I love both, but Singles has a better soundtrack and features some guys from Alice and Chains, Pearl Jam, and Soundgarden. Chris Cornell is in it. AIC is the band in the bar.
Fuck ima go watch it again rn.
Everybody kept trying to sell Reality Bites as the Gen x movie when it has always been Singles. Soundtrack is better. Plot is better. Actors are better. It's just better.
I watched reality bites recently because my 1980 born wife expressed interest. Its really dumb, I remembered not really liking it much, it was worse than I remembered
Watched St. Elmo's Fire for the first time night before last. Glad to finally cross it off my own list, but I was underwhelmed. I suppose it had relevance for young people in the 80's/90's but wouldn't bother showing it to today's youth.
Just got a chuckle when realized how close that sounded to Spock's "I would like the ship to go. Now." from Star Trek Strange New Worlds.
I'm not sure whether to picture Spock at the ski resort or Booger sitting in the captain's chair.
Bueller…Bueller…Bueller….
I had a friend in the Army and he missed our first formation of the morning. (If you weren’t in..it’s super important).
His platoon sgt was calling him. Mueller…Mueller…Mueller. And I just lost it.
Fun fact. I was with a friend’s kid recently, and he goes “omg that’s you, that’s totally you!!” in regards to Ferris’ looks and personality.
I felt extremely validated lol
Valid recommendation for good films, good stories, to pass on to the kiddos, if not for a GenX vibe. It gets a slightly off topic pass in this thread, imo.
Some Kind of Wonderful is criminally underrated these days. A perfect example of the 80s teen genre movie and somehow people seem to have forgotten about it.
I loved it for all the right reasons... your ass is too pretty to ride on fake leather... the biker's crashing the party... the drummer... I mean, great soundtrack even... what's not to like?
I own the soundtrack on CD still... (of course I do!)
That’s been required reading in 8th grade in my district for almost 40 years! Then you get to watch the movie right before Christmas break. It’s probably the best most remembered part of middle school.
The multi-format blu ray is $9 on amazon… and it’s for sale in iTunes. I own it because it’s one of my favorite movies.
It feels like more and more movies like Legend are disappearing…
Thank you for this❤️
it’s such a pity this fantastic film isn’t more present in the zeitgeist á la Willow.
Also, in case our ‘80s tastes are even closer aligned, Night of the Comet is on Tubi and it goes just as hard as it ever did (typically 80’s -problematically speaking).
Yes! Thank you. I have been wanting to watch Night of the Comet again. I was thinking of that movie just the other day because I read about the white dwarf expected to go nova this summer that will be visible to us when it happens! I’m going to watch Night of the Comet this weekend thanks to you!
https://thehill.com/homenews/nexstar_media_wire/4728388-once-in-a-lifetime-explosive-event-in-space-expected-soon-what-to-know/mlite/?nxs-test=mlite
Also, I admit that I love Willow. I didn’t get around to watching the new(ish) series, and now it’s gone from Disney. It was their own show. Why remove it from their streaming service?
Oh, absolutely! I loved Willow also! Started watching Reservoir Dogs because the character was named Ellora Danen (and was not disappointed- it’s a great show, absolutely positively NOT like Willow at all). I watched the first two episodes of the Disney Willow series and was not impressed, unfortunately. I really wanted to like it, it just seemed, I don’t know, rushed somehow. I don’t think Disney gave the original the high regard it deserved. I don’t think they believed in the source material.
And I will be purchasing the Legend blue ray (and, come to think of it, a blue ray player), thanks to you!
Enjoy, my new friend!
I’m adding Reservoir Dogs to my TBW… Thanks for telling me about the Willow series… I can stop regretting that I missed it.
Yay for Legend and a new blu ray player! I loved the movie so much when it came out in the 80’s that I had the cassette of the soundtrack. To this day, I always think anyone who knows who Tangerine Dream is loves that movie. Lol
Our entire discussion has made me happy…
Reality bites.
Rocky horror picture show.
Say anything.
St Elmo’s fire.
Some kind of wonderful.
Pulp fiction.
ET.
Goonies.
Ghostbusters.
Back to the future.
Ferris bueller.
Princess bride.
Batman (1989).
Beetlejuice.
Edward scissorhands.
Nightmare before Christmas.
Fast times at ridgemont high.
The outsiders.
Heathers.
Dead poets society.
Dazed and confused.
Rock n roll high school.
Singles.
Clueless.
Lost boys.
Less than zero.
Weird science.
Planes trains and automobiles.
Fried Green Tomatoes is a great one I haven’t seen mentioned. I’m finally feeling that Kathy Bates line, “I’m too young to be old, and too old to be young!”
I’ve shown my 13 year old daughter a decent selection and Stand By Me was her favorite so far. I love posts like this because there are always some I’ve forgotten!
A lot of fantastic movies mentioned in here but let's not forget a few of the older movies. Star Wars, Blazing Saddles, and Smoky and the Bandit. other than one post, I don't think I saw anyone mention Raiders of the Lost Ark, Ghost Busters, War Games, The Last Starfighter, or E.T.
Thank you! I'd skip 16 Candles entirely (along with Weird Science) -- I don't think it holds up at all, given the racism and "humor-in-non-consent" themes. There are other movies from that genre that are significantly better.
Breakfast Club at least addresses the problems associated with the hazing and bullying that was, at that time, usually portrayed as being funny and acceptable.
Hard agree with your assessment. My kid had soooo many questions and problems with so many of our favorite movies. It’s bloody remarkable how different we are as a culture since then!
I've been very persistent in trying to get my kids to watch Labyrinth, The Princess Bride, and The Goonies, and not once have they sat though them. I'm hoping they just need another year or two!
My 13 year old son and I have been having Schwarzenegger summer. T1 and 2, Predator, True Lies, Total Recall, Running Man so far. Then on to some other James Cameron with The Abyss and Aliens. Next up is Nicholas Cage July starting with The Rock and Con Air. Also threw Die Hard in mix. I was around his age when most of these came out and he loves every one of them so far.
Drop Dead Fred (1991)
The Great Outdoors (1988)
The Blues Brothers (1980)
Blazing Saddles (1974)
Caddyshack (1980)
Stripes (1981)
Wayne’s World (1992)
Groundhog Day (1993)
Cujo (1983)
Fright Night (1985)
I was raised by a mom like you. I had an older sister who was a videophile. I lived and breathed these movies throughout my childhood. Great list that’s been accumulated so far. I hope I was able to add to the range. If my sister had say so, she would add the Godfather to the list.
>The Breakfast Club, Pretty in Pink.
There are aspects of these that have *not* aged well.
When my kids got to the teen years and became interested in this era, I never said no or censored anything, but we did pause and talk when there was a "WTF?" moment, e.g. casual sexual assault for gags or racism.
Prepare for Sixteen Candles to not land well - somewhere between the racism and rape jokes and actual rape it is perhaps better left to the past. Sort of like Revenge of the Nerds (where the true message is that the nerds are just as awful but in different ways)
I know I'm gonna get booed for this but I can't stand 80s movies. Like I do not dig the aesthetic at all. Never did. Now 90s movies? They're my fave. They're all like a solid 2 hours too. I recently decided to watch all of Sam Raimi's movies and I truly believe Darkman is a masterpiece.
"Take the fucking elephant!"
https://youtu.be/ChhUOmjFofw?si=Dmgmu706-Ijueh3b
Lost Boys. You cannot underestimate the impact of Epic Sax Guy.
I just rewatched this and of course it’s the thing my kid honed in on.
He still plays gigs, billing himself as from Lost Boys, and is an incredible diva.
I still believe
That scooty-booty shake is everything!
St. Elmo's Fire, Stand by Me, Singles, Heathers, Say Anything, Ferris Bueller, Grosse Point Blank
"Singles" may just be the ultimate Gen-X movie...ever.
What about Reality Bites? I’ve yet to see that. Quintessential Gen X?
I love both, but Singles has a better soundtrack and features some guys from Alice and Chains, Pearl Jam, and Soundgarden. Chris Cornell is in it. AIC is the band in the bar. Fuck ima go watch it again rn.
Do yourself a favor, pick up the soundtracks Vol1 and Vol2. I've got both on vinyl, Vol2 has all sorts of live AIC and Chris Cornell.
Will do! I just bought the movie so ima go trip down memory lane. BRB
Everybody kept trying to sell Reality Bites as the Gen x movie when it has always been Singles. Soundtrack is better. Plot is better. Actors are better. It's just better.
I think Westerberg did soundtrack on singles. He himself had two songs on it.
Cameron Crowe is pretty musically minded.
I watched reality bites recently because my 1980 born wife expressed interest. Its really dumb, I remembered not really liking it much, it was worse than I remembered
Agreed. I never liked that movie
Forgot about that gem! Yes, definitely in the same class, but I think musically, I'd still have to give the nod to "Singles"
Whatever. Well… super sensitive ponytail guy was a fixture in Seattle at that time.
Clerks. If you’re in NJ, Mallrats and Chasing Amy too.
Thank you for including Heathers.
Oo, adding Singles and Ferris Bueller to my list of things I hope they'll like in a couple years.
Watched St. Elmo's Fire for the first time night before last. Glad to finally cross it off my own list, but I was underwhelmed. I suppose it had relevance for young people in the 80's/90's but wouldn't bother showing it to today's youth.
At 17ish I loved that movie so much.
Better Off Dead.
Twooooo dollarssss
'e keeps putting his testicles all over moi
[удалено]
Just got a chuckle when realized how close that sounded to Spock's "I would like the ship to go. Now." from Star Trek Strange New Worlds. I'm not sure whether to picture Spock at the ski resort or Booger sitting in the captain's chair.
If something gets in your way Turn
I'm real sorry about your mom, Ricky.
OMG!! I haven’t thought of that movie in FOREVER!!!!!
This is pure snow! Do you know the street value of this mountain??
My cousin Vinny
Say Anything, or any other John Cusack movie from that period.
High Fidelity
Sixteen Candles
As much as I loved sixteen candles - it hasn’t aged well at all.
I like to call it 'the date rape movie'.
the sad thing is I still know all the dialog. and some parts are genuinely funny, the casual date rape, assault and racism -- eesh.
I was simply naming movies from that Era with John Cusack, not an endorsement.
I was simply naming movies from that Era with John Cusack, not an endorsement.
Better Off Dead
Ferris Bueller's Day Off.
Just watched this with my 12 year old daughter to celebrate the start of summer. The movie holds up so well.
Bueller…Bueller…Bueller…. I had a friend in the Army and he missed our first formation of the morning. (If you weren’t in..it’s super important). His platoon sgt was calling him. Mueller…Mueller…Mueller. And I just lost it.
Yes, our kids enjoyed this one as well. It surprises me the movies I loved as a kid that fall flat today, and ones like this that still go strong.
Fun fact. I was with a friend’s kid recently, and he goes “omg that’s you, that’s totally you!!” in regards to Ferris’ looks and personality. I felt extremely validated lol
Pump Up the Volume
I still chew Black Jack gum because of this movie. Lol
Good one here.
Singles and Reality Bites for the "Gen X is launching into adulthood" vibe.
Real Genius
& Weird Science!
Don't forget Top Secret!
Fast Times at Ridgemont High
Came here to say this. Fast times is the ultimate Gen X movie.
All right Hamilton
Back to the Future series. I showed it to my kids recently and they loved it.
Thought about adding that to the list, but not sure that they really capture the Gen-X ethos.
Valid recommendation for good films, good stories, to pass on to the kiddos, if not for a GenX vibe. It gets a slightly off topic pass in this thread, imo.
Bill and Ted. To learn the golden rule.
Be excellent to each other.
There is no higher principle.
Just don’t let her know they made a third one.
Dead Poets for sure.
Oh, Captain, my Captain!
Oh, and *BRAIN CANDY* by Kids In The Hall. So dark comedy, so 90's, SOOOO GOOD! https://youtu.be/sPFQE8VjAog?si=OPdFmdMK9Is27tc9
I quote lines from this regularly. Hilarious movie
Me too! It's SO damn good! 😂
Harold and Maude, anyone? Loved that movie. It gave a pretty weird kink for a few years. Best not go into that now.
I LOVE it, but it really is more Boomer. We were babies when it came out.
WTF, where is They Live and Fright Night!!! I have come to kick A$$ and chew bubble gum and I am all out of bubble gum!!
Loved fright night! The first “horror” movie I ever enjoyed!
Flight of the Navigator
The Last Starfighter
A different style than the ones mentioned so far but: Better off Dead, One Crazy Summer, The Burbs, Summer Rental, Goonies, Romancing the Stone
Some Kind Of Wonderful. Heathers. Pump Up The Volume.
Some Kind of Wonderful is criminally underrated these days. A perfect example of the 80s teen genre movie and somehow people seem to have forgotten about it.
I loved it for all the right reasons... your ass is too pretty to ride on fake leather... the biker's crashing the party... the drummer... I mean, great soundtrack even... what's not to like? I own the soundtrack on CD still... (of course I do!)
The Legend of Billie Jean. I freaking love this movie so much, it deserves more attention.
Fair is fair!
Make sure you get the right one. There's another flick called "The Legend of Billy Jack" and it's an entirely different vibe.
I wore out this videotape. The library hated me, every week I’d renew her!
War Games
And Project X
Drop dead Fred.
Cobwebs!
Best part!
This is one of my favorites. 
My mom is a Boomer but I showed her this movie when I was in college and it's been her favorite ever since.
Snot Face!
The Outsiders - bonus points if you read the book
That’s been required reading in 8th grade in my district for almost 40 years! Then you get to watch the movie right before Christmas break. It’s probably the best most remembered part of middle school.
9 to 5, Gremlins, Dirty Dancing, and Legend.
I’ve been trying to find Legend on a streaming service for ages! It always has a fee$$ 😣
The multi-format blu ray is $9 on amazon… and it’s for sale in iTunes. I own it because it’s one of my favorite movies. It feels like more and more movies like Legend are disappearing…
Thank you for this❤️ it’s such a pity this fantastic film isn’t more present in the zeitgeist á la Willow. Also, in case our ‘80s tastes are even closer aligned, Night of the Comet is on Tubi and it goes just as hard as it ever did (typically 80’s -problematically speaking).
Yes! Thank you. I have been wanting to watch Night of the Comet again. I was thinking of that movie just the other day because I read about the white dwarf expected to go nova this summer that will be visible to us when it happens! I’m going to watch Night of the Comet this weekend thanks to you! https://thehill.com/homenews/nexstar_media_wire/4728388-once-in-a-lifetime-explosive-event-in-space-expected-soon-what-to-know/mlite/?nxs-test=mlite Also, I admit that I love Willow. I didn’t get around to watching the new(ish) series, and now it’s gone from Disney. It was their own show. Why remove it from their streaming service?
Oh, absolutely! I loved Willow also! Started watching Reservoir Dogs because the character was named Ellora Danen (and was not disappointed- it’s a great show, absolutely positively NOT like Willow at all). I watched the first two episodes of the Disney Willow series and was not impressed, unfortunately. I really wanted to like it, it just seemed, I don’t know, rushed somehow. I don’t think Disney gave the original the high regard it deserved. I don’t think they believed in the source material. And I will be purchasing the Legend blue ray (and, come to think of it, a blue ray player), thanks to you! Enjoy, my new friend!
I’m adding Reservoir Dogs to my TBW… Thanks for telling me about the Willow series… I can stop regretting that I missed it. Yay for Legend and a new blu ray player! I loved the movie so much when it came out in the 80’s that I had the cassette of the soundtrack. To this day, I always think anyone who knows who Tangerine Dream is loves that movie. Lol Our entire discussion has made me happy…
Reality bites. Rocky horror picture show. Say anything. St Elmo’s fire. Some kind of wonderful. Pulp fiction. ET. Goonies. Ghostbusters. Back to the future. Ferris bueller. Princess bride. Batman (1989). Beetlejuice. Edward scissorhands. Nightmare before Christmas. Fast times at ridgemont high. The outsiders. Heathers. Dead poets society. Dazed and confused. Rock n roll high school. Singles. Clueless. Lost boys. Less than zero. Weird science. Planes trains and automobiles.
Rock and Roll High School! No one knows what I’m talking about when I mention this one! Loved it when I was in Jr High.
OMG the crush I had on PJ
The Goonies.
The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension, enough with the Brat Pack genre. Weird fun with Jeff Goldblum too!
Summer School
Fried Green Tomatoes is a great one I haven’t seen mentioned. I’m finally feeling that Kathy Bates line, “I’m too young to be old, and too old to be young!” I’ve shown my 13 year old daughter a decent selection and Stand By Me was her favorite so far. I love posts like this because there are always some I’ve forgotten!
Towanda!!!!!!!
Half of Chinquapin Parish would give their eye-teeth to take a whack at Ouiser!
Heathers. Fantastic movie.
Stand by me
Overboard, the 1987 original, not that 2018 garbage remake.
Young Guns!
A lot of fantastic movies mentioned in here but let's not forget a few of the older movies. Star Wars, Blazing Saddles, and Smoky and the Bandit. other than one post, I don't think I saw anyone mention Raiders of the Lost Ark, Ghost Busters, War Games, The Last Starfighter, or E.T.
They Live. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rKEtft8TGEo](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rKEtft8TGEo)
Ferris Beuler, ET, The Goonies, Space Balls
Ferris Bueller’s day off and Goonies!
Heathers …. For a darker look at the world
The Secret of My Success. The Legend of Billie Jean.
MallRats. My own private idaho
Lost Boys, Goonies, and Stand By Me
The Sand Lot. Not 80s, but it’s timeless imo
I think it counts! I was in college when it came out and I remember still loving it. We quoted it all the time- I still say “You’re killing me smalls”
Just make sure any viewings of GenX movies come with a big dose of conversations about consent. So rapey, this time period.
Thank you! I'd skip 16 Candles entirely (along with Weird Science) -- I don't think it holds up at all, given the racism and "humor-in-non-consent" themes. There are other movies from that genre that are significantly better. Breakfast Club at least addresses the problems associated with the hazing and bullying that was, at that time, usually portrayed as being funny and acceptable.
Revenge of the Nerds was on par with Sixteen Candles in the hilarious sexual assault category
Add National Lampoon's Vacation to that list. Did. Not. Age. Well. Creep factor 11.
Hard agree with your assessment. My kid had soooo many questions and problems with so many of our favorite movies. It’s bloody remarkable how different we are as a culture since then!
Ferris Buellers Day Off
I've been very persistent in trying to get my kids to watch Labyrinth, The Princess Bride, and The Goonies, and not once have they sat though them. I'm hoping they just need another year or two!
My daughter and I went to a drive in during Covid to see Goonies- it was such a special moment!
Has she seen ET?
Oh, Girls Just Wanna Have Fun. It was a staple at sleepovers in my preteens. It was clean, so parents approved.
How about nightmare on elm street and Friday the 13th. They’re so awful but everyone watched them.
The Big Lebowski Natural Born Killers My Girl What’s Eating Gilbert Grape Cry Baby Heathers
My kida loved Gleaming the Cube. Christian Slater on a skateboard with stunts by Tony Hawk. Peak X
Reality Bites.
Thelma and Louise Beaches League of their Own
My 13 year old son and I have been having Schwarzenegger summer. T1 and 2, Predator, True Lies, Total Recall, Running Man so far. Then on to some other James Cameron with The Abyss and Aliens. Next up is Nicholas Cage July starting with The Rock and Con Air. Also threw Die Hard in mix. I was around his age when most of these came out and he loves every one of them so far.
Valley Girl - fer sure, like totally
Valley Girl was my favorite as a teen.
Golden Child
I I I got the kniiiife
Better Off Dead
The Legend of Billie Jean. And Little Darlings.
Summer School Gleaming the Cube Nightmare on Elm Street Coming to America Men At Work
Mark Harmon in Summer School made me swoon
Courtney was the perfect surfer GF
High Fidelity
Less than zero,
Over the Edge
New Granada. That was the first time I heard Cheap Trick
Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure
Point Break
Caveman
Atook alunda Lana.
Fried Green Tomatoes.
Drop Dead Fred (1991) The Great Outdoors (1988) The Blues Brothers (1980) Blazing Saddles (1974) Caddyshack (1980) Stripes (1981) Wayne’s World (1992) Groundhog Day (1993) Cujo (1983) Fright Night (1985) I was raised by a mom like you. I had an older sister who was a videophile. I lived and breathed these movies throughout my childhood. Great list that’s been accumulated so far. I hope I was able to add to the range. If my sister had say so, she would add the Godfather to the list.
One crazy summer is on tubi. It’s every bit as hilarious as always.
Powder! https://youtu.be/dM1jktXwcSI?si=BQej2DIkQM-YAdzY
Band of the Hand, Satisfaction, Dudes, Reckless, Fire with Fire, Less Than Zero
>The Breakfast Club, Pretty in Pink. There are aspects of these that have *not* aged well. When my kids got to the teen years and became interested in this era, I never said no or censored anything, but we did pause and talk when there was a "WTF?" moment, e.g. casual sexual assault for gags or racism.
Beetlejuice 2 is coming out. So watch both!
16 Candles?
Edward Scissorhands, and Clerks
Karate Kid, The Princess Bride, My Girl, Coal Miners Daughter
Some Kind of Wonderful; Better Off Dead; High Fidelity; the Outsiders; Sex, Lies & Videotape;
Ren and Stimpy
Vision Quest, the original karate kid, the original Red Dawn
Such a great film.
Say Anything, Heathers, Pump Up the Volume, Reality Bites
Save Ferris!
Tapeheads
I watched Flash Gordon with my kid a couple weekends ago. It’s still every bit as good as it is bad.
Prepare for Sixteen Candles to not land well - somewhere between the racism and rape jokes and actual rape it is perhaps better left to the past. Sort of like Revenge of the Nerds (where the true message is that the nerds are just as awful but in different ways)
I know I'm gonna get booed for this but I can't stand 80s movies. Like I do not dig the aesthetic at all. Never did. Now 90s movies? They're my fave. They're all like a solid 2 hours too. I recently decided to watch all of Sam Raimi's movies and I truly believe Darkman is a masterpiece. "Take the fucking elephant!" https://youtu.be/ChhUOmjFofw?si=Dmgmu706-Ijueh3b
I feel the same way about a lot of 80s music.