The “I gave my panties to a geek." Scene

The Movie: Sixteen Candles (1984)

The Moment:



Why It’s Defining: It epitomises how much ‘80s geeks worshipped girls.

When Samantha (immortal thrift-icon Molly Ringwald) hands Farmer Ted (Anthony Michael Hall) her pants, little does she know that’s she’s about to set in motion a sequence of events that define ‘80s teen movies, encapsulating an element that sets them apart from their ‘90s and ‘00s counterparts.

In ‘80s movies, girls are goddesses – strange creatures that are best appreciated from afar.

In the world of Sixteen Candles, girls’ pants are mysterious and magical enough to cause a gang of geeks to gather in gasping worship – a far cry from American Pie’s pussy pipe, or The Girl Next Door’s porn star seduction.

Every teen flick of the ‘80s contains at least one scene featuring a bunch of nerds gawping in wonder at something a girl once touched, or said, or did. This is one of the very best.

Why It’ll Stay With Us Forever: It was the first time one of us saw a girl’s pants. That’s the kind of thing you remember.

Next: Back To The Future