Since the beginning of time, high schoolers all around the nation have undergone the ultimate rite of passage: Prom. Teenage boys and girls frantically obsess over every minute detail, from the date to the dress to the crowning at the end of the night. Luckily, this year students at Bellevue West can attend the dance with eased nerves–thanks to these helpful lessons from three of cinematography greatest.

Napoleon Dynamite (2004): Plan the Perfect Promposal.

From nunchuck skills to tetherball mastery, Napoleon Dynamite clearly had a way with women. One of his most reputable moments was in his promposal.

To reduce the awkwardness, having actual face-to-face interaction with your desired date before the promposal is crucial to your night’s success. Remember, you are going to be stuck with your date for the entire night.

Branching off of that, ask them in person. Although you might not feel comfortable drawing a portrait of your date and delivering it to their mother, texting or “sliding into someone’s DMs” does not count as an acceptable promposal.

Struggling to figure out ways to strike up casual conversation with your date-to-be? Napoleon moves along his budding romantic relationship through flattery. For example, you could use one of his most famed compliments: “I see you’re drinking 1 percent. Is that because you think you’re fat? ‘Cause you’re not. You could be drinking whole if you wanted to.”

Lastly, when asking someone to prom, remember to keep it simple. Your promposal does not have to be an extravagant, expensive ordeal. Show them you care through a personal, original gesture and save your money for the actual dance.

When asking someone to prom, just remember to use your skills to your advantage. After all, “Girls only want boyfriends who have great skills.”

Carrie (1976): Ignore the haters.

Ah, a heartwarming story about a girl who was crowned Prom Queen…and then brutally murdered all of her classmates. The most important lesson learned from charming Carrie White is that–although this might shock some of you–getting on prom court is not all that it is cracked up to be. Sure, it may be exciting, but being crowned king or queen of a fleeting high school hierarchy does not define the worth of your entire high school experience.

Unfortunately, prom can often feel like a popularity contest, an incessant nightmare of trying to impress those cooler or prettier than you. But, it should not have to be that way. Make others jealous not in the way that you dress or in the date that you bring, but in the way you genuinely enjoy yourself.

Prom night should be about forgetting the social constraints that separate one another during the school week. But, if things do not go exactly as planned, please refrain from using your telekinetic superpowers to burn down the ballroom.

Overall, the main take-away from this movie is to do the exact opposite of what Carrie did on prom night. Do not worry about what others think of you; chances are, everyone is too busy worrying about themselves to pay attention to your insecurities.

So go on, ignore the haters and just have fun. No one will dump a bucket of pig’s blood on your head–hopefully.

Pretty in Pink (1986): Stay true to yourself, and everything will work out in the end.

It seems only fitting to save the best lesson for last. If there is one thing I have learned from “Pretty in Pink,” it is that staying true to yourself, especially in times of adversity, is always your best bet. Andie exhibited true elegance in not only her appearance, but in the way she carried herself with tact, grace, and strength of character.

In the film, Andie crafted her own dress, setting the standard for individuality. This goes to show that you do not need to buy the most expensive gown in the store to look and feel flawless at prom.

On prom night, Andie showed up without a date, holding her head up high. If you too failed to find a date for this year’s dance, do not worry–so did a good number of your classmates.

Instead of drowning yourself in pity, take the time to appreciate the “Duckies” in your life. During all of the chaos that accompanies prom, it is important to remember who your true friends are. So, take a few pointers from “Pretty in Pink,” and show up to the dance with confidence, date or no date.

Although it might not end with kissing Andrew McCarthy in the parking lot, these tips are sure to make prom night run more smoothly.