In his early 20s, before he became a director, journalist Cameron Crowe went undercover as a high school student and came back with the full scoop on sex, drugs and rock 'n' roll in the early 1980s. The result was Fast Times at Ridgemont High, which captures some truly memorable and hilarious characters amidst a group of Southern California students carousing and vying for love. The all-star cast includes Sean Penn as stoner Jeff Spicoli.
Netflix Rating: 3.8
Rotten Tomatoes:
Fresh 80%
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.