The scene: it's deep summer in the late 80's and it's hot out. You're bored at home and the AC is humming. The smells of Sun-In, Coppertone, Aqua Net and Nair waft through the house. Hints of freshly mowed grass and the low roar of a mower floats about the cul-de-sac while Prince's "U Got the Look" drifts from your sister's distant upstairs radio. Muffled clapping and cheering from Oprah can be heard from the family room.
Okay, so perhaps you weren't there for this but this was totally the vibe then and you can recreate it today. Right now. In your living room! What better to do on a sticky, sweltering summer afternoon than watch a movie (or two) from the most entertaining decade in history? Fix yourself a cold glass of TaB, Crystal Lite or Fresca (yum, aspartame!), grab the clunky remote and read on for our very favorite movies to transport you to the neon summers of the 80's. It is highly recommended that you do this with your favorite Legally Addictive sweet and salty treat.
1. Heathers (1989): This is literally everything you could ever want from a movie. And even though it was released in the Spring of 1989, it's the perfect summer movie. The dark comedy follows Veronica, (Winona Ryder), as she navigates the dangerous social hierarchy of her high school dominated by a group of popular girls named the Heathers who befriend her but are literally the worst friends you could imagine. A red scrunchie plays a starring role. Christian Slater's dark character is terrifying and Shannen Doherty is a Heather pre-90210. One word: CORN NUTS.
2. The Breakfast Club (1985): Directed by the definitive creator of teen movies John Hughes, this iconic film follows a group of high school students from different social cliques who come together during a Saturday detention. The characters played by actors including 80's princess Molly Ringwald, Emilio Estevez, Anthony Michael Hall, Judd Nelson and Ally Sheedy were all awkward, wounded and incredibly cool in their own way. Did they or did they not stay friends after this day? Did they go back to their separate ways and walk on by in the halls of this monstrously large high school?
3. Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986): Another John Hughes teen classic, this comedy centers around Ferris Bueller, a charismatic high school student who decides to skip school and have an epic adventure in Chicago and drags his best friend Cam (Connor Roy from Succession!) and his girlfriend along. Does anyone know who exactly the sausage king of Chicago was?
4. Say Anything... (1989): This romantic comedy-drama tells the story of an underachieving high school student named Lloyd Dobler, played by John Cusack, who falls in love with a valedictorian named Diane Court, (Ione Skye.) The film has one scene that's been recreated a million times by lovesick men who own boom boxes around the world. Also, Lloyd was right about kickboxing.
5. Sixteen Candles (1984): Directed by John Hughes, this comedy focuses on Samantha Baker, played by Molly Ringwald (again!), whose birthday is overshadowed by her sister's wedding. Samantha has to suffer numerous humiliations including no one remembering her 16th birthday. Her consolation prize was a hot guy named Jake played by an actor no one ever saw again.
6. Pretty in Pink (1986): Yet another John Hughes film (busy man!), this romantic comedy-drama centers around Andie Walsh, (Molly Ringwald again!) a teen from a working class family falls for a wealthy classmate who has an evil bestie (James Spader). There are tons of themes in this movie (class, being true to yourself and friendship) and the star ultimately becomes a pink prom dress that Andie herself makes. The soundtrack on its own is a masterpiece and the movie is a definitive classic. And if you are as deeply into Pretty in Pink as we are, you'l definitely want to read this article sharing 25 secrets about the film.
