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: C Choate
By: michelle meeko
By: Chris
By: Tia Valentine
  • 10. Working Girl
    Big Hair, Makeup Galore, Ruffles at the Wedding, Harrison Ford, Oh My. Joan Cusack was great as the best friend..."Sometimes I dance around my apartment in my underwear doesn't make me Madonna."
  • 9. Dirty Dancing
    Patrick Swayze. The Soundtrack. The Dancing. The memorable quotes..Nobody puts Baby in the Corner.
  • 8. The Goonies
    HEY YOU GUYS!!!!
  • 7. The Outsiders
    Tom Cruise, Patrick Swayze, Rob Lowe, Matt Dillion, Emilio Estevez. Sexy Guys Galore!!!
  • 6. Ghostbusters
    Who are you gonna call?
  • 5. Big Trouble in Little China
    Kurt Russell - do I need to say more?
  • 4. Sixteen Candles
    Once again - the 80s' Princess: Molly Ringwald. I love the ending. I was crying & smiling at the same time because she got her man.
  • 3. Pretty in Pink
    Molly Ringwald was the utimate 80s' Princess.
  • 2. The Breakfast Club
    The Brat Pack rules the 80s
  • 1. The Lost Boys
    Great Soundtrack! I was in love with Kiefer Sutherland. Actually, I'm still in love with him. Jason Patric was cute, too. Death by stereo
I loved the 80s. I really miss the 80s. The movies were awesome.
By: Raquel
By: Jeremy
By: bridget
By: Joel Dean
  • 10. Caddyshack
    A wonderful movie
  • 9. Scarface
    Al pacinos second best performance
  • 8. Gremlins
    Aaaw the worlds most unnecesary movie
  • 7. Ferris Bueller''s Day Off
    "When Cameron was in Egypts land, let my Cameron go" - The worlds second best quote
  • 6. Tremors
    The plot sucked the cinematography sucked the script sucked and the acting sucked but this movie was awesome
  • 5. Beverly Hills Cop
    Eddies best
  • 4. Porkys
    The only true high school movie
  • 3. Ghostbusters
  • 2. The Goonies
    A classic with a fat kid
  • 1. Evil Dead 2
    Give me back my hand
1. Watch Evil Dead over and over 2. Bruce Campbell is the Man 3. What are you looking at 4. If you dont like me list then F you
By: alison
By: billy bob
By: Candyman
By: lindsey
By: Dominick
  • 10. Nightmare on Elm Street
    Scarier than Friday the 13th by far. It happened when you were most vulnerable and where you are supposed to be the safest--asleep in your own home. How can you stop someone who comes in your sleep? Even 20 years later the name Freddie will make someone look twice. No horror serial permeated or affected American culture than this one. Don't fall asleep!
  • 9. The Breakfast Club
    Probably the first movie that comes to mind as an 80s movie. The acting was great all around--even Molly Ringwald who in general I despise. The performance of Carl the Janitor and Principal DICK Vernon are what make this movie truly great.
  • 8. Road Warrior
    The best of the Mad Max trilogy was a cinematic masterpiece. It really brought Mel Gibson to the public eye like never before and was one of the first real bad-ass bad guys who you had to root for.
  • 7. Stand By Me
    Not your usual Stephen King fare (adopted from the novella "The Body"). Great performances from many young actors who have gone on to varied and quite successful careers. What growing up and coming of age in America should be all about. I mean, what early teenage kid wouldn't be curious about seeing a real dead body? Has made me hate leeches since I've seen this movie.
  • 6. Platoon
    In my opinion the most powerful and most moving movies of the 80s. America needed to know just how crappy it was to be in Vietnam, to make us appreciate the people who wanted the soldiers out of Vietnam the most--the soldiers themselves. This is my rifle. This is my gun. This one's for fighting and this one's for fun!
  • 5. Ferris Bueller's Day Off
    Probably the movie that comes to mind second as an 80s movie. Number 9 on this list is probably the first. Something that anyone can watch at any time and enjoy it. You never have to be in the mood for this movie. That Ferris Bueller is indeed a righteous dude.
  • 4. Raiders of the Lost Ark
    There was life after Star Wars if you are a good actor. Re-introduced with vigor the action/adventure genre to the American film landscape.
  • 3. E.T.
    Only one thing to say about this--Shame on whoever doesn't include this in their list. No other movie from the 80s has had and continues to have such a long lasting effect on American culture.
  • 2. Fast Times at Ridgemont High
    Had more substance to it than the other "teen-y" movies of the 80s and was so accurate in the depiction of early 80s high school life. Unabashed fun, etrayal, aborition and Led Zeppelin made for a great combination. Aloha Mr. Hand!
  • 1. Dead Poets' Society
    My favorite movie of all time. I love Robin Williams was probably the only person who could have played his roll as well as he did. I don't love Ethan Hawke, but he was great as Todd Anderson. O Captain My Captain! (Even though I dislike Whitman in general)
This was tough to cut down to 10, but the movies that just missed the cut were, in order, Heathers, Terminator, Sid and Nancy, War Games, Red Dawn and Dirty Dancing. Others in no particular order that I wanted to include were When Harry Met Sally, The Right Stuff, Revenge of the Nerds, Spaceballs, Back to the Future, The Princess Bride, A Fish Called Wanda, & The Karate Kid.
By: Ski
The 80s were responsible for some of the best movies ever, its impossible to confine it to just 10
By: Nick
  • 10. Footloose
    I like this movie alot. I really don't like John Lithgow in anything, but. Good movie.
  • 9. Lean on Me
    What a great movie from Morgan Freeman. Am I the only one that Likes this movie. It is amazing.
  • 8. The Breakfast Club
    Anthony Michael Hall has 2 in this list. He was my favorite in the 80's. Judd Nelson to Hall: Who is your dad, Mr rogers?, Hall says *No, Mr Johnson". All time classic line, I think.
  • 7. Sixteen Candles
    The scene in the car with Hall and Ringwald is classic. Remember LONG Duck Dong? She went to get married, Married? Married, Gheesh.
  • 6. National Lampoons Vacation
    How can this be omitted. Total Classic. My Aunt took me to close and made me close my eyes during the shower scene.
  • 5. Beverly Hills Cop
    The best Eddie Murphy Movie as he says "How ya doin'? loudly.
  • 4. Stripes
    What can I say about "IT is alive". "Chicks dig me because I really wear underwear". I love this classic.
  • 3. The Karate Kid
    The 2nd best ending of a movie in the 80's. Are you aware that Ralph Macchio is actually in is 40's now? Elizabeth Shue....
  • 2. Can't Buy me Love
    I go could go on and on about the top 2. The scene near the end when Kenneth is getting ripped by the baseball player and Ronald comes over with a bat is a great scene. I could watch this movie over and over and over.
  • 1. Dead Poets Society
    Oh my the best movie and the best ending of any movie ever!! It actually made sense. The music and the way they stood on desks. I love Robin Williams in this. The scene where Ethan finds out about the suicide and runs throughthe snow, is riveting.
By: alison
  • 10. Footloose
    Not really good, but good enough for me to watch it 10 billion times. "Lousise, lousie" does anyone ever know the song?
  • 9. Better Off Dead
    Good movie great music. REally really good plot. REally good ending. "They think i am a what you say......prostitute"
  • 8. Weird Science
    so believeable. It has a really good plot and good music. They p;icked the right people to play the right parts. "What would you maniac's like to do first?"
  • 7. Airplane
    I didn't stop laughing, so i didn't really hear the plot, but it's not like it made a difference. From beginning to end, it is so funny. One of the best comedic performences ever. "Surley you know how to land this, I'm not sure and don't call me surly!"
  • 6. The Sure Thing
    John cusak, once again. Amazing ending, good plot, kinda good music. Great movie. I can't think of any good lines
  • 5. Say Anything
    My favorite romantic movie ever. I think I like it so much because it has a man's point of view insted of a woman's point. It makes you wonder why no one ever stood outside your house with a boom box."Your eyes....."
  • 4. Sixteen Candles
    Ahhhhhh, the 80's is represented once again in a terrific john hughs movie. Funny stuff, pretty good music, perfect ending. "Waht's happening hot stuff?"
  • 3. Pretty In Pink
    You want to be molly ringwald in the movie...unless ur a guy. Pretty good music, great plot, but you want andie to pick duckie! "You gotta squeeze her don't tease her don't leave her"
  • 2. Ferris Bueller's Day Off
    Without saying, insanly funny, great plot, perfect characters, and lots of great one liners. "If you stuck a rock up his ass, then in 2 weeks you'd get a dimond"
  • 1. Breakfast Club
    100% 80's. Amazing soundtrack, perfect characters, wonderful screenplay, not really any cheesy moments except when emilo is talking about "the taping"......does barry manilow know you raid his wardrobe?
By: Amanda Moore
  • 10. Scarface
    Say hello to the bad guy!!
  • 9. Pump Up the Volume
    Say what you feel!!
  • 8. Sixteen Candles
    Long Duk Dong is the greaest!
  • 7. Lost Boys
    COME ON MIKEY, JUST LET GO!!!!
  • 6. Just One of the Guys
    You have a bigger package than I do!
  • 5. License to Drive
    Corey Haim RULES!!
  • 4. Howard the Duck
    Don't you just love the song!?!?!
  • 3. Goonies
    BABY RUTH!! Awesome movie!
  • 2. Rad
    The bmx version of Gleaming the Cube!!
  • 1. Breakfast Club
    Mess with bull and get the horns!!!
The 80's were the best times ever!!
By: Matt
  • 10. Raiders of the Lost Ark
    Perfect adventure movie. Just perfect.
  • 9. Back to the Future Part II
    I knew there had to be a sequel with some real meaning and intelligence in it!
  • 8. A Fish Called Wanda
    Hilarious! Don't Call Me Stupid!
  • 7. Footloose
    Whoever thought of the idea of a movie to with one simple point , "Get Up and Dance Dance Dance!" was a genius. Great performances.
  • 6. Back to the Future
    The first movie I ever learned to appreciate, around the age of 6.
  • 5. The Terminator
    I'll be back!
  • 4. Airplane!
    The funniest movie I have ever seen.
  • 3. Sixteen Candles
    Another by the brilliant John Hughes
  • 2. Ferris Bueller's Day Off
    Funny movie, John Hughes is a genius when it comes to comedy that teens like.
  • 1. The Breakfast Club
    Funny, sad, and dramatic right when it needs to be. My all time favorite movie. I WANT A DVD WITH EXTRAS, MR. HUGHES.
By: fistfuckchuck
  • 10. Raiders of The Lost Ark
    Darker than the others. Indy packs a gat. Greatest opening sequence. Wonderful Religious connotations at the end. He's a sex machine. Word
  • 9. Explorers
    Superb cast. Ultimate fantasy, you know that you want to build a space ship out of junk. Whoo Haa
  • 8. Back to the Future
    The illest!
  • 7. Beverly Hills Cop
    Axel is the coolest cop motherhubber. Good cop, bad cop pairing. Awesome.
  • 6. Can't Buy Me Love
    Patrick Dempsey got it running like a sex machine, on his lawn-mower.
  • 5. Teen Wolf
    Breaking on the wolf mobile. Beat that. Break dancing and playing basketball. Yeah Yeah.
  • 4. My Science Project
    The dynamite scene. It's all there.
  • 3. Howard The Duck
    The only time that you know that you've found a woman having sex with a duck sexy. Shammoaaah
  • 2. The Goonies
    Still plays true to life now. No matter how old you are, finding a treasure map and going on a Goonies adventure is still dope.
  • 1. Ghostbusters
    The collest movie ever made and you know that.
80's were the best time for movies ever. No other time has been more creative and exciting.
By: matty
  • 10. License To Drive
    a good action comedy with both of the coreys ad a early role from heather graham
  • 9. The Money Pit
    Excellent,very funny
  • 8. Stand By Me
    a very good feelgood comedy film
  • 7. Siver Bullet
    a very good horror film
  • 6. Dream A Little Dream
    why is this film deleted.
  • 5. Big
    a5 star film
  • 4. National Lampoon's Vacation
    a very funny film. chevy chase is hillarious
  • 3. The Burbs
    a brilliant film and a good act from Feldman
  • 2. The Goonies
    a very good 80s film, a classic
  • 1. The Lost Boys
    A really good movie, at the top of my list
i have never seen lucas but i would love to see it and i want to see ferris buelers day off.I think the breakfast club is a great 80s film.

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.