Top 20 Movies of the 80s

20. The Little Mermaid (1989, Ron Clements & Jon Musker)

This is easily my favourite Disney movie and it’s an absolute classic example of the terrific outcome of movies during the 1980s. I, for one, remember having tons of Little Mermaid merchandise and remember watching it over and over again. It’s a favourite of the 80s and deservedly so.

19. The Shining (1980, Stanley Kubrick)

One of the most frightening movies ever made and based on a terrific read by Stephen King, who apparently hated this film adaptation. I, however, loved it! Jack Nicholson is no less than brilliant as Jack Torrence and Shelley Duvall is too as his wife, Wendy. This film came at a time when America was punching out some pretty impressive horror movies during the 70s and 80s and this one is definitely reminiscent of that period.

18. Raging Bull (1980, Martin Scorsese)

This is arguably the greatest work by Scorsese and De Niro as a partnership and it’s easy to see why. The film was extremely popular upon its release in the early 80s and won De Niro his Oscar for Best Actor in a Leading Role and the film apparently only took two weeks to write. This is surprising considering it’s a film critically acclaimed for its ease in terms of dialogue as well as its slick and impressive cinematography and editing. Another classic which brings back nostalgic memories and images of the 1980s.

17. The Lost Boys (1987, Joel Schumacher)

This cult classic is probably what Keifer Sutherland is best known for and the film is certainly well loved and followed by. My father in particular is a huge fan of the film and he physically wouldn’t rest until I’d seen it. Thankfully now I have and am glad to put it in this list because, even though I’m too young to remember the 1980s, it does have that 80s vibe that I hope a lot of these movies project to you as well as me.

16. The Blues Brothers (1980, John Landis)

The Blues Brothers, Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi, brought back the jazz sensation in this classic movie featuring cameos by the finest rhythm and blues singers around. The film features Cab Calloway, Ray Charles, James Brown and many more in this tale of two blues-addicts trying to get their band back together. It’s a hilarious screenplay with characters created by the stars on Saturday Night Live and it’s bound to have you roaring with laughter. A very nostalgic movie of the 80s and probably caused an increase in the purchasing of sunglasses!

15. Blade Runner (1982, Ridley Scott)

An absolute classic, not only of the 80s era, but of the sci-fi genre. The film stars Harrison Ford in the midst of his Hollywood success in the middle of the Star Wars and Indiana Jones movies. It was nominated for two Oscars, not surprisingly for Visual Effects and Best Art Direction!

14. The Princess Bride (1987, Rob Reiner)

Probably my favourite family film of all time and certainly reminiscent of the 1980s, especially shining its 80s light through the casting: Cary Elwes, Christopher Guest, Carol Kane, Billy Crystal and not forgetting Robin Wright Penn who made her first film appearance as the Princess Bride herself. The film is laugh out loud funny throughout and I have spent many a Christmas watching this magical fairy tale and being sucked in every time.

13. When Harry Met Sally (1989, Rob Reiner)

That’s two Rob Reiner films, and also two Billy Crystal films, on the run in this chart, which just goes to show how powerful these two talents were in the 80s when they were each at the peek of their fame. And this film brilliantly captures the essence of their talents working as one in a personal favourite and a film that is very dear to me. Not only am I a huge fan of Meg Ryan, a woman who is the very definition of a romantic comedy heroin and what every woman wants to be, but this film captures the heart an soul of the 80s as the story (happening over a period of 12 years) manages to include every single second of the 80s going from 1977 to 1989! (Look out for some brilliant 80s fashions and hairdos!) I only wish I’d have put it higher in this countdown!

12. Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988, Robert Zemeckis)

This is another masterpiece by the great Robert Zemeckis and it’s not his last appearance in this chart either! This film is critically acclaimed for its spectacular visual effects blending live action with animation a la Anchors Away! The effects were created by using a range of techniques, most commonly using robots to fill in the blanks where the animation hadn’t yet been placed. Another interesting fact is that Charles Fleischer (the voice of Roger Rabbit) wore the Roger Rabbit costume on set when providing his lines. This is another personal favourite of mine and even though it’s set in the 1940s it still takes me back to the 80s.

11. Beetlejuice (1988, Tim Burton)

This hilarious movie is another classic from Tim Burton who happened to get better and better through the 90s. Nonetheless this remains my favourite of his movies with the brilliance of casting Michael Keaton as Beetlejuice, a raunchy and obtuse spirit who teaches Alec Baldwin and Geena Davis the fine art of scaring the living!

10. Evil Dead 2 (1987, Sam Raimi)

As if horror/comedy couldn’t get any better! This superior follow up to the similarly brilliant Evil Dead is a cult classic and the definition of 80s horror by Sam Raimi who is, to some, now better known for his work on the Spiderman films. The film follows on from its predecessor and the story just gets weirder wackier as Ash (Bruce Campbell) tries to escape the evil that lurks in the forest!

9. Top Gun (1986, Tony Scott)

If someone were to ask you which films reminded you of the 80s, you would eventually mention this. Top Gun is the ultimate love story which blends the romantic genre well with the action genre, and who better to cast than Tom Cruise for the lead? Of course the song by Berlin, “Take My Breath Away” made this film what it is and the song remains a karaoke favourite of mine!

8. The Terminator (1984, James Cameron)

This is easily one of my favourite science fiction movies and although the special effects may look a little ropey now-a-days, the story truly does capture your attention. The imaginative storyline and the superb dialogue makes the film easy to watch despite some rather poor effects and the audience’s imagination fills in the blanks. A favourite for many, including myself and a brilliantly reminiscent film of the 80s.

7. Dirty Dancing (1987, Emile Ardolino)

This, again, is a classic movie that is bound to appear in any countdown of 80s favourites. The on screen chemistry between Jennifer Grey and Patrick Swayze is amazing and the dances are fabulous! There’s nothing that I love more than a dancing movie and probably thanks to the craze surrounding this movie, that genre has emerged again with films like “Shall We Dance” or “Step Up”.

6. The Breakfast Club (1985, John Hughes)

A classic film from the God of 80s teen flicks, John Hughes! This film captures all personalities from high school and, I don’t know about you, but I could certainly see myself in one of those characters. I’m not telling you who though! There was the brain, the athlete, the princess, the basket-case and the criminal. All of whom where delightfully different characters brought together to create this masterpiece of cinema which should be in everyone’s DVD collection!

5.  Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986, John Hughes)

In my opinion, this is Hughes’ superior follow up to The Breakfast Club! I love this movie with every inch of my soul and it constantly makes me wish I was old enough to have experienced the 1980s properly! Matthew Broderick is no less than brilliant in the role and the film is layered with jokes and quirky characters that will almost certainly have you laughing out loud. Again, a must have for all film lovers and certainly for those who lurve the 80s!

4. Ghostbusters (1984, Ivan Reitman)

Another 80s must-have which is another for the whole family. This is definitely Bill Murray’s finest work as an actor with the classic delivery of the line: “He slimed me!” There’s nothing much else to say about it other than it will have you on the floor laughing and is a film I could watch again and again and again and again!

3. Indiana Jones: Raiders Of The Lost Ark (1981, Stephen Spielberg)

Another 80s classic which has recently been resurrected in the form of “Kingdom of the Crystal Skulls”. This film won four Oscars for Editing, Visual Effects, Sound and Art Direction, and rightfully so. The film is brilliantly filmed with a clear high budget of $18 million and a brilliant performance by Harrison Ford playing the sexiest archaeologist around!

2. Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back (1980, George Lucas)

It’s difficult to express my love for the Star Wars movies, they’re too god damn important to me to put into words! Especially this one! A lot of people would say that the movies have gone off a little since “The Phantom Menace” hit theatres and I remember being very disappointed myself, but the original trilogy still stands up for me, and this is probably, for a lot of people, the favourite of the movies.

1. Back to the Future (1985, Robert Zemeckis)

Others may have chosen Star Wars for the number one spot in this chart but I had to choose this as it’s my favourite film ever! If I could, this entire chart would be filled with films from this trilogy, but I was on my best behaviour and only put one of the films in it. The film is truly an 80s movie with a brilliant soundtrack featuring 80s greats like Huey Lewis and the News! The fashions of the 80s are also clearly present, especially when showing the difference between the 1950s and the 1980s! Hilarity ensues! For me, this film canonised what a truly great film should be. It’s superbly written, brilliantly acted and directed and it really does have something for everyone! What more do you want?