There’s nothing quite like a movie party. They’re always so big and extravagant and full of larger-than-life shenanigans. Whether it’s a college party, a house party when the parents are away, or a last hurrah among old friends, party movies are great fun to watch. Some of them are so good, they’ll have you wishing you had gotten an invite.
From classics like Animal House to newer releases like Neighbors and The Hangover, the party trope is a popular one used over and over again in movies. Most party movies are comedy-centric, but they can be scary like 2019’s Ma, or even more romantic like the classic The Great Gatsby. Whatever your party style is, these are the best party movies to watch for a good time.
Updated May 2023: To keep the article fresh and relevant by adding more information and entries, this article has been updated by Amira Abdel-Fadil.
17 21 & Over (2013)
The excitement that comes before one's 21st birthday is a universal feeling we've all experienced — or will eventually. Reaching the legal drinking age and being able to enter bars is a very celebration-worthy milestone for a lot of people and is often part of the recipe for a "party you'll never forget," or rather, one you won't remember at all. 21 & Over is about just that.
It's about three friends (Miles Teller, Skylar Astin, and Justin Chon) who go out drinking to celebrate one of their (Chon) 21st birthdays, despite having an important medical school interview the next morning. The movie was released in 2013, and to be completely honest, was a bit of a flop. However, if you can submit yourself to a dumb comedy for a little over an hour and a half, it's really not bad. It's funny, entertaining, and even a bit predictable and cliché at times, but that's exactly what 21 & Over set out to be, and if you take it for what it is, it's really entertaining to watch.
16 Neighbors (2014)
2014's Neighbors is a fun concept. It's about a couple (played by Seth Rogen and Rose Byrne) who are enjoying their chill suburban life with their infant daughter, even if these new parental responsibilities prevent them from enjoying their old partying lifestyle. That is until a fraternity known for its insane parties led by Zac Efron and Dave Franco, moves into the house next door.
Next comes a back-and-forth battle between Rogen and Byrne and the frat bros as they try to find some kind of common ground between them. Neighbors has a few laughs and funny moments, but it's certainly not Rogen's funniest flick. However, in terms of a party movie, it's a unique approach that's still fun to see even if it's not as funny as some of the others. After its release, a sequel titled Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising was announced and premiered in 2016, following a similar formula except the new neighbors are a sorority this time.
15 The Night Before (2015)
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The Night Before is a holiday-centric comedy about three childhood friends (Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Seth Rogen, and Anthony Mackie) who get together every Christmas Eve ever since one of their parents (Gordon-Levitt) died in a car accident around the holidays several years ago. The trio has gotten together every holiday since, but now that they have bigger adult responsibilities like families and careers; they decide to get together one last time before putting the tradition to bed.
The Night Before is really just about these three friends doing an array of drugs all on one evening to send their tradition out with a bang. While it's funny in some spots, that trope can get a little tiresome after a while. However, this movie has more heart than a lot of other party movies do, making it a fun, non-traditional watch during the holiday season.
14 Project X (2012)
Found-footage movies are one of those types that you either love or hate. Project X is a found-footage comedy about three friends who want to gain popularity and plan to do so by throwing a party. But things get out of hand when one of the friends advertises the party throughout their entire school, and through the power of the grapevine, it gets out of hand fast.
Project X really isn't any different from any other party movie about a group of friends throwing a house party when mom and dad are out of town, however, its found-footage approach is unique. But again, if found-footage movies aren't your style, you might want to skip this one. Project X received mixed reviews from critics, mostly falling on the negative side. Still, the movie had a massive cultural impact — though much of it was negative — leading to several Project X-inspired parties around the world.
13 Can’t Hardly Wait
Starring Jennifer Love Hewitt, Ethan Embry, and Charlie Korsmo, the 1998 motion picture is all about the high school graduation party feel. Can't Hardly Wait is your typical high school movie as it gathers attractive girls and boys, different personalities, love triangles, and drama. However, one thing for sure is that all the students want a night to remember before they all venture onto various paths.
The dynamic film shows you a diverse ensemble that keeps you entertained and reminds you of the taste of youth and excitement. It will take you on a nostalgic trip as it embodies the ’90s vibe. With Can’t Hardly Wait, you’re in for a great party.
12 The House Bunny
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The House Bunny premiered in 2008 and tells the story of Shelley (Anna Faris), a former Playboy Bunny who signs up to be the house mother of an unpopular sorority after being kicked from the Playboy mansion. Alongside Faris, The House Bunny presented a strong cast including names like Kat Dennings, Colin Hanks, Katharine McPhee, Kiely Williams, Rumer Willis, Emma Stone, and even a Hugh Hefner cameo.
Despite its simple nature, The House Bunny is actually a pretty good movie and offers a lot of funny moments from a well-cast group of characters. It's a very light, silly movie that's only purpose is to make you laugh or smile during its run. It doesn't take itself seriously at all, and that's a big part of what makes The House Bunny so entertaining to watch even all these years later. Despite its mixed reviews from critics, the movie went on to gain a cult following and is still well-loved today.
11 Revenge of the Nerds
In Revenge of the Nerds, two college students, Gilbert played by Anthony Edwards and Lewis played by Robert Carradine, feel like outcasts. They are continuously bullied and targeted by the Alpha Betas. When things escalate, they decide to plot for their sweet revenge.
The charming ensemble makes this a joy to watch. You can expect musical performances and parties in the heart of this raunchy comedy as well as fulfillment if you’ve ever felt like a misfit who didn’t have a voice against those who try to humiliate you. Simple and lighthearted, Revenge of the Nerds is a cheerful movie.
10 Sixteen Candles
Sixteen Candles is a classic character-driven film '80s from the comedy and romance genre. It follows Samantha Baker as Molly Ringwald who gets frustrated when her family forgets about her 16th birthday. However, even though she feels empty and disappointed, things soon start to spice up when she finds herself between two boys: the nerdy Ted, played Anthony Micheal Hall, and the popular Jake, played by Micheal Schoeffling. It is wholesome with its quotes and memorable cast that really embody the highs and lows of being in high school. All in all, it’s a fun, heartwarming, and relatable watch.
9 Animal House (1978)
For some, Animal House is the ultimate party movie. Premiering in 1978, the movie is about a troublesome fraternity that lives to challenge the authority of their college dean. Starring big names like John Belushi, Kevin Bacon, Tim Matheson, and Peter Riegert, Animal House is recognized as culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant by the Library of Congress and was added to the National Film Registry in 2001.
It is also recognized as being one of the movies that sparked the start of the gross-out movie genre. It's one of those movies that often tries to be imitated, but it's hard to achieve what Animal House did in the '70s today. Even all these years later, Animal House has truly withstood the test of time and is still just as funny and likable today as it was when it hit theaters years ago. It's a true classic, or rather, the grandfather of the frat party movie trope.
8 Booksmart (2019)
Booksmart is one of the newest releases on this list. It's about two academically-driven girls (Beanie Feldstein and Kaitlyn Dever) on the eve of their high school graduation who realize they missed out on all the fun of high school and decide to cram four years of fun and partying into one night for the last hurrah before college. Booksmart was Olivia Wilde's feature directorial debut and also starred Jason Sudeikis, Jessica Williams, Lisa Kudrow, Will Forte, and Billie Lourd.
Booksmart was very well-received and even earned Feldstein a nomination for Best Actress - Comedy or Musical at the Golden Globes. It's a funny coming-of-age story that's especially unique as it focuses on two girls rather than a frat or group of guy friends that are most commonly featured in movies like this.
7 Dazed and Confused (1993)
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Dazed and Confused is another classic entry into the party movie genre. It follows a few different groups of high school-age teenagers in Texas on the last day of school in 1976. Full of partying and standard teen movie hijinks, Dazed and Confused is a cult classic that ranks on several best high school movies lists.
One of the best parts of Dazed and Confused is its ensemble cast. It features several names that later went on to have successful careers like Matthew McConaughey, Rory Cochrane, Anthony Rapp, Ben Affleck, and Renée Zellweger among others. With its star-studded cast and funny, entertaining plot, Dazed and Confused is a top-notch coming-of-age movie.
6 Good Boys (2019)
Good Boys is another coming-of-age comedy that centers on a trio of guy friends, except instead of being grown men, or high school or college students, the friends in question are a trio of sixth-grade boys. Starring Jacob Tremblay, Brady Noon, and Keith Williams, Good Boys follows the three friends as they try to attend a party hosted by some of their popular classmates.
The film is hilarious. There's something about the juxtaposition of three misfit sixth-graders trying to attend a house party and the misadventures that ensue that make this movie such fun to watch. It's also consistently funny from start to finish, which is often hard to achieve. But while its main focus is to make you laugh, Good Boys also has heart, and it manages to perfectly balance that with humor, creating a well-rounded storyline.
5 The Hangover (2009)
The Hangover premiered in 2009 and tells the story of four friends (Bradley Cooper, Zach Galifianakis Ed Helms, and Justin Bartha) who travel to Las Vegas for a bachelor party. But when the guys wake up the next day with no memory of the previous night and notice the groom (Bartha) is missing, they set out on an adventure to put the pieces of the night together and find the groom before his wedding day.
The Hangover is a funny movie about friendship and partying that takes the "what happens in Vegas" concept to a whole new level. It was so well-received that it spawned a trilogy, with two more movies premiering in 2011 and 2013. Though the sequels were decently successful, neither was as well-received nor as good as the original.
4 This Is the End (2013)
There really isn't another movie out there like This Is the End. Premiering in 2013, This Is the End features an ensemble cast playing exaggerated versions of themselves as they try to survive a global biblical apocalypse that starts in the middle of a housewarming party in Los Angeles. The motion picture is the epitome of ensemble casting including a range of celebrities like Seth Rogen, James Franco, Jonah Hill, Jay Baruchel, Danny McBride, Craig Robinson, Michael Cera, Emma Watson, Rihanna, Channing Tatum, and even the Backstreet Boys.
The movie was a massive success, both critically and at the box office, and is arguably one of the most unique — and best — party movies of all time. It's hilarious from beginning to end, doesn't take itself too seriously, and really stands out among the massive catalog of party movies. It's worth a watch if you haven't seen it and are looking for something to really make you laugh, and it's so good that you can watch it several times and still enjoy it as much as the first.
3 Superbad (2007)
Superbad is another classic coming-of-age tale of a trio of friends who want to throw a massive party to boost their popularity — and ego — before graduating high school. Written by Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg, Superbad premiered in 2007 and starred Jonah Hill, Michael Cera, and Christopher Mintz-Plasse as the leads. It also featured a cast of other funny people like Rogen, Bill Hader, Emma Stone, and Dave Franco.
It is one of the big standout movies from the 2000s and has been credited with having a significant impact on the millennial generation it targeted at the time of its release. From the hilarious dialogue to the chemistry between Cera and Hill and the iconic moments and one-liners like the McLovin scene, Superbad hails as one of the greatest party movies to date.
2 Wedding Crashers
The entertaining comedy took the United States by storm when it was released in 2005. Wedding Crashers was a huge commercial hit. The wedding-themed film hit the spot for many where the protagonists take advantage of the ceremony's atmosphere and make their move on the women they fancy. With nothing serious in mind, their approach is to have fun but when one of them falls for a woman he meets at a party, everything changes.
The memorable film balances fun, adventure, and a good storyline. You can sit back and relax and venture with characters played by Owen Wilson, Vince Vaughn as they crash weddings, enjoy the party, and have a pretty good time while they learn a thing or two along the way.
1 The Great Gatsby
The two-time Oscar-winning film delves into the lifestyle of the millionaire Jay Gatsby (played by Leonardo DiCaprio) who leads a lavish lifestyle. When his neighbor, Nick (Toby Maguire) takes note of this, his curiosity regarding his neighbor grows. The Great Gatsby was based on the 1925 novel of the same name by F. Scott Fitzgerald.
The mysterious character of Gatsby is intriguing and passionate and is trying to fulfill a dream he has catered his whole life towards achieving. However, will it ever be enough? Has he been trapped in an illusion? In this film where madness, tragedy, past, present and love meet, we are taken into some of the lives of the richest of the rich, and of course parties and more parties. It is overflowing with stunning visuals, set, and costume designs, and fine performances.
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