20 awesome ’80s movies you should totally see before you die

20. Heathers (1988)

Heathers is a black comedy starring former ’80s heartthrobs Winona Ryder (Stranger Things) and Christian Slater (Mr. Robot) who play Veronica Sawyer and Jason Dean, aka “J.D.” Still considered a cult classic, Heathers explores the complex social hierarchy present to this day in every American high school, and the often brutal consequences of being on the outside looking in.

Heathers refers to the shared first name of three members of Westerberg High’s most powerful clique: Heather Chandler (Kim Walker), Heather Duke (Shannen Dougherty) and Heather McNamara (Lisanne Falk). Black sheep Veronica rounds out the group.

Heather Chandler rules Westerberg with an iron fist, torturing anyone who crosses her, including her own followers. Desperate to depose Heather Chandler who happens to be both her best friend and worst enemy. Veronica joins forces with new kid J.D. to bring justice to the downtrodden.

Heathers is the antithesis of all the other beloved ’80s high school fare since the main characters are homicidal, and the audience isn’t meant to empathize with Veronica and J.D.’s victims. The film paved the way for films such as Jawbreaker, and the far-less perverse Mean Girls.

Christian Slater does a spot-on Jack Nicholson impersonation, Shannen Doherty makes her pre-Beverly Hills 90210 debut as the anorexic, Moby Dick-loving Heather Duke, and the movie made Winona Ryder every teen boy’s dream girl.

If you’ve never heard “I love my dead gay son,” then you’re definitely not one of the cool kids.