Richard Linklater’s 1993 cult classicDazed and Confusedis not just a hangout movie. It’s a veryspecifickind of hangout movie. Set in 1976, 17 years prior to the film’s release, the film is a casual nostalgia trip for a very specific demographic, as well as a window into another time for those who were not there to experience it. It features a broad range of characters, each one authentic in their own right. And whileDazedfeels uniquely from the mind of Linklater, there are other films released both before and after it that contain similar DNA. Here are 10 hangout movies that feature a similar style, tone, pace, environment and ensemble of characters, for those too dazed and confused to look for themselves.
American Graffiti (1973)
Released in 1973, three years prior to the yearDazed and Confusedis set,American Graffitisimilarly follows an ensemble ofteenagers on a pivotal night in their lives. Instead of the first night of their summer vacation, however, this movie takes place during the last night of their summer vacation. Set in 1962, 11 years prior to the film’s actual release,Richard DreyfussandRon Howardstar as Curt and Steve, two friends hoping to make the most of their last night in Modesto, California, before they travel east for college in the morning.
The film came about when its directorGeorge Lucaswas working on his first feature,THX 1138, an abstract sci-fi movie.The GodfatherdirectorFrancis Ford Coppolachallenged Lucas to write a relatable mainstream movie, and Lucas drew a coming-of-age “hangout movie” from his personal experiences of youth. This film also marks the first collaboration between Lucas and his future frequent collaboratorHarrisonFord, who plays a small part in the film.
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Clerks (1994)
This cult classic marksKevin Smith’s groundbreaking entry into the film industry. His debut as a director, writer, producer, and editor, Smith also acted in the movie in the role of Silent Bob, who along withJason Mewes' Jay, would go on to return in several spin-offs of their own.Clerks(which got a second sequel last year) follows the day in the life of Dante Hicks (Brian O’Halloran), a convenience store clerk, and the friends and customers who enter the store throughout the day.
It was shot on a minuscule budget of $27,500 by shooting in a real-life store at night and working into the story that the shutters outside were broken in order to block out the windows. In the story, the broken shutters are just a drop in the ocean of Dante’s troubles, as he struggles with his romantic relationships and the general emptiness of his own life. He and his friends also endlessly discuss trivial pop-culture issues such as the killing of innocent Death Star contractors inReturn of the Jedi– something that would become a Smith staple going forward.
Booksmart (2019)
AlthoughBooksmartfeatures a more structured plot, it followsBeanie Feldstein’s Molly andKaitlyn Dever’s Amy as they navigate the clichés of high school graduation with a very observant contemporary twist. After abandoning their social lives and sacrificing their popularity in order to focus on getting into great universities, the two friends discover that the ensemble of popular kids who partied all year also got into great schools. Confronted with the realization that they’ve wasted the opportunity to enjoy a balanced high-school life, Molly and Amy set out to make the most of their wild night before graduation. The fantastic ensemble of eclectic characters includesBillie Lourd,Skyler Gisondo, and directorOlivia Wilde’s then-husbandJason Sudeikis.
Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982)
The first film from writerCameron Crowe(who would later go on to directJerry MaguireandAlmost Famous),Fast Timeswas a cultural pillar of early ’80s teenagehood. The film follows Linda (Phoebe Cates) and Mike (Robert Romanus) whosee themselves as more romantically-experiencedthan Stacy (Jennifer Jason Leigh) and Mark (Brian Backer). The movie breaks off into multiple storylines, making for a fly-on-the-wall feeling as the students live out a year of their lives. The ensemble most famously featuresSean Penn’s iconic surfer dude Jeff Spicoli. It also featuresForest Whitakerand the feature film debuts ofNicolas CageandEric Stoltz.
Reality Bites (1994)
BeforeSeverance,Ben Stillerdirected this comedy-drama starringWinona Ryder,Ethan Hawke, andSteve Zahn. Another 1994 entry along withClerks,Reality Bitesfollows Gen-X graduates navigating post-grad life in Houston, Texas. Ryder plays Lelaina, an aspiring documentary filmmaker, as she creates her film (also called “Reality Bites”), capturing the time-vessel of early adulthood in the era of grunge.
Friday (1995)
This mostly autobiographical story fromIce CubeandDJ Poohstars Cube alongsideChris Tucker. It was conceived when the writers decided to counteract the negative depiction of the hood in Hollywood movies and put their own experiences on the screen. Ice Cube plays slacker Craig Jones, who smokes a large amount of weed with his best friend Smokey (Tucker), only to discover that Smokey was tasked with selling that weed and the two are now indebted to a drug dealer named Big Worm (Faizon Love). If they don’t pay him back $200 by 10 p.m., they will be killed. Craig, being recently fired, resents Smokey for involving him, and the raised-stakes give way to a day-in-the-life view of the hood as Ice Cube knows it.
Licorice Pizza (2021)
Paul Thomas Andersondoes what Paul Thomas Anderson does best in this movie, as a protagonist with a potentially-unhealthy ego comes into contact with an eclectic mix of characters to hilarious and devastating results.Cooper Hoffman, the son ofthe late frequent PTA collaboratorPhilip Seymour Hoffman, stars as Gary Valentine, a 15-year-old actor and aspiring businessman. The old soul develops a relationship with 25-year-old Alana (Alana Haim) who feels both repulsed and charmed by the charismatic teenager. Much like PTA’s 1997 filmBoogie Nights, this movie takes a look at Anderson’s native San Fernando Valley at a specific time. Set in 1973, Licorice Pizza sees the quirky characters live through the waterbed craze, the oil crisis, and even come face-to-face withBarbra Streisand’s then-boyfriendJon Peters(played byBradley Cooper).
Kicking and Screaming (1995)
Not to be confused with the 2005Will Ferrellmovie of the same name,Kicking and Screamingactually has more in common withFast Times at Ridgemont High, having starred Eric Stoltz and beenwritten and directed byNoah Baumbach, who later went on to marryFast Times’Jennifer Jason Leigh. (Baumbach’s 2019 filmMarriage Storydraws from their real-life divorce.)Kicking and Screamingalso draws from Baumbach’s real-life experiences, giving audiences a slice-of-life-style movie. It documents four college graduates' struggles as they refuse to make any major life decisions in four very different ways.
The Breakfast Club (1985)
Who could forget thisJohn Hughesclassic? Five very different high school students – the waster (Judd Nelson), the jock (Emilio Estevez), the recluse (Ally Sheedy), the nerd (Anthony Michael Hall), and the popular pretty girl (Molly Ringwald) – find themselves in detention on a Saturday morning. Through simply hanging out in the library and needing to pass the time, they discover they have more in common than they have differences. Along with some iconic sequences and the climactic use of Simple Minds' “Don’t You (Forget About Me)”, this fun and inspiring film sees various high school kids break barriers and become close friends, making it a true ’80s classic.
Everybody Wants Some!! (2016)
A real spiritual sequel toDazed and Confused, Richard Linklater returns to the style and genre forEverybody Wants Some!!The movie follows the antics of college baseball players, exploring their newfound freedom from parents and high school. It marks a return to form for Linklater, whose feature debutSlackeralso comes recommended as a groundbreaking “hangout movie” in its own right. Much like withFast Times at Ridgemont High,Everybody Wants Some!!stars several young actors who went on to star in high-profile roles, includingZoey Deutch(Zombieland: Double-Tap),Glen Powell(Top Gun: Maverick),Tyler Hoechlin(the Arrowverse’s Superman), andWyatt Russell(The Falcon and the Winter Soldier).
