Film

Mischief

Name: Mischief
Genre: Comedy, Romance
Released: 1985
Cast: Doug McKeon, Catherine Mary Stewart, Kelly Preston, Chris Nash, D.W. Brown

Romance
Light-hearted

A 1985 comedy about three teenage boys navigating the last year of high school in 1956, chasing girls and friendship. It's broad, energetic, and deeply of its moment—a teen sex comedy that wants you laughing at awkwardness and rooting for the underdogs. Warm and fizzy, aimed squarely at the video-rental crowd who liked a little romance with their jokes.

TMDb rating

3.4

If you liked this

Fast Times at Ridgemont High1982

The template for smart, funny, unglamorous teen comedy. Ensemble cast, interconnected storylines, genuine affection for its characters alongside the horseplay. It takes teenagers seriously without ever getting heavy.

But Some sexual content feels dated now, and the pacing lurches. If you want lean and zippy, this sprawls a little.

Porky's1981

The closest spiritual sibling to Mischief: the same era, the same appetite for bedroom comedy, the same loyalty to male friendship as the real heart. It's knowing about what it is and commits fully to the bit.

But It's frankly horny in a way that can feel exhausting. One-note if you don't land on its wavelength early.

Risky Business1983

Another early-80s teen picture, but it has style and edge. Genuinely sexy without trying too hard. Tom Cruise on the cusp of stardom, and the film glides between comedy and real stakes.

But Tonally scattered—not sure if it's a drama or a comedy. Some '80s affectation that hasn't aged like wine.

Not sure tonight? Get a pick in a minute, starting from Mischief

The wildcard

Something you would not have found on your own.

Diner1982

Both films root themselves in male friendship as the emotional centre. The romance plots matter less than the guys figuring out who they are together.

You might think a hangout film about twentysomethings in 1959 Baltimore won't hit the same, but it will. Barry Levinson captures male friendship—its texture, its language, its casual cruelty and loyalty—better than any teen comedy. Warm, funny, real.

But Slow-moving and plotless. No real story engine. If you need a dramatic arc or want something zippy, you'll get restless.

The Sure Thing1985

Same year, different campus. A road-movie energy and genuine chemistry between leads. Smart about attraction and romance while staying loose and funny. John Cusack before he became Cusack.

But The cross-country plot feels contrived. Some jokes land softer than intended.

Valley Girl1983

A surprisingly sweet romance wrapped in valley-speak comedy. It has affection for its female lead that was uncommon in '80s teen comedies. Nicolas Cage before he became an icon.

But The dialect can wear thin. More romance than comedy if that's not what you're after.

My Science Project1985

Same year as Mischief, same goofy spirit, but with a sci-fi twist. High school comedy that doesn't take itself seriously. John Stockwell and Fisher Stevens have easy charm.

But The plot gets tangled and loses focus. Relies on '80s effects that feel more quaint than thrilling now.

Weird Science1985

John Hughes directing teen fantasy comedy. The wish-fulfillment is shameless but the film earns it with heart. Kelly LeBrock is wonderful, and the male leads feel like real teenage boys, not caricatures.

But The gender dynamics are period-locked in ways that can feel uncomfortable. Some scenes play as wish-fulfillment in a way that hasn't dated well.

Class1983

A boarding-school comedy with genuine romantic stakes. Rob Lowe and Andrew McCarthy have real chemistry. It's slighter than it thinks, but it's also warmer.

But The plot hinges on a contrivance that strains credibility. Aesthetically very early-'80s in a way that's sometimes distracting.

Losin' It1983

A road trip to Mexico for teenage boys to lose their virginity. It's sweaty and dopey and owns it. Tom Cruise in a smaller role alongside a game supporting cast.

But The premise is fundamentally creepy and the film doesn't really interrogate it. Slack plotting and squishy energy. It's a time-killer more than a keeper.

Lianna1983

The inverse of Mischief's register: where Mischief is broad and external, Lianna is quiet and internal. Both watch characters learning what they want and how to ask for it. Same engine, opposite tone.

John Sayles' film about a woman discovering her sexuality and identity in her thirties. Tender, exploratory, funny without trying to be. It trusts its audience and its characters to be smart. Intimate and alive.

But It's about a woman's journey, not a man's. The low budget shows. If you want external plot momentum, this moves inward instead.

Mysterious Skin2005

Mischief romanticizes adolescent male bonding; Mysterious Skin shows how trauma rewrites that same connection. Same age, same intensity of feeling, completely opposite emotional register. A necessary counterweight.

A devastating film about two boys whose lives are shaped by the same terrible event, seen from opposite angles. Araki finds the strange tenderness underneath. It's honest about male friendship and damage and what we do to survive.

But It deals with child sexual abuse directly and unflinchingly. Quiet and deliberate, not a movie that offers easy catharsis. Emotionally demanding in ways that will sit with you.