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 that they’ll have the viewer wishing they had gotten an invitation.
From classics likeAnimal Houseto newer releases likeNeighborsandThe Hangover, the party trope is a popular one used over and over again in movies. Most party movies are comedies, but they can also be romantic,like the classicThe Great Gatsby, or even scary, like 2019’sMa.Even though New Year’s Eve is over, the party can still rage on all year long. Here are the best party movies to check out.
Update on July 14, 2025: If you are a fan of party movies, then you will be happy to know that this article has been updated with more titles by Samuel Comrier and where each entry is currently streaming.
2021 & Over (2013)
The excitement that comes before one’s 21st birthday is a universal feeling every American has experienced — or will eventually.Reaching the legal drinking ageand 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 & Overis about just that. It’s about three friends (played by Miles Teller, Skylar Astin, and Justin Chon) who go out drinking to celebrate one of their 21st birthdays, despite having an important medical school interview the next morning.
Why21 & OverIt a Must-Watch Party Movie
The movie was released in 2013 and certainly did not get kind reviews from critics. However, if one can submit themself to a dumb comedy for a little over an hour and a half it’s funny, entertaining, a bit predictable and cliché at times, but that’s exactly what21 & Overset out to be. It also is one of the first major films for star Miles Teller, who has since gone on to become a major movie star in films likeWhiplashandTop Gun: Maverick.21 & Overis currently available to stream on Hulu.
19Project X (2012)
Found-footage movies are one of those types that are either loved or hated.Project Xis 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 XTapped Into a Generation
Project Xreally 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, itsfound-footage approachis unique.Project Xreceived 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 severalProject X-inspired parties around the world. It is one of those rare films whose title became part of the cultural zeitgeist which makes it worth checking out.Project Xis currently available to rent on Apple TV, Prime, and Vudu.
18Ma (2019)
Mais definitely an oddball on this list: while most think about romcoms or teen movies when hearing “party”,Mais a horror movie that features parties all throughout. Ma (Octavia Spencer) lives alone in her big house in Ohio. One day, she helps a group of teens buy some alcohol and eventually invites them to party in her basement, which becomes a more and more popular hangout spot. However, Ma soon begins to act strangely, begging the teens to spend time with her.
A Different Type of Party Movie
Mais a great horror movie that reinvents the party genre. The plot feels unique and fresh for both genres.Spencer wanted to break away from her usual roles, and she certainly did. Nonetheless, the actress showed her versatility, successfully portraying the twisted deadpan murderer.Mais probably the best horror movie to watch during a party. Or maybe not, actually…Mais currently available to stream on DirecTV.
17Rough Night (2017)
Rough Night
Rough Nightstars Scarlett Johansson, Gillian Bell, Zoe Kravitz, Ilana Glazer, and Kate McKinnon as five women who gather for a bachelorette party in Miami. While the night starts out fun, with a simple dinner that eventually turns into a drug-filled night at the club, things take a turn for the worse when they accidentally kill someone who seemingly is a male stripper. Now, the women find themselves needing to deal with the death and make sure it cannot be linked back to them as it could ruin all of their lives before realizing there is more to the case than meets the eye.
WhyRough Nightis Underrated
Rought Nightsadly bombed at the box office when it opened in theaters (and was beaten by another film that will appear later on this list, which opened a month later), but the film is a laugh-out-loud riot. While marketed originally as aBridesmaidsorThe Hangoverknockoff, the film was a much darker comedy and got a lot of good laughs out of the dead body, similar toWeekend at Bernie’s. From a creative team that had a history working on Broad City, Rough Night is a party movie for audiences who want something a little darker.Stream on Starz
16The House Bunny (2008)
The House Bunny
The House Bunnypremiered in 2008 and tells the story of Shelley (Anna Faris), a former Playboy Bunny who signs up to be the housemother of an unpopular sorority after being kicked from the Playboy mansion. Alongside Faris,The House Bunnypresented a strong cast, including names like Kat Dennings, Colin Hanks, Katharine McPhee, Kiely Williams, Rumer Willis, Emma Stone, and even a Hugh Hefner cameo.
House Bunnyis a Party Must Watch
Despite its simple nature,The House Bunnyis 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 doesn’t take itself seriously at all, and that’s a big part of what makesThe House Bunnyso 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. It features the fun fantasy of a Playboy Mansion party, without the true life drugs and crimes that were happening.The House Bunnyis currently available to stream on Netflix.
15Can’t Hardly Wait (1998)
Starring Jennifer Love Hewitt, Ethan Embry, and Charlie Korsmo, the 1998 motion picture is all about a high school graduation party.Can’t Hardly Waitis a 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. WithCan’t Hardly Wait, you’re in for a great party.
What Makes It Great
The dynamic film shows you a diverse ensemble that keeps audiences entertained and reminds them of the taste of youth and excitement. It will take you on a nostalgic trip as it embodies the ’90s vibe, particularly as the movie features many stars before they were famous. It also featured a great soundtrack with artists like Smash Mouth, Third-Eye Blind, Run D.M.C., and Blink 182, just to name a few, which makes for a great party playlist.Can’t Hardly Waitis currently available to stream on DirecTV.
14Good Boys (2019)
Good Boysis 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 Boysfollows the three friends as they try to attend a party hosted by some of their popular classmates.
Good BoysShows Partying Can Start Young
The film is hilarious. There’s something about the juxtaposition ofthree misfit sixth-graderstrying to attend a house party and the ensuing misadventures that make this movie so fun. Good Boys also constantly contrasts the fact that the movie is using the conventions of a high school party film with a sixth-grader party, which is a rather tame experience. While its main focus is to make you laugh,Good Boysalso has heart, and it manages to balance that with humor, creating a well-rounded storyline perfectly.Good Boysis currently available to stream on Netflix.
1313 Going on 30 (2004)
13 Going on 30
In13 Going on 30, Jenna is a young girl growing up in the late 80s. She’s nerdy and has no friends. For her 13th birthday party, she manages to invite the most popular girls in school in exchange for doing their homework. However, the girls put her in a closet under the guise of doing “7 minutes in heaven” with her crush and leave her house. Realizing she has been duped, she wishes she wasn’t a kid anymore and ends up waking in the body of her thirty-year-old self. But, while she has the body, the job, the friends of a thirty-year-old, Jenna is still thirteen in her head.
Two partiesare what make13 Going on 30. The first one is child Jenna’s failed birthday party at the very beginning, where she gets cruelly pranked by her classmates, and suddenly turns thirty years old. The second one is the business party that adult Jenna attends, wearing her best 80s tween outfit, which ultimately results in the mythical scene where Jenna entices all the attendees into dancing to “Thriller” by Michael Jackson. This film celebrates parties, whether they’re a pity party or a total blast.13 Going on 30is currently available to stream on Netflix.
12Neighbors (2014)
Neighborsis a fun concept. It’s about a couple (played by Seth Rogen and Rose Byrne) who are enjoying their quiet 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 partiesled by Zac Efronand 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 attempt to find some common ground between them.
NeighborsMakes Partying Generational
Neighborscertainly have all the laughs one would expect from a Seth Rogen movie, and the film has a lot of fun poking fun at the idea that just a few years earlier, Rogen would have been one of the party guys in the fraternity.It is also a standout performance by Zac Efron, who steals the show, bringing the perfect balance of humor and slight villainousness that helped him shed his Disney channel image to be one of the most sought-after actors working in Hollywood. After its release, a sequel titledNeighbors 2: Sorority Risingwas announced and premiered in 2016, following a similar formula, except the new neighbors are a sorority this time.Neighborsis currently available to stream on Netflix.
11The Night Before (2015)
The Night Before
The Night Beforeis a holiday-centered comedy about three childhood friends (played by Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Seth Rogen, and Anthony Mackie) who get together every Christmas Eve ever since one of their parents 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 Beforeis a rare holiday party movie. While most holiday movies have a wholesome vibe to them,The Night Beforebrings the R-rated laughs to the genre that make it stand out while also featuring plenty of heart one expects from a Yuletide film.The Night Beforeis a fun,non-traditional watch during the holiday seasonbut can also be enjoyed as just a great party movie any time of the year.The Night Beforeis currently available to rent on Apple TV, Prime, and Vudu.
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