# 1970s : Saturday Night Fever :: 1980s: ??? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 17, 2002, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1970s-saturday-night-fever-1980s/143315 "2002-12-17T12:53:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![lucwarm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e19adc/32.png) [@lucwarm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lucwarm)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2002, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1970s-saturday-night-fever-1980s/143315/1 "2002-12-17T12:53:02Z")
I’m gonna go out on a limb and say “Back to the Future,” but please try to convince me otherwise! ---
**Author:** ![Neidhart](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Neidhart](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Neidhart)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2002, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1970s-saturday-night-fever-1980s/143315/2 "2002-12-17T12:57:22Z")
Flashdance? Footloose? Purple Rain? ---
**Author:** ![MsRobyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/90ced4/32.png) [@MsRobyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsRobyn)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2002, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1970s-saturday-night-fever-1980s/143315/3 "2002-12-17T13:24:38Z")
Any John Hughes movie. Robin ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2002, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1970s-saturday-night-fever-1980s/143315/4 "2002-12-17T13:25:13Z")
Considering that SNF didn’t come out until 1978, it’s kinda hard for me to see it as capturing the essence of the 70’s ---
**Author:** ![Legomancer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/779978/32.png) [@Legomancer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Legomancer)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2002, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1970s-saturday-night-fever-1980s/143315/5 "2002-12-17T13:28:33Z")
Breakin’ 2: Electric Boogaloo ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2002, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1970s-saturday-night-fever-1980s/143315/6 "2002-12-17T14:10:01Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by CalMeacham \* > \*\*Considering that SNF didn’t come out until 1978, it’s kinda hard for me to see it as capturing the essence of the 70’s \*\* How about **Saturday Night Fever** = late '70s and **Easy Rider** = late '60s/early '70s? **Sugarland Express** could represent the mid-'70s. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2002, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1970s-saturday-night-fever-1980s/143315/7 "2002-12-17T14:13:05Z")
> [@](#): > > Sugarland Express could represent the mid-'70s. My vote would be for _Smokey and the Bandit_ there. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2002, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1970s-saturday-night-fever-1980s/143315/8 "2002-12-17T14:37:15Z")
I think the only significant part of mid-'70s life represented in **Smokey and the Bandit** is the CB craze, something which **Convoy** does better. **Sugarland Express** represents life as a whole, sort of **Easy Rider** on a smaller scale. ---
**Author:** ![Siemsi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b19c9b/32.png) [@Siemsi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siemsi)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2002, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1970s-saturday-night-fever-1980s/143315/9 "2002-12-17T14:40:54Z")
Pretty in Pink, Breakfast Club, Fast Times at Ridgemont High… Anything Van Halen. (Pre-Sammy, and Post-Sammy-- 5150). ---
**Author:** ![BMalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@BMalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMalion)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2002, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1970s-saturday-night-fever-1980s/143315/10 "2002-12-17T14:43:38Z")
“The Rocky Horror Picture Show” Should fit in there someplace ---
**Author:** ![jk1245](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/49beb7/32.png) [@jk1245](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jk1245)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2002, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1970s-saturday-night-fever-1980s/143315/11 "2002-12-17T14:54:34Z")
Risky Business seems to me to be the quintessential 80’s movie. Breakfast Club is also a good choice ---
**Author:** ![PunditLisa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4af34b/32.png) [@PunditLisa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PunditLisa)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2002, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1970s-saturday-night-fever-1980s/143315/12 "2002-12-17T15:03:02Z")
What are you going for? Most popular movie or the movie that best depicts the time? **SNF** _depicted_ the 70’s. The hairstyles, the music, the dress. You can pop it in and groan at the fashions. **BTTF** was a popular movie, but it didn’t “do” for the 80’s what SNF did for the 70’s. The 80’s were more **Flashdance** or **Purple Rain** , with the big hair, the shoulder pads, the leg warmers, the techno music. The 90’s? **Clueless?** ---
**Author:** ![E-Sabbath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19adc/32.png) [@E-Sabbath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-Sabbath)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2002, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1970s-saturday-night-fever-1980s/143315/13 "2002-12-17T15:10:10Z")
Flashdance, Dirty Dancing, Breakin 2: Electric Boogaloo ---
**Author:** ![Morgainelf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Morgainelf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgainelf)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2002, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1970s-saturday-night-fever-1980s/143315/14 "2002-12-17T15:18:58Z")
80’s - **Valley Girl** or **Fast Times at Ridgemont High** , or possibly **Wall Street** or **Less than Zero**. ---
**Author:** ![metroshane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/aeb1de/32.png) [@metroshane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/metroshane)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2002, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1970s-saturday-night-fever-1980s/143315/15 "2002-12-17T15:39:51Z")
Urban cowboy ---
**Author:** ![armedmonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@armedmonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/armedmonkey)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2002, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1970s-saturday-night-fever-1980s/143315/16 "2002-12-17T15:53:50Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Legomancer \* > \*\*Breakin’ 2: Electric Boogaloo \*\* That’s what I was going to say! But then, I think every sequel should have “Electric Boogaloo” in the title. Consider: The Matrix 2: Electric Boogaloo The Sixth Sense 2: Electric Boogaloo The Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood 2: Electric Boogaloo. ---
**Author:** ![Raymond\_Luxury\_Yacht](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/raymond_luxury_yacht/32/4099_2.png) [@Raymond\_Luxury\_Yacht](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raymond_Luxury_Yacht)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2002, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1970s-saturday-night-fever-1980s/143315/17 "2002-12-17T16:05:38Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by CalMeacham \* > \*\*Considering that SNF didn’t come out until 1978, it’s kinda hard for me to see it as capturing the essence of the 70’s \*\* **Cal** , that depends on how you feel about [this topic](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=149962). Does a movie even have to come out in it’s own decade in order to capture a feel for the time? Did _American Graffitti_ capture the essence of the late 50’s/early 60’s? What about these? _Diner_ _Dazed and Confused_ _The Virgin Suicides_ _Dick_ _Stand By Me_ _Radio Days_ There are obviously many more. As for the 80’s a vote here for _ferris Bueller’s Day Off_ Anyone? Anyone? ---
**Author:** ![elf6c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c57346/32.png) [@elf6c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elf6c)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2002, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1970s-saturday-night-fever-1980s/143315/18 "2002-12-17T16:09:03Z")
**Breakfast Club** ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2002, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1970s-saturday-night-fever-1980s/143315/19 "2002-12-17T16:29:29Z")
I agree with **Beeblebrox** , but you’ve got to get the em_pha_sis on the right syl_lab_le. > [@](#): > > The Matrix 2: _Electric_ Boogaloo > The Sixth Sense 2: Electric _Boo_galoo > The Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood 2: Electric Boo_gal_oo ---
**Author:** ![Oblong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/c0e974/32.png) [@Oblong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oblong)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2002, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1970s-saturday-night-fever-1980s/143315/20 "2002-12-17T17:09:21Z")
Didn’t we just go over this? I don’t really mind, just being nitpicky. I"d throw Red Dawn in there, just to sum up the Cold War fears. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1970s-saturday-night-fever-1980s/143315.md?page=2)