Blast From The Past: 20 Movies That Rocked The 80s
Posted by By Itster at 17 August, at 12 : 07 PM Print
When it comes to entertainment, there’s no doubt 1980s was the golden era. When the decade rolled around, movie pundits predicted that the 80s was going to be disastrous for the industry but that wasn’t the case. Some of the movies released in the 80s have been passed from one generation to another. For example, I remember watching National Lampoon’s Vacation with my grandparents, and today I watch it with my kids every chance I get (I think it’s a great way to relive memories). Anyway, here are 20 amazing movies from the 80s. Of course, there are many more but here are a few that I found while going through my collection.
1. Raging Bull
Directed by: Martin Scorsese
Produced by: Robert Chartoff, Irwin Winkler
Cast: Robert De Niro, Cathy Moriarty, Joe Pesci
Raging Bull is a 1980 American biographical film directed by Martin Scorsese, adapted by Paul Schrader and Mardik Martin from the Jake La Motta memoir Raging Bull: My Story. It stars Robert De Niro as Jake LaMotta, a middleweight boxer whose sadomasochistic rage, sexual jealousy, and animalistic appetite exceeded the boundaries of the prizefight ring, and destroyed his relationship with his wife and family. Also featured in the film are Joe Pesci as Joey, La Motta’s well intentioned brother and manager who tries to help Jake battle his inner demons, and Cathy Moriarty as his abused wife. The film features supporting roles from Nicholas Colasanto, Theresa Saldana, and Frank Vincent.
2. Raiders Of The Lost Ark
Directed by: Steven Spielberg
Produced by: Frank Marshall, George Lucas, Howard Kazanjian
Cast: Harrison Ford, Karen Allen, Paul Freeman, Ronald Lacey, John Rhys-Davies, Denholm Elliott
Raiders of the Lost Ark (also known as Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark) is a 1981 American action-adventure film directed by Steven Spielberg, produced by George Lucas, and starring Harrison Ford. It is the first film in the Indiana Jones franchise, and pits Indiana Jones (played by Ford) against the Nazis, who search for the Ark of the Covenant, in an attempt to make their army invincible. The film co-starred Karen Allen as Indiana’s former lover Marion Ravenwood; Paul Freeman as Indiana’s nemesis, French archaeologist René Belloq; John Rhys-Davies as Indiana’s sidekick, Sallah; and Denholm Elliott as Indiana’s colleague, Marcus Brody.
The film originated with Lucas’ desire to create a modern version of the serials of the 1930s and 1940s. Production was based at Elstree Studios, England, and filming also took place in La Rochelle, Tunisia, Hawaii, and California from June to September 1980.
3. Once Upon a Time In America
Directed by: Sergio Leone
Produced by: Arnon Milchan
Cast: Robert De Niro, James Woods, Elizabeth McGovern, William Forsythe, James Hayden, Tuesday Weld, Treat Williams, Joe Pesci, Burt Young, Brian Bloom
Once Upon a Time in America is a 1984 epic crime film directed and co-written by Sergio Leone and starring Robert De Niro and James Woods. The story chronicles the lives of Jewish ghetto youths who rise to prominence in New York City’s world of organized crime. The film explores themes of childhood friendships, love, lust, greed, betrayal, loss, broken relationships, and the rise of mobsters in American society.
4. E.T.
Directed by: Steven Spielberg
Produced by: Steven Spielberg, Kathleen Kennedy
Cast: Henry Thomas, Dee Wallace, Robert MacNaughton, Drew Barrymore, Peter Coyote
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial is a 1982 American science fiction film co-produced and directed by Steven Spielberg, written by Melissa Mathison and starring Henry Thomas, Robert MacNaughton, Drew Barrymore, and Dee Wallace. It tells the story of Elliott (played by Thomas), a lonely boy who befriends a friendly extraterrestrial, dubbed “E.T.”, who is stranded on Earth. Elliott and his siblings help the extraterrestrial return home while attempting to keep it hidden from their mother and the government.
5. When Harry Met Sally
Directed by: Rob Reiner
Produced by: Rob Reiner, Andrew Scheinman, Nora Ephron
Cast: Billy Crystal, Meg Ryan, Carrie Fisher, Bruno Kirby
When Harry Met Sally… is a 1989 American romantic comedy film written by Nora Ephron and directed by Rob Reiner. It stars Billy Crystal as Harry and Meg Ryan as Sally. The story follows the title characters from the time they meet just before sharing a cross-country drive, through twelve years or so of chance encounters in New York City. The film raises the question “Can men and women ever just be friends?” and advances many ideas about love that have become household concepts now, such as the “high-maintenance” girlfriend and the “transitional person”.
6. Blade Runner
Directed by: Ridley Scott
Produced by: Michael Deeley
Cast: Harrison Ford, Rutger Hauer, Sean Young, Edward James Olmos, M. Emmet Walsh, Daryl Hannah
Blade Runner is a 1982 American science fiction film, directed by Ridley Scott and starring Harrison Ford, Rutger Hauer, and Sean Young. The screenplay, written by Hampton Fancher and David Peoples, is based loosely on the novel Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K. Dick.
The film depicts a dystopian Los Angeles in November 2019 in which genetically engineered organic robots called replicants—visually indistinguishable from adult humans—are manufactured by the all-powerful Tyrell Corporation as well as other mega manufacturers around the world. Their use on Earth is banned, and replicants are exclusively used for dangerous, menial or leisure work on Earth’s off-world colonies. Replicants who defy the ban and return to Earth are hunted down and “retired” by police special operatives known as “blade runners”.
7. Scarface
Directed by: Brian De Palma
Produced by: Martin Bregman
Cast: Al Pacino, Steven Bauer, Michelle Pfeiffer, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, Robert Loggia, F. Murray Abraham, Harris Yulin
Scarface is a 1983 epic crime drama film directed by Brian De Palma, written by Oliver Stone, and starring Al Pacino as Tony Montana. Based on Howard Hawks’ original 1932 film of the same name, the film tells the story of a fictional Cuban refugee who comes to Florida in 1980 as a result of the Mariel Boatlift. Montana becomes a gangster against the backdrop of the 1980s cocaine boom. The film chronicles his rise to the top of Miami’s criminal underworld and subsequent downfall in tragic Greek fashion.
8. Fatal Attraction
Directed by: Adrian Lyne
Produced by: Stanley R. Jaffe, Sherry Lansing
Cast: Michael Douglas, Glenn Close, Anne Archer
Fatal Attraction is a 1987 thriller/slasher film directed by Adrian Lyne and stars Michael Douglas, Glenn Close and Anne Archer. It is about a married man, who has a weekend affair with a woman who refuses to allow it to end and who becomes obsessed with him. The film was adapted by James Dearden and Nicholas Meyer from an earlier short film by Dearden for British television Diversion (1980). Fatal Attraction was a smash hit, becoming the second highest grossing film of 1987 in the United States and hugely popular internationally.
9. The Terminator
Directed by: James Cameron
Produced by: John Daly, Derek Gibson, Gale Anne Hurd
Cast: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Michael Biehn, Linda Hamilton
The Terminator is a 1984 science fiction action film directed and co-written by James Cameron and starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, Linda Hamilton, and Michael Biehn. Produced by the British independent film company Hemdale Film Corporation and distributed by Orion Pictures, the film is set and was shot in Los Angeles. Schwarzenegger plays the Terminator, a cyborg assassin sent back in time from the year 2029 to 1984 to kill Sarah Connor, played by Hamilton. Biehn plays Kyle Reese, a soldier from the future sent back in time to protect Sarah.
10. National Lampoon’s Vacation
Directed by: Harold Ramis
Produced by: Matty Simmons
Cast: Chevy Chase, Beverly D’Angelo, Anthony Michael Hall, Dana Barron, Randy Quaid, Imogene Coca
Vacation, sometimes referred as National Lampoon’s Vacation, is a 1983 comedy film directed by Harold Ramis and starring Chevy Chase, Beverly D’Angelo, Randy Quaid, Dana Barron and Anthony Michael Hall. The film features numerous others, such as comedians John Candy and Imogene Coca, model Christie Brinkley, and Jane Krakowski in smaller roles. National Lampoon’s Vacation was a significant box-office hit, earning more than $61 million in the United States with an estimated budget of $15 million. In 2000, readers of Total Film magazine voted National Lampoon’s Vacation the 46th greatest comedy film of all time.
11. Ghostbusters
Directed by: Ivan Reitman
Produced by: Bernie Brillstein, Ivan Reitman
Cast: Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Harold Ramis, Ernie Hudson, Sigourney Weaver, Rick Moranis, Annie Potts
Ghostbusters, titled on-screen as Ghost Busters, is a 1984 American comedy film written by co-stars Dan Aykroyd and Harold Ramis about three eccentric New York City parapsychologists-turned-ghost exterminators. The film was released in the United States on June 8, 1984 and like several films of the era, teamed Aykroyd and/or Ramis with Bill Murray. It was produced and directed by Ivan Reitman, who also directed Stripes, and stars Murray, Aykroyd, Ramis, Rick Moranis, Sigourney Weaver, Annie Potts, and Ernie Hudson. The film made US$291,632,124 in the United States alone, the equivalent of $538,260,000 in 2010 prices, ranking the film as the 32nd biggest grossing in U.S. box office history after adjustment for inflation.
It was followed by a sequel, Ghostbusters II in 1989, and two animated television series, The Real Ghostbusters (later renamed Slimer! And the Real Ghostbusters) and Extreme Ghostbusters.
12. Back To The Future
Directed by: Robert Zemeckis
Produced by: Neil Canton, Bob Gale, Steven Spielberg, Kathleen Kennedy, Frank Marshall
Cast: Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd, Lea Thompson, Crispin Glover, Thomas F. Wilson
Back to the Future is a 1985 American science fiction adventure comedy film directed by Robert Zemeckis, written by Zemeckis and Bob Gale, produced by Steven Spielberg, and starring Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd, Lea Thompson, and Crispin Glover. The film tells the story of Marty McFly, a teenager who is accidentally sent back in time from 1985 to 1955. He meets his parents in high school, accidentally attracting his mother’s romantic interest. Marty must repair the damage to history by causing his parents to fall in love, while finding a way to return to 1985.
13. The Goonies
Directed by: Richard Donner
Produced by: Richard Donner, Harvey Bernhard, Kathleen Kennedy, Frank Marshall, Steven Spielberg
Cast: Sean Astin, Josh Brolin, Jeff Cohen, Corey Feldman, Kerri Green, Martha Plimpton, Jonathan Ke Quan, Anne Ramsey, Robert Davi, Joe Pantoliano, John Matuszak
The Goonies is a 1985 American adventure-comedy film directed by Richard Donner. The screenplay was written by Chris Columbus from a story by executive producer Steven Spielberg. A band of kids from the “Goon Docks” neighborhood of Astoria, Oregon, hoping to save their homes from demolition, go on an adventure to find the buried treasure of One-Eyed Willy, a legendary 17th-century pirate.
14. Karate Kid
Directed by: John G. Avildsen
Produced by: Jerry Weintraub
Cast: Ralph Macchio, Pat Morita, Elisabeth Shue
The Karate Kid is a 1984 coming-of-age film directed by John G. Avildsen and written by Robert Mark Kamen, starring Ralph Macchio, Pat Morita and Elisabeth Shue. It is a martial arts film, and an underdog story in the mold of a previous success, Avildsen’s 1976 film Rocky. It was a commercial success upon release, and garnered favorable critical acclaim, earning Pat Morita an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor.
15. Top Gun
Directed by: Tony Scott
Produced by: Don Simpson, Jerry Bruckheimer
Cast: Tom Cruise, Kelly McGillis, Val Kilmer, Anthony Edwards, Tom Skerritt
Top Gun is a 1986 American action film directed by Tony Scott, and produced by Don Simpson and Jerry Bruckheimer, in association with the Paramount Pictures company. The screenplay was written by Jim Cash and Jack Epps, Jr., and was inspired by the article “Top Guns” written by Ehud Yonay for California Magazine. It grossed $353,816,701 worldwide.
16. Gremlins
Directed by: Joe Dante
Produced by: Steven Spielberg, Michael Finnell
Cast: Zach Galligan, Phoebe Cates, Hoyt Axton, Frances Lee McCain, Dick Miller, Polly Holliday, Judge Reinhold, Keye Luke, Roger Garth, Corey Feldman, John Louie, Glynn Turman, Ben Develing
Gremlins is an American comedy horror film directed by Joe Dante, released in 1984 by Warner Bros. The film is about a young man who receives a strange creature called a mogwai as a pet, which then spawns other creatures who transform into small, destructive, evil monsters. It was followed by a sequel, Gremlins 2: The New Batch, released in 1990. In contrast to the lighter sequel, the original Gremlins opts for more black comedy, which is balanced against a Christmas-time setting. Both films were the center of large merchandising campaigns.
17. Platoon
Directed by: Oliver Stone
Produced by: Arnold Kopelson
Cast: Charlie Sheen, Tom Berenger, Willem Dafoe
Platoon is a 1986 war film written and directed by Oliver Stone and starring Tom Berenger, Willem Dafoe, and Charlie Sheen. It is the first of Stone’s Vietnam War trilogy, followed by 1989′s Born on the Fourth of July and 1993′s Heaven & Earth.
Stone wrote the story based upon his experiences as a U.S. infantryman in Vietnam, as a counter to the vision of the war portrayed in John Wayne’s The Green Berets. The film won the Academy Award for Best Picture of 1986. In 2007, the American Film Institute placed Platoon at #83 in their “AFI’s 100 Years… 100 Movies” poll. British television channel Channel 4 voted Platoon as the 6th greatest war film ever made, behind Full Metal Jacket and ahead of A Bridge Too Far.
18. Batman
Directed by: Tim Burton
Produced by: Peter Guber, Jon Peters, Benjamin Melniker, Michael Uslan
Cast: Michael Keaton, Jack Nicholson, Kim Basinger, Robert Wuhl, Jack Palance
Batman is a 1989 superhero film based on the DC Comics character of the same name, directed by Tim Burton. The film stars Michael Keaton in the title role, as well as Jack Nicholson, Kim Basinger, Robert Wuhl and Jack Palance. The film, in which Batman deals with the rise of a powerful villain known as “The Joker”, is the first installment of Warner Bros.’ Batman film series.
19. Die Hard
Directed by: John McTiernan
Produced by: Lawrence Gordon, Joel Silver, Beau Marks, Charles Gordon
Cast: Bruce Willis, Alan Rickman, Bonnie Bedelia, Reginald VelJohnson, Alexander Godunov, Paul Gleason
Die Hard is a 1988 American action film and the first in the Die Hard film series. The film was directed by John McTiernan and written by Jeb Stuart and Steven E. de Souza. It is based on a 1979 novel by Roderick Thorp titled Nothing Lasts Forever, itself a sequel to the book The Detective, which was previously made into a 1968 film starring Frank Sinatra. The film was produced by Lawrence and Charles Gordon, along with Joel Silver.
20. Beetlejuice
Directed by: Tim Burton
Produced by: David Geffen, Larry Wilson, Michael Bender, Richard Hashimoto,
Cast: Michael Keaton, Alec Baldwin, Geena Davis, Winona Ryder, Catherine O’Hara, Jeffrey Jones, Sylvia Sidney
Beetlejuice is a 1988 American comedy horror fantasy film directed by Tim Burton, produced by The Geffen Film Company and distributed by Warner Bros. The plot revolves around a recently deceased young couple who become ghosts haunting their former home, a quaint and quiet house on a hill overlooking the fictional town of Winter River, located in Connecticut. When a family of metropolitan yuppies from New York City move into the house, the ghosts seek the help of an obnoxious, devious and mischievous “bio-exorcist” named Betelgeuse ((pronounced “Beetlejuice”) from the underworld in order to scare the new living inhabitants away permanently. Beetlejuice stars Alec Baldwin, Geena Davis, Winona Ryder, Catherine O’Hara, Jeffrey Jones, Sylvia Sidney, and Michael Keaton as the titular Betelgeuse (the film’s title being a phonetic spelling of the character’s name).
Be sure to tell us your favorite movies from the 80s and do share the memories.
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Blast From The Past: 20 Movies That Rocked The 80s - Movies Fizz, 1 year ago
[...] When it comes to entertainment, there2019s no doubt 1980s was the golden era. When the decade rolled around, movie pundits predicted that the 80s was going to be disastrous for the industry but that wasn2019t the case. Some of the movies released in the 80s have been passed from one generation to another. Read ahead [...]
Jeff, 1 year ago
I agree but the one picture is of Batman Returns which sucked.
Alex, 1 year ago
Uh…hate to break it to you buddy, but most of those movies are terrible by film standards. Raging Bull is by far the only good timeless Film noted above. Indiana Jones, Back to the Future, Platoon and Die Hard are all good movies, but as for everything else…I hope this is a joke and I just didn’t get it.
“No doubt 1980s was the golden era.” Top Gun, Gremlins, The Goonies, Beetlejuice, Fatal Attraction, Blade Runner, Scarface?! These are movies that are the butt end of endless jokes. I don’t know what standards you place movies, but apparently plot and acting has nothing to do with them.
Jesus, what were you thinking!
hhv, 4 months ago
Alex I hope you’re kidding.. Of course Blade Runner sucks, you could like it! All these movies are entertaining as shit, and classics.
HE, 1 year ago
Where the fuck is Caddyshack?
You’ll put Fatal Attraction, an abundantly average and mediocre films by 80′s standards as well as now.
John M, 1 year ago
Goonies does not deserve consideration on this list. Blade Runner was an incredible movie but did not rock the 80s…
You left out Empire Strikes Back…
John M, 1 year ago
Where is The Toxic Avenger !!!????
god, 1 year ago
What about Empire Strikes Back, or Ferris Bueller’s day off?
god, 1 year ago
Oh and Leathal Weapon and Predator? C’mon get your facts right, Blade Runner, and Scarface where not readily accepted in the 80s. and seriously Fatal Attraction, really?
MrMe, 1 year ago
Groundhog Day FTW!!!
Red Dawn FTW 2!!!!
Drop Batman and The Terminator from the list.
brock, stock, & two smoking barrels » Wednesday, 1 year ago
[...] 20 great movies from the 80s [...]
Blast From The Past: 20 Movies That Rocked The 80s - monstermike's posterous, 1 year ago
[...] When it comes to entertainment, theres no doubt 1980s was the golden era. When the decade rolled around, movie pundits predicted that the 80s was going to be disastrous for the industry but that wasnt the case. Some of the movies released in the 80s have been passed from one generation to another.Source:http://itthing.com/blast-from-the-past-20-movies-that-rocked-the-80s [...]
BenSG, 1 year ago
And “The Blues Brothers”???
15 Movies Thatl Make a Grown Man Cry - Movies Fizz, 1 year ago
[...] Blast From The Past: 20 Movies That Rocked The 80s [...]
Kittie Walker, 1 year ago
Lol I walked out of the cinema when I went to see fatal attraction! Most of the films on the list are modern classics but come on where’s The Breakfast Club?
The Entropy Report › Tuesday, August 31, 2010, 1 year ago
[...] OF INTEREST – Blast From The Past: 20 Movies That Rocked The 80s [...]
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The Last Dragon, 3 months ago
The 80s was such a great time for Movies. Great list, except for of course Batman Returns which isn’t even an 80s movie but I think you meant Batman (1989) & you left off The martial arts meets motown/kung fu in harlem cult classic Berry Gordy’s The Last Dragon. Some other notable 80s movies include:
BloodSport
The Lost Boys
Rocky III
Red Dawn
Star Trek The Wrath of Khan
Empire Strikes Back
Short Circuit
Weird Science
Breakfast Club
Ferris Buller’s Day Off
Rambo
Footloose
Trading Places
Coming to America
Beverly Hills Cop
Predator
Total Recall
Running Man
RoboCop
Wonder how many of these Hollywood will remake in the next 5 years…..
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Jessie J, 4 weeks ago
I love this list! Maybe I, too, don’t have high “standards” when it comes to films, but you have to admit these are all entertaining. Gremlins, Scarface, Batman, Beetlejuice all bring back childhood memories. You can’t honestly say that too many of the films spewed out today are even worth watching.