Top 10 Teen Movie Locations

Top 10 Teen Movie Locations

A countdown of the Top 10 locations featured in teen movies of the 70s, 80s, 90s, and 00s.

Teen movies are one of the most popular and yet most mocked film genres. For those who love them, however, teen movies are sentimental, funny, sweet, romantic, and always a good time. Watching a teen movie can be like reliving high school, but with prettier classmates and no Phys Ed or pimples. In honor of the glorious teen movies of past and present, this list counts down the top 10 locations featured in teen movies.

10. Westerburg High School from “Heathers”

Westerburg High (awesomely named after Replacements front man Paul Westerberg) was home to awkward hilarity, clique drama, a pretty and bitchy gang of girls named Heather, and a pre-klepto Winona Ryder, not to mention a James Dean-gone-mental-case played by Christian Slater. Though a bit dark and sinister, the witty “Heathers” has been touted as the best teen comedy of all time and called the original “Mean Girls.” So much happened in “Heathers” that the best location has to be the school where it all took place. Osaka Sangyo University of Los Angeles (formerly Corvallis High School) at 2921 Laurel Canyon Boulevard in Studio City, CA stood in for the dysfunctional place of education and humiliation in most of the film. (The ending scenes on the school steps were shot at John Adams Middle School on 16th Street in Santa Monica.)

09. Century Ballroom from “10 Things I Hate About You”

This Shakespeare-inspired (think Taming of the Shrew) teen comedy boasts an impressive young cast, laughs and romance, and a killer soundtrack. One other thing it had? An amazing prom. Though a lot of locations were used in “10 Things,” it was at the uber-fabulous prom where everything came to a head. Joey punched Cameron, Bianca beat the shit out of Joey, Michael and Mandella got together, and Kat found out the truth about why Patrick was dating her. Despite all the drama, the prom looked like it’d be a ton of fun, what with the gorgeous room and a live band. The prom was filmed in the Century Ballroom in Seattle, at 915 East Pine Street. If so inclined, you can rent the ballroom for about $1500 a day.

Bueller... Bueller... Bueller?

08. The Bueller house from “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off”

No one perfected the art of effortless charm, easy-breezy attitude, and superb school-skipping skills quite like Ferris Bueller, played by the wonderful Matthew Broderick. Ferris lived every kid’s dream – taking off for the day with his girlfriend and his best friend, playing around in Chicago, taking in a ball game, dancing in a parade… not to mention destroying his best friend’s father’s car and totally sticking it to his ogre-like principal. The Bueller house, a real home at 4160 Country Club Drive in Long Beach, CA, is iconic (and was even used in the teen movie parody film “Not Another Teen Movie”). This is a private residence, so you can cruise by but don’t trespass!

07. The Glencoe Union Church from “Sixteen Candles”

There are many memorable moments in “Sixteen Candles,” but one that stands out is the scene when Samantha (Molly Ringwald) comes out of the church after her sister’s wedding and sees dreamboat Jake Ryan waiting for her across the street. Every teen girl’s heart soared as she looked around and asked, “Me?” to which Jake Ryan replied with a smile. It was a perfect moment for awkward, not-quite-popular girls everywhere, and that’s why the Glencoe Union Church at 263 Park Avenue in Glencoe, IL is our #7 teen movie location.

06. Torrance High School from “She’s All That,” “Whatever It Takes,” “The Hot Chick,” and “Not Another Teen Movie”

Talk about a school made for teen movies! Torrance High School, at 2200 W. Carson Street in Torrance, CA, has been featured in the above movies as well as the smash TV shows “Beverly Hills, 90210” and “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” – talk about iconic! When you visit this place, you’re at West Beverly and Sunnydale High, and probably could imagine bumping into Freddie Prinze, Jr. or Paul Walker. (Yum!)

05. Glenbrook North High School from “The Breakfast Club” and “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off”

Most teen movies, appropriately, take place in high school. And this particular high school was used for exterior shots in both “The Breakfast Club” and “Ferris Bueller.” Remember Ferris picking up Sloane in the parking lot and pretending to be her dad so the principal wouldn’t get suspicious? That was near the auditorium. And who could forget the end of “The Breakfast Club” when Bender is walking across the football field and punches his hand in the air? That took place on the football field at Glenbrook North High as well. You can find the school at 2300 Shermer Road, in Northbrook, IL.

04. Rydell High from “Grease”

One of the most beloved teen movies of all time, “Grease” is the musical love story of Sandy and Danny, reunited after a summer romance at Rydell, where they are torn apart due to pressure from their friends and misunderstandings. Of course they eventually reunite, at the school carnival. Venice High School at 1300 Venice Boulevard in Venice, CA stood in for Rydell High (and was also used as the high school in “Pretty in Pink”).

03. Dog Years from “American Pie”

“American Pie” was a movie about sex, yes, but it was also about love, dating, high school, and friendship. And some of the more important friendship moments in the film, including the feel-good ending scene, take place at Dog Years, the coffee shop where the boys go to discuss love, life, and – yes – sex. Dog Years is fictional, but in its place now stands Caffe Opera, at 402 S. Myrtle in Monrovia, CA. Head there with your friends and make a toast “to the next step.”

02. East High School from “High School Musical”

Perhaps no other teen movie became a classic as quickly as “High School Musical” – and to think it was only a made-for-TV Disney flick! Zac Efron, Vanessa Hudgens, and gang helped propel the “HSM” franchise into a fan favorite and incredible money-maker. With the success of “High School Musical” and “High School Musical 2” – not to mention the impending big screen release of “High School Musical 3: Senior Year” – every tweenybopper wants to go to East High! Here’s the best part – the films are shot at a real high school in Salt Lake City, UT. You can track down the real East High School at 840 S 1300 E. Who knows? Maybe everybody will simultaneously burst into song and dance when you step foot on the campus!

01. Maine North High School from “The Breakfast Club”

What film defined the high school experience better than “The Breakfast Club”? Not only did the entire film take place within a high school (due to the five main characters getting Saturday detention), but the characters explicitly discussed the trials and tribulations of high school. The library set used in the movie was created in the MNHS gym, and John Hughes made all the actors eat lunch together in the school’s cafeteria. This film, the creation of teen movie master John Hughes, both sets up and tears down the stereotypes of high schoolers, set the standard for the heart of a teen movie, and propelled its five stars to Brat Pack fame in the 1980s. Maine North High School closed and is now being used as the Illinois State Police Station, but you can cruise by 9511 Harrison Street in Des Plaines, IL and check out the location that housed one of the greatest teen films of all time. Whether you’re a Jock, a Princess, a Basket Case, a Brain, or a Criminal, you’re sure to get a kick out of checking out this slice of teen movie history.

- Compiled by Christina LeBlanc, Executive Editor

If you love teen movies and want even more locations, check out our directory of John Hughes film locations!