A good film about teenage life can be fun, funny, dramatic, and soulful, with some even using the horror genre to capture the "horrors" of being a teen. To capture the angst and tribulations of being a teenager isn't always easy or successful, as films are made by adults. But there are many that have captured that spark of what it means to be on that precipice of adulthood, yet still considered a kid.
Films as varied as Risky Business, Summer of 42, Pretty in Pink and Fame are examples of films that successfully give insight into the life of the American teenager. What made films like these special (aside from their screenplays) was their perfect casting.
Sixteen Candles (1984)
In the annals of teen cinema, John Hughes stands tall as the one filmmaker who perfectly tapped into the culture of teenagers in the 1980s. It all began with 1994's Sixteen Candles, the story of a teenage girl (Molly Ringwald) who realizes that her family has forgotten her Sweet Sixteen birthday.
Hughes filled his enormous cast with pros such as Paul Dooley and Carlin Glynn and a bevy of newcomers, including Michael Schoeffling, John and Joan Cusack, Geddy Watanabe, and of course, Anthony Michael Hall. The film was a critical and financial success and the ensemble cast played a big part.
Cooley High (1975)
As good a film as any on this list, Michael Pressman's Cooley High is a wonderful film about four good friends and high school seniors in 1964 Chicago. The film is full of great characters and its cast of unknowns (at the time) brought realism to their roles.
Glynn Turman, Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs, Garret Morris, and many more made this film something quite special. Critics and audiences agreed, as Cooley High was a hit at the box office and has gone down as one of the most beloved films of the 70s and an honest portrayal of Black life in America.
The Outsiders (1983)
Francis Ford Coppola's 1983 adaptation of S.E. Hinton's beloved novel The Outsiders received mixed reviews from critics, but was a financial success and became a classic film that captured the attention of teen audiences.
One of the reasons for the film's popularity was its impeccable ensemble cast. As he did in The Godfather, Coppola had an eye for untapped talent. The director cast his ensemble with future stars such as Matt Dillon, Diane Lane, Ralph Macchio, Emilio Estevez, Rob Lowe, Patrick Swayze, and a fairly unknown actor named Tom Cruise.
Dazed And Confused (1993)
Richard Linklater made a name for himself with his 1990 ultra-indie film Slacker. Because of his unique style of putting together a fluid ensemble cast of unknowns and making it work, he found studio backing and a higher budget for his sophomore effort, 1993's Dazed and Confused, the 70s-set story of small-town teenagers on the last day of school as summer begins.
The film made a small profit in cinemas but became a cult success once it hit home video. Linklater's skill at handling a big cast led to star-making turns from unknowns such as Renee Zellwegger, Parker Posey, Mila Jovovich, Cole Hauser, Ben Affleck, and Matthew McConaughey. While not all of the film's cast would go on to such high stardom, every performance was praised, especially from a young Wiley Wiggins and Sasha Jensen.
Rebel Without A Cause (1955)
One of the most beloved films of its era and the film that brought James Dean into film history, Nicholas Ray's 1955 classic Rebel Without a Cause is, perhaps, the ultimate tale of teen angst and it cast is one of the best ever assembled.
Dean, Natalie Wood, Sal Mineo, Dennis Hopper, and "Mr. Howell" himself Jim Backus grounded the film and gave life to the tale of rebellious teens finding their voice.
Fast Times At Ridgemont High (1982)
One of the most popular teen films of all time is Amy Heckerling's Fast Times at Ridgemont High. The film was enormously popular and most critics agreed that it was fun and well-acted.
Heckerling assembled a cast of enormous talent that included Jennifer Jason-Leigh, Judge Reinhold, Phoebe Cates, Robert Romanus, Eric Stoltz, Anthony Edwards, Ray Walston, and a star-making turn from Sean Penn. The cast was a major factor in the film's place in pop culture and its enduring popularity.
The Breakfast Club (1985)
John Hughes struck gold again with 1985's The Breakfast Club, the story of five high schoolers who spend their Saturday in detention together, each one representing a faction of teen society.
Judd Nelson, Emilio Estevez, Molly Ringwald, Anthony Michael Hall, and Ally Sheedy would go on to represent their generations, becoming some of the biggest stars of the 80s.
Breaking Away (1979)
Peter Yates was famous for directing classic crime films, such as Steve McQueen's Bullitt and The Friends of Eddie Coyle. When he signed on to direct the tale of four friends in their late teens trying to figure out what to do with their lives, it was a big stretch. The gamble paid off, as 1979's Breaking Away became a box office and critical success that was nominated for multiple Oscars, winning Best Original Screenplay.
The friends were played by Dennis Christopher, Jackie Earle Haley, Daniel Stern, and Dennis Quaid with Oscar Nominated Barbara Barrie as Christopher's mother and Paul Dooley stealing the film as Christopher's father. The cast became stars and the film became one of the most respected films about small-town teenage life.
American Graffitti (1973)
George Lucas solidified his place in teen cinema history with 1973's American Graffiti. Set in 1962, Lucas assembled a classic cast to give life to his story of teenagers going off into adulthood after graduating from high school.
With a cast that included Richard Dreyfuss, Cindy Williams, Ron Howard, Harrison Ford, Bo Hopkins, Paul Le Mat, Mackenzie Phillips, and more, the film is considered one of the classics of the 1970s.
The Last Picture Show (1971)
Peter Bogdonavich's 1971 classic The Last Picture Show rightfully won Oscars for Ben Johnson and Cloris Leachman and was nominated for several more including Best Picture. The cast included film debuts from Jeff Bridges, Timothy and Sam Bottoms, and Cybil Shepard and also featured Ellen Burstyn and Randy Quaid.
Bogdonavich's black and white film about teens navigating sex, life, and their future in a small Texas town circa 1951 is widely noted as being one of the great American films.