Hello, RMN fans!  If you’ve noticed some of our usual writers have been a bit MIA lately, it’s because this week was exam week for many of us.  I’m sure some of you share (or remember) our pain, so for us and for you I offer ten great movies to bid good riddance to the semester.  Whether you want to relive the experience or are in college or high school, you should check out….

10. Bad Teacher

Sometimes our teachers make us laugh. Sometimes they help us learn valuable life lessons. And sometimes, they make us hate them. Whatever the case may be as to how you’re feeling during your finals week, Bad Teacher certainly has enough laughs to help you appreciate the good times.  Starring Cameron Diaz, Jason Segel and Justin Timberlake, this slapstick comedy has a lot to offer. It’s cute and charming, and for your tough week of deep thinking it doesn’t really require much conceptualization.

9. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone

It’s not just Muggles who have to put up with school!  Though unlike most of us, school’s quite an adventure for Harry Potter and his friends.  His first year is full of trolls, three-headed dogs, eccentric teachers, and one very bad guy. I’m jealous, I never got to do any of that in my high-school. But even being able to do magic doesn’t much help with your homework. It’s good to know that even wizards have to deal with difficult tests and mean professors.

8. Superbad

At this point in our lives Superbad is a classic movie anytime, but also particularly applies to your ending semester. Although the film takes place at the end of school in the spring it still shows all the possibilities that the end of school can bring. Whether you’re going after the love of your life or shouting about how much you love your best friend from the rooftops, this film will definitely put a smile on your face.

7. Carrie

Based on the Stephen King novel of the same name, Carrie is the campy 1976 supernatural horror flick that may have helped define many of our childhoods. While there is a Carrie remake in the works for 2013, starring Chloe Grace Moretz as Carrie, the original will always hold a special place in American culture. For the more frustrated student, Carrie allows us to imagine how bad ass it would be if we had telekinetic powers. It may leave you feeling like you can actually get back at bullies and annoying teachers with your mind, but Carrie’s style is probably not the way to go.

6. National Lampoon’s Van Wilder

For the student ready to celebrate after classes end, Van Wilder will show you how to party. From the super hunky Ryan Reynolds to the hot mess of Tara Reid, National Lampoon gives a stereotypical look at the college life. While not the most realistic, it definitely pokes fun at some of the nuances we’ve all experienced. Check your local listings for this flick as it’s often played over and over on TV this time of year.

5. The Breakfast Club

Any John Hughes film is bound to make you feel good about being a kid, and The Breakfast Club is no exception. The mid 80′s coming of age flick is one to watch in good company. With the awesome cast of Emilio Estevez, Judd Nelson, Anthony Michael Hall, and (of course) Molly Ringwald, The Breakfast Club is rated #1 on Entertainment Weekly’s 50 Best High School Movies. The film might remind you how important your friends were for getting you through and to remember there’s always room for different people in your life. Either way, The Breakfast Club is probably something you should own in your movie collection by now.

4. Accepted

Sometimes you need to make your own way. It’s the lesson that the 2006 comedy Accepted teaches, as one student brainstorms the idea to create a fake college for students like himself that didn’t get into a college. It’s inspirational, it roots for the underdog, and overall it will renew your faith in higher education. Featuring Lewis Black as the Dean of Students, Accepted breaks the boundaries for traditional learning and may be just what you need as the semester closes.

3. Ferris Bueller’s Day Off

Another John Hughes film, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off is a film for the procrastinator in us all. From the clever and cunning tricks up Ferris’ sleeves to the crazy freak-out by Cameron, the film shows the importance of slacking off. It reassures everyone that taking some time off isn’t a bad thing, as if you didn’t already know that. The timeless film teaches us many things, but most important is said by Ferris himself,  ”Life moves pretty fast; if you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it!”

2. Mean Girls

Mean Girls quotes can generally be thrown into any conversation and directly apply. The end of the semester leaves our brains zonked out, so the zany one-liners by Regina and her “army of skanks” are something all of us can comprehend. One of the impacts of the film is showing that teachers are real people, which can help everyone appreciate their hard work more. The pranks are hilarious, the outfits pink (on Friday’s), and the girls vicious. But as long as you keep your head on straight, you can make it through the end of the semester just like Cady made it through her first year at a new school.

1. National Lampoon’s Animal House

For the Greek Life lover, Animal House is one wild ride of booze, hazing, and maybe a little bit of classes. The end of the semester can be hard for everyone, but this film teaches that if you’re surrounded by booze and bro’s that anything is possible. While I wouldn’t recommend stealing the answers to a test because technically exams are supposed to test your brain power. But if you can pull it all off like these frat guys, you should probably go for it. Animal House is a classic college flick, that will help you appreciate the peace and quiet you’ll have over winter break.

So that’s our list. Hopefully it helps you keep your sanity while you’re working long hours trying to get everything done. Feel free to add your own end-of-school movies in the comments below, and good luck with exams!