Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982)

Based on 22-year-old Cameron Crowe's undercover expos� on life in a Southern California public high school, this groundbreaking effort presents alternately poignant and funny looks at episodes from the lives of some of the students as they prepare themselves for life in the outside world. Many popular stars made their debuts in the film, including Anthony Edwards, Nicolas Cage and Eric Stolz. It is also the film that made Sean Penn a star for his portrayal of the dopey passive/aggressive surfer Jeff Spicoli.