44 Of The Best '80s Movies That Everyone Should See At Least Once

    From the decade that gave us "E.T. phone home" and "Say hello to my little friend!"

    Evelina Zaragoza Medina
    by Evelina Zaragoza Medina

    BuzzFeed Staff

    A LOT of the most iconic characters, scenes, and lines in movie history are courtesy of the 1980s — E.T., Indiana Jones, Darth Vader, and the Terminator, to name a few.

    Orion Pictures

    So here are some of the absolute best '80s movies that have stood the test of time for 40 (or almost 40) years:

    1. Labyrinth (1986)

    Jareth the Goblin King and Sarah stand in a mystical setting from the movie Labyrinth. Jareth is in a dark, embellished coat; Sarah wears a white dress
    TriStar Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection

    David Bowie plays Jareth the Goblin King in Labyrinth, and it's not remotely surprising that his glam rock persona translated well to a mythical fantasy creature (and caused the sexual awakening of many a young person). The movie remains a cult classic all these years later and a pretty accurate time capsule of that beloved '80s maximalism. Also, another dazzling puppetry showcase from Jim Henson.

    2. Who Framed Roger Rabbit? (1988)

    Eddie Valiant stands next to animated character Jessica Rabbit in a scene from "Who Framed Roger Rabbit."
    Buena Vista Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection

    This movie and Mary Poppins are probably the most famous examples of live-action animated movies that combined cartoon characters with on-camera human characters. That's how you end up with several real human men drooling over the iconic Jessica Rabbit, who has since inspired countless Halloween costumes. The movie itself is funny, touching, original, and everything you'd expect from your favorite animated classics, just a little bit more adult.

    3. Dune (1984)

    The image shows characters Lady Jessica in ornate attire and Paul Atreides in a stillsuit from the 1984 film Dune
    Universal/Courtesy Everett Collection

    Compared to the new Dune movies, 1984's version definitely suffers from the relative lack of technical advancements and the fact that Frank Herbert's novel was condensed to a 137-minute runtime. But it's still worth watching for the simple fact that it attempted something so epic without a hint of irony.

    4. An American Tail (1986)

    Fievel, an animated mouse from "An American Tail," looks excited, escaping a woven basket
    Universal / ©Universal/Courtesy Everett Collection

    If you've ever enjoyed an animated movie in your life, then you'll love the criminally underrated An American Tail. And if you're particularly sensitive to cute little mice with loose clothing with earnest immigrant dreams, grab the tissues.

    5. Weekend at Bernie's (1989)

    Three men in casual attire stand together, one pointing into the distance, from weekend at bernie's. the man in the middle is dead.
    20thCentFox/Courtesy Everett Collection

    The image of the two main characters holding up their dead friend is iconic enough to have been recreated several times since Weekend at Bernie's came out, so watching this movie is really just an opportunity to catch up on your cultural context.

    6. Willow (1988)

    Willow Ufgood in a medieval-style tunic, riding a horse, with a confident smile
    Mgm / ©MGM/Courtesy Everett Collection

    The '80s loved a mystical fantasy quest movie, and Willow is a first-rate example. Warwick Davis makes a perfect action hero and better still, he starred in the (also excellent) sequel series in 2022.

    7. Gremlins (1984)

    Gizmo the Mogwai peeks out from a box in a scene from the movie "Gremlins."
    Warner Bros/Courtesy Everett Collection

    Don't let Gizmo's cute little face fool you: Gremlins is not exactly a kids movie. If you scare very easily, it might not even be an adults movie. But if you can handle some PG-13 thrills you'll love seeings those little dudes wreak absolute havoc for 80% of the runtime.

    8. 9 to 5 (1980)

    Three characters from the film "9 to 5" sitting at a table engaged in animated conversation
    20th Century Fox Film Corp/Courtesy Everett Collection

    DOLLY PARTON 👏 JANE FONDA 👏 LILY TOMLIN 👏 FIGHTING SEXISM 👏 get into it.

    9. Annie (1982)

    Annie from the musical "Annie" smiles, wearing a patterned dress and cardigan, holding a bouquet
    Columbia Pictures/courtesy Everett Co / Everett Collection

    You can't go through life without watching Annie at least once, no matter how cynical you might consider yourself. The sun will come out tomorrow, and it's always good to have a reminder of that in the form of a plucky, redheaded orphan. It's also got THEE Carol Burnett in one of her most beloved roles.

    10. Scarface (1983)

    Al Pacino in Scarface, wearing a suit holding a gun with a bloodied face in a movie scene
    Universal/Courtesy Everett Collection

    If you're looking for a nuanced depiction of the toll of violence on the human soul, keep looking. If you wanna see excessive violence, swearing, drug use, and toxic masculinity pushed to its absolute limit, this is the movie for you. Al Pacino really goes for it in this movie, and Tony Montana remains one of his most beloved roles for good reason.

    11. Amadeus (1984)

    Maximum Film / Alamy Stock Photo

    During the press run for Oppenheimer, Robert Downey Jr. compared his character Lewis Strauss to Antonio Salieri from Amadeus. The comparison might seem like a stretch at first — RDJ's Strauss doesn't seem like he'd have much in common with an Italian composer from the 18th century. And with regards to the actual Salieri, that's true. But Amadeus famously eschewed historical accuracy to tell the story of a bitter, nearly murderous one-sided rivalry between Salieri and Mozart. F. Murry Abraham recently made waves as Bert in White Lotus, but it was his turn as the obsessive, narcissistic Salieri that brought him to prominence in the '80s. It also won him an Oscar for Best Actor, one of eight Oscars that the movie ended up winning from 11 nominations. One of those nominations was also for Tom Hulce's portrayal of the titular character. So if you're in the mood for an impeccably acted, gorgeously costumed, and historically-inaccurate-but-still-genuine take on the dangers of male envy, Amadeus if for you.

    12. The Goonies (1985)

    Warner Bros. / Courtesy Everett Collection

    Goonies never say die! A childhood classic that you can revisit at any age, The Goonies is just plain fun. The story is simple, but that's part of its appeal — who among us hasn't dreamt of finding a hidden treasure and using it to solve all our problems? Under the creative guidance of Richard Donner, Chris Columbus, and Steven Spielberg — as well as some pretty iconic casting — Goonies ended up being the movie equivalent of a warm blanket. It's also a great chance to see future Samwise Gamgee (Sean Astin), future Thanos (Josh Brolin), and future Waymond Wang (Ke Huy Quan) in some of their earliest roles.

    13. The Outsiders (1983)

    Warner Bros / ©Warner Bros/Courtesy Everett Collection

    There's a good chance you saw The Outsiders in English class at some point, since it's an adaptation of the popular S.E. Hinton novel. And it's a great book that led to a great movie about class violence and the loss of youth. But the thing you remember most might be the fact that the titular gang is comprised of a bunch of future Hollywood stars. You've got Patrick Swayze before Dirty Dancing, Rob Lowe in his first movie role, Emilio Estevez before the Rat Pack became a thing, a pre-Karate Kid Ralph Macchio, and Tom Cruise, who you might have heard of.

    14. E.T. the Extraterrestrial (1982)

    Screenshot from "E.T."
    Universal/courtesy Everett / Everett Collection

    A boy finds an alien in his shed and becomes its friend. It’s a fairly simple premise, but in Steven Spielberg’s hands, it becomes one of the most beloved films of all time. Part sci-fi adventure, part coming-of-age story, E.T. is one of those movies that you’d watch over and over again if it didn’t make you cry so much. Plus, it features an adorable 7-year-old Drew Barrymore and practical effects that hold up pretty well even today.

    15. When Harry Met Sally... (1989)

    Screenshot from "When Harry Met Sally..."
    Columbia Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection

    Romantic comedy is a criminally underrated genre, which is really confusing when a movie like When Harry Met Sally... exists. It is quite possibly the best rom-com ever made, and proves how clever and funny and even philosophical they can be. Nora Ephron’s genius screenplay shines even brighter as delivered by Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal, whose chemistry is just *chef’s kiss*. They play two imperfect but charming friends who fight their attraction for years because of how much they mean to each other. It is the original friends to lovers story, and has the power to convince even the staunchest rom-com haters.

    16. Dirty Dancing (1987)

    Screenshot from "Dirty Dancing"
    Artisan Entertainment/Courtesy Everett Collection

    This is probably one of your mom’s favorite movies, and for good reason TBH. Baby (Jennifer Grey) is staying at a fancy mountain resort with her family when she meets Johnny (Patrick Swayze), one of the resort’s dance instructors. When Johnny’s dance partner can’t perform with him, Baby offers to substitute for her, and you can guess where this is going. Though it’s not technically a musical (nobody sings), it does feature a lot of dance numbers, and let me tell you, it’s not called Dirty Dancing for nothing — lots of gyrating pelvises and heaving bosoms on display here. The final scene features perhaps the most iconic dance move of all time (that lift!). 

    17. Aliens (1986)

    Alien screenshot
    20thCentFox/Courtesy Everett Collection

    Aliens, sequel to Alien, is first and foremost a showcase for Sigourney Weaver as Ellen Ripley. Ripley is 100% that bitch, and this movie makes sure you know that. The sole survivor of the previous movie’s alien attack, she’s now completely traumatized and anxious, but guess what? Those damn aliens won’t leave her alone, so she has to fight them again. 

    18. Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986)

    Screenshot from "Ferris Bueller's Day Off"
    Paramount/Courtesy Everett Collection

    Ferris Bueller's Day Off is the funniest and most re-watchable of all the John Hughes movies — no offense, but it's way less depressing than The Breakfast Club. But if you really need that dose of teen angst, don't worry: Ferris's best friend Cameron (Alan Ruck) is alarmingly depressed for much of the movie, and the heart of the film lies in watching Ferris try to help his friend realize he has a lot to live for. 

    19. The Breakfast Club (1985)

    Universal / courtesy Everett Collection

    The Breakfast Club might have some elements that don't hold up super well in 2022, but its staying power comes from John Hughes's honest portrayal of teenage emotions. The five main characters describe themselves as "a brain, an athlete, a basket case, a princess, and a criminal," and while they certainly live up to those archetypes, they also find common ground that leads them to bond during detention. All five main cast members are also part of the iconic '80s "Brat Pack," so the movie is essential film and pop culture history. 

    20. Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)

    Screenshot from "Raiders of the Lost Ark"
    Paramount/Courtesy Everett Collection

    Harrison Ford is still playing Indiana Jones after 40 years so it be worth investigating why he likes this character so much — especially considering his feelings about that other famous character he played in the '80s. In his first outing as Indy, Ford shows off all the charisma that turned him into a movie star. 

    21. Raging Bull (1980)

    United Artists / ©United Artists/Courtesy Everett Collection

    Martin Scorsese has always had knack for making not-so-nice men into compelling protagonists, and Raging Bull is one of his most brutal examples of this. Robert De Niro stars as Jake LaMotta, a real life boxer who fought as much in the ring as he did out of it. LaMotta's memoir served as the basis for the screenplay and covers his delinquent adolescence, his involvement with the Mafia, and his abusive relationship with his wife and brother. It's one of De Niro's best performances and won him his second Oscar.

    22. Die Hard (1988)

    20thcentfox / ©20thCentFox/Courtesy Everett Collection

    Die Hard has everything: Christmas, action, Bruce Willis, romance, and Alan Rickman. It's Jake Peralta's favorite movie and it could easily become yours too. And it's not just a fun action romp, it also touches on themes like masculinity,  gender roles, and vengeance. It's more than deserving of a spot in your Christmas movie rotation.

    23. Star Wars: Episode IV - The Empire Strikes Back (1980)

    Lucasfilm/Courtesy Everett Collection

    When people talk about sequels that were better than the original, Empire Strikes Back is near the top of the list. It was the movie that proved Star Wars had the legs to become one of the biggest franchises in history, and it also gave the world Yoda. Has there ever been anything more culturally significant? 

    24. The Princess Bride (1987)

    20th Century Fox

    The Princess Bride is one of those movies that you watch as a kid and keep coming back to again and again because of how warm and fuzzy it makes you feel. As you get older, you start to clock the smaller jokes that were sprinkled in to keep the adults interested, making you love it in an entirely new way. In short, it's the live-action Disney cartoon. 

    25. The Little Mermaid (1989)

    Ariel and Eric on a boat
    Walt Disney Co./Courtesy Everett Collection

    As a rule, teenagers should not throw their lives away for the uncertainty of a future with a man they've laid eyes on twice. But is anybody watching The Little Mermaid for life lessons? No, you watch it because you want to be a mermaid and Ursula has the best Disney Villain song. Like all great Disney movies, The Little Mermaid sweeps you into the fantasy, no matter how much you find yourself agreeing with King Trident as you get older. Its release was considered the start of the "Disney Renaissance," and it's hard to argue with that estimation.

    26. Heathers (1988)

    New World Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection

    Heathers is the original Mean Girls. I really can't say it any better than that. Well, it's the original Mean Girls with a big helping of murder. Winona Ryder is an expert at playing characters like Veronica Sawyer, and her toxic romance with Christian Slater's JD will lull you into a false sense of security before everything goes hell.

    27. Back to the Future (1985)

    Universal Pictures / courtesy Everett Collection

    Michael J. Fox got the role of his life as Marty McFly, a teenager who gets roped into time travel thanks to the experiments of his kooky inventor friend, Doc Brown (Christopher Lloyd, perfectly cast). The movie's time travel rules are pretty solid and uncomplicated, even if people are managing to find plot holes in them to this very day. But that's always the case with time travel movies, ya know? Back to the Future stands the test of time because it has a bit of everything: family drama, romantic tension, action, humor, and a DeLorean time machine.

    28. Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure (1989)

    Orion / courtesy Everett Collection

    Sometimes a movie can just be fun, and that's what Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure is. You can't help but be endeared to Bill and Ted, two guileless dummies played perfectly by Alex Winter and Keanu Reeves.

    29. Sophie’s Choice (1982)

    Universal/Courtesy Everett Collection

    Are you familiar with our lord and savior, Meryl Streep? One of the greatest actors who's ever lived has one of her best showcases in Sophie's Choice, a movie about a Holocaust survivor who struggles to rebuild her life after her time at Auschwitz. As Sophie, Streep honestly and painfully depicts guilt, depression, lust, regret, and anxiety. Much is made about the "choice" scene, but the whole movie is equally poignant.

    30. Big (1988)

    20th Century Fox Film Corp./Courtesy: Everett Collection.

    After making a wish on a fortune teller machine to be "big," 12-year-old Josh Baskin wakes up in a grown-up body (Tom Hanks). Hanks is funny and endearing, and the movie itself has a lovely, earnest message about never losing touch with your inner child.

    31. Blade Runner (1982)

    Warner Bros / ©Warner Bros/Courtesy Everett Collection

    2019 Los Angeles didn't actually look like the version depicted in Blade Runner, but the movie is still a visual feast. Once again, Harrison Ford plays a grizzled science fiction hero and, if you can believe it, excels at it. Rick Deckard (Ford) is tasked with finding and eliminate four "replicants," artificially engineered beings that are indistinguishable from humans. Things get complicated, as these things often do, and the result is a movie that balances visual spectacle with human pathos.

    32. The Shining (1980)

    Warner Bros / ©Warner Bros/Courtesy Everett Collection

    Even if you've somehow never seen The Shining, you know The Shining. It's a movie that has been imitated, referenced, and parodied to death, proving its massive culutral impact. Stanley Kubrick proved that he could conquer any genre he decided to take on, as The Shining is a one-of-a-kind psychological hellscape that has been traumatizing viewers of all ages for decades. And Jack Nicholson gives one of the most demented performances of all-time, as Jack's descent into murderous madness is incredibly disturbing to watch, no matter how many times you've seen it before.

    33. Risky Business (1983)

    Warner Bros / courtesy Everett Collection

    If you had pick the one movie that catapulted Tom Cruise to movie star status, it would be Risky Business. As Joel Goodsen, Cruise shows off the ease and charisma that have kept him at the top of the box office for 40 years. He's helped by great dialogue by writer/director Paul Brickman and a captivating scene partner in Rebecca de Mornay, who plays Lana, a prostitute who helps Joel get away with increasingly dangerous crimes but who is also the reason he has to commit them in the first place. And of course, who could forget the often imitated but never replicated dance scene set to "Old Time Rock and Roll"?

    34. Say Anything (1989)

    20thcentfox / ©20thCentFox/Courtesy Everett Collection

    Another teen classic from the decade, Say Anything sets aside the funny hijinks in favor of sensitive romance. Lloyd Dobbler (John Cusack) and Diane Court (Ione Skye) have a sweet opposites attract dynamic that builds slowly and steadily until the iconic boombox scene. It's not entirely without rom-com tropes, but they're done so well that the result is more comforting than repetitive. 

    35. Do The Right Thing (1989)

    Universal / ©Universal/Courtesy Everett Collection

    Do The Right Thing is as relevant now as it was in 1989, and it not only proves that Spike Lee is one of the best filmmakers of all time, but also that he's a spot on philosopher. The Bed-Stuy depicted in this movie has the bright, poppy colors associated with the '80s but contrasts them against the growing hatred between all the different cultures that live there, with things getting increasingly more tense on the hottest day of the year. Lee not only captured the essence of the entire country at the time — the screenplay was a direct response to the racially charged murder of a young Black man named Michael Griffith — but it also asks questions that the US is still struggling with to this day. 

    36. The Terminator (1984)

    Orion Pictures Corp / ©Orion Pictures Corp/Courtesy Everett Collection

    The Terminator gave us two action icons: Arnold Schwarzenegger and Linda Hamilton. As the titular character, Arnold relied on his considerable screen presence to portray a killer robot who develops some humanity. The role catapulted him to the height of his fame, and you can't really argue with that. On the more underrated side you have the incomparable badass Linda Hamilton as Sarah Connor, whose entire life blows up when the aforementioned murderous robot starts trying to kill her. The Terminator has all of the over the top action and science fiction you'd expect from an '80s blockbuster, but it's also got a surprisingly poignant (time travel assisted) romance between Sarah and Kyle Reese. It's also notable for launching the career of James Cameron, who'd go on to direct Titatnic and that very lucrative film franchise about blue people.

    37. Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982)

    Universal / ©Universal/Courtesy Everett Collection

    The '80s had a ton of sensitive teen fare like The Breakfast Club and Say Anything, but there was also Amy Heckerling's much raunchier comedy about SoCal high schoolers. The unapologetic horniness is balanced out by devastatingly awkward moments that will take you right back to your braces era, whether that was yesterday or 40 years ago. The cast is also stacked — this movie had Sean Penn, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Nicolas Cage, Eric Stoltz, Forest Whitaker, and Anthony Edwards in some of their earliest roles. 

    38. My Neighbor Totoro (1988)

    50th Street Films / ©50th Street Films/Courtesy Everett Collection

    Your life will be drastically improved after witnessing the story of sisters Satsuki and Mei, who befriend gentle but strange forest spirits when they move to a new town to be closer to their ailing mother. Studio Ghibli and director Hayao Miyazaki capture the wonder and open-heartedness of childhood by just keeping things simple. It's all about the pleasant vibes here.

    39. Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure (1985)

    Warner Bros / ©Warner Bros/Courtesy Everett Collection

    When the eccentric Pee-Wee Herman (Paul Reubens) has his beloved bike stolen, he sets out across the US on an adventure to find it. Warning: Pee-Wee Herman is a fairly acquired taste and might not please everyone. This is a full throttle man-child straight out of a Disney Channel/Nickelodeon sitcom. The plot is completely silly and its only purpose is to jump start road trip and introduce a cast of bizarre supporting characters along the way. Regardless, it's one of those vital pop culture movies that everyone's gotta see once. And TBH, Pee-Wee's earnest enthusiasm for the world around him can melt even the most jaded of hearts.

    40. Purple Rain (1984)

    Warner Bros. / courtesy Everett Collection

    Purple Rain isn't technically a biopic, but the plot bears enough similarities to its star's life that you'd be forgiven for thinking of it that way. The plot is also formulaic and uneven, but that's irrelevant because the film more than achieves its purpose: to showcase the charisma and music of Prince, one of the greatest artists in history. He won an Academy Award for the score, which included some of his best songs like "When Doves Cry," "Let's Go Crazy," and the title track.

    41. Broadcast News (1987)

    20thCentFox/Courtesy Everett Collection

    Love triangles are a very well-worn trope at this point, but few movies do it as well as Broadcast News, one of the best but most underrated rom-coms of the decade. It's about the romantic entanglement of three very different co-workers at a news network. Jane (Holly Hunter) is a workaholic producer, Aaron (Albert Brooks) an awkward but brilliant journalist, and Tom (William Hurt) is a personable but not-so-smart news anchor. The expected love triangle emerges between the three of them with Jane at the center, but the resolution is entirely unexpected yet deliciously satisfying. 

    42. Ghostbusters (1984)

    Columbia Pictures / courtesy Everett Collection

    After losing their jobs as professors at Columbia by trying to present evidence of paranormal activity, Peter (Bill Murray), Ray (Dan Aykroyd), and Egon (Harold Ramis) form the Ghostbusters, a ghost elimination service. They add a fourth member (Ernie Hudson) about halfway through the movie, and the rest is history. It's one of the most beloved comedies of all time due to the chemistry of its cast, which combined with its special effects and quippy one-liners make it the quintessential '80s movie.

    43. Airplane! (1980)

    Paramount/Courtesy Everett Collection

    Airplane! is a spoof of the disaster film genre, particularly Zero Hour (1957). In this parody, a man who is afraid of flying must pull himself together to save the day when the pilots on his flight get sick. It's got a million jokes per minute and some of the funniest lines ever written — remember "I am serious…and don't call me Shirley"? A classic. Airplane! is, by many people's estimation, one of the funniest movies ever made, and there's not much else left to say. Sure, comedy is subjective, but it's impossible not to laugh at this one. 

    44. Moonstruck (1987)

    MGM/Courtesy Everett Collection

    Cher won an Academy Award for Best Actress for her performance as Loretta, a young widow who is ready for marry Johnny (Danny Aiello), a man she's perfectly fond of but doesn't love — after the death of her first husband, Loretta believes that love is only a source of pain. Her plans start to fall apart when she meets Johnny's estranged brother Ronny (Nicolas Cage), with whom she shares fiery chemistry and immediate mutual attraction. It's romantic, sexy, funny, and Cher is truly phenomenal. If that doesn't convince you, there's also a young, super handsome Nic Cage and the scene-stealing Olympia Dukakis as Loretta's mother Rose.

    What are you favorite '80s movies? Let us know and they could be added to the list!