If you loved the wild antics and epic party scenes in Project X, you’re probably craving more movies that capture that same crazy energy. Well, grab your red Solo cups and get ready to rage, because we’ve rounded up the 20 best films that will give you major Project X vibes. These movies have everything – ridiculous hijinks, unforgettable characters, and parties so lit they’ll make you wish you were there (minus the inevitable destruction and life-ruining consequences, of course).
So sit back, pour yourself a drink, and let’s count down the top 20 movies like Project X that are guaranteed to be a good time. Just don’t blame us if you wake up with a killer hangover tomorrow.
20. Can’t Hardly Wait (1998)
Kicking off our list is the quintessential ’90s teen party flick, Can’t Hardly Wait. This movie follows a group of high school seniors on graduation day as they prepare for one last epic bash before heading off to college. There’s Preston, the hopeless romantic determined to profess his love to his dream girl Amanda. Kenny aka “Special K” who wants to lose his virginity. William, the nerd seeking revenge on Mike, his jock nemesis. And a whole bunch of other memorable characters.
The entire movie takes place at the party, with multiple storylines weaving in and out as the night goes on. There’s plenty of ’90s nostalgia, awkward encounters, and drunken antics to keep you entertained. Plus the cast is stacked with ’90s teen idols like Jennifer Love Hewitt, Ethan Embry, Seth Green, and Lauren Ambrose. It’s the perfect blend of heart and humor that will take you right back to your high school days.
19. Dazed and Confused (1993)
Alright, alright, alright. We couldn’t make a list about partying without including Richard Linklater’s classic coming-of-age film Dazed and Confused. Set in 1976, the movie follows various groups of Texas teens on the last day of school. There’s Randall “Pink” Floyd, the football star who’s not sure he wants to sign a pledge not to do drugs. Mitch Kramer, the nervous incoming freshman trying to avoid getting hazed. And of course Wooderson, the older guy still hanging around town, just livin’ L-I-V-I-N.
The whole movie has a hazy, nostalgic feel as it meanders through a day and night of cruising, keg parties, and philosophical musings. It perfectly captures that feeling of restless youth and those moments in life when everything seems possible. With a killer ’70s soundtrack and a cast of then-unknown actors like Matthew McConaughey, Ben Affleck, and Parker Posey, Dazed and Confused is the ultimate hang out movie. It will make you want to hop in a car, put on some Aerosmith, and search for the party at the Moon Tower.
18. House Party (1990)
For a movie that’s light on plot but heavy on fun, check out the hip hop comedy House Party. Rappers Kid ‘n Play star as high school friends trying to throw the ultimate rager while Kid’s parents are out of town. Despite being grounded, Kid sneaks out to the party, dodging his furious father and a couple of bumbling cops along the way.
What follows is a night of dance battles, flirting, and plenty of laughs. The energetic performances and infectious soundtrack make House Party a joy to watch. It also features a young Martin Lawrence and Tisha Campbell in early roles. House Party spawned an entire franchise, but the original remains the best. It’s a light, breezy watch that will have you wishing your friends threw parties this fun.
17. Old School (2003)
If you thought the antics in Project X were wild, wait until you see how the grown ups party in Old School. After catching his girlfriend cheating on him, attorney Mitch (Luke Wilson) moves into a house near his old college campus. When his buddies Beanie (Vince Vaughn) and Frank the Tank (Will Ferrell) throw him a massive housewarming party, they get the bright idea to start a fraternity, open to anyone who wants to relive their college glory days.
Mitch reluctantly agrees, and so begins a series of outrageous frat parties, ridiculous hazing rituals, and an epic showdown with the uptight dean. Old School is loud, crude, and gleefully immature. But that’s exactly what makes it so fun. Vaughn and Ferrell are at their best as the fast-talking ringleaders, and the supporting cast is filled with hilarious performances. From Frank streaking through the quad to the fraternity luring new recruits with the promise of “all the Cheeseburgers you can eat,” Old School proves you’re never too old to party like a college kid.
16. Neighbors (2014)
What happens when a hard-partying fraternity moves in next door to a married couple with a new baby? That’s the setup for the outrageous comedy Neighbors. Mac (Seth Rogen) and Kelly (Rose Byrne) are new parents struggling to adjust to adulthood. When a frat led by charismatic president Teddy (Zac Efron) takes over the house next door, they try to play it cool at first. But as the parties get louder and wilder, a full-blown turf war erupts between the neighbors.
Neighbors is gleefully over-the-top, with Rogen and Efron constantly trying to one-up each other with elaborate pranks and stunts. But it’s also surprisingly heartfelt, with both sides learning to find a balance between growing up and letting loose. Byrne is the secret weapon as Kelly, matching Rogen’s comic timing beat for beat. With a sequel that’s equally funny, Neighbors proves that frat comedies can bring the laughs for adults too.
15. Booksmart (2019)
For a fresh take on the teen party comedy, look no further than Olivia Wilde’s directorial debut Booksmart. On the eve of graduation, overachieving best friends Molly (Beanie Feldstein) and Amy (Kaitlyn Dever) realize they’ve missed out on fun during their high school years. Determined to make up for lost time, they set out to cram four years of partying into one epic night.
Booksmart puts a smart, feminist spin on classic teen movie tropes. Molly and Amy’s friendship is the heart of the film, and Feldstein and Dever’s chemistry is a joy to watch. The supporting cast is packed with scene-stealers, from Billie Lourd as a mysterious party girl to Noah Galvin as a flamboyant theater kid. With a sharp script and inventive direction from Wilde, Booksmart is a hilarious and heartfelt ode to female friendship. It will make you want to grab your best friend and dance the night away.
14. Superbad (2007)
No list of party comedies would be complete without the raunchy, gut-busting classic Superbad. Seth (Jonah Hill) and Evan (Michael Cera) are codependent best friends about to head off to different colleges. Determined to end high school on a high note, they volunteer to buy alcohol for a party, hoping it will help them hook up with their crushes. But their simple plan turns into a wild misadventure featuring a fake ID, menacing strangers, and two idiotic cops (played by Bill Hader and Seth Rogen).
Superbad is a movie that’s endlessly quotable and relentlessly funny. Hill and Cera have perfect buddy comedy chemistry, and the supporting cast is filled with hilarious performances (including a breakout role for Emma Stone). But underneath all the filthy jokes and wacky hijinks, Superbad is really a sweet story about friendship and the anxieties of growing up. It’s a movie that will make you laugh until you cry, and then maybe cry for real. McLovin!
13. 21 & Over (2013)
If you’re looking for a movie that’s essentially Project X in college, look no further than 21 & Over. Straight-laced student Jeff Chang (Justin Chon) is turning 21, but he has an important medical school interview the next morning. His best friends Casey (Skylar Astin) and Miller (Miles Teller) surprise him with a visit, determined to take him out for a night of legal drinking. One bar leads to another, and soon Jeff is blackout drunk, with no idea how to get home.
21 & Over takes the “one wild night” concept of Project X and adds a ticking clock element, as Casey and Miller scramble to get Jeff sobered up and ready for his interview. Along the way there are plenty of drunken mishaps, including a disastrous visit to a sorority house and a run-in with angry male cheerleaders. 21 & Over is not a movie that’s aiming for subtlety or realism. But it is aiming for big laughs, and on that front it delivers. Sometimes you just want to watch a movie about idiots getting wasted and making bad decisions. 21 & Over is that movie.
12. Everybody Wants Some!! (2016)
From the writer-director of Dazed and Confused comes another nostalgic hangout comedy, this time set in the 1980s. Everybody Wants Some!! follows a group of college baseball players navigating the freedoms and responsibilities of unsupervised adulthood. Over the course of a long weekend before classes start, they attend disco dance parties, punk rock shows, and a country bar hoedown, all while trying to figure out who they are and what they want out of life.
Like Dazed and Confused, Everybody Wants Some!! is more interested in capturing a specific time and feeling than following a strict plot. The ensemble cast of up-and-coming actors perfectly embody the various archetypes of a 1980s baseball team, from the mustachioed alpha male to the stoner philosopher. With a killer soundtrack and free-wheeling energy, Everybody Wants Some!! is a movie that invites you to sit back, relax, and soak up the vibes of a bygone era. It’s a nostalgic party that you won’t want to leave.
11. Take Me Home Tonight (2011)
Set in 1988, Take Me Home Tonight stars Topher Grace as Matt, an aimless MIT grad who works at a video store. When his high school crush Tori (Teresa Palmer) walks in one day, he impulsively lies about having a high-paying job at Goldman Sachs. She invites him to a wild end-of-summer party, where he and his twin sister (Anna Faris) and his best friend (Dan Fogler) have a night of misadventures and self-discovery.
Take Me Home Tonight is a sweet, funny throwback to ’80s teen comedies like Can’t Hardly Wait and Say Anything. Grace is charming as the slightly neurotic Matt, and Faris and Fogler provide plenty of laughs as his wacky sidekicks. The movie also features a killer ’80s soundtrack, with classic songs from Duran Duran, N.W.A., and Eddie Money (whose song provides the movie’s title). Take Me Home Tonight may not reinvent the wheel, but it’s a fun, nostalgic romp that will make you feel like you’re at the biggest party of 1988.
10. The Hangover (2009)
No movie captured the zeitgeist of the late 2000s quite like The Hangover. This raunchy comedy follows four friends who travel to Las Vegas for a wild bachelor party, only to wake up the next morning with no memory of the night before. As they retrace their steps, they discover they’ve stolen a tiger, misplaced the groom, and somehow ended up with a baby in their hotel room.
The Hangover was a massive box office hit, spawning two sequels and countless imitators. It’s easy to see why – the movie is endlessly rewatchable, with quotable one-liners and unforgettable gags (like Zach Galifianakis’ Alan wearing a baby bjorn). The chemistry between the four leads is electric, and the mystery of what exactly happened during their blackout night keeps you hooked. The Hangover may not be the most realistic portrayal of a bachelor party, but it’s definitely the funniest.
9. Risky Business (1983)
Before he was jumping on Oprah’s couch, Tom Cruise was sliding across the floor in his underwear in Risky Business. Cruise stars as Joel, a straight-laced high school student who’s left alone for the weekend while his parents are out of town. After an encounter with a beautiful call girl named Lana (Rebecca De Mornay), Joel decides to turn his house into a temporary brothel to raise money for college.
Risky Business is a stylish, sexy comedy that established Cruise as a bona fide movie star. His performance as the naive but eager Joel is both funny and endearing, and his chemistry with De Mornay is off the charts. The movie also features some iconic moments, like the aforementioned underwear dance and a steamy sex scene on a train. Risky Business may be a product of its time, but it’s still a fun, naughty romp that will make you want to take a risk or two.
8. American Pie (1999)
The raunchy teen comedy that launched a thousand imitators, American Pie follows four high school seniors who make a pact to lose their virginity by prom night. There’s Jim (Jason Biggs), the awkward everyman who has a misadventure with an apple pie. Kevin (Thomas Ian Nicholas), the level-headed one who’s in love with his girlfriend Vicky (Tara Reid). Oz (Chris Klein), the jock who joins the choir to get girls. And Finch (Eddie Kaye Thomas), the sophisticated one with a secret kinky side.
American Pie was a massive hit, spawning three sequels and a spin-off franchise (American Pie Presents). It’s easy to see why – the movie is equal parts hilarious and heartfelt, with relatable characters and a killer soundtrack. American Pie also features some of the most memorable gross-out gags in teen movie history, like Jim’s encounter with Nadia on a webcam and Stifler (Seann William Scott) accidentally drinking a certain bodily fluid. But beneath all the raunchy humor, American Pie is really a sweet story about friendship and growing up. Just don’t watch it with your parents.
7. Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986)
Playing hooky has never been more fun than in John Hughes’ classic comedy Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. Matthew Broderick stars as the titular character, a charming and popular high school senior who decides to skip school for the day and go on an adventure in Chicago. Along for the ride are his anxious best friend Cameron (Alan Ruck) and his girlfriend Sloane (Mia Sara), as well as a vengeful principal (Jeffrey Jones) determined to catch him in the act.
Ferris Bueller’s Day Off is a movie that’s endlessly rewatchable, with quotable lines and iconic moments (like the parade scene where Ferris lip-syncs to “Twist and Shout”). Broderick is perfectly cast as the mischievous but lovable Ferris, and Ruck gives a breakout performance as the uptight Cameron. The movie also features a killer soundtrack, with classic songs from The Beatles, Yello, and The Dream Academy. Ferris Bueller’s Day Off may not have the raunchiness of other teen comedies, but it’s got plenty of heart and humor. It’s a feel-good movie that will make you want to seize the day and have a little fun.
6. Revenge of the Nerds (1984)
The ultimate underdog comedy, Revenge of the Nerds follows a group of misfits who are kicked out of their college dorms by the jocks and forced to live in the gym. Led by the nerdy but determined Lewis (Robert Carradine) and Gilbert (Anthony Edwards), the nerds decide to fight back against their bullies and form their own fraternity.
Revenge of the Nerds is a classic ’80s comedy that’s equal parts silly and subversive. The movie takes on issues of bullying, sexism, and conformity with a light touch, and features some memorable gags (like the nerds using hidden cameras to get revenge on the jocks). It also has a killer cast of up-and-coming actors, including John Goodman, James Cromwell, and Timothy Busfield. Revenge of the Nerds may not be the most politically correct movie by today’s standards, but it’s still a fun and empowering romp that will make you root for the underdogs.
5. Animal House (1978)
The granddaddy of all college comedies, Animal House follows the misadventures of the Delta Tau Chi fraternity at the fictional Faber College in 1962. Led by the smooth-talking Otter (Tim Matheson) and the mischievous Bluto (John Belushi), the Deltas are known for their wild parties and outrageous pranks. But when the dean (John Vernon) threatens to shut them down, they must find a way to save their fraternity and stick it to the man.
Animal House is a movie that’s endlessly quotable and infinitely rewatchable. The cast is a who’s who of comedy legends, including Belushi, Matheson, Tom Hulce, and Kevin Bacon (in his film debut). The movie also features some of the most iconic scenes in comedy history, like the food fight in the cafeteria and the climactic parade sequence. Animal House may be over 40 years old, but it’s still as funny and subversive as ever. It’s a movie that will make you want to toga party like it’s 1962.
4. Weird Science (1985)
What do you do when you’re a nerdy teenager who can’t get a date? If you’re Gary (Anthony Michael Hall) and Wyatt (Ilan Mitchell-Smith) in Weird Science, you use your computer skills to create the perfect woman. With a little help from a lightning storm and a Barbie doll, they bring Lisa (Kelly LeBrock) to life – a gorgeous, confident, and magical woman who helps them navigate the ups and downs of teenage life.
Weird Science is a classic ’80s comedy that’s equal parts goofy and heartfelt. Hall and Mitchell-Smith have great chemistry as the awkward but lovable nerds, and LeBrock is a scene-stealer as the mysterious and alluring Lisa. The movie also features some memorable supporting performances, including Robert Downey Jr. as a high school bully and Bill Paxton as Wyatt’s obnoxious older brother. Weird Science may not be the most realistic portrayal of teenage life, but it’s a fun and fantastical romp that will make you wish you had your own perfect creation.
3. Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982)
Another classic from director Amy Heckerling and writer Cameron Crowe, Fast Times at Ridgemont High follows a group of teenagers navigating the ups and downs of high school life in Southern California. There’s Stacy (Jennifer Jason Leigh), a naive freshman who’s eager to lose her virginity. Linda (Phoebe Cates), her more experienced best friend who gives her questionable advice. Mark (Brian Backer), a nerdy senior who’s in love with Stacy. And of course, Jeff Spicoli (Sean Penn), the ultimate surfer dude who’s more interested in catching waves than attending class.
Fast Times at Ridgemont High is a movie that’s both hilarious and heartfelt, with relatable characters and a killer soundtrack (featuring songs from The Go-Go’s, Jackson Browne, and The Cars). Penn gives a breakout performance as the lovable slacker Spicoli, and the rest of the cast is equally impressive (including early roles for Nicolas Cage, Eric Stoltz, and Forest Whitaker). Fast Times at Ridgemont High may be over 35 years old, but it’s still a timeless classic that captures the joys and pains of teenage life.
2. The Breakfast Club (1985)
Another John Hughes classic, The Breakfast Club follows five high school students from different cliques who are forced to spend a Saturday in detention together. There’s Andrew (Emilio Estevez), the jock. Claire (Molly Ringwald), the popular girl. John (Judd Nelson), the rebel. Brian (Anthony Michael Hall), the nerd. And Allison (Ally Sheedy), the outcast. Over the course of the day, they break down the barriers between them and learn that they’re not so different after all.
The Breakfast Club is a movie that’s both funny and poignant, with memorable characters and iconic moments (like the dance scene in the library). The cast is phenomenal, with each actor bringing depth and nuance to their archetypal roles. Hughes’ script is sharp and insightful, tackling issues of identity, conformity, and the pressures of teenage life. The Breakfast Club may not have any wild party scenes, but it’s a movie that captures the essence of being a teenager and the importance of finding your tribe.
1. Superbad (2007)
We already mentioned Superbad earlier on this list, but it’s worth repeating just how hilarious and heartfelt this movie is. Jonah Hill and Michael Cera star as Seth and Evan, two codependent best friends who are about to graduate high school and go their separate ways. Determined to go out with a bang, they volunteer to buy alcohol for a party in the hopes of hooking up with their crushes. But their simple plan turns into a wild and crazy adventure, complete with fake IDs, menacing strangers, and two bumbling cops (played by Bill Hader and Seth Rogen).
Superbad is a movie that’s endlessly quotable and relentlessly funny, with Hill and Cera’s perfect buddy comedy chemistry and a supporting cast filled with hilarious performances (including a breakout role for Emma Stone). But underneath all the raunchy jokes and wacky hijinks, Superbad is really a sweet and poignant story about the anxieties of growing up and the importance of friendship. It’s a movie that will make you laugh until you cry, and then maybe cry for real. In short, it’s the perfect movie to watch with your best friends, preferably with a few beers in hand.
So there you have it – 20 hilarious and heartfelt movies that capture the wild, crazy, and sometimes bittersweet experience of being young and carefree. Whether you’re in the mood for a raunchy comedy like Old School or a nostalgic coming-of-age tale like Dazed and Confused, there’s something on this list for everyone. So grab some popcorn, gather your friends, and get ready to party like it’s 1999 (or 1985, or 1962…). Just remember to drink responsibly and always have a designated driver. And if all else fails, just ask yourself: What would McLovin do?
