Fast Times at Ridgemont High

Released Aug 13, 1982

1h 30m

Comedy

TRAILER

for Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982) Presented by TCM: Fathom Events Trailer

List

78%

Tomatometer

60 Reviews

80%

Audience Score

100,000+ Ratings

Stacy Hamilton (Jennifer Jason Leigh) is a pretty, but inexperienced, teen interested in dating. Given advice by her uninhibited friend, Linda Barrett (Phoebe Cates), Stacy gets trapped in a love triangle with nice guy Mark Ratner (Brian Backer) and his more assured buddy Mike Damone (Robert Romanus). Meanwhile, Stacy's classmate Jeff Spicoli (Sean Penn), who lives for surfing and being stoned, faces off against Mr. Hand (Ray Walston), a strict teacher who has no time for the slacker's antics.

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Critics Consensus

While Fast Times at Ridgemont High features Sean Penn's legendary performance, the film endures because it accurately captured the small details of school, work, and teenage life.

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Paul Wagman

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

The movie ends up with no clear identity; it doesn't work as anything.

Aug 15, 2022

Full Review

Richard Roeper

Chicago Sun-Times

The best of the racy teen comedies perfectly preserves the fashions and attitudes of the ’80s.

Jul 30, 2022

Full Review

Ernest Leogrande

New York Daily News

What it doesn't have is a clear point of view, something that would make it of more interest than leafing through a high school yearbook.

Rated: 2/4

Aug 12, 2015

Full Review

Brian Susbielles

InSession Film

Order a pizza and learn about Cuba in an all-time teen comedy classic by Amy Heckerling and scripted by Cameron Crowe.

Mar 6, 2023

Full Review

Stephen Silver

Tilt Magazine

In the perfect wheelhouse of teen movies: Sexually frank, right up to the inclusion of an abortion subplot, but not too crass or exploitative. (40th anniversary)

Rated: 4/5

Aug 26, 2022

Full Review

Joe Lipsett

Hazel & Katniss & Harry & Starr Podcast

40 years on, Heckerling's film is as iconic as ever. Fast Times...features no shortage of stand-out characters and memorable moments, but where the film truly excels is how refreshingly candid it is about sex, dating and abortion.

Rated: 3.5/5

Aug 4, 2022

Full Review

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Charles C

With some very solid and memorable performances, a great blend of comedy and drama, a fire soundtrack, great 80s style, and for the most part a pretty well aged film, makes fast times at ridgemont high as still as relevant of comedy as it was back when it was released.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

06/04/24

Full Review

Colby B

Sean Penn kind of carried the movie, but this movie is also a good time capsule of being young in the 80s. Some parts didn’t age well, but overall it kept me entertained. I think anyone in their teens or 20s will at least find some type of entertainment value from it.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

06/01/24

Full Review

Jay H

This "comedy" is about as funny as prediabetes.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

04/17/24

Full Review

Michael B

I mean...come on. Anyone growing up in the 70's and 80's shouldn't have been given an adult card without sharing in this experience.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/08/24

Full Review

Michael S

Without a doubt one of the most entertaining & quotable 80s flicks out there. A great high school comedy with hilarious jokes and memorable characters. An absolute classic from your parents' generation.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

04/01/24

Full Review

Augustine J

This movie is just straight eighties fun, well most of it. Jeff Spicoli and Brad Hamilton are some of my favorite characters in any comedy. Sean Penn and Judge Reinhold play them to perfection. This movie also has a bunch of simply great comedic moments that always get me chuckling. This movie dosen't have any discernible plot whatsoever which is perfect for this movie. I love the characters and many of the moments, and the completely non-existent plot. It's a classic from the eighties that you need to check out. If you haven't seen this movie, what are you? On dope?

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

03/16/24

Full Review

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Amy Heckerling

Director

Sean Penn

Jeff Spicoli

Jennifer Jason Leigh

Stacy Hamilton

Judge Reinhold

Brad Hamilton

Robert Romanus

Mike Damone

Brian Backer

Mark "Rat" Ratner

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Fast Times at Ridgemont High: Official Clip - He's Gonna Kill Us!