9 Times 80s Movies Taught Us Important Life Lessons

The 80s were the best decade for movies ever, and we all knew that. But 80s movies did more than just provide entertainment. I could just be speaking for myself, but I learned some of the greatest life lessons from my favorite 80s movies.

1. Life is too short to not have fun.

Ferris Bueller taught us that sometimes you have to let loose a bit and have fun. Throughout the movie he shows this by doing irresponsible and spontaneous things, which in the end shows his anxious friend, Cameron, it was exactly what he needed. When I was growing up, I always imagined stealing my mom's car for the day and skipping school. Of course I never had the guts but it was a good thought.

“Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around in a while, you could miss it.”

2. The most romantic gestures are unexpected.

Okay, it's hard to pick just one movie for this one. 80s movies were the thing that raised our expectations to a new level for romantic gestures.

Say Anything, boombox scene. Sixteen Candles, car scene. Can't Buy Me Love, lawnmower scene. Every one of these made us jealous and every gesture was unexpected and out-of-the-box. They must have been special, it's almost 40 years later and we're still obsessed with them.

3. Don't judge a book by it's cover.

The Breakfast Club taught us this lesson in a pretty obvious way. They went into detention judging each other for who they thought they were. They placed each other with specific stereotypes, and didn't even try to get to know each other.

By the end of the movie, they realized they all had a lot more in common than they thought. They left as friends and some of them even left as more than friends.

This showed us that someone may be more than they seem.

4. Believe in yourself.

Dr. Emmett Brown from Back to the Future, taught us to always believe in yourself. People in the town saw him as a crazy man who didn't know what he was talking about. He didn't listen to his critics, and went on to build a time machine. He also fixed his mistakes on the journey and never gave up.

5. Never stop learning.

The Karate Kid taught us this lesson when Daniel started to learn karate when he knew absolutely nothing about it. Even when the teachings got a little weird, he stuck with it and mastered the skill.

This next one taught us that rules are meant to be broken.

6. Some rules are meant to be broken.

Footloose taught us this lesson throughout the entire movie. Obviously rules matter, but it is necessary to question things and to fight for what you believe in. Without that nothing would ever change or evolve.

"See, this is our time to dance. It is our way of celebrating life. It's the way it was in the beginning. It's the way it's always been. It's the way it should be now."

7.  Always keep breath mints on you.

Out of every life lesson, this one is definitely the most important, right? Sixteen Candles taught us this when Farmer Ted was in the car alone with Samantha and realized his breath mints were the perfect ice breaker.

8. Enjoy your youth.

The whole plot of the movie Big taught us this lesson. When Josh Baskin wishes to be older and wakes up as a 30-year-old man, he gets a picture of what growing up is really like, (it kind of sucks).

I think we were all guilty of wishing this when we were growing up. When you were 10 you wanted to be a teenager, when you were a teenager you wanted to be an adult to have no rules.

This movie taught us to take a step back and realize how much we should appreciate our youth because in all honesty, it is the best time. Having someone make you dinner every night and no bills to pay? Yes please.

9. Family is everything.

Inigo Montoya from The Princess Bride, taught us this when he spent his entire life chasing down the six-fingered man who killed his father when he was just a child, and left him scarred both physically and emotionally.

For most of us, putting family first doesn't usually involve trying to kill people while having a lot of bloody sword fights. He did teach us what literally "doing anything" for your family means.

"My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die."

What is your favorite life lesson from 80s movies?