The best Gen-X movies that defined a generation

"Wax on, wax off." The movie that launched a karate craze amongst teenagers became a cult classic. Decades later, the TV show 'Cobra Kai' (2018–2023) introduced Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio) and Johnny Lawrence (William Zabka) among others, to a whole new generation of fans (many of them Gen-Xers' kids!).

3 / 31 Fotos

'The Goonies' (1985) -

Every '80s kid wanted to be part of 'The Goonies.' The movie followed a group of misfit kids who embark on a once-in-a-lifetime treasure hunt adventure.

4 / 31 Fotos

'The Breakfast Club' (1985) -

'The Breakfast Club' sums up high school dynamics perfectly. Rich or poor, popular or not, kids have more in common than they usually think they do. This coming-of-age comedy-drama should not be missed.

5 / 31 Fotos

'St. Elmo's Fire' (1985) -

A group of friends finds that becoming an adult is not easy. Younger Gen-Xers were still in high school when this film came out, and this gave them a glimpse of how hard "real life" can be after graduation.

6 / 31 Fotos

'Ferris Bueller's Day Off' (1986) -

You've probably heard the quote "Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it." Who didn't want to take a day off from school and live as a free spirit, right?

7 / 31 Fotos

'Heathers' (1988) -

Gen-X idols Winona Ryder and Christian Slater star in this dark teen comedy about high school life. It's another must-watch on our list.

8 / 31 Fotos

'Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure' (1989) -

Friendship, history, time traveling, and heavy metal. How can one not love this movie? Plus, we get to watch Keanu Reeves and Alex Winter saying "dude" a million times.

9 / 31 Fotos

'Do the Right Thing' (1989) -

Spike Lee's film explores the generational differences and racial tensions in the Bedford-Stuyvesant area of Brooklyn. Gen-Xers and Boomers were clashing in many areas, and this movie explores part of that tension.

10 / 31 Fotos

'When Harry Met Sally' (1989) -

This rom-com following two college grads quickly became a cult movie for women of this generation. Meg Ryan stars as the strong, independent female lead.

11 / 31 Fotos

'Say Anything' (1989) -

Teens and young adults rejoiced in this love story between a high school graduate underachiever and a valedictorian.

12 / 31 Fotos

'Pump Up the Volume' (1990) -

Christian Slater plays a suburban high school student who starts up a pirate radio station. Many Gen-Xers could relate to his message.

13 / 31 Fotos

'Boyz n The Hood' (1991) -

Rap music, poverty, and gangs were part of many Gen-Xers' lives back then. Young black culture was misrepresented in Hollywood but 'Boyz n The Hood' brought it to the mainstream.

14 / 31 Fotos

'Wayne's World' (1992) -

Music, including heavy metal, was very much present in the lives of Gen-Xers. An iconic scene from this comedy shows buddies Wayne and Garth in a car headbanging to Queen's 'Bohemian Rhapsody.'

15 / 31 Fotos

'Singles' (1992) -

The movie follows a group of young people who share an apartment in Seattle. Released at the peak of the grunge music scene, 'Singles' has arguably the best soundtrack on this list.

16 / 31 Fotos

'Reality Bites' (1994) -

'Reality Bites' is considered by some the best Gen-X movie ever made. College valedictorian Lelaina (Winona Ryder) films her friends in an attempt to document life after college. The film explores the struggle of recent college graduates trying to find their place in society.

17 / 31 Fotos

'Clerks' (1994) -

Kevin Smith's directorial debut became an indie classic. The black-and-white buddy comedy revolves around two store clerks who get up to all sorts while at work. Working dead-end jobs was a concern back then, as it is now.

18 / 31 Fotos

'Clueless' (1995) -

This coming-of-age teen classic starring Alicia Silverstone explores life as a teenager, class differences, and high-school dynamics in the '90s.

19 / 31 Fotos

'Kids' (1995) -

This dark coming-of-age movie is pretty messed up, but Gen-Xers were struggling with these issues at the time. There's underage drinking, partying, and even HIV.

20 / 31 Fotos

'Before Sunrise' (1995) -

Who wouldn't want to live a love story like the one between the American tourist and the French student in 'Before Sunrise,' right?

21 / 31 Fotos

'Mallrats' (1995) -

Hanging out in the mall was very much a thing for teenagers and young adults of Generation X. This movie follows two friends after their girlfriends break up with them, who, well, go to the mall.

22 / 31 Fotos

'Swingers' (1996) -

It's not easy to move on from a breakup, but the right (or wrong) friends might help. The movie follows two single, unemployed actors in Los Angeles.

23 / 31 Fotos

'Trainspotting' (1996) -

Danny Boyle's portrayal of a group of Gen-X junkies in Edinburgh became an instant classic. Finding purpose in life as an addict is no easy task.

24 / 31 Fotos

'Scream' (1996) -

'Scream' redefined the horror movie genre for Gen-Xers. Slasher movies were all the rage after it came out. People couldn't get enough of blood baths with the odd funny moment thrown in to ease the suspense.

25 / 31 Fotos

'Suburbia' (1996) -

Teens and young adults can get bored, so it's not hard to see how drinking and hanging outside a convenience store seems like a good idea. They do start questioning their life choices at some point, though.

26 / 31 Fotos

'Chasing Amy' (1997) -

A comic book artist falls in love with a lesbian. What could go wrong? Other than Ben Affleck's facial hair, of course.

27 / 31 Fotos

'Office Space' (1999) -

Corporate America is not for everyone and in 'Office Space' we follow three company workers who hate their jobs. Surely, other generations can relate to this.

28 / 31 Fotos

'Fight Club' (1999) -

David Fincher's cult classic delves into the world of consumerism that boomed in the '80s and continued throughout the '90s. It also touches on violence, terrorism, and mental illness. All of a sudden, Gen-Xers wanted to be like Tyler Durden (Brad Pitt).

29 / 31 Fotos

'High Fidelity' (2000) -

Probably the last Gen-X film to be made, 'High Fidelity' portrays a 30-someyhing record-store owner trying to understand why his past relationships failed.

Sources: (IMDB) (Yardbarker) (MovieWeb)

30 / 31 Fotos

NL Beeld

0 / 31 Fotos

'Fast Times at Ridgemont High' (1982) -

By 1982, some Gen-Xers were graduating high school and many were starting to get their first jobs. This teen classic has it all, from trying to fit in to the reality of minimum-wage mall jobs.

NL Beeld

1 / 31 Fotos

'Footloose' (1984) -

NL Beeld

2 / 31 Fotos

'Karate Kid' (1984) -

NL Beeld

3 / 31 Fotos

'The Goonies' (1985) -

Every '80s kid wanted to be part of 'The Goonies.' The movie followed a group of misfit kids who embark on a once-in-a-lifetime treasure hunt adventure.

NL Beeld

4 / 31 Fotos

'The Breakfast Club' (1985) -

NL Beeld

5 / 31 Fotos

'St. Elmo's Fire' (1985) -

NL Beeld

6 / 31 Fotos

'Ferris Bueller's Day Off' (1986) -

NL Beeld

7 / 31 Fotos

'Heathers' (1988) -

Gen-X idols Winona Ryder and Christian Slater star in this dark teen comedy about high school life. It's another must-watch on our list.

Getty Images

8 / 31 Fotos

'Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure' (1989) -

Friendship, history, time traveling, and heavy metal. How can one not love this movie? Plus, we get to watch Keanu Reeves and Alex Winter saying "dude" a million times.

NL Beeld

9 / 31 Fotos

'Do the Right Thing' (1989) -

NL Beeld

10 / 31 Fotos

'When Harry Met Sally' (1989) -

This rom-com following two college grads quickly became a cult movie for women of this generation. Meg Ryan stars as the strong, independent female lead.

NL Beeld

11 / 31 Fotos

'Say Anything' (1989) -

Teens and young adults rejoiced in this love story between a high school graduate underachiever and a valedictorian.

NL Beeld

12 / 31 Fotos

'Pump Up the Volume' (1990) -

Christian Slater plays a suburban high school student who starts up a pirate radio station. Many Gen-Xers could relate to his message.

NL Beeld

13 / 31 Fotos

'Boyz n The Hood' (1991) -

Rap music, poverty, and gangs were part of many Gen-Xers' lives back then. Young black culture was misrepresented in Hollywood but 'Boyz n The Hood' brought it to the mainstream.

NL Beeld

14 / 31 Fotos

'Wayne's World' (1992) -

Music, including heavy metal, was very much present in the lives of Gen-Xers. An iconic scene from this comedy shows buddies Wayne and Garth in a car headbanging to Queen's 'Bohemian Rhapsody.'

NL Beeld

15 / 31 Fotos

'Singles' (1992) -

The movie follows a group of young people who share an apartment in Seattle. Released at the peak of the grunge music scene, 'Singles' has arguably the best soundtrack on this list.

NL Beeld

16 / 31 Fotos

'Reality Bites' (1994) -

NL Beeld

17 / 31 Fotos

'Clerks' (1994) -

NL Beeld

18 / 31 Fotos

'Clueless' (1995) -

This coming-of-age teen classic starring Alicia Silverstone explores life as a teenager, class differences, and high-school dynamics in the '90s.

NL Beeld

19 / 31 Fotos

'Kids' (1995) -

This dark coming-of-age movie is pretty messed up, but Gen-Xers were struggling with these issues at the time. There's underage drinking, partying, and even HIV.

NL Beeld

20 / 31 Fotos

'Before Sunrise' (1995) -

Who wouldn't want to live a love story like the one between the American tourist and the French student in 'Before Sunrise,' right?

NL Beeld

21 / 31 Fotos

'Mallrats' (1995) -

Hanging out in the mall was very much a thing for teenagers and young adults of Generation X. This movie follows two friends after their girlfriends break up with them, who, well, go to the mall.

NL Beeld

22 / 31 Fotos

'Swingers' (1996) -

It's not easy to move on from a breakup, but the right (or wrong) friends might help. The movie follows two single, unemployed actors in Los Angeles.

NL Beeld

23 / 31 Fotos

'Trainspotting' (1996) -

Danny Boyle's portrayal of a group of Gen-X junkies in Edinburgh became an instant classic. Finding purpose in life as an addict is no easy task.

NL Beeld

24 / 31 Fotos

'Scream' (1996) -

NL Beeld

25 / 31 Fotos

'Suburbia' (1996) -

NL Beeld

26 / 31 Fotos

'Chasing Amy' (1997) -

A comic book artist falls in love with a lesbian. What could go wrong? Other than Ben Affleck's facial hair, of course.

NL Beeld

27 / 31 Fotos

'Office Space' (1999) -

Corporate America is not for everyone and in 'Office Space' we follow three company workers who hate their jobs. Surely, other generations can relate to this.

NL Beeld

28 / 31 Fotos

'Fight Club' (1999) -

NL Beeld

29 / 31 Fotos

'High Fidelity' (2000) -

Probably the last Gen-X film to be made, 'High Fidelity' portrays a 30-someyhing record-store owner trying to understand why his past relationships failed.

Sources: (IMDB) (Yardbarker) (MovieWeb)

NL Beeld

30 / 31 Fotos

The best Gen-X movies that defined a generation

Cult classics from the '80s and '90s

12/11/24 | StarsInsider

MOVIES Film

Generation X is a term used to describe the demographic born after Baby Boomers and before Millennials. While the exact years are still up for debate, with different sources claiming different dates, it's safe to say that Gen-Xers were born sometime between 1965 and 1980. As such, the last two decades of the 20th century were the golden years of Gen-X. Like with other generations, Gen-Xers had their fair share of struggles and successes, and many of these were reflected in art, including cinema.

In this gallery, we look back at some of the greatest Gen-X movies ever made. These films are cult classics that defined a generation. Click through the gallery and enjoy the nostalgia.