Movies are a great way to open dialogue with your teenager, all while having some fun sitting in the dark. Even if your kids aren't into a post-movie roundtable discussion wherein you deconstruct themes and survey a literary analysis of the film's overarching imagery, they still make a great springboard for talk. (Seriously; teenagers are like, no fun these days.)
Go ahead and arrange a sleep-over for any littles in the house, whip up your teen's favorite treats, and settle in for some quality movie time this weekend. Or why not make it a weekly date? Bookmark this list for reference and work your way through it because there is something for everyone here — some of the movies on this list are fun, some are serious, and some are just plain nuts (I'm looking at you, Donnie Darko). Having teenage kids presents a new set of parenting challenges, but one thing that I've found satisfying about life after 13 is the fact that I no longer have to watch brain-melting drivel. Take advantage of the great movie viewing the teenage years presents, and say good-bye to emergency cyanide capsules in your purse at screenings of "Yogi Bear."
Let's do this!
1986
Themes/Message: Unrequited love; thrift shop shopping is just plain smart.
Synopsis: Boy likes girl, but girl likes other boy who has jerk for best friend; boy #1 must learn to accept sorta-jerk boy who girl likes while serious-jerk boy gets eaten by bear, all against a backdrop of fabulous thrift shop clothes and record "albums." (The bear part is a secret ending I made up just now but would like to see implemented if anyone has some rad Photoshop video editing skills.)
When to watch: In the weeks leading up to prom.
1976
Theme/Message: Do not piss off the odd girl.
Synopsis: SORRY HANDS ARE OVER EYES CAN'T TALK ABOUT IT
When to watch: Anytime, except perhaps not the week before prom.
1975
Theme/Message: Racism; don't cut classes
Synopsis: An amazing movie which, thanks to iTunes, can now be seen, because goodness knows Blockbuster carried shit when it came to classic films. This movie is set in a Chicago high school in 1964, and not only is the acting superb, but the soundtrack? Good god the soundtrack GO TO ITUNES RIGHT NOW AND BUY.
Cooley High is like "Ferris Bueller" in that it all starts with cutting class to spend the day at the Zoo, but takes a sharp left somewhere around car-jacking, murder, and prison time. No one has a great parade float musical number about that day. Fun fact: Cooley High provided the basis for What's Happening! the TV show. Yeah; seriously.
When to watch: If your kids ever say "things were different back then."
1979
Theme/Message: If you don't give bored kids a goddamn roller rink, they're probably gonna kill someone.
Synopsis: New Granada is supposed to be the perfect planned community, and it would be, except something seems off...oh yes. Here it is. The town's teenagers are not too happy and run on drugs and violence. Don't let the Breck Girl feathered hair and tight t-shirts fool you; these are no "Brady Bunch" kids.
Matt Dillon stars in his first movie role as Richie White, the quasi-leader of a pack of bored kids. We all know what happens when teenagers get bored — they eat the toilet paper and barf all over the clean laundr...no wait, that's puppies. Basically, Over the Edge is a great movie for watching with your teenagers because there are no completely "good guys" in this movie, so it's like real life.
When to watch: Any time you’re tempted to attend a parent council meeting.
1982
Theme/Message: Abortion; Don’t date a dick.
Synopsis: Fast Times was written by Cameron Crowe, who went undercover in a California high school for an article in Rolling Stone, and came out with this screenplay. Crowe is also the real-life protagonist in the movie Almost Famous which almost got listed here except I'm afraid my daughter would run away with One Direction if she saw it. What this also means is that Cameron Crowe has lived the most awesome life ever and I'm cutting this synopsis short to see if he's on Twitter so I can begin the process of a modern-day mating ritual.
Chances are you've seen Fast Times at Ridgemont High, probably while high the summer after eleventh grade. Remember the famous diving board and pizza delivery scenes? Nope? Yep; you were higher than Spicoli, weren't you? This one may be best for older teens, but it's got a great abortion story sub-plot with relatively little judgement, and it also incorporates some male characters who don't come off as complete dicks, as they do in so many other "teen" movies in this genre.
When to watch: Right before you explain why your child can't choose a California campus at college time.
1955
Theme/Message: Cause? CAUSE? Rebels don't need no cause; Fathers and sons.
Synopsis: Another "new kid in town" movie, Rebel Without a Cause examines similar themes as some of the other movies here, like mistaken identity, and the time-tested classic "Parents just don't understand." Rather than a catchy rap and move to Beverly Hills, this story of parent/child conflict has dark undertones and even if you've seen it several times you'll be surprised how deeply it delves into family dynamics in your re-watch.
If you thought teenagers in the 50s were all sock-hoppin', malted soda drinking virgins, hahahahah no.
When to watch: When your kid asks, "Who is James Dean?"
See Rebel Without a Cause clip on YouTube
1985
Theme/Message: You're probably going to end up just like your parents; Never run out of razors.
Synopsis: Scott Howard has a secret, and it's not one of those "fun" secrets like he's having an affair with his Gramma's senior home janitor, or that he eats couch cushion foam. Scott Howard has a serious secret, and well, I guess I can tell you since the movie title sort of gives it away: he's a vampire.
When to watch: Any time your kid complains about not having to shave yet.
1978
Theme/Message: Want a boyfriend? Get some tight pants.
Synopsis: Sandy moves from Australia to attend Rydell High in California? Florida? I dunno; I see palm trees and there's a beach. Let's go with California. At any rate, teens will love this movie because it confirms the long-known truth: you need to change who you are to be popular. I'm not saying that's good; I'm just saying it's there.
Sandy and Danny traverse the ups and downs of teen romance, including car racing, the intricate politics of drive-in movie viewing, and how 1950s teenagers with no money can afford matching personalized satin jackets. No one said being a teenager was easy.
When to watch: 2 hours before you tell the kids you’re moving to a different continent for senior year.
1979
Theme/Message: Grown-ups hate rock n’ roll; You gotta fight for your right to party.
Synopsis: Riff Randell is a senior at Vince Lombardi High School — a school famous for its inability to hang on to a school Principal. The school has seen a revolving door of replacements, each more prone to stress-cracks and breakdowns than the last.
Randell — the biggest Ramones fan in her school/town/county/possibly Universe — goes head to head here with new Sheriff in town, Principal Togar. When Togar stands in the way of Riff seeing her beloved Ramones in concert, things get, um, explosive.
When to watch: Now, because it's about time your kids knew who the Ramones were.
1983
Theme/Message: Haves vs. Have Nots/This book was written by a 16-year-old, seriously what have you done?
Synopsis: Greasers + Socs x tension in 1965 Oklahoma = EVERYBODY DIES. You should watch anyway, because this gritty film stars a great cast of future superstars, including pre-wackadoodle years Tom Cruise, Matt Dillon, Emelio Estevez, Rob Lowe, Ralph Macchio, C.Thomas Howell and The Price is Right'sBob Barker in his first non-cameo movie role.*
*I threw that last one in there to see if you were still paying attention 17 movies later. Congratulations; you passed!
When to watch: When you’re feeling decidedly not gold.
Jeni Marinucci is YMC's Creative Director. She has a guilty conscience, a love for humour, and a questionable home-haircut. After her children were old enough to make their own sandwiches, she returned to University to complete her B.A. in English Literature—a designation which has provided her with an extensive library and crushing student loans. When no teaching college wanted her, she had to choose between taking orders through a drive-thru window or from an editor. She chose the latter.
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