The term, “millennial,” means a lot of different things to different people. Whether it’s other generations calling them out as the group of “participation trophies” or being blamed for economic failures because of too much avocado toast, there seems to regularly be a negative connotation to the word. Regardless, millennials have been an incredibly important part of pop culture and entertainment, and some of the best movies for millennials reflect that. They have helped make the film industry a more inclusive place for the outliers of the world, and have also been more influenced by movies than previous generations.
Millennials also grew up with some of the first openly gay theatrical releases, deeply dark and insidious characters, and among generation-defining millennial movies that birthed some of the most iconic characters of all time. There’s no shortage of legendary movies that define millennials and continue to influence popular culture to this day, with theupcomingToy Story 5and thenew musicalMean Girlsrebootjust among the latest examples of the far-reaching impact these films have.Whether it’s through incorporating unique slang, influencing fashion choices, and, most importantly, capturing the times and the vibe that came with them, some movies just manage to sum up millennials as a generation.
22’Twilight' (2008)
Directed by Catherine Hardwicke
TheTwilightfrenzy of 2008 came about at the perfect time in millennial life. “Scene” fashion was in, Myspace was at its peak, and music was all about crooning and emo hairstyles. The movie’s triumph even brought about an entire wave of vampire and werewolf television shows that were highly successful as well, likeThe Vampire Diaries,Teen Wolf, andTrue Blood.
It may be among millennials' favorite movies, butTwilightis in no way the peak of cinema.But it resonated with millennials in the same way that theHarry Potterfranchise did. Following the plain and awkward Bella Swan (Kristen Stewart), the movie takes you on an escapist journey where its ordinary main character is sought after by a handsome 100-year-old vampire and a shirtless werewolf. And if the first one isn’t enough of a bizarre treat already, there are four more in the saga to keep fans hooked. What’s not to like?
21'10 Things I Hate About You' (1999)
Directed by Gil Junger
One of the biggest trends of the era wasthe multitude of iconic and beloved romantic comedies, with the genre having its renaissance with a multitude of genre-defining installments. Of the romcoms of the era, few are as critically acclaimed and beloved as10 Things I Hate About You, a contemporary take on a classic Shakespeare comedy. The film follows young Cameron, who in hopes of dating the girl of his dreams, enlists the help of a bad boy to date her older sister, so that she will be allowed to date him and go to the prom.
Romcoms always lend themselves to being endlessly rewatched and quoted by its biggest fans,with10 Things I Hate About Youeasily being one of the biggest fan favorite romcoms of the era. From the multitude of quotable lines to the charming and dynamic performances from the likes ofHeath LedgerandJulia Stiles, millennials quickly fell in love with the charm and wit of the film, quickly making it a classic for the genre as well as the generation as a whole.
10 Things I Hate About You
20’The Blair Witch Project' (1999)
Directed by Daniel Myrick and Eduardo Sánchez
The Blair Witch Projectcreated an entirely new way of movie marketing. It also pushed thefound-footage horror genreto the front seat of pop culture. If you are a millennial, the memories ofThe Blair Witch Project’s release are probably still burned into your mind. It was hard to escape the movie when it was marketed as a “true story” and one of the scariest movies ever made.
The end scene where Mike (Michael C. Williams) is standing in a corner facing the wall, and Heather (Heather Donahue) is attacked by the demonic entity while her camera falls, is one of the most memorable endings of all time. Rumors of it being based on a true story and actual found footage definitely didn’t help put anyone to sleep at night either. While it isn’t as terrifying today given everyone knows it’s not real, it still holds a certain appeal for those who experienced watching it when it first premiered.
The Blair Witch Project
19’Clueless' (1995)
Directed by Amy Heckerling
BeforeMean Girls, there wasClueless, which toes the line between millennial and Gen X movies.Alicia Silverstoneis unforgettable as Cher Horowitz, a gorgeous, popular, wealthy, and remarkably brilliant protagonist who gains confidence after playing matchmaker at her shool. She soon befriends newcomer Tai Frasier (played byBrittany Murphy) and decides to give her a makeover, believing it will help her.
Inspiring new fashion trends and influencing slang,Cluelessisan iconic ’90s filmany millennial should watch at least once. The true star, of course, is Cher, who subverts harmful stereotypes by showing genuine compassion, a surprising level of introspection, and unmatchable wit and sass.
18’Easy A' (2010)
Directed by Will Gluck
AnincredibleEmma Stoneroleany millennial would recognize, she plays Olive Penderghast in the beloved teen movie,Easy A. Showing a specific brand of high school hell, the film depicts Olive’s experiences after gossip about her lie of losing her virginity spreads like wildfire and gives her a brand new reputation. Instead of shying away, Olive embraces her newfound infamy.
Olive’s reaction to her notoriety reflects rapidly changing opinions and discussions around sex and sexuality, which were still extremely taboo, especially among more conservative schools.Easy Aalso depicted an important shift in the way gossip spreads in high schools, as social media makes it extremely hard to hide secrets.
17’Scream' (1996)
Directed by Wes Craven
Teen horror went through a large wave of popularity throughout the 90s, with one of the biggest defining factors and causes for this rise being the massive success and legacy of the originalScream. Thelegendary 90s teen horror filmsees a small suburban town facing a mysterious, dangerous killer known as Ghostface, laying waste and amassing a deadly body count. The teens of the town begin to treat their situation as if they were in a horror movie, using the various tropes and conventions of the genre to attempt to predict who the killer is and where they may strike next.
While meta-commentary and flipping conventions on their heads may be commonplace nowadays as a staple of Millennial culture,Screamwas one of the earliest adopters of this wild and signature tone and style.The film seamlessly blended effective comedy, genuine horror, and some of the biggest stars of the era to create a cultural phenomenon, almost single-handedly reintroducing horror to a new generation of fans. While its various sequels would help continue and sustain its legacy in the years to come, it’s impossible to understate the impact that the original had on millennials.
16’Mean Girls' (2004)
Directed by Mark Waters
BeforeMean Girls,Tina Feywas known as the nerdy comedian onSaturday Night Livewith a quick wit and a killer pair of glasses. After the movie was released, audiences acknowledged her brilliant humor, and she went on to become one of the most well-known comedians in film.
Between Fey’s stellar screenplay, one ofLindsay Lohan’s best performances, andRachel McAdams’turn as a wicked queen bee – the iconic millennial movie culminated as the perfect combination of teenage angst, realism, and comedy.Mean Girlswas dedicated to poking fun at cruel female high school bullies and fusing it with the toxic celebrity cultureand unattainable beauty standards of the time. In the process, it defined an entire generation of teen girls who would go on to repeat the quotes and outfits for years to come.
Mean Girls
Watch on Paramount+
15’Garden State' (2004)
Directed by Zach Braff
Garden Stateis synonymous with the angsty indie movie soundtracks of the early 2000s.Zach Braffexplored the struggles of young love and life through music in his directorial debut, which helped the movie achieve cult status among millennials.
While the movie is a rom-com, it completely blew any romance movie stereotypes out of the window.Garden Statefollows Andrew Largeman (Zach Braff), a depressed, drug-using, failing actor, who returns to his tiny hometown to attend his mother’s funeral. While there, he is confronted by various aspects of a life he thought he had forgotten. The laid-back and realistic characters resonated with millennials in a way that most major movie releases hadn’t before.
Garden State
Directed by Greg Mottola
Superbadis the quintessentialawkward high school moviefor millennial guys. StarringJonah HillandMichael Ceraas Seth and Evan, the hilarious coming-of-age film is centered on the students' experiences as they vow to lose their virginity before graduating from high school. This soon proves to be a real challenge, and the duo will have to go through wacky events that test their bond before college.
From the perfect chemistry between the two leads to the witty humor throughout the film, there’s more than one reason to love this movie. It reflects a kind of high school experience without the modern pressures of social media and gadgets, and transports millennials back to a time when they felt they were facing huge problems as teenagers (they weren’t).
Watch on Amazon Prime
13'500 Days of Summer' (2009)
Directed by Marc Webb
A love story that’s never missing from discussions of classic millennial movies,500 Days of Summeris a rom-com that starsJoseph Gordon-Levittas Tom Hansen, who revisits his failed relationship withZooey Deschanel’s Summer Finn. Through a non-linear structure, the film depicts the romantic connection that builds and then fizzles out between the two unforgettable characters.
The movie credited for the “manic pixie dream girl” aesthetic,500 Dayshas since been criticized for Summer’s characterization. It’s often misinterpreted in Tom’s favor, when really, it was a lopsided love story to begin with that illustrated two individuals with wholly different views and goals in a relationship. Back then, though, millennials were in it for the tears, dreamy color palette, and killer soundtrack.
(500) Days of Summer
Tom is a man who believes in true love. On the other hand, Summer is a more practical person who doesn’t want a serious long-term relationship. When their fates meet, the result is intense and complicated for him.
