The 8 Most 80s Movies of the 1980s
5. The Lost Boys (1987)
The award for ‘best use of Echo and the Bunnymen’ goes to Joel Schumacher and his coming of age 80’s vampire extravaganza.
Starring the dynamic Corey duo (Haim and Feldman) and a scary peroxide version of Kiefer Sutherland, this movie delivers on every level.
When a mother and her children move in with their Grandpa in Santa Carla, the family soon learn that the town is overrun with vampires, but how long can they survive?
Whether its gore, laughter or a topless long-haired man, covered in baby oil wearing leather leggings playing a saxophone, and gyrating his crotch around while people head bang along; this film delivers.
How could you possibly want more? If you do, then you are greedy.
6. The Goonies (1985)
They never say die and they never did get to tell us about the giant octopus, if The Goonies doesn’t make you weak in your nostalgic knees then there is something seriously wrong.
Richard Donner’s classic follows a group of youngsters who, upon realising their parents face eviction, embark on the adventure of a lifetime to find the long lost treasure of the infamous pirate One Eyed Willy, who was rumoured to have been marooned right near Astoria
Cyndi Lauper’s “The Goonies ‘r’ Good Enough” was absolutely good enough to be an everlasting top 10 hit, and once again featured our favourite WWF pals, Roddy Piper and Andre the Giant et al.
The film itself is a staple of the decade with Nike dunks and dodgy workout gear aplenty.
The lovable Corey Feldman makes an appearance with an unfamiliar family-friendly version of Josh Brolin, sporting a sweat band throughout. Naturally.
7. Flashdance (1983)
Adrian Lyne managed to direct what is arguably the most aesthetically 80’s movie of all time with Flashdance.
Everyone knows the story of underdog Alex Owens, welder by day and exotic dancer by night; one who dreams of becoming a ballet dancer.
This movie delivers the female dancing underdog version of Rocky, yet still packs a suitable amount of punch. What a feeling, indeed.
This film, alongside the likes of Fame (1980) catered to the Jane Fonda aerobics workout-aholics of the 80’s by showing plenty of scantily clad spandex montage sequences, and more high-kicks than a Vegas line-up.
Whether it’s the oversized off-the-shoulder jumper or the dancing around on the desk with a leotard and leg warmers-combo scene, you know Flashdance when you see it – and there’s no way anyone mistakes it for a 90’s movie…
8. Big Trouble in Little China (1986)
When a no-nonsense trucker, Jack Burton (Kurt Russell) gets caught in the crosshairs of an ancient supernatural battle underneath the roads of Chinatown, we all rejoice at a fine example of 80’s comedy/action.
Russell and Carpenter had already took the horror crown earlier in the decade with The Thing (1982), and four years later the brilliant actor-director pair made a triumphant return.
Burton (“Jack Burton, me!”) sports one of the most unashamedly 80’s mullets to be seen on screen, aside from Joan Cusack’s mega-do in Working Girl (1988), complete with a wife-beater vest and a can of Miller.
Featuring a bright red Pontiac Firebird (brought to fame by ‘Knight Rider’) the must-have-motor of the 80’s, a gang of Chinatown ‘street punks’ rigged out with logic-defying sunglasses and cheeky nods to Star Wars, this movie should be on the shelf of any serious 80’s movie masters.
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Which 80s films would you consider to be the most 80s? Did we miss any? Let us know in the comments below and be sure to follow @thefilmagazine on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to never miss another insightful movie list.
