My Top Ten Favorite 80s Teen Movies

I was born in 1980. That means I remember from about 1983-1984 onward. This also means that I was impressionable in relation to the music, movies and to a lesser extent, the television series of the decade. That being said, I’m a HUGE fan of anything 80s.

I believe that the 80s were unique. Movies were made to entertain and tell a story. Music was meant to make you dance and perhaps even shock you (Madonna, anyone?) and entertainment wasn’t nearly as censored as it is today. It was a great time for those of us who grew up in the 80s. Not only did we have the best cartoons, we had the best teen movies…ever.

So, sit back, relax, and take a walk down memory lane as we look at my top ten, favorite, 80s movies of all time.

Honorable Mention: Stand by Me

While technically not a teen movie (otherwise, it’d have made our primary list), though close enough, this Stephen King flick made Wil Wheaton nearly every kid’s hero!

10. Porky’s

Ok, so I wasn’t allowed to see this movie until I was a little older, but once I did, I loved it. Seriously, I was in love with Kim Cattrall (aka Lassie) in the 80s. This movie exemplifies teenage vulgarity. What’s better than that?

9. Adventures in Babysitting

This is one of the first 80s movies I ever remember watching over and over again. Little did I know that Daryl Coopersmith would go on to play Mark in one of the most famous Broadway musicals of this generation, “Rent”. Before then, he was just the a-hole that annoyed Elisabeth Shue. Personally, who wouldn’t have wanted to spend time with her (even if it annoyed her in the process)?

8. The Lost Boys

Everyone wanted to be like Keifer Sutherland. Being a vampire was cool in the 80s. Makes you wonder how a sequel made today could even compare to this movie. Besides, any 80s movie featuring the Coreys is okay in my book.

7. A Nightmare on Elm Street

The first horror movie I ever remember watching from the 80s, this was cheesy, 80s horror and yet I loved every minute of it. To this day, Freddy is still better than Jason or any of the other crazy killers of the 80s.

6. The Legend of Billie Jean

This is a relatively new addition to my list of favorite 80s teen movies. This is a classic I wish I would have seen around the time it came out. Who would believe that Putter Jack would go on to become the voice of Lisa Simpson (you can totally hear Lisa in her voice, though)?

5. Pretty in Pink

I really watch this movie for Duckie. I was big into all of the John Hughes movies, as a kid. Who wasn’t? The funny thing is that Jon Cryer is still Duckie, just on a different show (Two and a Half Men).

4. War Games

I love this movie. I saw it when it first came out. Before Matthew was Ferris, he was a computer hacker in War Games. David was the kid I wanted to be, with his vast computer knowledge, though I could definitely have done without his poor grades.

3. Sixteen Candles

Like many of John Hughes’ 80s films, it is a secondary character who stole the show. I love Sixteen Candles and the overall story, but there is just something about Long Duck Dong that gets me every time!

2. The Goonies

One of my favorite movies growing up, who didn’t want to be a Goonie? I’ve seen this movie more than any other on this list. It never gets old and it always entertains.

1. The Breakfast Club

This movie is what being a teenager in the 80s was all about. Not only was our generation feared (would we care for generations before us the way they cared for generations before them?), we were all about having fun and experiencing life.

It was hard to condense this list. There are so many, great 80s teen films. It’s hard to break it into just ten. Other favorites not on this list include Say Anything, Less than Zero, St. Elmo’s Fire (more a 20 something movie), Weird Science, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, Gremlins, The New Kids, Friday the 13th, Lucas, The Karate Kid, and Fast Times at Ridgemont High.

So, what’s your favorite 80s teen flick?