About Superbad
Directed by Greg Mottola, Superbad was a huge cultural hit that saw actors Michael Cera, Jonah Hill and Christopher Mintz-Plasse catapulted into mainstream success. When two absolute-loser high school seniors are forced to deal with separation anxiety when their plan to host a booze-soaked party doesn’t quite go their way – they are forced to “grow up” in a lot of hilariously awkward situations.
After a recent re-watch of Superbad, I began to think of other movies like Superbad or movies that are similar to Superbad and here’s the list I came up with. Enjoy!
RELATED: 15 Hilarious McLovin quotes from Superbad
1. Pineapple Express (2008)
Directed by David Gordon Green, Pineapple Express is a stoner comedy film starring Seth Rogen, James Franco, Gary Cole, Rosie Perez and Danny McBride. It was released in the year 2008.
Pineapple Express centers on Seth Rogen’s character, Dale Denton, and James Franco’s character, weed dealer Saul, who get chased by a bunch of hitman and a corrupt cop – after they both witness a murder. Throughout the movie, Dale and Saul have their relationship tested in a variety of freak-out stoner situations, proving that if you’re gonna smoke a joint then try not to witness a murder at the same time.
2. Booksmart (2019)
Directed by Olivia Wilde, Booksmart is a sweet coming of age film starring Kaitlyn Dever, Beanie Feldstein, Jessica Williams, Lisa Kudrow, Will Forte and Jason Sudeikis. It’s about two best friends in their last few days of high school, Amy and Molly, who rule the school inside their heads. It was released in the year 2019.
The pair get excellent grades and Molly is convinced they are the only ones who got into really good universities because they spent their time studying and not doing frivolous things like going to parties.
However, on the eve of their high school graduation they realize they should have worked less and played more. Determined to never fall short of their peers, the girls set out on a mission to cram four years of fun into one night.
3. Scott Pilgrim vs the World (2010)
Directed by Edgar Wright and co-written by Wright and Michael Bacall, Scott Pilgrim vs the World is a comedy/action/romance/comic book film starring Michael Cera, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Kieran Culkin, Chris Evans, Anna Kendrick, Alison Pill, Brandon Routh and Jason Schwartzman. It was released in the year 2010.
Based off the graphic novel series by Bryan Lee O’Malley, Scott Pilgrim vs the World is comic book movie adaptation like no other. It focuses on Michael Cera’s character, Scott Pilgrim, who is a slacker bass player desperate to get a record deal whilst battling the seven exes of his new girlfriend, Romona Flowers, who is Mary Elizabeth Winstead’s character.
4. Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back (2001)
Directed and written by Kevin Smith, Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back is a comedy starring Jason Mewes, Kevin Smith, Ben Affleck, Eliza Dushku, Shannon Elizabeth, Will Ferrell, Ali Larter, Jason Lee and Chris Rock. It was released in the year 2001.
When stoners Jay and Silent Bob demand their royalties for the comic book that was made with their likenesses, they find out the rights to the comic is tied up with the movie that is being made about them. So they go on this road trip across America to stop the movie from being made because they don’t like the negative reception it’s receiving from online press. On the way they come across jewel thieves, hitch hikers, are mistaken for terrorists and are pursued by a Wildlife Ranger.
Just like the name insinuates, there are many Hollywood movie references. Most notably of which are often Star Wars.
5. Road Trip (2000)
Directed by Todd Phillips, Road Trip is a comedy about a college student named Josh who embarks on a road trip across the country with his friends to retrieve an embarrassing videotape he sent to his girlfriend. A videotape which may or may not show him cheating on her.
Along the way, they encounter a series of hilarious and unexpected challenges and adventures, as they race against time to reach their destination. The film is a coming-of-age comedy that explores themes of friendship, love, and growing up.
6. American Pie (1999)
Directed by Paul Weitz, American Pie is a teen sex comedy starring Jason Biggs, Chris Klein, Eugene Levy, Natasha Lyonne, Thomas Ian Nicholas, Seann William Scott, Tara Reid, Mena Suvari and Eddie Kaye Thomas. It was released in the year 1999.
American Pie follows a group of high school friends as they navigate their way through the ups and downs of teenage life, including first loves, heartbreak, and the quest to lose their virginity before graduation.
With its relatable characters, raunchy humor, and timeless themes, American Pie has become a beloved staple of pop culture and has spawned numerous sequels and spin-offs. Whether you’re a fan of the original or new to the franchise, American Pie is sure to leave you laughing, cringing, and feeling nostalgic for your own high school days.
RELATED: 15 Movies like American Pie for Epic Nostalgia
7. Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982)
Directed by Amy Heckerling, Fast Times at Ridgemont High is a comedy starring Sean Penn, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Judge Reinhold, Phoebe Cates, Brian Backer, Robert Romanus, and Ray Walston. It was released in the year 1982.
Fast Times at Ridgemont High is about two sophomore students, Stacy Hamilton and Mark Ratner, and their older friends Linda Barrett and Mike Damone. The later of which believe themselves to be eons wiser in the ways of romance. Definitely a must watch for those of you interested in coming-of-age high school movies.
8. Easy A (2010)
Easy A is a comedy in which a high-school student finds herself labelled as promiscuous after some gossip is overheard, a clean cut high school girl sees her life paralleling Hester Prynne’s in “The Scarlet Letter,” which she is currently studying in school until she decides to use the rumor mill to advance her social and financial standing.
Now her classmates are turning against her and the school board is becoming concerned, including her favorite teacher and the distracted guidance counselor. With the support of her hilariously idiosyncratic parents and a little help from a long-time crush, Olive attempts to take on her notorious new identity and crush the rumor mill once and for all.
9. Porky’s (1981)
Directed and written by Bob Clark, Porky’s is a teen sex comedy starring Kim Cattrall, Scott Colomby, Kaki Hunter, Nancy Parsons, Alex Karras, and Susan Clark. It was released in the year 1981.
Porky’s is the originator of the teen sex comedy phase and was well ahead of its time. It follows a group of Florida high school students and their plans to lose their virginity which involves a notorious strip club called (yes, you guessed it): Porky’s.
10. Knocked Up (2007)
Directed and written by Judd Apatow, Knocked Up is a romantic comedy starring Seth Rogen, Katherine Heigl, Paul Rudd, Leslie Mann, Jay Baruchel, Jonah Hill, Jason Segel and Martin Starr. It was released in the year 2007.
Knocked Up was a huge 2007 film. It focuses on Katherine Heigl’s character, LA reporter Alison Scott, and Seth Rogen’s character, bludger named Ben Stone, who have a drunken one night stand which results in Alison falling pregnant. Then they have to (comically) deal with the pregnancy in the best way they know how.
11. Old School (2003)
Directed and co-written by Todd Phillips, Old School is a black comedy starring Luke Wilson, Vince Vaughn and Will Ferrell. It was released in the year 2003.
Old School is about a trio of depressed men who are having a mid life crisis in their thirties. Figuring out the only answer is by re-starting their old college fraternity they get into all sorts of mishaps before finally facing up to the changes in life.
12. Good Boys (2019)
Directed by Gene Stupnitsky and co-written by Stupknitsky and Lee Eisenberg, Good Boys stars Jacob Tremblay, Keith L. Williams, Brady Noon, Molly Gordon, Lil Rel Howery and Midori Francis. It was released in the year 2019.
Good Boys is about three school kids in the sixth grade who find themselves in a series of accidental mishaps as they try to find a way to get themselves invited to a party that all the popular kids are going to.
13. Blockers (2018)
Directed by Kay Cannon, Blockers is a sex comedy starring Leslie Mann, Ike Barinholtz, John Cena, Kathryn Newton, Geraldine Viswanathan, Gideon Adlon, Graham Phillips, Miles Robbins, Colton Dunn, Sarayu Blue, Gary Cole, Gina Gershon, June Diane Raphael and Hannibal Buress. It was released in the year 2018.
Blockers is about two sets of parents who will do anything they can to stop their two teenage daughters from losing their virginity at prom. And I mean anything!
14. Detroit Rock City (1999)
Directed by Adam Rifkin, Detroit Rock City is a teen comedy starring Edward Furlong, Sam Huntington, Giuseppe Andrews, James DeBello, Lin Shaye, Melanie Lynskey, Natasha Lyonne and Shannon Tweed. It was released in the year 1999.
Detroit Rock City is about four teens in a heavy metal band who decide to go on a road trip to see Kiss. During which they end up all sorts of mishaps like disguising themselves as pizza delivery boys and drugging a Priest with hallucinogens, beating up a disco duo, dancing a lady’s strip club and getting themselves laid – all before seeing the greatest rock n roll band on earth!
15. The Hangover (2009)
Directed by Todd Phillips, The Hangover stars Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms, Zach Galifianakis, Heather Graham, Justin Bartha and Jeffrey Tambor. It was released in the year 2009.
The Hangover is about four life-long friends who had to Las Vegas for a bachelor party but when they lose the Bachelor during a night of debauchery – they have have to put their differences aside to find their friend.
RELATED: 19 Movies like The Hangover to help you sober up!
16. 10 Things I Hate About You (1999)
Directed by Gil Junger, 10 Things I Hate About You is a comedy starring Julia Stiles, Heath Ledger, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Larisa Oleynik, Larry Miller, Andrew Keegan, David Krumholtz, and Susan May Pratt. It was released in the year 1999.
In 10 Things I Hate About You, we find ourselves exploring an adaptation of Shakespeare’s ‘The Taming of The Shrew’ through the Stratford sister’s high school experience. We see them grow into their social standings, romantic and prom choices, and most importantly, determining which walls should come down to further that growth.
RELATED: 11 Movies similar to 10 Things I Hate About You
17. Neighbors (2014)
Directed by Nicholas Stoller, Neighbors is a comedy starring Seth Rogen, Zac Efron, Rose Byrne, Christopher Mintz-Plasse and Dave Franco. It was released in the year 2014.
Neighbors is about Seth Rogen and Rose Byrne’s characters Mac and Kelly who are starting to adjust to parenthood with a newborn and the epic battles that go down between them and a fraternity called “Delta Psi Beta” who moves in next door.
18. 21 Jump Street (2012)
Directed by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, 21 Jump Street is an action comedy starring two cops. It stars Jonah Hill, Channing Tatum, Brie Larson, Dave Franco, Rob Riggle and Ice Cube. It was released in the year 2012.
21 Jump Street is a movie reboot of the tv show that ran from 1987-1991 which is about two police officers who are forced to relive their teenage years by going undercover by posing as high school students.
19. Sausage Party (2016)
Directed by Conrad Vernon and Greg Tiernan, Sausage Party is an animated comedy starring Seth Rogen, Kristen Wiig, Jonah Hill, Bill Hader, Michael Cera, James Franco, Danny McBride, Craig Robinson, Paul Rudd, Nick Kroll, David Krumholtz, Edward Norton and Salma Hayek. It was released in the year 2016.
Sausage Party is about these anthropomorphic grocery store items which believe that human grocery shoppers are gods who take them to this utopia known as the “Great Beyond.” However, when they discover their gods really just want to eat them – things go hilariously wrong!
20. The Night Before (2015)
Directed by Jonathan Levine, The Night Before is a Christmas time comedy starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Seth Rogen, Anthony Mackie, Lizzy Caplan, Jillian Bell, Mindy Kaling and Michael Shannon.
Where The Night Before sets itself apart from other Christmas comedies is that it’s about three stoner friends who reunite every year to try and find the best party in New York City. So it’s basically the same as other Christmas parties except with weed.
21. Zack and Miri Make A Porno (2008)
Directed and written by Kevin Smith, Zack and Miri Make A Porno is a comedy starring Seth Rogen, Elizabeth Banks, Craig Robinson, Jason Mewes, Traci Lords, Jeff Anderson, Katie Morgan and Ricky Mabe. It was released in the year 2008.
Zack and Miri Make A Porno is about Seth Rogen and Elizabeth Banks’ characters, Zack and Miri, who are roommates that are strapped for cash and months behind on their bills. So Zack convinces Miri they should make a pornographic film to try and earn some money. Unfortunately, some feelings develop along the way.
What did you think of these movies like Superbad?
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