Back to trending
Fast Times at Ridgemont High

Fast Times at Ridgemont High

Comedy · Romance · Drama · 1982

A group of Southern-California high school students ignore their studies in favor of indulging in their teenage distractions.

Movie details

Fast Times at Ridgemont High

“At Ridgemont High, only the rules get busted!”

1982 Comedy · Romance · Drama 1h 30m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

6.8 / 10

Community rating

A group of Southern-California high school students ignore their studies in favor of indulging in their teenage distractions.

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over Fast Times at Ridgemont High?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

Alex Strangelove

Alex Strangelove

Comedy · 2018

Alex Truelove is on a quest to lose his virginity, an event eagerly awaited by his patient girlfriend and cheered on with welcome advice by his rowdy friends. But Alex, a super gregarious dude, is oddly unmotivated. A magical house party throws Alex into the presence of Elliot, a hunky college guy, who pegs Alex as gay and flirts hard. Alex is taken aback but after a series of setbacks on the girlfriend front he takes the plunge and learns some interesting new facts about himself.

Love Don't Co$t a Thing

Love Don't Co$t a Thing

Comedy · 2003

A high school outcast pays a cheerleader to pose as his girlfriend so he can be considered cool.

Real Women Have Curves

Real Women Have Curves

Comedy · 2002

In East Los Angeles, an 18-year-old struggles between her ambitions of going to college and the desires of her domineering mother for her to get married, have children, and oversee the small, rundown family-owned textile factory.

Dinner in America

Dinner in America

Romance · 2020

An on-the-lam punk rocker and a young woman obsessed with a local band go on an unexpected and epic journey together through the decaying suburbs of the American Midwest.

Jesus' Son

Jesus' Son

Comedy · 2000

A young man turns from drug addiction and petty crime to a life redeemed by a discovery of compassion.

Extracurricular Activities

Extracurricular Activities

Comedy · 2019

The outrageous life of Reagan Collins, a model high school student with a "killer" after-school job that involves arranging “accidents” for his classmates' parents. When seasoned police detective Cliff Dawkins starts putting the pieces together, it's a battle of wits to see if Reagan can keep business booming.

Seven Minutes in Heaven

Seven Minutes in Heaven

Comedy · 1986

Natalie allows her classmate Jeff, who has run away from home, to stay at her place while her father is away on a business trip. Natalie soon starts dating Jeff's friend James Casey, who isn't as faithful as she thinks, while her best friend Polly falls in love with baseball player Zoo Knudsen.

Youth in Revolt

Youth in Revolt

Comedy · 2009

As a fan of Albert Camus and Jean-Luc Godard, teenage Nick Twisp is definitely out of his element when his mother and her boyfriend move the family to a trailer park. When a pretty neighbor named Sheeni plays records by French crooners, it's love at first sight for frustrated and inexperienced Nick. Learning that she is dating someone, Nick launches a hilarious quest to find his way into Sheeni's heart -- and bed.

Dazed and Confused

Dazed and Confused

Comedy · 1993

The adventures of a group of Texas teens on their last day of school in 1976, centering on student Randall Floyd, who moves easily among stoners, jocks and geeks. Floyd is a star athlete, but he also likes smoking weed, which presents a conundrum when his football coach demands he sign a "no drugs" pledge.

The Breakfast Club

The Breakfast Club

Comedy · 1985

Five high school students from different walks of life endure a Saturday detention under a power-hungry principal. The disparate group includes rebel John, princess Claire, outcast Allison, brainy Brian and Andrew, the jock. Each has a chance to tell his or her story, making the others see them a little differently -- and when the day ends, they question whether school will ever be the same.

Where it lives

Watch in your region.

Cinema release signals and current streaming, rental, and purchase options for your region.

Streaming availability data supplied by JustWatch.

Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

Amy Heckerling

Written by

Cameron Crowe

Sean Penn

Sean Penn

Jeff Spicoli

Jennifer Jason Leigh

Jennifer Jason Leigh

Stacy Hamilton

Judge Reinhold

Judge Reinhold

Brad Hamilton

Phoebe Cates

Phoebe Cates

Linda Barrett

Brian Backer

Brian Backer

Mark "Rat" Ratner

Robert Romanus

Robert Romanus

Mike Damone

Ray Walston

Ray Walston

Mr. Hand

Court is in session

Put Fast Times at Ridgemont High on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Sentimental Softie

“Sincerity is not manipulation.”

The film risks embarrassment to make emotion communal, and that openness is harder than fashionable detachment.

The prosecution The Cool Ironist

“The strings are showing.”

Every cue tells you exactly what to feel and when, leaving sentiment to do the work character should have done.