Top 10 Must Have Fraternity and College Films

These are the wacky films about the good old days that everyone loves. All the characters are young (except the evil administrators and their minions), full of piss and vinegar and ready to get stupid. They're ready and willing to act like idiots, party hard, get drunk and get laid. If there’s a little heart in the film, so much the better. These ten fraternity films may not be the best, but are definitely the ten you must have. Join Bluto, Van Wilder and Chris Knight in the “best years of their life.”

No. 10: Accepted - Never say that the greatest schools are the ivy-covered ones. This "Do It Yourself U" story is largely innovative and certainly original. Featuring Justin Long and Jonah Hill, Accepted manages to delight and make the audience laugh while still asking the question, what if?

No. 9: Creator - I expect to be challenged on this one, but Peter O’Toole, as the cigar smoking genius professor who wants only to have his wife back, makes it worth the challenge. No spoilers on this one. See it, buy it, watch it once a year. I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.

No. 8: School Daze - Spike Lee’s brilliantly conceived film manages to challenge many African-American stereotypes and is greatly entertaining. Laurence Fishburne, Giancarlo Esposito and Tisha Campbell-Martin star.

No. 7: National Lampoon's Van Wilder - The title character, played by Ryan Reynolds, is the Ferris Bueller of the fraternity set. Van Wilder manages to Robin Hood his way through life, with enough left over to make his own life comfortable and great fun to watch.

No. 6: Revenge of the Nerds - For the nerd in all of us, and there are far more of us than them, Revenge made it chic to be a geek. Many actors went nerd for the film, including Robert Carradine (Skolnik), Anthony Edwards (Lowell), Timothy Busfield (Poindexter), Andrew Cassese (Wormser), Curtis Armstrong (Booger) and, of course, non-nerd Julie Montgomery as beauty Betty Childs.

No. 5: Old School - Certainly no Animal House, but great fun nonetheless. Old School reaches into the hearts of us old schlubs and gives us hope (and maybe you, too). A cast replete with comedic heavy hitters like Will Ferrell and Vince Vaughn adds to the film's appeal.

No. 4: Back To School - By breaking the rules, Rodney Dangerfield manages to make college a perpetual funhouse, replete with broads, booze and just plain Bacchanalia. A must see, must have film that challenges everything for which fraternities stand.

No. 3: Real Genius - Easily one of my favorite films for its originality, spontaneity and Val Kilmer’s character Chris Knight. You have no choice, you must have this film.

No. 2: Breaking Away - Four young townies challenge the established “Fraternities” in what managed to become one of the best sports cycling movies ever. It’s impossible not to side with the young “cutters” as they try to reconcile their place in society. This Oscar winner (for best screenplay) features Dennis Christopher, Dennis Quaid, Daniel Stern and Jackie Earle Haley.

No. 1: National Lampoon's Animal House - Far and away the best fraternity film ever. Performances by John Belushi as Bluto and Tim Matheson as Otter have made this a classic that crushes any film in the genre.

Photo Credit: Dreamworks