Summary
- American Pie revolutionized raunchy comedies and brought them back to the mainstream, capturing the essence of teenage angst and camaraderie.
- With the main cast movies ending, the subsequent American Pie films struggled to maintain the original charm, leading to diminishing returns.
- Despite mixed reviews for the newer movies, the American Pie franchise defined raunchy comedies in the 2000s, with American Reunion reigniting its success.
The original 1999 American Pie was somewhat of a game-changer in the world of comedy, bringing back raunchy rom-coms to the masses, but when it comes to the best American Pie movie, there have been several highs and lows since that film hit theaters. Breaking ground in a new way, the studios wanted to keep the magic going for as long as possible, turning it into a juggernaut franchise, both with and without the original stars. Audiences flocked to theaters to watch the gang engage in debauchery and laugh along at all the jokes.
Along the way, the movies with the main cast ended, but the studio kept pumping out films connected to the originals, all with diminishing returns thanks to the absence of the beloved original American Pie stars. There are nine movies in the American Pie franchise, but there is a new American Pie movie in the works with the original cast returning. Although the newer movies aren't as beloved as the original films, the American Pie movies ranked shows that even the worst of the franchise helped define raunchy comedies in the 2000s and beyond.
How To Watch The American Pie Movies In Order
The American Pie franchise has nine entries in it. Whether chronologically or by release date, here's how to watch the teen comedies in order.
9 American Pie Presents: The Book Of Love (2009)
Has None Of The Original Movie's Charm
American Pie Presents: The Book Of Love follows a group of teens exactly 10 years after the original film, finding the infamous "Bible" that character Kevin Myers used in the first movie. While it pays homage to the original, it's far from the best American Pie movie in the franchise. After destroying "The Bible," they must track down every man who has contributed any single move to it over the years to try and put it back together. Along the way, they run into Jim's dad Noah Levenstein (Eugene Levy) who connects the old movies with the "Presents" series.
The Book Of Love ranks at the bottom of the DTV sequels to American Pie because, by this time, what made the original movies so charming had been mostly lost. The movie tried to return some of the charm of the originals, but it was still mostly a copy and paste of the ideas that were at one time original and fresh.
8 American Pie Presents: The Naked Mile (2006)
Struggles With Its Self-Aware Comedy
Erik Stifler, stepping into the notorious family legacy as the cousin of Steve and Matt Stifler, finds himself at a significant crossroads in American Pie Presents: The Naked Mile. Granted a "free pass" by his girlfriend for a weekend of uninhibited escapades, Erik ventures to a college campus, aiming to participate in the infamous Naked Mile run. Unlike his hard-partying relatives, Erik's more reserved nature sets the stage for his intended breakout into wild college life. His cousin Dwight, a seasoned college party enthusiast, takes it upon himself to usher Erik into the raucous scene.
Introducing Erik as a Stifler is a strategic move, allowing the franchise to continue expanding its narrative universe while the original characters remain off-screen. However, The Naked Mile endeavors to strike a balance between self-aware comedy and the portrayal of collegiate debauchery, a task at which it notably struggles. Despite its efforts to innovate within the constraints of its iconic brand, the film's execution doesn't capture the spirited essence of the original films. Its attempt at bridging the gap between old and new elements of the franchise results in a narrative that fails to deliver the same level of humor.