Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Mild
- Complexity
- Simple
- Violence
- None
- witty
- breezy
- energetic
- nostalgia night
- dance movie marathon
What critics said
Critics broadly found the film appealing and energetic in places but conventional, cheesy, and uneven as an 1980s teen movie.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Janey's dancing ambitions conflict with her father's disapproval, making performance a vehicle for adolescent autonomy.
The Dance TV competition organizes the characters' ambitions and parodies the spectacle of rock-oriented television shows.
The film foregrounds energetic dancing, teen romance, school rivalries, and the colorful pop-cultural atmosphere of mid-1980s Chicago.
Janey and Lynne bond over dancing and work together toward the Dance TV audition.
Films like Girls Just Want to Have Fun, and why
Footloose
1980s teen dance film centered on youthful self-expression and resistance to restrictive authority
Heavenly Bodies
energetic dance competition, adolescent romance, and heightened 1980s musical-comedy tone
Hairspray
teen friendship, romance, music, and performance-driven coming-of-age storytelling
Movie Details
- Director
- Alan Metter
- Release Date
- 1985-04-12
- Runtime
- 87 min
- Rating
- 6.1 / 10 (197)
Cast
- Sarah Jessica Parker
- Helen Hunt
- Shannen Doherty
- Lee Montgomery
- Morgan Woodward
- Jonathan Silverman
- Ed Lauter
- Holly Gagnier
- Biff Yeager
- Kristi Somers
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Girls Just Want to Have Fun about?
- Two determined Chicago teenagers chase a televised dance dream while navigating parental disapproval, school rivalries, and first love.
- What is Girls Just Want to Have Fun like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Girls Just Want to Have Fun as brisk, its intensity as mild and its storytelling as simple.
- Is Girls Just Want to Have Fun violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in Girls Just Want to Have Fun.
- What did critics think of Girls Just Want to Have Fun?
- Critics broadly found the film appealing and energetic in places but conventional, cheesy, and uneven as an 1980s teen movie.
- Which films are like Girls Just Want to Have Fun?
- Films with a similar feel include Footloose, Heavenly Bodies, and Hairspray.
- How long is Girls Just Want to Have Fun?
- Girls Just Want to Have Fun runs 87 minutes.
- Where can I watch Girls Just Want to Have Fun?
- In United States, Girls Just Want to Have Fun streams on Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads.
