A sharp, raunchy coming-of-age comedy that turns teenage anxiety, friendship, and social desperation into a nonstop chain of awkwardly human set pieces. It’s crude, fast, and emotionally sincere in a way that makes the jokes land harder than the premise suggests.
78% ★★★★☆ (2,706,423)
Superbad
Where to watch: Philo
Movie · Comedy · R
2007 · 1h 53m · ★ 78% (3M)
Come and get some!
Director: Greg Mottola
Starring: Jonah Hill, Michael Cera, Christopher Mintz-Plasse
Overview
Two co-dependent high school seniors are forced to deal with separation anxiety after their plan to stage a booze-soaked party goes awry.
Director
Greg Mottola
Production
Columbia Pictures, Apatow Productions
Cast
Jonah Hill, Michael Cera, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Bill Hader, Seth Rogen, Martha MacIsaac, Emma Stone, Aviva Baumann, Joe Lo Truglio, Kevin Corrigan, Clement Blake, Erica Vittina Phillips, Joe Nuñez, Dave Franco, Marcella Lentz-Pope, Scott Gerbacia, Laura Seay, Roger Iwami, Clint Mabry, Stacy Edwards
Where to watch
Philo
Curator Review
Verdict
A sharp, raunchy coming-of-age comedy that turns teenage anxiety, friendship, and social desperation into a nonstop chain of awkwardly human set pieces. It’s crude, fast, and emotionally sincere in a way that makes the jokes land harder than the premise suggests.
Best for
fans of vulgar but heartfelt teen comedies
viewers who like buddy dynamics and escalating misadventures
people who enjoy awkward, quotable ensemble comedy
audiences looking for a definitive 2000s high-school comedy
Skip if
you dislike explicit sexual humor
you want a clean or low-key comedy
you prefer plot-driven stories over hangout chaos
you’re not in the mood for adolescent embarrassment and profanity
Overview
Superbad is one of the defining studio comedies of the 2000s because it understands that teenage friendship is equal parts devotion, panic, and performance. The movie keeps finding new ways to turn ordinary high-school humiliation into something both outrageous and painfully recognizable.
Worth noting
What makes it last is the balance between chaos and feeling. The jokes are filthy, but the core of the film is about two kids terrified of being left behind, and that gives the whole thing a surprising sweetness.
Bottom line
It also has a near-perfect comic rhythm: awkward pauses, sudden bursts of confidence, and supporting characters who feel like they wandered in from a more absurd version of real life. Even when the plot is ridiculous, the emotional logic stays true.
Top Letterboxd reviews
andrea🌹 (3.5★) · 17959 likes
wish i could say i never had a crush on michael cera
Holli (4★) · 14598 likes
your cock is so smooth. thanks, your's would be too if you were a man.
Matthew Saponar (5★) · 14435 likes
i swear, emma stone has the best "what the fuck" in film history.
kayla (5★) · 12332 likes
The funny thing about my back is that it’s located on my cock
#1 gizmo fan (4.5★) · 11544 likes
I WAS GONNA GO DOWN ON HER, FOR LIKE, SEVERAL HOURS