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: Allen
By: Ryan Moody
  • 10. Bill And Teds Excellent Adventure
    Excellent
  • 9. Wierd Science
    I wish.
  • 8. Back To The Future
    Deloreans are awesome.
  • 7. Karate Kid
    Wax on...Wax off.
  • 6. Breakfast Club
    Awesome.
  • 5. Ferris Buellers Day Off
    Classic.
  • 4. Rocky
    All of them are great!
  • 3. Ghostbusters
    Who you gunna call?
  • 2. The Goonies
    Truffle shuffle baby!
  • 1. Animal House
    Greatest Movie Ever,Period
Animal House is great,and loosing Belushi sucks. RIP
By: J. J. Hunsecker
  • 10. The Terminator
  • 9. The Howling
    A funny parody of werewolf movies.
  • 8. Zelig
    Technically amazing for it's time.
  • 7. How to Get Ahead in Advertising
    A very funny and biting British Comedy.
  • 6. The Shining
    One of my favorite Kubrik films.
  • 5. 1984
    A great adaptation of the classic novella. John Hurt looks like he was born to play Winston Smith.
  • 4. Time Bandits
    I think this movie is director Terry Gilliam's best.
  • 3. Who Framed Roger Rabbit?
    I guess I'm a Zemekis fan. Plus Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck guest star! What more could one ask for?
  • 2. Back to the Future
    A movie that deserves it's high status on these lists.
  • 1. Raiders of the Lost Ark
    I can't believe nobody has mentioned this movie! One of the all time greats!
Most people tend to disagree when the decade actually begins. Some think it would start in 1980 and end in 1989 for example. Others would argue that a decade can't begin with a zero, so the true eighties decade began in 1981 and ended on 1990. I think it would be the latter. If so, I would add Goodfellas and The Grifters to the list. I also want to give honorable mention to movies such as Blade Runner, Aliens, Prince of the City, Pennies From Heaven, Never Cry Wolf, This is Spinal Tap, Gremlins, The Terminator and King of Comedy.
By: sam
By: Lauren Millspaugh
By: geretta
  • 10. Smithereens
    This movie created the new "independent films" after Cassavettes opened the door. Made with only $70,000 dollars it went all the way to Cannes.
  • 9. Yol
    Probably the best film out of Turkey, ever.
  • 8. Carmen
    There were three versions in the 80's. This one is the gritty one and part of a trilogy by a Spanish Director.
  • 7. Law Of Desire
    You've never seen Antonio Banderas like this.
  • 6. China Town
    ... the OTHER one by Wem Wenders
  • 5. Kaos
    Great great Italian film by the brothers that also made "Welcome To Babylonia.
  • 4. Galipoli
    Again Mel, and if you can leave the theatre without crying you have no heart for history.
  • 3. The Year Of Living Dangerously
    Mel Gibson before he found Christ or Mad Max...
  • 2. 1984
    Last film of Richard Burton, music by the Eurthymics... sneaking feeling this film was blacklisted...
  • 1. BRAZIL
    Robert DeNiro is a plumber in a futuristic Sci-Fi, betcha never heard of this one.
Bad Blood, Lovers Of the Pont Neuf, Demons, Terminator,
By: Reginaldo Zaglia
La Bamba, Flashdance, Gremlins, Goonies, Breakfast Club, Weird Science, Pretty in Pink, Somekind Of Wonderful, Blue Lagoon, Top Gun, Real Genius, The Wall, Pump Up The Volume, Heathers, Platton, Temple Of Doom and others.
By: jessie
By: Donald
  • 10. Poison Ivy
    Movie with Michael J. Fox and Nancy McKeon(Jo from "Facts of Life")at a kids' summer camp in Atlanta. I was 7 when it came out, and I've always liked nature. Caren Kaye was pretty hot,too!
  • 9. Oliver & Company
    Cute Disney movie with animals in the roles of Charles' Dickens "Oliver Twist." Liked the fact that Oliver was a kitten, since I am a cat lover. The chihuahua was best,though.
  • 8. Ghostbusters II
    Like UNLV in the NCAA Tournaent a few years back,this is definitely a hard choice to justify.Perhaps it's because the original was so great that it just brings this one up.Whatever the case,it's a fine show,and Vigo is an all-time great villian.By the way,the courthouse scene with the two ghost brothers was sheer classic!
  • 7. Friday the 13th Part 4: The Final Chapter
    Wasn't a significant Friday,except that it did introduce us to Corey Feldman's character, Tommy.That look he got in his eyes while killing Jason was truly chilling. The sister was pretty hot,as well.
  • 6. Nightmare On Elm Street 4: The Dream Child
    Best graphic special effects I've seen,ever!Freddy doing his thing,and the cockroach motel scene was pretty gruesome.
  • 5. Ghostbusters
    Still a classic,although it just doesn't have the same appeal it once did. Perhaps because I've seen it about 100 or so times,but it's still great. Favorite scene is when a half-naked Sigourney Weaver is dragged in her chair out of her apartment by Gozer,the hell-hound.
  • 4. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
    The Turtles are 80's! The only movie in the trilogy worth seeing;Part 2 is garbage. My favorite turtle is Donatello,and Shredder falling in the garbage truck was great,Shredhead!
  • 3. Batman
    Never was much into comics,but this movie was great!I even went as the Joker for Halloween in 1989. Jack Nicholson was great,and this was Jack's premiere role,for my generation,anyway. Kim Basinger was sexy-hot as reporter Vicki Vale.I was 11, and Vicki Vale had it goin' on!
  • 2. Nightmare on Elm Street
    Back in 1984,the world was introduced to a most sinister,and ugly villian in Freddy Krueger.The concept that this monster could kill you in your dreams was pretty heady stuff,and Fred's a mush better villian than the dumber Jason Voorhees.Freddy's the best villian of all time,from the greatest decade of all time,the 80's!
  • 1. Teen Wolf
    Okay,it may not be an Oscar-worthy film,but it was a great coming of age movie.Michael J.Fox is great as Scott Howard,a regular teenager trying to juggle basketball and school,and hook up with the hottest girl in school,Pamela Wells(Lori Griffin.)My favorite scene is in the Championship,when Scott hits the two free-throws to give his team the win.Gotta mention my favorite song of all-time"Win in the End",that plays during the championship game.Also,the most touching song I've ever heard,by Amy Holland,"Shooting For The Moon."That song was what the 80's were about,and what our everyday lives should be about,shooting for the stars,er,moon,and accomplishing all our dreams.What a nice thought,and definitely what made the 1980's the great decade that it truly was!!!
Other mentionable movies:Fred Savage's"The Wizard","Who Framed Roger Rabbit?",the "Back to the Future" trilogy,"E.T.",and the rest of the "Nightmare On Elm Street" movies,except New Nightmare.Hey,there's just so much to say about these movies,a lot better than the crap of today.As a child of the 80's,I still prefer anything from then,or the 90's,as compared to today.Heck,I still have my NES that I got for Christmas in '89,and Super Mario 3 is the best game for any system.Well,I'll go,but let me say that the 80's rule,and go PHILLIES!
By: Amare Stoudemire #32
By the way, I did not take the time to think of my top 10 favorites from the 80's. But 1989 is definately the best year of the 80's.
By: Michael Muncer
  • 10. The Evil Dead
    Scary, gory, funny, a horror classic.
  • 9. Monty Python's Meaning of Life
    Some hilarious, sickening scenes.
  • 8. Short Circit
    Ok, I know, it's lame. But it was my favourite film when I was a kid!
  • 7. Gremlins
    Another classic. I always wanted one as a pet. Gizmo was the cutest thing ever, and the others were terrifying!
  • 6. Friday the 13th
    A horror classic! Great gore scenes, funny characters, and the best ever movie killer, Mrs. Voorheese.
  • 5. Stand By Me
    I love the whole story, the dialogue, and the acting. It's all fantastic.
  • 4. The Shining
    The most terrifying movie of all time. Nuff said.
  • 3. Ghostbusters
    Fanastic film! Scary in parts, hilarious in others, and overall, just plain fun. I love the characters.
  • 2. Breakfast Club
    What a spectacular film. I only saw it a few weeks ago, and as soon as I watched it, i just wanted to watch it again. Defines the teenagers brilliantly.
  • 1. Back To The Future
    Best film ever made. I envied Michael J Fox so much. How cool was his life??
WORST FILM OF THE 80s - Dolly Dearest. Lame at it's Lamest.
By: Alissa
By: Hannah Zeller
  • 10. Dirty Dancing
    whoo hoo whoo hooo whoo hoo whoo hoo whoo hoo whoo hoo whoo hoo......ok im done now
  • 9. An Officer and a Gentlemen
    the perfect chick flik......i luv it
  • 8. Pretty in Pink
    How the he double l could i leave out this movie!
  • 7. Girls Just wanna Have Fun
    wow i use to watch this movie over and over and over.....wait i still do!
  • 6. St. Elmos fire
    the brat pack! people who havnt seen at least one of these movies are emotionally ill and should be locked away!
  • 5. Back to the Future(all of them)
    what can i say? good movie
  • 4. The Princess bride
    " inconcievable" and "anybody want a peanut?"
  • 3. 16 candles
    whoo hoo, the brat pack, whoo hoo!
  • 2. The Goonies
    if u havnt seen this movie then their is really something wrong with u, good movie
  • 1. The Breakfast club
    Wow what exactely does someone say about only one of the greatest movies in the world?!? I loved it, especialllly when they all smoke weed in the back. Way to be!
BRAT PACK, WHO HOO WHOO HOO WHOO HOO
By: Brandie
  • 10. Porky's
  • 9. Weird Science
    oh the possibilities
  • 8. Nightmare on Elm Street
    Especially scary if you lived on Elm street (like me) when this came out...
  • 7. Ferris Bueller's Day off
    If all our times of skipping school would consist of us driving a ferrari...
  • 6. She's Out Of Control
    Tony Danza,his unattractive daugher turned pretty.... he has to deal...
  • 5. Hairspray
    yet another Ricki Lake film... now a broadway hit...
  • 4. Crybaby
    Johnny Depp, Ricki Lake.. need i say more....
  • 3. Lucas
    Corey Haim loves insects... Charlie Sheen the HS football captain... quite the unlikely match...till this flick...
  • 2. Howard the Duck
    A talking Duck from another planet.. how much better does it get
  • 1. Garbage Pail Kids The Movie
    The best stickers ever now a movie...awesome...
By: Jim Naylor
  • 10. Rocky IV
    Stallone again, only this time fighting Drago (I must break you)
  • 9. The Shining
    Jack Nicholson freaks me out every time I see that
  • 8. Spaceballs
    Mel Brooks is a genius
  • 7. Top Gun
    good movie all around
  • 6. The Goonies
    TRUFFLE SHUFFLE!!!!!!
  • 5. Rambo: First Blood
    Sylvester Stallone blowing things up. nuff said
  • 4. Ferris Bueller's Day Off
    Everyone has prolly skipped school and got away with it, but no one could do everything he did, and get away with it scot free.
  • 3. Full Metal Jacket
    Lee Ermey does a great job depicting what boot camp really is like. The war aspect of it is also done really well
  • 2. The Evil Dead
    The start of one of the best trilogies in the movie industry
  • 1. Short Circuit
    Come on...Who couldn't like Johnny 5?
Friday the 13th, Nightmare on Elm Street, The Breakfast Club, Urban Cowboy, Platoon, Over the Top,and Big Trouble in Little China all receive honorable mention.
By: Jessica Elmaleh
By: jaymnes lowe
  • 10. Time Bandits
    What Can You Say???
  • 9. Caddy Shack
    Be The Ball
  • 8. Vacation
    Dont Tell Me Your With The C.i.a., No No I Used To Be
  • 7. Better Off Dead
    Inspiring Words From An Inspiring Singer
  • 6. Back To The Future
    thats really micheal j fox playing the guitar on johnny b. goode
  • 5. When Harry Met Sally
    ill have what shes having
  • 4. Die Hard
  • 3. The Sure Thing
    nicks a name nicks your pal nicks a guy you can trust nicks a guy who wont care if you puck in his car
  • 2. Ghostbusters
    ray if someone asks you if you're a god you say YES
  • 1. Ferris Bueller's Day Off
    im not european i dont ever plan on being european so who gives a crap if their socalist
By: Ceydn
  • 10. Friday the 13th
    Out of all the 'originals' in the slasher genre, this is my favourite. Although I prefer Halloween as a series (and the original was in 78 anyway) I found this to be a better movie than the original Halloween and A Nightmare On Elm Street.
  • 9. Ferris Bueller's Day Off
    What a fun movie, probably the most played movie on the last day of school ever.
  • 8. The Transformers Movie
    YOU'VE GOT THE TOUCH! need I say more?
  • 7. Young Guns
    Young Guns II is slightly better, but this was the first cowboy movie that really drew me in. The Sheen brothers are at their best, especially Emilio.
  • 6. Highlander
    Such an epic action movie.
  • 5. Labyrinth
    David Bowie's hair, Jennifer Connelly's breasts, and Jim Henson's puppets. You can't go wrong.
  • 4. Willow
    Simply stunning tale of one little dude's quest and how he overcomes it all. Brilliant opening sequence - one of the most memorable ever.
  • 3. This is Spinal Tap
    The classic rockumentary.
  • 2. The Neverending Story
    The most imaginative story there is.
  • 1. The Breakfast Club
    Simply the greatest movie ever made.
You just can't go past the Breakfast Club, it truly brings a tear to my eye every time I watch it.
By: Trey
  • 10. Stand By Me
    Another Definition of Eighties rearing. I seem to have difficulties distinguishing, in my memory, between this movie about young men's adventures in the fifties, and my "tom foolery" as a youth. "Boom Babaa Boom Babaa Boom!"
  • 9. The Explorers
    Ahh, the days we could belive the movies when they told us what computers could do for us if we had "that knack." I remember fantasizing about ideas presented in this movie with my cousin Beth. "Itsh The . . . Ahh . . . shtuff that dweams aw mayde of."
  • 8. E.T. The Extraterrestrial
    No need for comment this one speaks for itself. " E.T. phone home" Come on' what other line would you expect me to quote.
  • 7. The Goonies
    If you grew up in the eighties, and this is not one of your favorite movies ever, you should be deported. "Oh wow a police chase . . .
  • 6. The Abyss
    A beautifull, entertaining, exciting, Romantic, funny, undersea, science/science-fiction adventure. "I'll tell you what its not, Its not one of ours." . . . "Sir we have a proximity warning light." . . . "Its turbulence, we're in its wake!" . . . "passing 1500 Sir" . . . "We're loosing her!" Thought I'd add this one. " . . . Hurricaines should be named after women. . .We are styling, luck is not a factor.
  • 5. Ghostbusters
    The next big special effects movie after Star Wars. "Of course you forget Peter I was present at an under sea, uexplained, mass sponge migration." "Ugh . . . Ray the sponges migrated about a foot and a half."
  • 4. The Princess Bride
    The only thing worth while Rob Reiner ever did in his life. Not really, I don't know what he's done but its better than anything else I know of from him. What a great flick, I've loved it since I was a kid and I still enjoy it several times a year. I would quote it here, but which line should I choose? Its a masterpiece of dialect. Here's one for good measure. . . . "We face each other as God intended." "You mean you put down your stone and I put down my sword and we kill eachother like civilized people?" . . . "Its not my fault being the biggest and the strongest. I dont even excercise." . . . "I do not envy you the headache you will have when you awake, but on the meantime,rest well, and dream of L-A-R-G-E women." And who could forget: "The first is, never get involved in a land war in Asia."
  • 3. Raising Arizona
    The Coens can't be faded. "Which one 'dja gyet?" "I don't know . . . hers thu instructions. . . . think I got the best one."
  • 2. Heartbreak Ridge
    The only reason this movie isn't #1 is the Lucas Factor. Enjoy this insight to grunt developement with your best bud over a cold bud, and you'll see what I mean. my favorite quote. . . " That means be advised I'm mean, nasty, and tired, I eat constantina wire, I *** napalm, and I can put a round through a fleas ass at 200 meters, so you go hump somebody elses leg muttface, before I push your's in."
  • 1. Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back
    Come on are you kidding me this is one of the reatest movies of all times how could such a comprehensive list miss it? "I'm not afraid." "You will be,. . . you will be."
As a matter of fact there are several thing I would like to mention. Here is a list of movies that any entity claiming to be relative to the eighties cannot do without. I will exclude the short list that I have presented. Please, do not by any means trust this as a comprehensive list of definitive 80's films; I have only made this list in an evening. In Random order: *Honorable Mention-Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark -Gremlins-Dirty Dancing-The Breakfast Club-Back To the Future-The Lost Boys-The Karate Kid-The Dead Poet's Society-Any thing involving Dr. Jones-The Poltergiest-Fast Times at Ridgemont High-Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure-Commando-(Almost any in the next few, how do you spell series,) The Texas Chainsaw Massacare, this is a personal favorite-Nightmare on Elm Street-Friday the Thirteenth-National Lampoon's Vacation -Howard the Duck-Rain Man-Harry and the Hendersons-The Boy Who Could Fly-Over the Top-These should be in the top ten:Every which way but loose-Any which way you can-and Cannonball Run-Short Circut-Big-War Games-Prodject-X-(thats odd)-Mask-Footloose-Southern Comfort-Steel Magnolias-Blood Simple-Terms of endearment-The Big Chill-St.Elmo's Fire-Lethal Weapon-Deep Star Six-Crocodile Dundee-The Jewel of the Nile-Romancing the stone-Enemy Mines-Red Dawn-Maneqin-King Soloman's Mines-Trading Places-Empire of the Sun-Ice Pirates-Beverly Hills Cop-48 hours-Down and Out in Beverly Hills-The Jerk-Dirty Rotten Scoundrels-The Great Outdoors-Revenge of the Nerds-Canadian Bacon-Stroker Ace-Splash-Throw Momma From th Train-Stripes-Ferris Bueller's Day Off-A Big Trouble In Little China-Shogun-Where the Buffalo Roam-The Golden Child-The Burbs-Planes, Trains, and Automobiles-Savannah Smiles-Popeye (with Robin Williams)-Labrynth-
By: Karen
I wanna add my own #11. ET! Its wouldnt have been the 80s without him!

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