Musical / Teen / LGBTQ-related / Drama
1980
Fame
Fame: family and corporate power, and why this 1980 movie still matters.
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Explore the genre
Teen movies from the 80s
Teen movies became one of the signature genres of the 1980s, turning school, friendship, romance, rebellion and the awkwardness of growing up into everything from comedy to drama and horror.
The clothes and soundtracks may scream eighties, but the best films survived because the characters and problems underneath them remained recognisable.
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Explore 80s teen
56 movies so far
Teen movies
Slasher / Horror / Crime / Teen / Thriller / Psychological Thriller / Psychological Horror / Crime Thriller / Mystery / Suspense / Independent / Splatter / Exploitation
1980
Friday the 13th
Friday the 13th: mortality and friendship, and why this 1980 movie still matters.
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Comedy Drama / Teen / Coming-of-age
1980
Little Darlings
Little Darlings: family and love, and why this 1980 movie still matters.
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Comedy Drama / Teen
1980
My Bodyguard
My Bodyguard: courage and friendship, and why this 1980 movie still matters.
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Horror / Slasher / Teen
1980
Prom Night
Prom Night: mortality and lifespan and loss, and why this 1980 movie still matters.
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Romance / Teen / Coming-of-age / Drama / Survival / Melodrama
1980
The Blue Lagoon
The Blue Lagoon: family and mortality, and why this 1980 movie still matters.
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Romance / Teen / Coming-of-age / Drama
1981
Endless Love
Endless Love: family and love, and why this 1981 movie still matters.
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Slasher / Exploitation / Horror / Psychological Horror / Psychological Thriller / Crime Thriller / Suspense / Thriller / Crime / Teen / Teen Horror / Monster
1981
The Funhouse
The Funhouse: fear and greed, and why this 1981 movie still matters.
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Horror / Slasher / Teen
1981
The Prowler
The Prowler: the safety of home and mortality, and why this 1981 movie still matters.
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Teen / Coming-of-age / Comedy / Drama
1982
Fast Times at Ridgemont High
Teenage hormones, mall jobs and one surfer who won't be quiet about it.
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Horror / Mystery / Drama / Thriller / Supernatural Horror / Supernatural / Fantasy / Action / Teen / Suspense / Science Fiction
1983
Christine
Obsession, adolescence and a car that won't let go.
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Comedy Drama / Teen / Coming-of-age / Romantic Comedy / Comedy / Erotic
1983
Risky Business
A suburban teenager, a one‑night business and the day ambition learned to look dangerous.
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Horror / Slasher / Teen / LGBTQ-related
1983
Sleepaway Camp
Sleepaway Camp: family and parents protecting their children, and why this 1983 movie still matters.
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Teen / Coming-of-age / Drama
1983
The Outsiders
Ponyboy's voice, a neighbourhood at war, and the moment childhood truly ends.
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Romantic Comedy / Teen
1983
Valley Girl
Valley Girl: the safety of home and friendship, and why this 1983 movie still matters.
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Horror / Teen / Slasher / Supernatural Horror / Thriller / Splatter / Suspense / Crime / Fantasy / Exploitation / Crime Thriller / Psychological Drama / Crime Drama / Psychological Thriller / Drama / Independent / Teen Horror / Supernatural / Ghost
1984
A Nightmare on Elm Street
A Nightmare on Elm Street: family and the safety of home, and why this 1984 movie still matters.
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Romance / Musical / Drama / Teen / Coming-of-age / Dance
1984
Footloose
Teen rebellion, a ban on dancing and one determined outsider — Footloose still kicks up dust.
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Horror / Teen / Slasher
1984
Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter
Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter: family and the safety of home, and why this 1984 movie still matters.
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Teen / Comedy
1984
Revenge of the Nerds
Revenge of the Nerds: the safety of home and our relationship with technology, and why this 1984 movie still matters.
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Teen / Coming-of-age / Romantic Comedy
1984
Sixteen Candles
Teenage longing, family oblivion and one very awkward bet — with Samantha Sam Baker keeping the whole thing human.
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Teen / Science Fiction / Fantasy / Action / Children's
1984
Supergirl
Supergirl: love and power, and why this 1984 movie still matters.
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Romance / Drama / Teen / Martial Arts / Coming-of-age / Action
1984
The Karate Kid
A teenager, a handyman, and the long, strange apprenticeship that taught a generation how to stand up for themselves.
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Horror / Teen / LGBTQ-related / Slasher / Crime Thriller / Independent / Supernatural Horror / Thriller / Crime / Fantasy / Suspense
1985
A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy's Revenge
A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy's Revenge: the safety of home and family, and why this 1985 movie still matters.
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Science Fiction / Adventure / Comedy / Teen / Time-travel
1985
Back to the Future
A time machine, a restless teenager and a very particular set of family problems.
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Romantic Comedy / Teen / Black Comedy / Surrealist
1985
Better Off Dead
Better Off Dead: family, and why this 1985 movie still matters.
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Teen / Comedy Horror / Vampire / Thriller / Fantasy
1985
Fright Night
A suburban boy, a suave neighbour and a late‑night horror show — Fright Night makes vampire panic feel uncomfortably domestic.
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Romantic Comedy / Musical / Teen
1985
Girls Just Want to Have Fun
Girls Just Want to Have Fun: family and friendship, and why this 1985 movie still matters.
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Teen / Coming-of-age / LGBTQ-related / Romantic Comedy
1985
Just One of the Guys
Just One of the Guys: growing up, and why this 1985 movie still matters.
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Romantic Comedy / Science Fiction / Science Fiction Comedy / Teen
1985
Real Genius
Real Genius: the safety of home and family, and why this 1985 movie still matters.
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Comedy / Fantasy / Teen / Romantic Comedy
1985
Teen Wolf
A teenage werewolf, a basketball court and a lesson about who you really want cheering for you.
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Teen / Comedy Drama / Coming-of-age / Drama
1985
The Breakfast Club
Five teenagers. One Saturday. A surprisingly savage, oddly tender interrogation of who we're told to be.
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Romantic Comedy / Science Fiction / Fantasy / Science Fiction Comedy / Buddy / Teen / Action
1985
Weird Science
Fast talk, bad luck and a very literal wish come true — with consequences.
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Teen / Mystery / Christmas
1985
Young Sherlock Holmes
Young Sherlock Holmes: mortality and mortality and lifespan, and why this 1985 movie still matters.
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Teen / Coming-of-age / Comedy
1986
Ferris Bueller's Day Off
Ferris Bueller's Day Off: family and the safety of home, and why this 1986 movie still matters.
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Teen / Drama
1986
Hoosiers
Hoosiers: family, and why this 1986 movie still matters.
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Teen / Coming-of-age / Comedy Drama / Drama / Romantic Comedy / Romance / American Football
1986
Lucas
Lucas: friendship and family, and why this 1986 movie still matters.
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Romantic Comedy / Teen / Coming-of-age
1986
Pretty in Pink
A working‑class girl, a prom dress and a triangle that still stirs up arguments.
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Romance / Drama / Teen / Martial Arts / Coming-of-age / Action
1986
The Karate Kid Part II
A seaside sequel about duty, dancing and learning when not to fight.
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Teen / Drama / Romance
1986
Youngblood
Youngblood: family and courage, and why this 1986 movie still matters.
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Horror / Teen / Drama / Slasher / Fantasy / Independent
1987
A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors
Nancy comes back to teach a new generation to fight Freddy — and she brings a team.
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Teen / Comedy / Action
1987
Adventures in Babysitting
A one-night odyssey that turns babysitting into a crash course in grown-up choices.
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Romantic Comedy / Teen / Coming-of-age / Sex Comedy / Drama
1987
Can't Buy Me Love
Can't Buy Me Love: friendship and peer pressure, and why this 1987 movie still matters.
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Romance / Musical / Drama / Teen / Dance
1987
Dirty Dancing
Dirty Dancing: family and love, and why this 1987 movie still matters.
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Horror / Teen / Ghost
1987
Hello Mary Lou: Prom Night II
Hello Mary Lou: Prom Night II: mortality and loss, and why this 1987 movie still matters.
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Horror comedy / Teen comedy / Romance
1987
My Best Friend Is a Vampire
The Lost Boys made them cool. Fright Night made them frightening again. Once Bitten turned vampirism into a dating problem. And then there was My Best Friend Is A Vampire.
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Teen / Horror / Comedy
1987
Summer School
Summer School: family and authority, and why this 1987 movie still matters.
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Comedy Drama / Teen / Action / Hood / Drama
1987
The Principal
The Principal: authority and courage, and why this 1987 movie still matters.
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Horror / Teen / Slasher
1988
A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master
A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master: parents protecting their children and friendship, and why this 1988 movie still matters.
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Romantic Comedy / Musical / Teen / Drama
1988
Hairspray
Hairspray: family and parents protecting their children, and why this 1988 movie still matters.
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Comedy / Teen / Coming-of-age / Mystery
1988
Heathers
Heathers: peer pressure and the safety of home, and why this 1988 movie still matters.
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Horror / Teen / Slasher
1989
A Nightmare on Elm Street 5: The Dream Child
A Nightmare on Elm Street 5: The Dream Child: family and parents protecting their children, and why this 1989 movie still matters.
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Science Fiction / Teen / Comedy / Time-travel / Dystopian
1989
Back to the Future Part II
Hoverboards, alternate 1985s and one man trying to stop his whole family from unravelling—again.
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Comedy / Science Fiction / Science Fiction Comedy / Buddy / Teen / Time-travel
1989
Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure
A daft time‑travel comedy where being mates saves the world — and yes, Ted matters more than you remember.
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Coming-of-age / Drama / Teen
1989
Dead Poets Society
A teacher who insists you stand up to be seen — and a classroom that still rattles our idea of growing up.
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Biographical / Teen / Coming-of-age / Drama
1989
Lean on Me
Lean on Me: family and the safety of home, and why this 1989 movie still matters.
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Romantic Comedy / Teen / Coming-of-age / Drama
1989
Say Anything...
Lloyd Dobler: underachieving, hopelessly sincere and still the film's heartbeat.
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