Broderick then won the role of the charming, clever slacker in the 1986 film "Ferris Bueller's Day Off". At the age of 23, Broderick played a high school student who, with his girlfriend and best friend, plays hooky and explores Chicago. The film is a 1980s comedy favorite and is one of Broderick's best known roles (particularly with teenage audiences). Also in 1987, he played Air Force research assistant Jimmy Garrett in "Project X". In 1988, Broderick played Harvey Fierstein's lover, Alan, in the screen adaptation of "Torch Song Trilogy".