10 Back-to-School Movies for Parents

Mean Girls

Rated: PG-13

Year: 2004

Cast: Lindsay Lohan, Rachel McAdams, Tina Fey

Survival of the Fittest: Cady is the homeschooled daughter of zoologists who enters public high school for the first time. There she encounters a new species: alpha-females called the Plastics, and quickly trades the veldt for the svelte.

What Parents Like: See what happens when you hang out with the wrong crowd? Honestly, this has less bite than Heathers -- and no suicidal subplots.

What Makes Our Inner Kid Squeal: Catty humor and plots of revenge.