* AlasPoorScrappy: Turkey may have been a backstabbing weasel, but [[spoiler: his death at the hands of the Ducky Boys was undeserved and it’s hard to not feel bad for him.]]
* CultClassic: While the film is usually overshadowed by other youth gang films, it still has a sizeable number of fans.
* ObviousJudas: It was quite obvious that Turkey had absolutely ''no'' intent on staying with the Wanderers, even before graduation.
* RetroactiveRecognition: An uncredited Creator/WayneKnight plays a waiter in his first-ever film role.
* WhatDoYouMeanItsNotSymbolic: The football game devolving into a battle between the Ducky Boys and the Wanderer/Del Bomber/Wong team-up foreshadows the violent confusion of UsefulNotes/TheVietnamWar. Topped by [[spoiler:Joey's violent father joining in the battle and attacking his own son in the confusion.]]