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Earlier this year, my younger brother found out that Atlanta was having its own Comic-Con. I’m not really in the know when it comes to nerd conventions like this, but this one popped up and my brother invited me to go not long after. I try to be a good brother so I agreed, but I still needed a compelling reason to devote time to this event. That’s why I looked up the list of celebrity attendees, on which one name popped out to me — Lea Thompson.
That’s right. Aside from young Lorraine McFly’s atrocious ’50s hairdo, Lea Thompson is a beautiful woman and one of my many ’80s pop culture crushes. So I figured yeah, okay, maybe I’ll go and see her and also check out the Cary Elwes (of Robin Hood: Men in Tights) panel and — if those two activities were boring — people watch.
As I entered the room where her panel would be held, I half expected her to look like the older Lorraine McFly. Boy, was I wrong. The woman does not age. At all. Find me a woman who will age like that and I’ll put a ring on her tomorrow. She’s probably had some elective medical help, but, if not, good for her. Her panel was entertaining, and it sort of brought back the feeling of that childhood crush from when I first saw Back to the Future.
But it also got me thinking, what about all my other ’80s crushes? Of all the wild things that cross my mind during the day, I haven’t thought about them for a long time. So, without further adieu, here’s a power ranking of my top five ’80s crushes.
1. Mia Sara
Sloane Peterson? Come on. What guy didn’t watch Ferris Bueller’s Day Off and think she was a total dime? Unfortunately, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off was the peak of Mia’s fame, and we didn’t really get to see her in anything big again until Timecop almost ten years later. She was still attractive, obviously, but nowhere near Sloane Peterson’s level. I still put her at number one just because of that one role, though. What a total babe.
2. Lea Thompson
I know, I know — I don’t get it either. It’s just one of those things. I mean, there’s no doubt that Lea Thompson is attractive, but I’m sure she’s a little lower down on the list for most people. If only they’d have stopped putting that short ’50s hair on her, more people would probably agree with her 2 spot. She’s also very charming, if you’ve ever seen her interviewed; that’s where she gets you the most.
3. Elisabeth Shue
She was cute in Karate Kid. However, three years later she upgraded to girlfriend-pretty in Adventures in Babysitting and Back to the Futures II and III. Not really hot, per se, but girlfriend pretty — and that was enough for the boyhood crush. In Adventures in Babysitting, she reminded you of the babysitter you had a crush on. Of course I was only a baby when that movie came out, but whatever; I saw it eventually.
4. Olivia Newton-John
She was obviously iconic in Grease (technically 1978, but hell, close enough) even with that giant perm doing her no favors. She was definitely hot in Xanadu, and I had no idea that she was 32 by then. Unreal. Let’s Get Physical was definitely not a high point for her, but she still had those killer blue eyes. She pulled off the mid-thirties fun blonde like no other.
5. Molly Ringwald
Between The Breakfast Club, Sixteen Candles, and Pretty in Pink, she was one of the biggest stars of the ’80s. I’m not quite sure what happened to her career after those, but she was definitely crush-worthy, especially in The Breakfast Club..
Image via YouTube
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@5OClockShadow_
Pictures would have done this article justice
yep. too lazy to google, and I have no idea who any of these people are other than Sloan who even as a straight woman I def had a crush on.
Ask and you shall receive
K so now that we have visuals I’m fully in on Elisabeth Shue, but don’t see the Olivia Newton John or Molly Ringwald thing tho, I mean they’re not unfortunate looking or anything but for sure not the male crush equitant of someone like JTT.
Molly’s playing Archie’s dad in Riverdale FYI, not exactly A list but probably fairing better than most child stars.
It’s a matter of taste, really. I’m not surprised I have two blondes, but definitely surprised about two redheads
I always want to try the Ferris/Sloane role play except it always ends up with her as Sloane but me more like Cameron with crippling anxiety and depression. BA DUM TIS. have a good one y’all
Congrats on the sex
“I’m dying”
You obviously never saw “Fast Times at Ridgemont High”. Phoebe Cates was FIRE.
Phoebe is a glaring omission on this list.
Came here to comment this
Also came to comment on the lack of Phoebe Cates. She is fire flames emoji.
I’m a little bit upset you identified Cary Elwes as Robin Hood instead of our dear Westley from Princess Bride.
Robin Hood was a better movie
Blasphemy, I hereby challenge you to the pain
He’s the only Robin Hood who has an English accent.
pardon me but no the fuck it is not
Inconceivable!
I’m gonna chalk up leaving ‘Cocktail’ off of Elisabeth Shue’s resume as an oversight
Tfw you knew you forgot something
An egregious oversight, indeed
Sloane by a landslide
I’d show her how the sausage’s made.
Call sign Charlie.
No Phoebe Cates. I like the rest of the list.
Rebecca De Mornay in Risky Business.
How is Phoebe Cates from Fast Times at Ridgemont High not considered in this list, she is just behind Elizabeth Shue.