20 Best Graduation Movies That Will Hit You Right in the Feels

The sequel to the hit musical celebrates new beginnings as it follows Sophie (Amanda Seyfried) preparing for the grand reopening of her mother's hotel while reflecting on Donna's (Lily James/Meryl Streep) youthful adventures. One of the adventures is Donna's graduation day, where she delivers a speech followed by a lively performance with her Dynamos to celebrate the milestone.

You can't go wrong with a classic '80s high school movie! This John Hughes classic stars Molly Ringwald as a quirky high school senior who catches the eye of the popular guy—much to the disappointment of her lovestruck best friend.

This film follows a group of teenagers in 1962 California as they spend one final night together before heading off to college, navigating romance, friendship, and the uncertainty of the future.

Lady Bird tells the story of Christine "Lady Bird" McPherson (Saoirse Ronan) as she grapples with a turbulent relationship with her mother while pursuing her dream of attending college across the country.

Diane (Ione Skye) has it all figured out: She's a straight-A student and her class valedictorian. But as graduation approaches, her world is turned upside down when she meets Lloyd (John Cusack), forcing her to question everything she thought she wanted.

The final installment in the High School Musical series is arguably the best one yet. The fan-favorite characters are now all going separate ways, which is actually pretty darn sad for those who want to see Gabriella and Troy end up together... will love prevail in the end?

This movie follows the lives of two high school football stars in a desperately quiet North Texas town. Against all odds, they try to make their last year of high school the best one yet.

It's a tale as old as time: A popular senior finally runs into the shy, quiet girl in school whom he somehow hasn't noticed all throughout his four years. They fall in love (obviously), but will the clear differences between them be too great?

If you need a little inspiration for Ditch Day, look no further than this classic '80s flick! It follows smooth-talking high school senior Ferris Bueller (Matthew Broderick) on an epic day off with his BFF Cameron and girlfriend Sloane.

Join Danny, Sandy, and the rest of the gang as they navigate their senior year of high school with plenty of bumps along the dragway. "We Go Together" is a timeless ode to those romantic final days of high school—you won't be able to get it out of your head!

Let this classic movie serve as proof that high school stereotypes were made to be broken. After all, deep down, each one of us is a brain, an athlete, a basket case, a princess, and a criminal.

A high school outsider finally gets his chance with the girl of his dreams at an epic graduation party. This ensemble comedy stars Ethan Embry, Seth Green, Jennifer Love Hewitt, and more big '90s stars.

Samantha Baker is turning 16 but it's anything but sweet when her family forgets her birthday. Of course, one kiss from her crush could turn it all around.

Can a too-cool-for-school jock turn an artsy outcast into the senior prom queen in just six weeks? You'll have fun finding out when you watch this classic high school makeover movie.

In this modern-day retelling of Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew, a charming bad boy (Heath Ledger) tries to woo a cynical high school senior (Julia Stiles) in a plot to free her younger sister up to date.

Two nerdy teens are on a mission to experience all that high school has to offer at one epic graduation party. Jonah Hill and Michael Cera will make you laugh until you cry in this unforgettable high school buddy comedy.

Gen Z's answer to Superbad stars Jonah Hill's younger sister, Beanie Feldstein, and Golden Globe-nominated actress Kaitlyn Dever as two academic superstars who set out to have the best night of their high school lives on the eve of graduation.

See the movie that defined the '90s teen experience. Nearly 25 years later, this raunchy teen comedy is still good for a few laughs.

Here's to you, Mrs. Robinson! A directionless college graduate is seduced by an older woman in this Oscar-winning film starring Dustin Hoffman and Anne Bancroft.

Alright, alright, alright. See Matthew McConaughey and Ben Affleck before they were famous in this hilarious coming-of-age film about a group of teens celebrating the last day of high school in 1976.