!!For the musical:
* EnsembleDarkhorse: Urleen wasn't in the movie but is decently well-liked.
* OneSceneWonder: Betty Blast, who delivers this gem:
-->[[DomesticAbuser Cranston!]] Your pick-up truck is in the handicapped parking, which is a space we reserve for people with ''physical'', not ''emotional'', disabilities.

!!For the 1984 film:
* SugarWiki/AwesomeMusic: "Music/HoldingOutForAHero", "Never" by Moving Pictures (playing during Ren's warehouse dance) and of course the title theme sung by Music/KennyLoggins.
** Not to mention "Let's Hear it for the Boy."
* EnsembleDarkhorse: Plucky sidekicks Willard (a dancing novice for added bonus) and Rusty. It arguably carries into their other versions as well.
* FridgeLogic: Where did they find a DJ in a town where rock music and dancing are illegal? You wouldn't think there'd be much call for someone to spin tunes for an audience.
** The dance was actually held in the next town over, where rock music and dancing are legal. There's a brief scene where Ren's boss points out where the town border is very close to Beaumont, allowing the teens to have their dance party close enough to have it be a gesture of defiance without actually breaking the law.
* IncestYayShipping: Amy and Ren after she calls Ren a fox.
* MemeticMutation: "I thought this was a party! Let's daaaaance!"
* SugarWiki/MomentOfAwesome:
** The Chicken race.
** Beating up Chuck and his buddies when they try to sabotage the dance.
* NarmCharm: One of the key draws of the movie.

!!For the 2011 film:
* BestKnownForTheFanservice: Ariel's HotterAndSexier wardrobe in this film has earned some commentary.
* EnsembleDarkhorse:
** Wes is sixth in the credits, but is seen as a highlight of the film for his laidback but concerned CoolUncle AdaptationalPersonalityChange.
** Ren's little cousins were decently liked in the original movie despite their minor roles, but are even better-liked in this version.
** Caroline is one of the least prominent named high schoolers in the movie, but has a fair amount of fans for her {{Tomboy}} moments during the demolition derby.
** Andy Beamis, for retaining his BenevolentBoss interactions with Ren from the original movie while providing more hands-on help to the heroes once or twice. The GeniusBonus irony of him being a black man who owns a cotton mill in this version also draws some interest.
* SugarWiki/HeartwarmingMoments:
** Ren's uncle talking the judge out of giving him a harsh sentence for playing music, by appealing to the days they did the same thing.
** Ren and Reverend Moore talking about what reminds them of their dead loved ones in the church and coming to an understanding.
** Like in the original, Shaw and Vi doing a slow dance together.
* ItsTheSameNowItSucks: A common complaint about the remake. The movie isn't ''completely'' the same (among other things the death of Ariel's brother is made clear from the beginning, the chicken race is turned into a bus race, and Ren's relationships with his uncle and Shaw are altered), but the main plot points do follow the first movie, for better or worse.
* LesYay: Ariel and Rusty are shown holding hands while they walk to the race track in an early scene, and when Rusty berates Ariel for risking her life on a whim, Ariel asks if Rusty is going to leave her over that, then kisses her on the cheek later when they make up. These moments give some AmbiguouslyBi subtext to their interactions.
* SignatureScene: The best-known scene from the 2011 remake is the scene in the country bar where Ariel, Ren and Rusty take part in the line dance set to Big & Rich's "Fake ID".
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