The Ultimate History of the '80s Teen Movie: Fast Times at Ridgemont High ~ Sixteen Candles ~ Revenge of the Nerds ~ The Karate Kid ~ The Breakfast Club ~ Footloose ~ Dead Poets Society ~ and Everything in Between

By James King

A trip back to the era of troubled teens and awesome soundtracks; of Reagan, rap, and Ridgemont High; of MTV, VHS, and “Axel F”; of outsiders, lost boys, and dead poets; of Bill and Ted, Brooke Shields, and the Brat Pack; of three Porky's flicks, two Coreys, and one summer when “Baby” refused to be put in a corner.

"Admirably opting for analysis over nostalgia and gossip, King examines the origin, production, and cultural afterlife of seemingly every youth-centric 1980s movie you've ever heard of and more...An excellent adventure through a distinct and genre-spanning era in cinema history. For casual movie fans and industry-minded cinephiles alike." —Library Journal

The Ultimate History of the ’80s Teen Movie goes behind the scenes of a genre where cult hits mingled with studio blockbusters, where giants like Spielberg and Coppola rubbed shoulders with baby-faced first-timers, and where future superstars Sean, Demi, and Tom all got their big break. Music, comedy, and politics all play a part in the surprisingly complex history of the ’80s teen movie. And while the films might have been aimed primarily at adolescents, the best tackle universal issues and remain relevant to all ages.

From a late ’70s Hollywood influx to an early ’90s indie scene that gave youth cinema a timely reboot, film expert James King highlights the personal struggles, the social changes, and the boardroom shake-ups that produced an iconic time in movie history.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Diversion Books
• Release date: Mar 19, 2019
• ISBN: 9781635765830

James King

James King is a British journalist, specialising in Film and Music. His BBC Radio 1 show James King's Movie News was nominated for a Sony Radio Academy Award in 2004. He has also contributed to numerous TV shows, and was the presenter of ITV2’s The Movie Show.

Reviews for The Ultimate History of the '80s Teen Movie

[pomo58 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The Ultimate History of the '80s Teen Movie by James King is exactly what the title says and succeeds as such. This is a history, not a collection of gossip or sensationalism masquerading as history, so be aware of that before reading so you will know what you're about to get into.Rather than jump into the 80s movies King does a splendid job of setting the scene, beginning with the late 70s and how they paved the way for what was to follow. The overall history is bracketed by references to John Travolta, which might seem odd but works very well as a framing story within which the 80s teem movies thrived.There is not a lot of anecdotal stories unless they serve to advance the history of the genre during this time frame. You won't find much gossip for the sake of dishing on stars. If it doesn't help with the history it won't be here. I find that refreshing and very welcome in a book about Hollywood film, but those who just want to hear sensationalism and gossip will be disappointed. There is plenty here for a wonderful trip down memory lane but it is a trip with substance rather than fluff.I would recommend this to readers who enjoy film history as well as those who remember the films under discussion. I would not have used this during my time teaching but would have suggested it to any student researching the period and genre. It is not an academic book even though it is well-researched and documented.Reviewed from a copy made available by the publisher via NetGalley.