Nostalgia always comes into play when thinking about movies from the '80s and '90s. Some of the movies that were once seen as great don't hold up well by today's standards. Others have stood the test of time, creating legendary pictures that have massive fandoms following the franchise.
The question is, which era has the best series of blockbusters? Is it the '80s quintessential classics or the '90s action-heavy cheesiness? Both have their pros and cons.
10 The '90s: Action Movies Were King
Unlike the '80s, variety wasn't the name of the game in the '90s. Instead, it was filled with action, explosions, and even more explosions. It's what defines the era and is littered with juggernauts in that genre. One of the biggest is Terminator 2: Judgement Day, a sequel that's arguably even better than its predecessor.
It's the movie that solidified Arnold as a bankable star and one of the most well-known action movie stars ever.
9 The '80s: The Variety Of Films Is Unmatched
The variety of movies that became blockbusters in the '80s are more diverse than they've been in any decade. There's a representative of just about every single genre. That variety helped give everyone something to fall in love with.
If you liked science fiction, there was Empire Strikes Back, and if comedy was more your thing, Risky Business or Ferris Bueller were right there. All of the films surprisingly hold up well today.
8 The '90s: Helped Break The Ground Of CGI
CGI is very hit or miss when looking back at certain '90s films. In some cases, it looks god awful, making it difficult to rewatch movies that, for their time, were legendary. Others hold up far better.
Both Jurassic Park and Terminator 2: Judgement Day are examples of that. The dinosaurs, in particular, are a great mix of animatronics and CGI. Regardless of how well certain parts of the films aged, the industry wouldn't be where it is today had the '90s not broken ground with CGI.
7 The '80s: The Amount Of Franchises Born In That Era Is Unreal
The amount of major franchises born in the '80s that still exist today is unreal. Die Hard, Ghostbusters, and Back to the Future would be enough to dwarf any other decade, but adding Indiana Jones to the mix makes it unfair.
All four movies have had an impact on the industry and have massive followings. While the recent renditions in the franchises have been less than stellar, the originals are all fantastic, the gold standard of the '80s.
6 The '90s: Humor & Action Started To Mix Together To Create A New Breed Of Movie
It is mindblowing to think to what extent humor is ingrained in action movies, namely those in the MCU, but it wasn't always that way. Action movies used to be more serious, only working in one-liners here and there that were more cheesy than funny.
Humor was always best left in comedies in the past, something Men in Black and other '90s movies squashed. Will Smith's wisecracking J may as well be a template for most modern-day action heroes.
5 The '80s: The Films Hold Up Today Without Being Too Cheesy
When talking about films over a decade old, it's hit or miss if the film holds up in the present day. Take a look at Shrek, a film that isn't nearly as good today as it was when it first came out and that was made in the 2000s.
The '80s hits don't have that issue as Empire Strikes Back is still lauded as the best in its franchise, and things like E.T. hold up perfectly fine. What helps the '80s is that CGI wasn't prevalent, and the more practical effects always age far better.
4 The '90s: Everything Was Bigger & Badder
Everything was bigger and badder in the '90s. The stakes that the heroes had were far greater than in the past. No longer was the action hero saving his family or a few hostages. Now they were saving the entire world.
World-ending events and massive explosions were calling cards of the era, most of which helped build director Roland Emmerich's career. This mentality helped give birth to all-time great movies like Independence Day and Goldeneye.
3 The '80s: Megastars Were Born: Harrison Ford, Bruce Willis & Tom Cruise
More than any other decade, the '80s helped create bankable megastars, the types of actors people pay to see no matter the movie they are in. No other decades stars can stand up to the likes of Bruce Willis, Harrison Ford, and Tom Cruise.
Ford had so many iconic roles that it could be argued he's his generation's best actor, and Tom Cruise is a bankable star even now, carrying the Mission Impossible movies on his back.
2 The '90s: The Movies Are Incredibly Quotable
While the '80s have their fair share of quotable moments, most of the films only have a few moments here and there. Quotable moments are littered everywhere in the '90s, from the cheesy dialogue in Slyvester Stallone or Arnold Schwarzenegger movies or the quips Will Smith would make in his.
The '90s was the home of the one-liners that everyone loved saying. Even lesser-known blockbusters like Blade had quotes that still linger today.
1 The '80s: The Influence Of Its Blockbusters Are Still Felt Today
It's hard to ignore the influences that the '80s had on its successors. Die Hard showed how to make a proper action movie, and Empire Strikes Back set the gold standard for a science fiction movie. Perhaps the most influential is Tim Burton's Batman.
It's a movie that showed superheroes can be dark and gritty rather than colorful cartoon characters. If it weren't for his Batman, who knows if the genre would ever have reached the apex it now has.