Top 20 Teen Movies of the 1980s

Could things get more chaotic than babysitting three kids? Well, yes. When Chris’ best friend gets stuck at a bus station, Chris loads the kids she's babysitting in the car to go pick her up. However, a blown tire sees things going from bad to worse as they end up on the run in Chicago. Throughout the film we see Chris get vengeance on her scumbag boyfriend, while one of the kids, Brad, survives both a stabbing rejection and a real stabbing. Safe to say, it was a night to remember for these teens. Through navigating romance, playboy magazines, and even Thor, it was a wild adventure we couldn’t resist.

Keith and Watts have been best friends for a long time but, you know the drill, neither of them have realized their feelings for the other yet. Keith was, instead, crushing on Amanda, the beautiful popular girl. It’s only when the two start going out that Watts suddenly has to confront her crush on her best friend. Luckily, throughout the film, Keith realizes that his pursuit of Amanda is superficial, and that he has more depth than he initially let himself admit. Meanwhile, Watts learns it’s more important to be herself than to change to impress others. It’s a fantastic friends-to-lovers plot, and one that demonstrates how being yourself attracts the right kind of people into your life.

We love when a teen movie has a horror twist, so when the Emerson brothers moved to Santa Carla and found it was littered with vampires, we were hooked. One of the brothers joins the charming and dangerous group of vampires, while the other takes on the role of vampire hunter. The dynamic makes for some pretty great tension as the two try to figure out where they belong in their new home. Even though the film takes place in a dark, twisted, supernatural underworld, at the end of the day, Michael and Sam were both just trying to fit in. They do so by succumbing to peer pressure and navigating different social circles, which is kind of what being a teenager is all about.

When Vern overhears his brother talking about seeing a dead body, he recruits his friends to see it for themselves. Along the way, they discover more about each other and themselves than they ever imagined possible, all while trying to beat a group of older boys to the body. The most relatable part of this film isn’t the moments of friendship, though that’s very endearing too. It’s when we learn that the once tight-knit group ultimately ended up growing apart. When the adult Gordie writes about no one ever having friends later in life like the ones they have when they’re 12, we’re taken right back to that precious time in our own lives before we grew up.

This film explores the price of fame set against the background of a performing arts school full of teens who are exceptionally talented. We follow an ensemble cast of characters in various disciplines from the day of their audition to their last day of high school, with some achieving their goals and others falling flat. Woven through their high school years are their personal woes and performative triumphs, all set to some seriously catchy tunes. The entire film is a good reminder for teens everywhere to shoot for the stars while simultaneously highlighting the importance of staying grounded and realistic.

This teen love story manages to tackle important issues that resonate with teenagers in a lighthearted, comedic way. The movie centers around Ronald, who wants to turn around his social standing. He proposes a deal to popular girl Cindy: he’ll pay her for a fake relationship in order to achieve popularity. Cindy, who could use the money, agrees. But, by the time they’ve agreed to stage a breakup, she’s developed genuine feelings for him. Unfortunately, popularity has gone to Ronald’s head, and it takes some time before he finds his way to his true self. A popular motif in teen flicks is when the characters realize they don’t need to change themselves to be happy or well-liked, and this film absolutely nailed it without being preachy or stereotypical.

Who doesn’t love dancing out their teen turmoil? Especially when it’s forbidden! When Ren McCormack moves from Chicago to Bomont, he’s shocked to discover that dancing is illegal in the small town. Being the rebel that he is, he decides to do something about it, all while facing off with his foes in tractors and falling in love with the preacher’s daughter. The music and atmosphere of this film captures ‘80s essence at its core, but the adolescent struggles we see the characters deal with are timeless. From dealing with parental issues and navigating grief, we see a lot of meaningful moments sprinkled in with the lighthearted ones, and that’s what makes this film a classic.

This ‘80s movie is set in the early ‘60s at the Catskills and features a dreamy Patrick Swayze paired up with the adorable Jennifer Grey. Needless to say, there’s a lot to love about it. When Baby steps up to dance with Johnny, we get to watch her learn the art. As is expected, the two fall in love despite hailing from opposite sides of the tracks. “Dirty Dancing” showed us what it looks like to grow from a teen into a young adult, how to fight for what’s right, and to make sure we always stand our ground. It also provides the kind of sage wisdom that will always remain relevant no matter how much time has passed.

This film was based on a novel written by an actual teenager, so it should come as no surprise that it's an accurate depiction of teen life. “The Outsiders” tells the story of the lower class Greasers and their rivals, the upper class Socs. The Greasers story takes a dramatic turn for the worst when Johnny murders one of the Socs, and he and Ponyboy have to go on the run with the help of their friends. We see the boys deal with issues surrounding opposing social classes while realizing that everyone isn’t so different. Ponyboy represents the spirit of youth in the film, and reminds us of the importance of seeing the world through a non-judgmental lens.

Molly Ringwald starred in several seminal ‘80s films, and this one is perhaps the most mature of the bunch. In another one of John Hughes’ many hits, Ringwald plays Andie opposite Jon Cryer as Duckie and Andrew McCarthy as Blane, the three of whom make up a love triangle when both boys fall for the film’s protagonist. Andie deals with her best friend’s feelings for her while she crushes on the rich boy, Blane, and hides the fact that she comes from a very different world. She does all of this while dressing flawlessly, we might add. The film explored mature themes like family troubles and peer pressure, and these topics are all too familiar for countless teenaged viewers.

We begin with a familiar scenario: Joel’s parents are out of town, so their hardworking son decides to play hard while they’re away. He spends the night with Lana, a beautiful sex worker, but it costs him in more ways than one. When Joel fails to pay the procurer, he finds Lana and some other sex workers now living under his roof. Not to mention, his dad’s Porsche gets totaled. What’s Joel to do? Simple – he turns his house into a brothel. With his admission to Princeton on the line, Joel has to raise money – but not raise suspicion – before his parents get home. Risky business indeed!

In this 1989 drama, Robin Williams plays John Keating, the new English teacher at an all-boys’ prep school. Keating quickly shows that he’s not like the other profs. Through his unique way of teaching poetry, he encourages the boys to make the most of their talents. Reviving his Dead Poets Society, they become inspired to follow their dreams – but it won’t be easy. When the tragic loss of one of their own puts Keating’s job in jeopardy, the boys are determined to save their mentor. Arguably the most moving film on this list, “Dead Poets Society” is a tribute to inspirational teachers, and will motivate you to seize the day.

This satire of high school cliques shows the dark side of popularity. Veronica is a member of the Heathers, but she’s fed up with their manipulative ways. When leader Heather Chandler tries to ruin her reputation, Veronica and her boyfriend J.D. accidentally poison her, and make her death look like a suicide. The couple leave two more bodies in their wake, but that’s not enough for J.D, who becomes increasingly unhinged. Fearing that she might be next, Veronica comes to her senses, and will do anything to protect herself and her classmates.

It has inspired a franchise and many parodies, but there’s nothing like the original. In this slasher film, disfigured serial killer Freddy Krueger haunts the dreams of suburban teens – and if they die in their dreams... they die for real. Shocked to see her friends dying one by one, final girl Nancy learns the terrifying truth behind the murders. The teens’ parents killed Freddy out of revenge, and now he’s out for blood himself. As Freddy sets his sights on Nancy, she’s bent on defeating him once and for all. This horror classic isn’t just scary; it also blurs the lines between fantasy and reality.

It’s the summer after graduation, Lloyd wants to be a kickboxer, and valedictorian Diane has a fellowship coming up. Although they come from two different worlds, the two surprise everyone when they start dating. Diane’s overprotective dad Jim isn’t impressed, and wishes his daughter would hit the books. Putting her studies and Jim’s wishes first, Diane abruptly dumps Lloyd. Jim turns out to be not so trustworthy, however. As he faces jail time, Diane finally decides her future for herself, and Lloyd will say and do anything to win her back. Holding that boombox sure was worth it!

Based on a book by Cameron Crowe, this teen comedy gives us an inside look at the lives of high school students. Sophomores Stacy and Mark get some love advice from their senior friends, but nothing will prepare them for what comes next. After lying to him about her age, Stacy loses her virginity to an older man, and later finds herself in a love triangle with Mark and his friend Mike. A sometimes funny and honest take on high school, this cult film is as real as ever even decades later.

High school senior Ferris Bueller pretends he’s sick so he can skip class. Along with pal Cameron and girlfriend Sloane, Ferris is out and about in Chicago, driving in Cameron’s dad’s Ferrari. What could possibly go wrong? For one, Ferris’ sister and his principal will do whatever it takes to uncover the truth – even if it means breaking the law. And as his eventful day off draws to a close, Ferris has to race home and act like nothing happened. A hilarious movie for sure, but also one that reminds us that fun can sometimes come before all else.

Molly Ringwald gave us major prom goals in “Pretty in Pink” but we’ve gotta say that we prefer this chick flick, where she plays Samantha Baker, whose sweet sixteen is anything but. Sam’s family is so busy preparing for her sister’s wedding that they completely forget about her birthday. It doesn’t help that she’s in a love triangle. She’s crushing hard on high school senior Jake Ryan, while geeky Ted is interested in her. A series of embarrassing events and a wild party at Jake’s house bring the trio closer in ways they never imagined. For better or for worse, Sam’s sixteenth birthday is one she’ll never forget.

In 1985, Michael J. Fox gave us two great movies: “Teen Wolf” and this sci-fi classic. After a botched experiment with his scientist friend Doc Brown, eighties teen Marty McFly time-travels to 1955. In the past, Marty has two tasks ahead of him. First, he has to make his parents fall in love, or he’ll never be born. Second, without plutonium to power the DeLorean, he has to find his way back to the future. But through the power of love – and a show-stopping rendition of “Johnny B. Goode” – Marty manages to save himself and the course of history. A fun ride from start to finish, you’ll want to watch it time and time again.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

“The Karate Kid” (1984)
Daniel LaRusso Learns to Navigate High School, Romances, Rivalry, & Karate

“Porky’s” (1981)
This Movie Walked So “American Pie” Could Run

“Weird Science” (1985)
John Hughes Struck Gold Again with This Sci-Fi Coming of Age Tale

“The Last American Virgin” (1982)
Another Teen Film Centered Around Virginity Through a Complicated Web of Relationships

“Better Off Dead” (1985)
John Cusack Stars in this Dark Comedy About Teen Angst

In this beloved ‘80s film, five teens from different social circles have to spend their Saturday in detention together. They butt heads at first, but find a common enemy in the overbearing assistant principal Vernon, who expects them to stay in the library and do as they’re told. Not if they can help it! As the group opens up to each other, they realize that they’re not so different after all. Each teen has their cross to bear, and finds comfort in knowing they’re not alone. Funny and touching all at once, “The Breakfast Club” teaches us to shatter stereotypes.