Calling all Xennials, help me recreate that perfect 80s/90s teenage movie night for my Niece and Nephew.
Posted by springer0510@reddit | Xennials | View on Reddit | 346 comments
My Wife and I are hosting Thanksgiving this year and my Niece (13) and Nephew (16) will be visiting. I got them both hooked on stranger things and the plan is to watch the premiere together Thanksgiving eve.
My Niece especially has become very fascinated with "the before times". You all know that magical era when summer days felt endless, your biggest adventure was seeing how far your bike could take you, nobody had a cell phone tracking their every move, and the hardest decision you faced was which movie to rent from Blockbuster on a Friday night.
For her birthday earlier this year they were visiting and she asked to see a "real mall" as the ones where they live are just shells of their once glorious selves. I got to reminiscing when I was their age hanging out at the mall, hitting up KB Toys to drool over N64 games, then heading to the arcade.
It honestly hurt my heart a little bit knowing they won't get to experience how malls used to be. Buzzing with people, the music, the smell of Sbarro pizza. They were more than just a place to go shopping it was an experience, a hang out, a place to kill time and maybe get into a little trouble.
Being the crazy Uncle. This gave me the idea of having a full blown 80s/90s retro watch party for them to experience.
So, I'm Looking to all you slightly anxious fine folks of the 1900s for help with ideas of what brings you back to that moment. Especially food and candy.
Think things like the microwave popcorn, microwave nachos, pizza rolls, maybe even get crazy and order a pizza hut pizza!
Pretty-Kangaroo9638@reddit
Tales From the Crypt!
LissyVee@reddit
The Breakfast Club, Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure, Weekend at Bernie's, Risky Business, Raiders of the Lost Ark, Back to the Future, Ferris Bueller's Day Off, Big, Footloose, Little Shop of Horrors, Ghostbusters, The Goonies.
mountainskylove@reddit
Definitely take away any phones for the night first, then after stranger things premiere, make cardboard cutouts of some 80/90’s classic movies in the shape of a box we would have picked out at blockbuster and have them pick out what to watch next. Like print a picture of the movie cover and glue it on the front of the cardboard so it looks like a vhs box. Put them all on a shelf and then let them pick. Then send them outside to go on a night bike ride in the neighborhood with no phones.
Ooga78@reddit
If they could get friends together, play ghost in the graveyard!
mountainskylove@reddit
Yes!
springer0510@reddit (OP)
This is an awesome idea!
Chawp@reddit
Make them call a pizza place and place a delivery order. Then make them pay for the pizza when the delivery knocks on the door, with cash + tip.
No doordash, no contactless delivery
Embarrassed_Kale_580@reddit
And even if it’s not needed, have them count out the money owed and make it not be a whole dollar amount. Make them count change. I’ve been amazed at the smart kids I know who don’t know how to do that. I’m not actually knocking them… it’s fascinating to me that it’s something so many of them just don’t encounter.
Shermer_60062@reddit
Have a couple selections that are already rented and not available. And they have to watch what they rented. 😁
CuriousLands@reddit
Lol I totally just suggested something really similar. Great minds think alike! They gotta have that feeling of choosing from a finite number of things right in front of them!
animus218@reddit
Empire Records
Ooga78@reddit
Pump Up The Volume
Rod_McBan@reddit
Yeah, this has my vote for the slice of teen life in the 90s choice.
Roonil-Wazlib-314@reddit
His name isn’t Warren?
Rod_McBan@reddit
I thought his name was Warren.
ashlyn42@reddit
My name isn’t f@cking WARREN
Queen_of_Tudor@reddit
This was my comfort movie in high school. The soundtrack still hits
twodexy82@reddit
Hell yeah it does. Deb was my first ever girlcrush
Careful-Corgi@reddit
I watched this once a week the entire year I was 13.
timidwildone@reddit
jennifer_m13@reddit
BrilliantFarm8643@reddit
Teenaged Mutant Ninja Turtles
butterflygardyn@reddit
My advice is don't do it. 80's and early 90's teen movies are really problematic. Watched 16 Candles(one of my faves) with my kids. Rapey, misogynistic and horribly, embarassingly racist. Definitely pre-screen them. I'm afraid to rewatch Dirty Dancing now.
Apprehensive_Gap1055@reddit
Princess Bride is always a hit
Abby_Benton@reddit
I think if they like stranger things they may like: Monster Squad, big trouble in little China, ghostbusters, lost boys. Fire starter, and the never ending story.
OstrichMean7004@reddit
The Neverending Story? You want to scar those kids for life? ARRRRTAAAXXXX!!!
(I actually back the recommendation. Love that movie)
mobtown_misanthrope@reddit
They're teenagers. Doubt they'll even make it half way though the Neverending Story.
OstrichMean7004@reddit
Why? When my girls were teens, they made it through plenty of movies.
mobtown_misanthrope@reddit
My point is that it's a kiddie movie.
Abby_Benton@reddit
Replying to OstrichMean7004...
I’m a teen librarian, been so for nearly 25 years. Obviously all teens are different, but a lot of teens actually find “kiddie” things comforting. Coloring, cartoons (we did a courage the cowardly dog marathon for Halloween that my teens loved).
I also suggested this because if they’re into stranger things there are direct references to the never ending story in season two that became something of a meme. Some teens may like it simply because it’s referenced.
OstrichMean7004@reddit
I'm 50. I still watch the occasional cartoon and kiddie movie. My daughter, for her 18th birthday, wanted a birthday at one of those "kid parks" types of places (with go carts and mini golf and the like), because she realized that adulthood was screaming toward her.
If a teenager has a problem with a "kiddie movie", that teenager needs some joy in their life. Because I couldn't imagine a single teenager who wouldn't.
fyrefly_faerie@reddit
If we're scarring kids for life, maybe also throw in Return to Oz.
AVonDingus@reddit
God, i love that movie!
Ok-Concert-6475@reddit
The pain is real.
ashlyn42@reddit
Thankfully his niblings are both teenagers - we were all shown TNS before most of us even graduated Kindergarten. Scaring and earth shattering
MotherofaPickle@reddit
And Land Before Time.
zeller99@reddit
The trauma was what made us what we are.
We must uphold the ancient sacred traditions.
jimmiebwright@reddit
Big trouble in little chine is a must!!!
TheRoyalShe@reddit
I showed my daughter the Neverending Story when she was about 14 and she laughed at just about everything in it… the effects seemed so amazing when I was a kid.
WreckitRuby@reddit
I showed my 9 yo Never Ending story 2 months ago. He thought it was mid. I’m upset over Artax, he’s like mom, we barely know the horse at all, no big deal.
Illustrated-skies@reddit
Oof, brutal!
OstrichMean7004@reddit
Your daughter needs a joy transfusion.
(Actually, it really sucks when your kids are like "I guess it's ok" to something you love. My daughter called Breakfast Club "mid". My wife had to hold me back ;-) )
sunblossom6868@reddit
Lost Boys YES
CrackinBones204@reddit
I still believe!
cmotdibblersdelights@reddit
Tim Capello! He plays sax for Gunship, and they have an awesome animated vampire/slayer music video with a heavy Lost Boys influence.
sator-2D-rotas@reddit
Hollow? Hollow, fuck it.
Abby_Benton@reddit
“It’s all in the reflexes.”
Ralliman320@reddit
"Wolf man's got nards!" is a core memory.
Abby_Benton@reddit
Same!
chillin1066@reddit
I was just thinking about Monster Squad, and I am deeply ashamed I didn’t think about if Trouble in Little China.
ApocolypseJoe@reddit
Dazed & Confused
Mallrats
Empire Records
CTTraceur@reddit
The trilogy of trilogies:
Star wars episodes 4, 5, and 6.
Back to the future
Indiana Jones - temple of doom, Raiders of the lost ark, last crusade.
shankthedog@reddit
Definitely need to build a blanket fort by moving the furniture around.
Elevenyearstoomany@reddit
Clueless, Mall Rats, Bill & Ted
i_love_ankh_morpork@reddit
Not sure I could watch Mallrats with my 13yo niece but every family’s different
Stevie-Rae-5@reddit
I one thousand percent would not watch Mallrats with my 13 y/o.
WhiskyStandard@reddit
I one thousand percent watched Chasing Amy sitting between my parents because that was the only way I could get to the art house that was playing at. Would not recommend.
Stevie-Rae-5@reddit
Oh dear lord. I just cringed so hard at the very idea. I can’t imagine living through that.
HicJacetMelilla@reddit
I just rewatched Mallrats last week. I used to love this movie and watching the seemingly endless reruns of it on Comedy Central. But wow, I don’t think I’d want to watch it with anyone now lol. It has some charm, but too many needlessly gross and perverted elements.
PuzzleheadedAbies678@reddit
Like Ben Affleck and having sex in uncomfortable places?
sgdonovan79@reddit
What? Like the back of a Volkswagen?
Ok-Bookkeeper-3149@reddit
Call me Donnie.... call me Joey....
slyiscoming@reddit
Uncle buck, what about bob, Bio dome
mobtown_misanthrope@reddit
Encino Man! Weeze the juice!
CallidoraBlack@reddit
The original Buffy the Vampire Slayer, the film version.
_random_name_44@reddit
I don't get the hate Mallrats is getting. It's still a funny movie
CallidoraBlack@reddit
It's not hate. It's just probably not something an adult wants to watch with young teens.
sator-2D-rotas@reddit
Clueless for sure.
big_sugi@reddit
Clueless is the #1 movie for this list in terms of 90s movies, and it’s not close.
I was a little too young for the John Hughes 80s movies, but Ferris Bueller’s Day Off needs to be featured prominently.
sator-2D-rotas@reddit
For 80s flicks—Goonies, Adventurers in Babysitting, and Ferris Bueller’s Day Off are my trifecta. I don’t care the order.
sanedragon@reddit
Got to throw in The Craft
Careful-Corgi@reddit
Yes!!
Roonil-Wazlib-314@reddit
Open till midnight.
PickledPixie83@reddit
We watched Happy Gilmore with my teen and he loved it.
-bobsnotmyuncle-@reddit
Get out of my head
CD84@reddit
Get into my car
Stevie-Rae-5@reddit
Get in the backseat baby
Captain3leg-s@reddit
Encino Man
Embarrassed_Ad2475@reddit
Clueless(for sure) and bill and Ted(maybe)
starshine8316@reddit
My teens LOVED The Princess Bride and the Goonies
Nottheadviceyaafter@reddit
Put an Australian slant in their with the castle
WhiskyStandard@reddit
Have some board games like the 1984 Genus Edition of Trivial Pursuit.
Just tell them if the question is about a baseball player, they should guess Satchel Paige. Voice actor: Mel Blanc.
Maybe_Fine@reddit
We did a marathon of all 3 Back To The Future with our nephews last year. It was great. We brought air mattresses and sleeping bags into the bedroom and had a fabulous time.
ooooooootreyngers@reddit
3 ninjas...seriously. For them and you:)
letsgooncemore@reddit
Pizza bagels and Biodome
MardelMare@reddit
Pizza Hut in the basement den/rec room covered by brown paneled walls and a plaid woven couch. Popcorn and laser tag!
camptastic_plastic@reddit
I feel like since they love Stranger Things the obvious choice is The Goonies.
countessofgroan@reddit
Also The Neverending Story!
Brutalboxox@reddit
Can confirm my 9 year old daughter loves Monster Squad and Stranger Thingd
springer0510@reddit (OP)
This will definitely be in the cards! They haven't seen it yet and will be cool to see them experience it for the first time.
RobMV03@reddit
I took my 9 year old son to see it in theaters this summer. It's still so great. If I remember correctly, there's like a small handful of things that don't hold up that well, but it's all relatively minor, and the good ol', "things were different, some of this might be a little weird" talk seemed to do the trick.
NotUnoriginal@reddit
Better serve some Baby Ruths then!
buginmybeer24@reddit
I'm happy to say that my 13 year old son picked The Goonies as the first movie he watched while home sick yesterday. We've probably already watched it 20 times together and neither of us gets tired of it. Classic movie.
Justinterestingenouf@reddit
Heeeey you guuuuuys!
ghandi3737@reddit
Rocky, road.
CrackinBones204@reddit
Did they see Terminator 2?
cia218@reddit
Super 8 too. It’s more recent though.
I wonder if they should also see E.T. as Stranger Things had a lot of 80s references. Also Back to the Future 1 & 2.
Rod_McBan@reddit
I tried Goonies with my kids and they were not impressed. Really bummed me out- it's my absolute favorite.
ttreehouse@reddit
Same. They thought it moved too slowly. They loved Gremlins though.
sgruenbe@reddit
I'd maybe go with Firestarter if they're big fans of Stranger Things.
OstrichMean7004@reddit
Oh. Didn't see you'd mentioned this!
betwixtweetbix@reddit
give this one all the votes!
valr1821@reddit
80s: Dirty Dancing, Some Kind of Wonderful, The Breakfast Club, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off
90s: 10 Things I Hate About You, Clueless, American Pie
Jaralith@reddit
Ever After. pizza rolls, mountain dew, those sugar powder packets with the candy sticks, pop rocks
imnottheoneipromise@reddit
I just rewatched this and I still loved it at 13!
I bet she will love any of Julia stiles movies of that era too.
cia218@reddit
The 13 year old will LOVE that movie
imnottheoneipromise@reddit
Now and Then,
Clueless,
Stand by Me,
Scream movies,
scary movie,
the War,
Titanic,
can’t hardly wait,
10 things I hate about you,
save the last dance,
she’s all that,
rush hour,
Austin powers,
MIB,
the matrix series,
empire records,
good will hunting,
clerks 2 (pretty vulgar though).
Lord of the rings
The sixth sense
Romeo and Juliet
Cruel intentions
What’s eating Gilbert grape
Biodome
Mall rats
The waterboy
Terminator
Punkinpry427@reddit
Teen Witch
jar36@reddit
They also missed out on all of the smoke in the air in the mall and at restaurants
DirtyBirdDawg@reddit
The Breakfast Club, the Goonies, Empire Records, Clueless, and Can't Hardly Wait are some of the major ones that come to mind for me.
msguider@reddit
Can't hardly wait!!! "Girl you are far too fine to be lookin so sad!"
DirtyBirdDawg@reddit
That was my graduation year ('98) so I have an especially nostalgic feel for that one.
Feeling-Visit1472@reddit
I think most of these should wait another couple of years.
Appropriate-Tie-6524@reddit
I never liked goonies. I recall loving big trouble on little china. And I feel like you absolute have to order pizza. Maybe from Pizza Hut. And get microwave popcorn. I guess those aspects haven't changed.
Illustrated-skies@reddit
Awesome suggestions here. I wanted to add that I visited a mall last week (for the Apple Store) and I was delighted at how alive & busy this mall was. Full of kids/teens & 20 something’s. Some of these kids even looked like they were straight out of the 80s. It was pure nostalgia! Just needed an Orange Julius and a trip to Spencer’s.
uscarbinecal30m1@reddit
Ghostbusters / Ghostbusters II double feature.
Stand By Me.
clumsystarfish_@reddit
80s: Labyrinth, Flight of the Navigator, Footloose, Short Circuit, The Land Before Time, Mystic Pizza, Dirty Dancing, Adventures in Babysitting, Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure, Back To The Future (all), anything with John Candy
90s: 10 Things I Hate About You, Clueless, Dumb and Dumber, The Wedding Singer (more 80s!), Can't Hardly Wait, Home Alone, The Matrix, A League of Their Own, Good Will Hunting, Jerry Maguire, Empire Records, Hackers, Tommy Boy.
Ok-Concert-6475@reddit
This is a stellar list
Skarr-Skarrson@reddit
Dark crystal, to go along with the fantasy with labyrinth. And never ending story.
Careful-Use-4913@reddit
I wouldn’t recommend Mystic Pizza for the age of teens he mentioned.
IAmNotAPersonSorry@reddit
I’d add Karate Kid too; I used to do double features of that and Back to the Future.
Resident-Trouble4483@reddit
I made my kids watch these so they understood Kobra Kai. Mostly because of the characters who make guest appearances and also so they know they were cheated out of Mr.Miagi.
Selmarris@reddit
Dead Poets Society.
SpreadDependent8805@reddit
Thank you! I was looking for the Hackers recommendation!
Fearless-Sherbet667@reddit
Zero Cool for ever
OstrichMean7004@reddit
Oh my god, how the hell did I forget Labyrinth?!?!
RedShirtDecoy@reddit
Stove top jiffy pop
TheFrozenFlamingo@reddit
Just last night, my Middle School’s kids said man Mom the 1900s looked so cool
Mind-of-Jaxon@reddit
Better off dead
Don’t tell mom… the babysitter is dead
Weekend at Bernie’s
Night of the Comet.
NW_Forester@reddit
How much 80s and 90s have they seen before?
Back to the Future and Indiana Jones trilogy are top tier of course.
Goonies, The Sandlot, Groundhog Day, Clueless, 10 things I hate about you, She's All That, Not Another Teen Movie, Ghost Busters, Addams Family 1 and 2, My Cousin Vinny, Cool Runnings
If they are mature enough then consider
Stand By Me, T1 and T2, Alien and Aliens,
And finish it off with the original The Matrix so they leave knowing that culture peaked in 1999.
RobMV03@reddit
Think you can make an Orange Julius at home?
Roseheath22@reddit
Red Vines
Hour_Sample5392@reddit
Or… twizzlers!!! You have to pick one you cannot choose both and you must stay with this decision for the rest of your natural lives! HAVE YOU NO DECENCY!?!??
Roseheath22@reddit
My friends and I recently did a red vines vs twizzlers taste test, and we all agreed red vines were far superior.
GrungeCheap56119@reddit
Labyrinth, or The Dark Crystal
Constant_War441@reddit
Tremors, Drop Dead Fred
EdwardRoivas@reddit
Tremors needs to be way higher. An amazing film, only 90 mins, takes place in an isolated valley - no cell phones, using ham radios to communicate - a real time capsule. Plus it’s got some great practical effects.
SparkyC77@reddit
Goonies, ET, Explorers,Last Starfighter, Flight of the Navigator, and D.A.R.R.Y.L., these are similar to stranger Things. I do think they are for a younger audience like the 13 year old. Don't tell Mom the Babysitters Dead, Adventures in Babysitting, Can't Buy me Love, Uncle Buck these would be better for the 16 year old. I think they would both enjoy all of these movies but try to mix it up a little. Be careful with anything John Hughes some of that stuff did not age well except Home Alone with the holidays coming this would be a great one.
GreenBeanParty@reddit
BuggerPie81@reddit
Cheap beer and a metal pipe with pieces stolen from the hardware store and a small amount of shwag. Then follow recs about movies everyone else has.
rinky79@reddit
Get the popcorn that comes in the foil frying pan thing and let them make it.
relikter@reddit
Sleeping bags on the floor, an N64 with Mario Kart, and have them call a local radio station to request a song.
onthestickagain@reddit
Oh man! u/springer0510 - along those lines, if you can get the equipment together, have them make mix tapes! I have such fond memories of calling in to request songs and then trying to time it just right to record them onto a cassette!
betty_smash@reddit
Heavyweights, Mighty Ducks, Goonies, Labyrinth
Rodeoqueenyyc@reddit
Mighty Ducks paired with Sandlot or Angels in the Outfield would be a fun sports night! I loved Ladybugs but you’d probably get cancelled…
browneyedgirl1683@reddit
You must somehow incorporate the use of twizzlers or red vines as a straw. Literally the reason I went to the movies was to get an overpriced soda and twizzlers to drink from.
NotUnoriginal@reddit
Drinks: surge, sunny d, Snapple
Snacks: gushers, star crunch little Debbie’s, bugles, pizza rolls
Movies: Clueless, Can’t Hardly Wait, She’s all that, Jurassic Park, Scream
Have fun!
Rodeoqueenyyc@reddit
Is surge the “purple stuff” 😂
BugEquivalents@reddit
Gotta have one scary movie on deck… Scream is a 90s classic.
AeonFluxIncapacitaor@reddit
Monster Squad is a "scary" gem of a movie perfect for kids.
DiscoLibra@reddit
Adventures in Baby Sitting and Don't Tell Mom the Babysitters Dead would be a great theme!
Level_Improvement532@reddit
2 liters of soda pop are a MUST!
thatstwatshesays@reddit
Came here to say this.
Also, the Princess Bride (though my daughter was scared of the RoUS’s, ymmv)
Dakota1228@reddit
Rodents of unusual sizes? They don’t exist.
At_the_Roundhouse@reddit
God I was terrified of the RoUSs
Stevie-Rae-5@reddit
We just watched Adventures in Babysitting with my kids. Disney+ edits out the couple of things that haven’t aged well.
I also did not realize until this rewatch that Daryl is played by Anthony Rapp from Rent.
ilovecostcohotdog@reddit
What was edited out?
Thatonegirl_79@reddit
"Don't f*** with the Lords of Hell"
"Don't f*** with the babysitter!"
I'm guessing that part was edited 😂
Stevie-Rae-5@reddit
It is on Disney+, but it would be weird to say that saying “fuck” in 1987 hasn’t aged well.
ghandi3737@reddit
Probably the playboy mag.
Stevie-Rae-5@reddit
They don’t take that part out. If they did that they might as well just not even have the movie on there since it’s a major plot point.
Stevie-Rae-5@reddit
It’s been a few months but if memory serves an r-word in there, predictable for a movie from 1987, and they changed that.
Also Brad tells Sarah that Thor is gay, meaning it as an insult, and he uses an offensive word. They dub another word in (like, “jerk” or something).
sator-2D-rotas@reddit
How fast do your parents drive?
Justinterestingenouf@reddit
Adventures!!!!!
true_crime_addict513@reddit
Can't Hardley Wait
The breakfast club
aroundincircles@reddit
If you can find it, it will take some searching, but the original Star wars: a new hope "silver screen edition" it's the theatrical release that they got from splicing all the old film together and digitizing it to blue ray quality. (can't remember if it's 1080 or a full 4k resolution).
a couple of episodes of a great anime like Slayers.
Alclis@reddit
Dark Crystal and Labyrinth!
WreckitRuby@reddit
Ferris Bueller
squidgylynn@reddit
Follow up the next morning with Saturday morning cartoons. It was so great to spend the morning wasting time with cartoons
gummylick@reddit
Speaking of mall, the Legend of Billie Jean anyone? Old 80s movie.
PetuniaPicklePepper@reddit
Can you get your hands on an older tube TV and a VHS player?
PacketFiend@reddit
And an NES, Duck Hunt, and a light gun?
CatBoyTrip@reddit
i was all about horror films. for me it would be the sleep a way camp series and the friday the thirteenth series. maybe some candyman and nightmare on elm street as well.
NoMastodon9915@reddit
Doritos and Jolt Cola must factor into refreshments.
0905-15@reddit
Spies Like Us, Fletch, Die Hard, Running Man, Rocky IV for Cold War, lots of great movies
sube_titten_88@reddit
Surf Ninjas - I know it’s corny, but I loved that movie as a kid.
springer0510@reddit (OP)
MOTOSURF!!! I loved that movie.
inspectorendoffilm@reddit
The Never Ending Story!
BalkiBartokomous123@reddit
For your niece, get her a copy of Now and Then. It's a great coming of age story for young girls. I watched it non stop and it made me feel less alone as the only girl in a house of boys.
novisimo@reddit
Man makes me think of a time when when I was probably 13ish and my 10 year old sister had our 13/10 friends over. We ordered a Bigfoot pizza from Pizza Hut. We prob ate half of it. Went to get more and was gone. Looked at each other accusing each other. We found the dog with sauce all over her. Let's also say the Bigfoot pizza didn't agree with her.
Pizza Hut man. Would never get it now but brings me back. That red roof. Good times.
realdevtest@reddit
Weekend At Bernie’s
novisimo@reddit
For the 16 year old boy. Blown away. That one 😂
Ill-Capital9785@reddit
Omg flight of the navigator!
Bb11Keith@reddit
Nah, the key is no involvement by parents/adults
night-swimming704@reddit
Make sure the only thing on tv after you go to bed is scrambled softcore porn.
WasabiAficianado@reddit
Heathers Pump up The Volume Fast times at RidgeMont High Ace Ventura
sherzisquirrel@reddit
Goonies, Back to the Future, Harry and the Henderson's, Ghostbusters, Gremlins, Honey I Shrunk the Kids, Who Framed Roger Rabbit, Adventures in Babysitting, The ' Burbs, Beetlejuice...
PhiloLibrarian@reddit
Goonies and Ghostbusters
Feeling-Visit1472@reddit
Combos… pizza flavor or pretzel with cheese
Feeling-Visit1472@reddit
Fruit by the Foot, Fruit Roll-Ups, Gushers, Cosmic brownies, chocolate or strawberry milk from syrup
Feeling-Visit1472@reddit
Do they still make those cracker sticks that come in the little plastic tray with a cup of cheez dip?
Feeling-Visit1472@reddit
Back to the Future, Karate Kid, Teen Wolf
Feeling-Visit1472@reddit
Home Alone 1 & 2
Feeling-Visit1472@reddit
The Great Outdoors, John Candy
Palegreenhorizon@reddit
Get some soda, find the right drink glasses , get some ice, beanbag chairs, light a cigarette for like 10 seconds to get the smell right. Order 3 Pizza Hut pizzas ( supreme, cheese, pep). Get a sega or Nintendo, If possible have some crickets chirping outside in the dark. For movies: Indiana jones, alien 2, gremlins, lost boys, Jurassic park 1, the mummy, encino man, beast master, willow.
Earth2Kim@reddit
Reading through these, and they are perfect, but you have to bust out the 27” TV to make it authentic…
The screen can only be square.
Also, side note on the Stranger Things, having just done this with my minion: it blows their mind that “Superhero Bob” is a small child like them in the epic that is The Goonies!
dillydillydee@reddit
Scar em for life. Let them watch Kids
Gigglesticking@reddit
Toxic avenger. You are welcome.
Designer-Sir2309@reddit
13 going on 30 seems appropriate. It’s from the early 2000’s but the main character was actually living in the early 90s/late 80s when she made her wish to fast forward to being a grownup. There’s tons of throwback stuff. Including a Thriller dance scene
Separate-Succotash11@reddit
Ferris Bueller’s Day Off Breakfast Club Better off Dead
All three are about the lives of High School students in the 80’s.
All kickass movies to boot.
Prestigious-Purple97@reddit
Came here to say these. “I want my 2 dollars!” Was repeated throughout my house growing up.
Since they’re here already, I would just add E.T., Karate Kid, and Back to the future.
Cobalt11235@reddit
Had to scroll way too far down before seeing Ferris Bueller. I think it’s the perfect movie for this type of occasion. A true embodiment of the times
Separate-Succotash11@reddit
Oooohhhh yeahhhhhhh
blondeviking64@reddit
I run my own server of films and when I do a movie night I create a plex Playlist which includes a theater introduction, etc and you can find ads/movie trailers on YouTube to rip which coincide with your movie of choice release date, and then have fun snacks. I think pizza rolls and pizza hut are both great ideas. I would add kool-aid. Maybe jello pudding pops. Big league chew, gum cigarettes, pop corn,doritos, bagel bites, etc. The food element you cant mess up.
charliefussel@reddit
My mom would pull out the sleeper sofa for family movie nights and my sister and I thought it was so fun to watch a movie in a bed.
It’s stranger things so pause occasionally at scene breaks to mimic commercials and tell them they have 3 min to potty or get a snack and get back or they’ll miss it
UmOkBut888@reddit
Then restart at 2 and a half mins n yell "ITS ON!!!"
charliefussel@reddit
Definitely a must
lil_grey_alien@reddit
Dazed n Confused. I know it’s 70s but it’s a great before times teenage movie
DreamCrusher914@reddit
Plus they will recognize some of the actors in it.
At_the_Roundhouse@reddit
Parker Posey perfection
Wonderful-Baby-1217@reddit
Don't tell mom the babysitters dead
At_the_Roundhouse@reddit
The dishes are done man
Apallo19@reddit
The Fifth Element
Judge Dredd
Demolition Man
The Princess Bride
Spaceballs (or honestly any Mel Brooks movie)
Strange_Airships@reddit
Ice cream floats, Lik-M-Aid (I think it might be fun dip now?), microwave popcorn, Jr. Mints (to eat with the popcorn), Flight of the Navigator, War Games. Also, if you want to make an Orange Julius, mix 1 part egg nog with 1-1.5 parts orange juice and blend it with ice. It sounds like a terrible combination, but it tastes just like a Julius!
Altruistic-Energy662@reddit
I would kill for a strawberry Julius. I bring them up weekly. 😂
Strange_Airships@reddit
OOOOOH I bet you could do the same thing with eggnog and frozen strawberries with maybe a splash of OJ for lubrication.
UrbanSurfDragon@reddit
Avoid the Noid
cyrano72@reddit
Ninja turtles, Mrs doubtfire, goonies, one of the ernest movies, Wayne's world, home alone, and breakfast club.
grrmlin@reddit
The Princess Bride
sunblossom6868@reddit
Flashdance was also great buwahajaaaa maybe not for this post but, u got me remembering! And Porky's 😆
overarmur@reddit
Breakfast Club would be great for kids that age. Also Ferris Bueller.
Flat-Flounder-9034@reddit
Food: I don’t remember food as much because I never really ate. I do recall Dinty Moore beef stew and Chef Boyardee in a can for lunch during the summer when my brother and I were home alone all day. I recall Dunkaroos and Bagel bites - With pizza on a bagel you can eat pizza anytime! Pizza Hut was the dream dinner option for me as a kid so there’s that too.
Movies: Goonies, Indiana Jones, Clueless, My Girl, Now & Then, Dumb & Dumber, Wayne’s World.
TV For a true 80s/90s summer vibe I’d show Batman Animated Series, Star Trek Next Generation, Supermarket Sweep, Press Your Luck, an episode of Ricki Lake or Oprah. American Gladiators.
PC Games: SimCity, DOOM, Rise of the Triad, Duke Nukem
Video Games: We had original Atari and NES. Not sure if they’re into games but maybe OG Mario brothers.
Your plan all sounds so fun and I think it’s awesome you’re doing this for them. What a fun Uncle!
IAmNotAPersonSorry@reddit
My parents would never buy us Dunkaroos but we were allowed to dip Teddy Grahams in chocolate frosting when my mom made a cake.
Flat-Flounder-9034@reddit
Love this! I bet it was actually much tastier!
We also only got Dunkaroos as a rare treat as kids. Then in college, while drunk on the heady sensation of my newfound youthful independence I decided to make my own version. I ate almost an entire container of frosting. Then I got sick from too much sugar. My best friend still gives me a hard time about not being able to “hold my frosting” and being a light weight. No regrets.
Altruistic-Energy662@reddit
We would do Pizza Hut supreme pizzas, 2 liters of Coke, homemade brownies, possibly some rocky road or mint chocolate chip ice cream, and endless amounts of microwave or air popper popcorn. Also we’d watch movies on the floor in a nest of floor pillows and everyone had their own blanket.
lgt237@reddit
If only you could make them sit through commercials, as if the show was recorded to a VHs off the tv- that’s the true experience!
But, I’d say- have them submit their phones or any electronics at the door for the entire night, maybe through to the morning. Definitely microwaved popcorn, a 2 liter bottle of soda, and some cheap pizza on paper plates.
Grompson@reddit
Jiffy Pop!
sunblossom6868@reddit
This, yaaasssssssss!!!
MisforMisanthrope@reddit
Commercials and the FBI warning at the beginning of every video
Justinterestingenouf@reddit
They can only run to the bathroom during the commercials, no pausing!
sunblossom6868@reddit
Breakfast Club, Ferris Bueller's Day Off, Back to the Future, and 16 Candles were some of my FAVES
Any-Tour4589@reddit
Return to oz. The peanut butter solution.
simonphoenix_mdk@reddit
Lost boys, Heathers, The Burbs, Stand By Me, Real Genius, Gleaming the Cube, Earth Girls Are Easy
Inevitable_Professor@reddit
Double feature of The Last Starfighter followed by Tank set up as a drive in theater.
Basic-Biscotti-2375@reddit
Spaceballs
DreamCrusher914@reddit
This is a must watch, especially now that a sequel is finally happening!!!
DreamCrusher914@reddit
Son in Law
altAftrAltAftrAftr@reddit
Be Kind, Rewind with Jack Black & Mos Def/Yasim Bey
DreamCrusher914@reddit
That’s such a good movie
Ok-Pin6704@reddit
For your niece especially: start with Now and Then (lots of kids on bikes)
Make it a Christina Ricci/Devon Sawa double feature and show Casper.
Go from friendly ghosts to not so friendly ghosts and finish it off with Ghostbusters.
PickledPixie83@reddit
We watched Happy Gilmore with my teen recently and he loved it.
like_shae_buttah@reddit
Arnold Schwarzenegger movies, the matrix, speed , the lion king - so many good Disney movies then
Constant_War441@reddit
Oooh and Spaceballs!
BrattyTwilis@reddit
They might like Three Amigos or Spaceballs
gabbobbag@reddit
Terminator and Terminator 2
Hopefully they won’t know much about those to get the full effect of the big reveal in T2.
RepresentativeOk8899@reddit
Don’t tell mom the babysitters dead. Addams Family Values is a Thanksgiving movie.
Current-Struggle-514@reddit
Carvel ice cream cake, sour cream and onion pringles, jelly belly jelly beans, cream soda
bluejane@reddit
Uncle Buck has John Candy, a holiday theme, very 80s, and a cool uncle.
ack_the_cat@reddit
Ferris Buellers Day Off, Breakfast Club
Deep-Ad4351@reddit
You need to make giant pancakes like in Uncle Buck
kyryss5510@reddit
Uncle buck is amaaazing!!! Add some trains,planes and automobiles for the full effect
xstitchnrye@reddit
On theme for thanksgiving!
msguider@reddit
I love that one. A seriously great movie!
springer0510@reddit (OP)
Ha now we are talking. I loved that scene as a kid and still do. I didn't realize until I was an adult that is a giant square of butter on top lol
Deep-Ad4351@reddit
Right?!?! Do this and you will forever seal the deal as the most beloved family member of all time!
Also, I’m totally making myself pancakes tomorrow
murph0969@reddit
The Royal Tenenbaums is a beautiful movie that could be anytime between 1965-1999 with beautiful music, costumes, and acting.
Tylerdurden389@reddit
Show them a few random episodes of the adventures of Pete and Pete.
springer0510@reddit (OP)
Haha that show was great. Dance Petunia Dance.
IGotOverGreta@reddit
Thank you for reminding me about Petunia. She is what I want in the empty space on my arm. It isn't the exact spot as Pete's, but I'm okay with that.
anakitenephilim@reddit
Adding a few I didn't see...
Pump Up the Volume
Dazed and Confused
The City of Lost Children
Stormy261@reddit
Make up some goody bags with some slap bracelets, temp tattoos, candy, 80s glasses, and glow jewelry. Make it nice and dark. Build a fort with lots of pillows. And have fun snacking and enjoying the show.
If you are able to find some of the old movie theater intros or recession clips, they would be awesome to play before the show starts. Let's all go to the lobby...
For the glow sticks and bracelets, you can buy kits that have everything, and they are pretty inexpensive. I recently bought one for a bonfire because it had cool outdoor glow in the dark toys. It turned out to be more of a rave kit. But the kids loved it! 🤣
mb83@reddit
Top Gun
Romeo and Juliet
Clueless
Titanic
MTRIFE@reddit
Scream 3 Ninjas Killer Klowns from Outer Space Tommy Boy Dumb and Dumber Don't Tell Mom the Babysitters Dead Adventures in Babysitting The Goonies Ace Ventura Pet Detective Airborne Clueless Fear The Craft American Pie
Apprehensive-Fig3223@reddit
Jumanji 💯
bjkidder@reddit
Dig up an old vhs or dvd player if you need to. You can get emulator systems (small computers that play old nintendo games) for cheap.
Muted-Menu-428@reddit
Pretty in pink, 16 candles, and planes trains and automobiles.
puddin_pop83@reddit
I know what you did last summer, now and then, where the red fern grows, final destination 1, cant hardly wait, dirty dancing...
library_wench@reddit
Adding my votes for Adventures in Babysitting and Big Trouble in Little China (which remains our go-to comfort movie for a lazy Sunday morning).
iHeartFerretz@reddit
The Goonies for sure!! If not, Willow is an excellent adventure that has stood the test of time. If they are brave try The Dark Crystal!
JudgeJuryEx78@reddit
The Lost Boys, The Loat Boys, The Lost Boys, and Mallrats. Oh, and The Goonies.
SpreadDependent8805@reddit
Adding in for snacks, I have to say Swedish fish and sour patch if no one said those. Most of the amazing movies have been named but I have to also throw in Death Becomes Her. That movie was funny as hell back in the day
Atillion@reddit
Get a rotary phone and see if they can dial your cell and then have a mock conversation standing in a only-as-far-as-the-cord-will-stretch radius
Folkloristicist@reddit
Sleeping bags rolled out on living room floor in front of the TV, way too close, for sleepover. If you can get a console and hook up a Nintendo or super nintendo, also great. Also, VHS and VCR if possible. Ride around on bikes before dark. Then watch movies!
John Hughes is great, of course. But near Xmas, i remember a sleepover where we were gonna watch something but the rental didn't work so my friend's dad went back to blockbuster and got "Hook."
SpreadDependent8805@reddit
I forgot about Hook! Love that movie
Delicious-Pie8944@reddit
I came here to make sure someone had mentioned monster squad and they have so I’ll add the princess bride, any other Fred savage childhood movie (little monsters, the wizard, vice versa), or the great outdoors
SpreadDependent8805@reddit
Yes! Princess bride and little monsters are key!
springer0510@reddit (OP)
MAURICE!
pls_send_caffeine@reddit
Food: pizza (cheese and/or pepperoni), doritos (can only be regular nacho or cool ranch flavored), RC cola or cherry 7-up, microwave popcorn. For dessert, frosted strawberry poptarts, Good Humor chocolate eclair and/or strawberry shortcake bars, or ice cream sold in cups that you have to eat with a wooden stick.
If you want candy instead, then whatchamacallit, caramello, necco wafers, m&ms (regular or peanut, bonus points if you buy some tan ones to mix in), now and laters, lifesavers, almond joy, mounds, hershey bar with almonds, tropical starbursts, butterfingers, reeses pieces, regular hershey kisses, Mr. Goodbar mini bars, Nestle's crunch bar, chuckles, or fun dip.
Pyewacket667@reddit
for major mall scenes - fast times at ridgmont high
CaliSinae@reddit
Wayne’s World! Party Time! Excellent!
Zsirhcz1981@reddit
The Princess Bride
PuzzleheadedAbies678@reddit
Summer of 84
Apprehensive-Ad4244@reddit
10 things I hate about you The faculty
Cobalt11235@reddit
It’s be cool to find some old Disney Sunday night movies that were taped on VHS. With the commercials still in-tact. Maybe Mr. Boogedy? Or Mr. Boogedy 2, the bride of Boogedy
Turbocharmed@reddit
Gangsta's Paradise and Clueless were big and released when I was a young teen. XFiles for the strange factor and Outer Limits if you want something shorter.
JeelyPiece@reddit
Whichever is your top choice for a movie get them really excited about seeing it then tell them that all the copies have been rented out and the guy at the store gave you Officer and a Gentleman. Make them watch that instead.*
*This may be me sharing my trauma rather than my perfect movie night. You could also big-up the Garbage Pail Kids movie by sending them stickers for months before then show them that! (Have fun whatever you go for!)
crepeyweirdough@reddit
Real Genius is super fun... and full of popcorn
CD84@reddit
Encino Man, though it may be late to the party.
But Whe-ezing the Juuuice is extratemporal.
SnooMarzipans5706@reddit
The Princess Bride The Sandlot A League of Their Own
MacDublupYaBish@reddit
Wayne’s world, coming to America, the princess bride
WeenyDancer@reddit
Do you have or is there a way you could get an old school (CRT) TV? Even just for some static to sleep by.
There are some YouTube channels that have hours long videos of tv static for white noise, or 90s commercials- that might be a fun mood setter for background noise! (like https://youtu.be/9lixC8W379o, but there are lots!)
Canesjags4life@reddit
Paulie Shore movie. Independence Day, Cool runnings
mizushimo@reddit
You need one of those tv projectors, the one friend that had it always threw the parties in high school. Alternatively, you could get some sci fi anime from the early-mid nineties, that was a huge feature of my teenage movie nights. Some of them are too racy (Evangelion, Tenchi Muyo), but you could probably do Trigun or Cowboy Bebop
Embarrassed_Ad2475@reddit
You have an amazing idea!
BalrogRuthenburg11@reddit
Raiders of the Lost Ark, Aliens, Terminator, Robocop, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
No-Baker-4543@reddit
Crossroads (1986) if they like music...
StevieV61080@reddit
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (the original movie) while on some inflatable furniture.
Clarissa Explains It All on YouTube.
genrlokoye@reddit
Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. Our teen and (then) pre-teen absolutely loved it when we first showed it to them.
SinnU2s@reddit
Summer Rental
Illustrious-Lead-960@reddit
Try Can’t Hardly Wait.
Delicious-Pie8944@reddit
Homemade rice crispy treats (still warm), orange juice toothpick popsicles, tang/kool-aid
DontGetTheShow@reddit
Some 90s hits…, Speed. Tommy Boy. Sister Act.
gwmccull@reddit
Hot Pockets, pop tarts, Doritos, cheap ramen, frozen pizza, Cheetos, Pepsi/Coke… that was the diet for nearly every sleep over in my youth
I think one of the other big parts of the experience (besides sleeping on the floor) was picking out one or two movies from a limited collection (half were checked out) and then watching them on repeat as you grew progressively delirious
Chancey3@reddit
I just wanna say… YOU SIR, sound like the COOLEST F*n Uncle😎 & those Kids are Really LUCKY🥹
springer0510@reddit (OP)
Aww thanks! Just trying to do my part to help create degenerates!
unkiestink@reddit
Explorers, Cloak and Dagger, DC Cab,
Potential_Shelter624@reddit
Don’t forget plane, trains, and automobiles, if they like Stranger Things, they might like silver bullet
springer0510@reddit (OP)
I loved the silver bullet. When Gary Busseys character gives his nephew the badass motorcycle wheel chair with fireworks i thought that was the coolest.
_6siXty6_@reddit
Biodome on VHS
melophat@reddit
You need the microwave popcorn that comes in the bucket. https://a.co/d/j3fHRX3
Red vines (or twizzlers if you're a heathen), milk duds, butterfingers, and junior mints.
Also giant pixy stix https://a.co/d/bmgVco6
And make sure that you play this before the show starts https://youtu.be/TH2j1YnIne0
nefe375@reddit
The Pizza Hut pizza has to have the stuffed crust. Go big or go home.
springer0510@reddit (OP)
And it's ok to eat it backwards
FooFightingManiac@reddit
Hut Pizza! Of made were stuff the love you’ll!
spacedicksforlife@reddit
First three Indiana Jones.
twobootsranch@reddit
Not another teen movie
Tallisina@reddit
No you have to watch all of the reference movies first for that to be funny.
But it would be awesome to watch them all and cap it off with that one.
grunkle_dan78@reddit
dude, Jolt cola and pizza from our local chain. enough mountain dew to float a small raft. bugles chips and spray cheese. the little ice cream cups with the wooden paddle spoons and Hersheys syrup.
springer0510@reddit (OP)
Man I haven't thought of bugles in forever. I used to put them on the ends of my fingers pretending I had a Freddy Kruger hand before eating them up.
grunkle_dan78@reddit
fill them with spray cheese. do it.
grunkle_dan78@reddit
dammit, I made myself hungry
OstrichMean7004@reddit
As for food. If you could find some way to make a Big Foot pizza and buy some electric blue Slurpies, you'd be great.
springer0510@reddit (OP)
In my description I was going to say a pizza hut bigfoot. I thought it was cool the slices were square and the pizza had TWO of those plastic things so the box wouldn't touch it lol.
OstrichMean7004@reddit
I worked at Pizza Hut when those just came out. Man, they were a pain in the ass.
Not to cook or really make, but they slowed down the entire line because they took up a big chunk of the oven.
ElleWinter@reddit
Ferris Bueller"s Day Off and Clueless, microwave popcorn and kool-aid
RunOk1218@reddit
Food: Nerds, Diet Coke, Cool Ranch Doritos
SciFi_MuffinMan@reddit
Back to the Future, Monty Python’s Holy Grail, Conan the Barbarian
DnDAnalysis@reddit
https://share.google/I2oO8AOVW9OmQBipC
ElleWinter@reddit
Ferris Bueller
sonsofthedesert@reddit
Weird science, lost boys, sixteen candles
moissan2nite@reddit
Milk Duds was my movie treat.
minneapocalypse@reddit
I just took a trip down memory lane with my best friend c. 1995-1997. We went to the mall we hung at 30 years ago, shopped at Hot Topic (same band Tees exist), ate Panda Express orange chicken in the food court (it’s still amazing). We reminisced about being able to dress goth (before Columbine) and how our parents thought we were troublemakers (worst we ever did was smoke)…. Anyways…my heart was full after that trip. The 90s were great.
CuriousLands@reddit
Make up some mock video boxes of every movie recommended here, put them on a shelf somewhere and let them pick what they wanna watch out of just those movies, lol.
OstrichMean7004@reddit
Someone else already said Big Trouble in Little China.
So I'll add in The Last Dragon.
Maybe They Live, though there are mild sex scenes in there which would make for some uncomfortable family viewing.
I mean... they're asking for kids on bikes, and nobody mentioned The Goonies yet?
Also, if your niece loves the 80s, I can't recommend the first few seasons of The Goldbergs more. (The later seasons aren't great, but the first few are top notch nostalgia -- not for your Thanksgiving thing -- but in general)
mscocobongo@reddit
Shop Til You Drop and Supermarket Sweep on YouTube. (The originals). Also, Press Your Luck - no wammy!
digitaljestin@reddit
Whatever movies they choose, make sure they spend two full hours choosing it at a simulated video store. That right there is half the ambiance you are going for.
Rockdad37@reddit
Old school jiffy pop if you can find it!
therobotscott@reddit
Get your sleeping bags or pillows and pit them on the ground. For something to nosh on get some pizza, popcorn, or other snacks, and some carbonated sugar water. You can set up a sort of video store in another room, putting out all the best movies, but only allowing a few to be "checked out".
Stang1776@reddit
Uncle Buck seems to be the most logical movie to pick to start out.
6of1HalfDozen@reddit
The Village
Adrasteia-One@reddit
Dunkaroos, Kudos bars, Combos, and Clearly Canadian
springer0510@reddit (OP)
Ah how did I forget about the dunkaroos. Those are going to solidly be added to the list. I honestly didn't remember clearly canadian growing up, but my wife was super excited when it made a comeback and we have been stocked up ever since.
Adrasteia-One@reddit
Yeah, I miss Dunkaroos. And yes, Clearly Canadian is still great! You and your niece and nephew can have burping contests, hehe.
Imaginary-Mix-5726@reddit
Definitely microwave popcorn, and maybe some cocoa.
Reasonable-Wave8093@reddit
Cinnabon!!!
ttw81@reddit
original jumanji
The_Hylian_Loach@reddit
D.A.R.Y.L.