Top 10 Most Underrated 80s Teen Movies

[@MsMojo]

Which of these underrated '80s teen movies are you going to watch? Let us know below, and stay tuned for our 90s, 2000s, and 2010s picks coming out soon!

[@trinaq]

I'm planning to tune in to most of all, especially "Can't Buy Me Love", to see a younger Doctor McDreamy!😍💘

[@DrGregoryHouseIT]

I've seen Teen Witch. It's underrated for a reason: it's bad. My Bodyguard instead is wonderful.

[@alyssabravo6185]

My daughter loves 80s movies and so far this summer we watched summer school, can't buy me love and one crazy summer. Time for her to see Once Bitten,Real Genuises and The Jon Cryer films cause she loves him

[@andersonfamily]

I have got one for your 90's list... Toy Soldiers 1991!!

[@melissagramling8348]

My favorites are One Crazy Summer and Better off Dead...I just love John Cusack!!

[@nehsangbong7259]

Can't buy me love is definitely underrated.

[@trinaq]

Totally, it deserves more love than it receives!💕

[@zacharyagler3007]

Wife favorite movie growing up

[@crgray1979]

My favorite movie

[@josefinebliss2801]

I saw that one the other day on tv. Liked it

[@yasimtashir5518]

i know every word in that movie cant by me live seen it over 100 times

[@montibella]

License to Drive, Legend of Billie Jean, The Outsiders, The Lost Boys, Just one of the Guys

[@WrenFaithBridger]

Legend of Billie Jean is one of my favorite movies.

[@piperc343]

Someone finally appreciates The Lost Boys and The legend of bill jean

[@cosigner]

yessssss !!!

[@calleyadele4567]

the outsiders is the best

[@bonjovi7399]

Lost Boys isn't underrated. Everybody knows that movie. Now, Just One of the Guys is an underrated film and should be spoken about more.

[@pam1081]

Girls Just Want to Have Fun (1985) had a notably poor reception but I think it’s a really good 80s teen movie for people just getting into the classic/romance genre

[@Horrormoviefan9]

sakura chan love that movie! 🤘😀🖤 I just watched it on DVD again. 🖤☺️

[@SexyButCurious]

Yeah I saw it as a kid in the late 90s. Had a young Sarah Jessica Park and Helen Hunt I think.

[@dawnjensen6560]

Great movie.

[@13blackcatzzz]

Like, oh my God. I own that movie. I loved it as a teen, and I still love it. It is cheesy glorious 80's perfection!

[@noemistephanie93]

I love that one too! It should be on here!

[@bahatimeadows1669]

One of my favorites is Secret Admirer with C. Thomas Howell and Lori Loughlin.

[@Vnachi8]

Bahati Meadows the movie that started a life long live affair with Lori Loughlin.

[@Corinacampbell18]

Same man, Same. :)

[@strawberrypie7077]

Bahati Meadows yess 🥺

[@eli7239]

YES!!

[@13blackcatzzz]

The 80's was the golden age of teen movies!!!

[@elijahtheboxingfan3877]

Very true. Most of my favorite movies are teen movies from the 80s

[@trinaq]

"Some Kind of Wonderful" is one of my favourite teen movies, and it was the second collaboration between writer John Hughes and director Howard Deutch, after "Pretty in Pink", which featured a love triangle between a quirky teenager, a popular kid who's nicer than the crowd they hang out with, and the lead's best friend who has a crush on them. It's worth noting that "Wonderful" might not have ever been made had "Pretty" ended with Andie and Duckie together, as was in the original ending. So Deutch and Hughes teamed up a year later, almost as if to make up for "Pretty's" ending!😁💗

[@newdamage5945]

Agreed, it's one of the best and very underrated.

[@sundarivenkatraman3433]

hiii! um very random but there's a movie which I don't know the name of. the characters wear uniforms and have a wand. the lead couple is very famous. it's definitely from the 1980s-1990s. can you please tell me the name of the movie?

[@rexxarkana]

Great film...but absolutely NOT underappreciated.

[@MidnightClubStillCancelledSoz]

I love 80’s teen movies

[@trinaq]

Me too, it's my favourite decade, especially when it comes to teen movies and music!🎤💘

[@johnstone7073]

@@trinaq this was my teen ara as well I was a teen in the 80s and they jammin and totally gnarly and rad yeh dude I love the 80s I wish I could go back home to 1985 yeh yeh I do anyone got a time machine so I can go back home

[@MarioDS01]

Me too! Seems like the best decade for those kind of movies. Really wish there would be more like that these days, but they are so far and in-between. One of the last recent ones I love is "Love, Simon", excellent movie and great way to show gay characters/people in a proper light and make them normal.

[@noemistephanie93]

same! I also like 90s ones as well.

[@sundarivenkatraman3433]

hiii! um very random but there's a movie which I don't know the name of. the characters wear uniforms and have a wand. the lead couple is very famous. it's definitely from the 1980s-1990s. can you please tell me the name of the movie?

[@holiday197]

I think Weird Science belongs on this list. It's pretty underrated.

[@geeskin5750]

Loved weird science, some good lines. Gary: what's this sir? Fats: drink it

[@galaxythecat2877]

I don´t think so, even in Perú is a well-know movie compared to the films in this list.

[@besteverepicmillennial5927]

no, you really just want to say underrated

[@sundarivenkatraman3433]

hiii! um very random but there's a movie which I don't know the name of. the characters wear uniforms and have a wand. the lead couple is very famous. it's definitely from the 1980s-1990s. can you please tell me the name of the movie?

[@jillc87]

YES ! Can't Buy Me Love and Better Off Dead are two of my favorite 80s movies and they deserve respect. 👏

[@craigorlikowski2507]

Sorry about your mom Ricky

[@drnels88]

As someone whose high school years were entirely in the 80s, I can say many of these were not considered lame at the time.

[@SexyButCurious]

Good to know. My brother was teen in the 80s and my sister was just a kid in the 80s. I got into 80s teen films thanks to my sister, since I was born in 1987.

[@newdamage5945]

@@SexyButCurious Ha I was 87 too and the 90s teen movies just didn't measure up.

[@walkawaycat431]

I turned 13 in 1980.

[@rexxarkana]

You had to be there, as the adage goes...

[@fatoutheslytherin6652]

is Heathers underrated because I love Heathers and I love making references to it

[@trinaq]

I'd say that it's appropriately rated, as even though it was considered a box office bomb upon release, it's permanently cemented itself in cinematic history now!😃

[@fatoutheslytherin6652]

Trina Q yeah 🙂

[@jruberte]

I'm missing Just One of the Guys on this list. But Once Bitten and Better off Dead were two of my favorite movies growing up

[@tdlover5164]

The movie has a cult following AND a Broadway musical. I think we can assume that it's not underrated.

[@strangejaxa6733]

@Pierre Buie II Late 80s, yes. I feel like they could of made Heathers an honorable mention and put (at its time) but yea its most definitally not underrated, hell its what CREATED Mean Girls!

[@johnruggieri9089]

How about "Just One of the Guys?" Is this considered underrated? I love it!! Also, Lucas and The Legend of Billie Jean!!

[@candi0826]

I love just one of the guys

[@Evieteresa]

Thank you! Yes! I kept looking for that movie.

[@hayleyannmary]

Lucas should have definitely been on here!

[@alexandabbyskon1923]

@@hayleyannmary definitely . . I just finished watching it

[@tomryan914]

@@hayleyannmary Wasn't 'underrated', critics and audience thought it great and touching.

[@josepgabarrosperez3227]

I love Can´t Buy Me Love and it´s my 80´s guilty pleasure to watch. RIP AManda Peterson :(

[@althea_1721]

You forgot Adventures in Babysitting!

[@xSevenDevilsx]

Althea_17 yessss my fave!!

[@SnappingTurtle801]

@@xSevenDevilsx That is me and mom's other favorite not on the list.😁

[@JStarr-qf8sj]

It wasn't really underated it was very popular and hey it's one of the funniest too!!

[@NickCC23]

I asked about this. Gene Siskel favorably compared this to Ferris Bueller's Day Off.

[@tmzebe530]

Eh, its ight. Elizabeth shue was fiiiiine as it gets back then tho

[@coolnegative]

Secret Admirer, My Science Project, Better Off Dead, One Crazy Summer, Girls Just Wanna Have Fun, Permenant Record, Say Anything, Oxford Blues

[@andreabaker1330]

coolnegative yes -Girls just wanna have fun!

[@ssesf]

"Better Off Dead", "Some Kind of Wonderful" and "Can't Buy Me Love" are my favorits.

[@Lucaya4Life]

Should've been on the list: 1. Three O'clock High (1987) 2. Lucas (1986)

[@ryanmoore9276]

3 o'clock high was great!!

[@rexxarkana]

BINGO. ACTUAL underappreciated titles. This is a solid take.

[@paulojrneto]

Should have been on this list: Reckless (1984, Aidan Quinn, Daryl Hannah, Jennifer Grey) The Legend Of Billie Jean (1985, Helen Slater, Christian Slater, Yeardley Smith) Fire With Fire (1986, Virginia Madsen, Craig Sheffer)

[@courtbox]

Paulo Neto: I was just thinking of Fire with Fire a few days ago!

[@paulojrneto]

@Amber H Reckless is so underrated.

[@ariar6542]

FINALLY!! Someone who has seen Fire with Fire!!!

[@briannab959]

Omg! Fire with Fire is soooooo Good! One of my favs forever

[@walkawaycat431]

I loved "Reckless"

[@gigadee]

i was born in 1968 the 80's were the best time to be alive

[@clairemacdougall8325]

Can’t buy me love is one of my favourite movies and has always gotten love from me❤️

[@josearturogarza5114]

_My honorable mention_ 1982's *Last American Virgin* _It's a remake from 1978 movie_ *Lemon Popsicle* German/Israeli movie same director did both movies.

[@debbiesuesteele9639]

That was a surprisingly good little movie- that last scene is so sad..

[@NoPuns]

@@debbiesuesteele9639 The last scene is what makes it so good, it was realistic and did not follow the formula of others of it's genre.

[@freddiegrace3770]

OMG!! Yes! You know this movie and it blows my mind. I watched it all the time as a kid, and probably shouldn't have. The ending of that movie is one of the most honest profound thing I have ever seen on film. Totally underrated!!

[@freddiegrace3770]

@@debbiesuesteele9639 I know right? He goes through hell for that girl, but that is how it would have happened in real life! It dared to be the one teen movie where the nerdy guy loses the beautiful cool girl to the hot guy. That never happens in movies! It was so good and honest!

[@seanswinton6242]

Yes! Diane Franklin was great In string of 80's films.

[@dafilmqueen556]

I couldn't help it.I see Patrick Dempsey on the thumbnail,I click!

[@theoriginaledi]

I was a teen/young adult in the '80s and it's great to see some of my faves getting some love here. A lot of these seem to be completely forgotten by others.

[@WrenFaithBridger]

Right there with you (graduated high school 1982). This list was a major nostalgia trip.

[@vivday7656]

What about “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun,” “The Outsiders,” “Secret Admirer,” and “That Was Then, This Now?” I love all those movies ❤️

[@Nostalgic90s765]

Really underrated and overlooked and honestly should have been on this list: Dream a Little Dream. Was happy to see Teen Witch and River's Edge on there though.

[@Faceybabybaby]

I cant count how many times I've seen dream of little dream. Love that movie.

[@TubeMySwag]

Lucas is the most underrated 80s teen movie. Beautiful soundtrack as well!

[@jingojango9634]

Great movie but many I used to love are never mentioned...3 o' clock high, gleaming the cube, Tex, zapped, license to drive, Lucas, iron eagles, river rat and so many more underated movies.

[@nastee10]

"Two dollars...I want my two dollars" That paperboy was relentless!

[@montibella]

BIGGAV1 79 i had nightmares about him lol

[@kerryann2041]

Omg how baby faced John Cusack in these films!

[@riverkolman1294]

So when my dad saw Better off dead with one of his friends when it came out, his friend told him my dad would end up marrying a French girl. My dad laughed it off, turns out it came true.

[@viagahi4058]

Some kind of wonderful is definitely and absolutely underrated! Thank you so much for including this!

[@margaretfogler1848]

The soundtrack for "Some Kind of Wonderful" is pretty awesome.

[@JK-pu8jt]

Absolutely!

[@Zodia195]

And here I was hoping Girls Just Wanna Have Fun would make the list or get a mention. Oh well.

[@montibella]

Zodia195 YES!!!!

[@laurissa1790]

Me too!

[@johnjordan2116]

Where's the love for John Cusack's "The Sure Thing"?

[@freddiegrace3770]

I loved that movie but I do not think it was underrated because it got great reviews.

[@newdamage5945]

Yes also very underrated!

[@thomasocallaghan9145]

Say anything, Valley girl, The Sure Thing, all great movies

[@christophertorres3327]

I saw teen witch, believe me, It got exactly wat it deserved upon release.

[@JRPHILLIPS75]

Soo very happy to see Hiding Out! It's on Netflix now

[@breezy9297]

Does anyone remember Loverboy or Just One of the Guys?

[@andreabaker1330]

Breezy l love “Just one of the guys”!

[@mikealbrecht3990]

Extra anchovies!!

[@josearturogarza5114]

Loved number 5! *Some Kind Of Wonderful* Mary Stuart Masterson as Watts! Hope her 90's movie Benny and Joon appears later on list! *Hint,Hint* 😉

[@MarioDS01]

Same here! Seems like a TON of people really love that movie. Kind of wish it was a little higher or something, but still glad it is on the list. Also I recommend "One Crazy Summer", one of the honorable mentions I watched not too long ago.

[@Allinzur]

I KNEW IT! I knew that Teen Witch was on the list 😭💔

[@noemistephanie93]

I love that movie so much plus the "Never Gonna Be The Same Again" song is a bop!

[@2020girlygirl]

noemistephanie93 the soundtrack for that movie is awesome. I love the song at the end “Finest Hour” as well.

[@aagui2x2]

Lucas was under appreciated with a great cast.

[@karenthorne2574]

Lucas was a great movie but, if memory serves, it received accolades from critics. If so, that would be why it's not on the list.

[@tomasvelez9275]

It makes me laugh how John Cusack can say the most outrageous things and have an incredible poker face while saying it.

[@haleylafferty9870]

I love Can't Buy Me Love

[@theanimeguy13ify]

Most people are familiar with these Underrated Teen Movies from '80s like Once Bitten, Can't Buy Me Love and Better Off Dead.

[@riverkolman1294]

My four favorite movies growing up were Some kind of wonderful, One crazy summer, Better off dead, and Real Genius. This list is my childhood.

[@sundarivenkatraman3433]

hiii! um very random but there's a movie which I don't know the name of. the characters wear uniforms and have a wand. the lead couple is very famous. it's definitely from the 1980s-1990s. can you please tell me the name of the movie?

[@mav2010x]

3 o'clock High..and Lucas....80s movies are the best!!!

[@trinaq]

"Lucas" is the best, and one of Corey Haim's standout performances, I wish that it was more acclaimed and well known than it currently is!😀

[@iamceilingcatOG]

I love Lucas, but it's so hard for me to watch now, knowing how Corey was abused on the set.

[@alyssabravo6185]

Where's Just One of the Guys

[@lansesteiner3563]

You forgot “the legend of Billie Jean” and “just one of the guys”

[@MaxRager80]

T.A.P.S. was really good as well. Sean Penn, a super young Tom Cruise.

[@degrassiluvaforeva]

Was that Matt Dillon in The Bodyguard?

[@kristinbrown8291]

Yes. He plays one of the bullies that causes the main character to hire his bodyguard.

[@phillyd4874]

Yea, another great character he has done

[@annehuijs6613]

Flamingo Kid was another great one!

[@ssesf]

"Hiding Out" is the only movie where it makes sense having a 20+ y.o. actor play a high school student.

[@ashtonweaver8140]

Better Off Dead is one of my favorite 80’s films

[@KaraMorassco]

My favorite 80s movies that seem so underrated are: The Legend of Billie Jean, Starman, The Last Starfighter, Can't Buy Me Love, Summer School, Return to Oz, D.A.R.Y.L., Teen Witch, Ewoks: Battle for Endor.

[@tpalicz]

Teen Witch is so good! And Summer School is great too.

[@rainbowmoonreadings4541]

10. Once Bitten 9. coming home 8. Hiding Out 7. My Bodyguard 6. Teen Witch 5. Some Kind Of Wonderful 4. Real Genius 3. Rivers Edge 2. Can’t buy me love 1. Better off dead love Once Bitten! It’s so classic. One of my all time favorites! And TEEN WITCH was my shit! Some kind of Wonderful was basically pretty in pink! So good. Can’t buy me love! Perfect!

[@zerofail.455]

Last American Virgin. Best film with an awful ending.

[@freddiegrace3770]

It was the perfect ending because it was the most honest!

[@MrWellz-ex4px]

One of the saddest endings to a movie without it being a death scene piss me off every time I see it.

[@billyhelmes3397]

The ending ruined the movie

[@degrassiluvaforeva]

The Outsiders, Tex, Rumble Fish And That Was Then... This Is Now aren’t on the list and I think they’re super underateted 80’s movies.

[@strawberrypie7077]

Johnny Cade's WIFE yesss 🥺

[@alexmeyer5260]

All of them based on books by the same author, S.E. Hinton.

[@geordiestevens1483]

License to drive

[@tactracer1382]

"Fronch Bread, Fronch Dressing....." "Where's my two dollars!!"

[@gaftbat]

I love how two of my fave John Cusak movies are mentioned even though one of them was in the honorable mention. I loved one crazy summer. My fave scene from one crazy summer was when they put the lobsters in the pool. As for Better off Dead I loved it when he realizes she speaks English that she just pretends to only speak French because of the son. Hell Can't buy me Love is one of my fave Patrick Dempsey movies. When he puts the guy who tries to be all gentlemen about his farts and puts his butt in the window of his car since he knows his little brother is hiding in the car.

[@stephaniewilliams6559]

Tricia Townsend I loved that scene 😂👍

[@jeiger]

3 O'Clock High and The Legend of Billie Jean are a few more great underrated 80's teen movies.

[@kimchijeon818]

I really love Some Kind of Wonderful and Can't Buy Me Love, like I could watch them over and over again

[@jessmanuel540]

Should have included ''Zapped !'' (Scott Baio & Willie Aames), ''Class'' (Rob Lowe, Andrew McCarthy), and ''Heaven Help Us'' (Andrew McCarthy, Kevin DIllon, & Patrick Dempsey).

[@purplestarlite100]

Yes..Zapped!

[@netflixandchilloryoutubean4678]

Anyone else agree they should do a top 10 on The Outsiders

[@degrassiluvaforeva]

I just want tea OMG Yes! The Outsiders is the best greatest movie of all time and deserves its own countdown or countdowns!

[@netflixandchilloryoutubean4678]

@@degrassiluvaforeva anytime and its my favorite movie too

[@nycteen543]

Totally agree with Some Kind of Wonderful and Real Genius on this list. What about Vision Quest though?

[@phillyd4874]

Moving violations was hilarious !!

[@pagano60]

I'm not a big fan of '80s teen flicks, but an unexpected surprise for me was "Secret Admirer" (1985). I'm surprised it's not on the list.

[@walkawaycat431]

Right.

[@DrewsCustomDiecastDrewMSmith]

2 of my favorite 80's movies made this list. Real Genius and Better off Dead.

[@vlh1255]

Better off dead was always one of my favorite movies. I also really liked Valley Girl.

[@tomasvelez9275]

Summer School is a gem. My best friend is a Vampire from 1987 is also great to watch. I agree that Better Off Dead is the best of the lot. Also check out one of Julia Roberts's very first films, Satisfaction.

[@kashiewm]

I loved Hiding Out! Seen it at least 10 times as a kid. Great stuff. And Oh Man... Teen Witch was my jam! I've seen that at least 20 times. TOP THAT!

[@joannwilderman8921]

love Outsiders and The sure thing....

[@alexandabbyskon1923]

Just finished watching lucus, and can't by me love.. but should of mentioned the goonies, karate kid and can't forget the lost boy's

[@2mnywmn]

Wow! Look how young everyone was. 80's music and 80's movies. Clean and simple, but very good.

[@cjamsweety]

I'm a 90's baby but I loved teen witch when I was younger

[@cimarronwm9329]

I was the person who saw most of those films in the theater at the time. I loved Hiding Out, One Crazy Summer, Better Off Dead, No Small Affair (another Job Cryer film with Demi Moore), Some Kind Of Wonderful, My Bodyguard, The Sure Thing, War Games, and the just pre1980s film Breaking Away. I was the type person who would rent a VCR and these movies and introduce them to friends and dormmates. My own personal reaction channel before there was such a thing.

[@rexxarkana]

One Small Affair is the definition of an underappreciated 80s film. MsMojo needs to do a wee bit of research.

[@melindaallen4958]

My favorite 80"s movie is the breakfast club.

[@RKB74]

Some great pics on the list. But "Some Kind of Wonderful" was underrated?!? Really? I remember so many people loving it back then.

[@michaelcurry97]

WoW... I LOVED 75% OF THESE FLIXs. Starting with My Bodyguard. But where’s 3 0’Clock High

[@sissyisrael]

I was expecting to see Just One of the Guys on the list

[@sarah_b_555]

10. Once Bitten (1985) 9. Morgan Stewart's Coming Home 8. Hiding Out (1987) 7. My Bodyguard (1980) 6. Teen Witch (1989) 5. Some Kind of Wonderful (1987) 4. Real Genius (1985) 3. River's Edge (1986) 2. Can't Buy Me Love * Summer School (1987) * The flamingo Kid (1984) * 18 again! (1988) One Crazy Summer (1987) 1. Better Off Dead

[@emilysica6790]

Rumble Fish😎

[@Kiss__Kiss]

OMG!!! OMG!!! This list brought me back..... WAY BACK!!! @MsMojo You forgot; Porky's .... BeetleJuice.....Enemy Mine...... Iron Eagle.... An Office and a Gentleman.... Beast Master..... Urban Cowboy....etc..

[@tiffanyisaacson1407]

Fast times at Ridgemont High , Drive Me Crazy, One crazy Summers, Say anything, Cross Roads, The Heavenly Kid, Teen Wolf, Mannequin, Father like son, Princes Bride, Playing for keeps, Grimlins, The lost boys, The Cure, and Mishife.

[@gwenmack1331]

I want to watch all of these now what would I do without msmojo

[@alexpantoja1516]

10. Once Bitten 9. Morgan Stewarts Coming Home 8. Hiding Out 7. My Bodyguard 6. Teen Witch 5. Some Kind of Wonderful 4. Real Genius 3. River’s Edge 2. Can’t But Me Love 1. Better Off Dead

[@kitcat4058]

Some Kind of Wonderful is one of my favorite teen movies! I had the biggest crush on Watts when I was a kid. I love Better Off Dead, Teen Witch, and anything starring Patrick Dempsey too! I would have loved to see Just One of the Guys and Girls Just Want to Have Fun on here, but nonetheless it's still a great list I'm definitely going to check out Once Bitten after watching this!

[@brentage5000]

Me: (Halfway through) "Well, this is a decent list so far....even has some I've heard of or seen" 5:16 "Number Four....Real Genius" Me: *goes apeshit with excitement*

[@trueCinemaniac]

One of my favorite movies from the 80s is Oxford Blues, which is the definition of under-appreciated if not underrated.

[@oliviadaly2108]

I loooove Morgan Stewart and Hiding Out. Jon Cryer was such a babe in the 80s

[@SoSo56ish]

One crazy summer is a family favorite! Entirely underrated and the absurd humor is incredibly well done!

[@Blahblah4_4_4]

Teen witch is killer I loved it as a kid❤️

[@batgurrl]

River’s Edge has always been respected and became a bit of a cult classic.

[@calleyadele4567]

the guy in can’t buy me love looks exactly like dr shepard from greys

[@MrWellz-ex4px]

The Last American Virgin should have made this list very underrated movie with a great story, and also Private Lessons.

[@Senate300]

Last American Virgin is dreadfully underrated and so realistic. It doesn't get mentioned at all! Plus it's one of them movies where the nice guy doesn't always get the girl.

[@lvhomesales]

Omg , yes that was good one. I almost totally forgot about that one. Its funny and raunchy!

[@Senate300]

@@lvhomesales Ain't it the truth? The situations highlighted in the movie were as timeless as ever. Compared to most of the clichés surrounding the teen flick genre of that time, The Last American Virgin was quite subversive.

[@heathermackie7390]

I loved watching teen witch!! I still have a copy of it.

[@dammad8584]

Making the grade Totally underrated....funny and pure 80's gold.

[@catmomjill]

It's gotta be Better Off Dead. I've loved that movie and even had the soundtrack!!