Booksmart (2019) is a recent teen comedy centered on two “good girls” in high school trying to get to the year’s last party. In an effort to cut loose at least once before they go off to college, the duo finds themselves in all sorts of crazy and wild situations involving drugs, drinking, and sex. Though the film underperformed at the box office, it still received high praise from critics and audiences alike.
While the humor was genuine, the film also handled its more mature elements in a very nice way. However, for as great as Booksmart was, other teen comedies have followed a very similar model, leaving their own mark on the subgenre through the years. Looking at some of the more similar ones, here is our list of 10 great comedies to watch if you loved Booksmart.
Mean Girls (2004)
With how big Mean Girls is even today, it is very likely that most who have seen Booksmart have also seen this film. Starring Lindsay Lohan, Mean Girls is a hysterical story of high school cliques and the rivalries between some of them.
The popular cult classic has almost set the standard for teen comedies in recent years, especially in how it also deals with some very mature themes. In regards to Booksmart, the two films do a great job of capturing the awkward and funny parts of high school life, but also some of the struggles that teens regularly face. While both are great comedies with a strong female cast, Mean Girls is a must-watch in its own right.
Easy A (2010)
Centered heavily on teen’s sexuality during high school, Easy A stars Emma Stone as she starts a lie that ultimately ends up making her life incredibly difficult. After accepting payment to pretend she had sex, Olive’s (Stone) social life begins to crumble as she becomes labeled a slut in school.
Considering the subject matter at hand, Easy A actually handles the topic of teen sexuality in a very mature way. Furthermore, the drama of the overall story definitely helps to make it feel like a teen film from the ’80s. With excellent performances all around and a lot of humor thrown into the mix as well, Easy A is perfect for any fan of the teen comedy subgenre.
The Duff (2015)
As explained early on in the film, The Duff (or Designated Ugly Fat Friend) plays a particular role in the social circle. While someone doesn’t need to be ugly or fat to fulfill the role, they still end up meeting the other characteristics associated with it. While it sounds a bit off-putting at first, The Duff really excels at calling out labels within teen social circles.
With a heavy dose of great comedy to lighten some of the more serious notes, The Duff does well in drawing attention to various themes, much in the same way that Booksmart does. Furthermore, with a relatable protagonist leading the story, The Duff proved to be just as charming as it was funny.
Good Boys (2019)
Good Boys succeeds in taking the teen comedy genre and aging it down a bit. Focused on a trio of sixth graders, Good Boys offers plenty of laughs that fall very much in line with those in Booksmart. Furthermore, the two films released around the same time, making them very relevant teen comedies for the time being.
Though there are some similarities between the two in terms of humor, Good Boys relies far more on humor, while Booksmart puts a bit more emphasis on the story. While Good Boys truly is hysterical, the overall plot doesn’t feel like anything special, giving Booksmart an advantage through its uniqueness. Despite the different approaches to both films, fans of Booksmart will still have a lot to love about Good Boys.
Ghost World (2001)
Originally a graphic novel, Ghost World is a highly praised, yet little known story about two young girls as they come to mature. Starring Scarlett Johansson and Thora Birch, Ghost World is a truly wonderful and funny coming of age story. Likewise, though it is a bit older than other films on this list, there are still a lot of heavy themes for the two main characters to deal with as they both get older.
Though the two have a different relationship, the main characters in Ghost World still feel a lot like Amy and Molly in Booksmart. While the characters themselves aren’t the same, the relationship between them bears a strong resemblance. Because of this, Ghost World would make a great film for any Booksmart fan, especially as a lesser-known film.
Neighbors (2014)
While Booksmart itself never really gets too serious, there are still many moments where the comedy slows down to emphasize the themes within the films. Neighbors, on the other hand, tends to be full of non-stop laughs, although the humor does fall very close to that in Booksmart.
Focusing heavily on the typical Seth Rogen brand of humor, Neighbors stands out thanks to great performances by actors like Zac Efron. With the actors having just as much fun as the crowd, it is really easy to be more involved in the jokes. While Neighbors itself isn’t a film for everyone, it still manages to capture its audience in a similar manner to Booksmart, making it well worth a watch.
Lady Bird (2017)
Though Lady Bird is much more of a coming of age story above all else, there is still a lot of humor mixed into the plot. Unlike Booksmart, Lady Bird is focused on a single young woman as she experiences some of the awkward first steps of her adult life.
However, fans of Booksmart will be happy to recognize Beanie Feldstein in both films, despite her much smaller role in Lady Bird. Overall both films are very charming in their own ways. Despite its more serious approach, fans of Booksmart could still find a lot to appreciate about Lady Bird.
Clueless (1995)
As the oldest film on this list, Clueless is one of the more iconic female-led teen comedies out there. As Cher (Alicia Silverstone) comes to see herself as a matchmaker, her skills come back to haunt her after she makes someone more popular than she is. For how shallow a plot like this may sound, there is actually a lot of heart in the film.
Even though it is from the ’90s, Clueless is very close to feeling like an ’80s John Hughes film. Granted, the movie also deals with very different subject matter from Booksmart, but it is still worth a watch for any fan of teen comedies.
Dope (2015)
Dope is a fantastic film centered around a young African American boy as he struggles to succeed beyond his environment. As an incredibly brilliant teen, Malcolm (Shameik Moore) is constantly being influenced by his rough neighborhood and the influence of others. However, after getting into trouble, Malcolm’s chances of getting into a good college are put in jeopardy, forcing him to devolve his moral character in order to achieve his goals.
By the end of the film, it is incredibly interesting to see how Malcolm comes to solve his problem. Alongside his two best friends as well, Dope is a very interesting teen comedy that also tells a very unique story. While many are unfamiliar with it, Dope is arguably one of the best teen films of the decade, making it a must-watch for any fan of Booksmart.
Superbad (2007)
As one of the most iconic teen comedies ever, Superbad is a must-watch for any fan of the subgenre. For fans of Booksmart though, Superbad actually follows a very similar plot about two lesser-popular teens as they try to play a larger role in a massive party.
Of course, several different things happen to lead to all sorts of different situations for the characters, but the core of the story remains the same. Furthermore, Superbad offers a lot of laughs that are well within the same vein as those in Booksmart, making it one of the best possible recommendations for fans of Booksmart.
