“Election” 

The colliding stories, humor, schemes and strange characters presented in the film “Election” make it an intensely enjoyable watch. The movie’s greatest virtue is its fun and thrilling storyline. As a fast-paced film about a high school presidential election and a tense rivalry between teacher and student, the plot of this film has a similar feel to a thriller without the action. You can find “Election” on Max, Roku or Prime Video.

“The Holdovers” 

Heartbreaking, heartwarming and hilarious all at the same time, “The Holdovers” is a perfect movie to get you in the school mood. Found on Prime Video, this film follows a stuck-up teacher, a misbehaving boy and a grieving cafeteria worker all stranded at a boarding school during winter break. The movie has a mentor-mentee arc and a heartwarming storyline, with most of the movie feeling like an emotional journey, making it an incredibly likable film for anyone to watch.

“21 Jump Street”

“21 Jump Street” is an energetic and action-packed cop comedy that follows two cops in an infiltration operation in a high school. Perhaps the closest we have ever gotten to a live-action cartoon, “21 Jump Street” embodies the spirit of an animated movie while being entirely live-action. It does so by having the insanity, color and humor you might normally see in a cartoon. The movie’s action, humor and story make it a must-see for the back to school season. You can rent “21 Jump Street” on Prime Video or watch it on Roku.

“Lady Bird” 

“Lady Bird” follows a high school girl’s relationship with her mother, and her trials and tribulations throughout high school. Greta Gerwig, who recently became known for her directing of “Barbie,” filled the film with humor, relatability and sadness. The music, acting and writing all blend together to create a beautiful environment and an intensely memorable movie. “Lady Bird” can be watched on Max, Hulu or Prime Video.

“Eighth Grade” 

Many of us remember our eighth grade year as a time full of awkwardness, and this film captures that feeling perfectly. “Eighth Grade” follows a young, shy girl navigating romantic relationships, bullies and friendships. Comedian Bo Burnham’s directorial debut is full of relatable humor and is an incredibly well-made drama, embodying the time of pubescent awkwardness that is middle school. You can find it on Hulu or Prime Video.

“Harry Potter”

The Harry Potter movies are a fun and imaginative series of films. Following wizard Harry Potter in adventures at the magic school of Hogwarts, the movies are consistently engaging, beautiful and incredibly creative. The creativity in these films will help you begin your school year with a little magic and thrust you into the energy of school. The Harry Potter films can be found on Peacock and Amazon Prime.