Is there anything inappropriate for younger kids?

It is rated PG and fairly tame. Watch for mild teen party scenes with beer drinking, light flirtation, and teens sneaking out past strict parents, but there is no graphic violence, gore, or nudity.

Will modern kids find this movie too dated?

The 80s fashion and hair are over-the-top, but the fast pacing, gymnastics choreography, and upbeat soundtrack keep it engaging for modern tweens who enjoy dance or retro aesthetics.

How does it handle the parental conflict?

Janey's father is depicted as an overly strict military dad who bans her from dancing. She chooses to lie and sneak out rather than talk to him, which makes a good starting point for a conversation about strict rules versus open communication.

Is it fine for a family movie night?

Yes. It's clean, lighthearted 80s fun with an easygoing tone that works well for a relaxed family watch or a tween sleepover.

Girls Just Want to Have Fun – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

Girls Just Want to Have Fun

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

movie1985

65%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

1980s hairspray, neon spandex, and Sarah Jessica Parker sneaking out to audition for a cheesy local dance show.

6/10

40%

77%

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Girls Just Want to Have Fun

movie

PG, 1985

65%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

1980s hairspray, neon spandex, and Sarah Jessica Parker sneaking out to audition for a cheesy local dance show.

40%

Jump to

Also rated on

6/10

40%

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Screenwise Verdict

A hyper-kinetic 80s time capsule powered by big hair, neon leg warmers, and endless dance montages. If your kid loves retro fashion, dance, or classic sleepover movies, it hits the spot without getting bogged down in heavy drama.

The plot is paper-thin and the dialogue carries its share of goofy 80s tropes, but the core focus on two girls backing each other up makes it a harmless popcorn watch.

Age Fit

Great fit for tweens ages 9 to 13 who love dance, gymnastics, or lighthearted retro sleepover movies.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

Focuses heavily on supportive female friendship, teamwork, and enthusiasm for dance, counterbalanced by mild 80s teen sneaking around and defiance of a strict parent.

Imaginative

Standard 80s dance-competition plot with plenty of high-energy routines, creative DIY fashion, and gymnastics choreography.

Safe

Mild PG-level content from 1985 including light party drinking, minor double-entendres, and teen rebellion, but no real violence, gore, or graphic content.

Enriching

Pure popcorn entertainment with minimal deep educational value, though it models perseverance and sticking by your friends.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Female friendship first: Janey and Lynne support each other's goals without falling into mean-girl traps or competing over boys.
Pre-fame stars: A fun time capsule featuring Sarah Jessica Parker, Helen Hunt, and Shannen Doherty before their major breakout roles.
High-energy routines: Packed with gymnastics, breakdancing, and bright synth-pop energy that dance fans will appreciate.

⚠

What to Watch For

80s party scenes: Teens sneak out, drink beer at a wild house party, and crash a snobby debutante ball.
Rigid dad trope: Janey's father is hyper-strict and authoritarian about her behavior, driving the core conflict of her lying and sneaking around.

Conversation Starters

"How would you handle a situation where a parent banned you from a hobby you love?"
"Janey and Lynne stick together through the whole movie—what made their friendship work?"
"How do modern reality competition shows compare to the Dance TV setup in this movie?"

Deep Dive

Pure 80s Camp That Still Delivers Sleepover Energy

Girls Just Want to Have Fun is essentially a feature-length music video wrapped inside a classic teen rebellion plot. Sarah Jessica Parker plays Janey, a military brat who lands in Chicago and immediately bonds with Helen Hunt's wildcard character Lynne over their shared obsession with Dance TV.

The plot moves at a breakneck pace of dance auditions, rival saboteurs, and sneaking around Janey's intensely rigid father. While critics panned it back in 1985 for being thin, audience memory has been much kinder—largely because the movie never takes itself too seriously and the friendship between the two leads feels genuine.

Why it works for a modern tween

If you have a kid into dance, gymnastics, or retro aesthetics, this hits the right notes without dipping into heavy drama or dark themes. It's lighter than Footloose and far milder than Dirty Dancing, making it a clean entry point for 80s teen cinema.

What Parents Ask

Stills

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Fun 80s Movies to Watch with Your Family

by Stacey Wallenstein · 58 picks

Stacey Wallenstein's 80s movie nights from The Mint Chip Mama (themintchipmama.com), the PG titles first and then the PG-13 ones. Troop Beverly Hills is a fan favorite, The Goonies made the cut although she finds it scary, and she warns that an 80s PG can surprise you, as Innerspace did.

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