20+ OF THE FILMS THAT SHOW US THE COLLEGIATE CLASSROOM
School is back in session and with it arrives cooler weather and excitement to pull out that favorite worn cardigan. As the final hours of August tick away, we turn focus to some of the movies set in college. I’m certain many of these have featured on other of our lists in the past, but hopefully we can discover some that don’t get a spotlight as frequently. Let’s take a closer look.
LIST | A ‘DOWNTON ABBEY’ CHARACTER GUIDE: INTRODUCING THE CRAWLEY FAMILY
20+ OF THE FILMS THAT SHOW US THE COLLEGIATE CLASSROOM. Looking at film’s set in college (mostly!). #College #Movies #MovieList #CollegeMovies Share on XBelow is a varied collection of college movies. From sororities to serious academics, mysteries to tearjerker romance, there should be a little something for everyone. The goal is also to showcase different styles and genres as well as characters that have different personalities and academic goals. Read on to visit these halls.
MOVIES SET in COLLEGE
ADMISSION
Starring as a college admissions career girl, Tina Fey discovers that she may have a chance to help someone she never thought she’d meet. Co-starring is Paul Rudd. The film is an entertaining and fast-moving comedy.
PG-13 is the rating for some profanity and innuendo; the film has 2-3 instances of undressing and making out which implies sex.
Digitally purchase, at publication, on places like Prime Video
AURORA TEAGARDEN MYSTERIES: A LESSON in MURDER
This is one of the revamped titles in the Aurora Teagarden adaptations which introduces us to a college-aged Aurora who, in this story, solves the mystery of a lit class student. There are three films (so far) featuring Skyler Samuels and Evan Roderick taking over the role of Arthur, the man who has a crush on her. Previously we met Candance Cameron Bure’s Aurora in her established career lifetime.
TV-PG is the rating for the murder mystery themes
Stream, at publication, the film with Hallmark+
CLASS
Before he made a splash on Sweet Magnolias, Justin Bruening played in this television role as a “privileged” law student who is assigned to help a single mom struggling to ensure her son is well cared for. movies set in college
TV-G would be the rating of this one.
At present, there are no readily available copies or streaming options
CRIMES of FASHION
This is one of those “silly” movies that has no purpose other than to entertain. It’s good fun and features Kaley Cuoco in the role of fashion student who learns her family is, well, from a criminal and questionable background. Megan Fox co-stars.
PG is probably the rating for this “not rated” film.
Stream, at publication, on Freeform; or search for DVD copies of this film on places like Amazon
DAMSELS in DISTRESS
Before she was the director everyone loves from Barbie, Greta Gerwig co-stars in this film about girls who try to change the campus at Seven Oaks college. The cast also includes Adam Brody (Nobody Wants This) and Aubrey Plaza.
PG-13 is the rating; the reason is for “mature thematic content” and “some” sexual content.
Digitally purchase, at publication, on places like Prime Video
DOWN to YOU
Al and Imogen are our hero and heroine in this about college students who fall head over heels in this story that pulls them apart because of commitment fears. Freddie Prince Jr. and Julia Stiles feature in lead roles.
PG-13 is the rating; there is some profanity and sexual content.
Stream, at publication, on Pluto TV; or digitally purchase on places like Prime Video
FIRST DAUGHTER
A millennial favorite this film is about the president’s daughter who enters her freshman year hoping to find a little more independence and space to have a life. The film has lots of comedy and even some surprisingly touching moments. Katie Holmes plays the lead with Michael Keaton as her father and Marc Blucas as a college crush.
PG is the film’s rating for some sensuality and minor profanity.
Digitally purchase, at publication, on places like Prime Video
FRESHMAN FATHER
Inspired by a true story (or so the trivia tells us), Drew Seeley plays one half of a high school sweetheart couple who has to adjust when they learn that Kathy is pregnant. They movie to Cambridge so that he can still take his scholarship until Kathy leaves him and their son, which leaves John to raise a child and still finish school.
TV-PG is the film’s rating
At present, there are no readily available copies or streaming options
GOOD NEWS
From 1947, this June Allyson film features her as a librarian at a co-ed school where she falls for the football “hero.” Peter Lawford co-stars in the film that is set in the roaring 20s!
“Not Rated” is the film’s rating classification.
Stream, at publication, on Plex; or digitally purchase on places like Prime Video
HAPPY TOGETHER
This follows a college student starting at UCLA and then he discovers that his roommate Alex is actually a girl. A young (and pre Grey’s Anatomy)Patrick Dempsey stars in this 1980s comedy.
PG-13 is the rating for “scenes of” sensuality and profanity.
At present, there are no readily available copies or streaming options
THE HOUSE BUNNY
LEGALLY BLONDE
This one on a list like this is a given because it’s Elle Woods and she wears pink and determines to (and does!) conquer law school. It’s all just so charming and fun, and Reese Witherspoon really makes the role work and fit and be endearing. Plus, it’s definitely an iconic very her role.
PG-13 is the rating and there is quite a bit of innuendo and some profanity too.
Stream, at publication, with MGM+; or digitally purchase on places like Prime Video
LIBERAL ARTS
This follows a guy who returns to his alma mater for a retirement party where he meets a college student who intrigues him. Elizabeth Olsen stars in this pre her Marvel days. The co-lead is Josh Radnor. movies set in college
PG-13 is the rating which is said to be for “mature thematic elements” and “sexual content.”
Stream, at publication, on AMC+ and IFC Films Unlimited; or digitally purchase on places like Prime Video
LIKE CRAZY
This one is about a British student who, while attending an L.A. university falls in love with an American but then isn’t able to stay because her student visa expires. This leads to up and downs and challenges that question if their love story is worth the risks.
PG-13 is the rating for language and sexual content
Stream, at publication, with PlutoTV; or digitally purchase on places like Prime Video
THE MALE ANIMAL
This plot follows a college professor who ends up at the center of a “free speech” debate on campus. Henry Fonda and Olivia de Havilland co-star in this 1942 title.
“Not Rated” is the film’s rating classification.
At present, there are no readily available streaming options; search places like Amazon for DVD copies
THE MIGHTY MACS
Set at a “tiny” Catholic college, Carla Gugino stars in this as a woman who is the head basketball coach and despite setbacks, she determines to make this team work even as the school is in danger of being sold.
G is the rating for this film inspired by a true story.
Stream, at publication, on Pluto TV or Tubi plus Prime Video. You can also find on UP Faith and Family
MY OXFORD YEAR
If you enjoy bittersweet romances, well, this one is ideal. It’s based on the novel of the same name and follows a woman who decides to take a yearlong course at Oxford in order to fulfill her longstanding dream of studying at Oxford. While there, her academic plans also expand to include falling for her teacher. From there, secrets and sadness prevail, but surprisingly I do like where the film leaves the heroine.
PG-13 is the rating; there is some profanity and sexual content.
Stream, at publication, exclusively on Netflix
NANCY DREW, 2002
A TV film that featured as part of the Sunday night’s “Wonderful World of Disney,” this film reimagines Nancy in modern times and has Maggie Lawson in said character role.
The film is a PG or G rating and doesn’t have much, outside of some flirting, to make note of.
At present, there are no readily available copies or streaming options
OVERNIGHT DELIVERY
A road trip rom-com, Paul Rudd features in this comedy playing a college student who, believing his girlfriend is cheating on him, writes a scathing letter only to then learn she’s not. This sends him on a journey to get the letter back where he takes a tagalong in the sassy stripper Ivy. Reese Witherspoon co-stars. movies set in college
PG is the film’s rating for some sensuality and minor profanity.
Digitally purchase, at publication, on places like Prime Video
THE PRINCE and ME
This film follows a midwestern girl who, taking college seriously, has no time for party boys or wasting time. Then she meets Eddie, a new lab partner, who seems to think this is all college is for. Little does she know, Eddie has a secret! Julia Stiles leads the cast in this.
PG-13 is the rating for this one which says it’s for some “crude sexual material.”
Stream, at publication, on Pluto TV; or digitally purchase on places like Prime Video
SO UNDERCOVER
A sassy and opinionated private detective goes undercover at a college sorority in order to protect a daughter of a mob boss. She does this undercover and with the help of the FBI. The film features Jeremy Piven, Joshua Bowman, Kelly Osbourne and in the lead role Miley Cyrus.
PG-13 is the rating for innuendo and some “tense” moments.
Stream, at publication, on Roku and Tubi or Hulu and Prime Video
SON in LAW
Pre her starring role in The Might Macs, Carla Gugino stars in this 90s film about a college student who leaves her safe and traditional family to get away. Only she brings home an oddball boyfriend who leaves everyone unsure of what to think. The film primarily takes place over Thanksgiving.
PG-13 is the rating for sensuality and profanity.
Digitally purchase, at publication, on places like Prime Video
STARTER for 10
Set in the 80s at Bristol University, James McAvoy leads an impressive e cast in this 2006 comedy about a working-class student trying to navigate his first year and make it on the trivia team. The cast includes Mark Gatiss, Alice Eve, Rebecca Hall and Benedict Cumberbatch. This is actually a super entertaining and underrated dramedy.
The PG-13 rating is for “sexual content” and profanity, plus some drug use.
Stream, at publication, on HBO Max; or digitally purchase on places like Prime Video
SUMMER CATCH
This one is more about summertime than anything else (so no real examples of walking the college halls), but it’s also about a college (if memory is serving me) baseball player looking to be discovered. A young Freddie Prinze Jr. leads the cast alongside Jessica Biel.
PG-13 is the rating which means the film has sexual content, profanity and “drinking.”
Digitally purchase, at publication, on places like Prime Video
SURPRISED by OXFORD
A film that released in 2023, Rose Reid stars in this title that describes her Caro as a “brilliant” student with a one-track mind who arrives in Oxford where she studies and meets a “charmer” that inspires her to open up to love. movies set in college
“Not Rated” is film’s classification (though some sites list it as PG-13), but film has some innuendo / suggestive comments and some profanity, too.
Stream, at publication, on Roku or Tubi; or find streaming on Prime Video
SYDNEY WHITE
A loose retelling of Snow White (set in modern times), this primarily takes place in a dilapidated sorority inhabited by seven quirky guys and Amanda Bynes’ titular character. The film is lots of fun and does entertain if that’s all you are looking for!
PG-13 is the rating which means the film has some innuendo
Digitally purchase, at publication, on places like Prime Video
TEACHER’S PET
From 1958, this is tagged as a romance and comedy and has Doris Day and Clark Gable. It follows an “editor” who poses as a journalism student where a flirtation strikes up with the professor.
“Not Rated” is the film’s rating classification.
Digitally purchase, at publication, on places like Prime Video; you can also find this on Kanopy
WITH HONORS
From 1994, this title is, as described on Prime Video a film about a character “armed with a copy of a Harvard student’s thesis a homeless man makes a desperate student an offer. In exchange for food and a place to stay he will return the thesis one page at a time.”
The film is PG-13 for “language and brief sensuality.”
Stream, at publication, on Tubi TV; or digitally purchase on places like Prime Video
Photos: Alamy
How many of these college movies have you seen? Which ones would you add to our never totally complete movies set in college list? Share all of your thoughts below! Let’s talk.
Thank you for visiting; please do return again soon!
PINTEREST PIN – SAVE & SHARE
