We're still rewatching these teen movie moments well after high school. Welcome to MsMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the most iconic scenes from teen flicks that we watch on repeat.
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00:00 "How could I possibly be expected to handle school on a day like this?"
00:05 Welcome to Ms. Mojo, and today we're counting down our picks for the most iconic scenes
00:10 from teen flicks that we watch on repeat.
00:13 A spoiler alert is in effect.
00:15 "Regina George.
00:16 How do I even begin to explain Regina George?"
00:22 Number 30.
00:23 The Switch - Freaky Friday
00:25 Lindsay Lohan in a teen movie opposite Jamie Lee Curtis is guaranteed fun.
00:30 The 2003 Freaky Friday adaptation keeps the same core premise as the original, spotlighting
00:35 a mom and teen daughter who are at odds until they switch bodies.
00:39 There are countless memorable scenes, but the one that sticks out the most is when the
00:43 duo first realize what's happened to them.
00:46 "Look at me."
00:47 "I know.
00:48 We seem to be in front of each other."
00:49 "I'm old."
00:50 "I beg your pardon?"
00:51 "Oh, I'm like the Crypt King!"
00:52 "Oh, I'm like the Crypt King!"
00:53 "I'm like the Crypt King!"
00:54 "I'm like the Crypt Keeper!"
00:55 "Okay, that's enough."
00:57 Anna as Tess hilariously freaks out, while Tess as Anna tries to keep calm.
01:02 They even decide to run into each other to switch back, with no success.
01:07 It sets the stage for the rest of the movie, and it's hysterical watching these two act
01:11 as one another.
01:12 "Oh, everyone's out to get me.
01:14 You're ruining my life."
01:15 "Well, it's easy to be you.
01:17 I'll just suck the fun out of everything."
01:19 "I do not suck the fun out of everything."
01:21 "Fun sucker!"
01:22 Number 29.
01:23 What Dreams Are Made Of, the Lizzie McGuire Movie.
01:26 Those of us who grew up with Lizzie McGuire definitely wanted to be her, especially during
01:31 her trip to Rome.
01:33 The movie sees her, Gordo, and their class head to Italy, where she meets Paolo and steps
01:37 in for his singing partner Isabella, who happens to look just like her.
01:42 During a show at the Coliseum, she learns that he's actually a fraud, and they expose
01:46 him for lip-syncing.
01:47 "And I go, oh, oh, oh."
01:48 "I wish I could be you."
01:49 "I wish I could be you."
01:50 "I wish I could be you."
01:51 "I wish I could be you."
01:52 "I wish I could be you."
01:53 "I wish I could be you."
01:54 "I would never want to miss this."
01:57 The karma alone is deeply satisfying.
02:00 It's made extra amazing by her triumphantly performing What Dreams Are Made Of, first
02:05 with Isabella and then alone, in front of a crowd including her loved ones.
02:09 The number never grows stale, and neither does belting it out alongside them.
02:13 "This is what dreams are made of."
02:19 "Hang them up, hang them up."
02:22 Number 28.
02:23 The Blues Bar - Adventures in Babysitting
02:26 Chris Parker gets much more than she bargains for when she agrees to babysit for the Andersons.
02:31 While on the run from some criminals, Chris, Sarah, Brad, and Daryl find themselves on
02:36 the stage of a blues bar.
02:38 Since no one gets out of that place without singing the blues, Chris leads her crew through
02:41 an impressively catchy improvised tune about their night.
02:44 "The guitar had a blowout, and my mom's car got shot up."
02:48 "And these guys started to chase us."
02:51 "And we all got hijacked."
02:52 "We're cruising down the highway."
02:56 "It's big ol' Cadillac, and it's so hard!"
03:00 She tells the audience about their vehicular misadventures, and for a brief moment she's
03:04 able to make light of their nightmare of a night.
03:07 We just wish we could have heard what the men chasing them probably had to sing to get
03:11 out of there.
03:12 "Well, how am I supposed to, uh, I don't know anything, you know?"
03:15 "You know something.
03:16 Yeah, you do."
03:17 "What?"
03:18 "You know something."
03:19 "What?"
03:20 "You know something."
03:21 "Yeah, you do, don't you?"
03:23 Number 27.
03:24 The Pool – Booksmart
03:26 Amy and Molly are proud to be heading towards the schools of their dreams after graduation.
03:30 They're less thrilled to discover that refraining from partying was not what got them there,
03:35 and they realize that they need to go out on their last night with their classmates.
03:39 "What took them four years, we're doing in one day!"
03:43 "Oh, jeez-it!"
03:44 One of the most mesmerizing moments during this is Amy in a pool with her crush, where
03:49 viewers are able to feel the magic right through the screen.
03:52 Between the music, cinematography, and emotions, the entire scene perfectly encompasses bubbling
03:58 feelings of love and anticipation.
04:00 Though things quickly end up devolving, we could watch it forever.
04:04 "Never break the shape you take, oh, baby, let all them voices slip away."
04:16 Number 26.
04:17 The Game – She's the Man
04:18 "What, why do you look like me?"
04:19 "I pretended to be you for the last two weeks so I could prove that I could play in the
04:23 boys' soccer team."
04:24 "Oh."
04:25 "Yes."
04:26 "Okay, okay, cool.
04:27 No, wait, what?"
04:28 Viola's transformation into her twin brother Sebastian is an absolute pleasure to watch.
04:32 She adopts male mannerisms, expands her soccer skills, and navigates her feelings for her
04:37 roommate.
04:38 All of the swapping, chaos, and hilarity comes to a boiling point at the big game, where
04:43 Illyria plays Viola's old-school Cornwall.
04:46 The real Sebastian is forced to play, before his sister taps in and comes clean on the
04:50 field in truly epic fashion, making sure there'll be no confusion.
04:54 "Merciful Jesus."
04:56 "Viola!"
04:58 "Viola?"
04:59 "Is it just me, or does this soccer game have more nudity than most?"
05:03 Everyone, including their parents, are shocked, and the principal is humiliated.
05:08 Best of all, though, Viola ends up playing as herself, leading her team to victory, and
05:13 it's pitch perfect.
05:14 "That's my girl!"
05:15 "I'm too!"
05:16 "I'm too!"
05:17 Number 25.
05:18 The Boombox Scene – Say Anything
05:19 During the summer after high school graduation, Lloyd Dobler shoots his shot with Diane Court,
05:31 even though the two couldn't be more opposite.
05:34 Despite their obstacles, they fall hard for each other.
05:53 When they spend the night together for the first time, Peter Gabriel's In Your Eyes is
05:57 playing.
05:58 Later, in order to appease her father, Diane breaks up with Lloyd.
06:02 It's all memorable, but the rewatchable piece de resistance comes when he tries to win her
06:06 back by playing that very same song on a boombox outside her window.
06:17 It's a hopelessly romantic gesture, and the scene has since transcended the movie in pop
06:22 culture.
06:23 We love every second of it.
06:26 Number 24.
06:27 Old-Time Rock 'n' Roll – Risky Business
06:30 Joel is an overachieving, and let's just say it, boring and naive high school student,
06:34 but when he cuts loose, he really goes off.
06:38 Although this eventually leads to destruction in various forms, it all starts off innocently
06:42 enough in this scene.
06:44 When his parents are out of town and he's got the massive house to himself, he plays
06:48 old-time rock 'n' roll and lip syncs and dances along.
06:58 Donning his underwear, socks and a shirt, he doesn't hold back and has a blast.
07:04 The moment has been endlessly recreated through the years, it's by far the most well-known
07:08 moment from the movie.
07:10 Is it any wonder we've watched it more than once?
07:19 Number 23.
07:21 The Prom – Pretty in Pink
07:34 Molly Ringwald was the "it girl" of the 1980s, delivering a plethora of unforgettable scenes
07:39 across several movies.
07:41 One of the best comes at the end of Pretty in Pink, where she lets her classmates know
07:45 they didn't break her.
07:47 Having fallen for rich boy Blaine and been hurt by him, she could throw in the towel.
07:52 But instead, she goes to the prom in a makeshift dress, arm-in-arm with her best friend Ducky.
08:06 Her appearance shows Blaine the error of his ways, and they share a passionate kiss.
08:10 It's a powerfully perfect way to cap off the film, and doubles as an 80s teen movie moment
08:15 we won't soon forget.
08:18 Number 22.
08:19 Linda in the Pool – Fast Times at Ridgemont High
08:30 Although this moment happens in Brad's mind, it made a huge impact, having certainly been
08:35 replayed by more than a few viewers over the decades.
08:38 While he's working, Brad sees his sister's best friend Linda at the pool with the group.
08:42 Even though we see her through his eyes in a fantasy, as she seduces him in a red bikini
08:47 that doesn't stay on for too long.
08:50 The moment is definitely not safe for work, and the stark contrast with the reality of
08:54 the situation is pretty comical.
08:57 It's a bit that will live on in many minds for many years to come, to say the least.
09:05 Number 21.
09:06 One Doodle That Can't Be Undid – Juno
09:09 Juno is a groundbreaking movie, with humor and edge that makes the tough topics tackled
09:14 within it feel accessible.
09:16 It becomes clear early on that we're in for a lot of laughs and feelings.
09:21 As the opening credits transition into plot, Juno tries to confirm whether she's expecting
09:25 through yet another pregnancy test.
09:27 "Well, well, if it isn't McGuff the crime dog, back for another test?"
09:32 "I think the first one was defective.
09:35 The plus sign looks more like a division symbol, so I remain unconvinced."
09:40 "Third test today, mama bear.
09:43 Your egg-o is preg-o."
09:44 Needless to say, we learn pretty much all we need to know about the character's spunk
09:48 and personality right then and there.
09:50 Throughout, Juno drinks Sunny D, gives the also-hilarious store clerk attitude, going
09:55 through denial before accepting what's happening.
09:59 Watching it play out never gets old.
10:01 "That little pink plus sign is so unholy."
10:03 "That ain't no Etch-a-Sketch.
10:07 This is one doodle that can't be undid, Holmes Gillett."
10:10 Number 20.
10:11 Augustus' Eulogy - The Fault in Our Stars
10:14 If you know the premise of The Fault in Our Stars, you know it wasn't destined to have
10:18 a happy ending.
10:19 "Like all real love stories, ours will die with us.
10:23 As it should.
10:24 You know, I'd kind of hoped that he'd be the one eulogizing me."
10:31 Hazel and Augustus are both battling cancer, and they each waver between severe illness
10:36 and apparent health throughout the film.
10:38 While for most of the story, Augustus seems like just your average teenager, his wellness
10:42 begins to falter near the end, and he arranges a pre-funeral for himself when he knows that
10:47 his time is almost up.
10:49 It's almost impossible to watch Hazel's eulogy to him without shedding a tear.
10:53 "You know, I want more numbers than I'm likely to get.
10:59 Thank God.
11:01 Do I want more days for Augustus Waters than what he got?"
11:07 Number 19
11:08 Feeling Infinite - The Perks of Being a Wallflower
11:11 If you read Stephen Chbosky's novel The Perks of Being a Wallflower, you probably spent
11:15 a long time imagining the iconic tunnel scene.
11:18 "Oh my God, what was this song?"
11:20 "Right?
11:21 I have no idea."
11:22 "Have you ever heard this before?"
11:23 "Never."
11:24 "Patrick, we've got to go through the tunnel."
11:29 In the film adaptation, which was directed by the author, the moment takes your breath
11:33 away, as Patrick drives through the tunnel while Sam stands up in the bed of the pickup
11:37 truck.
11:38 The fact that Heroes by David Bowie is blaring only adds to the atmosphere.
11:43 It's a magical moment that inevitably makes viewers think of their own adolescence, and
11:47 the moments where they could swear they were infinite too.
11:50 "I feel infinite."
11:53 "I'm nothing!"
11:55 Number 18
11:58 Jamie's List - A Walk to Remember
12:00 In A Walk to Remember, Jamie is a minister's daughter who's dying of cancer.
12:05 But she hides this fact from Landon, the bad boy who she ends up befriending and falling
12:09 for.
12:15 As they get closer though, the two become inseparable, with Landon proving what a sweet
12:19 and sensitive guy he can be.
12:21 When he learns about her bucket list of things that she wants to complete, he helps her cross
12:25 them off, including getting a tattoo and being in two places at once.
12:30 Though there's no happily ever after here, at least Landon helps Jamie to accomplish
12:34 one of her greatest wishes, to get married in the church where her mother said her own
12:38 vows.
12:50 Number 17
12:51 The Ending - A Cinderella Story
12:53 In the third act of A Cinderella Story, a betrayed Sam confronts Austin in the locker
12:58 room before his big football game, in front of all his teammates.
13:14 She speaks her mind and lays it all on the line before going to watch from the stands.
13:19 In the pivotal moment of the game though, Austin runs off the field to chase after Sam
13:23 and show her how he feels.
13:38 The fact that he does this in front of basically everyone they know makes the moment so much
13:42 more impactful.
13:44 Number 16
13:45 Elle Wins - Legally Blonde
13:47 Despite the fact that she's been underestimated by everyone in her life, Elle manages to thrive
13:53 at Harvard Law School, which is pretty impressive since she only applied to be closer to the
14:11 guy who dumped her.
14:12 When she has a role in a major murder case however, she uses her particular brand of
14:16 skills and knowledge to piece together the facts of the case in a way only she can.
14:21 Of course you can't shower after getting a perm.
14:32 She manages to bring her team to victory and help a sorority sister in the process.
14:37 Number 15
14:38 Pocket Full of Sunshine - Easy A
14:41 At the beginning of Easy A, we're introduced to our protagonist Olive Pendergast.
14:58 Pretending she has plans in order to avoid camping with her best friend's family, she
15:02 stays home all weekend.
15:04 While there, she receives a greeting card from her grandmother that plays Natasha Beddingfield's
15:09 "Pocket Full of Sunshine" when you open it.
15:16 And while she initially hates the song, she grows more and more fond of it as the weekend
15:21 progresses, eventually belting it out while dancing along.
15:31 Watching the evolution of her boredom is hilarious, and makes for a great montage that lets us
15:36 get to know this quirky character right away.
15:39 Number 14
15:40 Summer Nights - Grease
15:42 Almost every scene from Grease is iconic, but if we had to pick just one, we'd have
15:47 to go with the performance of Summer Nights.
16:00 Danny and Sandy each tell their respective groups of friends their own version of what
16:04 happened when they met at the beach, and it shows a comical and striking difference between
16:08 which details girls want to know, and the ones guys are interested in.
16:13 The back and forth makes for a dynamic scene that's become one of the most memorable
16:16 in the history of cinema for a reason.
16:38 Number 13
16:39 The Hot Tub Kiss - To All The Boys I've Loved Before
16:42 Pretty much all of Lara Jean and Peter's love story in To All The Boys I've Loved
16:46 Before is delightful to watch, but this scene has got to be the pinnacle of their romance.
16:58 While on a school ski trip, their real feelings for each other are finally out in the open
17:02 when they engage in a steamy make-out session in a hot tub.
17:13 Sure, a damper gets put on things when someone films it and shares it with everyone they
17:23 know, but the moment itself makes us wish for a fake boyfriend of our own.
17:28 Number 12
17:29 You Look Like Hell - Heathers
17:31 When we say that Heathers is a dark comedy, we mean seriously dark.
17:41 While many satires have been made about the high school experience, not many are as biting
17:45 or brutal as this one.
17:47 In this scene, protagonist Veronica walks down the school hallway covered in dirt, where
17:52 she encounters one of the Heathers, Heather Duke.
17:55 Heather tells her that she looks like hell, to which Veronica replies that that's where
17:59 she just came from.
18:01 It's a snappy comeback, and has become one of the most quotable lines from the film for
18:10 good reason.
18:12 Number 11
18:13 The Makeover - The Princess Diaries
18:24 We all love a good makeover scene, and it's hard to think of one that tops this moment
18:28 from The Princess Diaries.
18:30 Mia Thermopolis is a dorky teen living with her single mother in San Francisco, until
18:35 she unexpectedly finds out that she's actually a princess.
18:39 Before she can take on this regal role, however, she has to go through some accelerated finishing
18:44 school training and needs a makeover in order to look the part.
18:54 We all know that Anne Hathaway is beautiful, but you can't help but gasp when the new
18:59 Mia is revealed.
19:01 Number 10
19:02 Ferris Wheel Kiss - Love, Simon
19:04 In a lot of ways, Love, Simon is reminiscent of classic movies of the genre, recalling
19:08 John Hughes hits from the 80s.
19:10 The major difference, though, is that our main character is gay, making this the first
19:14 movie by a major studio to focus on an LGBTQ+ love story.
19:31 After coming out to everyone in his life, all that's left is for Simon to be reunited
19:35 with the mystery guy he fell in love with online.
19:38 At first, the audience is primed for disappointment as he sits on the Ferris Wheel alone.
19:43 But when Bram joins him and they eventually kiss, we were all cheering along with glee.
20:01 Number 9
20:02 Opening Scene - Bring It On
20:04 Often, dream sequences are used as something of a cheap ploy in movies, tricking the audience
20:09 into thinking what they're seeing is actually happening.
20:22 But Bring It On opens with a cleverly written scene where we learn just about everything
20:26 we need to know about Torrance Shipman through her subconscious.
20:30 It certainly helps that the cheer the Toros perform in Torrance's dream is probably the
20:34 catchiest and most memorable in the entire movie.
20:37 Giving us the real inside scoop of what cheerleaders actually think of themselves.
20:48 Also haven't we all had nightmares about being naked in front of the entire school?
20:53 Number 8
20:54 Opening Scene - Clueless
20:57 Clueless is considered by many to be the greatest teen movie of all time, and it ropes you in
21:02 almost immediately with an epic opening montage.
21:05 We see Cher living the teenage life that most can only dream of as she swans around Los
21:10 Angeles with her friends.
21:11 Her voiceover about her morning routine is what lets us know definitively that we're
21:15 not dealing with your average suburban high school tale, as Cher walks us through how
21:20 she picks out her daily outfits.
21:31 Sure this movie is from 1995, but this computer system is something we're still lusting after
21:36 decades later.
21:38 Number 7
21:39 Can't Take My Eyes Off You - 10 Things I Hate About You
21:42 As far as high school romances go, it's hard to beat Cat and Patrick's from 10 Things
21:47 I Hate About You.
22:09 It's tempting to say our most rewatched moment of this movie comes when Cat reads out her
22:13 poem in class, but we have to pick Heath Ledger's performance of Can't Take My Eyes Off You.
22:18 This grand gesture on the school bleacher shows that Patrick is willing to put his heart
22:22 on his sleeve in the name of his love for Cat, despite the fact that he's been pretty
22:26 stoic up until this point.
22:38 The fact that we lost Ledger too soon makes us watch this scene with an added level of
22:43 wistfulness.
22:44 Number 6
22:45 The Lift - Dirty Dancing
22:56 We'll never be able to hear I've Had the Time of My Life and not think about this scene.
23:01 By the end of Dirty Dancing, Baby has come into her own and is no longer the shy and
23:05 insecure teen who we met at the beginning of the story.
23:08 Her romance with Johnny has blossomed and the two are now in a romantic partnership
23:12 as well as a dance partnership.
23:15 Despite her initial lack of coordination, Baby has learned how to let go and trust Johnny
23:20 for the epic lift in the routine.
23:28 It's a feel-good moment that makes viewers feel like they can do anything they set their
23:31 minds to.
23:33 Number 5
23:34 Jake Picks Up Sam - 16 Candles
23:37 Throughout 16 Candles, Sam laments the fact that her crush, Jake Ryan, basically doesn't
23:42 know she exists.
23:44 That's why this scene is the perfect fantasy fulfillment for every lonely teen out there
23:53 who dreams that the one they love will end up feeling the same way.
23:57 Jake shows up at the church after Sam's sister's wedding and picks Sam up even though it's
24:01 pretty much the last thing she was expecting.
24:10 They go back to his place, where he has a birthday cake for her, and they kiss in one
24:15 of the best last scenes in any teen movie.
24:18 Number 4
24:19 The Fish Tank - Romeo and Juliet
24:21 Romeo and Juliet is considered to be one of the greatest love stories ever told, and Baz
24:26 Luhrmann's 1996 adaptation made it appealing for a new generation.
24:36 Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Danes shine in the titular roles, making their chemistry
24:53 apparent from the very first moment they set eyes on one another.
24:57 Luhrmann has them meet in a whimsical and memorable way, spying each other through a
25:01 fish tank at a bustling costume party.
25:04 This is love at first sight at its very finest.
25:07 It's no surprise that the two are kissing soon after.
25:13 Number 3
25:14 Meet the Plastics - Mean Girls
25:16 When Katie finds herself at an Illinois high school after growing up in Africa, she quickly
25:21 befriends Janice and Damien, who give her a rundown of North Shore High's cliques.
25:39 The ones they warn her about are the Plastics, a group of three girls who call Regina George
25:44 their queen.
25:48 Katie ends up falling in with the crowd despite Janice's advice, which is how the drama
25:52 of the movie kicks off, but her first meeting with them will always make us laugh.
25:57 It also gave us several iconic and quotable lines.
26:05 Number 2
26:06 No Dad, What About You?
26:08 The Breakfast Club
26:09 John Hughes' teen classic The Breakfast Club masterfully switches between comedy and drama.
26:26 In one of the most serious scenes from the film, the group of teens gets real about their
26:30 home lives, sympathizing with one another about the varied issues that they all face.
26:35 John Bender, aka The Criminal, comes from an abusive home, and gets heated when describing
26:40 his relationship with his father.
26:53 Bender has maintained a cool exterior for most of the film, but in this moment he breaks
26:57 down and lets it all out, showing that he's just as vulnerable as the rest of them.
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27:26 Number 1
27:27 The Opening Monologue - Ferris Bueller's Day Off
27:30 Can you think of a better opening scene to a movie than this one?
27:33 When Ferris Bueller's day off kicks off, we see our titular hero lying sick in bed.
27:38 More so we think.
27:52 We quickly learn that he's conning his parents and goes on to explain his life philosophy
28:01 in a few short minutes, as he gets ready for his day out on the town.
28:05 It's funny, it's ingenious, and it inspired a whole generation of teens to get creative
28:10 with how they fake sick.
28:12 No matter how many times we see it, this intro always makes us laugh.
28:29 What teen movie moment do you never tire of?
28:31 Let us know in the comments!
28:53 [music]
29:00 (upbeat music)