This is our ongoing series of the Top Teen & College Comedies You Haven’t Seen. You can access links to previous lists below. This article is about the Top Teen & College Comedies You Haven’t Seen – 2005 – 2009.
Listed below are the links to previous years and links of the Top Teen & College Comedies You Haven’t Seen lists:
- Teen & College Comedies – The 1970’s
- Teen & College Comedies – 1980 – 1984
- Teen & College Comedies – 1985 – 1989
- Teen & College Comedies – 1990 – 1994
- Teen & College Comedies – 1995 – 1999
- Teen & College Comedies – 2000 – 2004
- Teen & College Comedies – 2005 – 2009
- Teen & College Comedies – 2010 – 2013
- Teen & College Comedies – 2014 – 2017
- Teen & College Comedies – 2018 – 2022
Raunchy Comedy & Sex Humor continued to be a popular theme of Teen & College Comedies from 2005 – 2009. Additional subgenre themes that proved popular during this timeframe included Black & Dark Comedies, Family Focused Teen Comedies and Young Adult Coming-of-Age Romantic Comedies and Dramas.
Dirty Deeds (2005), Accepted (2006), Van Wilder 2: The Rise of Taj (2006), Superbad (2007), Harold & Kumar Escape Guantanamo Bay (2008), The House Bunny (2008), College (2008), Sex Drive (2008), Miss March (2009) and I Love You, Beth Cooper (2009) continued the trend of Teen Comedies embracing Raunchy Comedy and Sex Humor themes.
Black and Dark Comedies saw a resurgence in the subgenre in the back half of the 2000’s with Running with Scissors (2006), Teeth (2008) and Jennifer’s Body (2009).
Teen Comedies with more Family-friendly fare also grew in popularity with Bad News Bears (2005), Sky High (2005), Taking 5 (2007), Hotel for Dogs (2009), 17 Again (2009) and Bandslam (2009).
And Coming-of-Age Dramedies continued to be a mainstay of the subgenre with Art School Confidential (2006), Starter for 10 (2006), Juno (2007), Growing Op (2008), Adventureland (2009) and (500) Days of Summer (2009).
Other classic and notable subgenre films from 2005 – 2009 included Just Friends (2005), John Tucker Must Die (2006), Rocket Science (2007), Drillbit Taylor (2008) and Assassination of a High School President (2008).
For our list of the Top Teen & College Comedies You Haven’t Seen – 2005 – 2009, we selected some lesser-known films from a variety of subgenre themes. We also tried to select films that were representative of later 2000’s culture and nostalgia.
Classic, must-see subgenre films from 2005 – 2009: Just Friends (2005), Superbad (2007), Juno (2007), 17 Again (2009), Adventureland (2009) and (500) Days of Summer (2009).
Lesser-known subgenre films that didn’t make our list: Running with Scissors (2006), John Tucker Must Die (2006), Full of It (2007), Kickin’ It Old Skool (2007), Assassination of a High School President (2008), Charlie Bartlett (2007) and I Love You, Beth Cooper (2009).
Note: We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. Here is our list of the Top Teen & College Comedies You Haven’t Seen – 2005 – 2009:
#10
Rocket Science
Plot: 15-year-old high school student with a stuttering problem joins the school’s debate team.
KBZ’s Take: One of the least known films on this list, Rocket Science is one of the better coming-of-age teen films that came out during the decade. The comedy and dialogue in this film is reminiscent of Rushmore (1998) while the film itself centers around the stuttering problem and goal to overcome it by Hal Hefner (Reece Thompson). The film also excels in portraying everyday situations most of us have found ourselves in during High School. Recommended for fans of the subgenre.
Where to Stream / Buy: https://amzn.to/3jmzCmz
Plot: Freshman at a prestigious art school hatches a controversial plan to make a name for himself.
KBZ’s Take: This film received mixed reviews and most fans of the subgenre will likely love it or hate it. Haters will think the film is pretentious and slow, while Lovers will likely see the satire around art school and the subjective notion of what makes art popular. We’re in the latter category as we thought this was a great satire about both Artists and Art School. The film also boasts an impressive cast with Max Minghella, Sophia Myself, John Malkovich, Anjelica Huston and Jim Broadbent. Recommended from fans of the subgenre that enjoy satirical films.
Where to Stream / Buy: https://amzn.to/3kTHUCW
#8
Sex Drive
Plot: High School Senior drives cross-country with his best friends to hook up with the girl he met online.
KBZ’s Take: This is a film specifically targeting the Teen Comedy subgenre fan that also enjoys Raunchy Comedy and Sex Humor. While it’s not the best of the subgenre theme, it’s one of the better films with some very hilarious moments. It also has some of the funniest supporting characters in the subgenre with Lance (Clark Duke) as the best friend of Ian (Josh Zuckerman) and Rex (James Marsden) as Ian’s overbearing brother. Recommended for fans of the subgenre.
Where to Stream / Buy: https://amzn.to/3wEz0Me
#7
Growing Op
Plot: Teenage boy wants to go to an actual high school after being homeschooled by his marijuana growing parents.
KBZ’s Take: Not a well-known film but it should be – especially by the last 15 minutes of this film that we admittedly did not seeing coming. While the film starts off slow, it does pick up as Quinn (Steven Yaffee) meets his new teen neighbor Crystal (Rachel Blanchard) and makes it a mission to experience actual high school life. Wallace Langham and Rosanna Arquette also give hilarious performances as Quinn’s stoner (and drug dealing) parents. Highly recommended film of the subgenre.
Where to Stream / Buy: https://amzn.to/3Ryrxbr
#6
Teeth
Plot: Teenager who is a member of her High School Chastity Club also discovers she has vagina dentata.
KBZ’s Take: This film had quite a bit of notoriety surrounding it when it was released in 2007. While the film is a Horror Comedy with Dark & Black Comedy, it also plays off the folk tale of vagina dentata to great comedic effect. Some people might be turned off by the feminist humor and scenes involving castration in the film, but for those looking for an unusual yet hilarious Teen & College Comedy, look no further than Teeth.
Where to Stream / Buy: https://amzn.to/3HJ2crN
#5
Taking 5
Plot: Teenagers Gabby and Devon kidnap a popular boy band after they refuse to play a free concert at their High School.
KBZ’s Take: Taking 5 is a fun film that while targeting the female teen demographic, can also be enjoyed by the entire family. What lifts the film above similar Teen/Family fare are the performances of the two females leads in Devon (Alona Tal) and Gabby (Daniella Monet). They have great chemistry and comedic timing in this film while playing lovable yet unpopular losers at their high school. Recommended for fans of the subgenre who don’t mind watching more family friendly fare.
Where to Stream / Buy: https://amzn.to/3wHInuQ
Plot: Playboy Bunny is kicked out of the Playboy mansion and joins a sorority as the House Mother.
KBZ’s Take: This film is the Anna Farris show. While she has had some much funnier supporting roles in films such as Just Friends (2005), this is a starring role for her where she shines. Though the film is a bit uneven and delivers mixed messages about conforming to beauty standards vs. embracing individuality, Farris delivers a comedic performance that helps raise the film above similar subgenre fare.
Where to Stream / Buy: https://amzn.to/3wF6JFx
Plot: New student who grew up watching a college quiz show, joins his University’s Challenge team.
KBZ’s Take: Most fans of the subgenre have likely not seen this film, so we wanted to list it here so you can add it to your queue. It’s a great coming-of-age film starring a very young James McAvoy. The British film balances usual subgenre tropes of love and friendship with a unique premise involving the University Challenge Team. The team is led by Benedict Cumberbatch who gives a very funny performance as the uptight leader of the team. Alice Eve, Rebecca Hall and Dominic Cooper round out the great supporting cast. Highly recommended film of the subgenre that you should move to the top of your queue.
Where to Stream / Buy: https://amzn.to/3Dtwlsx
#2
Bandslam
Plot: Gifted singer/songwriter hires new high school student to manage her rock band.
KBZ’s Take: For families that love School of Rock (2003), there’s two great additional films they should watch – Metal Lords (2022) and this film. Bandslam has School of Rock elements to the film but also has a heartwarming coming-of-age narrative centered around Will Burton (Gaelan Connell) who is overcoming a family tragedy. The film has a certain charm to it that, like School of Rock, will endear you to the cast of characters who all come together for one great rock performance. Highly recommended for fans of the subgenre.
Where to Stream / Buy: https://amzn.to/40htxsa
#1
17 Again
Plot: A man gets a chance to relive his life as a younger version of himself.
KBZ’s Take: This film was likely seen by the younger generation when Zac Efron was in his acting prime. However, for anybody who has not seen this film, it’s one of the best Body Swap Comedies and Teen Comedies out there. Though it follows a lot of the usual Body Swap film tropes, what makes the film are Zac Efron and Thomas Lennon’s performances. Thomas Lennon in particular plays one of the funniest ‘sidekicks’ in recent memory as a grown up that hasn’t let go of his Star Wars infatuation from his youth. It’s worth seeing the film for his role alone.
Additional Lists: Top Body Swap Films You Haven’t Seen #3, The Best Films of the Body Swap Subgenre #5
Where to Stream / Buy: https://amzn.to/3YcsQ1Q
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