him, Pygmalion-style, to help her...
Watch this tribute.

13. Higher Learning (1995)
Columbus University as seen through the eyes of track star Malik (Omar Epps), 'professional student' Fudge (Ice Cube), naive Kristen (Kirsty Swanson) and Midwest boy Remy (Michael Rapaport). Jennifer Connelly, Tyra Banks and (blink and you'll miss her) Gwyneth Paltrow costar.
"Information is power", watch this clip.

14. Legally Blonde (2001)
This fluffy comedy sends daffy blonde Elle (Reece Witherspoon) to Harvard so she can win back her preppy boyfriend, who has dumped her because his family want him to marry 'a Jackie, not a Marilyn'. Of course, Elle discovers all you need to get through Harvard Law is pink scented paper and a matching pink suit. . . what, you mean that wouldn't happen in real life?
Watch the brilliant Reese Witherspoon have her moment in court.

15. The Skulls (2000)
A pretty naff thriller, but the idea is cool –  top US universities have secret societies, in which old boys help each other climb the political ladder to untold riches (they do exist - George Bush Sr was allegedly a member of Yale's Skull And Bones society). Here it's a bit more sinister as Joshua Jackson discovers The Skulls will even commit murder for their brethren... and he may be next...
Watch the trailer.

16. Blondie Goes To College (1942)
Ditsy Blondie (Penny Singleton) signs up for college when her husband Dagwood decides to go, as they both feel they missed out when they were younger. Cuter than candy floss comedy that's as warm, fuzzy and nostalgic as a Val Doonican jumper....
Read the New York Times review.

17. Old School (2003)
When Luke Wilson buys a house on a college campus, his middle aged pals see it as the perfect opportunity to relive their wild 'n' crazy youth in this comedy best remembered/forgotten (depending on your point of view) for Will Ferrell's nude streak through town. Vince Vaughn and Jeremy Piven costar.
Watch Will Ferrell's memorable wedding.

18. School Daze (1988)
Spike Lee's quirky drama about an all-black college is a series of musical set-pieces sort-of linked together that covers subjects such as the conflict between militant activists and the college's frat boys.
Watch the good hair/bad hair scene.

19. A Yank At Oxford (1938)
Robert Taylor is the brash American who doesn't fit in amongst Oxford's college elite in this classic romantic comedy drama. The lovely Maureen O'Sulllivan and Vivien Leigh costar. (While they were filming none of the cast and crew were actually allowed inside any of Oxford's colleges.)
Watch a clip of Taylor at college here (and a bit of Latin too!)

20. Fandango (1985)
One of many college road trip movies, this little known one has a young Kevin Costner, Judd Nelson (remember him?), and pals heading off in a car in 1972 before facing up to life after graduation and the possibility of going to Vietnam. Well worth seeking out.
Watch the original (and excellent) trailer

See more of Jo Berry's reviews

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Comments

[laura]

It's got to be the way we were, and what about Love Story?

[Lynda]

No mention of The History Boys or Harry Potter or St Trinians - I find that strange; I guess that's because only films based in US count as being in top anything

[Whimsey]

It's about college movies, not school ones.

Agree that LS should be on this list, even though Ali McGraw has to be one of the most repellent actresses ever - and her character in the film wasn't any better. V. sad she dies, etc, but honesty, what a total pain of a girl. And he's just a prat too.

Also agree re TWWW - oh boy, Plain Jane gets RR (well, for a bit). Fab.

[Sarah Ebner]

Hi Lynda,
As Whimsey says, this one is about college/university movies. If you want to see school ones, please take a look at my list of the 15 most inspiring teachers in the movies, and also the 15 worst!

http://timesonline.typepad.com/schoolgate/2008/07/the-fifteen-mos.html

http://timesonline.typepad.com/schoolgate/2008/08/the-worst-teach.html

Hope you enjoy them!

[Lauren]

Legally Blonde gave me unrealistic expectations of law school!!!

[Lorraine]

Films to make you wish you'd gone to an American University, or one in a bygone age but bearing little resemblance to a present-day British University experience (current student here!)

[Bob]

These are the movies that made me go to uni:

"Real Genius" with Val Kilmer.

"Stand and deliver" - with Edward James Olmos, a true story

"A cut above" with Matthew Modine

[Anna]

what about The House Bunny?

[Real 4 Life]

Van Wilder Party Liaison...

[Scott Benowitz]

Can we write a counter- list to this, "20 Movies which make viewers wish that we had not gone to college?"

[Laurence]

Love Story - Directed by Arthur Hiller. With Ali MacGraw, Ryan O'Neal, John Marley.

[Laurence]

The Sterile Cuckoo (1969) released in the UK as Pookie, Much of the movie was filmed at Hamilton College in Clinton, New York.
It was nominated for Academy Awards for Best Actress in a Leading Role (Liza Minnelli) and Best Music, Song (Fred Karlin and Dory Previn for "Come Saturday Morning"). The film traces the ups and downs of their relationship during their first year of college.

[liminal]

What about "Old School"

http://pitchbendpost.blogspot.com/

[Gaz]

For everyone who was a nerd - or felt like one - "Real Genius" is a real pleasure, and for anyone who didn't go, "Accepted" is a lovely fantasy rendered beautifly.
Both films redeem the outcasts, and in our hearts we all just love that.

[Paul]

The little know arthouse cassic 'Alpha Delta Pi Sorority Vixens go Greek' resulted In huge spikes amongst male college applicants in the 70s.

[Kip Dynamite]

Your mom goes to college.

[keith]

Particularly bad taste to call 'We Are Marshall' cliche. It is a true story.

Would a courtroom drama about Lockerbie attract a similar review?

[David]

There is really only one winner here, the rest are irrelevant. Animal House is simply one of the best and funniest films ever made.

[Zoe]

You forgot Drumline. Forget education -- it's about the music!

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0303933/

[C.K.]

What about PCU? I consider that to be one of the ideal college movies, and absolutely hilarious. I'm surprised it didn't make this list.

[Trevor Sewell]

Can I make a late application for "American Pie presents Beta House". Well somebody has to mention co-ed showers, frat boys getting their asses signed by strippers and girls dressing up as sheep (don't ask).

[Jeff Caldwell]

Rudy!?!

[Alex]

This list doesn't make people 'wish they'd gone to uni' for they are all easily understandable films.

Now, if you had picked films that required a bit of thought, a bit of explanation of methodology employed by the director then yes, the title might fit the list.

All you've done is compile a list of films about life in college. What's next? Perhaps '10 places that make you wish you had money to travel' and you scavenge the web for five minutes for pics of sandy beaches or perhaps '10 chocolates that make you wish they weren't fattening' with pics of chocolate bars from adverts.

My dog can write more engaging copy.

[Zoe]

Lynda ...

Harry Potter? He didn't go to college; didn't he drop out of Hogwarts in his final year? Is there a GED for wizards? I guess the Ministry of Magic would have accepted "comparable life experience" in lieu of a diploma in order to employ him later in life.

In the meantime, please stop being oversensitive about American film. True, a lot of them are crap, but there have been a couple of good ones over the years, haven't there?

[Steph]

Lynda -

No mention of History Boys, H.P or St Trinians because these are about HIGH SCHOOL, not college. Nothing to do with them being U.S.

You're welcome.

[Jen]

This is a seriously bad list! It's mostly American movies, which would be acceptable if we were talking about US colleges, but with the inclusion of Educating Rita, clearly that wasn't the intention.

I can think of at least 10 films that are missing here...the journalist 'must do better'.

[testington]

Rules of Attraction

um hello, who wouldn't want to go to that school that is apparently a 24/7 party Setptember-Man

[Aileen]

A beautiful mind, surely?

[elephantgun]

Flatliners at number 6?

[guy]

The list should start and end with the dead poets society.

[malkovichmalkovich]

The house bunny... the hot chick..arrested..oh wait.

HAHAHAHAHA...

[Julia]

Mona Lisa smile, though it may have been set in a school, it is very encouraging.

[Patrick]

Two glaring omissions from the list:

Back to School: Rodney Dangerfield in his element.

"I have class tonight."
"I'll tell you what then. Why don't you call me sometime when you...have no class?"

Revenge of the Nerds: The odd get even. Underrated film.