10 Best Coming-of-Age Movies of the 1980s

The 1980s was a time overwhelmed by the coming-of-age genre, Producing some of the best youth movies of all time. This includes the best brat pack movies, the beginning of the Disney renaissance, and the adventures of the intrepid underage band of friends. With the rise of many young stars and the idea of ​​helicopter parents still in the future, youth flourishes in cinema, exploring questions about the moment between childhood / tandem and adulthood.

The genre primarily revolves around high school, but also includes some of the best college movies, illustrating the uncertainty of being solely responsible for yourself. There’s also a lot of overlap with the best underdog movies, viz Some fictional teens symbolically come of age as they learn to believe in themselves. Themes of family and friendship and tragedy are also prevalent when all are important to a young person discovering their identity.

10

Say Something (1989)

Say something commendable to take a chance after one amazing summer

Say something Claims one of those movie moments that everyone will recognize, even if they haven’t actually seen the movie. Lloyd’s bold declaration of love may be the most famous part of the movie, but it’s only a piece of the bigger picture. Say something It achieves something almost magical in how it captures a brief, life-changing transition period In Lloyd and Diane’s life.

During the summer between graduating and leaving for college, Diane falls in love, learns an upsetting truth about her upbringing, and launches into a new life. Say something Showing a lot of consideration and confusion during this time before Diane and Lloyd decide to just go for it, That is sometimes all that can be done.

Despite the sad revelations about Diane’s father, Say something Ends hopefully, both for love and for Diane’s educational prospects. Lloyd’s fearlessness, which motivates him to keep a boombox outside Diane’s window, is the underlining point, because he is one of the few people who would have gone to London with Diane one more summer, just to support her after the upset in her Family.

9

The Karate Kid (1984)

Daniel LaRusso teaches trust, confidence and karate

like Cobra Kai Ending with season 6 after its stellar run, people could return to the inspirational movie that started it all. The original The Karate Kid Exhibits themes of class, bullying, trust in teachers and self-empowerment. Daniel LaRusso gets no lucky breaks as the bullied new kid in an unforgiving high school environment. The Karate Kid delves into some important depictions of power, Showcasing a comparison between people who will executive dominance just because they can and those who help others.

Johnny Lawrence and his gang miss no chance to beat Daniel until the mysterious Mr. Miyagi reaches out to help. From him, the nervous protagonist learns about being rewarded for hard work and a certain amount of faith. The Karate Kid is a classic underdog movie, With some strong beats about cruelty and prejudice. Like all good movies of its type, Daniel wins the competition and walks away confident in himself.

8

The Breakfast Club (1985)

Five teenagers reflect on life and labels during a monumental arrest

The Breakfast Club remains the most famous of the Brat Pak movies, Accomplishing something similar to Say something By showing how much can happen in a short time. But, while Say something had a whole summer, The Breakfast Club Has the span of a single hold. John Hughes leveraged five high school stereotypes—ones their respective actors became known for playing during the Brat Pack era—to comment on the high school experience itself.

Within a few hours, the teenagers discuss clique life, unbearable pressure, abuse at home, and how they feel about what everyone thinks of them. This is carefully emphasized by how the teacher supervising detention looks down on them, And they take it upon themselves to pass the time with some fun acts of rebellion. The Breakfast ClubS’s famous endless showcases as, in this short time, they are what the others needed to disavow the adult world before they enter it themselves, go their separate ways changed forever.

7

Dead Poets Society (1989)

John Keating’s teachings stay with his students through joy and tragedy

Dead Poets Society revolves around Robin Williams’ character rather than any of the young men, But vividly shows how his classes change their lives. Dead Poets Society Makes two very important points: how a good teacher or mentor can inspire a young person to live their life differently, and how a painful event can be the defining point of their age. The students in this movie will remember the ideas about art and passion that took hold in their minds at this time, but also how the conflicting opinions of one friend’s parents led to tragedy.

Williams performance in Dead Poets Society In particular, he captures the audience, convincing them in his philosophy. His teachings and the reception of the students bring to life the pulsating poetry they learn, and naturally become other forms of artistic exploration and rebellion against a stratified social environment. In addition to fostering a greater appreciation for Walt Whitman, Dead Poets Society shows art and literature as something vital to adulthood; When things only get more difficult, a point only proven by the events of the movie, appreciating beauty is more important than ever.

6

Heathers (1988)

Winona Ryder’s dark high school crime drama with too many girls named Heather

Heathers is a darker take on the coming-of-age experience that has something of a confusing open ending, demanding that the audience make up their own minds about what it all means. The movie treads sensitive ground and potential reboots have been shot down for this reason. Of the things about Heathers Those that hold up and those that don’t, Winona Ryder and Christian Slater’s performances are still great. Heathers Deliberately satirized high school as the backdrop to Veronica and JD Decided that the world would be better without some of their classmates.

Veronica and JD are out of control, but amidst all her teenage angst gone wild, Veronica makes some valid points about giving up real friendships for alleged popularity in high school. As the beginning of everything, JD’s destructive outlook on their lives and their peers goes too far, but improves the movie with the muddled intrigue. Veronica ends Heathers By growing out of the toxic social environment And choosing her friends more wisely in the future.

5

Dirty Dancing (1987)

Baby learn to think and dance for himself during summer vacation

in dirty dancings depiction of classism and an unplanned pregnancy, It showcases baby hitting one of the most important parts of adulthood: being able to think for yourself Instead of accepting everything her family says without question. The movie is also inherently characterized by its title and the sensuality and cooperation of ballroom dancing. ;

Baby may technically be an adult, soon headed to college, but she’s very sheltered. You don’t fail to think of the appropriate nickname, baby. Despite her respectful formal name. She may have even started her rebellion by doing things she thought her parents would approve of, like stepping up to help Penny.

However, it is the dancing that gives this scenario a sense of the forbidden, one that Baby throws herself into. In a moment of clarity, she realizes how wrong she was about her parents and admirably stands her ground. dirty dancing Arguably resolves itself too easily with one good dance number, however Johnny sums it all up when he talks about why “french” taught him.

4

Kiki’s Delivery Service (1989)

Studio Ghibli promotes the coming-of-age genre with its characteristic style

In an era dominated by brat packs, goonies and movies of similar tones, People will forget that Studio Ghibli came out with one of the most underrated movies of the end of the decade, which happens to be a coming-of-age movie. in Kiki’s delivery serviceA young witch comes of age and leaves her family to make her own way in the world. She is accompanied by her cat acquaintance Jiji, and soon makes new friends who introduce her to other perspectives on life, passion and growing up.

Kiki’s delivery service Has a more genuinely pleasant atmosphere than the most melancholic Ghibli movies, encouraging the audience as well as Kiki. It features a resonant depiction of artist’s block and doldrums throughout Kiki’s life, Striking a note with the kind of worldliness that sometimes characterizes adulthood. Through her new friendships, Kiki finds inspiration again and emerges different, but happy with her new life. Kiki is a spirited protagonist who teaches more effective lessons than characters from traditional adult movies.

3

The Outsiders (1983)

The Outsiders is a powerful adaptation that reminds everyone to “Stay Gold”

The aliens is as good an adaptation of the classic coming-of-age novel as fans could have hoped for, driven by the performances of some of the fringe Brat Pack members. The story is dominated by the rivalry between the rich “sox” and the working class “fatter,” leading to a fight that ends tragically. Ponyboy and Johnny going on the run after killing a sock in self-defense is symptomatic of the troubled picture of their lives the story creates, What Ponyboy is learning to weather.

The aliens Underline the sadness in the lost lives, the connections that were formed out of necessity and sometimes inconvenient, and the found family of the main group. A huge part of the story is Ponyboy’s family; He lives with his two older brothers after the death of their parents, and their different personalities lead to many quarrels. In the end, Ponyboy has lost a lot of his innocence in the process of growing up, however The greatest moral of The aliens is to “Stay Gold” – In other words, to strive to maintain some hope and innocence.

2

Stand By Me (1986)

Stand By Me illustrates the lasting impact of childhood friendships

Stand by me is another coming-of-age movie that depicts a loss of innocence as the moment when childhood is left behind and is based on a famous literary work. The premise of a group of four boys who set out to find a dead body is the vehicle for larger themes. Along the way, the friends have some close calls and reflect on their lives, as well as continue to encourage Gordy’s love of storytelling. Their group dynamic facilitates a different kind of coming-of-age experience than one focused on the individual.

The events of the story are isolated, as the friends simply anonymously call in the body after their dangerous expedition. It highlights the fact that the boys did it together (no matter how ill-advised it was) and defends itself along the way as the real point of the story. They also experience the morbid moment of seeing a corpse together, however The grown-up Gordon’s famous last words are what stick, Although the friends fell out of each other’s lives.

1

St Elmo’s Fire (1985)

St. Elmo’s Fire proves that post-college is just as chaotic as high school

So much of the coming-of-age genre, including the bulk of the Brat Pack movies, portrays high school as the turning point in a young person’s life. Despite its shortcomings, St. Elmo’s Fire is an iconic 1980s notebook that uniquely depicts the post-college period as one of the most uncertain periods there is. The biggest collaboration between the main brat pack members, St. Elmo’s Fire Follows a group of college friends shortly after graduation. ;

The 20-year-olds are not mature enough to stay in their own way, with partying, infidelity and debt. A few moments in St. Elmo’s Fire Also demonstrate themes of social and family pressures on young women. The movie captures the overall feeling of the aimlessness one may experience after college. ;

There is an atmosphere of nostalgia for times when things could get better “from hand,” While subtle changes signify the characters settling into their adult lives. Like all come-of-age movies, including and especially those from the 1980s, St. Elmo’s Fire Ends on an open note – Because the adult will continue.