Paralyzed by postgraduation angst, four preppy young men dig in their heels to avoid the adulthood that the women in their lives confidently approach. Instead, they fill their empty days with endless talk that reveals an expert knowledge of high and low culture—and a quiet terror of what lies ahead.

Made when he was just 25 years old, Noah Baumbach’s debut feature immediately illuminated his talents as a filmmaker. With its witty, philosophical dialogue and long takes in service of terrific performances, Kicking and Screaming brought a hint of Renoir and Rohmer to the ubiquitous Gen-X comedy.