The recent release of Do Revenge has proven that love for teen movies will never die and many fan-favorite teen flicks come from the 2000s. The film industry was inundated with teen movie blockbusters in the 2000s, but a few fun releases with the potential to become fan-favorites flew under the radar. These films feature heavy-hitters such as Anne Hathaway and Kurt Russell, and even showcase the early talents of Jonah Hill and Evan Peters.
Although many of these movies were released more than 15 years ago, they remain entertaining glimpses into the generation of teens that endured the trials and tribulations of the 2000s. While some references and jokes may not have aged well, the themes and characters remain worthy of any teen movie enthusiast.
Fired Up! (2009)
When two high school football stars face another summer of mindless drills, the pair decides to skip training and join the cheerleading squad. What began as a ploy to spend their summer dating as many cheerleaders as possible turns into a genuine desire for one of the football stars to win the final competition and thus the heart of the girl of his dreams.
Capitalizing on the popularity of cheerleading-related movies at the time such as Bring It On, Fired Up! flipped the genre on its head and parodied the way men view typically female-dominated sports. Social commentary is frequent in modern teen movies, but at the time, Fired Up! was proposing ideas deeper than the teen comedy would indicate.
Accepted (2006)
Accepted follows Bartleby and his classmates as they realize they’ve been rejected by every college they applied to. To impress the girl next door (Blake Lively) and avoid disappointing his parents, Bartleby creates a fake university known as South Harmon Institute of Technology (S.H.I.T) where everyone that applies gets in.
Accepted takes a deeper look into the pressure placed on high school graduates and the often assumed superiority of higher education and Ivy League universities. The film is worth the watch if only for the dark humor of Lewis Black’s rants on higher education and the burgeoning talent of Jonah Hill in his first big comedic role.
Confessions of A Teenage Drama Queen (2004)
Ripped from her beloved New York City and forced to move to the suburbs, Lola finds it difficult no longer being the envy of her classmates. Bonding over their shared love of musician Stu Wolf, Lola and new friend Ella go on the adventure of their lives to see the rock star in New York before their parents find out.
Lindsay Lohan dominated the teen movie scene in the 2000s, most notably starring in successful comedies, Freaky Friday and Mean Girls. Confessions of A Teenage Drama Queen, based on the popular novel of the same name, didn’t perform as well. Despite its chaotic plot line, Confessions showed a unique look into the lives of teenage fangirls that has rarely been explored.
Sleepover (2004)
After the final Spy Kids film, Alexa PenaVega played Julie in Sleepover. Julie and her group of friends decide to take part in a scavenger hunt against the popular girls. Steve Carell portrays a klutzy traffic cop determined to catch the teens, while Jane Lynch plays a more serious role as Julie’s mother.
Packed with stars such as Brie Larson, Sleepover is the perfect lighthearted teen film for any movie night. Before he was a well-known actor in American Horror Story and shocking the world with his portrayal of Jeffrey Dahmer, Evan Peters was a lovable but awkward nerd, known only as “SpongeBob,” who stole scenes with his impeccable timing and comic relief.
What A Girl Wants (2003)
Following her successful runs on All That and The Amanda Show, Amanda Bynes played Daphne Reynolds in What A Girl Wants. After discovering that her father (Colin Firth) is a British lord, Daphne flies to England to meet him. When her future stepmother and stepsisters try to sabotage their relationship, Daphne must decide between conforming and being true to herself.
The fun pop soundtrack and classic Amanda Bynes hijinks make What A Girl Wants a must-watch movie. Underneath all the chaotic adventures Daphne finds herself in, is a message of individuality that is a common thread in Amanda Bynes’ films. What A Girl Wants urges viewers to embrace their weirdness and challenge the status quo.
17 Again (2009)
Mike (Matthew Perry) finds himself miserable with how his life turned out and living in his best friend’s house. When a man leaps off a bridge, Mike dives in to save him, entering a portal that reverts him back to his 17-year-old self (Zac Efron). Mike attempts to relive his glory days, but instead reconnects with his kids and gets a second chance at life.
Similar to the comedic bits in Freaky Friday, 17 Again takes full advantage of body-swap antics and the awkwardness of navigating high school politics. At first glance, Matthew Perry and Zac Efron may seem like an unlikely casting choice, but Perry and Efron do an impressive job at mirroring each other’s mannerisms throughout, making the film even more believable and entertaining.
Ella Enchanted (2004)
Eric Idle (Monty Python) narrates Ella Enchanted, telling the story of Ella of Frell who was given the “gift” of obedience by the fairy Lucinda and is forced to do what anyone tells her. When her evil step-sisters discover the gift, Ella goes on a journey to find Lucinda and have the spell revoked, falling in love with a prince on the way.
The film satirizes fairy tale cliches at every turn and proposes an alternative to “happily ever after.” Although Ella Enchanted wasn’t one of Anne Hathaway’s highest-rated movies, the clever twist on the story of Cinderella remains a must-see for anyone who enjoyed Hulu’s The Princess.
John Tucker Must Die (2006)
When Kate discovers that golden boy, John Tucker, is simultaneously dating three girls from different cliques, the girls (Ashanti, Sophia Bush, and Arielle Kebbel) enlist Kate’s help to destroy him. Through planning and surveillance, Kate is transformed into the perfect girlfriend to give John a taste of his own medicine.
Before becoming part of the movie sensation Pitch Perfect, Brittany Snow portrayed Kate’s struggle to make friends as her mother continually moves them to different cities. The themes of friendship and fitting in are relatable to anyone navigating high school and are reminiscent of Mean Girls. Snow’s chemistry with on-screen love interest Penn Badgley is endearing and a clear stepping stone to his later role in Easy A.
Aquamarine (2006)
When a storm washes a mermaid named Aquamarine into the local pool, best friends Claire (Emma Roberts) and Hailey (JoJo) discover the mythical creature and in exchange for a magic wish, must help her prove to her father, Neptune, that true love exists. Chaos ensues as the teens teach Aqua to blend in on land while also ensuring she catches the eye of a potential love interest.
Unencumbered by social anxiety and the lack of confidence that humans can feel, Aqua teaches Claire and Hailey to embrace the unique parts of themselves and face their fears, proving that true love comes in all forms. Aqua rebels against her father similarly to Ariel in The Little Mermaid with human friends in place of her ocean pals. Aquamarine presents a completely unique twist on mythical creature movies and boasts the importance of friendship over romantic love.
Sky High (2005)
Featuring acting legends Kurt Russell and Lynda Carter, Sky High follows Will Stronghold (Michael Angarano, This Is Us) the son of two famous superheroes who has yet to discover his own powers. On the first day at Sky High, each student’s powers are put to the test, determining whether they are labeled a “hero” or a “sidekick.”
Before there was the MCU, the underrated Disney film explored the dynamics of popularity in high school through the lens of a superhero-dominated society where heroes are the cool kids and sidekicks are the outcasts. Sky High is packed with interesting characters whose powers range anywhere from flame-throwing to the ability to transform into a purple guinea pig.
