7 Myths Movies Make You Believe About High School That Aren't Actually True

There are enough movies about high school to keep the world spinning.

And, quite honestly, we love all of them. Mean Girls, Clueless, you name it, we've seen it at least 100 times. But from our binge watching of these films, we can't help but notice a few things they got completely wrong about high school.

Scroll through our list of myths we've been taught to believe about grades 9-12, thanks to some of our fave flicks:


1. You can only belong to one "clique."

Sure, you're going to be labeled in high school, it's just a part of life. But you can be both the science nerd and the star athlete or the math wiz and the prom queen.

Screenshot from the cafeteria lunch scene in Mean Girls

(via Paramount Pictures)

2. A simple makeover will cure all your problems.

Unfortunately, a change in way you dress or how you style your hair isn't going to suddenly make everything better.

3. Your life will be over if you don't go to a single school dance.

There's so much pressure to attend your HS dances, especially prom. But if you don't want to go, don't go. It's not the end of the world if you skip out on them. Trust.

4. Your crush will eventually fall in love with you.

Sad to know that this doesn't always happen. It's really not the worst thing ever if the boy you like doesn't like you back. Realize your worth and move on.

5. You will wake up with enough time every morning to find the cutest outfit and to perfect your hair and makeup.

More than likely, you'll sleep past your alarm and end up wearing jeans, a hoodie, sneakers and no makeup.

Cher Horowitz brushing her hair in the intro of Clueless

(via Paramount Pictures)

6. The cafeteria food is disgusting and you should avoid eating it at all costs.

Not true at all! They often serve pizza, hamburgers, fries and even salads that are pretty delish. So go ahead and eat your heart out.

7. Your principal or teachers will be the meanest people you will ever meet in your life.

Some principals and teachers you have are going to be pretty awful, but others will be incredibly rad and could become a guiding light for your future endeavors.

Miss Trunchbull from Matilda

(via TriStar Pictures)


At the end of the day, the untruthful portrayal of high school in movies is always going to be a thing. That shouldn't stop you from watching them, though. If you haven't seen THESE 16 movies yet, you really should, at least before you graduate high school.