Best Chick Flicks from the 80s: Romantic Movies

“The Breakfast Club” was released in 1985 starring Molly Ringwald, Emilio Estevez, Anthony Michael Hall, Judd Nelson, and Ally Sheedy. Five teenagers with nothing in common are forced to spend their Saturday in detention. Through the movie the teenagers are able to find common ground between each other and leave with a unique bond. Each teenager represents one of the teenage movie stereotypes, the jock, the princess, the brain, the rebel, and the crazy one. It’s the epitome of 80’s teen movies and a must see on any 80s movie list.

Starring a young and hot Cary Elwes as Westley, and a brand new to the screen Robin Wright as Princess Buttercup, this movie was released in 1987 from director Rob Reiner. A young Westley leaves to find his fortune so he can marry his Buttercup. However, while Westley is gone, he is thought to be killed by the Dread Pirate Roberts, and Buttercup is crushed. Five years later, still thinking Westley is dead, Buttercup eventually agrees to marry another. However, this comedy fantasy adventure takes a new turn when Princess Buttercup is kidnapped by three dopes, and the “Dread Pirate Roberts” shows up to save her.

Another 1987 gem, this movie stars Andrew McCarthy and Kim Cattrall. Andrew McCarthy plays an artist that is trying to figure out what to do with his life and ends up working as a mall window designer. Kim Cattrall plays a genie who is frozen as a mannequin and can only come alive in front of Andrew McCarthy’s character Jonathan. Jonathan falls in love with Cattrall’s character Emmy. As Jonathan’s windows become more famous and they begin making the store he works for more money, the competitors plan to steal Jonathan’s famous mannequin, not realizing that she is alive and that Jonathan loves her.

Starring 80s queen Molly Ringwald, as a poor girl that lives on the wrong side of the tracks and one of the kings of the 80s Andrew McCarthy, as a rich kid who falls for the wrong girl. Ringwald’s character Andie is torn between her rich boy crush (McCarthy) and her childhood friend Duckie (Jon Cryer). Ringwald and McCarthy’s characters try to keep their relationship strong even though they are facing the ridicule from both sets of friends. Can a poor girl be good enough for a wealthy boy? Can love defeat all obstacles?

Starring a six star cast of Andrew McCarthy, Judd Nelson, Emilio Esteves, Ally Sheedy, Rob Lowe and Demi Moore. This coming of age movie follows a group of recent college grads as they transition to adulthood. “St. Elmo’s Fire” was released in 1985 and directed by Joel Schumacher. There are various love connections made between the various stars and it can sometimes be hard to like all of the characters because some of them are very self-centered. But you can’t help but root for McCarthy and Sheedy’s coupling.

Richard Gere and Debra Winger star in this 1982 movie. The movie follows a young Gere as his character Zach Mayo enters Navy Aviation School. Viewers follow Zach through his 13 week training and his bad attitude, until he finds Paula (Winger), a woman working in a local factory. Paula and Zach hit it off but their friends do not, thinking that Paula is trying to trap him, Zach calls it quits, but soon realizes he is in love with Paula. It ends with a beautiful scene to the song “Up Where We Belong.”

Starring John Cusack as Lloyd Dobler and an unknown Ione Skye as Diane Court, this 1989 movie gave us Peter Gabriel’s boom box holding song “In Your Eyes.” The iconic boom box scene has been repeated in various other movies as fun but when Lloyd falls for smart and out of his league Diane Court, a beautiful love story develops between the two. Lloyd finally realizes what he is good at, and that is loving Diane.

Released in 1987 and starring Patrick Dempsey as a nerdy Ronald Miller and Amanda Peterson as Cindy his popular crush. Ronald Miller has been a geek his entire life and he has decided that his senior year is going to be different. Ronald pays the most popular girl (Cindy) in school to date him and to help make him part of the popular group. Cindy agrees thinking Ronald’s idea will never work, however, Ronald’s plan works very well and soon he is a part of the popular crowd. During their strange relationship the two develop feelings for one another.

Another poor kid meets rich kid and falls in love storyline starring Lea Thompson as Amanda Jones, Eric Stoltz as Keith Nelson, and Mary Stuart Masterson as Watts. Keith and Watts are best friends but Keith has had a crush on Amanda Jones his entire life, and uses his college tuition to create the perfect date for Amanda. As Keith tries to make the perfect date night for Amanda, he enlists the help of his best friend Watts, who actually adores Keith without him realizing.

Baby (Jennifer Grey) and Johnny (Patrick Swayze) meet while Baby is on vacation with her family. Johnny works as a dance instructor and Baby adores him from afar, until Johnny’s dance partner has an abortion and Baby has to take her place. One thing leads to another and soon the innocent Baby and the rebel Johnny are more than just friends.