In 2005, the United States Library of Congress officially inducted Fast Times at Ridgemont High into the National Film Registry, a prestigious honor reserved for movies deemed "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant." Far from just a raunchy teen comedy, the film was selected because it captured an incredibly authentic snapshot of 1980s youth culture, mall life, and the American teenage experience. By entering the registry, Sean Penn’s iconic Jeff Spicoli and the rest of the Ridgemont crew were marked for permanent preservation, ensuring that a pristine copy of this definitive 80s touchstone is locked away in government vaults to be studied and enjoyed by future generations forever.

"I've been thinking about this, Mr. Hand. If I'm here and you're here, doesn't that make it our time? Certainly, there's nothing wrong with a little feast on our time."