The '80s left a lasting mark on pop culture through a number of unforgettable films, like Top Gun, The Breakfast Club, and Indiana Jones: Temple of Doom. However, the kids' movies of the decade particularly stand out, as some were genre-defining films and instant classics that found major success at the box office while also enjoying critical acclaim.
While adult '80s films focused on bigger explosions, gore, and horrifying themes, the kids' movies of the '80s relied on themes of friends, families, and lovable animals. These kids' films represented some of the best and most gripping movies of the entire decade.
10 An American Tail Tackles Immigration And Anti-Semitism
An American Tail premiered in 1986 and followed a Russian-Jewish family of mice through the eyes of their seven-year-old son, Fievel Mousekewitz. The mice lived in a home with the Moskowitz family, and when the Moskowitz home was attacked in an anti-Semitic raid, both families fled Russia and headed to the United States. On their way to New York City, Fievel was separated from his family.
As Fievel and his family tried to find each other, they were faced with corrupt politicians, poverty, and extortion. An American Tail was a popular and wholesome animated story for children with its poignant messages and themes.
9 The Little Mermaid Set The Stage For Later Disney Films
The Little Mermaid followed the adventures of Ariel, a mermaid who desperately wanted to live among humans. She got her wish when Ursula the sea witch offered to exchange Ariel's voice for a pair of legs.
Debuting in 1989, The Little Mermaid served as a bridge between the simple production seen in Disney animation in the '80s and the more complex animated features that would be common in the '90s. Although The Little Mermaid was a well-known fairytale, Disney made the movie unforgettable by adding iconic musical numbers, talking animal sidekicks, and a rebellious protagonist. This formula would become a trademark of '90s Disney films.
8 The Fox And The Hound Achieved Success Despite Naysayers
The Fox and the Hound followed the friendship of a hunting dog named Copper and a red fox named Tod. Copper and Tod struggled to maintain a friendship as society told them they should be natural enemies. Eventually, Tod saved Cooper's life and gave them both hope that they will be "friends forever."
The Fox and the Hound was released in 1981 and lacked many of the glossy production values that made Disney films so recognizable. Critics panned the animation and voice acting, but the film still went on to become the 14th highest-grossing film of 1981.
7 The Land Before Time Started An Entire Franchise Of Films
The Land Before Time was released in 1988. The film followed four dinosaurs and a pterosaur as they fled famine-infested lands and tried to reach "The Great Valley," a land that promised to be full of fresh leaves for the herbivores. Littlefoot served as the leader of the group, which also included Cera, Ducky, Petrie, and Spike.
The Land Before Time focused on the friends as they learned to overcome their prejudices. Eventually, they all became close friends. This wholesome tale started a franchise, which resulted in 13 sequels.
6 E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial Found A Home In The Library Of Congress
Steven Spielberg's popular sci-fi film, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, told the story of 10-year-old Elliott, who discovered an alien hiding in his tool shed. The story followed Elliott and E.T. as they learned about each other's culture and tried to escape government detection.
Elliott went above and beyond for E.T by kidnapping him from a government lab and helping him find his way back to his spaceship. E.T. received nine Oscar nominations and is widely considered one of the greatest films of all time. The Library of Congress added the film to the U.S. National Film Registry due to the film being "culturally, historically or aesthetically significant."
5 The Secret Of NIMH Interpreted A Beloved Children's Novel
The Secret of NIHM was based on the popular children's novel, Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIHM by Robert C. O'Brien. The film followed Mrs. Frisby, a field mouse living on the Fitzgibbon farm. Mrs. Frisby worried about moving her family before plowing season began. To find a solution, Mrs. Frisby sought the help of a colony of rats.
Throughout The Secret of NIHM, Mrs. Frisby discovered that both her husband and the rats were subjected to experiments at the National Institute of Mental Health, which boosted their intelligence, lengthened their lives, and slowed aging. Like many children's films in the '80s, The Secret of NIHM focused on family and unlikely friendships to save the day.
4 The Goonies Became A Cult Classic
The Goonies was released in 1985 and revolved around the adventures of a group of children who live in "The Goon Docks," a neighborhood in Oregon. The children grew concerned because their home was about to be foreclosed on and decided that the best way to prevent losing their home was to find the legendary treasure of "One-Eyed Willy." As they attempted to find the treasure, they also had to fight the Fratelli crime family.
The Goonies combined comedy, adventure, pirates, and important social themes into an entertaining and beloved kids' movie. No matter what type of film a child wanted to see in the '80s, this cult classic delivered it.
3 The Last Unicorn Told A Scary Children's Story
In The Last Unicorn, a female unicorn believed that a cruel entity named the Red Bull herded her sisters to the end of the Earth. The 1982 animated film followed The Last Unicorn as she sought out the remaining unicorns, battled mystical beasts, and experienced love and regret for the first time.
Many of the animated stories in the '80s featured simple moral lessons and unquestionably happy endings. However, The Last Unicorn offered something different: genuinely scary moments and a bittersweet ending. The film's characters dealt with feelings of loss and regret, and the movie didn't offer them an easy way to heal. The complex ethics of The Last Unicorn make it one of the highlights of '80s films.
2 All Dogs Go To Heaven Tackled Heavy Topics With A Comedic Tone
All Dogs Go to Heaven came out in 1989 and followed a German Shepherd named Charlie. At the start of the film, Charlie and his friend Itchy escaped the dog pound but were murdered by Carface. Upon arriving in heaven, Charlie decided that he'd rather go back to Earth to seek revenge on Carface. The rest of All Dogs followed Charlie as he learned how to be selfless and earn back his spot in heaven.
All Dogs Go to Heaven was followed by a sequel and a television series that continued Charlie's adventures. All Dogs Go to Heaven stood out from other '80s films because it tackled serious subjects, such as death and abandonment, with a comedic tone.
1 The Transformers: The Movie Predicted The Scary Future Of 2005
In the '80s, Transformers was one of the most successful animated series. The 1986 film, The Transformers: The Movie, took advantage of that success and told its story 20 years after the end of the second season. In the film, the Aubotbots attempted to stop a planet-eating robot while simultaneously mounting a defense against the Decepticons.
Although The Transformers: The Movie was not a box office success, it has gained a more positive reception over time. The film went on to receive praise for its emotional and darker take on the Transformers universe.