Are you having a get-together with just the girls? Is your daughter at that special sleepover age? Sleepovers are such a staple of growing up, especially as a teenage girl. Every kid dreams of having them, and it’s the prime choice for your 9th birthday party. But slumber parties aren’t just for kids. A girl’s night or a wine night is a glorified sleepover, and it’s just as much fun if not more. Your typical sleepover movie includes stories that are centered around teens and young adults. Most sleepover movies take place in high school, follow a group of best friends, and have great music; some are even musicals, like High School Musical and Camp Rock. Many romantic comedies fit into the sleepover category as well. Cue, Clueless and Legally Blonde.
And this list won’t be your obvious choices, like The Princess Diaries and The Lizzie McGuire Movie (although those shouldn’t be discounted); it has teen, adults and kids movies. Many of these movies will invoke nostalgia, but they are still great for youngsters today. Most of these references are very Y2k and/or were made in the early 2000s, so your party can stay on trend. And this list isn’t just for the girlies. People of any gender expression can find something to love on this list. Lay out your blankets on the floor, pop some popcorn, and get in your jammies because this list of movies is starting right now!
Related: 15 Movies You’ll Love if You Liked Mean Girls
Best Sleepover Movies
12. Maid in Manhattan (2002)
Jennifer Lopez stars in this early 2000s romantic comedy. She is a single mother who works as a maid in a high-end hotel in New York City. Her love interest is Ralph Fiennes (The Menu) and her son is played by Teen Wolf‘s Tyler Posey. Due to a case of mistaken identity, Fiennes thinks she is a guest at the hotel. They begin to fall for each other, but the truth will be revealed.
This movie is far from perfect, but it’s just fun to watch. The characters are entertaining, Jennifer Lopez is fantastic, and it’s a good little snippet of NYC at the time. The film also features the late Natasha Richardson (who you may know from The Parent Trap, another good movie for this list) and Stanley Tucci.
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11. Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986)
Ferris Bueller is a classic movie, and it’s simply a great high school movie about friendship and enjoying life. If the ’80s are more your style, this is a great choice to have at your sleepover. Don’t look too hard into themes and just sit down and have a laugh with your friends.
Matthew Broderick stars as Ferris Bueller, a high school student who has a knack for getting away with everything. He invites his friends to skip class with him, and while he is incredibly carefree, his friend Cameron in particular is a nervous wreck. They go on a wild adventure all over the place, all while being pursued by the school principal, Dean Rooney, who is hell-bent on catching Ferris in the act.
10. Crazy Rich Asians (2018)
Crazy Rich Asians was a 2013 book that most young girls have read. The movie came out in 2018, and it was a huge hit and a great addition to the romantic comedy genre. So much happens and it’s so visually beautiful that you could never get bored, and you and your friends can have fun talking about it.
The movie follows Rachel Chu who falls in love with Nick Young in NYC. He invites her to meet his family in Singapore, but he fails to mention that they are one of the richest families in Asia. The pair is having a great time, but Nick’s mother is less than interested in her son marrying a nobody from America.
9. Sugar and Spice (2001)
High school students Jack and Diane decide to get married, and they quickly get pregnant. Luckily for them, Diane is on the cheer squad, and they are here to help. The team needs to get money quickly; the best way is to rob a bank. It goes back and forth between our main story and police interviews regarding the crime.
You’ve probably never heard of this movie, and that might be because it really isn’t great, and it is definitely a product of its time. This is one of those silly comedies that come to us in the same vein as Jawbreaker and Never Been Kissed. Watching these girls attempt to stage a heist is funny, stupid, and very enjoyable.
8. Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief (2010)
This movie rules, and it would fit right in at any sleepover. It isn’t a typical high school movie, but it is about teenagers learning about themselves and embarking on a fun and adventurous journey. It’s funny, has very cool and engaging characters, and has a sick soundtrack. Not to mention Logan Lerman (Hunters) and Alexandria Daddario (The White Lotus).
Percy Jackson is living a normal life, but he is suddenly thrown into the world of mythology when he discovers he is the son of Poseidon. He along with the daughter of Athena, Annabeth, and his half-goat protector, Grover, set out on a quest to rescue Percy’s mother and to prevent the Olympic Gods from creating a war on Earth.
7. Mulan (1998)
Some of these movies might not work for kids, but you can never go wrong with a Disney classic. Everyone would agree that watching Mulan was a great moment in their younger years. It’s popular amongst boys and girls, and it is genuinely a good movie. Everyone has seen Mulan before, and that’s actually what makes it one of the best sleepover movies. Everyone loves laughing and talking at slumber parties, and you can do that without missing out on the movie.
Mulan pretends to be a man so she can take her father’s place in the military draft. She brings her lucky cricket and guardian dragon, Mushu, along with her as she begins her rigorous training. And nothing excites a room like “I’ll Make a Man Out of You.”
6. I Know What You Did Last Summer (1997)
One summer, four friends accidentally hit a man while driving. They’re all about to go to college, so they decide to dump the body and never speak of it again. The following year, our main character, Julie, receives a threatening letter informing her that someone knows what they did. A man with a hook begins to stalk the group and enact his revenge.
Horror movies are a staple for slumber parties. I Know What You Did Last Summer is a great choice for fun movie nights because it’s a ’90s slasher that keeps you guessing the whole time. You and your friends can argue over who you think the killer is. If you want more scary movies at your slumber party, look into Friday the 13th and Carrie.
5. Uptown Girls (2003)
Brittany Murphy and Dakota Fanning star in this perfect snapshot of 2003. The movie follows Molly who’s father has died and left her a huge fortune. This rich girl’s lavish lifestyle is upended when her manager steals all her money. She gets a job as a nanny to 10-year-old Ray, a little girl with a sassy attitude. The two don’t get along at first, but with the help of Molly’s boyfriend, the two learn from each other and help each other mature.
Uptown Girls is a really fun movie to get together and watch with friends. The fashion and soundtrack are huge highlights, and everyone loves watching a young Dakota Fanning be rude to adults. This is a great choice to watch at your next sleepover.
4. Pitch Perfect (2012)
Pitch Perfect has iconic lines, catchy songs, and a strong cast featuring a lot of talented and funny women including Anna Kendrick and Elizabeth Banks. College student Beca is an outcast, but she decides to join one of the school’s acapella groups, specifically the all-female group. It’s a competitive team, and she helps them take their traditional arrangements and create something new with them in order to win the highly esteemed competition.
This is really a great choice for your next sleepover. It is one of those great movies that features badass music actually sung by the characters, and it isn’t annoying. If you haven’t seen it by now, don’t be surprised when your friends know every word to “The Riff-off.”
3. A Cinderella Story (2004)
Hillary Duff stars as Sam, who dreams of getting into Princeton, but her stepmother (Jennifer Coolidge) plans for her to work in the diner forever. Sam is messaging a boy online, and she soon discovers the pen pal she fell in love with is the football captain, Austin Ames (Chad Michael Murray). She is afraid if he finds out who she really is, he won’t like her.
This movie is really fantastic. Talk about iconic moments. If you liked Jennifer Coolidge in Legally Blonde, you’ll love her in A Cinderella Story. The story has been told in so many different ways, and this one stands out. The acting is good, it’s funny, and it would be the perfect choice for your next slumber party.
2. She’s All That (1999)
Do you love Freddie Prinze Jr.? Do you love Sixpence None the Richer? Do you love hackisacks? Then this movie is for you. It follows the popular jock Zach who takes a bet that says he can help some loser become Prom Queen. He chooses awkward art student Laney, but he grows real feelings for her. What will happen when Laney finds out she was just part of some lame challenge?
She’s All That fits into the subsection of ’90s movies about the popular girl falling in love with the nerdy boy, or vice versa. Other movies in this genre include Can’t Buy Me Love and 10 Things I Hate About You. It’s one of the best so-called chick flicks out there.
1. Freaky Friday (2003)
Ooh girl, Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan absolutely dominate in the Disney remake of Freaky Friday. Mom, Tess, and daughter, Anna, are total opposites that get on each other’s nerves. One day they wake up in each other’s bodies. Before they can switch back, they have to understand one another’s struggles. It has crazy antics, excellent acting, and hilarious moments.
This movie isn’t just for girls, it takes place in high school, it’s laugh-out-loud funny, and I haven’t met a single person who doesn’t like it. Don’t spend 30 minutes scrolling through different streaming services just so you can argue over which movie is better. It is without a doubt one of the best sleepover movies that shouldn’t be overlooked.
Conclusion
Those are 12 fabulous sleepover movies to watch at your next nighttime soiree. And, of course, sleepovers aren’t just for the girly girls. If Mean Girls, John Tucker Must Die, or Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants aren’t your style, Spiderman, Kung-Fu Panda, and any Harry Potter are also great choices.
