The 50 Best Movies From the '80s
An official roundup of the decade's standout films, from iconic teen dramas to beloved blockbusters.
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 a near-endless list of must-watch movies 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 every beloved film from the decade has aged well. A handful are fairly problematic when looked at through our 21st-century eyes. Many include offensive portrayals of race (or blatant racism), treat sexual harassment like a joke, and feature casually rampant homophobia, to name just some of the questionable content you’ll want to keep an eye out for.
Of course, that doesn't mean you can't rewatch and enjoy these movies four-plus decades later—only that it's important to look at them through an analytical lens and keep in mind the context of the times in which they were made.
Read on for the most iconic movies of the 1980s, from swoon-worthy romances to dynamic action blockbusters to gripping thrillers. And if this list inspires you to keep wandering down memory lane, you’ll definitely want to take a gander at our lists of the best '90s and '00s movies, too.
'9 to 5' (1980)
This slightly dated but still 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 us started on the ultra-catchy theme song!
'After Hours' (19850
Maybe your association with the GOAT Martin Scorsese is his epic crime dramas, but you'd be remiss not to check out one of the very best and most charming movies in his oeuvre. This mid-'80s comedy is a madcap adventure through N.Y.C. nightlife, as a down-on-his-luck young man (Griffin Dunne) is beguiled by a chance encounter with a woman (Rosanna Arquette) and decides to meet her downtown that night. When one mishap leads to another, all he wants to do is get home—which proves increasingly difficult with each passing hour.
'Aliens' (1986)
Who could watch Aliens without being completely and utterly captivated by Sigourney Weaver as Ripley? There's a reason she's one of feminist horror's most badass icons.
'Baby Boom' (1987)
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 Meyers (who went on to make '90s and 2000s favorites like The Parent Trap, The Holiday, and Something's Gotta Give), Baby Boom has all the makings of a classic ‘80s movie: slapstick humor and shoulder pads.
'Back to the Future' (1985)
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.
'Beverly Hills Cop' (1984)
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.
'Big' (1988)
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.
'Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure' (1989)
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.
'Blade Runner" (1982)
This science-fiction film starring Harrison Ford is a classic in the genre and a mind-bender. Plus, it's required viewing if you want to watch the recent sequel co-starring Ryan Gosling.
'The Breakfast Club' (1985)
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 that iconic final freeze frame.
'A Christmas Story' (1983)
This 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.
'Clue' (1985)
Before the recent flood of movies based on video games and toy dolls, there was this 1985 dark comedy, then a bit of a box office bust, and now a cult classic, inspired by the beloved whodunit board game. In a fun twist, just like how the game can end several different ways, the movie includes three separate endings, which were randomly played during its theatrical run and included on home media releases.
'The Color Purple' (1985)
This landmark film in Black cinema, based on Alice Walter's novel of the same name, is worth a watch before you tune into the 2023 movie musical adaptation. 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, and everywhere in between.
'Coming to America' (1988)
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.
'Dead Poets Society' (1989)
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!
'Die Hard' (1988)
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.
'Dirty Dancing' (1987)
Summer romance, forbidden love, killer dance moves, and a sexy leading man? Wayne Blair's 1987 knockout brought us an epic love story between quirky girl Baby (Jennifer Grey) and dark and brooding Johnny (Patrick Swayze), and arguably the most iconic dance routine of all time.
'Do the Right Thing' (1989)
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.
'E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial' (1982)
Steven Spielberg's instant blockbuster quickly became one of the highest-grossing movies of all time, catapulting a little Drew Barrymore into stardom.
'Fame' (1980)
Before Center Stage and Step Up, there was Fame, the movie musical that follows 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.)
'Ferris Bueller's Day Off' (1986)
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: teen angst, deadpan humor, and adventure—making it truly unforgettable.
'Ghostbusters' (1984)
Launching one of the biggest cultural phenomena, 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 since-acknowledged issues) that the franchise spawned multiple sequels, including 2017's all-women rendition starring Kristen Wiig and Leslie Jones.
'Heathers' (1989)
This experimental dark comedy from the late '80s subverted the tropes made famous by John Hughes and depicted toxic masculinity that's still prescient over 30 years later. It's worth a watch for anyone looking for a teen movie with an edge.
'The Karate Kid' (1984)
It's hard not to root for the 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.
'Mystic Pizza' (1988)
Matt Damon and Julia Roberts on the same screen? Yes, please. Donald Petrie's 1988 hit and female friendship classic tells the tale of three teenage girls (Roberts, Lily Taylor, and Annabeth Gish) working at a pizza parlor in Connecticut.
'The NeverEnding Story' (1984)
This iconic fantasy film follows a story within a story, as a bullied kid (Barret Oliver) 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.
'A Nightmare on Elm Street' (1984)
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.
'The Outsiders' (1983)
Francis Ford Coppola's 1983 flick, based on the beloved novel of the same name, 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 remains a powerful reminder to always "stay golden."
'Pretty in Pink' (1986)
The outfits! The hair! Duckie! John Hughes crafted a masterpiece centered around a seemingly too-cool-to-care girl named Andie (Molly Ringwald) and her romantic struggles with the popular, rich boy (Andrew McCarthy). And, like any good, somewhat dated high school movie, it ends with a totally '80s prom scene you have to see to believe.
'The Princess Bride' (1987)
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?
'Private Benjamin' (1980)
Goldie Hawn earned an Oscar nomination for her lead role in this 1980 comedy co-written by Nancy Meyers. She played spoiled, sheltered Judy Benjamin, who, after aspiring only to marry her entire life and then seeing her husband drop dead on their wedding night, enlists in the military in search of a new family, and ends up discovering her strength and independence along the way.
'Purple Rain' (1984)
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.
'Rain Man' (1988)
This story of Charlie Babbitt (Tom Cruise) embarking on an eye-opening road trip with Raymond, the older brother on the autism spectrum 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.
'Raging Bull' (1980)
This sports movie is a biopic of champion boxer Jake LaMotta—played with Oscar-winning aplomb by Robert DeNiro. It's widely considered 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.
'Stand by Me' (1986)
Rob Reiner's book-to-movie adaptation of Stephen King's novella brought four teenage boys (Wil Wheaton, River Phoenix, Corey Feldman, and Jerry O'Connell) together for a thrilling, coming-of-age drama.
'The Terminator' (1984)
Who would've thought that a 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.
'When Harry Met Sally...' (1989)
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 over a decade. The premise seems simple, but Ephron's script is a master class in character development and social psychology—and laugh-out-loud funny, too.
'Working Girl' (1988)
In this empowering romantic drama, Melanie Griffith plays Tess, a working-class woman who continually sees her good ideas shut down, ignored, or flat-out stolen due to her gender and her low spot on the corporate totem pole—until she takes matters into her own hands and starts playing the part of the high-powered businesswoman.
