Modern Girls

Modern Girls

Year: 1986

Runtime: 84 mins

Language: English

Director: Jerry Kramer

ComedyRomance

Never stand in line. Never pay for your own drinks. Never sit next to a dweeb. Margo, Kelly and CeCe share three things: they’re roommates, stunningly beautiful, and addicted to the glittering L.A. rock‑and‑roll scene. A night tangled with a rock star, an arrogant ex‑boyfriend, a pseudo‑sadist and the city’s friendliest nerd sends their glamorous adventure spiraling out of control.

Warning: spoilers below!

Haven’t seen Modern Girls yet? This summary contains major spoilers. Bookmark the page, watch the movie, and come back for the full breakdown. If you're ready, scroll on and relive the story!

Timeline – Modern Girls (1986)

Trace every key event in Modern Girls (1986) with our detailed, chronological timeline. Perfect for unpacking nonlinear stories, spotting hidden connections, and understanding how each scene builds toward the film’s climax. Whether you're revisiting or decoding for the first time, this timeline gives you the full picture.

1

Friday night prep in LA

The three roommates Margo, Kelly, and Cece finish their day jobs and gear up for a big night out in Los Angeles. They joke about the city's temptations as they prepare their outfits and plan where to go. They sense the promise of a wild, nightlife-filled evening ahead.

Evening, Friday night Los Angeles
2

Kelly borrows Margo's car to chase a DJ

Kelly steals Margo's car to go meet a DJ she fancies downtown. Margo and Cece discover what happened, but the situation lightens when Kelly's blind date, Clifford, arrives to pick her up. The trio ends up hitching a ride with Clifford to the club where the DJ is performing.

Evening Downtown Los Angeles
3

Club entrance and police raid

At the club, Bruno X arrives and Cece works to catch his eye while Margo and Cece discuss their night. A police raid interrupts the party, forcing Cece and Margo to leave with Clifford. The night surges from flirtation to chaotic disruption.

Night Club (Los Angeles)
4

After-hours goth bar and impersonation

The trio stops at an after-hours goth bar. Cece uses Bruno's hotel matchbook to pinpoint his hotel, convincing Clifford—who bears a striking resemblance to Bruno X—to impersonate him. Clifford is then pressed into filming a music video on the street, blurring reality and performance.

Late night After-hours goth bar, Los Angeles
5

Kelly at Sharkey's bar and danger

While at Sharkey's bar, DJ Milo offers Kelly drugs, pulling her deeper into the night's temptations. The others track her down and find her drunk and surrounded by lecherous men, raising the real risk of harm. They intervene to pull her back from danger.

Night Sharkey's bar, Los Angeles
6

Rainstorm and Hollywood walk

A sudden rainstorm hits as the night wears on. Clifford closes the car top and accidentally pops a tire on parking spikes, forcing them to hoof it along Hollywood Boulevard. The group keeps moving through the chaos, sharing the sense that anything could happen.

Night Hollywood Boulevard
7

Club VooDoo infiltration

Clifford borrows a car from the driving school where he works and infiltrates Club VooDoo with the women, who bustle past bouncers who mistake him for Bruno X. Inside, they navigate the club's heady mix of power, fantasy, and danger.

Night Club VooDoo, Los Angeles
8

Bathroom tensions and loyalties

In the Club VooDoo bathroom, Kelly reveals she intends to tend to Clifford, while Margo remains evasive about her own feelings toward him. The moment tightens the trio's relationships as celebrity impersonation bleeds into real flirtation.

Night Club VooDoo bathroom
9

Marsalis's warning and Bruno's itinerary

Cece learns from Marsalis that Bruno X is obsessed with her and has been searching since the club raid. Marsalis mentions Bruno's 7:00 a.m. flight booked at Santa Monica Airport, heightening the sense of an impending encounter.

Night Club VooDoo vicinity
10

Ray confrontation and police report

A food fight erupts when Clifford tries to stop Kelly from leaving with Ray. Kelly escapes with Ray, but he becomes violent, prompting them to go to the police station where Kelly files a report. The incident marks a hard turn from reckless fun to real consequences.

Night Police station, Los Angeles
11

Dawn reunion with Bruno

Dawn approaches as the group drives Cece to the airport, and she is briefly reunited with Bruno, who asks her to join him on tour. She declines, saying she’d miss her friends too much, and instead gives him her phone number. The moment blends temptation with loyalty to her circle.

Dawn Santa Monica Airport area
12

Final banter and future nights

As they drop Cece off, Clifford asks what their plans are for the night, and the trio responds with playful banter, confirming their friendship will endure despite the chaos. The night ends with a sense of continuity and the promise of future nights out together.

Dawn Los Angeles

Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 14:18

Mobile App Preview

Coming soon on iOS and Android

The Plot Explained Mobile App

From blockbusters to hidden gems — dive into movie stories anytime, anywhere. Save your favorites, discover plots faster, and never miss a twist again.

Sign up to be the first to know when we launch. Your email stays private — always.

Explore Movie Threads

Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.

One Crazy Night Adventures like in Modern Girls

Stories where a single wild night sends characters on an unforgettable, chaotic journey.Discover movies like Modern Girls where a single night spirals into a hilarious and chaotic adventure. These films capture the energy of friendship, mistaken identities, and wild escapades in a fast-paced, comedic format perfect for a fun watch.

chaoticenergeticplayfulfriendshipnight outmisadventuresfast-pacedcomedic

Narrative Summary

Narratives in this thread typically follow a linear, fast-paced structure over a condensed timeframe, often just one evening. The plot unfolds through a domino effect of complications—wrong turns, chance meetings, and escalating misunderstandings—that test the characters' resourcefulness and loyalty, usually leading to a night they'll never forget.

Why These Movies?

Movies are grouped here for their shared focus on a compressed, high-energy timeline, a tone blending comedy with minor peril, and the central theme of friendship navigating unforeseen chaos. They offer a specific, fun viewing experience defined by relentless pacing and playful adventure.

Glamorous 80s Coming-of-Age stories like Modern Girls

Coming-of-age stories set against the vibrant, glossy backdrop of 1980s pop culture.If you liked the 80s vibe of Modern Girls, explore similar movies set in the decade's glamorous nightlife and pop culture scene. These stories blend youthful self-discovery with the distinctive energy, style, and music of the 1980s.

nostalgicglamorous1980scoming of ageyouthfulpop culturenightlifeself-discovery

Narrative Summary

The narrative pattern involves young adults, often friends, exploring their identities and desires within a world defined by 80s iconography—clubs, fashion, and rock music. The journey is typically one of superficial pursuits giving way to deeper understanding about loyalty, love, or self-worth, set to a soundtrack and visual style that are quintessentially of the era.

Why These Movies?

These movies are connected by their strong period setting, which is integral to the mood and plot. They share a specific nostalgic feel, a focus on youth culture and romance, and a tone that balances playful energy with moments of heartfelt realization about growing up.

Unlock the Full Story of Modern Girls

Don't stop at just watching — explore Modern Girls in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Modern Girls is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

Modern Girls Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Modern Girls, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

Modern Girls Summary

Characters, Settings & Themes in Modern Girls

Discover the characters, locations, and core themes that shape Modern Girls. Get insights into symbolic elements, setting significance, and deeper narrative meaning — ideal for thematic analysis and movie breakdowns.

Characters, Settings & Themes in Modern Girls

Modern Girls Spoiler-Free Summary

Get a quick, spoiler-free overview of Modern Girls that covers the main plot points and key details without revealing any major twists or spoilers. Perfect for those who want to know what to expect before diving in.

Modern Girls Spoiler-Free Summary

More About Modern Girls

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about Modern Girls: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

More About Modern Girls

Similar Movies to Modern Girls

Discover movies like Modern Girls that share similar genres, themes, and storytelling elements. Whether you’re drawn to the atmosphere, character arcs, or plot structure, these curated recommendations will help you explore more films you’ll love.