Dazed and Confused (1993)

A hangout comedy rather than a joke machine: one long last day of school in 1976 Texas, drifting between keg parties, hazing rituals and cars cruising with the windows down. Richard Linklater's ensemble includes early turns from Matthew McConaughey, Ben Affleck and Parker Posey. It made only about $8 million in theaters, barely more than it cost, and is now a firm cult classic. Choose it when you want mood, music and quotable small talk more than plot.