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: Sunshine
  • 10. E.T.
    E.T. was sooo cute, hihi!
  • 9. Risky Business
    Tom Cruise was still cool. In this movie he went from goody two shoes to a baaad boy.
  • 8. The Breakfast Club
    Essential eighties teen movie
  • 7. Weird Science
    2 nerds becoming the coolest guys on earth, how cool is that!!
  • 6. Dirty Dancing
    Great music, great story
  • 5. Back To The Future
    I really like this movie and in my eyes it is one of the symbols of the eighties.
  • 4. An Officer And A Gentleman
    In this movie Richard Gere is at his sexiest! And the story is great, I love the end when he goes to the factory to get her.
  • 3. Sixteen Candles
    The Nerd and Molly Ringwald are so cool!
  • 2. Ferris Bueller's Day Off
    This movie made me smile, who doesn't want to have a day off like Ferris and get away with it? Loveeee it!
  • 1. Scarface
    Al Pacino is great! I think I've seen this movie about ten times, I love it!
By: Jenna
  • 10. St. Elmos Fire
  • 9. Tearms of Endearment
  • 8. War Games
  • 7. ET
  • 6. Fame
  • 5. Superman
  • 4. The Shining
  • 3. The Breakfast Club
  • 2. Goonies
    All time best movie ever
  • 1. Cloak and Dagger
    This was an awesome movie. It has the kid from ET in it. It also had Dabney Coleman in a double role; he played the boys father, and his imaginary friend (or is he?) The boy had some device in one of his video games. The whole movie is about the bad guys trying to get the thing back. Every once in a while you can catch this movie on TV
By: J.T.
  • 10. Evil Dead 2
    OK, I obviously haven't seen too many movies from the eighties, but this is pretty entertaining schlock in a hilarious and horrific way.
  • 9. Die Hard
    Another easy candidate for best action movie of all time. Bruce Willis is unstoppable.
  • 8. The Untouchables
    A sentimental favorite featuring Sean Connery's most entertaining performance. Great art direction and music as well.
  • 7. Once Upon a Time in America
    Sergio Leone's melancholy eulogy to gangster films features fantastic acting and an incredibly long playing time that manages to maintain focus.
  • 6. Raiders of the Lost Ark
    Perhaps the best movie of all time and certainly one of the most exciting.
  • 5. The Elephant Man
    One of the most compassionate movies made that remains true to its characters. Another feast of visuals.
  • 4. Blue Velvet
    A very strange movie with well-developed themes and good atmosphere.
  • 3. Brazil
    A very zany and disturbing comedy. Terry Gilliam is ingenious and the music is extremely memorable.
  • 2. Blade Runner
    One of the deeper movies I've ever seen with Harrison Ford's best performance and a bittersweet monologue at the end by Rutger Hauer. Rent the director's cut ONLY.
  • 1. Raging Bull
    My personal favorite movie of all time with Martin Scorsese, Robert De Niro, and the movie's visual crew all in high form.
Basically the eighties sucked for the most part and I haven't actually seen too many movies from that decade, so this list is a work in progress. Despite all the crap, I think a good portion of these ten is a good illustration of what American cinema should and can be.
By: Allison
  • 10. Three Amigos
    I thought this movie was great!! The songs are fun to sing along to, and Steve Martin, Martin Short, and Chevy Chase amuse me!
  • 9. All of Me
    One of my favorite romance movies of all time. IT was so cute and funny. A great date movie!!!
  • 8. Major League
    I love baseball movies!!
  • 7. Christmas Vacation
    I know its a Christmas movie, but its funny and a classic!
  • 6. Anything Brat Pack
    I love the Brat Pack movies, and I've seen all the good ones ("The Breakfast Club," "Pretty in Pink," "16 Candles," "St. Elmo's Fire.") I made it a goal during the summer of 1998 (between 9th and 10th grade--before I got a job--some goal!) to see all the Brat Pack movies. I didn't see St. Elmo's Fire until I was in 12th grade!
  • 5. Summer School
    Hot stuff Mark Harmon makes this a must-see!
  • 4. Dream a Little Dream
    Cute and funny
  • 3. The Breakfast Club
    Teen angst at its finest!
  • 2. The Goonies
    Also my other favorite of all-time
  • 1. Fast Times at Ridgemont High
    My favorite movie of all time!
By: Andy Budd
By: nick
top gun (i don't like it, but somebody who has very bad taste in movies made me put it in there...
By: Kevin
There's more than ten, thank you.
By: Eric
  • 10. Jagged Edge
    Yeah we knew he did all along, but its worth seeing cause of Robert Loggia.
  • 9. Witness
    What would the 80's be like without a Harrison Ford movie.
  • 8. Stand By Me
    I could relate to my experinces as a boy.
  • 7. Planes, Trains & Automobiles
    Yes there is a funny Steve Martin movie.
  • 6. Uncle Buck
    I miss John Candy.
  • 5. Caddyshack
    The best golf movie ever or will be.
  • 4. Ghostbusters
    Bill Murray was king of the 80's.
  • 3. Batman
    The only movie I ever saw at the 1st showing of opening day.
  • 2. Stripes
    I joined the army cause of this movie.
  • 1. Full Metal Jacket
    The best 'nam flick.
By: skully
By: Laurie
By: Norma
  • 10. The Sure Thing
    John Cusack is so adorable I love him!!
  • 9. Howard the Duck
    Cheesy!!! but I loved it as a kid!!!!!!
  • 8. Pretty in Pink
    I loved Ducky! I hated the way she messed up that cute pink dress though.
  • 7. The Breakfast Club
    The part when they all start dancing! That was so cheesy! Molly was an awesome dancer! Hahahaha
  • 6. Ferris Bueler's Day off
    Who doesn't think this movie is funny?
  • 5. Beetlejuice
    Winona Ryder had an awesome style!
  • 4. Revenge of the Nerds
    I loved the talent contest! "Now clap your hands everybody, and everybody clap your hands!"
  • 3. For Keeps?
    Any movie that Molly Ringwald was in was classic! It had a nice happy ending for a teen mom. Polly Shore was adorable!
  • 2. Sixteen Candles
    Awww...If only this was the way my birthday turned out...John Cusack was so cute!
  • 1. The Heavenly Kid
    It's so cool! Lots of people don't really know about this movie, but it's so great! Rafferty is awesome with his flying motorcycle.
By: K Erickson
By: Jovonna Hayes
By: Brian
  • 10. Ghost Busters
    Bill Murray, Dan Akroid, Rick Morranis, Sigorny Weaver (I'm probably going to misspell everbody's names blah)
  • 9. Excalibur
    Nigel Terry, Nicol Williamson, and Helen Mirren. Even has Patrick Stewart (make it so) and Liam Neeson!
  • 8. Legend
    Tom Cruise, Tim Curry...
  • 7. Stand By Me
    River Phoenix, Wil Weaton, Cory Feldman, Jerry O'Connell, Kieffer Sutherland, Richard Dreyfuss, and John Cusack
  • 6. Lost Boys
    Cory Feldman, Cory Haim, Edward Herrmann, Kieffer Sutherland and Alex Winter (dude where's ted?)
  • 5. Beetlejuice
    Winona Ryder (watch those hands!), Michael Keaton, Geena Davis, Alic Baldwin, Jeffery Jones, Catherine O' Hara,
  • 4. History Of The World- Part I
    Mel Brooks, Gregory Hines, Orson Wells (narrator), Dom DeLuise, Madeline Kahn, and MIRACLE!
  • 3. Return Of The Jedi
    Mark Hamill, Carry Fisher, Harrison Ford, Frank Oz (yoda), James Earl Jones (voice of Darth Vader), Billy Dee Williams, Kenny Baker and Ian McDiarmid (the emporer)
  • 2. Time Bandits
    Kenny Baker (the guy who played R2D2)
  • 1. Princess Bride
    Cary Elwis, Robin Wright, Andre The Giant, Billy Crystal, Carol Caine, Peter Faulk and Fred Savage
By: Paul S
  • 10. Revenge of the Nerds
    A sad admission, but this movie was gospel for me as a teen.
  • 9. Weird Science
    Put Kellie LaBrock on the map. And on the walls of teenage lads.
  • 8. Top Secret
    I never thought that I would be into ‘dumb’ comedies, but this movie proved me wrong. To be frank, this is the only movie I have ever liked that had Val Kilmer in it.
  • 7. Star Wars
    The beginning of something big. Real big.
  • 6. Stand By Me
    The most likeable film I can remember watching.
  • 5. Beverley Hills Cop
    Axel could get away with anything. And we walked out hating that we weren’t more like him.
  • 4. Scarface
    The definitive gangster flick - 'Say hello to my little friend!'
  • 3. Ferris Buehler's Day Off
    Hollywood sanctioned wagging (truancy) … love it! I have lost count of how many times I have seen this film. I still laugh every time I see it.
  • 2. Top Gun
    If any guy in the world got the chance to play one role in any movie in history, 9 time out of 10 it would be Maverick in Top Gun.
  • 1. Mississippi Burning
    Powerful, fast moving drama and possibly the only good thing Willem Dafoe has ever been in. My favourite movie of all time.
Sorry for not being able to squeeze in any of the Rocky flicks. Weekend at Bernie's was also unlucky to miss out. Aliens also came very close for the way it mixed sci-fi and horror in a way no-one has yet matched.
By: Larry Duff
  • 10. Porky's
    The original "Teen-Romp".
  • 9. Vice Versa
    Infinitely superior to the sickly sweet "Big". Judge Reinhold turns in a virtuoso performance as a child trapped in a man's body. The Wonder Year's "Kevin Arnold" lends admirable support. Inter-Generational body-swapping, a timeless premise.
  • 8. Can't Buy Me Love
    "he's gone from like, a total geek to totally chic".
  • 7. Twins
    "This beds all lumpy".
  • 6. Young Again
    A man gets his wish and is seventeen again. His young self is played by Keanu Reeves, he soon discovers it wasn't youth he was looking for, but love. Really terrible.
  • 5. Hotshot!
    A take on the martial arts genre. An aspiring soccer stars wishes to avenge his brother's disability and heads off to the S.American jungle to be trained by Pele. Using melons and stuff.
  • 4. Three O' Clock High
    A middle-aged Jerry Mitchell is bullied by an even older Buddy Revelle. "Tell your friends, nobody escapes the Duker"
  • 3. The Breakfast Club
    "How come Andrew gets to get up?" "Two hits. I hit you, you hit the floor" "You're not blazing that up, wastoid"
  • 2. Fraternity Vacation
    Little by way of plot. What is the point in this film? Stars "Seinfeld's" Lloyd Bron.
  • 1. Grease 2
    One of the finest examples of burly adults, masquerading as teenagers ... "What would they say if they knew it was Michael?"
By: Teah
By: Don Smith
By: ERIK FOULKES
THE 80'S KNEW HOW TO MAKE MOVIES!
By: Alicia
  • 10. Top Gun
    This film has to be included cos i am a big fan of Tom Cruise and i think that this is his best movie!!
  • 9. Ghost
    Unchained melody, need i say more???!!!
  • 8. Back To The Future
    All of these films were good and its hard to find sequels that are as good as the originals.
  • 7. E.T.
    Always makes me cry and its a movie that you can watch with the whole family.
  • 6. Big
    Tom Hanks in my opinion is one of the greastest actors ever and that scene with the keyboard is the best bit in the movie!
  • 5. Stand By Me
    A moving story of 4 teenage boys and there friendship-its a great movie
  • 4. Pretty In Pink
  • 3. Dirty Dancing
    Brilliant.
  • 2. The Naked Gun
    Such a funny film, i can watch this over and over again and it still makes me laugh til i cry!! The sequels are also just as funny hehe!!
  • 1. The Goonies
    There is no better film of the 80s, such a classic! "mama, you been bad" and "Hey you guuuuuuuuys" are among the best lines!

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