This Ends at Prom

"She's imperfect, but she tries."

Sometimes the teen girl experience is juggling the most gut-wrenching tragedy imaginable while also trying to make sense of who you are and preparing for the biggest role of your high school theatre career. DON'T SAY GOOD LUCK is one of the best coming-of-age films in recent memory, and the fact that it isn't one of the most talked-about films of the year is a travesty. The Wives Colangelo are getting their sugar, butter, and flour ready for a tearjerker of an episode.

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"My whole life is a dark room, one big dark room."

Teenage goth girls obsessed with the afterlife rarely get to star in a movie, and despite the presence of the titular ghost with the most, BEETLEJUICE is the story of Lydia Deetz and her incredible bangs. Being uprooted isn't fun for anyone, but moving into a house haunted by the recently deceased certainly complicates things. Let's say farewell to the most wonderful time of the year with The Wives Colangelo and the sounds of Harry Belafonte.

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"Sister."

45 years ago, a teenage girl named Zoë Lund was cast in the titular role of Abel Ferrara's MS .45. Considered one of the premier films in the rape-revenge subgenre, MS .45 is a righteous rallying cry for anyone who has ever been wronged, and a reminder to us all that we don't have to sit back and let people take advantage of us. When they silence our voices... find other ways to be heard.

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Readings from the booklet in the A...

"Remember, you are safe; you are capable."

FINAL DESTINATION meets ... every movie ever covered on the pod? The Wives Colangelo saw a cute new teen slasher fantasy flick, and we want you to watch it this Halloween season. Yoko Okumura's THE LAST KISS with Mckenna Grace and Arkira Chantaratananond is fresh, frisky, and a hell of a lot of fun. Save this slasher from VOD hell and watch it with your friends! THANK US LATER!!!

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MONTHLY SPOTLIGHT

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"Eating makes me feel best when I feel bad, and boy do I feel bad."

Over 40 years ago, Rita Mae Brown and Amy Holden Jones crafted a slasher classic that completely deconstructed the male gaze and gendered relationship with the horror genre with a low-budget B-movie that took years for people to fully understand. Grab your drill and order pizza because it's time for THE SLUMBER PARTY MASSACRE.

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MONTHLY SPOTLIGHT

The Cornell Daily Sun Alumni Association: https...

"Don't you want to be an urban legend, Nat? All your friends are now."

It's the most wonderful time of the year! The Wives Colangelo are kicking off the season of scares with a teen horror classic that critics hated at the time, but real ones have recognized as one of the best of the post-SCREAM slasher boom: URBAN LEGEND. All hail, Brenda! Our queen of creepy PowerPoints!

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MONTHLY SPOTLIGHT

The Cornell Daily Sun Alumni Association: https...

"In the end, my girlfriend became my arch-enemy, my arch-enemy became my best friend, and my best friend became my girlfriend. But, hey, it's high school."

Have you ever noticed the parallels between the archetypal superhero origin stories and the average coming-of-age teen movie tropes? This week, The Wives Colangelo are going up, up, and away to SKY HIGH, and examining the way Disney's non-Marvel superhero movie is the perfect exploration of the cruel hierarchy of high school that somehow doubles as an allegory for coming out. Warren Peace stans, this episode's for you.

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"Wherever you are in the world, I swear I'll find you again."

Body swap movies are so much more than just clones of FREAKY FRIDAY, and the 2016 anime film YOUR NAME is arguably the best body swap movie in existence. This week, The Wives Colangelo explore what it means for two teenagers to body swap across time, space, and gender. If you've never seen YOUR NAME, you owe it to yourself to watch this classic-in-the-making on its 10-year anniversary.

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MONTHLY...

"We spend more time defending our relationship than actually having one."

As chosen by the Patreon Prom Party, this month The Wives Colangelo are stepping up, turning out, and tackling SAVE THE LAST DANCE. A movie remembered more for its memes than its messaging, it's time to have an uncomfortable conversation about a movie everyone seems to remember loving but might not feel the same way upon a rewatch 25 years later.

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MONTHLY SPOTLIGHT

The JED Foundation: https...

"God. He can't find us any better than Santa Claus."

How do we discuss a movie like THE BLUE LAGOON, which was so impactful to a generation of young people, when we are plagued with knowing too much about the depravity of humans? Well, we’re sure going to try. Sometimes a teen girl movie deserves interrogation more than celebration. This week, The Wives Colangelo are tackling one of the highest-grossing films of 1980. It, uh, it's going to get weird.

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"Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it."

This Ends at Prom is six years old, and The Wives Colangelo are celebrating with the last John Hughes teen movie they've yet to cover, FERRIS BUELLER'S DAY OFF. A teen movie so beloved it's in the Library of Congress, let's dissect why this movie has the staying power that it does, whether or not Ferris is "actually a villain," and what it means to escape the confines of Suburbia for the perfect day off 40 years later.

"Act your age, not your shoe size."

As chosen by the Patreon supporters, The Wives Colangelo are learning how to grow up, have fun, and process trauma by spinning around in teacups until they puke with UPTOWN GIRLS. Critics didn't understand this film at the time, but legions of fans have turned it into a beloved classic. It's time to give Brittany Murphy and Dakota Fanning their well-earned flowers.

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MONTHLY SPOTLIGHT

America's ToothFairy: https://www.americastoothfairy.org/<...

"Well guys, we've made it to the end of the summer in one piece, except for a few campers who are lepers."

25 years ago, one of the greatest summer camp comedies was unleashed on the world, and a generation has been quoting it ever since. It's time for The Wives Colangelo to dive into WET HOT AMERICAN SUMMER. Make sure you're off book for "Day by Day," find a way to help your art teacher through her divorce, and don't worry, we'll still like you even if you taste like a burger.

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Have you ever wondered what life is like over on the This Ends at Prom Patreon? Well, since one of The Wives Colangelo is currently recovering from extensive oral surgery and can't exactly speak, we thought you might want to find out for yourself. Enjoy a two-hour compilation of three of our favorite Sadie Hawkins Dance "teen boy movie" episodes: PUMP UP THE VOLUME (1990) with guest Tony Pauletto, DIARY OF A WIMPY KID (2010), and EDGE OF SEVENTEEN (1998).

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MONTHLY SPOTLIGHT

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"Pretty dresses aren't just for skinny girls."

The long-awaited episode of REAL WOMEN HAVE CURVES is finally here, and The Wives Colangelo are joined by the Movie Mija herself, Emily Baeza. Let's talk about familial obligation, generational body issues, growing up Latina, and dissect the parallels of the film with Lady Bird.

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MONTHLY SPOTLIGHT

Athlete Ally: https://www.athleteally.org

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Follow our Guest!

"I found my sexual fairy godmother in a strip club."

Women-led teen sex comedies are nearly non-existent, which is why The Wives Colangelo are gleefully celebrating Jillian Bell's raunchy coming-of-age flick, SUMMER OF '69. Let's talk about fairy godstrippers, hiding your identity behind a persona, and adding Chloe Fineman to the ever-growing list of hilarious hot girls Hollywood isn't ready for.

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MONTHLY SPOTLIGHT

Athlete Ally: https://www.athleteally.org

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Social Media Plugs<...

"How can we repair all the damage we inherited?"

Reality Bites defined the coming-of-age experience for Gen-X post-grads in the 1990s and remains a beloved, seminal classic to this day. So, how does it hold up for Millennials in 2026? The Wives Colangelo are bursting with fruit flavor, dissecting hopes, dreams, Gen X cynicism, and the struggle to find personal meaning amid societal expectations.

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Article Referenced

'Reality Bites' 30 years later: https://www.wbur.org/news/2024/04/23/30-years-later-reality-bites-coolidge-corner-theatre

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"We are not fictional! We're just discreet!"

One of the all-time great millennial sleepover movies turns 20 this year, so The Wives Colangelo are getting ready for the Last Splash with AQUAMARINE. An adorable coming-of-age classic that had a generation wishing they could wear starfish as earrings, let's talk about why falling in love in less than a week is a bad aspiration for any young girl, and what it means when your soul mate is your best friend.

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MONTHLY...

"You can. On girl!"

With a new Supergirl movie in theaters, The Wives Colangelo are going back to her big-screen debut in SUPERGIRL (1984), starring Helen Slater and Faye Dunaway. Joining the show this week is comics expert and arguably the smartest voice on all things Supergirl, the incomparable Jenna Anderson! Don't let anyone convince you this movie is without merit, and get ready to believe a GIRL can fly!

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MONTHLY SPOTLIGHT

Athlete Ally: https://www.athleteally.org<...

"You know I don't believe in hierarchy in female relationships."

What happens when you toss THE CRAFT, MEAN GIRLS, HEATHERS, JAWBREAKER, JENNIFER'S BODY, and ... FINAL DESTINATION in a blender? Well, you get FORBIDDEN FRUITS! This week, The Wives Colangelo are talking about one of their favorite new movies in recent memory and dissecting what determines "a cult classic in the making" in the age of the internet.

Forbidden Fruits is available now on VOD and will start streaming on Shudder beginning June 26!

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"This isn't the Midnight Realm, Maddy. It's just the suburbs."

After two years of begging, The Wives Colangelo (mostly Harmony) are finally discussing I SAW THE TV GLOW. While the movie is responsible for countless individuals recognizing the truth about themselves (yay!), the culture that surrounds the film has felt very isolating for trans people who came out long before we even had the word "egg" to describe "egg cinema." This is a deeply personal episode, and we hope you can have an open mind about it.

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"I don't want to shock you or anything, but I really want to hold your hand right now."

As chosen by the This Ends at Prom Patreon supporters, this week The Wives Colangelo are having a charming time talking about THE INCREDIBLY TRUE ADVENTURE OF TWO GIRLS IN LOVE. Things are going to get really sappy around here, so prepare yourselves for some cuteness overload and a crash-course in the sapphic branch of the New Queer Cinema movement.

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"She broke the cardinal rule: Don't f*ck with people that handle your food."

It's Harmony's birthday, so The Wives Colangelo are breaking the rules and talking about a coming-of-age film that wasn't marketed toward teen girls, but certainly resonated with anyone, regardless of gender, who came of age while working in the service industry. It's time to discuss the value of chain restaurants, the found family of coworkers, and the genius of Alanna Ubach. ORDER UP!

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MONTHLY SPOTLIGHT<...

"I didn't want to be just another orphan, Mr. Warbucks. I wanted to believe I was special."

MAY-usical Month 2026 is coming to an end with a movie chosen by our Patreon supporters, ANNIE (1982). This week, The Wives Colangelo are dissecting everyone's favorite red-headed orphan, dissecting the weirdest politics ever to be found in a movie this catchy, and trying to figure out if Miss Hannigan and Rooster are ... special siblings. It's a hard knock life, so let's sing about it!

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Article Mentioned

The Politics of Annie: https://www.newyorker.com...

"There are five basic types in every successful boy band."

It's BJ Colangelo's birthday episode, and this year she's celebrating by losing her mind about her favorite not-real, real boy band, MTV's 2GE+HER. The Wives Colangelo are breaking down boy band archetypes, talking about what makes satire work, mourning Michael Cuccione, and learning their calculus (it says U + ME = US).

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MONTHLY SPOTLIGHT

Election Protection: https://866ourvote.org/

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Social Media Plugs

"I want a band. I want amplifiers. I want, I want, I want."

It's Jackie Mullins' world, and we're merely the audience waiting for her to rock it. Before Gillian Armstrong gave us LITTLE WOMEN in the 1990s, she gave us a blue-collar music film about a teenage girl with big dreams to be a star. One of the most Harmony-coded movies ever made, The Wives Colangelo are ready to bring the prom party into the candy-coated jubilee of STARSTRUCK.

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"Once a Wildcat, always a Wildcat!"

We're all in this together this MAY-usical month, and we're saying farewell to our friends at East High with HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL 3: SENIOR YEAR. The rare instance of a made-for-TV movie getting a theatrical sequel, The Wives Colangelo are here to talk about the benefits of a bigger budget, why Troy Bolton will forever remain in our hearts, and why Kenny Ortega is This Ends at Prom royalty.

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MONTHLY SPOTLIGHT

Election...

"Love is fragile. And we're not always its best caretakers."

If Nicholas Sparks has no haters, BJ Colangelo is dead. This week, The Wives Colangelo are diving into Miley Cyrus' first major post-Hannah Montana role in the romantic drama, The Last Song. Discussions include Liam Hemsworth's strange hair color, the plague of #NotLikeMostGirl styling, and the criminal offense of only letting Miley sing Maroon 5 in this movie.

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MONTHLY SPOTLIGHT

Equality Ohio: https://www.equalityohio.org

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"People aren't always what they appear to be. Don't forget that."

Denise Richards. Neve Campbell. Matt Dillon. Kevin Bacon. Daphne Rubin-Vega. Theresa Russell. and... Bill Murray in a neck brace. Somehow, by some cruel trick of the universe, Harmony Colangelo had not seen WILD THINGS until now. This week, it all changes. Join The Wives Colangelo and take a walk on the wild side with the steamiest crime thriller of teenage temptation. There's no going back now. Everyone's lives will be forever changed.

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"I am a freak from Norwich, England! And I have dreamt of this since I was 13 years old! And it's not just mine. It belongs to my family!"

We're taking you all on the road to WrestleMania, whether you like it or not! The story of Saraya "Paige" Knight is one of wrestling's most fascinating, and the biopic about her rise through WWE is historic for a reason. Let's talk about being a woman wrestling fan, what it means to be a teenage girl in a male-dominated industry, and what it means to be an alt girl...

"You mean she would rather imagine herself relating to an absent person than build relationships with those around her?"

If you were a quirky film girlie in the 2000s, chances are, you resonated very deeply with a young French woman named Amélie. This week, The Wives Colangelo are joined by the brilliant Liz Gotauco to discuss the aestheticization of twentysomethings' coming of age, fixating on fixing other people's problems to ignore your own, and falling in love through photobooth slides.

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"I feel like our lives changed because they had to."

As chosen by our Patreon supporters, The Wives Colangelo are kicking off April with a story of summer, sisterhood, and magical pants. Let's talk about four different stories about coming-of-age, the blessing of well-rounded characters, and maybe cry a little bit about the stories that hit a little close to home. Together and apart!

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MONTHLY SPOTLIGHT

Equality Ohio: https://www.equalityohio.org

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"That's funny, I've never heard of George Glass at our sküle."

Didn't The Wives Colangelo JUST cover The Brady Bunch Movie? And they're already doing A Very Brady Sequel? YEAH, SO WHAT? WANNA FIGHT ABOUT IT?! After catching Brady Fever, This Ends at Prom is jumping from the Jan Brady movie to the one about Greg and Marcia wanting to kiss each other. It's wild, it's raucous, and American Hysteria host Chelsey Weber-Smith is back to gush all about it.

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"We all do things we're not proud of to survive."

Sequel Month is getting the prequel treatment as The Wives Colangelo return to Panem for THE HUNGER GAMES: THE BALLAD OF SONGBIRDS & SNAKES. This week's episode might be a bit of a heavier one, considering, well, everything, but to fight fascism, you have to know how it operates. Fortunately, the dystopian prequel does a pretty bang-up job at showcasing how leaders like Coriolanus Snow come to power, why you should never trust state-controlled media, and how the seeds of resistance take so long to come to harvest...

"I have always valued my lifelessness."

We love a sequel that goes completely bugnuts off the rails compared to its original, and RETURN TO OZ has enough kindertrauma to do the trick. Somehow, Harmony missed this classic twisted fantasy that altered the brain chemistry of multiple generations, but sequel month is taking The Wives Colangelo back down what WAS the yellow brick road with a sassy chicken, dismembered heads, and electroshock therapy on minors. BEWARE THE WHEELERS!!!

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MONTHLY SPOTLIGHT<...

"I don't need friends. I need fans."

Sequel month 2026 is kicking off with a title chosen by the Patreon supporters, SCREAM 4. This week, The Wives Colangelo are heading back to Woodsboro to dissect the second generation of Ghostface victims and speculate why so many people despise this entry (despite it being Harmony's favorite). It's gonna be a scream, baby!

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MONTHLY SPOTLIGHT

Resources for Trans Youth in Kansas: https://southernequality.org/ks/

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Social...

"We have a company to save. / I'm right on top of that, Rose."

Did you know that they recently remade DON'T TELL MOM THE BABYSITTER'S DEAD? Did you know that it is shockingly wonderful? This week, The Wives Colangelo are tackling a remake of one of BJ's all-time-favorite movies, and a movie that Harmony has only ever seen once (don't worry, they're gonna remedy that). The BET+ Original Film is one of the better '90s remakes, and we hope this episode encourages you to seek it out and see for yourselves.

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"I gave her my heart, and she gave me a pen."

Cameron Crowe's directorial debut is a film solidified in pop culture history thanks to the singular image of John Cusack holding a boom box above his head, but SAY ANYTHING... has a lot more than a Peter Gabriel song to say. This week, The Wives Colangelo are joined by the incomparable Alex Steed to talk about one of the greatest teenage romance flicks ever made, and allow ourselves to believe in love.

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"There's a lot of ways to get to know a person. Eating her dead boyfriend's brains is one of the more unorthodox methods, but..."

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY, PROM PARTY! Love is in the air, and The Wives Colangelo are celebrating by talking about a Romeo & Juliet story where Romeo is a zombie and Juliet is... John Malkovich's military brat daughter. Let's dive into the post-Twilight boom of monster romance stories, Nicholas Hoult starting his weird lil' guy era, and why love will always conquer all.

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"The more I've learned about your world outside my walls, the more I've realized how dangerous and unpredictable it is."

Long before AI was being shoehorned into every aspect of our existence, the Disney Channel was warning a generation about the dangers of technological dependency with the iconic SMART HOUSE. Arguably the "best" DCOM ever made, it's time to have an existential crisis about how many people have completely ignored the dangers of letting a supercomputer control every aspect of your life! Joining The Wives Colangelo this week is Ross Benes, author of '1999: The Year Low...