I Wish I Was There! The Best Party Scenes From Famous Movies

House Party (1990)

This movie is about the rap duo Kid and Play, high school students who get suspended from school. Kid gets grounded, but that does not stop him from sneaking out of the house and going to a party. In this movie we see all sorts of dances that were popular during that time period such as Kid ‘n Play performing the Funky Charleston or the Kid ‘n Play Kickstep.

24 Hour Party People (2002)

Manchester is the perfect place for a party. The city includes such scenery as crumbling warehouses. railway arches… and you cannot have a party without an abundance of cheap narcotics. The title character, Tony Wilson, creates a record company called The Factory. There is a memorable scene where The Hacienda is plundered at the behest of Wilson. It is a special moment for those who participated in the festivities.

Dazed and Confused (1993)

A weird title for a cool movie. This movie takes place in the mid 70s. The setting is the first day of summer, 1976, and the teens at Austin, TX’s Lee High School are celebrating with a party that any teenager would kill to attend. The party takes place under the stars at the Moontower, with plenty of beer and, well, should I say… greenery!

Wet Hot American Summer (2001)

This movie is set in 1981 and it is one of those summer camp movies. It is always fun to go to camp for a getaway. This fun-filled hour of partying includes all of the luxuries of a camping party, which includes ice cream, french fries, and crack dens! A good time that had to happen before getting back to the real world.

Can’t Hardly Wait (1998)

If you’ve never heard this silly performance of Guns N’ Roses “Paradise City,” then you do not know what you are missing. This super party has a little something for everyone! Which includes a lot of clichéd archetypes as well. The whole Guns N’ Roses performance is must-see scene all by itself.

Midnight Cowboy (1969)

A movie about a novice and inexperienced hustler named Joe Buck who tries his luck in New York. All does not go well at first until he meets Ratso Rizzo, a man who is down and out on his luck. Many of us may not have been around in the late 60s but the party scene sums up the era in detail.

Stealing Beauty (1996)

This is a story about a woman named Lucy who travels to Italy after her mother commits suicide. She visits her mother’s friends Diana and her husband, Irish artist Ian, where Lucy wants a picture of her painted. Lucy also decides to return to Italy to reunite with an Italian guy named Nicolo Donati whom she fell in love with years ago, on her personal journey. There is an evening garden party scene in the enchanting Italian villa in Bertolucci’s Stealing Beauty, which is pretty nice.

Clueless (1995)

Going back into the mid 90s, Who remembers Val Party? Let us stroll down memory lane. Things learned from this scene: Murray taught us that shaving his head is about keeping it real. We also found out how to take a lap before committing to a location, and that is before we even dueted with Elton on “Rollin with the Homies.”

The Party (1968)

The Party: what an appropriate named film. The story behind the film is that film extra Peter Sellers is accidentally invited to a Hollywood studio head’s posh party. The scene takes a turn as a servant gets drunk and starts a brawl. Sellers accidentally catapults his Cornish game hen across the room, where it gets stuck on a guest’s tiara. A group of hippies bring in a baby elephant, the house fills with bubbles, and Sellars drops a priceless painting in a toilet.

The Rules of Attraction (2002)

Okay from the get-go we know that this movie is going to have some sort of connection to love, and not the mushy kind either! The “Edge of the World Party” is an outdoor celebration that seems kind of like Burning Man. Now this is not the same thing as an “end of the world” party. At the Edge of the World party, there is plenty of dancing and liquor involved.

Reprise (2006)

In Reprise, a group of dudes show up at this stuffy party. They put on Le Tigre. Then the moshing begins in the living room. The girl who is hosting the party turns off the music, at which point one of the guys get defiant and turns the music right back on and people start running around again. A good time is had by all!

Marie Antoinette (2006)

Going way back into the past, this is the story of Marie Antoinette. The party scene has all of the trappings of an 18th century party. Whirling umbrellas, and get this, a birthday cake with what else, fireworks for birthday candles! This film provides a very good view into the past and how they partied all night.

Dave Chappelle’s Block Party (2005)

Comedian Dave Chappelle of “The Chappelle Show” fame attends a block party. This is not your ordinary block party. The people in attendance for this block party held in Brooklyn includes such famed musicians as the reunited Fugees, Kanye West, Erykah Badu, The Roots, dead prez, and a ton of other great hip-hop artists. This film’s party scene is in a class by itself.

Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (2005)

This movie has this over-the-top festivity. Let’s see, you have women in costumes, glitter, party favors that are injectable and ingested through the nose, women in glass terrariums, lol and who else — well, you cannot have a party without Val Kilmer! The party would not be the same if he was not there!

The Great Gatsby (2013)

This is a movie about a guy from the Midwest named Nick, who is suddenly drawn in by the lavish lifestyle of his neighbor Jay Gatsby. With the lavish lifestyle comes all of those good-looking vices that lure Nick in. Everything about this party has been carefully orchestrated by Gatsby to a tee. It has everything it needs to have. Everything.

Party Monster (2003)

Have you ever seen anything like this, leaving a hospital to throw a hospital-themed party. How cool is that? Party Monster is based on the rise and fall of early-’90s New York clubland ringmaster and convicted murderer Michael Alig. It is a party for a real-life killer, but hey, it looks like fun.

Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi (1983)

Nearly everyone has heard of Star Wars. You may have remembered the party scene with the Ewoks in the forest. Luke, being victorious, joins in on the celebration. He even gets to see his father and mentors in a vision while everyone is singing and dancing. Okay, so it is not over-the-top, but it is memorable.

William Shakespeare’s Romeo + Juliet (1996)

Let us journey back to our high school days. For some it may be a pretty far distance to travel back — just kidding! But seriously, this is the story of the ill-fated love story of Romeo and Juliet with a twist — it is set in current times! Romeo and his friends just happen to sneak into the the Capulets’ party. You get glitter and wigs, cross-dressers… the works!

Labyrinth (1986)

“You’re him aren’t you. You are the goblin king!” A woman must save her brother from the goblin king by solving a labyrinth. There is a party scene in this weird movie, a goblin masquerade. Jennifer Connelly (Sarah) falls for the goblin king’s (David Bowie) charm. The goblin king looks more like Khan from “Star Trek…” the Wrath of Khan more than a goblin!

Velvet Goldmine (1998)

This is one of those glam rock movies, so you know there will be plenty of glitz, glamour, and glitter for everyone to go around. There are a lot of great parties in this glam-rock fantasy film. You also have plenty of colorful lights, weird music, and even freakier dances. Brian Slade meets his wife-to-be, Mandy. The end of the 60s brings in a new era and Ms. Slade greets it in a silver chainmail sheath dress.

When Harry Met Sally (1989)

Going back a few years… more like, almost twenty years ago. There is a the New Year’s Eve party, and Harry tries to get his love interest Sally back. With “It Had to be You” playing in the background, and lots of scantily clad women with shoulder-less dresses walking around, why not choose one of them!

200 Cigarettes (1999)

How ironic, another film with a New Year’s Eve party. Oh what a night, late December back in 81 (you thought I was going to say 63 didn’t you — that was a nod to that old Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons song.) It’s New Year’s Eve in the East Village and the year is 1981. Martha Plimpton’s character is depressed because it looks as if none of her friends are coming to her party. She ends up drinking alone and then passes out in her bed. And then drunk people start to come in and have a good time. Elvis Costello even makes an appearance. When Martha awakens, she finds a Polaroid image of the party she missed out on. Bummer.

Animal House (1978)

Perhaps the party scene of all party scenes, Animal House has to be the movie that set the precedent for wild and over-the-top celebrations. The toga party is a very memorable scene. You have Otis Day and the Knights singing “Shout,” intoxicated lacrosse players groping college women, and some urinating going on in the corner.

Empire Records (1995)

You’re in for a blast from the past as this movie takes place in the mid 1990s. Alternative rock fills the air in this scene where teenage clerks from a record store have a good time. You get to watch young people dancing and rocking themselves into a euphoric escape. The young folks win out over corporation and greed.

Bachelor Party (1984)

In this film, Rick is about to get married to Debbie. His friends who live to party are throwing him the biggest bachelor party they can have. Debbie’s family is rich and condescending, and they definitely don’t want Rick to be a part of their family, so Debbie’s dad will do anything, including her ex-boyfriend, Cole, who wants her back, to split them up. At the actual party, you have strippers, a coke-snorting donkey, and all sorts of craziness.

The Big Cube (1969)

The Big Cube is one of the psychedelic movies that came out during the time of chemical experimentations and leaves you flying high like a kite. In the festive scene you get to travel back into time to see the music and dances of the day like the Monkey, the Pony, the Jerk, and the Hully-Gully, yes, I said Hully-Gully!

Get Him To The Greek (2010)

Let’s get this straight. This is so bizarre… but here it goes. After smoking a sketchy drug cocktail known as a “Jeffrey” (where did they get this name from for an uplifting chemical?!), Jonah Hill, Russell Brand, and Diddy start tripping balls. Russell Brand snorts an ant, Jonah Hill takes an adrenaline shot to the heart, and everyone becomes disturbingly fixated on a furry wall. A way-out and bizarre party scene!

Eyes Wide Shut (1999)

Eyes Wide Shut is notable for a certain scene. The movie includes an infamous and frightening cult orgy. Despite this, it has all of the trimmings of a great party. it has formal wear, a beautiful decor, outrageous costumes, anonymous lechery, and vague implications of satanic murder. You have been warned!

Superbad (2007)

A party hosted by Kevin Corrigan is a shindig that turns out to be a totally out-of-control party. He hangs around a rough crowd, meaning that a brawl could possibly break out. Also, people are doing drugs and all of that type of stuff. All of a sudden, a bunch of creepy looking dudes show up and force everyone to sing songs and all chaos begins.

Beerfest (2007)

Finally a movie about chugging down beer.“We’re the party brigade — and we’re here to play some drinking games.” This is the premise of the film, as funny as that may seem. Although Landfill and his Broken Lizard friends seem to be seem a little over-the-hill to play these types of party games, they go for it against a bunch of college students.

Boogie Nights (1997)

Boogie Nights is the disco-themed 70s based film. Glitter balls and synthesized music and bell bottoms ruled the time. The most memorable party was held by adult film director Jack Horner where the optimism and success of the movie’s first half takes a turn for the worst. The signs of impending destruction for Dirk Diggler and his friends are apparent at the party, more coke than you can imagine, and warnings about the future of adult films.

A Nightmare on Elm Street Part 2: Freddy’s Revenge (1985)

Although this is a horror film, there must be a little pleasure involved. It is a movie that gives viewers nightmares. As the theme goes, the horribly disfigured Freddy Krueger invades people’s dreams and gives them horrible nightmares. Old Freddy terrorizes an 80s pool party by turning it into an inferno. There goes the fun and games.

Almost Famous (2000)

This movie is about an aspiring 70s rock critic and the arena rock scene. There is a clash over styles and success, and Russell (Billy Crudup), the guitarist for the band, gets into a heated argument with his band mates. There is a party (a high school party scene) that Russell attends. He tries to explain his frustrations to a teenager at the party, but the teen is so high that it does not compute.

The Rules of the Game (1939)

Now we’re returning to The Rules of the Game, a movie that is almost nearly a hundred years old (we have come a long way since then). This is a French movie and it is about socialites who are rolling in cash. The party starts off as things are expected to start, until the alcohol kicks in and people make out with people who they don’t want to make out with, and then the fighting begins. Someone eventually gets shot, so that is not good…. but it still makes for a memorable scene.

Revenge of the Nerds (1984)

This is the timeless classic about nerds who get picked on and are totally fed up with it. They then band together and fight for their right to be nerds! Okay, there is a party scene which includes one of them doing some type of weird dance to Michael Jackson’s “Thriller.” This proves that even a geek can party like everyone else!

Old School (2003)

In the movie Old School, Mitch ( played by actor Luke Wilson) dumps his long-time girlfriend and finds himself in a very bad situation. So his buddy Bernard (played by actor Vince Vaughn) throws an epic party, which features none other than Snoop Dogg. The party gets so out of hand when Frank (played by Will Ferrell) reverts back to his drunken ways and goes on a streaking rampage through the neighborhood.

Sixteen Candles (1984)

I remember this one from the 80. As anyone who is familiar with the John Hughes teen classic knows, Samantha Baker’s (played by Molly Ringwald) sixteenth birthday doesn’t start off on a good foot. Her big day is put aside in favor of her older sister’s wedding. Things turn out for the better at a party when Jake, a guy she is interested in, gets bored with his girlfriend and starts to take an interest in her.

Harold and Kumar Escape Guantanamo Bay (2008)

Harold (played by the actor John Cho) and his buddy Kumar (played by actor Kal Penn) attend the “Bottomless Party.” In the words of musician Lady Gaga, “Pants are overrated!” These two buddies and stoners have their bare bottoms exposed when they escape from Guantanamo Bay.

10 Things I Hate About You: (1999)

In the film 10 Things I Hate About You, Cameron (played by actor Joseph Gordon-Levitt), a new student at Pagua high school, falls in love with a sophomore named Bianca Stradford (played by actress Larisa Oleynik). Kat (played by actress Julia Stiles) who is an outcast, takes a turn for the better as she shakes what she’s got in a party scene when she falls for Patrick (played by actor Heath Ledger).

Weird Science (1985)

The story of two social outcasts who create the perfect woman! At a house party, high school nerds Gary and Wyatt just want to fit in and be popular and liked by the girls. When they create the perfect woman, Lisa, she throws a party and anyone and everyone is invited including Gary and Wyatt’s two biggest foes, bullies Max and Ian. Things turn out weird when Lisa conjures up a group of mutant bikers to kick the party into high gear.