Top Ten Lists of Eighties Movies

The concept is pretty easily, pick your ten favorite movies from the eighties. The hard part? I want JUST movies from the eighties, not movies you might have seen during the eighties. Also, try and avoid movies that came out after the eighties if possible, 1990 is pretty borderline, I won't scream too loudly if you add one that is from then...

This page currently edited by: Gwen. Past editor: Junior

By: Charles R. Grosvenor Jr.
  • 10. Ghostbusters
    1984, A fun movie, lots of action, decent plot. Lots of slime. The sequel sucked.
  • 9. Better Off Dead
    1985, John Cusak, need I say more? Well ok. Two Dollars! Plus tip. Oh yeah, and hamburgers dancing to Van Halen's "Everybody Wants Some" and small teddy bears who don't mind smoking while Blaine tries to kill himself.
  • 8. Beverly Hills Cop
    1984, Eddie Murphy's best movie, lots of violence, not an easily predicted movie like most action flicks. Plus I love the opening sequence in this movie, with the trailer trucks and the The Pointer Sisters's "Neutron Dance" blasting in the background.
  • 7. Empire Strikes Back
    Yup, 1980, just squeaks in. Much better than "Return of the Jedi" and much more interesting, although the Yoda sequences can really put you to sleep. Favorite line? "This is not a cave" along with Princess Lea's line about Han Solo being a "scruffy looking nerf herder." Plus, we learn Darth Vader is his father, and we're introduced to Boba Fet, the best evil dude in the whole series after Vader himself, heck he even stands up to Vader about wether or not he'll get repaid if Solo get's killed. Even Lando backed down in front of Vader.
  • 6. War Games
    1983, "Would you like to play a game?" "How about Global Thermonuclear War?" Cold war paranoia at it's height, introduced the world to the threat of hackers (heck, if a computer literate high school flunky can trigger the threat of nuclear war, some third world nation sure as hell could). Also gave us the word DefCon for all future movies.
  • 5. Back to the Future
    1985, A great fun movie for all ages, plus the sequel features a future obsessed with the eighties! How can you not love a movie that is stuck in the eighties and features a DeLorean. I want to buy one just to make my own time machine. Who would have guessed that the DeLorean would be a truly eighties item like the rest of the items in the eighties store they visit in the sequel. (The sequel, despite my raving, isn't the best, the third in the trilogy was the better follow up). The series as a whole deserves mention.
  • 4. The Lost Boys
    1987, Features my favorite movie line of all time. "If you read TV Guide, you don't need a TV." How true! I also love the soundtrack, I still play it occasionally, features great INXS tunes, and a decent cover of the Door's "People Are Strange" by Echo and the Bunnymen. The non-popular tunes on here are also great.
  • 3. The Blues Brothers
    1980, Only Dan Akroyd and John Belushi could cause this much mischeif on a mission from God. Great music, great car chases which become parodies of themselves by the end. "I hate Illinois Nazis"
  • 2. Sixteen Candles
    1984, Molly Ringwald's parents and family forget her birthday amongst preparations for her sister's wedding. We get introduced to her grandparent's ward, Long Duc Dong, which is a name Beavis and Butthead would love to hear, over and over again.
  • 1. Breakfast Club
    1985, Was there any other doubt? Was there any other movie that could so accurately sum up what it felt like to be a teenager in the eighties? This is the movie that introduces us to the Brat Pack and in which Molly Ringwald really shines. Plus Bender, who makes Sean Penn look intelligent. It revealed the danger of stereotypes to a lot of people who probably never really realized they existed. You really just can't tire of watching this movie. Also, don't forget Simple Minds's "Don't You (Forget About Me)" which is probably one of the best movie songs of all time, play it loud!
All right, being the guy who writes the pages, I'll go first.
By: Rufio
By: New Jersey Sara
By: Andy Knauer
Honorable mentions:One Crazy Summer, Pretty in Pink, Weird Sciene, Teen Wolf, Real Genius, and Fast Times at Ridgemont High
By: Okiegal
By: Skill
"I go down to dry my hair wit a little touch of gel" "I watch you crumble, like a very old wall, oooh" Some choice words from Bros there. I cannot believe that Goonies and Ferris Bueller were not in you top ten, so have therefore included my very own (in no particular order)to redress the balance a little.
By: bUtTeRfLy
  • 10. Pretty in Pink
    Molly's pale skin and flame hair looks good in everything 80's!
  • 9. Fast Times at Ridgmont High
  • 8. Can't buy Me Love
    Because no one else could ever look as good in tight jeans, cut off shirt, and a cowboy hat riding a lawn mower!
  • 7. Heathers
    Because no movie ever mmade me want to change my name like this one did!
  • 6. License to Drive
    Because this made me feel better about failing my drivers test the first time!
  • 5. 16 Candles
    Hey, you gotta love Long Duck Dong!
  • 4. The Breakfast Club
    Because he taped Larry Nester's butt cheeks together!
  • 3. Ferris Bueler
    Because no sings "twist and Shout" like Ferris, chants hheeyy bbaattaa like Camaron, or says BBUUEELLEERR like Ben Stien.
  • 2. Say Anything
    I am still waiting for John Cuszak to show up at my window with a radio!
  • 1. Top Gun
    Two words...shower sences!!!! TAKE MY BREATHE AWAY!
By: David
I am an eighties addict. I was born in 1983 but I love the eighties. My friend, David, and I love the breakfast club.
By: Sherry
By: John Kilduff
  • 10. Monty Python-Live At The Hollywood Bowl/Gilda Live
    Classic concert films from the bad boys of british comedy and one of "Saturday Night Live"'s founding members, respectively. Both are very funny, although I think the Pythons have a slight edge on Gilda.
  • 9. E.T The Extra-Terrestrial
    One of the quintissential movies of the 80s, this movie features an adorable alien and a classic performance from future megababe Drew Barrymore. Love the score, too!
  • 8. Sesame Street Presents Follow That Bird
    Big bird gets sent to a foster family against his will, escapes from his home, and gets chased cross-country by a welfare agent and 2 sleazy circus owners (aptly named the sleaze brothers). Look for many cameos from "Saturday Night Live" and "Second City Television" cast members.
  • 7. The Great Muppet Caper/The Muppets Take Manhattan
    2 Classics from the late, great Jim Henson whom I had the great pleasure of meeting one time. In the first one, Kermit The Frog and Fozzie bear are twin(!) reporters who cover a story in London about a precious diamond that eventually gets stolen by a sleazy villain played by Charles Grodin. All hell breaks loose in the finale. In "The Muppets Take Manhattan", Kermit and the gang take their show to Broadway where they deal with evil Broadway agents and half of Hollywood, too.
  • 6. The Color Purple
    I have to include a drama, so I figured I would include this one. Lovely score and a great performance by Whoopi Goldberg.
  • 5. The Blues Brothers/Little Shop Of Horrors
    2 Classic musical comedies. Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi get down, crash cars, and sing classic r+b tunes in "The Blues Brothers". Rick Moranis breeds a homicidal plant, Steve Martin plays a sadistic dentist and Frank Oz is directing it all in "Little Shop Of Horrors".
  • 4. The Man With 2 Brains/Spaceballs/Ghostbusters
    A duo of classic sci-fi comedies, one has Steve Martin as a horndog scientist who falls in love with a talking brain. The other has John Candy, Rick Moranis and Bill Pullman wandering through space in a parody of practically every single sci-fi movie of all time! Oh, we shouldn't forget Ghostbusters! funny comedy, cool spooks and a great oscar-nominated title song!
  • 3. Back To The Future/Back To The Future 2
    The power of love and the power of time travel as Marty Mcfly travels to the 50s, falls in love with his mom (vice versa, actually), and makes his future better. That is, until he travels to 2015, makes his 1985 life bad and goes back to the 50s again! "Roads?...Where we're going we don't need roads"!
  • 2. Ferris Bueller's Day Off/Strange Brew
    Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it". Ferris Bueller doesn't miss out on life as he parties around Chicago, free from school and having a kickass time! The best scene is when the Ferrari flies out the window!" Oh yeah!" another good movie, "Strange Brew" has Rick Moranis and Dave Thomas (not the Wendy's guy) playing beer-guzzling idiots Bob and Doug MacKenzie as they search for free beer but end up tangled in a mind-control plot!
  • 1. Beverly Hills Cop/48 HRS/Trading Places
    Eddie Murphy is the best! Whether he's doing the "okay" thing in "Beverly Hills Cop" (that's the scene in the strip bar where he turns to the camera, gets a big grin on his face, and does this cool thing with his hand), dressing down a redneck in "48 hrs", or going from rags to riches (and ruining 2 misers in the process) in "Trading Places", Eddie Murphy was the in-your-face, foul-mouthed king of the 80s. He did a good song,too. He's "o-tay"!
Chuck, I love the page.i've contributed many times to your webpage. I am a child of the 90s who yearns for the 80s. Pretty unusual, eh? Runners-up:Breakin', The Chipmunk Adventure, Oliver & Company, Club Paradise, Coming To America, Young Sherlock Holmes, The Money Pit
By: Josh Schreibman
  • 10. Sixteen Candles
    Although many place this with "The Breakfast Club", I see them on different levels. However this classic keeps you laughing as the story of Molly Ringwall's love life unfolds. LESSON #1- True love is tricky, but it does exsist.
  • 9. Labrynth
    David Bowe may be wearing tights the whole time, but he was pretty damn cool as the king of the goblins. This fantasy flick parallels "The Never Ending Story" as great movies of the 80's. However they share a ver y important lesson- LESSON #2- You're never too old to dream.
  • 8. The Goonies
    Childish? Maybe, Classic? Definatley. This action flick is shows Spielberg at his best. LESSON #3- It's not over 'til it's over.
  • 7. Can't Buy Me Love
    Another over looked but fantastic movie of the 80's. Anyone familiar with the Beatles song can guess the plot, but the moral is important. LESSON #4- Stay loyal to your friends, and more importantly, your self.
  • 6. The Empire Strikes Back & Return of the Jedi
    The last 2 movies came out in the 80's and maybee that's why I like these much more than the first. Either way a great extension to the Star Wars Saga. LESSON #5- Do or do not do, there is no try.
  • 5. Back to the Future 1 2 and 3
    The greatest trilogy ever. Simply amazing. LESSON #6- Nothing stands between true friends. Not a 1000 miles nor 100 years.
  • 4. War Games
    A classic that has become a bit of a commedy due to such dated technology, but definatly a vivid image of Cold War paranoia. A movie not to be taken lightly. LESSON #7- The power of man must not override the perfection of life
  • 3. Real Genius
    An unknown classic, but a needed addition to any 80's loving video collection. Some of the funiest dialouge around all based around a storyline that seams to be a commentary on Reagan's SDI "Star Wars" defense system. LESSON #8- A real genius knows more about having fun then anything else
  • 2. The Brerakfeast Club
    Why does this movie rank over St Elmo's fire? Because as anyone who has ever gone to a High School knows, it is the most socially judgmental place on earth. LESSON #9- Walk a mile in someone else's Airwalks before you pass judgment
  • 1. Ferris Bueler's Day Off
    The true spirit of the 80's, as Mathew Broderick says best; "Life moves pretty fast, if you stop and take a look around once in a while, you might miss it." LESSON #10- Treat yourself to a day off once in a while, take a few minutes to enjoy what you have when you find yourself complaining about what you don't.
The movies of the 80's are great entertainment, but don't forget that there are important lessons behind them that define what make the 80's the greatest decade ever. Those who follow these lessons and live a life of 80's virtues help to preserve the 80's for all of us. I try to live by my motto, "Sustinire Octogeni", from Latin it means preserve the 80's.
By: Kevin Drennan
  • 10. Glory
    God bless America.
  • 9. Stand by Me
    The ultimate Friendship.
  • 8. ET
    No comment
  • 7. Goonies
    Who did not want to be a goonie
  • 6. St. Elmo's Fire
    St. Elmos Fire (Man in Motion)
  • 5. Return of the Jedi Empire Strikes Back
    Any movie in the Stars Wars Trilogy has to be on a top movie list. That is why every 20 years they will come out again.
  • 4. Ferris Buellers Day Off
    Has to be in the top 5.
  • 3. Footloose
    Now it's on Broadway.
  • 2. Red Dawn
    Did it not put the red scare back in America.
  • 1. The Breakfast Club
    No movie sums up the eighties better.
By: Lisa
The eighties were cool..................................
By: JBS
By: Scott Leggett
  • 10. Ghostbusters
    Had to mention the original.
  • 9. Ghostbusters 2
    Better than the first, much cooler.
  • 8. Terminator 2 Judgement Day
    Killer robots return!
  • 7. The Terminator
    Killer robot, COOL!!!!!!!!!!!
  • 6. Back To The Future Part Two
    The best back to the future
  • 5. Return Of The Jedi
    Originally called Revenge Of The Jedi, the name was changed to Return Of The Jedi because revenge is not a Jedi concept
  • 4. Empire Strikes Back
    Jedi, nothing more to say.
  • 3. Monty Python And The Search For The Holy Grail
    One of the funniest movies to date.
  • 2. Licence to KILL
    Timothy Dalton is Bond in the third best bond movie ever! (first being Tommorow Never Dies then second is the Living Daylights)
  • 1. The Living Daylights
    What can I say, BOND RULES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Timothy Dalton is one of the best actors to play James Bond.
Bad picks:The Breakfast Club, Licence To Drive, and a lot of other movies
By: Scott Kadlub
  • 10. Stripes
    A classic comedy of Bill Murray in the military! Where is your drill sergeant private, Blown up sir, Where have you been, traning sir, What kind of traning, the Army traning sir!
  • 9. Breakfast Club
    I agree it is a great movie, but it is not my type!
  • 8. Planes Trains & Automobiles
    Come on, how could we forget! "Where's your hand, between two pillows, those aren't pillows."
  • 7. The Outsiders
    Classic story of the socials and Greasers. A future star cast, Cruise, Swayze, Dillon, Machio, Estevez, Does it get any better!
  • 6. The Lost Boys
    The latest vampire movie I will watch, "Die you blood sucking vampire."
  • 5. All the Right Moves
    From a football player's point of view:A forgotten classic, "6-2 stack monster, 6-2 stack monster ready break." (Cruise, Penn, Thompson, T. Nelson)
  • 4. Ferris Buellers Day Off
    The question is not what are we going to do, but what aren't we going to do!"
  • 3. Johnny Be Good
    Hall's best performance! "Its 55-0, want can we do to get Gash in the game......I got it...Lose five!
  • 2. Weird Science
    Classic high school movie! "That's disgusting Wyatt, That's Chet Gary" "Who's this Gary character."
  • 1. Top Gun
    How could you forget, one of the few movies to compete with a porno!! "If you screw up just this much, you'll be flying a cargo plane full of rubber dog shit out of Hong Kong." Gentleman, Good Luck Gentleman."
There are many more. There is nothing better than the 80's music and movies. It is scary to see what we are saying in another ten years!
By: Jenilee Hulme
  • 10. Breakfast Club
    Such a cool movie... def. deserves a top ten ranking :)
  • 9. Good Morning Vietnam
    Robin Williams is in it, enough said.
  • 8. Little Shop of Horrors
    We're on the split shift" "yeah hit fifth grade then we split."
  • 7. Rain man
    it is such a sweet movie... :)
  • 6. Nightmare on elm st. 13 and 4
    Freddy is the king of the one liners...
  • 5. Friday the 13th part 4
    do I have a thing for corey feldman flicks or what?) my fave Jason flick and the only one that deserves to be in the top ten (although 6 with the paintball thing comes really close)
  • 4. Heathers
    Teenage suicide, don't do it." Dark and funny, and it got rid of all the characters you would have gotten rid of in your high school (as demented as that sounds)
  • 3. The Burbs
    Tom Hanks, Corey Feldman, Carrie Fisher... what is not to like? "Green at night, neighbor take flight"
  • 2. Terminator 2
    How cool is this?
  • 1. Stand by Me/ Lost Boys
    These movies are nothing alike (except for Feldman and Sutherland) but I couldn't decide on which to be number one. I love them both equally.
Honorable mentions:Dirty Dancing, The Outsiders, Pump up the Volume and Rocky Horror Picture show (yeah it's 70s but I want to include it :P)
By: John Kilduff
  • 10. Spies Like Us
    Chevy Chase and Dan Aykroyd as spies who are out of their element.
  • 9. Twins/The Running Man
    Arnold Schwarzennegger:Action Comedian or Butt-Kicker On The Run? Rent these and decide for yourself.
  • 8. Cheech And Chong's Still Smokin'
    I believe in "Just Say No", but these guys are just so damn hilarious!
  • 7. Revenge Of The Nerds
    A movie I can relate to,a bunch of nerds retaliate against jocks with a really touching finale set to the strains of "We Are The Champions" By Queen.
  • 6. The Naked Gun:From The Files Of Police Squad
    The start of a really funny series of spoofs starring leslie nielsen as a deadpan dimwit detective.
  • 5. National Lampoon's Vacation/Christmas Vacation
    Chevy Chase as the ultimate moronic dad, Beverly D'Angelo as a long-suffering wife and a succession of child actors as their kids in 2 movies about how everything that can go wrong will.
  • 4. Risky Business
    Sometimes you just gotta say 'What the f---'". Tom Cruise does exactly that, and does the nasty on the subway with a hooker played by Rebecca Demornay.
  • 3. Feds
    Surprisingly Good chick comedy starring Mary Gross and Rebecca DeMornay.
  • 2. Weird Science
    2 Nerds create a megababe on a computer. The bar scene was good. The movie also features a killer title song by Oingo Boingo.
  • 1. Gremlins
    Cool comedy/horror,loaded to the edges with film references.The sequel was even better, although it was made in 1990.
By: Allison Johnson

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