The Top 10 Films of the 1980s

Most films were pushing the envelope going into the 1980s. Mainstream films had content that seemed inappropriate for the standard “PG” audience, but not quite graphic enough to warrant an R rating. In 1984, the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) introduced the PG-13 rating. This was due, in part, to the violent nature of Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984), which had only a PG rating. Coincidentally, Steven Spielberg, who directed the Indiana Jones trilogy, suggested to the MPAA that they come up with a new rating between PG and R. The first films with the PG-13 rating were Red Dawn (1984), The Woman in Red (1984), and Oxford Blues (1984).

The 1980s also saw an increase in teen comedies. Due to the popularity of National Lampoon’s Animal House (1978), studios made films to target teenagers and produced a slew of successful films. One name that comes to mind is John Hughes. He is the man responsible for classics such as Sixteen Candles (1984), The Breakfast Club (1985), and Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986).

The “blockbuster” era continued to dominate in the 1980s. While the 1970s produced films that broke the bank such as Jaws (1975) and Star Wars: A New Hope (1977), the 1980s kept that trend alive. E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982), Ghostbusters (1984), and Batman (1989) all broke box-office records.

I believe the 1980s was one of the decades that made cinema what it is today. It sparked filmmakers’ imaginations and spawned several new genres.

Here are some of my favorite films from that decade:

Do the Right Thing (1989)

Set on the hottest day of the summer, in a neighborhood where racial tensions are on the rise, something is bound to happen. Spike Lee’s third film, this is easily his best. He wrote, directed, and starred in this masterpiece, which has a great message about life. The ending blew me away the first time I watched it. This film also has a stellar cast, including unforgettable performances by Danny Aiello, Ossie Davis, Ruby Dee, and John Turturro. Do the Right Thing is not only the best film of the 1980s, but I would even go so far as to call it one of the best films of all time.

Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989)

One of the first films I remember watching, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade made me fall in love with movies. It also engendered a deep respect for director Steven Spielberg. You can tell that his love of movies pervades each of his creations, making them the best they can be. Spielberg is an excellent storyteller and spins highly entertaining tales. This third chapter of the Indiana Jones saga is the best. Indiana Jones, on the hunt for the Holy Grail, has “great adventure” written all over it. Harrison Ford and Sean Connery are also one of my favorite onscreen duos – they feed off each other so well.

Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back (1980)

The second chapter in the Star Wars saga is the best one in the entire saga, not to mention just the original trilogy. It drastically outshines A New Hope – it had better effects, better action, and an ending that made me crave more. The iconic lightsaber battle with Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader is one of my favorite scenes. The reveal from Darth Vader still gives me chills (“…I am your father.” – hopefully, that wasn’t still a spoiler for anyone!). This is one of the best sequels of all time.

Fanny and Alexander (Fanny och Alexander) [1982]

Ingmar Bergman is one of my all-time favorite directors. His films all have similar themes, and they all seem to be semi-autobiographical. Fanny and Alexander is about siblings growing up in the early twentieth century and enduring many hardships in their family. Their father passes away, and their mother soon remarries a bishop. However, the bishop runs a strict household and is always at odds with the children, especially Alexander. Alexander loves to create and tell stories, much to the dismay of the bishop. This film is about the hope for a better life and, even though the hardships throughout the film are hard to endure, it leads to a satisfying and unforgettable outcome.

The Shining (1980)

Horror movies aren’t my thing, but there is so much to love about The Shining. The acting and directing are both phenomenal in my opinion, but Stephen King would disagree. He wrote the original novel, and publicly declared his disdain for the film. I understand why King would feel that way, but I still think this adaptation stands strongly on its own. Stanley Kubrick took King’s story and made it into something more ambiguous and profound. Even though King’s story is very straightforward, I think Kubrick’s take on it sparks a lot of interesting ideas and theories.

Planes, Trains, & Automobiles (1987)

Steve Martin and John Candy star in Planes, Trains, & Automobiles, one of the funniest movies of all time. They play a pair of strangers trying to get to Chicago for Thanksgiving. However, many obstacles get in their way. The trip is more challenging because the two are opposites. Neal (Martin) is a snobby marketing executive and Del (Candy) is a slob who sells shower curtain rings. They meet by a twist of fate and must put up with each other if they’re going to get home in time. This film, meant primarily for adults, is a departure from John Hughes’ classic teen comedies… Planes, Trains, & Automobiles is both hilarious and heartfelt – my wife and I have a tradition to watch this film every Thanksgiving.

The Purple Rose of Cairo (1985)

I like to call this a romantic comedy made for movie buffs. During the Great Depression, a lonely housewife named Cecilia (Mia Farrow) finds her escape from life by going to the movies. She is a fan of actor Gil Shepherd (Jeff Daniels) and is in the middle of watching his latest film when his character Tom Baxter notices Cecilia and walks through the movie screen. Tom has entered Cecilia’s world and they fall in love. However, Shepherd hears what happened, and tries to get Tom to return to the film world…only to end up falling in love with Cecilia, too. Love triangles are a common thing in film, but Woody Allen created a truly original story – a woman in love with two versions of the same man. The Purple Rose of Cairo is a film way ahead of its time.

A Fish Called Wanda (1988)

John Cleese and Michael Palin of Monty Python fame co-star in this hilarious comedy about a jewel heist gone wrong. In the mix are Jamie Lee Curtis and Kevin Kline, who can’t help but add to the film’s hilarity. Curtis and Kline play lovers who are involved in the heist, only to find the jewel missing. Cleese plays a barrister who falls in love with Curtis and gets in way over his head. Palin plays another member of the heist, but can’t explain his predicament very well, due to his stuttering problem. These four actors strike pure comic gold in this highly recommended film that also is one of the funniest films of all time.

Predator (1987)

Here is another quotable Arnold Schwarzenegger classic that is full of good lines and high-octane action. Schwarzenegger plays Dutch, the head of an elite special ops group on a rescue mission in a Central American jungle. They find themselves hunted by a creature who kills for sport, but is unseen because if its advanced cloaking device. This is one of the best action films of all time.

When Harry Met Sally… (1989)

My wife and I also have a tradition of watching this film annually, but we watch it on New Year’s Eve. If you’ve seen this film, you understand. It is a very intelligent love story between friends. On the way to New York from Chicago after college graduation, Harry (Billy Crystal) and Sally (Meg Ryan) get into a debate when Harry says men and women can’t be friends because the sexual tension always gets in the way. They go their separate ways, but end up running into each other years later and decide to be friends, not forgetting they’d already decided it wouldn’t work. This is another funny and heartfelt film, and I look forward to watching this film every New Year’s Eve for the rest of my life.

Happy watching!

If you missed my earlier posts, you can read about my favorites from past decades here: 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s.