Fast Times at Ridgemont High is a coming-of-age comedy-drama film released in 1982. It was directed by Amy Heckerling and written by Cameron Crowe, who had previously written a book about his experiences posing as a high school student to research a Rolling Stone article.
The film follows a group of students at a fictional high school in the San Fernando Valley during their senior year. It deals with issues such as sex, drugs, relationships, and the pressures of growing up. The ensemble cast includes Sean Penn as Jeff Spicoli, Jennifer Jason Leigh as Stacy Hamilton, Judge Reinhold as Brad Hamilton, Phoebe Cates as Linda Barrett, and Brian Backer as Mark Ratner.
The film was notable for its realistic portrayal of teenage life in the early 1980s, incorporating music from the era, including tracks by The Cars, Jackson Browne, and Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. It was also known for launching the careers of several of its young actors, including Sean Penn and Jennifer Jason Leigh.
Fast Times at Ridgemont High was a commercial and critical success upon its release, grossing over $27 million on a $4.5 million budget and receiving positive reviews for its humor and honest portrayal of teenage life. It has since become a cult classic and a touchstone of 1980s pop culture, spawning a TV series and influencing numerous other teen films.