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: bjtlouisiana26
By: Pop Life
  • 10. Tue Stories
    A cult classic from 1986 from David Bryne. A satire about people from a small town in Texas.
  • 9. License To Drive
    (1988) It featured a young, then unknown, actress named Heather Grahm!!! BTW, this flick is a guilty pleasure.
  • 8. Krush Groove
    A classic hip hop film. Bad acting, but hey, it's worth watching. For fans of old school hip hop.
  • 7. Splash
    A fun movie featuring Daryl Hannah & Tom Hanks.
  • 6. Full Metal Jacket
    One of the best war films ever done. (1986) Next to "Saving Private Ryan" (1998).
  • 5. Raiders Of The Lost Ark
    One of my favorite films starring Harrison Ford.
  • 4. Risky Business
    One of Tom Cruise's best films from the '80's.
  • 3. Trading Places
    One of Eddie Murphy's funniest films. Honorable mentions: "48 Hours", "Coming To America", and "Beverly Hills Cop".
  • 2. Fast Times at Ridgemont High
    The definitve '80s teen movie. Honorable mentions: "Pretty In Pink", "Valley Girl", and "Ferris Bueller's Day Off".
  • 1. Back To The Future
    A classic from 1985!!! This film has it all!!! Action, comedy, suspense, drama, and great special effects that still holds up today.
By: Neelam Yusaf
  • 10. Tango and Cash
    this is the most superb movie with two great hollywood stars,thats Kurt and sylvester, brilliant fighting scenes.
  • 9. Back to the future
    so unrealistic, thats whats cool about this film
  • 8. look who's talking
    i loved this film it makes me wonder if babies do have their own language
  • 7. Home alone 1,2 and 3
    such a cute and funny film, i would not mind being in the same situation.
  • 6. The Goonies
    fab movie another classic, brilliant i can watch it over and over and not get bored, brilliant
  • 5. Rocky
    cool action movie, very creative and well structured movie, sylvester looked so fine and real
  • 4. uncle Buck
    Its good and funny
  • 3. stand by me
    a very classic film, the music, setting and the kids, tremendous movie of all time.
  • 2. E.T
    its good to watch
  • 1. Terminator 1,2 and3
    lot of action, so cool i can watch this over a wicked action movie i loved it
that my favourite action hero's are Arnold Swartzenegger, Sylvester Stallone, Kurt Russel, John Travolto, John claud Van dam and Will Smith such great actors off all time.
By: callie
Would you please out on your site who "jake" the hottie is from sixteen candels?! I cant figure out what his name is and i want to know so someone put it on here!
By: Jordan
By: Matthew Prevost
  • 10. Brewster's Millions
    Great Movie, I love Richard Pryor and John Candy
  • 9. War Games
    The most Fascinating thing about this movie is is how a hot chick aka(Ally Sheedy) just is totaly entranced by this Computer geek
  • 8. Stripes
    I love this movie alot I really like Bill Murray and John Candy in this movie
  • 7. Footloose
    I like Kevin Bacon and just a good story
  • 6. The Lost Boys
    Very Cool movie
  • 5. Ferris Bueller's Day off
    Come on this movie is the Bible for how to cut class
  • 4. Risky Buisness
    Iam a fan of tom cruise and I love curtis Armstrong(Did you know that Curtis Armstrong was Tom Cruises buddy in this movie and that Anthony Edwards was tom cruises buddy in top gun both Armstrong and Edwards were in Revenge of the Nerds
  • 3. The Goonies
    Iam 30 and I still watch this movie in amazement a pure classic
  • 2. Wierd Science
    They just dont make movies like this any more and John Hughes is a god and also Anthony Michael Hall is one of my fav actors of all time
  • 1. Revenge of the Nerds
    One of my all time Fav's pure Cinematic Genius
these are just a few of my fav's and I didnt bother including the Starwars Indian Joens,Aliens,Top Guns,Back to the Futures ect ect cause they just dont count at any rate there are some unforgettable classics that came out of the 80's......By for now Mattyp born in 73 thats me
By: Shane
  • 10. Johnny Be Good
    Anthony Michael Hall kicked butt in this movie about a Football Player getting offers from every college out there. Uma Thurman and Robert Downey Jr. also add to the great cast, along with a cameo by Jim McMahon and Howard Cosell.
  • 9. The Outsiders
    Patrick Swayze, Mat Dillon, Tom Cruise, Ralph Macchio, C. Thomas Howell, Rob Lowe, Emilio Estevez, and Diane Lane were in the movie that was based on the novel by S.E. Hinton. A few of the actors went on to star in a couple other movies based on the author's Novels. Remember the short lived series in 1990?
  • 8. Top Gun
    This film made the Navy cool! Anthony Edwards and Tom Cruise made the film a must for my collection after seeing it. Who knew Anthony would go on to play in ER?
  • 7. Karate Kid
    I remember seeing this at school when it was getting ready to let out for the summer, I never knew Elisabeth Shue would go on to star in some great films, as well as Pat Morita and Ralph Macchio.
  • 6. Star Wars (A New Hope)
    I am a Star Wars freak and this is where it all started, a young Mark Hamil, Harrison Ford and a hottie named Carrie Fisher. The days of playing Star Wars in the back yard with neighbor kids... now that was fun!
  • 5. License To Drive
    This is one of my all time favorites, even though the soundtrack didn't do that great, Rush Hour and Get Out Of My Dreams... were chart hits. Heather, Corey and Corey are still one of my favorites today.
  • 4. Fast Times at Ridgemont High
    The first time I ever saw Sean Penn and Judge Reinhold in a movie was this one. Great soundtrack, great film!
  • 3. The Breakfast Club
    The Brat Pack scored huge points with this film, who knew that these kids were going to be huge in the 80's and 90's? Molly still looks hot!
  • 2. Ferris Bueller's Day Off
    Who didn't love this film? I saw this the moment it came out on video, and boy did it give me some ideas for cutting school. Seriously, I knew this was going to be a classic when I first saw it.
  • 1. Eddie and the Cruisers
    This movie is a must see if you are into movies about Rock n Roll... even if it's fiction! Michael Pare and Tom Berenger were awesome, and the sounds of John Cafferty and the Beaver Brown Band made the single "On The Dark Side" a hit.
Blues Brothers, Caddyshack, Lost Boys, Stand By Me, and Porky's are honorable mentions, I had a hard time with the choices.
By: Colin Farrow
  • 10. Vice Versa
  • 9. Cant Buy Me Love
  • 8. 3 O'clock High
    not too many people remember this movie.....def one of the best
  • 7. Scarface
    best mafia movie ever..........SAY ELLO TO MY LIL FRE
  • 6. Lost Boys
    a horror classic
  • 5. License To Drive
    one of the best
  • 4. Howard The Duck
    quack
  • 3. Mischief
    kelly preston is soo hot
  • 2. Goonies
    sloth rules
  • 1. Nobodys Perfect
    guy dresses as a chick in order to get closer to his dream girl.....and all the while looking at boobies in the locker room CLASSIC
By: Morgan
  • 10. Earth Girls Are Easy
    Wow, I love Jeff Goldblum and Jim Carrey. And some girl has these really cool earrings that she made from credit cards. I'm gonna do that sometime.
  • 9. Beetlejuice
    It still scares me sometimes.
  • 8. Ghostbusters
    This one really scares me. The ghosts look so real. I want to eat the marshmellow man.
  • 7. Dirty Dancing
    Patrick Swayze... Say no more..
  • 6. Babes in Toyland
    I know this movie is pretty stupid, most people have never seen it. But Keanu sings in it so I LOVE it!!
  • 5. Pretty in Pink
    Why does Molly always get the guy?
  • 4. Sixteen Candles
    My parents forgot my birthday too.
  • 3. Breakfast Club
    I know everyone in this movie. They all go to my school.
  • 2. Ferris Bueller's Day Off
    What I would do to be Sloan.
  • 1. Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure
    This movie is totally bodacious and its really heinous that more people don't like it.
I love Jimmy Fallon. If he had been in a movie in the 80s, it would definitely be on here.
By: Emily
  • 10. Beetlejuice
    This movie cracks me up--I love surfer w/a chark on his leg..and the man w/the shrunken head. "I will go insane and take you with me!!"
  • 9. Pretty in Pink
    I'm not a big Molly Ringwald fan...even tho 3 of the movies on this list she starred in...i like the supporting cast, i like the stories, and i like the soundtracks. This movie is, of course, no exeption.
  • 8. Dirty Dancing
    I love this movie!! I love the dancing, i love ht music...there's not much i don't like about this movie.
  • 7. Little Darlings
    Teenage girls at summer camp on a quest to lose their virginity...Well this *is* a good movie
  • 6. The Breakfast Club
    I didn't used to like this movie (Gasp!! Someone *didn't* like the breakfast club??) No, no i sure didn't...but alas i came to my senses and its gradually rising the charts...this really is a great movie.
  • 5. Top Gun
    Tom Cruise was great in this movie & I LoVeD the soundtrack for this movie...its great.
  • 4. Return of the Jedi
    One of the reasons i really liked this movie was Darth Vader came back from the dark side!! Haha...it doesn't take much to make me happy.
  • 3. Sixteen Candles
    This movie was great, i thought Long Duc Dong was hilarious & so was "Farmer Ted" (Anthony Michael Hall) not to mention, Jake Ryan was incredibly handsome :-)
  • 2. Heathers
    Whew...did Christian Slater ever look hotter?? And i loved the "dark" humor...this movie was awesome.
  • 1. St. Elmo's Fire
    This is *THE* best BratPack movie, ever...I love Rob Lowe & ANdrew McCarthy...this movie rocks.
By: China
  • 10. Stand By Me
    I love this movie SO much. It's touching, and funny, and.... ugh.... it's just great
  • 9. St Elmo's Fire
    The Brat Pack may have been a cheesy idea, but they were great.
  • 8. Back to the Future
    If you ever get the chance to watch all 3 in one sitting, it's so funny how many subtle things carry over from film to film. Watch for it!
  • 7. Dirty dancing
    A total chic flic, but one worth seeing
  • 6. Ferris Beuler's day off
    The best movie of the 80s by leaps and bounds
  • 5. Fast Time at Ridemont High
    Such a great movie. I adore Sean Penn in this movie
  • 4. Risky Business
    Tom Cruise at his absolute best!
  • 3. E.T.
    It's a classic.... what more do you need?
  • 2. Princess Bride
    The book was great too, but the movie has always been a favorite.
  • 1. The Breakfast Club
    It's fun, and it has deeper elements as well. You can't go wrong.
The 80s rocked....
By: Amanda
  • 10. Karate Kid
    Dang boy don't mess with me cause dude I learned some things from this movie! Hola the Karate KID!
  • 9. Ghostbusters
    When I see a ghost who am I gonna call? That's right GHOST BUSTERS!
  • 8. Valley Girl
    Cause like OMG every girl like should like totally talk like this like OMG!
  • 7. Pretty In Pink
    I like it cause every girl should show there feminine side! Boy, I look pretty in PINK!
  • 6. Back To The Future
    OMG! I wish I was in this movie because I made a few mistakes in life that I wanna change. Probs on this movie!
  • 5. Goonies
    I wish that I had these punks as friends! Love the movie!
  • 4. Sixteen Candles
    When I hit my Sweet 16 I hope I find my love just like Molly Ringwald did!
  • 3. E.T.
    E.T. rocks! He isn't scary he's awesome!
  • 2. Ferris Bueller's Day Off
    I love this movie because it shows two people...and they both pretend sick...well one does and the other kinda does! Thanks for the idea!
  • 1. Breakfast Club
    I love this movie because it shows no matter who you are...a Jock...a Prep...a Goth....a Punk...or even a Nerd, you can still become friends.
By: Kristin
By: Alex
By: Giancarlo
By: colin thompson
Best films of all time, The Godfater 1 & 2. The Goodfellas, The Matrix
By: Eric
  • 10. Caddy Shack/ Blues Brother
    Couldn't decide between these 2. I still love watching them, and by anyones standards they are classics.
  • 9. Risky Business
    I wish I could have had a school project like his, and who can forget guido the killer pimp? "Sometimes you just gotta say what the f*ck!"
  • 8. Full Metal Jacket
    This movie came out after I joined the Marines and went to boot camp. The first 20 minutes holds a special place for all former Marines.
  • 7. Ferris Bueller's day off
    Another movie where everyone wanted to be like the star. Ferris is still the king scammer.
  • 6. Fast Times at Ridgemont High
    Only regret about this movie was that there were not more spicoli scenes. "That's my skull, I'm sooo wasted."
  • 5. Raiders of the Lost Arc
    This took adventure movies to a new height. All others are judged by it. One of the best opening sequences.
  • 4. Animal House
    This is the epitome of a classic movie. I wanted my college years to be just like this movie, but life did not immitate art.
  • 3. Stand by Me
    This has moved up my list the older I get. I miss those years, and no, I don't have any friends now like I had then.
  • 2. The Breakfast Club
    I don't know of anyone who didn't identify with this movie. Plus you gotta love the panty shot!!!
  • 1. Top Gun
    This was, and still is, the coolest movie. We all wanted to be Mav.
A couple of honorable mentions: Officer and a Gentlemen (watchable chick flick), Stripes (Bill was cool), Better off dead (for some reason i just really dug this movie and can still watch it and laugh).
By: Michael
By: justin besco
  • 10. National Lampoons Vacation
    arguably chevy chase's best movie ever
  • 9. Laybrinth
    this movie was the greatest movie jim henson made without involving the regular muppets but the dark crystal was good too
  • 8. Fast Times At Ridgemont High
    jeff spicoil is one greatest characters simply cool
  • 7. Bladerunner
    weird movie but good
  • 6. Beetlejuice
    this was the first 80's movie i remember seeing and i still watch it
  • 5. Back To The Future
    also proboble one greatest movies ever as well
  • 4. Pretty In Pink
    this was perfect for that time of the new wave trend but also good
  • 3. Sixteen Candles
    great movie and i just turned 16 myself but no one forgot it
  • 2. Ferris Beuller's Day Off
    i'm sure everybody can relate to wanting to ditch school
  • 1. Breakfast Club
    probobly in my opinion maybe one the greatest movies ever

Previous List or Next List


We also have pages on this topic devoted to the 70s and 90s
Do You Have a Top Ten Song List to Share?

This site grows only with submissions from dedicated visitors like yourself. If you would like to reflect about a concert you attended, please fill out the form below.

Please use the The Top Ten 80s Movies submission page.