photo credit: Savanna Smith
Let’s rip the Band-Aid off–yes, I think the 80s were a pretty good decade. Bold words from someone who didn’t live through them, I know, but it’s not exactly a hot take.
Sometimes, I think that people can get nostalgic over a soggy flipflop if enough time passes. But at the same time, I can’t help but admit: the 80s were really cool.
Don’t remind me that I was born in 2008, please. Rotary phones, kids riding their bikes after dark, no parental supervision, no iPhones, rock and roll on the stereo—it suits my soul. Can’t explain, won’t try to. There’s some magic about it, rose-tinted glasses and all.
And there was definitely something special going on at the movie theaters. A golden age for horror and action movies, maybe it’s the lack of CGI that does it for you, or the pure storytelling, or the humor, the exhilaration, the childlike wonder. Maybe it’s the thrill of glimpsing–just for 90 minutes—a portal to a past that’s in our rearview mirror. Whatever it is, the films I list here inspired my love for movies. And I’m guessing you might feel the same way.
Here, in no particular order, are my favorite 80s movies. Resurrect your VHS. These are all worth the rewatch.
“Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade” (1989) Remember that movie titles are in quotations
I could put the whole series in here, sure. But this is my favorite one (edging out “Raiders”by a little bit). It’s everything I love about Indiana Jones in one movie. It never loses its footing, darts from setpiece to setpiece with wit and style. And it’s got all the whip-cracking, Nazi-punching, tank versus horse action you could ask for. It even has Sean Connery (60s James Bond) in it. Need I say more?
The Thing (1982)
This movie bombed at the box office, yes, but only because it got slotted with “Blade Runner” AND “E.T”. Which not only proves how stacked the box office during this decade, but how ahead of its time this movie was. The paranoia, body horror and tension of this film are unparalleled even today, and it’s an absolute classic. Audiences in 1982 weren’t ready for it, but as Marty McFly would assure them: “Your kids are going to love it!”
And speaking of Marty…
“Back to the Future” (1985)
Again, we could slot the whole trilogy in here (even the Wild West madness of the third). But this is the one that started it all, and it blew me away when I watched it as a kid. It’s a movie that makes me feel happy. Makes me want to lock in on guitar, too.
“The Empire Strikes Back” (1980)
A sequel so good that it’s become the shorthand to describe a good sequel of anything. I hope my second column was ever the “Empire Strikes Back” of my column. Even if it wasn’t, we can confidently say that this is the best Star Wars movie, barring “Revenge of the Sith” (which makes the prequels worth it, by the way). I don’t know why I didn’t think of this movie first. It’s probably the most popular movie on this list, I think. Just perfection.
“A Nightmare on Elm Street” (1984)
I bring this up without mentioning (or bothering with) the sequels. As a standalone, this movie is one of the most surreal, creepy and iconic horror movies of the decade, maybe even all time. It stands out to me not just because of Freddy’s nightmare-populating design, but also because the final girl, Nancy, uses her mind to defeat him. A true classic that I want to rewatch, come to think of it.
“Misery” (1990—still the 80s, don’t complain)
A list of 80s movies can’t be complete without a contribution from the late Rob Reiner. Kathy Bates steals the show in this classic about a writer held captive by his psychotic fan. She’s by turns odd, funny, sweet, menacing, and cockadoodie-crazy in this performance that rightly earned her an Oscar. This film closes out a decade loaded with Stephen King adaptations, good and bad and ugly. But it stands out for its superb direction and stellar performances. I love it.
