Top 10 Sci-Fi Movies of the 1980s

it was a decade when some of our finest

it was a decade when some of our finest filmmakers let their imaginations run

filmmakers let their imaginations run

filmmakers let their imaginations run wild things were different and

wild things were different and

wild things were different and science-fiction blockbusters peeked

welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’re

welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’re counting down our picks for the top ten

counting down our picks for the top ten

counting down our picks for the top ten science fiction movies of the 1980s for

science fiction movies of the 1980s for

science fiction movies of the 1980s for this list we’re taking a look at the

this list we’re taking a look at the

this list we’re taking a look at the films that change the way we look at

films that change the way we look at

films that change the way we look at sci-fi and to find why we go to see

sci-fi and to find why we go to see

sci-fi and to find why we go to see movies of that genre in the first place

movies of that genre in the first place

movies of that genre in the first place you’re our product and we can’t very

you’re our product and we can’t very

you’re our product and we can’t very well have our products turning against

well have our products turning against

well have our products turning against us and this is part of a series of

us and this is part of a series of

us and this is part of a series of videos spanning the decades of sci-fi

videos spanning the decades of sci-fi

videos spanning the decades of sci-fi flicks from the 1950s to the 2000s I

flicks from the 1950s to the 2000s I

flicks from the 1950s to the 2000s I still got time number 10 Predator

cigar chewing Arnold Schwarzenegger

cigar chewing Arnold Schwarzenegger leads a team of commandos on a rescue

leads a team of commandos on a rescue

leads a team of commandos on a rescue mission deep in a South American jungle

mission deep in a South American jungle

mission deep in a South American jungle 12 the roles they took the two men from

12 the roles they took the two men from

12 the roles they took the two men from the helicopter but it shows a niche as

the helicopter but it shows a niche as

the helicopter but it shows a niche as the title suggests the tables quickly

the title suggests the tables quickly

the title suggests the tables quickly turn as they soon become the prey to an

turn as they soon become the prey to an

turn as they soon become the prey to an elusive and deadly alien predator scan

elusive and deadly alien predator scan

elusive and deadly alien predator scan this one at a time like a hunter how

this one at a time like a hunter how

this one at a time like a hunter how could a movie with a premise like that

could a movie with a premise like that

could a movie with a premise like that not be entertaining as hell you’re

not be entertaining as hell you’re

not be entertaining as hell you’re bleeding man I ain’t got time to be okay

bleeding man I ain’t got time to be okay

bleeding man I ain’t got time to be okay taking a page from Jaws predator slowly

taking a page from Jaws predator slowly

taking a page from Jaws predator slowly builds tension by keeping its chameleon

builds tension by keeping its chameleon

builds tension by keeping its chameleon light creature incognito

then when the ugly mother does surface

then when the ugly mother does surface it doesn’t disappoint with plenty of

it doesn’t disappoint with plenty of

it doesn’t disappoint with plenty of applause worthy kills and macho dialogue

applause worthy kills and macho dialogue

applause worthy kills and macho dialogue predator will satisfy anyone’s lust for

predator will satisfy anyone’s lust for

predator will satisfy anyone’s lust for carnage

number nine Robocop Robocop remember the

number nine Robocop Robocop remember the good old days when blockbusters weren’t

good old days when blockbusters weren’t

good old days when blockbusters weren’t afraid to go for a hard R rating so do

afraid to go for a hard R rating so do

afraid to go for a hard R rating so do we

we

we Robocop comes complete with all the

Robocop comes complete with all the

Robocop comes complete with all the gleeful violence and profanity a kid

gleeful violence and profanity a kid

gleeful violence and profanity a kid could ever desire over the top as

could ever desire over the top as

could ever desire over the top as Robocop might be the film also manages

Robocop might be the film also manages

Robocop might be the film also manages to be more than just senseless action

to be more than just senseless action

to be more than just senseless action what are your prime directors serve the

what are your prime directors serve the

what are your prime directors serve the public trust

public trust

public trust protect the innocent uphold the law in

protect the innocent uphold the law in

protect the innocent uphold the law in the midst of all the shootouts Robocop

the midst of all the shootouts Robocop

the midst of all the shootouts Robocop works in a fair deal of satire

works in a fair deal of satire

works in a fair deal of satire inventiveness and charm come quietly or

inventiveness and charm come quietly or

inventiveness and charm come quietly or there will be trouble even its title

there will be trouble even its title

there will be trouble even its title character is surprisingly compelling and

character is surprisingly compelling and

character is surprisingly compelling and likable despite not having much of a

likable despite not having much of a

likable despite not having much of a personality on the surface

personality on the surface

personality on the surface nice shooting son what’s your name

Murphy

Murphy number 8 ghostbusters

usually whenever comedy and flashy

usually whenever comedy and flashy effects collide it’s a recipe for

effects collide it’s a recipe for

effects collide it’s a recipe for disaster

shooting kicks the Academy

shooting kicks the Academy award-nominated effects in ghostbusters

award-nominated effects in ghostbusters

award-nominated effects in ghostbusters are an afterthought however when

are an afterthought however when

are an afterthought however when considering the film’s one-liners yes

considering the film’s one-liners yes

considering the film’s one-liners yes it’s true

it’s true

it’s true playful creativity and the catchiest dam

playful creativity and the catchiest dam

playful creativity and the catchiest dam theme song of all time the Ghostbusters

theme song of all time the Ghostbusters

theme song of all time the Ghostbusters themselves play a huge part in the

themselves play a huge part in the

themselves play a huge part in the film’s appeal fashioning the finest

film’s appeal fashioning the finest

film’s appeal fashioning the finest comedic team this side of the Marx

comedic team this side of the Marx

comedic team this side of the Marx Brothers symmetrical book stacking just

Brothers symmetrical book stacking just

Brothers symmetrical book stacking just like the philadelphia man’s turbulence

like the philadelphia man’s turbulence

like the philadelphia man’s turbulence of 1947 you’re right no human being

of 1947 you’re right no human being

of 1947 you’re right no human being would stack books like this many films

would stack books like this many films

would stack books like this many films since have tried to capture the same

since have tried to capture the same

since have tried to capture the same ingenious blend of comedy and visual

ingenious blend of comedy and visual

ingenious blend of comedy and visual spectacle but few have done it better

spectacle but few have done it better

spectacle but few have done it better than this bad boy we’ve been going about

than this bad boy we’ve been going about

than this bad boy we’ve been going about this all wrong this mr. Stay Puft is

this all wrong this mr. Stay Puft is

this all wrong this mr. Stay Puft is okay he’s a sailor he’s in New York we

okay he’s a sailor he’s in New York we

okay he’s a sailor he’s in New York we get this guy late we won’t have any

get this guy late we won’t have any

get this guy late we won’t have any trouble number 7 Star Trek 2 the Wrath

trouble number 7 Star Trek 2 the Wrath

trouble number 7 Star Trek 2 the Wrath of Khan it was the best of times it was

of Khan it was the best of times it was

of Khan it was the best of times it was the worst of time after the first motion

the worst of time after the first motion

the worst of time after the first motion picture kind of fell short of

picture kind of fell short of

picture kind of fell short of expectations it looked like maybe Star

expectations it looked like maybe Star

expectations it looked like maybe Star Trek should have ended with the TV

Trek should have ended with the TV

Trek should have ended with the TV series we have a problem the Wrath of

series we have a problem the Wrath of

series we have a problem the Wrath of Khan proved however that this

Khan proved however that this

Khan proved however that this franchise’s perennial lifespan was just

franchise’s perennial lifespan was just

franchise’s perennial lifespan was just starting to prosper everyone

prefer talk about a serious upgrade with

prefer talk about a serious upgrade with one of the most menacing villains in all

one of the most menacing villains in all

one of the most menacing villains in all science fiction God you still remember

science fiction God you still remember

science fiction God you still remember admit strong character development and a

admit strong character development and a

admit strong character development and a genuine sense of peril he’s completely

genuine sense of peril he’s completely

genuine sense of peril he’s completely mad at well he blames you for the death

mad at well he blames you for the death

mad at well he blames you for the death of his wife I know what he blames me for

of his wife I know what he blames me for

of his wife I know what he blames me for not to give too much away but every

not to give too much away but every

not to give too much away but every characters fate hangs in the balance

characters fate hangs in the balance

characters fate hangs in the balance here it’s the riskiest Star Trek ever

here it’s the riskiest Star Trek ever

here it’s the riskiest Star Trek ever made and arguably the best who is Khan

made and arguably the best who is Khan

made and arguably the best who is Khan well it’s a long story we appear to have

well it’s a long story we appear to have

well it’s a long story we appear to have plenty of time

plenty of time

plenty of time number six Blade Runner shall we

number six Blade Runner shall we

number six Blade Runner shall we continue

continue

continue while it was overlooked by audiences and

while it was overlooked by audiences and

while it was overlooked by audiences and dismissed by most critics when it first

dismissed by most critics when it first

dismissed by most critics when it first came out this slick sci-fi flick

came out this slick sci-fi flick

came out this slick sci-fi flick eventually achieved a deserved cult

eventually achieved a deserved cult

eventually achieved a deserved cult following on video too late runner

following on video too late runner

following on video too late runner wasn’t the first film to mix science

wasn’t the first film to mix science

wasn’t the first film to mix science fiction with neo noir

fiction with neo noir

fiction with neo noir but no movie has done a better job

but no movie has done a better job

but no movie has done a better job unifying the two I need you tech this is

unifying the two I need you tech this is

unifying the two I need you tech this is a bad the worst yet I need the old Blade

a bad the worst yet I need the old Blade

a bad the worst yet I need the old Blade Runner every frame is a work of stylish

Runner every frame is a work of stylish

Runner every frame is a work of stylish art envisioning the most vibrant

art envisioning the most vibrant

art envisioning the most vibrant futuristic city in all film weight in

futuristic city in all film weight in

futuristic city in all film weight in the world

the world

the world throw in a complex ambiguous story that

throw in a complex ambiguous story that

throw in a complex ambiguous story that people still discuss today and you have

people still discuss today and you have

people still discuss today and you have a movie that was destined for classic

a movie that was destined for classic

a movie that was destined for classic status I’ve seen things you people

status I’ve seen things you people

status I’ve seen things you people wouldn’t believe number five the

wouldn’t believe number five the

wouldn’t believe number five the Terminator he’s not a man machine

Terminator he’s not a man machine

Terminator he’s not a man machine Terminator James Cameron established

Terminator James Cameron established

Terminator James Cameron established himself as one of our best action sci-fi

himself as one of our best action sci-fi

himself as one of our best action sci-fi directors with the abyss and another

directors with the abyss and another

directors with the abyss and another film coming up in this countdown it was

film coming up in this countdown it was

film coming up in this countdown it was the original Terminator however that put

the original Terminator however that put

the original Terminator however that put the future king of the box office on the

the future king of the box office on the

the future king of the box office on the map

map

map can’t be bargained with it can’t be

can’t be bargained with it can’t be

can’t be bargained with it can’t be reasoned with

reasoned with

reasoned with it doesn’t feel pity or remorse or fear

it doesn’t feel pity or remorse or fear

it doesn’t feel pity or remorse or fear and it absolutely will not stop much

and it absolutely will not stop much

and it absolutely will not stop much like Robocop this could have been

like Robocop this could have been

like Robocop this could have been nothing more than gratuitous violence

nothing more than gratuitous violence

nothing more than gratuitous violence without purpose

bloodshed aside though the Terminator

bloodshed aside though the Terminator tells a real story with soul romance and

tells a real story with soul romance and

tells a real story with soul romance and a grim preview of the future plus

a grim preview of the future plus

a grim preview of the future plus there’s the always entertaining Arnold

there’s the always entertaining Arnold

there’s the always entertaining Arnold who might make a couple more appearances

who might make a couple more appearances

who might make a couple more appearances on our 90s sci-fi list get out number

on our 90s sci-fi list get out number

on our 90s sci-fi list get out number four back to the future this baby hits

four back to the future this baby hits

four back to the future this baby hits 88 miles per hour you’re gonna see some

88 miles per hour you’re gonna see some

88 miles per hour you’re gonna see some serious shit this is another sci-fi tale

serious shit this is another sci-fi tale

serious shit this is another sci-fi tale with a comedic edge but what elevates

with a comedic edge but what elevates

with a comedic edge but what elevates Back to the Future to another level of

Back to the Future to another level of

Back to the Future to another level of greatness is the film’s heart

although it looks like a movie about

although it looks like a movie about time travel back to the future is really

time travel back to the future is really

time travel back to the future is really about the power of love not just

about the power of love not just

about the power of love not just romantic love but the love between a

romantic love but the love between a

romantic love but the love between a parent and child student and mentor and

parent and child student and mentor and

parent and child student and mentor and Friends your friend Marty

Friends your friend Marty

Friends your friend Marty it’s the affection we feel for these

it’s the affection we feel for these

it’s the affection we feel for these characters that keeps us invested in the

characters that keeps us invested in the

characters that keeps us invested in the exceptionally plotted story particularly

exceptionally plotted story particularly

exceptionally plotted story particularly in one of the most enthralling climaxes

in one of the most enthralling climaxes

in one of the most enthralling climaxes you’ll ever see

et is the epitome of movie magic

et is the epitome of movie magic sometimes it’s hilarious like when the

sometimes it’s hilarious like when the

sometimes it’s hilarious like when the naive et helps himself to a beer in

naive et helps himself to a beer in

naive et helps himself to a beer in Elliot’s fridge

other times the film is devastating like

other times the film is devastating like when it appears the lovable alien has

when it appears the lovable alien has

when it appears the lovable alien has met his end all of the time et is an

met his end all of the time et is an

met his end all of the time et is an enchanting miracle that will resonate

enchanting miracle that will resonate

enchanting miracle that will resonate with anybody who possesses an

with anybody who possesses an

with anybody who possesses an imagination the film embodies everything

imagination the film embodies everything

imagination the film embodies everything that makes Steven Spielberg one of the

that makes Steven Spielberg one of the

that makes Steven Spielberg one of the primary creative minds of any generation

being both a revelation of visual

being both a revelation of visual effects and a triumph of original

effects and a triumph of original

effects and a triumph of original heartfelt storytelling number two aliens

heartfelt storytelling number two aliens

heartfelt storytelling number two aliens hey Vasquez have you ever been mistaken

hey Vasquez have you ever been mistaken

hey Vasquez have you ever been mistaken for a man

for a man

for a man no have you the S at the end of its

no have you the S at the end of its

no have you the S at the end of its title is the first indication to how

title is the first indication to how

title is the first indication to how much grandeur aliens is compared to

much grandeur aliens is compared to

much grandeur aliens is compared to alien god damn it that’s not all we’re

alien god damn it that’s not all we’re

alien god damn it that’s not all we’re Ridley Scott’s original was a confined

Ridley Scott’s original was a confined

Ridley Scott’s original was a confined monster movie

James Cameron’s follow-up is an all-out

James Cameron’s follow-up is an all-out war between an army of aliens and an

war between an army of aliens and an

war between an army of aliens and an unlikely band of heroes hey riff don’t

unlikely band of heroes hey riff don’t

unlikely band of heroes hey riff don’t worry me and my squad of ultimate

worry me and my squad of ultimate

worry me and my squad of ultimate badasses will protect you the MVP of the

badasses will protect you the MVP of the

badasses will protect you the MVP of the bunch remains sigourney weaver’s Ellen

bunch remains sigourney weaver’s Ellen

bunch remains sigourney weaver’s Ellen Ripley cinemas definitive action heroine

what a kick-ass and in a strange way

what a kick-ass and in a strange way liberating film can I dream yes honey I

liberating film can I dream yes honey I

liberating film can I dream yes honey I think we both can let’s just pretend the

think we both can let’s just pretend the

think we both can let’s just pretend the other sequels never happened and Ripley

other sequels never happened and Ripley

other sequels never happened and Ripley went out on a high note

went out on a high note

went out on a high note get away from her you bitch

before we go home to our top pick here

before we go home to our top pick here are a few honorable mentions

are a few honorable mentions

are a few honorable mentions Harry Tuttle heating engineer at your

Harry Tuttle heating engineer at your

Harry Tuttle heating engineer at your service

I have come here to chew bubblegum and

I have come here to chew bubblegum and kick ass

number one Star Wars Episode five the

number one Star Wars Episode five the Empire Strikes Back ready are you what

Empire Strikes Back ready are you what

Empire Strikes Back ready are you what note ready

note ready

note ready Star Wars became the highest-grossing

Star Wars became the highest-grossing

Star Wars became the highest-grossing movie of its time and won six Oscars the

movie of its time and won six Oscars the

movie of its time and won six Oscars the force is strong how do you top something

force is strong how do you top something

force is strong how do you top something that’s earned more Universal success

that’s earned more Universal success

that’s earned more Universal success than any other film in existence I won’t

than any other film in existence I won’t

than any other film in existence I won’t fail you

fail you

fail you I’m not afraid you make the Empire

I’m not afraid you make the Empire

I’m not afraid you make the Empire Strikes Back

Strikes Back

Strikes Back that’s how often considered the

that’s how often considered the

that’s how often considered the trilogy’s best entry Empire Strikes Back

trilogy’s best entry Empire Strikes Back

trilogy’s best entry Empire Strikes Back gets it just right by delving deeper

gets it just right by delving deeper

gets it just right by delving deeper into Lucas’s boundless universe pairing

into Lucas’s boundless universe pairing

into Lucas’s boundless universe pairing different characters together changing

different characters together changing

different characters together changing the entire game in the film’s final act

the entire game in the film’s final act

the entire game in the film’s final act and not wrapping things up with the

and not wrapping things up with the

and not wrapping things up with the happiest ending in short it’s the

happiest ending in short it’s the

happiest ending in short it’s the textbook example of how to do a sequel

textbook example of how to do a sequel

textbook example of how to do a sequel and how to get people salivating for the

and how to get people salivating for the

and how to get people salivating for the next installment join me together we can

next installment join me together we can

next installment join me together we can rule the galaxy as father and son where

rule the galaxy as father and son where

rule the galaxy as father and son where do you agree with our list Josh what’s

do you agree with our list Josh what’s

do you agree with our list Josh what’s your favorite sci-fi movie from the

your favorite sci-fi movie from the

your favorite sci-fi movie from the 1980s I understand Sam I know exactly

1980s I understand Sam I know exactly

1980s I understand Sam I know exactly how you feel so I’ve brought you a

how you feel so I’ve brought you a

how you feel so I’ve brought you a bottle of barley water for more

bottle of barley water for more

bottle of barley water for more entertaining top 10s published every day

entertaining top 10s published every day

entertaining top 10s published every day be sure to subscribe to watchmojo.com