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Best Spring Break Movies

Spring break lasts all year long with the best spring break movies.

By Stephen HamiltonPublished 7 years ago 6 min read
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Spring break is a great time to get together with friends, relax, and make memories. Whether you are heading down south to party it up, going on a fun-filled road trip, or just having a good ‘ol fashion staycation; we’ve got the best spring break movies to enjoy during the down time. And if it isn't time for spring break, watch them to stave off the winter blues or inspire yourself for future vacations.

For the guys: Vanessa Hudgens, Selena Gomez, Ashley Benson, and Rachel Korine in bikinis and for the ladies: James Franco (though his character is far from the usual). Four co-eds are short on cash and missing out on spring break. So they do what any rational college students would do…they rob a bank and head off to Florida on the spring break of a lifetime. However, the police soon crash the party and arrest them. The scantily clad foursome is unexpectedly bailed out by a drug dealer and wannabe rapper named Alien (James Franco). Soon after, three of the four buddies decide to join Alien in a life of crime. If you love to escape from reality and walk on the wild side, this is definitely a movie for you. Crime, sex, and drugs are the main characters of this film, and it’s definitely one for the books.

What could be better than hanging out with friends, wearing those ridiculous 3D glasses, and watching a hilariously awesome, gory comedy that serves as a loose remake to the 1978 horror film of the same name? Spring break turns deadly when an underground tremor releases hundreds of prehistoric, carnivorous fish into Lake Victoria, a popular waterside resort. Local cop Julie Forester (Elisabeth Shue) must join forces with a pack of strangers to destroy the ravenous monsters before everyone becomes fish bait. This movie is going to be pretty much what you expect it to be. Although it’s cliché at times, the actors embrace that attribute and really make the movie; it is a highly-entertaining B-movie.

The name says it all. Taking place in 1983, this movie follows two party animal college kids (David Knell, Steve Bassett, Perry Lang, Paul Land) as they embark on a journey to Fort Lauderdale and find themselves trapped in a series of memorable events, from rooming with two of the most major nerds to ever walk the beach and showing them how to be the life of the party to trying to evade a domineering stepfather. Sand, surf, sun, wet t-shirt contests, and general debauchery rule in this movie. The movie quickly became a cult classic, known for great one-liners, super 80s lingo and extreme party sequences. It might not be the newest film to the spring break movie market, but it’s full of entertainment and laughs.

No Script. No Actors. No Control. From the producers of The Real World comes The Real Cancun. If you like documentaries or documentary-style filmmaking, this is for you. A camera crew follows 16 college students as they head to Cancun for a week. The cameras caught their every move-clothed and unclothed, drunk and sober, happy and mad. This movie is filled with the overindulgence of sex, booze, and partying. Every typical college type is represented: the ladies’ man, the party girl, and even the virgin. One critic called it Girls Gone Wild meets The Real World. This movie is a relatively real life view of what spring break is like for a lot of college kids. Even though spring break is known for drunken hook ups, for some that’s easier said than done. Overall, the movie gives an interesting look into a stereotypical spring break experience.

Thirty-somethings Gayle, Becky and Judi (Amy Poehler, Rachel Dratch, and Parker Posey)—best friends and girl nerds since back in the day—make their way to Texas' South Padre Island, quintessential party spot for young, beautiful, and carefree college co-eds. However, they’re not down there to party; They’ve accepted the burden of chaperoning a Senator’s notoriously out-of-control daughter, Ashley (Amber Tamblyn). But when the friends discover that Ashley's reputation precedes her and that she's actually an even bigger nerd than the three of them, all four decide that this is the week to get wild and crazy for the first time in their lives! Ok, so what if this movie went straight to DVD. If you love comedy and are looking for something that doesn’t require too much thought, this will hit the sweet spot.

Five friends from a tiny, conservative college have an unforgettable experience after their marching band bus breaks down… in Fort Lauderdale during spring break. They begin a mission to come up with enough money to fix the bus and make it to the National Marching Band competition. Through a series of mishaps, crazy encounters (Jell-O wrestling, anyone?), and spring break style fun, they race against the clock. While there’s not actually much band action, (we hear one note and see one instrument), this movie is very reminiscent of the crude, lighthearted 80s style party movies. It does not require much thought and you shouldn’t expect Oscar winning performances, but it’s a fun and comical way to spend 90 minutes.

In this teen thriller, college girl Danielle (Shannon Lucio) lies to her parents about her spring break plans and sneaks away to the fun-filled beaches of Florida with her two friends. Once in Florida, she falls for Shane (Riley Smith), a cute local who’s working to raise money for college. Meanwhile, a marine biologist explores a new reef where numerous divers, swimmers, and loungers have vanished and soon realizes that of a group lethal tiger sharks have infiltrated the area. After an overnight boat trip where Danielle and her friend are viciously attacked by the sharks, spring break goes from relaxation and fun in the sun to a frantic battle for their lives, and the only way to survive is to stay away from the beach. Brace yourself for this suspense filled movie that will deliver a few honest to goodness chills.

The original spring break movie. Where the Boys Are motivated college kids everywhere to take a break from the monotony of course work and seek out sun, surf, sex, and booze for a week of tropical insanity. Four Midwestern college girls Angie (Connie Francis), Melanie (Yvette Mimieux), Tuggle (Paula Prentiss) and Merritt (Dolores Hart) head off to Florida for spring break. On their hunt for passion and adventure, Merritt becomes hooked on the fascinating Ryder Smith (George Hamilton), while Tuggle becomes fleetingly entangled with TV Thompson (Jim Hutton)—he’s all looks and no brains. Though the young women have plenty of good times, they find that the trip isn't all fun and games. This movie was actually pretty scandalous for 1960, although these days it might seem pretty tame. This movie is a must see for anyone who’s ever been on spring break or planning on going in the future. You have to pay homage to the one that started it all.

This movie proves that spring break isn’t only for muscle heads and queen bees. Nerds know how to get down too! After dominating the jocks in the Alpha Beta fraternity at Adams College, the nerds of Tri-Lambda are off to Fort Lauderdale for a national fraternity convention. Unsurprisingly, Alpha Beta also makes an appearance and is determined to get even. Now Lewis (Robert Carradine), Booger (Curtis Armstrong), Lamar (Larry B. Scott), and Poindexter (Timothy Busfield) have to battle the Alpha Beta for their rightful place. It’s a comical look at how these nerds do spring break, avoid beefcake fraternity guys, and try to get the girls.

From Justin To Kelly is a feel-good spring break flick for American Idol lovers. Let’s just get this out of the way: it is a musical. Don’t let that deter you though, the cheesiness and lovey-dovey acting is a least great for a laugh. In this musical, college student Justin (Justin Guarini) arrives in Fort Lauderdale for spring break with his friends, and quickly crosses paths with waitress Kelly (Kelly Clarkson). Although Justin falls for Kelly almost instantly, Kelly's jealous friend tries her best to keep the two from connecting. Yet, with the help of several song-and-dance numbers (several!), Justin and Kelly eventually meet up and make sweet music together. Watch it for Justin’s mesmerizing and fluffy hair, if nothing else.

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About the Creator

Stephen Hamilton

Definitive movie buff. Quickly realized that it was more financially prudent to write about film than trying to beg for millions of dollars to make his own.

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