High school can be difficult. Most of us could use some inspiration to get through it. Luckily, there are plenty of high school movies to give you that boost of confidence you need. Here are some of the most inspirational classroom movies of all time.
5. Good Will Hunting
Not everyone is what they seem. Matt Damon plays a janitor at a prestigious university – MIT. While cleaning, he comes across a complicated, graduate-level math problem. When he solves it, almost no one can believe that the janitor is the one who figured it out. One professor decides to have Will (Damon) solve more math problems. However, Will shows that he has some anger issues. He eventually gets in trouble after an altercation with the police, but the professor decides to help him. He can get a reduced sentence as long as he gets psychiatric help from a therapist played by Robin Williams. Eventually, Will is offered an amazing job that caters to his mathematical genius, but he becomes motivated to pursue other interests, maybe even to get his teaching credentials, and become a teacher himself. The implication is that young adults will learn how to be themselves.
4. Dead Poet’s Society
Oh, Captain. My Captain! Robin Williams plays the main character- an unorthodox teacher who goes out of his way to reach his students in very real ways. The students are in a very rigid prep school. Williams shows them that it’s better to create their own path than stick to tradition and what others want them to do. Children will learn to go after their dreams.
3. The Breakfast Club
A misfit, a prom queen, a jock, a nerd, and a delinquent all walk into Saturday detention. What happens next is a cultural phenomenon from the 1980s that has inspired filmmakers ever since. These unlikely characters come together to learn about each other and navigate high school social politics. Children will learn to quote one of the more popular teen movies in history. We also learn that, when it comes down to it, most teens can understand each other better than people think. It doesn’t matter what clique you sit with during lunch hour.
2. Dangerous Minds
Certain children face horrible challenges due to their home lives and the area they live in. They are expected to become part of the streets in order to survive. It becomes harder to work within the administration. Dangerous Minds tells the story of a teacher who tries to reach inner-city kids with very little chance of much more than jail. Children learn that, while it may be difficult, they can overcome their environment.
1. School of Rock
Who said that everyone has to follow a strict curriculum of math, science and history? There are a number of benefits to music education, as showcased in this critically acclaimed classroom movie from 2003. Jack Black stars as a teacher who wants to show his students just how important it is to rock. The only problem is that he’s not really a certified teacher. However, he teaches the children more than any other teacher they had ever did.
Whether you need the motivation to make it through high school gym class, or advanced college courses, these are the movies to watch to give you the inspiration you need. Watching the right movie can put you in the right headspace to get through the rest of high school or college.
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