#The Best Coming-Of-Age Films of the ’80s
Coming-of-age films in the 1980s were magical in the way they related to the audience in the art of growing up. Here's our top ten.
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The Best Coming-Of-Age Films of the ’80s
The one inescapable thing in life is growing up. Humans are destined to do it, no matter how much they don’t want to. Regardless of whether or not the childhood memories bring nostalgia or feelings of heaviness, learning the ropes to maturing and becoming an adult happens to everyone. Filmmakers in the ’80s seemed to have a gift for perfectly representing these specific feelings and important moments in their films. They brought to life the hundreds of real and emotional convserations that kids had with their parents, first dates after a nervous interaction in a incoming new relationship, or nights when a group of friends would sneak out for an adventure. Here are our top-ranked coming-of-age films of the 1980’s.
10 Weird Science (1985)
As a man who’s name is synonymous with coming-to-age, John Hughes will pop up on this list several times. Weird Science was the third-directed film of Hughes’ career, and was based on a comic book story called Made for the Future by Al Feldstein, and appeared in William M. Gaines’ EC Comics. Hughes wrote the screenplay in just two days. The film follows Gary (Anthony Michael Hall) and Wyatt (Ilan Mitchell-Smith) as they struggle to gain any popularity with the opposite sex, so they put their big brains together and use a computer program to create the perfect woman. The coming-of-age themes in Weird Science lie within the lessons that Lisa, the woman created by the two friends, teach them about self-confidence, respecting women, and staying loyal to one another as friends, regardless of romance issues. Kelly LeBrock is absolutely stunning as Lisa, and the audience is treated to a wonderful supporting cast that includes Bill Paxton as Wyatt’s disgusting brother Chet, Robert Downey Jr. in an early role, and horror fan-favorite Michael Berryman. The film also resulted in composer Danny Elfman writing a title track for his band, Oingo Boingo.
9 Big (1988)
Growing old too fast isn’t all it’s cracked up to be in Penny Marshall’s Big. Young Josh (David Moscow) is tired of being a kid, and wishes upon a boardwalk Zoltar machine to be old (Tom Hanks), then finds himself in every adult situation he could ever ask for, including helping turn around a failing toy company with his boss (Robert Loggia) and falling in love with his coworker Susan (Elizabeth Perkins).The film was filled with hard lessons, admissions, and acceptance of responsibility, making it a great coming-of-age film. Big grossed over 100 million at the box office, making Penny Marshall the first woman director to ever achieve this. She then went on to succesfully team up with Hanks again in A League of Their Own (1992). Though the role was ultimately given to Hanks, there wasn’t much interest until more famous actors at the time, like Robert DeNiro, Robin Williams, and Harrison Ford considered taking the role.
8 Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986)
Another John Hughes vehicle, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off follows sarcastic high school student Ferris (Matthew Broderick) as he skips a day of school with his best friend Cameron (Alan Ruck) and his girlfriend Sloane (Mia Sara). This film doesn’t have a lot of the conventional coming-of-age themes until you take a closer look at the characters. Hughes was no stranger to adding parent/child dissonance in his films, and when taking a look at Cameron’s home life with an abusive father and vacant mother, it becomes clear that the fun and relaxing day off had a lot more to do with Ferris setting it up for Cameron’s benefit than himself. It was very much a friend trying to help another friend mentally break out of a bad situation. This film remains one of John Hughes’ most quotable films, and one of most blatant breaks of the fourth wall in cinema.
7 Say Anything (1989)
In this classic 80’s romance story from Cameron Crowe (Almost Famous, Jerry Maguire) in his directorial debut, the young love of Lloyd (John Cusack) and Diane (Ione Skye) is tested as the two transition from high school to college life. Though maybe the characters’ ages are border-lining on whether this should be considered coming-of-age, there’s no argument that some themes are there, with pulling out the stops for young love, and the struggles involved with high school sweethearts and their unapproving parents. Say Anything also appears on Roger Ebert’s “Great Movies” list, and boasts a killer soundtrack the features Red Hot Chili Peppers, Depeche Mode, and Peter Gabriel.
6 The Goonies (1985)
Richard Donner, Chris Columbus, and Steven Speilberg came together to produce one of the most adventurous and fun coming-of-age films of all time with The Goonies. In this film, a small group of friends finds an old treasure map, directing them to the location of pirate One-Eyed Willie’s lost treasure. The film focused mostly on the comraderie and working together of childhood friends, and relying on each other’s strengths to win the day. The Goonies had a loveable cast of recognizeable 80’s actors like Sean Astin, Corey Feldman, and Josh Brolin. The film pulled out all of the stops in the effects department, filming on a real pirate ship and using real skeletons. The Goonies also coined one of the most famous dances in 80’s film, the Truffle Shuffle.
5 Dead Poet’s Society (1989)
In the most emotional film to make this list, the Oscar-winning Dead Poet’s Society followed the relationship that a rambunctious teacher (Robin Williams) has with his students, in attempts to help them build self-confidence and express themselves artistically. This film was nominated at the 1990 Academy Awards for Best Picture, Peter Weir for Best Director, and Robin Williams for Best Actor, and it ending up winning for Best Writing. Dead Poet’s Society deals with a lot of coming-of-age themes, including teenage depression, parental dissonance, and the internal struggle of knowing who you are. Even until his death in 2014, Robin Williams considered this film one of his favorites. This one is a tear-jerker, that’s for sure.
4 E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982)
Once you get through the surface, this film is so much more than your average alien film. There are themes of friendlessness, the struggles of single-parent ran familes, and what that can do to sibling relationships. In one of Steven Spielberg’s most beautifully made and heart-warming films, he tells the story of love and togetherness. There honestly didn’t even need to be an alien, because it barely mattered. E.T. was a mirrored character of Elliot (Henry Thomas) in every way. They were both lost and found themselves with the help of those that love them. They even felt each other’s sadness and pain. They grew together and accepted themselves together, and it was only then that they were ok leaving one another. This film was nominated for nine Academy Awards (winning four) in 1983, and is still one of Spielberg’s best.
3 The Breakfast Club (1985)
In another John Hughes classic, The Breakfast Club follows five very different students sentenced to the same detention, who realizie they may have more in common than they originally thought. This film brought together the core of the Brat Pack with Emilio Estevez, Molly Wingwald, Ally Sheedy, Judd Nelson, and Anthony Michael Hall. The characters found their commonality with abusive or overbearing parents, depression, social constructs, and relationship issues. The chemistry between the five leads is unparalleled, with many of the scenes were ad-lib, including a major scene where the characters tell their stories. Many people consider The Breakfast Club as John Hughes’ best film.
2 Stand by Me (1986)
In 1986, filmmaker Rob Reiner kicked off an incredible run of films, maybe the best in directorial history. It all started with Stand by Me, and adaptation of a short story titled The Body by Stephen King. Stand by Me takes place in 1959, and follows four friends that take a two-day journey to find the body of a missing child. The film does a great job spreading the coming-of-age themes around the characters, focusing on a different issues for each. Gordie (Wil Wheaton) deals with the grief of losing a sibling as a kid, and the emptiness the loss has created in his family. Chris (River Phoenix) deals with what comes with being part of a family looked down upon by the entire town, and an abusive brother. Teddy (Corey Feldman) struggles with loving and honoring his abusive father. Vern (Jerry O’Connell) is constantly picked on for his weight. The characters are incredibly developed, and the storytelling is masterful. Stand by Me isn’t just one of the best coming-of-age films of the 80’s, but one of the best films of all time.
1 The Karate Kid (1984)
After John G. Avildsen directed Rocky, he soon after had another masterpiece under his belt. The Karate Kid is a damn-near perfect film. Daniel (Ralph Macchio) and his mother travel to the west coast for a new start, and upon meeting the apartment maintanence manager, Mr. Miyagi (Pat Morita), takes up an interest in karate. This film has so much depth to it. Setting aside the obvious themes of young love, bullies, and gaining self-confidence, the relationship between Daniel and Miyagi is beautiful. Daniel is thrust into an unfamiliar environment without a father figure, and Miyagi is a lost soul, looking for companionship after losing his wife and child long ago. All of the characters are legitimately loveable and hateable. Success and happiness triumphs over loss. Montages and rockin’ 80’s music are afoot. This film tops them all.
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