It’s that time of year again! Schools are shutting their doors, and graduates are marching out into the great big unknown. But they can’t start their next chapter without a proper send-off! That’s why we compiled a list of the best fictional graduation speeches from movies and TV. We promise they’re just as good (if not better) than the real ones.
Rory Gilmore from Gilmore Girls
I live in two worlds. One is a world of books.
— Daniel Palladino, Gilmore Girls
Rory Gilmore’s speech for her iconic Chilton Academy graduation is equal parts witty and heartwarming. She thanks her professors, along with the most important force in her life: her mother, Lorelai. All of us bookish folks out there can relate to Rory’s tale of her “world of books.” How many of us would have made it through school without the occasional escape into a favorite novel? But, like Rory, we should also remember to recognize the generosity and beauty in the real world around us every day.
Watch the full speech here.
Troy Bolton from High School Musical 3: Senior Year
East High is a place where teachers encouraged us to break the status quo and define ourselves as we choose.
— Peter Barsocchini, High School Musical 3: Senior Year
The High School Musical franchise is a fun romp through that final crazy phase of teenagedom. And in the third film, we get to see all the characters come into themselves and embrace their varied interests. Troy Bolton’s speech at graduation is short, sweet, and full of fun callback jokes to the rest of the movies in the series.
Watch the full speech here.
Lelaina Pierce from Reality Bites
But the question remains: what are we going to do now? How can we repair all the damage we inherited?
— Helen Childress, Reality Bites
Lelaina Pierce’s college graduation speech is the opening segment for Reality Bites and helps set up the film’s story about the disappointment of entering the “real world.” While her speech starts with a bold takedown of the corporate machine, it quickly devolves into uncertainty as she realizes that she’s misplaced her key index cards. Don’t worry, Lelaina, doubt is much more relatable than pretentious certainty.
Watch the full speech here.
Robbie Weaver from Crazy, Stupid, Love.
All my life, I wanted to grow up. I wanted to grow older so people would take me seriously.
— Dan Fogelman, Crazy, Stupid, Love.
It would probably be more truthful to call this graduation speech Cal Weaver’s, since Robbie’s father hijacks it partway through. In Cal’s defense, Robbie’s speech quickly devolves into teenage bitterness over unrequited love. Perhaps this is why eighth-grade graduations are not a common occurrence.
Watch the full speech here.
Molly Davidson from Booksmart
All I know is that we have a lot more to learn.
— Emily Halpern, Sarah Haskins, Susanna Fogel, and Katie Silberman, Booksmart
Booksmart is a movie designed for all of us overachievers. What do we do when we devote our whole adolescence to academics, only to discover that we forgot to live somewhere in the middle of all that? The answer, of course, is to have some raging party fun with the “cool kids,” zoom into graduation in a tricked-out car, and sprinkle a few f-bombs into your speech. (They can’t retroactively revoke your valedictorian status for that, right?)
Watch the full speech here.
Billy Madison from Billy Madison
Well, what can I say? I graduated. It’s over. I did it.
— Tim Herlihy and Adam Sandler, Billy Madison
Billy Madison may be referencing the academic challenge he took on in order to reclaim his inheritance, but his words ring true for any graduate. Whether you’re graduating from high school, college, or even a doctorate program, more often than not, the overwhelming emotion at the end is relief. As long as you don’t end up in a bizarre, convoluted plot like Billy’s, you’ll never have to repeat those torturous years of schooling.
Watch the full speech here.
Elle Woods from Legally Blonde
It is with passion, courage of conviction, and strong sense of self that we take our next steps into the world, remembering that first impressions are not always correct.
— Karen McCullah Lutz and Kirsten Smith, Legally Blonde
We could all afford to be a little more like Elle Woods. How many of us can see that we would have the courage to apply for Harvard Law School on a whim? Elle’s graduation speech is full of her characteristic charm while also highlighting the poise and wisdom she gained during her time as a dedicated student.
Watch the full speech here.
This delightful mix of humor and sincerity has us ready to move our tassels and cross that stage! To all the recent or soon-to-be graduates out there: Bookstr knows you have bright things ahead of you, especially if you’ve got a good book or two by your side.
Click here to read about a brilliant banned book protest at a real graduation.
Visit our Recommendations bookshelf on Bookshop.org to enhance your TBR.
