Everybody Wants Some!! (2016)
An underrated gem by Dazed and Confused (1993) director Richard Linklater, this American comedy takes a nostalgic stance on the college experience, set over a single weekend in 1980. Following freshman baseball player Jake as he moves into a house with his new teammates, the film explores the excitement, uncertainty, and personal growth that come with college and unsupervised living. Linklater has a particular talent for capturing the beauty in the mundane, mirroring the philosophy of university life to find meaning in everyday moments.
S#!%house (2020)
Cooper Raiff’s melodramatic directorial debut tells the not-so-glamorous tale of fleeing the nest to start university. Those lonely nights hunched up in your bedroom, longing for your mother's hug and trying to decode the minefield of social interaction. Drenched in vulnerability and silent sincerity, it depicts the harsh reality that comes with moving away from home and feeling like you don't fit in. Unfortunately, not everything is as exciting as the movies make it out to be.
Monsters University (2013)
This lighthearted animated prequel to the childhood classic Monsters Inc. (2001) was many’s first introduction to the concept of university, and it set high expectations! A playful and heartfelt story about embracing your unique strengths and not letting your differences define you, even when told you’ll never be a scarer. Mike and Sulley's journey from rivals to best friends reminds us to never judge a book by its cover, because sometimes the unlikely pairings turn out to be the strongest friendships.
Pitch Perfect (2012)
If you haven’t sang your heart out to the riff off at a pre’s, then you're doing it wrong. Pitch Perfect presents how at university you'll end up in places you least expect when anti-social, aspiring DJ, Beca, is pushed out of her comfort zone and into the world of Collegiate A cappella alongside the Barden Bellas. With teamwork, determination and plenty of medleys, Pitch Perfect is a fun and uplifting film about companionship and finding your voice.
Good Will Hunting (1997)
Although not explicitly about college, it does take place on a college campus. Troubled genius, Will, struggles to find his purpose with the cards he was dealt, stuck in a cycle of self-sabotage. Yet when a chance at true love strikes him, and with the unexpected guidance of his therapist, his pessimistic outlook on life changes forever. Good Will Hunting proves that academic pursuits are not the be-all and end-all. Intellectualism is not what defines us; the courage to be compassionate and human connectivity is what allows for true growth.