Today I will be ranking the main installments of the American Pie film franchise. I have never seen any of the spin offs, so they will not be included, and I probably wouldn’t include them if I did see them anyway.

American Pie is one of my favorite film series of all time. At first glance they appear to be stupid teen party sex movies, but they are actually so much deeper. The films explore pivotal parts of life that we all experience and relate to. Every single character can be compared to someone we know in real life, as well as most of the situations the characters are in. Obviously, most of this is exaggerated greatly for the sake of humor, but remains true to life in some respect all the same. From the awkward, embarrassing situations main character Jim is found in, to his deep/hilarious talks with his dad, each second is an emotional, hysterical blast that leaves you feeling quite satisfied at the end.

So here we go, I will be ranking them from worst to best, but note that I love every single one of these movies.

#4

American Wedding

The third film and final one for around a decade is my least favorite. When I first saw it, I was rather disappointed by it. Perhaps because I was too young at the time to relate? I don’t know, but now that I have seen it probably 10 times, it really has quite grown on me.

The film starts off just after college graduation, setting the scene for the next big step in life…marriage. The movie focuses on main character Jim and his fiance Michelle planning their big wedding day. It does a nice job showing all the work and stress that leads up to a wedding, and how girls always dream up these perfect days and how the husband to be must break his back doing his best to not disappoint her.

The sub plot involves Stiffler and Finch competing over a woman, all the while trying to impress her parents. This turns out to be a hilarious ordeal.

What I don’t like is that the film is entirely focused on these four characters. All the other series regulars are absent, even main character Chris, and even though Kevin is in it, he has no real part and only has a handful of lines.

Regardless, the film is a blast and shows us that no matter what crazy set backs can happen, eventually in the end it all works out.

#3

American Pie

Next up is the one that started it all. The main plot is a group of horny virgins coming up on their high school graduation vow to lose their virginity on prom night. The movie focuses on them doing absurd things to make it happen.

I know that plot sounds ridiculous, but it is absolutely how high school is, and every character and their motivations is completely relateable. We get to watch them all grow and mature in their last few weeks of high school, where they realize sex isn’t everything.

Another big part of the plot, and something we all also experience, is them learning to face the future. Once you graduate high school, your life completely changes, and the film does a great job dealing with these teenagers coming to terms with that, and they do everything they can to prepare and/or prevent their lives from changing.

#2

American Pie 2

This movie starts off just as the gang is finishing up their freshman year in college. They all reunite back home to attempt to live the lives they were so accustomed to in high school, only to find that something just wasn’t right. To attempt to put things right, they rent a big house on Lake Michigan and spend the summer working and partying together. As the summer slips away from them, they realize the future can not be stopped and must accept the changes they were not ready to face in the first movie.

This is a challenge we all must face, usually against our will. No one is truly ready to grow up and it is just awesome to watch a film where you get to see people struggle with this, but in a hugely hilarious, yet emotional way. Again each character winds up maturing tremendously by the end of it.

#1

American Reunion

The fourth and final film brings back all the characters that were missing in American Wedding for a truly spectacular high school reunion, their 13 year high school reunion to be specific.

The film is about the gang dealing with the troubles of early adulthood, while at the same time, trying to still keep that kid alive inside of them. They each face their own turmoils about their lives and lean on each other to help make it seem better. But when they all get together, they once again try to relive their glorious high school days, only to find their old home isn’t quite how it used to be, now taken over by the current high schoolers. A few scenes show off the generational gaps of kids today versus how they were in the 90’s, and how problematic this becomes for the older generation, whose maturity must be forlorn, reverting back to the kids they once were to meet the youngen’s on their level.

It is fun to watch how old memories are brought up and how it makes the characters feel and act. There are many deep nostalgic moments in the movie, and it is the funniest, wildest, and somehow the most mature film in the franchise, making it my favorite.

Well that’s all of them. There was rumor of a fifth one, but I don’t think that will come to pass unfortunately. I would love to see these guys in yet another struggle through life!