Press "Enter" to skip to content

Top 10 Movies of the 1980s


this decade saw Hollywood focus on

this decade saw Hollywood focus on sci-fi action comedy and franchises

welcome to watchmojo.com and today in

welcome to watchmojo.com and today in this installment of our series on the

this installment of our series on the

this installment of our series on the greatest movies of all time we’re

greatest movies of all time we’re

greatest movies of all time we’re counting down our picks for the top 10

counting down our picks for the top 10

counting down our picks for the top 10 movies of the 1980s for our series of

movies of the 1980s for our series of

movies of the 1980s for our series of the best movies of all time we’ve chosen

the best movies of all time we’ve chosen

the best movies of all time we’ve chosen 10 movies per decade based on their

10 movies per decade based on their

10 movies per decade based on their iconic status critical acclaim box

iconic status critical acclaim box

iconic status critical acclaim box office success and watchability

office success and watchability

office success and watchability oh and just so you know we’re not

oh and just so you know we’re not

oh and just so you know we’re not necessarily choosing the movies your

necessarily choosing the movies your

necessarily choosing the movies your film studies professor would pick so sit

film studies professor would pick so sit

film studies professor would pick so sit back and relax as we wax on wax off

back and relax as we wax on wax off

back and relax as we wax on wax off kick some Aussie ass and turn this list

kick some Aussie ass and turn this list

kick some Aussie ass and turn this list up to 11 why don’t you just make 10

up to 11 why don’t you just make 10

up to 11 why don’t you just make 10 louder and make 10 be the top number and

louder and make 10 be the top number and

louder and make 10 be the top number and make that a little louder these cards to

make that a little louder these cards to

make that a little louder these cards to 11 number 10

11 number 10

11 number 10 platoon hey white boy what you waiting

platoon hey white boy what you waiting

platoon hey white boy what you waiting fuck that holding on big it’s been

fuck that holding on big it’s been

fuck that holding on big it’s been Oliver Stone’s gritty oscar-winner

Oliver Stone’s gritty oscar-winner

Oliver Stone’s gritty oscar-winner platoon swarms with great characters

platoon swarms with great characters

platoon swarms with great characters tension and the horrors of war

tension and the horrors of war

tension and the horrors of war [Music]

[Music]

[Music] [Applause]

[Applause]

[Applause] as young and naive soldier Chris Taylor

as young and naive soldier Chris Taylor

as young and naive soldier Chris Taylor makes his way through Vietnam he

makes his way through Vietnam he

makes his way through Vietnam he discovers two things one his existence

discovers two things one his existence

discovers two things one his existence in this war is pretty insignificant and

in this war is pretty insignificant and

in this war is pretty insignificant and two there’s massive moral duality

two there’s massive moral duality

two there’s massive moral duality between his fellow soldiers a civil war

between his fellow soldiers a civil war

between his fellow soldiers a civil war on opportunity half the name of Elias

on opportunity half the name of Elias

on opportunity half the name of Elias half with Barb’s after a village is

half with Barb’s after a village is

half with Barb’s after a village is mercilessly slaughtered Taylor must

mercilessly slaughtered Taylor must

mercilessly slaughtered Taylor must decide what kind of man and soldier he

decide what kind of man and soldier he

decide what kind of man and soldier he wants to be making this one of cinema’s

wants to be making this one of cinema’s

wants to be making this one of cinema’s most effective war movies

most effective war movies

most effective war movies do it get away from her you bitch

do it get away from her you bitch

do it get away from her you bitch number nine aliens I only need to know

number nine aliens I only need to know

number nine aliens I only need to know one thing where they released seven

one thing where they released seven

one thing where they released seven years after the chest bursting original

years after the chest bursting original

years after the chest bursting original James Cameron’s aliens seized the planet

James Cameron’s aliens seized the planet

James Cameron’s aliens seized the planet of lv-426 colonized by the acid bearing

of lv-426 colonized by the acid bearing

of lv-426 colonized by the acid bearing tongue torpedoing extraterrestrials with

tongue torpedoing extraterrestrials with

tongue torpedoing extraterrestrials with Nostromo survivor Ellen Ripley on board

Nostromo survivor Ellen Ripley on board

Nostromo survivor Ellen Ripley on board to assist a group of trigger-happy

to assist a group of trigger-happy

to assist a group of trigger-happy warriors we explore every nook and

warriors we explore every nook and

warriors we explore every nook and cranny of the alien planet and we’re on

cranny of the alien planet and we’re on

cranny of the alien planet and we’re on edge every step of the way

the state-of-the-art special effects

the state-of-the-art special effects intriguing characters and terrifying

intriguing characters and terrifying

intriguing characters and terrifying alien beings all make this movie an

alien beings all make this movie an

alien beings all make this movie an unmissable one for gory sci-fi

unmissable one for gory sci-fi

unmissable one for gory sci-fi enthusiasts hate this like to torture

enthusiasts hate this like to torture

enthusiasts hate this like to torture number eight Ghostbusters yes of course

number eight Ghostbusters yes of course

number eight Ghostbusters yes of course this serious you don’t even have to

this serious you don’t even have to

this serious you don’t even have to believe in ghouls to love this dan

believe in ghouls to love this dan

believe in ghouls to love this dan Aykroyd and Harold Ramis written film

Aykroyd and Harold Ramis written film

Aykroyd and Harold Ramis written film when a group of scientists sets up their

when a group of scientists sets up their

when a group of scientists sets up their own ghost-catching firm they patrol the

own ghost-catching firm they patrol the

own ghost-catching firm they patrol the streets of New York defeating any

streets of New York defeating any

streets of New York defeating any Slimers demon canines or giant

Slimers demon canines or giant

Slimers demon canines or giant marshmallow men that may get in their

marshmallow men that may get in their

marshmallow men that may get in their way it’s the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man

not only are the ridiculously

not only are the ridiculously far-fetched scenes entertaining but the

far-fetched scenes entertaining but the

far-fetched scenes entertaining but the chemistry between these scientists

chemistry between these scientists

chemistry between these scientists pardon the pun is intoxicating

pardon the pun is intoxicating

pardon the pun is intoxicating everything was mine with our system

everything was mine with our system

everything was mine with our system until the power grid was shut off by

until the power grid was shut off by

until the power grid was shut off by dickless here they caused an explosion

dickless here they caused an explosion

dickless here they caused an explosion is this true yes it’s true this man has

is this true yes it’s true this man has

is this true yes it’s true this man has no deck number seven

no deck number seven

no deck number seven diehard glue to the coast we get

diehard glue to the coast we get

diehard glue to the coast we get together have a few laughs

together have a few laughs

together have a few laughs it’s Shoeless Bruce Willis vs. German

it’s Shoeless Bruce Willis vs. German

it’s Shoeless Bruce Willis vs. German Alan Rickman seriously what’s not to

Alan Rickman seriously what’s not to

Alan Rickman seriously what’s not to love yippee-ki-yay mother when New York

love yippee-ki-yay mother when New York

love yippee-ki-yay mother when New York cop John McClane goes to visit his

cop John McClane goes to visit his

cop John McClane goes to visit his family at Christmas he unwittingly walks

family at Christmas he unwittingly walks

family at Christmas he unwittingly walks into the web of a bad guy gang led by

into the web of a bad guy gang led by

into the web of a bad guy gang led by Rickman’s Hans Gruber oh well well hunt

Rickman’s Hans Gruber oh well well hunt

Rickman’s Hans Gruber oh well well hunt managing to slip out of their grasp

managing to slip out of their grasp

managing to slip out of their grasp McClane slithers around the building

McClane slithers around the building

McClane slithers around the building taking them out one by one

taking them out one by one

taking them out one by one spawning sequels galore and inspiring

spawning sequels galore and inspiring

spawning sequels galore and inspiring imitators for years to come

imitators for years to come

imitators for years to come oh but watch out for that glass John

oh but watch out for that glass John

oh but watch out for that glass John cliff who gives a shit about clays

with timeless concepts about friendship

with timeless concepts about friendship and exploration Steven Spielberg’s et is

and exploration Steven Spielberg’s et is

and exploration Steven Spielberg’s et is the story of an adolescent boy who

the story of an adolescent boy who

the story of an adolescent boy who discovers an extraterrestrial in his

discovers an extraterrestrial in his

discovers an extraterrestrial in his garden shed with young Elliot and the

garden shed with young Elliot and the

garden shed with young Elliot and the alien worlds apart when it comes to

alien worlds apart when it comes to

alien worlds apart when it comes to communication we watch as they teach

communication we watch as they teach

communication we watch as they teach each other new tricks and ultimately

each other new tricks and ultimately

each other new tricks and ultimately become best friends

become best friends

become best friends [Music]

[Music]

[Music] Eliott must then battle the odds to get

Eliott must then battle the odds to get

Eliott must then battle the odds to get ET back to his home planet leaving us

ET back to his home planet leaving us

ET back to his home planet leaving us with warmth in our hearts and tears in

with warmth in our hearts and tears in

with warmth in our hearts and tears in our eyes

[Music]

[Music] here’s Johnny

here’s Johnny

here’s Johnny number five The Shining hi Lloyd

number five The Shining hi Lloyd

number five The Shining hi Lloyd aspiring writer Jack Torrance this hold

aspiring writer Jack Torrance this hold

aspiring writer Jack Torrance this hold up in the snow bound Overlook Hotel with

up in the snow bound Overlook Hotel with

up in the snow bound Overlook Hotel with his wife and son when he falls victim to

his wife and son when he falls victim to

his wife and son when he falls victim to cabin fever or something whether you

cabin fever or something whether you

cabin fever or something whether you don’t hear me typing with you hear me

don’t hear me typing with you hear me

don’t hear me typing with you hear me doing in here when I’m in here that

doing in here when I’m in here that

doing in here when I’m in here that means that I am working that means don’t

means that I am working that means don’t

means that I am working that means don’t come in spiraling into madness we

come in spiraling into madness we

come in spiraling into madness we witness Jack Nicholson at his unhinged

witness Jack Nicholson at his unhinged

witness Jack Nicholson at his unhinged best as he talks to ghosts threatens his

best as he talks to ghosts threatens his

best as he talks to ghosts threatens his family and lets us know what all work

family and lets us know what all work

family and lets us know what all work and no play will do to a guy he didn’t

and no play will do to a guy he didn’t

and no play will do to a guy he didn’t let me finish my sentence I said I’m not

let me finish my sentence I said I’m not

let me finish my sentence I said I’m not gonna hurt you I’m just gonna bash your

gonna hurt you I’m just gonna bash your

gonna hurt you I’m just gonna bash your brains based on the Stephen King novel

brains based on the Stephen King novel

brains based on the Stephen King novel it’s an 80s classic with Stanley

it’s an 80s classic with Stanley

it’s an 80s classic with Stanley Kubrick’s directorial fingerprints all

Kubrick’s directorial fingerprints all

Kubrick’s directorial fingerprints all over it

[Music]

[Music] he gets a title shot outdoors in a ball

he gets a title shot outdoors in a ball

he gets a title shot outdoors in a ball park and what do I get a long way ticket

park and what do I get a long way ticket

park and what do I get a long way ticket to Palookaville number for Raging Bull

delving into the finer details of boxer

delving into the finer details of boxer Jake LaMotta ‘s life this film explores

Jake LaMotta ‘s life this film explores

Jake LaMotta ‘s life this film explores the detrimental effects and aggressive

the detrimental effects and aggressive

the detrimental effects and aggressive personality can have on an

personality can have on an

personality can have on an italian-american household

directed by the genius hand of Martin

directed by the genius hand of Martin Scorsese and with the oscar-winning

Scorsese and with the oscar-winning

Scorsese and with the oscar-winning Robert De Niro in the lead role Raging

Robert De Niro in the lead role Raging

Robert De Niro in the lead role Raging Bull gives us a closer look behind the

Bull gives us a closer look behind the

Bull gives us a closer look behind the scenes of fixed boxing matches domestic

scenes of fixed boxing matches domestic

scenes of fixed boxing matches domestic violence sibling rivalry and the

violence sibling rivalry and the

violence sibling rivalry and the day-to-day struggle of living the

day-to-day struggle of living the

day-to-day struggle of living the American Dream in mid-century New York I

American Dream in mid-century New York I

American Dream in mid-century New York I could have had class I could have been a

could have had class I could have been a

could have had class I could have been a contender I could have been somebody

contender I could have been somebody

contender I could have been somebody instead of a bum which is what I am

instead of a bum which is what I am

instead of a bum which is what I am snakes

snakes

snakes why did it have to be snakes

why did it have to be snakes

why did it have to be snakes number three Raiders of the Lost Ark

this is the movie that made Indiana

this is the movie that made Indiana Jones a household name when it came to

Jones a household name when it came to

Jones a household name when it came to adventure epics as we follow Indiana

adventure epics as we follow Indiana

adventure epics as we follow Indiana race against the Nazis to reach the

race against the Nazis to reach the

race against the Nazis to reach the sacred Ark of the Covenant

sacred Ark of the Covenant

sacred Ark of the Covenant we’re met not only by elaborate

we’re met not only by elaborate

we’re met not only by elaborate landscapes messy fight scenes ancient

landscapes messy fight scenes ancient

landscapes messy fight scenes ancient trap rooms and melting faces but also by

trap rooms and melting faces but also by

trap rooms and melting faces but also by dry humor and multi-dimensional

dry humor and multi-dimensional

dry humor and multi-dimensional characters

Spielberg’s Raiders set the benchmark

Spielberg’s Raiders set the benchmark high and left a legacy worthy of any

high and left a legacy worthy of any

high and left a legacy worthy of any treasure hunter my calculations are

treasure hunter my calculations are

treasure hunter my calculations are correct when this baby hits 88 miles per

correct when this baby hits 88 miles per

correct when this baby hits 88 miles per hour

hour

hour we’re gonna see some serious shit number

we’re gonna see some serious shit number

we’re gonna see some serious shit number two back to the future are you telling

two back to the future are you telling

two back to the future are you telling me you built a time machine out of a

me you built a time machine out of a

me you built a time machine out of a DeLorean time-travel skateboarding

DeLorean time-travel skateboarding

DeLorean time-travel skateboarding DeLoreans and Nike sneaks oh but it’s so

DeLoreans and Nike sneaks oh but it’s so

DeLoreans and Nike sneaks oh but it’s so much more whoa this is heavy in the

much more whoa this is heavy in the

much more whoa this is heavy in the first of Robert Zemeckis is3 Back to the

first of Robert Zemeckis is3 Back to the

first of Robert Zemeckis is3 Back to the Future movies we follow Marty McFly as

Future movies we follow Marty McFly as

Future movies we follow Marty McFly as he travels back to 1955 when his parents

he travels back to 1955 when his parents

he travels back to 1955 when his parents first met thanks to his eccentric friend

first met thanks to his eccentric friend

first met thanks to his eccentric friend Doc Brown’s newly invented time machine

Doc Brown’s newly invented time machine

Doc Brown’s newly invented time machine the way I see it if you’re gonna build a

the way I see it if you’re gonna build a

the way I see it if you’re gonna build a time machine into a car why not do it

time machine into a car why not do it

time machine into a car why not do it some style however young Marty’s very

some style however young Marty’s very

some style however young Marty’s very existence is endangered when he finds

existence is endangered when he finds

existence is endangered when he finds himself in a love triangle with his

himself in a love triangle with his

himself in a love triangle with his folks whoa wait a minute are you trying

folks whoa wait a minute are you trying

folks whoa wait a minute are you trying to tell me that my mother has got the

to tell me that my mother has got the

to tell me that my mother has got the hots for me what follows are weird

hots for me what follows are weird

hots for me what follows are weird parental scenarios a bully beatdown and

parental scenarios a bully beatdown and

parental scenarios a bully beatdown and some Johnny be good rock guitar

before we unveil our pick for best movie

before we unveil our pick for best movie of the 1980s here are a few honorable

of the 1980s here are a few honorable

of the 1980s here are a few honorable mentions all those moments will be lost

mentions all those moments will be lost

mentions all those moments will be lost in time like tears rain

in time like tears rain

in time like tears rain pardon my french but Cameron is so tight

pardon my french but Cameron is so tight

pardon my french but Cameron is so tight that if you stuck a lump of coal up his

that if you stuck a lump of coal up his

that if you stuck a lump of coal up his ass in two weeks you have a diamond

ass in two weeks you have a diamond

ass in two weeks you have a diamond where’s she look it may take a while

where’s she look it may take a while

where’s she look it may take a while want to wait there’s a bench over there

I’ll be back bartender says I suppose

I’ll be back bartender says I suppose you won’t be needing a drink

number one Star Wars Episode five the

number one Star Wars Episode five the Empire Strikes Back obi-wan never told

Empire Strikes Back obi-wan never told

Empire Strikes Back obi-wan never told you what happened to your father

you what happened to your father

you what happened to your father he told me enough before 1983 s return

he told me enough before 1983 s return

he told me enough before 1983 s return of the Jedi

of the Jedi

of the Jedi completed George Lucas’s original

completed George Lucas’s original

completed George Lucas’s original trilogy there was 1980s The Empire

trilogy there was 1980s The Empire

trilogy there was 1980s The Empire Strikes Back often considered the best

Strikes Back often considered the best

Strikes Back often considered the best film in the Star Wars saga Empire sees

film in the Star Wars saga Empire sees

film in the Star Wars saga Empire sees lightsaber wielding protagonist Luke

lightsaber wielding protagonist Luke

lightsaber wielding protagonist Luke Skywalker training with Master Yoda to

Skywalker training with Master Yoda to

Skywalker training with Master Yoda to fight Darth Vader’s forces most

fight Darth Vader’s forces most

fight Darth Vader’s forces most impressive but with Han Solo and

impressive but with Han Solo and

impressive but with Han Solo and Princess Leia taken prisoner the Empire

Princess Leia taken prisoner the Empire

Princess Leia taken prisoner the Empire stronger than ever and the temptation of

stronger than ever and the temptation of

stronger than ever and the temptation of the dark side hanging over his shoulder

the dark side hanging over his shoulder

the dark side hanging over his shoulder it won’t be easy

it won’t be easy

it won’t be easy that boy is our last hope

that boy is our last hope

that boy is our last hope there is another do you agree with our

there is another do you agree with our

there is another do you agree with our list yes what’s your favorite movie of

list yes what’s your favorite movie of

list yes what’s your favorite movie of the 80s for more thrilling top 10s

the 80s for more thrilling top 10s

the 80s for more thrilling top 10s published every day be sure to subscribe

published every day be sure to subscribe

published every day be sure to subscribe to watchmojo.com

to watchmojo.com

to watchmojo.com [Music]

”

Be First to Comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *