Footloose
1984 · Directed by Herbert Ross
Kevin Bacon shows up in a town that's banned dancing, then dances at it until the ban breaks. The Kenny Loggins title track is the entire personality. Pure '84 energy.
Why It's Cult
Footloose is the perfect distillation of '80s teen-movie wish fulfillment: an outsider arrives, the rules are absurd, and the third act is a dance number. Bacon's barn-rage workout (set to 'Never' by Moving Pictures) is the platonic ideal of the angry-dance sequence. The soundtrack is a permanent Top 40. John Lithgow as the preacher gives the film actual weight. It's why every generation since has tried to remake it and failed.
The Plot, Officially
Classic tale of teenage rebellion and repression features a delightful combination of dance choreography and realistic and touching performances. When teenager Ren McCormack and his family move from big-city Chicago to a small Midwestern town, he's in for a real case of culture shock. Though he tries hard to fit in, the streetwise Ren can't quite believe he's living in a place where rock music and dancing are illegal. However, there is one small pleasure: Ariel Moore, a troubled but lovely blonde with a jealous boyfriend. And a Bible-thumping minister, who is responsible for keeping the town dance-free. Ren and his classmates want to do away with this ordinance, especially since the senior prom is around the corner, but only Ren has the courage to initiate a battle to abolish the outmoded ban and revitalize the spirit of the repressed townspeople. Fast-paced drama is filled with such now-famous hit songs as the title track and "Let's Hear It for the Boy".
Starring
Kevin Bacon, Lori Singer, John Lithgow
Where to Watch
via JustWatch →
