Best Movies of the 80's

Ah, the 80's! A most beloved time from my childhood. I am a child of the 80's, and no other decade of cinema has impacted my life more than the Reagan era 1980's.
In my life experience, I have found that the 80's were a renaissance in American pop culture. Everything from movies, tv, and music were kicked into a new era of optimism and awesomeness. This list of 80's favorites is, by far, the most comprehensive and most loved list of favorites I have made. I have so many childhood memories that were shaped either directly or indirectly by some of these movies. Like, watching the Star Wars trilogy in my basement, on VHS, with childhood friends. Or, experiencing 88 mph in the Delorean with my family on our "movie night." Or, as a child, being obsessed and fascinated with werewolves because of Michael J. Fox and that cheeseball comedy Teen Wolf.
I have elminated all horror movies from this list because they fall into a different category. The 1980's was also a renaissance in the realm of cheesey horror. I discovered these movies later while I was a college student, so I don't include them in my overall 80's list. Although, many of them are absolutely incredible.
Well, here goes:

20. Big (1988)
Hey, wouldn't it be great to be an adult and do whatever you want? Uh...well, maybe not. That's a hard lesson Tom Hanks had to learn in the comedy Big, where he plays a twelve year old trapped in an adult body. Famous comedy, full of famous jokes and gags. They don't make 'em like this anymore.

19. Wall Street (1987)
Young Charlie Sheen is brilliant as a mid-twenties Bud Fox, who is up and coming on Wall Street. Michael Douglas made Gordon Gekko the epitome of greed. He even says, famously, that "greed is good." He's a slimey double-crosser, and it comes back to haunt him. As Bud Fox gets caught up in Gekko's corrupt world, he begins to lost sight of himself. It shows us who we were, and what our priorities were in the 80's. It also shows us what ridiculous clothes we wore back then, too.

18. The Terminator (1984)
Before James Cameron was on top of the world, he created an epic icon out of Arnold Schwarzenegger: The Terminator. A great, sci-fi action flick.

17. Driving Miss Daisy (1989)
An elegant, warm, and humorous take on a very touchy subject. Morgan Freeman is Hoke, and Jessica Tandy is Daisy. Both performances are incredible. You'll laugh, cry, and buy the t-shirt. Even as a man, this movie gets to me every time. It's a classic

16. True Stories (1987)
I first saw this movie in 2004. I have been a fan of the great 80's band The Talking Heads for years. I also love the solo music of lead singer David Byrne, who has been a solo act now for nearly twenty years. He wrote, directed, and starred in this musical masterpiece from the 80's. It is hilarious, and it is David Byrne's ironic reflections on American materialism and technology, as it was in the 1980's.

15. Batman (1989)
The huge magical blockbuster of summer '89 that changed my life. Michael Keaton, Jack Nicholson, Kim Basinger, and director Tim Burton...legendary.

14. Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986)
There is no disputing the fact that the 80's was a decade of epic 80's icons. Matthew Broderick is no exception. Ferris fulfills all our fantasies about skipping school and having a crazy adventure. It's about beating the adults at their own opressing game. FBDO is hilarious, and fun. And, even though it was 25 years ago, I still cry over the Ferrari. I wonder where Ferris is today? He's probably unemployed, like the rest of us.

13. Gremlins (1984)
No food after midnight, no water, and no bright light. Sounds like a recipe for an 80's fantasy movie. Gremlins is the perfect sleepover movie from my childhood. Demented, funny, and mischievous, this movie shows us that an adorable little Gizmo can turn into a destructive Gremlin if we don't follow the rules.

12. Top Gun (1986)
Val Kilmer, Tom Cruise, and that bald dude all embody 80's movie cliches,...and the result is pure awesomeness. I had the pleasure of seeing Top Gun in a movie theater on the big screen at a special viewing a couple of years ago. It reminded me why this movie is such a huge mega hit. Steamy and ridiculous love scenes, jet fights, Tom Cruise, and one absurdly blatant beach volleyball scene make for some 80's laughs and cinema history.

11. Ghost Busters (1984)
It's hard to believe that it's been 27 years since we first met Dr. Peter Venkmen, Dr. Raymand Stantz, and Dr. Egon Spengler. The "Who Ya Gonna Call" theme still gets stuck in my head, and Slimer is still a popular character. I love SNL almuni. Ghost Busters is a successful 80's comedy that still holds up today.

10. The Breakfast Club (1985)
This is one of those iconic 80's John Hughes classics. I didn't see it until just a few years ago. But, it is so well-made, and such a spot on portrayal of 1980's teenage angst, I kicked myself for not seeing it earlier. I literally brought my right leg up and kicked myself in the face. This movie made me feel like I was in the 80's. Molly Ringwald and Michael Anthony Hall are brilliant.

9. The Goonies (1985)
Another wonderful 80's fantasy movie, starring a memorable pack of rambunctious kids that go on an old-fashioned treasure hunt to save their neighborhood. Along the way they run into a weird and interesting cast of freaks that are trying to stop them. It's not surprising that Steven Speilberg developed the original story, since he is so obviously passionate about childhood fantasies and empowerment. "It's our time down here."


8. Rocky 4 (1985)
In the mid-80's Rocky Balboa was at the peak of a meteoric launch. Rocky was not a forgotten, charming, obscure art film from the 70's. Rocky was well embeded in the minds of Americans as a symbol and icon of US victory. He was an underdog rags to riches man. During the super-patriotic, prosperous, Reagan-era, many movies depicted the Russians as the ultimate bad guys. We were involved in the cold war with Russia in the 80's, which was a battle of wills. The Communists were being defeated, and America was about to secure another victory of liberty and freedom in the world. Rocky 4 puts Rocky, the symbol of American hope and victory, up against the overbearing, bullying 80's action star Dolph Lundgren as the symbol of Russian power and invincibility. In my opinion, it is the most successfully made and entertaining Rocky movie since the first one.

7. Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984)
This is how Harrison Ford became a household name in our family. I remember being with my family on some weekend night, in the 80s, experiencing this adventure. A Speilberg smash, the Indiana Jones series embodies many qualities I love about movies. It captures a sense of fantasy and adventure. Who could forget the scene where they have to eat monkey brains? And, who didn't love that little Asian kid?

6. Back to the Future 2 (1989)
The second installment of the Back to the Future trilogy has a movie plot that reads like a tongue twister. Going to the future, altering it, villain goes back to '55, alters it, so then '85 is permanently altered. So, they have to go to '85, and '55 to clean up the mess. It gets a bit convoluted in comparison to the first BTTF. However, I have seen this one a million times, and I understand the plot forward and backward. It mesmerizes me, no matter how many times I've seen it. As we quickly approach the year 2015, which is the "future" that is so boldly explored in BTTF 2, it is fascinating to see pop culture unfold to see how much it matches up with the movie. Will there be a holographic Jaws movie in 2015? Or an 80's Cafe? I haven't ruled it out.

5. Beetlejuice (1988)
This stellar cast brings to "life" the subject of the afterlife. Consider this dream cast: A neurotic Catherine O'Hara, a frustrated husband Jeffrey Jones, a goth teenage Wynonna Rider, a middle-of-the-road American couple Alec Baldwin and Gena Davis, and a show-stealing, explosively energetic Michael Keaton as Beetlejuice. And it is hilarious. Michael Keaton created, basically from scratch, a pop culture icon that inspires, entertains, and makes the macabre accessible. And less scary. Beetlejuice is the genius of Tim Burton on full, unbridled display. A wondrous escape from reality that is beautifully decorated, and imaginatively realized. It is an entertaining bit of goth-lite, and a classic comedy.

4. Return of the Jedi (1983)
A moving and fit conclusion to the epic Star Wars trilogy. In my opinion, the Star Wars trilogy is one of the best series of movies ever made. Ever. Who knew Princess Leia kissed her own brother? Ew. And, the ultimately tragic redemption of Darth Vader is revealed. This movie has captured my imagination since childhood, and it remains one of my favorite movies of all time.

3. Back to the Future (1985)
Can Marty McFly get the DeLorean up to 88mph? Will Doc Brown be able to fix the electrical connection to the clock tower before lightning strikes? Will Principal Strickland get McFly to quit being a slacker? These are the crucial questions answered in one of the best cinematic masterpieces of all time. It is adventurous, fun, heartwarming, and a good snapshot of what American life was like in the 1980's. Since time travel is the center focus of the story, there are many references to 80's pop culture and whatnot. And, this is the movie that made the relatively obscure car brand of the DeLorean eternally synonymous with a time machine.

2. The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
Luke Skywalker's personal journey. Yoda. Struggles with the Dark Side. Han Solo coming to terms with his personal loyalties. The Empire Strikes Back is one of the best movies ever made. It is exciting, full of adventure, yet introspective. It is the second act in a trilogy that ultimately has a happy ending. But, in Empire, we see our heroes struggle, faulter, and continue their arc of character growth.

1. E.T. The Extra Terrestrial (1982)
Steven Speilberg created a masterpiece. A genius cinematic journey of one suburban boy's discovery of a world outside his own. That is the heart of this movie. It is about discovering, and accepting the world outside yourself. Giving. Making sacrifices out of love, even when others don't understand. Who could forget that classic music? Or the flying bike scenes? Or the trick-or-treating? Or the cozy secret closet upstairs, where little Elliot and Gertie hid their hopes and dreams? The images of countless products, toys, and product placements bring warm fuzzies. Rather than seeming like a cynical ploy to make more money with the movie, all the lunch boxes, cereal, and Reeses Pieces seem to make the story even more relevant. America fell in love with a sluggish, turtle-like alien who appeals to all our childhood dreams and vulnerabilities.