In 1986, 15-year-old Peterson was cast in the teen comedy "Boy Rents Girl", opposite Patrick Dempsey. The film was shot on location in Tucson, Arizona. The title was later changed to "Can't Buy Me Love" after producers secured the rights to The Beatles' 1964 song of the same name. Released in the summer of 1987, "Can't Buy Me Love" received mixed reviews but became the sleeper hit of the summer. After its release, Peterson and Dempsey obtained teen idol status and subsequently appeared on the covers of teen magazines such as "Tiger Beat" and "Teen Beat".