On August 17, 2007, Super bad in theaters. The film was met with rave reviews (it currently holds an 88% rating on Rotten Tomatoes), who immediately recognized what audiences would soon confirm: this was a classic high school movie. With iconic leads from Michael Cera and Jonah Hill as Evan and Seth, outrageous supporting characters like Fogell (played to perfection by newcomer Christopher Mintz-Plasse) and the two bumbling cops Michaels and Slater (played by Seth Rogen and Bill Hader respectively), and hilarious lead actresses in Martha MacLassaac as Becca and Emma Stone (in her first feature film role) as Jules, along with top-notch scripts from Rogen and Evan Goldberg (along with script guidance from the one and only Judd Apatow) and assured direction from Greg Mottola, the recipe for Super bad almost a guaranteed success – and it was.

Many people believe Super bad to be the “last great high school movie,” since every year there’s a new film that seizes its chance. And there have certainly been some strong contenders over the years, from Easy A Unpleasant Booksmartwith more recent contenders including Good boys And Soilswhich are all great high school movies. But… they are not rather Super bad. A film that feels classic in every sense of the word, from the perfect casting to the deep catalog of quirky characters to the endlessly quotable lines to the Odyssean set pieces—I could go on. This timeless comedy achieved a perfect synergy that everyone recognized in 2007. And ever since, it’s been a slow, steady, painstaking countdown to which modern high school movie would take its place.

In steps Incomingthe latest (and greatest) new movie to hit the Netflix platform. Just like Super badthe events of Incoming take place on a single, fateful day. We start with a boy named Benj (played by Mason Thames of The black telephone), who is ready to start his first day of high school. He has a secret crush on Bailey (Isabella Ferreira), the best friend of his sophomore sister Alyssa (Ali Gallo), and he has a plan to make her his girlfriend. By Benj’s side will be his best friends, Connor (Raphael Alejandro), Eddie (Ramon Reed) and Koosh (Bardia Seiri), all looking to make their mark now that they’re in high school. And Koosh has the perfect opening: his brother is throwing a big party and Koosh’s freshman buddies are all invited. That’s where Benj plans to make his move on Bailey.

In so many ways, this irreverent R-rated comedy from first-time directors Dave and John Chernin (who previously directed It’s always sunny in Philadelphia) shows similarities with Super badThe film is a bit of a slam dunk, starting with its incredibly foul language (no recent high school movie has been so profane) and its characters’ obsession with sex. But beyond that, the characters are very reminiscent of the Rogen and Goldberg universe: Benj is the straight-laced, well-meaning kid like Evan; Connor is the erratic boyfriend, paranoid about his status and picked on by bullies; Koosh has that goofy McLovin’ energy, hilariously confident in his ridiculous, obnoxious ways; and Bobby Cannavale’s veteran presence in this film, with his effortless charisma and comedic timing, is perfect for Mr. Studebaker, who serves as the goofy adult akin to Slater and Michaels. And all the fantastic supporting characters, from the “worst kid in school” Ruby (Thomas Barcusca crushes this role of scumbag) to social media star Katrina Aurienna (Loren Gray is perfect in this role) to Eddie’s douchey stepfather Dennis (Scott MacArthur is, as always, terrific), make this insane high school universe, just like the Super bad firstly, a mythological feeling.

But if we stretch out from there, Incoming is starting to stand out from the crowd. The unique presence of Gen Z, with its awareness of social issues and gender politics, feels more in line with Soils. Also very nice Soilsthe humor is often exaggerated. While Soils is much more absurd than IncomingAt times seeming to take place in a parallel, surreal high school universe, the Chernin brothers’ film has some eye-popping, sickening humor and slapstick comedy that feels much more old school. In addition to all that, the female leads in Incoming have much more weight to work with than Super badwhich was much more focused on the boys. Alyssa has a legitimate arc in this movie, which Incoming a much more expansive feel as it digresses into the various parts of Benj’s introduction to high school.

All in all, this is what really sets it apart Incoming by Super bad. While Super bad took place at the end of high school, with three boys hoping to discover some kind of catharsis before heading off to college, Incoming takes place at the beginning. These four freshmen are eager to discover what high school is all about, and they all have their own theories about what will make it easier. Benj thinks “love” is his ticket, hoping Bailey will provide a comfortable bubble in such unfamiliar territory; Connor wants to prove that he won’t take abuse from anyone, indicating a deep-seated fear of powers greater than him; Eddie is unreasonably paranoid about anything that disrupts his comfort zone, which is evidenced by his dimwitted stepfather and extends to his fear of going to a high school dance; and Koosh is desperate to impress his older brother, who would allow Koosh to become the “cool kid” at school. As the four-year experience begins, Incoming captures the raw, nerve-wracking feeling of starting high school like few other films in recent memory.

It’s also worth mentioning the standout performance that gets everyone talking. While everyone hits their mark, with Mason Thames painlessly playing the serious guy and Ali Gallo showing remarkable vulnerability as her character comes to terms with her identity, the real winner of Incoming is Bardia Seiri. Like Christopher Mintz-Plasse, the instant meme-turned-memorable high school character McLovin, Seiri absolutely embodies the ridiculous nature of Koosh, who is both lovable and mean. Willing to sleep with a girl, he is clearly reprehensible and rightly punished in this film. But Koosh feels “classic” in his irreverence, in his embrace of the idiot that he is, and Seiri embodies such a Shakespearean fool with absolute confidence, imbuing some of Koosh’s offhand douchebag remarks with absolute hilarity. When Seiri is on screen, the tone immediately shifts and you know you’re watching someone who is in complete control.

Ultimately the ultimate question is: is Incoming as good as Super bad? As someone who grew up with Super badI am obligated to say “no.” But that is not the real question we should be asking. Despite all the similarities, Incoming is a film in its own right, that feels much more modern and poignant than any high school movie from the 2000s, or the 1990s, or the 1980s. It’s a high school movie for the, well, incoming generation, and I think many people will identify with the powerful, confident and well-structured script, which offers as many profound moments as it does catchy one-liners. Incoming will touch anyone who knows what it feels like to go to high school for the first time, and who knows the fear and pressure of creating an identity in an unfamiliar environment.