The 10 Best Dark Academia Movies, Ranked by Whatnerd

"Before we dive into the movies that exemplify the dark academia subculture, let's first define what it means. Like most aesthetics, the online subculture of dark academia is nebulous and hard to define with words alone. It's one of those things you know when you see it. But in layman's terms? Dark academia is an aesthetic and lifestyle of appreciation for the classics: literature, music, art, etc. Drawing from the Gothic and Romantic movements, dark academia is all about high art, high education, and high culture—but in an appreciative way rather than a snobby way. Dark academics revel in the simplicities of this lifestyle in which a good book in an old library is enough to satisfy. Dark academics are essentially hopeless romantics who are cloaked in shadows. Whether you're still struggling to grasp the vibe or you've fallen in love with the aesthetic yourself, here are the best dark academia movies that are sure to be approved by the subculture." - whatnerd.com