Harvard Universityis the oldest college in America; in fact, it is older than the United States itself, as it was founded in 1636. Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, the school is considered not only one of the best in the country but in the entire world. It has a great deal of pedigree behind it, and several popular films havefound their premise in Harvard University, so much so that it almost forms its own sub-genre.
The university has been of interest to filmmakers since the days of the silent era. The prestige associated with the school adds inspirational fodder to rags-to-riches narratives, resulting in motivational dramas. These stories are mainly borrowed from memoirs or are based on real-life stories, as there are countless examples of theuniversity’s impact on the underprivileged. However, films have not shied away from revealing Harvard’s dark side that results from its social exclusivity and cut-throat competition. From scholarships to social clubs to sports, here are some films that give a peek inside the Harvard life.
Update June 03, 2025: Considering applying to Harvard? Or a cheaper alternative, perhaps like watching a movie set at Harvard? This article has been updated with even more titles worth checking out that take place at the university and where each title is streaming.
13The Social Network (2010)
The Social Network
The Social Networkgoes behind the real-life events that led to the invention of Facebook. According to the film, the social hierarchies inside Harvard University influenced the motive behind the social networking website. Jesse Eisenberg plays Mark Zuckerberg, who creates a campus website that allows users to rate women by their attractiveness. Three students approached him with an opportunity to work on a social networking site for Harvard students. This eventually leads to Facebook, and the film chronicles how Zuckerberg compromises his personal relationships to become one of the wealthiest people alive.
The shooting took place on the campus of Wheelock College, to resemble Harvard University. The film was based on the bookThe Accidental Billionairesby Ben Mezrich, who consulted Facebook co-founder Edward Savarin while writing the book. The film adds Savarin’s perspective andmildly antagonizes Zuckerberg in a wealthy-fallen-hero narrative.Stream on Paramount+
12Legally Blonde (2001)
Legally Blonde (2001)
InLegally Blonde,sorority favorite Elle Woods, played by Reese Witherspoon, gets dumped by her boyfriend, an aspiring Harvard Law student. She gets into Harvard Law to prove she is smart enough for his ambitious career. Woods combines her fashion merchandising prowess with law and excels in her new adventure. The film gives a fresh perspective to the blonde stereotype, previously characterized as intellectually inhibited and fashion-obsessed in films likeClueless.
Legally Blondeembraces the stereotypewhile mocking the superiority complex of Harvard students. The film was based on the book of the same name by Amanda Brown, who was inspired by her time at Sandford Law School while being a fashion enthusiast. The film has inspired several women to pursue law even when it goes overboard with Elle’s eligibility to become a lawyer.Stream on Prime Video
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11Harvard, Here I Come (1941)
Harvard, Here I Comeis another film that satirizes theexclusivity maintained by Harvard students. This comedy film was released in 1941 and scrutinizesThe Harvard Lampoon,the real-life university’s long-running humor magazine. The story revolves around a nightclub owner humiliated by the magazine’s editor. He decides to enroll in the university to redeem himself.
The university has made tremendous contributionsto comedy and films throughThe Harvard Lampoon.The magazinewas founded in 1876 by seven students, making it the third longest-running published humor magazine after the SwedishBlandarenand the SwissNebelspalter. Its alums include Conan O’Brien and the brains behindThe Office US,such as B.J Novak, Greg Daniels, and Michael Schur.Not available to stream.
10The Paper Chase (1973)
The Paper Chasewasreleased in 1973 and stars Timothy Bottoms as James Hart, a first-year law student at Harvard. After a rocky start, Hart settles in among his peers at the university. The film shows hisexperience with his temperamental contract law instructor, Professor Charles Kingsfield, and his study group, comprising eccentric characters. Hart also begins a relationship with Kingsfield’s daughter, complicating his time at the university.
The critically acclaimed film was directed by James Bridges and was based on the novel of the same name by John Jay Osborn. Actor John Houseman won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for hisperformance as the shrewd professor. His powerful performance has led to several speculations about the identity of the real-life professor. The late Harvard Law professor Clark Byse is believed to have inspired the character’s position at Harvard Law School. However, according to Houseman, the personality traits of the professor were inspired by Professor Edward Warren, who was known for harsh teaching methods.Rent on Apple TV+
9How High (2001)
Easily the funniest movie set at Harvard.How Highcenters on two cannabis-smoking friends, played by Redman and Method Man, after accidentally smoking the ashes of their dead friend whose ghost helps them get perfect scores on their college entrance exams, which results in them applying for Harvard. It is a simple premise, and clearly, the joke is about putting two potheads in a setting as prestigious and elitist as Harvard and letting the jokes run, and boy, do they go with the premise.
How Highis a great example of the go-for-broke high (pun intended) concept of the early 2000s. While hated by critics at the time of its release, the movie has become a cult classic and is considered one of thebest movies about Majuranna. It now can be considered one of the best movies about Harvard. There is also a meta-commentary about the image the school would like to give. Stories as diverse and serious asThe Social Networkor as romantic asLove Storycan also take place in the same school thatHow Highis.Stream on Starz.
8A Small Circle of Friends (1980)
Set in the late 1960s,A Small Circle of Friendsfocuses on the radicalization of the students of Harvard University during the time. It tells the story of three first-year students - Leo, Nick, and Jessica and thelove trianglethat develops within their group as they also slowly start to become radicalized with the rest of the rest of the academic circle.
The film portrays a time that was pretty unstable and troubled while also keeping focus on the complicated feelings developing between the three young central characters. It shows the university in a different light than what we are used to and also pairs it with the historical milestones of the time to show how world politics influenced the students of Harvard.Not Streaming.
7Prozac Nation (2001)
Prozac Nationis based on the memoir of the same name by Elizabeth Wurtzel, detailing herexperience with depression and dependenceon the anti-depressant Prozac she was prescribed. The film stars Christina Ricci as Elizabeth, a late-teen who accepts a scholarship in journalism from Harvard.
She has a turbulent relationship with her divorced parents and struggles to navigate her first year at the Universityas the effects of addiction, self-harm, and sex dissociateher from herself. The psychological drama was directed by Erik Skjoldbjærg., and was applauded for its realistic depiction of depression and the effect of anti-depressants.Rent on Apple TV+.
6With Honors (1994)
The 1994 filmWith Honorsstars Brendan Fraser in the role of Monty Kessler, who is a Government major at Harvard University. Monty loses his senior thesis, which is retrieved by a homeless man named Simon, played by Joe Pesci. After some legal struggle, the two work out a deal and decide that for each task that Monty completes for Simon, he will give the student one page of the thesis. Monty, along with his housemates, all slowly start to love Simon and his relationship with Simon urges Monty to look at poor people in a kinder, more humanitarian light.
The bittersweet film is funny, insightful, and heartbreaking all at once. It focuses a lot on how Monty changes his thesis, which viewed citizens in public assistance in a very negative light, into a more positive one, despite being berated by his mentor. Due to his new outlook on life, Monty also becomes more respectful of other people’s struggles and finds a light within himself with the help of Simon. The film also shows us a glimpse of the more common bits of university life, such as living with students from different backgrounds, parties, and a friendship that blossoms into romance.Stream on Kanopy and Roku
5Soul Man (1986)
The highly controversial filmSoul Manhas another Harvard aspirant as its protagonist. The film was directed by Steve Minerand starred C. Thomas Howell as Mark Watson, a young man who wishes to study at Harvard but cannot afford the fees himself. He decides to apply as a black student to qualify for a scholarship. The problems start when he is accepted and changes his hair, skin, and speech tofit in as an African-American student. His ruse works, but he faces racism, making him understand the plight of African Americans for the first time.
Needless to say, the film was metwith a lot of controversy as the portrayalof the character was compared to blackface by the African-American community. The makers of the film compared it toTootsie,where a man cross-dresses as a woman to advance in his career. Nevertheless, the film grossed $35 million, over a budget of $4.5 million, making it a divisive film of the ‘80s.Rent on Apple TV+
4Love Story (1970)
Love Story
Love Storyis an adaptation of the classic book of the same name written by Erich Segal and is one of the highest-grossing films of all time. The film stars Ryan O’Neal as Oliver Barrett, a wealthy Harvard law student who falls in love with a music student from Radcliffe College, Jenny, played by Ali MacGraw. The two come from different economic backgrounds, resulting in very different aspirations. Oliver’s father disapproves of the relationship and cuts him off financially, refusing to pay for Harvard. The couple marries after graduation, and the story follows theirtroubledmarried life after Jenny becomes terminallyill.
The film has gained cult status over time, and the Crimson Key Society of Harvard holds screenings during the orientation of incoming batches. Unfortunately, the shooting of the film within the campus led to the damage of several trees, also caused by the shooting ofA Small Circle of Friends. Therefore, no request for filming on location has been accepted since then.Stream it on Fubo
