Top 5: ’80s High School Cult Films

Let me just begin by saying that choosing only five films was nearly impossible. The generation of ‘80s high school films is one that’ll never go out of style. Whether you grew up a brain, an athlete, a basket case, a princess or a criminal, ‘80s teen movies films will forever be relatable.

As best explained by Olive Penderghast:

Thank you for raising me.

Sixteen Candles (1984)

Having The Thompson Twins play as your wish comes true is truly the icing on the cake. (Credit: 20th Century Fox)

Sixteen Candles is John Hughes’ directorial debut that centers around the worst things that can happen to a girl on her 16^th birthday: (1) being felt-up by your grandparents, (2) falling in love with a guy who doesn’t even know you exist and (3) having your entire family forget your birthday.

As Samantha (Molly Ringwald) turns 16, all she craves is attention from her family, but most importantly, from gorgeous senior Jake Ryan (Michael Schoeffling). Sixteen Candles successfully captures the awkward struggles of high school.

The Breakfast Club (1985) 

“We’re all pretty bizarre. Some of us are better at hiding it, that’s all.” (Credit: IMDb)

An ‘80s movie list would be incomplete without The Breakfast Club. This film is about five students who meet in detention and open up to one another to discover that they’re more alike than they thought. Regardless how many times you watch this film, you find yourself connecting with each of the protagonists – and that’s where the charm lies in another John Hughes classic that made everyone want to spend their Saturday mornings in detention.

We’ve all thrusted our fist to The Simple Minds,“Don’t You Forget About Me.”

Better Off Dead (1985)

Being serenaded by Cusack on his Camaro at Dodger Stadium – instant heart eyes. (Credit: Paramount Pictures)

John Cusack plays a depressed high schooler who was embarrassingly dumped by his girlfriend. This sets him on a quest to win her back, but along that journey he finds himself and falls for the foreign exchange student.

Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986)

“Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around every once and awhile, you could miss it.” (Credit: Empire) 

Ferris Bueller (Matthew Broderick) is a legend amongst all cliques at his school due to his surreal skills of getting away with nearly anything. Ferris Bueller’s Day Off is another ageless classic of John Hughes that revolves around Ferris making one last grand ditch-day before graduation. From dodging his obsessive principal (Jeffrey Jones) to racing his parents back home – this film is a classic that is filled with seize-the-day vibes.

Secret Admirer (1985) 

“Sometimes what you’re looking for . . . is right beside you.” (Credit: Rhea Steineke)

Secret Admirer is the story of teenager Michael Ryan (C. Thomas Howell), who receives an anonymous love letter. Assuming the letter was written by the most popular girl at school (Kelly Preston), Michael writes her a response which ends up getting intercepted by Michaels best friend, Toni (Lori Loughlin), and falls into all the wrong hands.