10 Teen Movies That Are Smarter Than You Think

Cited by Quentin Tarantino as his favourite film of 1999 (sorry, Phantom Menace!), Election centres around the low-stakes, high-energy election for student government president at George Washington Carver High School.

Wide-eyed, scheming know-it-all Tracy Flick (Reese Witherspoon) is the frontrunner for the position, and, having had absolutely enough of her, history teacher Jim McAllister (Matthew Broderick) regrettably involves himself in sabotaging her chances and furthering the prospects of rival candidate Paul Metzler (Chris Klein). Needless to say, this doesn’t exactly go to plan, and after a film spent trading verbal, emotional, and social blows with Tracy, Jim’s election-rigging antics are outed, and he loses more than just his job in the process.

Election adapts Tom Perrotta's already accomplished novel and injects it with a major dose of the kind of sardonic magic that writer-director Alexander Payne has come to be known and revered for. The surface level of the film feels pure high school, but beneath that, there is a sharp commentary on US politics. And the message? The most odious, devious, and unsuitable candidate for office will inevitably be the one who goes farthest…