80s Famous Films: 30 Unforgettable Films That Defined The Era

80s Famous Films: 30 Unforgettable Films That Defined The Era

The 80s can be a thing of the past, but it was surely a golden decade in film, bragging must-watch movies that have proven themselves to be very watchable over the decades. The rise of mega-blockbusters and Hollywood all took place during this decade. The existence of incredible classic movies in the 80s impacted pop culture in the biggest way. It was in this era that the film industry was truly cemented. Surprisingly, this was the decade in which people could be able to watch movies at their leisure since the movies were available in their homes.

Different kind of genres were covered during this decade, everything from horror, comedies, and action to romantic movies and romcoms. Therefore, today in this article we are going to walk down memory lane and look back on these memorable movies.

1. The Princess Bride

The Princess Bride is based on William Goldman’s same-name novel. The 1986 movie stars Cary Elwes as Westley and Robin Wright as Buttercup. It begins with a grandfather reading a story to his sick grandson, then it follows a tale of Westley who is trying to rescue his true love Buttercup who has been kidnapped. They later reunite after facing a lot of challenges. This is a film full of everything from action, and comedy, to fantasy and romance, just a perfect blend that you will enjoy.

2. Pretty in pink

Pretty in Pink is one of John Hughes’s movies that was released in 1986. It stars Brat Pack Star Molly Ringwald who plays Andie Walsh. Andie is an outsider from the rocky side of town and she is falling for one of the rich and famous boys in school, Hottie Blane, who also wants to take her to prom. Andie is left to choose between her older self and the big crowd even if it makes her lose her friendship. Pretty in Pink remains to be one of the movies with the best movie soundtracks of the decade.

3. Coming to America

The 1988 rom-com stars the famous Eddie Murphy who played an African prince who left home to go to New York City to find the love of his life instead of agreeing to an arranged marriage. Eddie plays different characters in this film starting from the lead royal looking for a bride to being a barber. This is surely one of the best 80scomedies that everyone should watch.

4. Moonstruck

Moonstruck.

This off-genre romantic comedy that was released in 1987 is full of many twists and turns that leave the viewer very curious to know the end. It stars Cher who plays Loretta, a role that won her an Oscar. The award-winning actress plays a widow who surprisingly falls in love with her fiancé’s brother and she is left to choose the person who she will end up with amongst the two brothers.

Check out this article on the 20 best romance movies

5. Working girl

This is a story of a young woman, Tess McGill who lives and works as a secretary in Manhattan. Tess is tired of being violated by her unappreciative bosses and therefore, this makes her jump to any opportunities that comes her way despite the outcome. Her only motive is to be able to move up the corporate ladder. The romantic comedy film simply tries to incorporate the inequalities of a man versus a woman in co-operate environments.

6. Big

Big is a 1988 American fantasy comedy-drama that stars Tom Hanks as Josh Baskin who was nominated for best actor. Young Josh Baskin had one wish for the carnival Zoltar machine in Penny Marshall’s close-to-perfect Big. The Zoltar machine granted him his wish to be big and he got more than what he wished for. This causes Josh Baskins to relocate to New York, look for a new job, and find the Zoltar machine to fix the situation.

7. E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial

It’s a 1982 sci-fi adventure movie that stars a young boy known as Elliot (Henry Thomas) who befriends a lost homesick alien. They form an unlikely friendship and Elliot was ready to risk it all to help the alien escape and return to his homeland. It’s a nice family movie filled with adventure, laughs, tears, expectations, heartbreak and so much more.

Its plot, amazing effects, and John Williams’ enduring musical score made “E.T.” a huge box office hit and won praise from critics. Additionally, it was shortlisted for a number of Academy Awards, including Best Picture.

8. Back to the future

Back to the Future is a 1985 timeless classic starring a 17-year-old high school boy, Marty McFly, and his close friend, the scientist Doc Brown. Doc Brown invented a time-travelling DeLorean that accidentally sent Marty 30 years back in time. Marty had to navigate the obstacles of the past to guarantee his existence in the future. Back to the Future is innovative, amusing, and full of adventures that will leave you glued to the screen.

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9. Risky Business

This 1983 film involves a teen boy, Tom Cruise who gets the freedom to get into all kinds of trouble when his parents go out of town. He decided to make extra money by turning his home into a brothel. The famous scene of Tom dancing in his underwear to Bob Seger’s “Old Time Rock and Roll” is surely a memorable scene that has never been forgotten. This timeless classic is surely one of the movies that defined the 80s era. It has a perfect blend of different genres from drama to comedy and coming-of-age stories.

10. Dead Poets Society

It was one of the movies that positively ended the 80s decade. This 1989 film, stars Robin Williams who plays a non-traditional English teacher whose ways of teaching do not go with the traditions of the school in which he is employed. This hence resulted in students being passionate and hardworking in their studies. The lives of his students also changed for the better. It’s both an inspiring and emotional film that proves Robin is so much more than comedy.

The movie “Dead Poets Society” examines ideas including individuality, uniformity, and the potential of education to foster human development. Both the movie and Robin Williams’ depiction of John Keating have received high appreciation for their emotional impact and provocative message.

11. Aliens

Alien is a 1986 sci-fi action film that was directed by James Cameron who made a continuation of the 1979 Alien. He added his own imprint on the second film by taking the horror elements established in the first film and boosting the quality, producing the most exhilarating roller-coaster ride of the decade. He also turned Sigourney Weaver’s Ripley into an endearing feminist icon, who is considered to be very strong and a survivor who cares for everyone she loves. The final clash between Ripley and the Alien Queen is a memorable scene in our film history.

12. Stand by me

Stand by Me is a classic coming-of-age movie that was directed by Rob Reiner. The film  is based on a Stephen King Novel. The film is about four young boys who heard about a death that had happened close to where they live and they decided to go and see the dead person’s body. It was along the way that they got to learn about loyalty, big lessons about life, and even about themselves.  Narrated by one of the friends, the film explores the importance of childhood friendships and how people can support each other as they transition into adulthood.  

13. The shining

The 1980 horror film is based on Stephen King’s thrilling novel named also The Shining. The movie features a family that moves into an isolated hotel for the winter where a creepy presence pressures the father into violence because the hotel is the source of great evil. His son who is a psychic gets to see the terrible forecast from both the past and the future. The well crafted visual and the sound employed by the production team makes the film iconic as it creates an unsettling atmosphere that keeps the audience enchanted. 

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14. The Breakfast Club

The Breakfast Club is a 1985 teen comedy-drama film written, produced, and directed by John Hughes. The film is about five different high schoolers who happened to attend a weekend detention and they get to learn more about themselves and each other. In the process, they get to realize there is more than what meets the eye. The Breakfast Club creates honest emotions and fears of teenage pressures that resonate with teens even today.

The movie is praised for examining youthful identities, cultural influences, and the intricacy of interpersonal interactions. The characters in the movie are well-developed and likeable, and it combines comedy and drama to provide a moving and accurate depiction of adolescence.

15. Robocop

Robocop is a 1989 pure science fiction action film directed by Paul Verhoeven. The film follows a police officer Alex Murphy, who had previously been gunned down, and he is brought back to life as a half-man/half-robot hybrid of law enforcement killbot. Its mission is to find those who gunned him in his human life and approach them with much more violence. Robocop itself is a dystopian movie with a dark sense of humour. It also has a perfect blend of fulfilling sci-fi action and unwavering satire that you don’t want to miss out on.

16. Do the right thing

Do the right thing has remained one of the best movies to be written and directed by Spike Lee. This 1989 film helped to cement Lee’s career that he became one of America’s greatest filmmakers. The film takes place in a New York neighbourhood, during the hottest day of the summer, and as the film goes on it portrays larger pictures of racial anxiety that escalated to violence. Do the right thing won two Oscars nominations and has continued to stand the test of time.

17. Clue

This 1985 gem which stars Tim Curry, Christopher Lloyd, Madeline Kahn, Lesley Anne Warren and so much more, is an ideal murder-mystery comedy. It is based on the famous board game and it involves six guests who are invited by a stranger for dinner at a very mysterious mansion. Once their host turns out to be dead, the group of guests quickly embark on finding the killer before someone else comes to find out.

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18. The Thing

This science fiction film was released in 1982 by John Carpenter. It was one of the most credible horror movies of the decade. The film follows a group of scientists who unfortunately get attacked by a mysterious alien. The scientists are left to survive in the most remote area on the earth and they are forced not to even trust each other because one of them could either be the alien. it is an incredible watch for science fiction enthusaist and it will keep them glued to their screens the whole time.

19. Dirty Dancing

This 1987 classic is still celebrated in our cinemas because of its impact on pop culture and romantic scenes. The movie features a high school girl (Baby) who is still adored and treated like a baby by his parents. During one of her vacations in the Catskills, Baby gets to learn some interesting dance moves from a rugged resort’s instructor Johnny Bump, whom they later fell in love with.

20. Purple Rain

It’s a 1984 musical drama that took home an Oscar for its musical impact. The classic is notable for its amazing soundtracks such as “When Doves Cry” and “Let’s Go Crazy.” The film stars Prince who was introduced into world fame through this classic and he also made his first screen debut in this 1984 film.  The Minneapolis musician is seen struggling with a lot of family and band problems. The film gave Prince a platform to showcase his talent  through electrifying perfomances that captivated the audience.

21. Diehard

Die Hard is a 1988 action thriller film starring Bruce Willis. This classic has been the best action movie of all time. The movie introduces a cynical NYPD officer, John McClane (Bruce Willis) who is trying to save his wife and several other colleagues who had been detained by German terrorists. The terrorists were after the $640 million in bonds which were located in a safe within the high-rise building, and they had exactly dropped in on the high-rise office during a Christmas party.

22.9 to 5

9 to 5 is a laugh-out-loud comedy that was released in 1980. It stars Dolly Parton, Jane Fonds, and Lily Tomlin who make the movie fascinating to watch. They are tired of working in an office where their ruthless boss overworks and underpays them so they plan on how to gain the upper hand. They finally got their revenge when the boss got into an accident and finally, it takes him out of the C-level. We cannot also forget about its amazing soundtracks that are still in our heads today.

23. Say anything

Say Anything is a 1989 romantic movie that ends the decade on a high note. It introduces Lloyd Dobler (John Cusack) and Diane Court (Ione Skye) who are out of a sweet summer romance and Diane has to leave for college in England. Lloyd has only one goal to take Diane out on a date so that they can acknowledge their feelings for each other as they await the future, they see for themselves. 

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24. Labyrinth

Labyrinth is a 1988 sci-fi fantasy directed by Jim Henson. It stars Jennifer Connelly and David Bowie. Connelly plays a teenage girl who embarks on a journey to save her little brother who had been held hostage by Bowie, and for her to complete this mission she must solve some puzzles.  The film showcases the team’s creative design  through the use of puppetry, visual effects and memorable musical numbers that will appeal to the audience. It’s easy for the plot to get lost because of the top-notch costumes and makeup.

25. Heather

Michael Lehmann’s 1988, “Heather” is a dark comedy that features Winona Ryder (Veronica Sawyer) who navigates the rebellious social hierarchy of her school and her toxic friendship with the famous group known as the Heathers. The film deals with various topics such as mental health, teen suicide, and societal pressures very openly without any apology. The film is instrumental is putting out into the open the challenges that young people face in society and thus prompy pro active measures to be put in place to ensure that teenagers grow up in a healthy environment.

26. Footloose

This 1984 film stars Kevin Bacon who dances in a small town that restricts dancing at all cost.  Ren McCormack, a teenager who relocates to a tiny town where dancing and rock music are prohibited by municipal ordinances as a result of a sad accident, serves as the protagonist of the movie. Ren defies the limitations and rallies his peers to fight for their freedom to dance and experience youth. The viewers are mesmerized by his outrage to dance and his teaching his flatfooted cowboy pal to dance. The soundtracks in this film are very dance-worthy and two of the songs ended up being nominated for the Oscars; “Footloose” BY Kenny Loggins and “Let’s Hear it for the Boy” by Deneice Williams.

27. Hannah and Her Sisters

Allen Woody’s 1986, Hannah and Her Sisters is a perfect blend of humour, drama, and romance all existing throughout the entire movie. The movie stars Hannah with her two sisters; Dianna West who appears to be mentally ill and Holly, who is always in search of her purpose in life. Hannah’s husband Michael Caine stars in this movie as well and he is torn down between his love for his wife and his attraction to her sister as well. This is one of the films that showcases Woody Allen at his best as a writer and director.

28. Color Purple

Color Purple is a 1985 drama film based on Alice Walker’s 1982, best-selling novel. The movie stars Celie (Whoopi Goldberg) who lives in the South during the early to mid-1900. Celie who is a housewife tries to come out of a long-life abuse, rape, and the cruelty of the South. She also had dreams to reunite with her sister who was separated from her when they were young girls. This film continues to last as a reference for Black cinema. The film will live you inspired by the talents of Oprah Winfrey, Margaret Avery, and Whoopi Goldberg who were nominated for an Oscar award for their incredible roles.

29. The Goonies

The 1985 film features a story of a group of kids who try to rescue their houses from being demolished when they found a strange treasure map which made them embark on a journey to find the hidden treasures. There treasure hunt leads them through booby traps and underground tunnels and in the process we experience and witness teir personalities and determination. Richard Donner the director of the film balances comedy, adventure, and a family-friendly storyline in the entire movie. The film will leave you nostalgic for what childhood felt like in the 1980s.

30. The Outsiders

The Outsiders is a 1983 coming-of-age crime drama that was directed by Francis Ford Coppola. It is based on the 1967 novel of the same name. The film tells the story of two street gangs that come from different backgrounds and after a fight, they decide to plan a tragic grumble. The film is inspired by a novel with that same name that was written by S.E Hinton.

The movie explores issues including socioeconomic disparity, friendship, family, and the difficulties faced by young people seeking to make a name for themselves. The Outsiders is a powerful and unforgettable portrayal of the hardships encountered by teenagers in difficult situations because to the emotional performances and intense emotions.