5 of the Best High School Movies From the '80s

Teen movies were everywhere in the 1980s. Films like The Breakfast Club and Back to the Future proved that high schoolers could rule the box office. A group of young actors who would eventually be known as the Brat Pack found fame throughout the decade with ensemble casts of these actors providing the voice of a generation.

Many teen films of the '80s have now turned into ultimate cult classics and are perfect for those movie marathons that we love to binge in the modern day. Whether you are searching for the ultimate comedy, romantic  drama or a coming-of-age story that motivates you to face the reality of adulthood, there are many '80s teen movies that are still enjoyable to watch. Chances are that you may not have seen many of the teen movies from the '80s in awhile or perhaps not at all. We challenge you to put a list of movies together and start a marathon.

Be sure to bring plenty of popcorn and invite your best buddies to watch with you or even host a watch party online. Keep a roll of tissues on hand in any case you have some sweet or heartfelt moments while watching. Also make sure your support group is available when those memories of school assignment deadlines arise and make you wish you had research paper writers back in the day.

Here are five of the best High School films from the '80s that you can add to a teen film marathon.

Fame (1980)

Set at the prestigious  New York High School of Performing Arts, Fame chronicles the hopes and dreams of a group of students that are spread across all 4 years of high school and struggle with auditions on their path to becoming dancers, actors and/or singers.

Theatre geeks or anyone who ever appeared in a school play can relate to the highs and lows of the teenage cast who suffers over the ever increasing competition as they approach graduation.

Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982)

Sean Penn's "Spicoli" has become both a poster child and an iconic character for slackerdom in this high school-set hit comedy from the writer Cameron Crowe and director Amy Heckerling. As entertaining as the movie is, it also features some heavy parts that can surprise the viewers who are may have not seen the film before.

Fast Times focuses on everything from drug use to abortion. Crowe's script chronicles the messiness of all of it with the dialogue and characterizations that feel realistic as if you went to a similar high school with the same types of people and feel like you are roaming the halls of your alma mater.

The Last American Virgin poster art can or could be
obtained from Cannon Film Distributors., Fair use.

The Last American Virgin (1982)

With a 75% Fresh score on Rotten Tomatoes, The Last American Virgin is an underrated '80s comedy about teen sex that was released in the aftermath of box office success of similar films like Porky's. The premise has a similar vibe of the popular film American Pie released nearly two decades later. 

3 high school pals set out to lose their virginity as quickly as possible. Their desperation eventually leads to a series of complications and follies, especially when one of the kids named Gary falls for a transfer student who ends up having emotions for Gary's friend, Rick.

Risky Business (1983)

The popular film starring Tom Cruise features the high school golden boy senior who eventually falls for a prostitute (played by Rebecca De Mornay) and turns her and her friends into a pimp. The very iconic "pantless slide" that Cruise performs to Bob Seger's "Old Time Rock and Roll" is one of those scenes that Hollywood has branded forever in pop culture.

The "only-in-a-movie" type of plot might make you roll your eyes at first thought, however, Risky Business will win you over quickly.

WarGames (1983)

WarGames spends more time outside the classroom than inside and the computer graphics and fashion might cause some groans. However, the emotionally-charged tension and stakes setup during the film still hold up, especially the final showdown with the updated supercomputer.