The cult classic Dazed and Confused might have been released in 1993, but it continues to find new fans every year. Its status in the history of classic comedies falls in line with titles like Animal House and American Pie. These coming-of-age movies that fans love feature hilarious gags, but they also have several moments that have aged poorly. When Richard Linklater set out to make the film inspired by his Texas youth, he set a goal of trying to capture the ambiance of the '70s the way he remembered it, for better or worse.
Ultimately, he succeeded, with Dazed and Confused painting a picture of that era with both its flaws and strengths. As such, audiences return to these favorites as they remind them so vividly of their own imperfections they had wrinkled out as they grew up. For veteran fans or those just discovering Dazed and Confused, here are some must-see movies that hit that same familiar feeling.
Everybody Wants Some!!
If a fan finishes Dazed and Confused and still needs more, they might as well have a double feature and queue up Everybody Wants Some!!. The 2016 film, also directed by Richard Linklater, takes place in Texas but in the following decade. These films share the same highlight of having an outstanding ensemble cast that features tremendous up-and-coming actors. From Wyatt Russell's witty stoner charm to Zoey Deutch and Blake Jenner's romantic chemistry, this nostalgic passion project captures the haziness of early college life to a tee. Like many of Linklater's films, Everybody Wants Some!! is filled with superb needle drops that transplant audiences into the decade immediately.
Stand By Me
Stand By Me is right next to Dazed and Confused in top-tier coming-of-age films. Based on the novel by Stephen King, the Rob Reiner adaptation was nominated for an Academy Award in the Best-Adapted Screenplay category and has become an American classic over the decades. The cast of young boys, including River Phoenix and Wil Wheaton, bring incredible writing to life by bringing their own childhood curiosity to their roles. A great strength of Dazed and Confused is its contained story taking place over the last day of school. Stand By Me takes a similar approach as it focuses on the story of childhood friends over the course of Labor Day weekend. The four's friendship and their struggles over getting older are vastly relatable and truly timeless.
Pleasantville
Many fans of Dazed and Confused love the film for how it submerges its viewers into a specific period of time. David, Tobey Maguire's character in the 1998 movie Pleasantville, watches a 1950s sitcom for this same reason, wanting to escape where he is. David's sister Jennifer, played by Reese Witherspoon, despises how he spends his time as she is thriving in the '90s. When they are mysteriously transported into the television show, they're faced with the reality of the time David felt so nostalgic for. The movie is a farcical take on mid-20th century American suburbia and comments on the societal changes between the two eras.
The Big Chill
Written and directed by Hollywood icon Lawrence Kasdan, 1983's The Big Chill brings together a group of college friends who lost a member to suicide. The ensemble of this dramedy showcases now-veteran actors like Glenn Close, William Hurt, Jeff Goldblum and Kevin Kline. Despite their fresh faces, the cast delivers performances far beyond their years. Their chemistry also captures the spectrum of emotion a found family like college friends can experience when reuniting. The film was supposed to feature Kevin Costner as Alex, the friend whose death brings them all together, but all of his footage was cut to create the feeling of a missing piece among the group.
Wet Hot American Summer
Of all the star-studded ensembles on this list, Wet Hot American Summer launched the most actors onto successful Hollywood careers. The cult comedy features a slew of highly successful actors firing on every comedic cylinder possible for an hour and a half. Every minute of this movie will have first-time viewers either chuckling along or needing to pause the movie to continue laughing. The comedy franchise had a recent resurgence in the public eye thanks to Netflix's two reunion series. However, many fans of those series have yet to watch the original source material and are truly missing out on comedic gold. Wet Hot American Summer certainly belongs among the great comedies that shaped the humor of the early 2000s.
Hot Summer Nights
Falling on the more dramatic side of things, this lesser-known Timothée Chalamet movie catches the young star before he turned into the stoic and brooding heartthrob. Hot Summer Nights follows Danny, a socially awkward teen who is sent to spend the summer with his aunt on Cape Cod. During his time in the town, Danny gets to know some local teens who introduce him to marijuana. As he gets deeper into the party life on the Cape, Danny sees an opportunity to join his friend Hunter in selling pot to local kids and out-of-towners. The A24 film's story isn't as captivating as its predecessors in the coming-of-age genre but still has great performances from young actors who give fresh takes on well-tread themes.
The Edge of Seventeen
Most of Hailee Steinfeld's career has been built off coming-of-age characters. From her Oscar-nominated performance in True Grit to most recently as Kate Bishop in Hawkeye, Steinfeld always delivers what the project's tone demands and beyond. Her role as Nadine Franklin in The Edge of Seventeen is vastly underlooked as it may be one of her best characters. The story follows Nadine as she struggles to make connections after her father's passing a few years earlier. The best part of this movie is the dynamic between Steinfeld and Woody Harrelson's character Mr.Bruner, Nadine's confidant and high school teacher. The relationship is primed to resonate with young audience members as it perfectly captures the transition teenagers experience in the digital age.