Reel 21 – #100: Superbad (2007)

The countdown begins! In this first episode of Reel 21, Nathan revisits Superbad—Greg Mottola’s 2007 teen comedy that launched a thousand McLovin jokes—and asks: does it really deserve a spot on The New York Times’ list of the 100 Best Movies of the 21st Century?

What starts out as a raunchy teen comedy reveals surprising layers of sweetness, friendship and emotional honesty. Nathan reflects on the film’s legacy, standout performances from Jonah Hill and Michael Cera, and why Superbad might just be more essential than it gets credit for.

Plus: Does the cop subplot still work? And what makes this movie actually hold up nearly two decades later?

Next up: Bong Joon-ho’s Memories of Murder—which Nathan’s never seen.

Read Nathan's thoughts on