A Look Back At The Beloved 1980s Classic “Footloose”

With back to school time now in full swing, I wanted to work on a quick review to coincide with back to school. There were several selections that I had in mind for this particular review. But, then I thought of one that’s not exactly your typical back to school or high school film (and it was part of the “Back to School” section on Peacock - the 80s classic “Footloose.”

The 1984 film “Footloose” isn’t a traditional “back to school” movie in the sense of a movie primarily focused on high school life or a school setting. However, it does feature a high school as a central location and involves themes of teenage life, social issues, and rebellion against authority, which are common elements in back to school movies.

Moving in from Chicago, newcomer Ren McCormack is in shock when he discovers the small Midwestern town he now calls home has made dancing and rock music illegal. As he struggles to fit in, Ren faces an uphill battle to change things.

With the help of his new friend, Willard Hewitt, and defiant teen Ariel Moore, he might loosen up this conservative town. But Ariel’s influential father, Reverend Shaw Moore, stands in his way.

“Footloose” (1984) was another extremely popular movie released in the 1980s that audiences really enjoyed. And, believe it or not, despite the movie resonating really well with audiences then, critics initially gave this movie a mixed reaction. During its initial release, the film’s audiences (especially its targeted audience, the high school/young adult crowd) really enjoyed the spirited music and energetic dancing - something that numerous people, including myself, would still agree with.

This beloved 1984 classic captures the light-hearted, mainstream feel of the 80s decade, solidifying its place in pop culture and becoming the classic that lots of movie audiences have enjoyed over the years. The film’s soundtrack alone helped skyrocket the film to its popularity.

The film also truly resonated with the younger generations then (and possibly now) as “Footloose” features some rebellious themes and the film’s focus on teen angst. Also, the film’s plot, where a city boy challenges a small town’s ban on dancing and rock music, tapped into the common feeling of teen rebellion against authority.

The classic film’s timeless themes of youth empowerment and fighting for self-expression continues to resonate with young adults today. The iconic dance sequences and energetic music keeps the film really entertaining for new generations to come!

MPA: Rated PG   (runtime 107 minutes)

You can currently find this 1980s classic streaming on Peacock!

• The scenes where Chris Penn's character had to learn how to dance were added to the script because Penn really could not dance.

• Loosely based on events that took place in the small, rural, and extremely religious farming town of Elmore City, Oklahoma in 1978. Dancing had been banned for nearly ninety years, until a group of high school teenagers challenged it.

• In a 2013 interview with Howard Stern, Kevin Bacon admitted that he actually has tipped DJs at weddings not to play "Footloose". He stated that people expect him to dance to the song as he did in the movie. In truth, while he did do some of the dancing, there was also a dancing double for him.

• To celebrate the 40th anniversary of the film, Bacon visited the filming location Payson High School on April 20, 2024 and attended their prom.

• In his biopic "Still Alright", Kenny Loggins explained that at the final scene where the kids dance off their prom night, the actors weren't actually dancing to his song "Footloose", but rather to Chuck Berry's "Johnny B. Goode". Loggins' song was added in during post-production.

• With the Principal's knowledge, 24-year-old Kevin Bacon attended the Payson Utah High School as "Ren McCormack", a transfer student from Philadelphia to get into his role. With his narrow tie and new-wave haircut, he was treated pretty much like in the film. Bacon gratefully left with the location scouts on the afternoon of the first day.

• Included among the American Film Institute's 2004 list of the top 100 America's Greatest Music in the Movies for the song "Footloose."

• Both Dianne Wiest and Sarah Jessica Parker have played witches. Dianne Wiest played Aunt Jet in Practical Magic (1998). Sarah Jessica Parker starred in Hocus Pocus (1993) as Sarah Sanderson.

• In the scene where Reverend Shaw shows Ren a picture of his deceased son Bobby, John Lithgow showed a photograph of his real son.