The 1980s gave cinema-goers some of the very best big-screen adventures, and nostalgia for the decade is seemingly at an all-time high with movies like Wonder Woman 1984 and series like Stranger Things taking full advantage of the audience's love of all things retro.
The fact that the era that introduced Air Jordan sneakers and the Walkman started over 40 years ago may raise a few eyebrows, as the '80s as a decade remains a constant in modern TV and film today. Whether released in the era itself or made with a nostalgic eye in the years since, Hollywood has more than its fair share of movies that perfectly sum up what the '80s were all about.
10 The Breakfast Club Is The '80s In All Its Teen Movie Glory
For many, John Hughes' coming-of-age comedy-drama is the quintessential '80s movie. The premise is a simple one— high school students from vastly different backgrounds are forced to coexist during detention— yet The Breakfast Club is one of the most memorable movies of the entire decade.
The era's "Brat Pack" is on full display here, with Emilio Estevez, Judd Nelson, Molly Ringwald, and Anthony Michael Hall all putting in brilliant star-making performances, with each one capturing the standout fashions of the decade as members of their respective cliques.
9 For The Very Best Of Sci-Fi Comedy, Call The Ghostbusters
1984 gave the world one of its most beloved and successful movie franchises. Ghostbusters created a media monster, and when viewed today it acts as a fantastic showcase of everything that made '80s cinema so great.
The film's blend of action, comedy, and horror still remains largely unrivaled, and Ghostbusters' unforgettable title song remains one of the most recognizable pieces of music to ever come from cinema. It is infectiously fun and keeps its well-earned place as one of the most culturally significant movies of all time.
8 The '80s Wasn't Just Neon & New Wave, As Evident In Dallas Buyers Club
Most '80s movies would have you believe that the decade was all glitz, glamour, and dancing to one-hit-wonder pop music hits, but the 2013 biographical drama Dallas Buyers Club tells a drastically different story. Set in the mid-1980s, the film sheds a shocking light on the AIDS epidemic of the time, the appalling treatment of those afflicted with the deadly disease, and the frightful hostility toward members of the LGBTQ+ community.
It makes for a different look at the '80s, but an equally fascinating and startlingly real one. Matthew McConaughey and Jared Leto each won Oscars for their performances, and though Dallas Buyers Club is an excellent film, it will leave many viewers forgetting about their wishes for possible time travel to the era of big hair and breakdancing.
7 Blade Runner Gave The '80s Its Most Fascinating Vision Of The Future
The neon-soaked palette of so many science-fiction movies owe to Ridley Scott's classic, with the general aesthetic and vision for the future influencing so many pictures within the '80s and beyond.
Though not well received upon release, Blade Runner is now held as one of the most significant and influential movies ever made. What most people now see as the future, comes from this adaptation of Philip K. Dick's Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? The '80s gave audiences a wide array of sci-fi, but there are few movies that match up with Blade Runner.
6 Do The Right Thing Shows Racism Was Just As Much An Issue In The '80s
Perhaps the most thought-provoking of all Spike Lee joints, Do The Right Thing vividly explores the racial tensions of a multi-cultural Brooklyn neighborhood, and there is arguably no better film to look at for an insight into racism in North America in the 1980s.
A controversial release at the time, some condemned the movie for promoting violence as a response to racism, and Do The Right Thing suffered somewhat as a consequence. Famous critic Roger Ebert even threatened to boycott Cannes Film Festival due to Spike Lee's masterpiece not receiving enough recognition. Sadly, Do The Right Thing remains shockingly relevant today, with similar racial tensions still affecting so many around the world.
5 This Is England Is Both A Bleak & Brilliant '80s Tale
Shane Meadows's sensational drama captures England's '80s working-class life in a near-perfect manner as the movie follows Shaun, a troubled 12-year-old fueled by misplaced hatred and anger as he falls in with a gang of teenage skinheads.
The seemingly harmless subculture quickly devolves into that of violent white supremacy, with Shaun having to deal with the consequences. Thomas Turgoose's debut showing near steals the show, but is challenged on that front by a career-best performance from Stephen Graham as sociopathic racist Combo. '80s England is bleak and cold, yet there's a heartwarming and thought-provoking tale within This Is England.
4 Ferris Bueller's Day Off Is The '80s At Its Most Uplifting
Another quintessential '80s classic and another from teen comedy king John Hughes, Ferris Bueller's Day Off is quite simply one of the best feel-good, fun movies ever made from any era. The typical '80s teenage optimism is present, though initially only in Ferris himself, as through the course of the film he drags his companions out of despair and into the same positive mindset that the titular character is now famous for.
Matthew Broderick is irresistibly charming in the lead role and is supported by a wealth of '80s legends in Alan Ruck, Jennifer Grey, and Charlie Sheen in a most memorable cameo.
3 Call Me By Your Name Is A Romance Packed With Wonderful '80s Nostalgia
Northern Italy is hailed by many as one of Earth's most romantic locations, in part thanks to Luca Guadagnino's romantic coming-of-age tale Call Me By Your Name. A frequent sight on "best LGBTQ+ movies" lists, the film takes place in 1983 and follows Timothee Chalamet's Elio as he falls for newly arrived graduate student Oliver.
The love story is both heart wrenching and greatly uplifting, and Michael Stulhbarg's late movie monologue is one of the most breathtaking speeches in modern cinema.
2 Patrick Bateman Is The Ultimate '80s Yuppie In American Psycho
Released far removed from the '80s in the year 2000, American Psycho is a horrifying and hilarious takedown of 1980s yuppie culture. Set in 1987 and based on the book by Bret Easton Ellis, Christian Bale plays Patrick Bateman, a wall street banker obsessed with "fitting in" who descends into murder-fueled madness.
It's a nasty and nostalgic look at '80s narcissism, material obsessions, social stature, and greed, and American Psycho's magnificent soundtrack wouldn't look at all out of place on any "best of the '80s" music playlist.
1 The Best Way To Time Travel To The '80s Is To Go Back To The Future
As a movie, Robert Zemeckis' classic doesn't just encapsulate the '80s, it arguably defines the entire decade. Films aren't all created equal after all, and few, if any, can match the cultural significance or quality of Back to the Future. Everything there is to love about '80s cinema is all here within its inventive sci-fi plot, the delightful soundtrack, and the loveable lead characters.
Michael J. Fox and Christopher Lloyd brought to life two of the most memorable personas ever put to film, and you'd be hard-pressed to find anyone unfamiliar with Marty McFly or Doc Brown.