List of Teen Films

November 8, 2005 1:28 PM

Teen Films of the last 50 years or so...

I have a co-worker that is doing a photo project with her students about how teenagers are represented in film. She is looking for a list of films from the 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s, and 90s.

The films do not have to be created in the decade that they are set. For example, The Outsiders was made in the 80s but is set in the 50s. So that means she wants it listed as a 50s teen film.
We have found several websites but I am looking for personal suggestions. Help a teacher out... won't cha?

posted by nimsey lou to media & arts (49 comments total)

Blackboard Jungle
Breakfast Club

...off the top of my head.
posted by Heminator at 1:40 PM on November 8, 2005

Say Anything
Weird Science
Rudy
posted by tristeza at 1:43 PM on November 8, 2005

The two greatest teen films of the '80s (imo, of course): Ferris Bueller's Day Off and Better Off Dead. None better! None!
posted by scody at 1:43 PM on November 8, 2005

Rebel without a Cause
Hairspray (and Crybaby for that matter)
To Sir with Love

...just a couple off my head
posted by Pollomacho at 1:44 PM on November 8, 2005

http://us.imdb.com/List?year=1950-1960&&keywords=teen

etc...
posted by benzo8 at 1:44 PM on November 8, 2005

Here are some from my youth:

River's Edge
Breakfast Club
Concrete Jungle
American Graffiti
Mean Creek
Pretty in Pink
16 Candles
Kids
Halloween
Friday the Thirteenth
(any horror movie really)
Last American Virgin
Fast Times at Ridgemont High
For Keeps? (Molly Ringwald has a baby)
TAPS
Ordinary People
Grease
Fame
posted by captainscared at 1:44 PM on November 8, 2005

60s: Harold and Maude.
80s: Breakfast Club.
90s: Heathers.

(05's Thumbsucker)
posted by holloway at 1:45 PM on November 8, 2005

Oh, and Quadrophenia is my fave movie about kids in the '60s, but it's exclusively about British teens, so that may not work for your purposes.
posted by scody at 1:46 PM on November 8, 2005

Rushmore.
The Dangerous Lives of Altar Boys.
Donnie Darko.
posted by gaspode at 1:50 PM on November 8, 2005

Kids.
My Own Private Idaho.
Jerry.
Elephant.
Ghost World.
Carrie.
posted by signal at 1:54 PM on November 8, 2005

Back To the Future does double duty, with both the 50s and the 80s represented.
posted by boomchicka at 1:56 PM on November 8, 2005

School Days
Mona Lisa Smile
posted by nakedcodemonkey at 1:57 PM on November 8, 2005

Little Darlings
posted by nakedcodemonkey at 1:58 PM on November 8, 2005

Dazed and Confused.
posted by lilnemo at 2:00 PM on November 8, 2005

Are the Goonies teens or pre-teens?
Clueless
Permanent Record
posted by amarynth at 2:02 PM on November 8, 2005

Also lots of good stuff in the best high school movies thread.
posted by tangerine at 2:03 PM on November 8, 2005

Rudy

... works in a factory for at least a few years after high school and before going to college; he's in his twenties for the bulk of the movie. In fact, in an early scene in the factory his friend gives him a cupcake with a candle and wishes him a happy twenty-somethingth birthday. Sorry to nitpick; I wouldn't have remembered it myself except I just watched it a few days ago.

Many, but not all of these suggestions are from the "inspiring teacher/coach" subgenre:

Mr. Holland's Opus
Dangerous Minds
Dead Poets' Society
Remember the Titans
Hoosiers
Clueless
Varsity Blues

Oh, and I don't know if your coworker is interested in parodies, but if so, among the many out there I like Not Another Teen Movie, which does an above-average job of skewering many of the teen movie cliches.
posted by DevilsAdvocate at 2:06 PM on November 8, 2005

Seconding "Rushmore".
posted by holloway at 2:06 PM on November 8, 2005

Is The Outsiders "set in the 50s"?
posted by AmbroseChapel at 2:11 PM on November 8, 2005

Lucas
Freaky Friday (the Jodie Foster one)

If they want to get into the 00's:
Ginger Snaps
Mean Girls
Freaky Friday (the Lindsey Lohan one)
posted by amarynth at 2:12 PM on November 8, 2005

90s: Beautiful Thing
posted by mumble at 2:15 PM on November 8, 2005

Igby goes down.
posted by gaspode at 2:15 PM on November 8, 2005

Is The Outsiders "set in the 50s"?

The mid-60's. the book mentions the Beatles and Them's "Gloria," is played in the movie.

As far as films: American Graffitti, Dazed & Confused, River's Edge, Bad Boys, The Wanderers, Say Anything, Teachers, Rebel Without A Cause...
posted by jonmc at 2:24 PM on November 8, 2005

Teenagers From Outer Space

Warning: Contains very old teenagers.
posted by Captain_Tenille at 2:24 PM on November 8, 2005

"Splendor in the Grass" is just about the perfect movie for your purposes, I think: about teenagers, their romantic and sometimes sexual lives, how they're treated by their parents, and how false notions of the way the world works are perpetuated.
posted by koeselitz at 2:32 PM on November 8, 2005

Mean Girls (!)
The Last Starfighter.
Reckless.
posted by signal at 2:33 PM on November 8, 2005

Pump Up The Volume

If the '00s count, Mean Girls
posted by nakedcodemonkey at 2:33 PM on November 8, 2005

Heathers was released in '89, so I'd consider it more 80s than 90s.

For the 90s, I'd go with Can't Hardly Wait.
posted by jrossi4r at 2:34 PM on November 8, 2005

Peyton Place

(How old are they supposed to be in A Place In The Sun?)
posted by nakedcodemonkey at 2:37 PM on November 8, 2005

License to drive.
posted by fire&wings at 2:59 PM on November 8, 2005

Stand by Me
Lean on Me
posted by BoscosMom at 3:08 PM on November 8, 2005

This Boy's Life
posted by essexjan at 3:08 PM on November 8, 2005

Empire Records
posted by hopeless romantique at 4:02 PM on November 8, 2005

The Virgin Suicides
Boys
posted by nakedcodemonkey at 4:54 PM on November 8, 2005

Late '70s/Early '80s:
Rock 'n' Roll High School ("Do your parents KNOW you're Ramones?")
Valley Girl
posted by Opposite George at 4:58 PM on November 8, 2005

How about Election... Rumble Fish and Diner - though not sure they were meant to be teens in the last 2 - youngsters to this old git though.
posted by selton at 5:06 PM on November 8, 2005

...and representing for the queer kids in the house...

The Incredibly True Adventure of Two Girls in Love
Mysterious Skin
But I'm A Cheerleader
Boys Don't Cry
All Over Me
Lost & Delirious
The Children's Hour
posted by nakedcodemonkey at 5:18 PM on November 8, 2005

Ten Things I Hate About You
She's All That
posted by birgitte at 5:54 PM on November 8, 2005

Boogie Nights, partly
The Inkwell
Love & Basketball
posted by nakedcodemonkey at 7:00 PM on November 8, 2005

The Blob (1958)
posted by SPrintF at 7:29 PM on November 8, 2005

Tadpole (90's?)
posted by hototogisu at 8:36 PM on November 8, 2005

Welcome to the Dollhouse, definitely.
posted by smartypanties at 8:56 PM on November 8, 2005

More dancing should be represented. I see Grease listed. How about...Rize, Beat Street, Breakin', Footloose?
posted by smartypanties at 9:05 PM on November 8, 2005

Save The Last Dance
Dirty Dancing
West Side Story
Romeo + Juliet
posted by nakedcodemonkey at 10:06 PM on November 8, 2005

Foxfire (90s)
Streetwise (80s)
Where The Day Takes You (90s)
Christiane F.* (80s; German)
Small Faces (Not sure which decade; UK)
Shopping (90s)

*Also known by several other titles.
posted by Clay201 at 1:40 AM on November 9, 2005

You all ROCK... I will send these along. I am sure that she can use them!!
posted by nimsey lou at 4:51 AM on November 9, 2005

Better Off Dead is a classic.
posted by OmieWise at 6:59 AM on November 9, 2005

The Night Of The Comet
posted by Makebusy7 at 8:39 AM on November 9, 2005

House Party
Cooley High
Remember the Titans
Coach Carter
Lean on Me
Red Dawn
Cornbread Earl and Me
Love and Basketball
The Wood
posted by nooneyouknow at 8:50 AM on November 9, 2005