As the end of the school year creeps up on us I find myself compelled to watch movies to commemorate the high school experience. As a freshman, I am not graduating any time soon, but nothing makes me as emotional as a valedictorian speech—not even The Notebook. Here are some movies to watch if you want to see someone enter a new chapter of their life.

• Crazy Stupid Love 

In this movie Steve Carrells character, Cal Weaver, graduates from being butthurt about his wife cheating on him with David Lindhagen, to being an absolute pimp. Not only does this movie have a figurative graduation, in the final scene Cal’s son Robbie graduates middle school. Robbie gives a deeply unsettling speech about how love is a lie, and is promptly interrupted by his father Cal who decides it’s a good time to give a huge heartwarming speech about fighting for who you love.

• Dazed and Confused 

Dazed and Confused is an awesome example of a movie that has no plot and is just vibes. It is set in 1976 Austin, Texas on the last day of school. It portrays the graduating class celebrating by partying in pool halls and throwing keggers, while the incoming freshman try to avoid getting hazed. 

• Lady Bird 

As Christine McPherson, or Lady Bird as she calls herself, goes through senior year at her catholic high school, she is navigating her turbulent relationship with her mother, finding her identity, and dreaming of leaving her hometown for a prestigious East Coast college far far away. Nearing the end, the movie begins to wrap up with Lady Bird graduating high school in a very flatteringly colored cap and gown.

• Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again

I’ve always loved Mamma Mia, but I do hold the uncommon opinion that the sequel is better than the first movie. It opens with Donna graduating college with an incredible valedictorian speech where she just breaks out into song, then follows her as she navigates moving to another country and meeting the infamous three fathers from the first movie, and inevitably falling in love with life rather than a man. In the 2026-2027 school year our awesome theater is performing Mamma Mia, so I would highly recommend watching these movies in time to see it live next year!

• St. Elmos Fire

This movie opens with a friend group graduating college, then follows them dealing with the misgivings of being an adult. As the movie continues you just realize more and more that nearly every character in the movie is intolerable, to a truly impressive extent. 

• Superbad 

There is no actual graduation scene in Superbad, but it is about three lovely teen boys going through the last few weeks of school before graduation. When Jonah Hill’s character, Seth, is invited to a party by the girl he has a big fat crush on, and is asked to supply alcohol for said party, he and his best friend Evan, played by Micheal Cera, make it a mission to acquire the alcohol using their nerdy friend Fogell, or McLovin’s, questionable fake ID. This all makes for a utterly wholesome adventure for the gang, with McLovin getting involved with some adolescent-minded cops, and Seth and Evan working through issues in their relationship.

• The perks of being a wallflower  

While most of the movies on this list follow seniors, whether it be seniors in high school or seniors in college, this movie gives some perspective for the freshman losing their seniors. The movie emphasizes the mental struggles of beginning high school while also showing the protagonist, Charlie, joining a friend group of seniors. It provides a great sound track and a great vibe for one second, and causes you intense emotional turmoil the next. Ending with Charlie watching all of his friends graduate, and featuring the iconic “Nothing hates you” graduation cap.