Valley Girl

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Valley Girl

R

1983

1h 35m

Romance

Comedy

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

80%

Tomatometer

30 Reviews

71%

Popcornmeter

10,000+ Ratings

Lovely teen Julie Richman (Deborah Foreman) is steeped in the excessive, pink-clad culture of the San Fernando Valley, complete with her narcissistic boyfriend, Tommy (Michael Bowen). At a party, however, Julie falls for an edgy Hollywood punk named Randy (Nicolas Cage), and the two begin an unlikely romance. Torn between fitting in with her superficial friends and embracing a more non-conformist lifestyle, Julie ultimately has to decide to stay with Tommy or take a risk with Randy.

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Critics Consensus

With engaging performances from its two leads, Valley Girl is a goofy yet amiable film that both subverts and celebrates the cheerful superficiality of teen comedies.

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Anton Bitel

Little White Lies

Sep 15, 2023

Self-consciously modelled on Romeo and Juliet (a neon sign for which is visible at one point on a Sherman Oaks theatre marquee), Martha Coolidge’s feature offers all the dilemmas and transgressions of a coming-of-age romance.

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Variety Staff

Variety

Jul 24, 2007

For a change, there aren't any cartoon problem adults on hand as there often are in these pictures.

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Roger Ebert

Chicago Sun-Times

Oct 23, 2004

3/4

This movie is a little treasure, a funny, sexy, appealing story of a Valley Girl's heartbreaking decision: Should she stick with her boring jock boyfriend, or take a chance on a punk from Hollywood?

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Noah Berlatsky

Everything is Horrible (Substack)

Jul 30, 2026

It's not a lot of fun to watch the tropes line themselves up with little panache and less purpose.

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Kat Hughes

THN

Sep 19, 2023

3/5

A must-watch for Cage obsessives, Valley Girl also has enough within it for those curious about eighties teen movies that lie off the well-trodden path. Outside of that it is hard to imagine quite what the reach will be.

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David Nusair

Reel Film Reviews

Jan 7, 2021

2.5/4

...feels like it could (and should) have been so much better.

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Vincent S

@Vin_E_At_The_Movies Jul 13, 2026

A perfect 80s movie and such a fun, joyous time at the movies! With one of the best rock soundtracks ever in a movie, the energy here is infectious! Nicolas Cage, in a very early role is great, sexy and funny. Deborah Foreman is adorable! One of my favorite love stories of the 80s. Pure Bliss!

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Farah R.

@Farah Jun 23, 2026

Not sure what I was expecting but it certainly wasn’t bad acting, cheesy dialogue, and a cliche teen romance that enforces the very stereotypes it’s aiming to subvert. Hard pass.

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Melissa M

@Lisey Jun 12, 2026

The cast got along on & off the set. The director encouraged the actors to bring their real life experiences to the movie. totally awesome movie with an even awesomer soundtrack. It was like the '80s version of Romeo & Juliet. Julie is valley girl & Randy is a righteous dude. Julie's parents are as carefree & down to earth as she is. Her friend Stacy is uptight but she slightly loosens up after her grotty to Max encounter with Fred. Suzi likes Skip from the party but so does her stepmother. loyrn is a bodacious babe who after a trist with Tommy sees him for the for the asshat he truly is. After a meet-cute at Stacy's party Randy & Julie start dating even though her friends totally don't approve. After awesome musical montage of their dare to be different romance. Even with the sage advice she gets her father she breaks up with Randy. With peer pressure from her friends she gets back together with Tommy. In spite of that it has righteous ending.

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Em D.

@EmBurger Apr 26, 2026

Worst script of all time

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Michael L.

@toejam2020 Mar 22, 2026

Have loved this movie,since the first time I saw it in 1983-the negative fan reviews are kindve perplexing-are people expecting the Godfather

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Kevin L

@Lakeman Feb 18, 2026

Truly abysmal in most every way- godawful acting, dimwitted dialogue, formulaic pablum that screams unrealistic. Cage is lousy, but so are most all the actors. Colleen Camp is okay, but she at least had some experience. Just mindless 20-somethings w/ 16 yr old mindsets. Not even the soundtrack can save it from the depths of crapola.

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Martha Coolidge

Director

Nicolas Cage

Randy

Deborah Foreman

Julie Richman

Frederic Forrest

Steve Richman

E.G. Daily

Loryn

Michael Bowen

Tommy

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Synopsis

Lovely teen Julie Richman (Deborah Foreman) is steeped in the excessive, pink-clad culture of the San Fernando Valley, complete with her narcissistic boyfriend, Tommy (Michael Bowen). At a party, however, Julie falls for an edgy Hollywood punk named Randy (Nicolas Cage), and the two begin an unlikely romance. Torn between fitting in with her superficial friends and embracing a more non-conformist lifestyle, Julie ultimately has to decide to stay with Tommy or take a risk with Randy.

Director: Martha Coolidge
Producer: Wayne Crawford, Andrew Lane
Screenwriter: Wayne Crawford, Andrew Lane
Distributor: MGM/UA Home Entertainment Inc., Atlantic Releasing Corp.
Production Co: Valley 9000
Rating: R
Genre: Romance, Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Apr 8, 1983, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 1, 2016
Runtime: 1h 35m
Sound Mix: Stereo
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

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