The 50 Best '80s Movies
Popular culture is obsessed with the '80s—Stranger Things, anyone?—and it's not hard to see why. The '80s were a golden decade in film, boasting must-watch movies that you've likely seen many times before even if you were a '90s or '00s baby: Dirty Dancing, E.T., Footloose!
That doesn't necessarily mean that the beloved films have aged well—on the contrary, a lot of these are problematic when looked at with the benefit of hindsight. Which doesn't mean you can't rewatch these movies four+ decades later but that it's important to look at them through an analytical lens. We've added content warnings throughout to identify relevant subjects. (And if this list inspires you to take a walk down memory lane, take a gander at our list of the best '90s and '00s movies.)
Before 13 Going on 30, there was Big, the story of a 12-year-old boy who makes a wish on a carnival game to be “big” and wakes up the next morning to find out it's come true. For his role as a tween stuck in a grown man’s body—who, of course, proves to be a valuable asset at the toy company where he gets a job while waiting to switch back to his rightful form—Tom Hanks earned his first Oscar nomination.
CW: suicide. It takes a truly special teacher to inspire a teenager to hop on their desk and start reciting a Whitman poem in defiance of another authority figure, but that’s exactly the kind of teacher that Robin Williams plays in this heartwarming late ‘80s classic. O captain, my captain, indeed!
CW: violence, attempted suicide, sexual coercion. Before Center Stage and Step Up, there was Fame, the movie musical that followed the lives of high schoolers attending a New York performing arts school. The film doesn't shy away from real issues affecting teenagers and the struggles of making it in show business. (And odds are the Oscar-winning theme has been playing in your head since you started reading.)
CW: disability, mental illness, ableism. This story of Charlie Babbitt (Tom Cruise) embarking on an eye-opening road trip with Raymond, the older autistic brother he never knew he had (played by Dustin Hoffman), ended up taking home half of the eight Oscars it was nominated for, including Best Picture and Best Actor for Hoffman.
CW: misogyny, racial slur. Diane Keaton plays a New York businesswoman who is forced to drop everything (job and relationship included) when an unexpected death leaves her the caretaker of a baby girl. Directed by Nancy Myers (who went on to make The Parent Trap, The Holiday, and The Intern), Baby Boom has all the makings of a classic ‘80s movie: gendered roles, slapstick humor, and shoulder pads.
CW: violence. This biopic of champion boxer Jake LaMotta—played with Oscar-winning aplomb by Robert DeNiro—is widely considered to be not only one of the best movies of the ‘80s, but one of the best films ever made, as well as the best of director Martin Scorsese’s oeuvre.
CW: misogyny, homophobia, racial slurs, racism. Eddie Murphy as Detroit detective Alex Foley in Beverly Hills Cop made for a classically ’80s (and objectively hilarious) cult favorite. The movie went on to win the People’s Choice Award for Favorite Motion Picture and snagged both Golden Globes and Academy Award nominations.
CW: discussion of sexual assault. James L. Brooks's 1987 film told the story of two rival TV reporters and a producer.
Who could watch Aliens without being completely and utterly captivated by Sigourney Weaver as badass Ripley?
CW: homophobic slur. Equal parts ridiculous and hilarious, Bill and Ted are two airheads with a time-traveling mission to save the future. Keanu Reeves and Alex Winter made for a super endearing, totally '80s flick.
This classic fantasy follows a story within a story, as a bullied kid discovers a storybook portal into the mythical land of Fantasia. While there are some frightening monsters (built through cool pre-CGI practical effects), the heartwarming story is ultimately about the power of kids and imagination.
CW: animal cruelty. Call us wimps, but John Carpenter's The Thing is still frightening to this day.
CW: sexual assault, sexual violence, misogyny, sadomasochism. David Lynch's haunting mystery tells the story of Jeffrey (Kyle MacLachlan), who finds a severed human ear and is set on a dramatic, terrifying journey.
CW: domestic abuse, misogyny, suicide attempt. Some casual Prince listeners may not know that his iconic album Purple Rain is actually a soundtrack for his musical of the same name. The semi-autobiographical rock drama shows an artist's (played by Prince himself) rise to fame, as he pours his strained personal life into his music.
CW: consent, misogyny, animal cruelty, torture. The first of the epic Indian Jones franchise, Steven Spielberg's Raiders of the Lost Ark certainly didn't disappoint. Everyone came out of the film completely in love with Harrison Ford as Indy.
CW: classism. Matt Damon and Julia Roberts on the same screen? Yes please. Donald Petrie's 1988 hit tells the tale of three teenage girls working at a pizza parlor in Connecticut.
CW: animal cruelty. Who would've thought that the future governor of California would start his career as a sexy, time-traveling assassin? Arnold Schwarzenegger coined the now-famous phrase, "I'll be back," which turned out to be true—The Terminator continued into four sequels and a television series.
CW: sexual violence, reference to suicide. A Nightmare on Elm Street was so damn good that it literally toyed with our perception of dreams versus reality. Doubling as a cinematic trailblazer and an absolutely haunting horror film, the story of Freddy Krueger still lives on in our nightmares today.
CW: references to racism. Undeniably one of the greatest action movies of all time, Bruce Willis as John McClane was such a hit that the film spawned four sequels and a video game series.
CW: assault. It's hard not to root for ultimate-underdog Ralph Macchio, who learns traditional martial arts from a progressive for the time Asian-American character, Mr. Miyagi, to combat the bullies wreaking havoc on his life.
CW: sexual harassment, assault. Francis Ford Coppola's 1983 flick had a star-studded cast, to say the least: Patrick Swayze, Tom Cruise, Emilio Estevez, Rob Lowe, Matt Dillon, and Diane Lane were all featured in the movie. An iconic coming-of-age drama, The Outsiders birthed the now-famous line, "Stay gold, Ponyboy."
CW: sexual harassment. This slightly dated but classic film offers a truly perfect combination of slapstick revenge comedy, ahead-of-its-time labor demands—flexible hours, equal pay, affordable childcare—and, of course, that incredible cast. And don't even get me started on the ultra-catchy theme song!
CW: sexual harassment. Launching one of the biggest cultural phenoms to date, Saturday Night Live stars Dan Aykroyd and Billy Murray had audiences in stitches as they filmed their adventures in fighting the supernatural. The film was so loved (despite several problems that are now acknowledged) that the franchise spawned multiple sequels, including 2017's all-women rendition starring Kristen Wiig and Leslie Jones.
CW: misogynistic comments. The strong mother-daughter bond between the two main characters in this film makes it hard not to get emotional, and the incredible performances by Shirley MacLaine and Debra Winger led to a Best Picture win, among four other Academy Awards.
CW: misogyny, misogynistic comments. Eddie Murphy, Arsenio Hall, and James Earl Jones make up the incredible royal court of the fictitious country Zamunda in this hilarious, progressive for its time movie about a quest for love.
The '80s brought horror to a new level with Spielberg's Poltergeist. Terrifying is an understatement when it comes to this supernatural-themed, suspense-filled story starring an actress too young to even get into the theater.
It's impossible to talk about '80s movies without mentioning the sequence that introduced the world to Tom Cruise. As soon as he slid through an empty house singing "Old Time Rock and Roll," a star was born.
CW: homophobic slur, misogyny. The outfits! The hair! Duckie! John Hughes crafted a masterpiece centered around a seemingly too-cool-to-care girl named Andie and her romantic struggles with the popular, rich boy. And like any good, somewhat dated high school movie, it ends with a totally '80s prom scene you have to see to believe.
CW: homophobic slur, mental illness. Rob Reiner's film adaptation of Stephen King's novel brought four teenage boys together for a thrilling, coming-of-age drama.
With a 24-year-old Tom Cruise in uniform, it's no wonder Top Gun became an immediate, ridiculous favorite. Bless you, '80s.
CW: assault, sexual assault, sexual violence, racial slur in older version. This science-fiction film starring Harrison Ford is a classic in the genre and a mind-bender to watch. Plus, it's required viewing if you want to watch the recent sequel co-starring Ryan Gosling.
CW: discussion of suicide. Opposites attract in this post-high school romance featuring heartthrobs John Cusack and Ione Skye. Say Anything proved that when things get rocky in a relationship, nothing beats standing outside your lover's window with a boombox. Does it read a little stalker-y these days? Sure, but Cusack's sweetness helps the behavior feel earnest, not creepy.
CW: homophobic slur. Steven Spielberg's instant blockbuster quickly became one of the highest-grossing movies of all time, catapulting a little Drew Barrymore into stardom.
CW: domestic violence. Sure, '80s movies were incomplete without a sexy leading man, but holy Kevin Bacon. What would a ranking of the decade's best films be without Herbet Ross's story of dancing and breaking rules?
CW: suicide, discussion of suicide, sexual harassment. Beetlejuice! Beetlejuice! Beetleju…Don't say it a third time, because we're still convinced Tim Burton's creepy-as-hell character might appear. The 1988 flick gave the likes of Michael Keaton, Alec Baldwin, and Winona Ryder their starts.
Matthew Broderick made skipping school an event as Ferris Bueller, a teen with an elaborate plan to stay home "sick" from school and then an even more elaborate plan for what to do with the day instead. This hit film has everything we love about '80s movies: (sometimes irritating) teen angst, deadpan humor, and adventure—making it truly unforgettable.
CW: domestic violence, abuse, murder, racial slurs. Why is every bad boy from the '80s named Johnny? Jack Nicholson definitely takes the cake for the most terrifying Johnny in this undeniably haunting adaptation of Stephen King's best-selling novel.
CW: sexual abuse, sexual harassment, domestic abuse, violence, racism, use of racial slurs. This landmark film in Black cinema is worth a watch before the movie musical adaptation drops next year. Starring a packed cast including Whoopi Goldberg and Oprah Winfrey, the story of an abused housewife (Goldberg) who dreams of reuniting with her sister will take you from tears of devastation and rage to tears of joy.
CW: racial slurs. Spike Lee's Do the Right Thing isn't just one of the best movies of the '80s, it's one of the best and most culturally significant films of all time. It was a critical and commercial success and nabbed Academy Award nominations for Best Original Screenplay and Best Supporting Actor for Danny Aiello for his portrayal of Sal the pizzeria owner.
Rob Reiner's wildly loved fairy tale still holds up to this day. Mandy Patinkin in tights, stupid but quotable humor—what more could you ask for in an '80s movie?
CW: abortion, misogyny. Summer romance, forbidden love (setting the weird age differential aside), killer dance moves, and a sexy leading man? Wayne Blair's 1987 knockout brought us an epic love story between quirky girl Baby and dark and brooding Johnny, and arguably the most iconic dance routine of all time.
CW: misogyny, assault, sexual harassment, references to racism and segregation. Who Framed Roger Rabbit wasn't just a wildly creative film—it was also a landmark movie in terms of special effects innovation.
CW: sexual assault, incest. This sci-fi/comedy classic was a blockbuster success (it was the highest grossing movie of 1985) and catapulted Michael J. Fox to certified A-list status. In the movie, Marty McFly (Fox) travels back in time and puts his own existence into jeopardy when he interrupts his parents' meet-cute and is forced to play matchmaker to try to set things right.
CW: misogyny. This rom-com classic from Nora Ephron and Rob Reiner tells the story of Harry Burns (Billy Crystal) and Sally Albright (Meg Ryan), two best friends who fall for each other. The premise seems simple, but Ephron's script is a master class in character development and social psychology—and laugh out loud funny, too.
CW: torture. The second (in terms of release, anyway) Star Wars film kicked off the '80s with a bang. The Empire Strikes Back is widely considered to be the best film in the Star Wars franchise, and it's still a classic today.
CW: sexual assault, sexual harassment, violence, homophobic slurs, abuse, attempted suicide. This John Hughes classic gave birth to high school stereotypes as we know them now: the jock, the princess, the nerd, the misunderstood rebel. Parts of it have aged poorly, and Molly Ringwald's article on the film is worth a read. While cognizant of all this, this problematic fave can still be viewed on its incredible merits—cue freeze frame.
CW: violence, homophobic slurs, sexual assault, attempted suicide, suicide, bulimia, self-mutilation. This experimental dark comedy came at the end of the 80s, subverting the tropes that had been made famous by John Hughes and giving a depiction of toxic masculinity that's still prescient over 30 years later. While it is intense, it's worth a watch for anyone looking for a teen movie with edge.
The rom-com that won Cher an Oscar, Moonstruck stands out among '80s fare as a lovely story of a woman from Italian-American Brooklyn who falls in love with her fiancé's one-handed brother.
The most well-known Studio Ghibli film is also one of the best animated films of the '80s, with breathtaking animation and a sweet story of young girls who befriend the forest spirits around their new house.
This classic Christmas movie may not hold up with its '40s sensibilities—how scandalous is the leg lamp, really?—but it's still an adorable story of a boy after the ultimate (dangerous) gift.
