7 Totally Rad Movies From the 1980s You Should Introduce to Your Teen

This tale of an unlikely romance between a regular guy/aspiring kick-boxer (John Cusack) and the paragon of perfection class valedictorian (Ione Skye) is perhaps the greatest high school rom-com ever made. It’s also a testament to the importance of being decent, honest and honorable.

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The inspirational true story of a dedicated teacher (Edward James Olmos) who opens up a well of untapped potential in his at-risk students via the magic of math. A must-see for any kid even contemplating taking the AP calculus exam.

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Should working-class high school senior Andie Walsh (Molly Ringwald) have fallen for her blue-collar bestie Duckie (Jon Cryer) or rich kid Blane (Andrew McCarthy)? The fact that we’ve been debating this plot point since the film premiered more than two decades ago shows how deeply felt this movie remains. It’s class struggle with a killer soundtrack.

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This nerd-crushes-on-popular-girl tale could have gone the typical teenage sex comedy route. Instead, the script takes the heartache of unrequited teen romance, including sex and all its consequences, seriously. The gut-punch of an ending might be the most realistic in any teen drama ever.

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When five kids from different walks of life (including Brat Packers Ally Sheedy, Judd Nelson, and Emilio Estevez) are forced to spend an afternoon together serving detention, they discover that, despite their outward differences, they have a lot more in common than they thought. Equally generous to every character, this film quickly moves past stereotypes and teaches the importance and looking beyond the surface when judging someone’s character.

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Veronica Sawyer (Winona Ryder) discovers that leaving the popular clique to return to her loser friends isn’t easy. (Un)luckily, new kid J.D. (Christian Slater) has just the plan. The humor is black and the violence shocking, but the whip-smart script and performances make this biting look at cliques, mean girls, outcasts, and teen suicide a classic.

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This no-holds-barred peek inside a performing arts high school over the course of four years has thrilling musical numbers (“We’re gonna live forever!”), mixed with heartbreaking tales of growing up in the inner city. A reality check for any teen interested in going into a creative field. As the school’s dance instructor (Debbie Allen) warns, “Fame costs and this is where you start paying, in sweat.” Warning: This gritty, R-rated film is only for the older teens in your house.

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