# Teen movies you (secretly or out of the closet) do like. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 8, 2002, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teen-movies-you-secretly-or-out-of-the-closet-do-like/117897 "2002-07-08T12:59:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![belladonna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9fc29f/32.png) [@belladonna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/belladonna)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2002, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teen-movies-you-secretly-or-out-of-the-closet-do-like/117897/21 "2002-07-08T20:09:25Z")
I’ll second “Can’t Hardly Wait”, Seth Green’s clueless white boy role **made** that movie. But my all time favorite teen movie is–and will always be–“Heathers”. Lick it up, baby. Lick it up. bella ---
**Author:** ![SmackFu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/53a042/32.png) [@SmackFu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmackFu)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2002, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teen-movies-you-secretly-or-out-of-the-closet-do-like/117897/22 "2002-07-08T20:10:45Z")
I like _Can’t Hardly Wait_, except for the stupid stuff with Jenna Elfman. I just saw _She’s All That_ for the first time this weekend, and was pleasantly surprised at some of the smaller jokes. Like the father answering along with Jeopardy, and other stuff like that. Good stuff there. ---
**Author:** ![islandgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/8491ac/32.png) [@islandgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/islandgirl)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2002, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teen-movies-you-secretly-or-out-of-the-closet-do-like/117897/23 "2002-07-08T22:19:28Z")
These are the only ones I can think of right now: _American Pie 1 & 2 Road Trip I Know What You Did Last Summer Legally Blonde Real Genius 10 Things I Hate About You Clueless The Breakfast Club Scream Final Destination Idle Hand Urban Legend_ ---
**Author:** ![dantheman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dantheman/32/9421_2.png) [@dantheman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dantheman)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2002, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teen-movies-you-secretly-or-out-of-the-closet-do-like/117897/24 "2002-07-08T23:20:34Z")
**Clueless** was one of the worst films of the year. 🙂 And there’s a lot on these lists that are college-age films - not what I consider to be ‘teen’ years. Aren’t the teen years mostly in the high school years? Sure, you’re usually a freshman as a teen, and maybe a sophomore, but the bulk of your teen years are in high school. Which is why I didn’t include **Road Trip** (but shouldn’t have, with this logic, included **American Pie 2** , which is set in college). ---
**Author:** ![Squish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8797f3/32.png) [@Squish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squish)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2002, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teen-movies-you-secretly-or-out-of-the-closet-do-like/117897/25 "2002-07-09T01:08:45Z")
**Real Genius** : screamingly gorgeous Val Kilmer being cynical and slackerly. I love it. ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2002, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teen-movies-you-secretly-or-out-of-the-closet-do-like/117897/26 "2002-07-09T01:26:55Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by dantheman \* > And there’s a lot on these lists that are college-age films - not what I consider to be ‘teen’ years. Aren’t the teen years mostly in the high school years? Sure, you’re usually a freshman as a teen, and maybe a sophomore, but the bulk of your teen years are in high school. Which is why I didn’t include **Road Trip** (but shouldn’t have, with this logic, included **American Pie 2** , which is set in college). \*\* Yes, I think you may have a point. The standard “teen comedy” format usually involves a bunch of high schoolers in their senior year. There is usually some combination of the following: Nice Guy\Preppy Girl, Asshole Jock\Hot Bitch, Angst Guy\Bitter Girl, Keg Man, Party Girl, Geek Boy\Nerd Girl, Stoner Dude\Clueless Girl, Smooth Operator\Superhot Chick, a couple of underclassman and Returning Alumni Man. Pretty much all the highschool stereotypes. There will be some run-ins with bullies, some romantic entanglements, and other assorted random wackiness. The entire movie will either take place at or lead up to the high school prom or some end of school blow-out party. Adults are never seen except for small “what are you wacky kids up to?” roles. In contrast, the “college movie” (Road Trip, PCU, Animal House etc) has pretty much the same characters except that its usually a group of mostly guys who would just be off having fun if it wasn’t for that mean old dean/professor and that rival fraternity. And there is often a road trip. ---
**Author:** ![Mockingbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c68b51/32.png) [@Mockingbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mockingbird)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2002, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teen-movies-you-secretly-or-out-of-the-closet-do-like/117897/27 "2002-07-09T02:07:47Z")
No one adores Pretty In Pink? ---
**Author:** ![SkipMagic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skipmagic/32/20706_2.png) [@SkipMagic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SkipMagic)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2002, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teen-movies-you-secretly-or-out-of-the-closet-do-like/117897/28 "2002-07-09T02:34:49Z")
_Pretty In Pink_ was on when I walked in the door today. I tuned in to see Long Duck Dong drop his head under the bed. Yeah, yeah. Double-entendres and everything. Anyway, due to several favorable mentions of _Ten Things I Hate About You_, I went and rented it tonight. Great movie! Frickin’ Hilarious! I only wish it had been around when I was a teen. And, by the way, I think Allison Janney as the counselor had the best role in the entire movie. “Quivering member. I like that!” ---
**Author:** ![agentfroot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/779978/32.png) [@agentfroot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/agentfroot)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2002, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teen-movies-you-secretly-or-out-of-the-closet-do-like/117897/29 "2002-07-09T03:25:12Z")
i love “american pie” 1 and 2 and “dude, where’s my car?” i’m just a comedy fan. of course, i’m still legally a teen (at least until may), but i’m not a conventional one 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![mkmiller99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b9e5f3/32.png) [@mkmiller99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mkmiller99)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2002, 6:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teen-movies-you-secretly-or-out-of-the-closet-do-like/117897/30 "2002-07-09T06:11:10Z")
How about: **Jawbreaker** - Rose McGowan **Don’t Tell Mom, the Babysitter’s Dead** - Christina Applegate **Election** - Reese Witherspoon, Chris Klein **Bring It On** - Kirsten Dunst **Fear** - (does this count?) Mark Wahlberg, Reese Witherspoon **The Outsiders** - Matt Dillon **Meatballs** - Bill Murray **Little Darlings** - Tatum O’Neal, Kristy McNichol **The Flamingo Kid** - Matt Dillon **Tex** - Matt Dillon Have I aged myself yet or what!! Most of these are in my VCR library, and most of them have been in said collection for a while. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2002, 6:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teen-movies-you-secretly-or-out-of-the-closet-do-like/117897/31 "2002-07-09T06:34:46Z")
Can’t believe no one’s mentioned **Breaking Away**. How I ended up renting this, given the box pcture, I’ll never know, but I was very fortunate to see **Dick** , about two teenage girls who manage to bring down the Nixon Administration. ---
**Author:** ![leechbabe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7cd45c/32.png) [@leechbabe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leechbabe)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2002, 7:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teen-movies-you-secretly-or-out-of-the-closet-do-like/117897/32 "2002-07-09T07:15:34Z")
In no particular order: Footloose Heathers Pump Up the Volume Pretty In Pink Clueless Bring It On Breakfast Club ---
**Author:** ![Linus\_Van\_Pelt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ebca7d/32.png) [@Linus\_Van\_Pelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Linus_Van_Pelt)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2002, 8:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teen-movies-you-secretly-or-out-of-the-closet-do-like/117897/33 "2002-07-09T08:26:27Z")
Well, it depends on which defenition of “Teen Movie” you use. If it’s one primarily _about_ teens or one primarily _for_ teens. Of course, many are both. **SkipMagic** , you’re confusing **Pretty in Pink** with **Sixteen Candles**. Not too surprising since they both starred Molly Ringwald. I’ll have to add my vote to **Better off Dead** and **The Sure Thing**. **Real Genius** was lots of fun as well. Don’t forget (for those who say it doesn’t count) that although Chris (Val Kilmer’s character) may not have been a teen, the protagonist, Mitch, most definately was a teen. **Heathers**. Although it was about teens, I don’t know if I would classify that as a teen movie. It is a wicked dark comedy though. There’s another one that actually isn’t bad (which I remember because it was on cable over the weekend) - **Just One of the Guys**. It’s mostly memorable for Buddy, the obnoxious younger brother, and the fact that the actress who played Terry did a good enough job that you occasionally forget that she’s not a boy. Oh, and another vote for **Meatballs** Classic Bill Murray. [Better off Dead] “Go that way, really fast. If something gets in your way, turn!” [/Better off Dead] ---
**Author:** ![dantheman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dantheman/32/9421_2.png) [@dantheman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dantheman)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2002, 10:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teen-movies-you-secretly-or-out-of-the-closet-do-like/117897/34 "2002-07-09T10:28:47Z")
YES! **Election**! Great choice! [Better off Dead] I want my two dollars!!! [/Better off Dead] ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2002, 12:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teen-movies-you-secretly-or-out-of-the-closet-do-like/117897/35 "2002-07-09T12:34:08Z")
\*\*Emma \*\* either teen-ish version. (Paltrow or Beckinsale, though Beckinsale’s male counterpart was far more yummier.) Anything by \*\*John Hughes \*\* \*\*Risky Business \*\* “Joel, get off the babysitter!” ---
**Author:** ![SkipMagic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skipmagic/32/20706_2.png) [@SkipMagic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SkipMagic)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2002, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teen-movies-you-secretly-or-out-of-the-closet-do-like/117897/36 "2002-07-09T13:34:31Z")
> [@](#): > > _Originally posted by Linus Van Pelt \* > **SkipMagic** , you’re confusing **Pretty in Pink** with **Sixteen Candles**. Not too surprising since they both starred Molly Ringwald._\* Heh. Um…yep. Thanks, **Linus**! _Pretty in Pink_ had Jon Cryer as Duckie; between the two, I prefer _Sixteen Candles_. Has anyone mentioned _My Bodyguard_ or _Hiding Out_? And, although it’s not necessarily a “teen” movie, _My Chauffeur_? ---
**Author:** ![Squish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8797f3/32.png) [@Squish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squish)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2002, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teen-movies-you-secretly-or-out-of-the-closet-do-like/117897/37 "2002-07-09T17:01:13Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Linus Van Pelt \* > \*\ ***Real Genius** was lots of fun as well. Don’t forget (for those who say it doesn’t count) that although Chris (Val Kilmer’s character) may not have been a teen, the protagonist, Mitch, most definately was a teen. \*\* Yep. I loved the girl who couldn’t sleep and the guy going through Mitch’s closet to get to his secret living quarters. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![dantheman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dantheman/32/9421_2.png) [@dantheman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dantheman)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2002, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teen-movies-you-secretly-or-out-of-the-closet-do-like/117897/38 "2002-07-09T17:35:36Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by SkipMagic \* > \*\*Has anyone mentioned _My Bodyguard_ or _Hiding Out_? And, although it’s not necessarily a “teen” movie, _My Chauffeur_? \*\* My Bodyguard was the one with Matt Dillon as the bodyguard, right? And Hiding Out was the one in which Jon Cryer had the goofy streak in his hair, right? ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2002, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teen-movies-you-secretly-or-out-of-the-closet-do-like/117897/39 "2002-07-09T18:00:13Z")
How about these Kid n’ Play classics: Class Act - High school hood and brain have to trade places with hilarious results House Party - Kid N Play, Martin Lawrance, that funny black father from every rap video and movie. What more could you ask for? For fans of more “serious” teen fare: School Ties - Brandon Frasier struggles with anti-semitism as a 6’4" 250 lb star football playing steelmill-town Jew getting picked on by little Matt Damon and his geeky prep-school friends. Kind of “The Outsiders” for a lot of this generation of young actors. And no one has mentioned the original Buffy the Vampire Slayer with Kristy Swanson and Luke Perry? ---
**Author:** ![Jadis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/87869e/32.png) [@Jadis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jadis)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2002, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teen-movies-you-secretly-or-out-of-the-closet-do-like/117897/40 "2002-07-10T03:00:36Z")
I’m gonna have to put my vote in here for **Can’t Buy Me Love**. I swear, the whole African Anteater Ritual setup was one of the most hilarious things I’ve ever seen. It’s been 15 years and it still makes me laugh. 😃 Weird, though…for how much I loved that movie, I don’t think any of the people in it wound up famous. Am I wrong? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teen-movies-you-secretly-or-out-of-the-closet-do-like/117897.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teen-movies-you-secretly-or-out-of-the-closet-do-like/117897.md?page=3)