This was an instant classic teen comedy and helped launch the careers of Jennifer Jason Leigh, Judge Reinhold, Phoebe Cates, Eric Stoltz, Forest Whitaker and Sean Penn. The film's ongoing popularity is due to 1) memorable nude scenes for Cates and Leigh, particularly Cates in a poolside reverie that seems to have had an immense impact on a whole generation of kids, and 2) Sean Penn as the class burn-out engaged in a running battle of wills with his ultra-strict history teacher, Mister Hand. (Ray Walston). Younger viewers will be astounded by the in-your-face ugliness of everything… clothes, buildings, hair-styles, you name it. Thankfully the music was good. This soundtrack album sold quite well.