Mentioned with uncertainty Amy Heckerling was reportedly about 27 or 28 when making the movie.
Production note Universal initially worried about the film and limited its release.
Production note The movie later became a cable and VHS hit after a modest theatrical run.
Production note Roger Ebert gave the film one star and later reportedly reconsidered.
Production note Damone’s Led Zeppelin advice is noted as a publishing snafu, since the song is not on Led Zeppelin IV.
Production note The movie was shot at Sherman Oaks Galleria and Van Nuys High School.
Production note Jennifer Jason Leigh worked at Perry’s Pizza for three weeks to prepare.
Production note Crow based Mark Ratner on a real student, Andy Rathbone.
Production note The film inspired a 1986 television series with Ray Walston and Vincent Schiavelli.
Production note Sean Penn reportedly read for both Brad and Spicoli.
Porky's Used as part of the raunchy teen-comedy lineage surrounding Fast Times.
Caddyshack Discussed as a proto-teen movie with similar crude-comedy energy.
The Breakfast Club Used as a more mainstream John Hughes contrast to Fast Times.
American Pie Cited as a later inheritor of the Fast Times formula.
Clueless Held up as another Amy Heckerling high-school classic.
Mean Girls Mentioned as a later movie that strongly captures its release-era high-school culture.
Dazed and Confused Used as a later high-school hangout comparison.
American Graffiti Mentioned as another influential youth-culture film with a similar feel.
Risky Business Referenced as another early-80s youth movie with breakout young stars.
The Outsiders Named in the cluster of early-80s star-making teen films.
Valley Girl Used as another teen movie from the same period and culture.
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial Referenced when listing the 1982 box-office environment.
Raiders of the Lost Ark Mentioned while sketching the 1982 box-office backdrop.
Rocky III Mentioned in the 1982 box-office list.
The Verdict Mentioned as another 1982 release in Bill’s formative-movies list.
