Year: 1984
Runtime: 90 min
Language: Italian
Director: James Foley
Three adventurous friends find themselves caught up in a chaotic situation after inadvertently stumbling upon a robbery. They must then face the repercussions of their spontaneous actions, dealing with the dangerous fallout while navigating unexpected romantic developments and finding moments of humor along the way.
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Johnny Rourke, a teenage outcast and football player, falls for Tracey Prescott, Daryl Hannah. She is officially dating his teammate Randy Daniels. A random draw at the high school Tin Can-Can dance pairs Johnny and Tracey, and the two worlds collide in a charged moment on the dance floor.
Worlds collide and opposites attract as they connect on the dance floor. Jealous Randy picks a fight with Johnny, the coach intervenes, and Johnny leaves in a huff. Tracey follows, and he offers to take her out on his motorbike. He shows her his lookout spot, and they talk about their future plans.
The next day at school Johnny gets a call from the mill, as his dad is too drunk to work. It causes him to be late to practice, so the coach berates him. When he does not divulge why, he is kicked off the team. Arriving home in a belligerent mood, he argues with his father, who smashes his stereo and throws him out.
At home, Tracey talks to her mom, lamenting that she is considered to be the perfect daughter. She tears out of her driveway and down the road. Johnny detects her inquietude, follows closely, then he gets her to stop.
They sneak into the high school. Reading his file identifying him as anti-social and potentially dangerous since his mother’s abandonment, Johnny and Tracey go on a rampage. They strew file contents throughout the halls, freeing the animals and creatures in the biology classroom, smash trophy cases, and dive into the pool, where a moment of closeness deepens their bond.
Johnny wakes up alone, so he seeks Tracey out at her house, as she is meant to be alone for the weekend. He pushes his way in, and although she weakly resists at first, they manage to talk through their situation. They are interrupted by Tracey’s younger brother Davey, who explains her family came back early. He helps sneak Johnny out.
At the pep rally that night, Johnny asks to speak to her. She arrives very late to his lookout. He reiterates how he needs to leave, and the moment unsettles her. For a few days she avoids him at school. He gets called into the factory again, this time to clear out his father’s locker after his death.
After the funeral, which Tracey attends from afar, Johnny tries to go through his father’s things. Finding keepsakes of his mother who abandoned them, he burns them along with the place, a stark act that underscores his turbulent emotions and scarred past.
Hopes are dashed, future prospects dim, and the omnipresent steel mill looms large in the background of this one-industry town. Johnny comes to grips with the unraveling family history—his estranged mother and the recently deceased father—while facing an uncertain road ahead.
Johnny goes to the careers fair, wanting to speak alone with Tracey. She is forced to decide between her stable longtime boyfriend Randy and Johnny. Johnny declares his love for her, and they drive off together on his motorcycle to Davey’s cheers.
Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 15:36
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.
Stories of young love and defiance set against a backdrop of hardship.If you liked the angsty, romantic rebellion in Reckless, you'll find similar stories here. These movies explore teen characters who challenge authority and social norms while navigating first love, family conflict, and the difficult transition into adulthood, all with a touch of melancholy.
These narratives typically follow a pair or a group of teenage outsiders as they form a bond that becomes their refuge from a difficult home life or a restrictive society. The plot unfolds through a series of small but significant acts of defiance, interspersed with tender romantic moments, often culminating in a bittersweet ending where the characters choose an uncertain future together over the safety of the status quo.
Movies in this thread are grouped by their shared emotional tone—a specific blend of hopeful romanticism and melancholic reality. They feature steady, character-driven pacing that builds towards endings that are neither purely happy nor sad, but complex and true to the characters' journeys.
Young characters forced to mature quickly after a significant loss.For viewers who appreciated how Reckless wove parental death and grief into its teen romance narrative. These films similarly explore how young people process loss, navigating sadness and responsibility while still experiencing the typical trials of adolescence.
The narrative pattern involves a relatively stable teenage life being disrupted by a major loss. The protagonist must then navigate the dual challenges of mourning and the ongoing pressures of adolescence, such as school, romance, and friendship. The story is often straightforward, focusing on the internal emotional journey as much as the external plot, leading to a conclusion that acknowledges the pain but also the possibility of moving forward.
These movies share a strong thematic focus on grief as a catalyst for maturity. They balance a medium emotional weight with a steady, introspective pace, creating a space for the audience to sit with the characters' sadness without being overwhelmed, often finding moments of hope and connection amidst the pain.
Don't stop at just watching — explore Reckless 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 Reckless is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.
Track the full timeline of Reckless with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.
Discover the characters, locations, and core themes that shape Reckless. Get insights into symbolic elements, setting significance, and deeper narrative meaning — ideal for thematic analysis and movie breakdowns.
Get a quick, spoiler-free overview of Reckless 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.
Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about Reckless: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.
Discover movies like Reckless 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.
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