By Nermeen Nabil Khear 
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Imagine, if you will, a time of wild economic inequality, global conflict, and Donald Trump every freakin’ time you turn on your TV. But all of that in neon, and with a way cooler soundtrack. I’m talking, of course, about the ‘80s: the decade that gave us Spike Lee, Hayao Miyazaki, Tim Burton, John Hughes, and Cher (but, you know, the serious actress). Arnold blew up a whole bunch of stuff; Michael J. Fox went back in time to avoid sleeping with his mom; Eddie Murphy made cops seem fun and approachable; and people went around asking “Where’s the beef?” for reasons that remain unclear even to historians. It was quite a time.
It was also an era when beloved blockbusters could come in all shapes and sizes, and there were nearly 100% fewer Marvel movies. The massive hits of the decade include action movies, but also romantic comedies, horror movies, and family dramas. It doesn’t have the reputation of the 1970s as a cinematic golden age, but there’s something to be said for the sheer volume of enduring classics that the decade’s filmmakers produced. Here are some of the very best, and where to find them.
Steel Magnolias (1989)
Mention this movie in the right crowd and watch the tears start to well up in eyes—but it’s also very funny, thoroughly quotable, and full of great performances from the all-star team of Sally Field, Dolly Parton, Shirley MacLaine, Olympia Dukakis, Julia Roberts, and Daryl Hannah. You can stream Steel Magnolias on Max or rent it from Prime Video.
Moonstruck (1987)
Cher won an Academy Award for her performance as an Italian-American widow Loretta Castorini, deciding whether to settle into comfortable middle age with the man her parents want for her—or` go wild with his brother, played by Nicolas Cage. You can stream Moonstruck on Prime Video, The Criterion Channel, The Roku Channel, and Pluto TV.
Do the Right Thing (1989)
Director Spike Lee had his greatest triumph with this funny, quotable, and ultimately explosive film about the racial tensions percolating in a Brooklyn neighborhood on a hot summer day. You can stream Do the Right Thing on Netflix or rent it from Prime Video.
Beverly Hills Cop (1984)
Eddie Murphy was never hotter than in the first film of this action comedy that rocketed him from comic genius to international superstar. If you grew up in the 1980s, try listening to anything on the soundtrack without being transported. You can rent Beverly Hills Cop from Prime Video.
Desperately Seeking Susan (1985)
Rosanna Arquette stars in director Susan Seidelman’s cult classic as a bored New Jersey housewife who sets out in pursuit of a free-spirited punk chick (Madonna) who’s she’s become enthralled by, eventually taking on her persona to find fulfillment. Madonna was on the cusp of megastardom, but the film also provided breakout roles for Laurie Metcalf, Aidan Quinn, John Turturro, and Giancarlo Esposito. You can stream Desperately Seeking Susan on Max or rent it from Prime Video.
The Terminator (1984)
James Cameron broke into the big time with this smart, satisfying sci-fi action movie about a robot assassin from the future (Arnold Schwarzenegger) sent back in time to murder a waitress before she can give birth to humanity’s savior. (As if you didn’t know all of that.) Arnold is the marquee name, but Linda Hamilton’s beleaguered Sarah Conner steals the franchise. You can stream The Terminator on MGM+ and The Roku Channel or rent it from Prime Video.
Beetlejuice (1988)
Tim Burton was at his weirdest and wildest in this tribute to the afterlife, in which the ghosts Geena Davis and Alec Baldwin team up with Michael Keaton’s raunchy poltergeist to scare a living family out of their home. You can rent Beetlejuice from Prime Video.
Top Gun (1986)
Tom Cruise feels the need for speed in this fast-paced movie about sweaty jock pilots who are definitely into girls. Definitely. You can stream Top Gun on Paramount+ and Prime Video.
My Neighbor Totoro (1988)
This gorgeously animated Hayao Miyazaki favorite follows sisters Satsuke and Mei as they move to an old country house with their father to await their mother’s hoped-for recovery from an illness. What they find in the house are playful spirits who lead them on an adventure. You can stream My Neighbor Totoro on Max or rent it from Prime Video.
Desert Hearts (1985)
An about-to-be-divorced professor, Vivian (Helen Shaver) goes to stay on a cattle ranch where she meets Cay (Patricia Charbonneau), the ranch owner’s daughter who helps to bring Vivian out of her shell. A charming romance, it’s also, refreshingly, one of the few LGBTQ+ movies from the era that doesn’t lean to tragedy. You can stream Desert Hearts on Max and The Criterion Channel or rent it from Prime Video.
Back to the Future (1985)
Great Scott! Michael J. Fox and Christopher Lloyd are brilliantly paired in this time-travel comedy that sees Marty McFly visiting the ‘50s and exploring the lives of his parents when they were in high school. And finding that his mom has a crush on him. Heavy. You can rent Back to the Future from Prime Video.
Child’s Play (1988)
The progenitor of one of our most enduring slasher franchises (seven movies and a TV series, all written and/or directed by Chucky creator Don Mancini), Child’s Play works in large part because it knows how ridiculous the premise is. Brad Dourif voices killer Charles Lee Ray, who performs a spell to transfer his soul into a doll before he dies. It’s got solid thrills and a self-aware sense of humor that would serve the series well over the decades, even as it got much weirder. You can stream Child’s Play on Max or rent it from Prime Video.
Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982)
In a sea of teen slacker comedies that were popular in the early 1980s, Fast Times is something different: Director Amy Heckerling and writer Cameron Crowe’s capture the dumb minutiae of high-school life. There’s plenty of raunchy humor, but, at its heart, it’s a coming-of-age movie about the awkwardness of budding sexuality. You can rent Fast Times at Ridgemont High from Prime Video.
Dirty Dancing (1987)
Jennifer Grey and Patrick Swayze are on fire here in what is, without a doubt, the sexiest movie ever to be set at a family vacation resort in the Catskills. But also still heartwarming, somehow? You can rent Dirty Dancing from Prime Video.
Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)
I’m sure nobody way back at the beginning of the 1980s thought that we’d still be going to Indiana Jones movies—but Raiders of the Lost Ark is just that good. Sequels might have diluted its power a bit, but this one is pure adventure. You can stream Raiders of the Lost Ark on Disney+ or rent it from Prime Video.
Lean on Me (1989)
Morgan Freeman plays the real-life Joe Louis Clark, principal of Eastside High School in Paterson, New Jersey. The true story might have been a bit more complicated, but Freeman’s Clark is electric: a tough, no-nonsense educator willing to do whatever it takes to bring his students to the movie’s rousing finale. You can rent Lean on Me from Prime Video.
Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home (1986)
Star Trek had a broader pop culture moment in the 1980s, capped by this heartfelt and genuinely funny time-travel adventure in which the crew has to travel back in time to save the whales. The result feels both like a time capsule of the era and a timelessly charming fishes-out-of-water story, filled with colorful metaphors and nuclear wessels. You can stream Star Trek IV on Paramount+ or rent it from Prime Video.
Batman (1989)
Travel back with me to an era when we weren’t all sick to fucking death of superheroes. Tim Burton’s weird and stylish take on the comic book crimefighter is weird, funny, and sexy in ways that would scare the hell out of today’s branded blockbusters. You can stream Batman on Max or rent it from Prime Video.
My Beautiful Laundrette (1985)
Johnny (Daniel Day-Lewis) and Omar (Gordon Warnecke) are a thoroughly mismatched couple: Johnny’s a former right-wing skinhead, while Omar’s a Pakistani-British man from a well-off family. Despite the trials of being a gay interracial couple in Thatcher’s Britain, romance blossoms when the two set about fixing up a run-down laundrette. You can stream My Beautiful Laundrette on Prime Video and Pluto TV.
Return of the Living Dead (1985)
This horror comedy with punk style is both a knowing parody of zombie movies while also managing to be an impressively gory thriller in its own right that moves the whole genre forward. Plus, it’s got a great death-rock soundtrack. You can stream Return of the Living Dead on MGM+, Tubi, and Pluto TV or rent it from Prime Video.
I’m Gonna Git You Sucka (1988)
Prior to creating the iconic In Living Color in the 1990s, Keenan Ivory Wayans directed this deeply goofy, but frequently hilarious, spoof of blaxploitation films of the previous generation. The cast includes not only up-and-coming (at the time) actors like Chris Rock and Dawn Lewis, but many of the stars of the movies that it parodies (Bernie Casey, Isaac Hayes, etc.) You can stream I’m Gonna Git You Sucka on Pluto TV and The Roku Channel or rent it from Prime Video.
Body Heat (1981)
Kathleen Turner stars in Lawrence Kasdan’s essential neo-noir as one of cinema’s ultimate femmes fatale, playing a very dangerous (and very frequently naked) game with William Hurt. A super steamy erotic thriller classic. You can rent Body Heat from Prime Video.
The Color Purple (1985)
Steven Spielberg’s adaptation of the Alice Walker novel is both a deeply intimate story and an epic. The life of the poor, abused, abandoned Celie (Whoopi Goldberg) plays out like a hero’s journey, as compelling as any in cinematic mythology, set agains the backdrop of the larger crisis of slavery and prejudice in the young United States. The recent musical adaptation is great, but there’s still plenty of room for this quieter adaptation. You can rent The Color Purple from Prime Video.
Hollywood Shuffle (1987)
Robert Townsend directs himself as Bobby Taylor, a satire about the perils of navigating the Hollywood system for an actor simultaneously too black and not black enough for the tastes of studio bosses. Through elaborate fantasy sequences and parodies of popular movies, Townsend creates a sharp and often extremely funny sendup that’s sadly still relevant. You can stream Hollywood Shuffle on Prime Video, Tubi, The Roku Channel, and Pluto TV.
Stand By Me (1986)
One of the best Stephen King adaptations doesn’t qualify as horror at all, instead being a coming-of-age drama set in the 1950s about four best friends setting out on a quest to see a dead body. The movie captures both the real and imagined trials of growing up. You can stream Stand By Me on Max or rent it from Prime Video.
Purple Rain (1984)
The plot is thin, sure…but not really the point. Prince plays The Kid, who fled an abusive home to make his mark in the music world, and faces off against a rival trying to steal the spotlight and his girl. Part narrative, part concert film, and part music video, Purple Rain was conceived as a showcase for Prince’s talents, and it absolutely captures him at the height of his purple powers. You can rent Purple Rain from Prime Video.
Field of Dreams (1989)
One of the most beloved sports films ever is also a dreamy fantasy about a farmer (Kevin Costner) building a baseball diamond in the middle of a cornfield in order to attract a bunch of ghosts who might want to play a few games there—but who really just wants to play catch with his dad one last time. A silly premise? Maybe, but it plays out like a fairy tale, and generates real emotion. You can stream Field of Dreams on Netflix or rent it from Prime Video.
The Karate Kid (1984)
The movie that kicked off not only a mania for karate in the 1980s, but also a franchise that’s had a surprisingly long life, this one has everything you need in a rousing underdog sports movie: Nerdy loser Daniel (Ralph Macchio) comes to a new town where he’s the immediate target of bullies (including William Zabka’s Johnny)—until he meets up with mentor Mr. Miyagi (Pat Morita). It all builds to a cheer-worthy finale with some rousing ‘80s tunes. You can stream The Karate Kid on Hulu or rent it from Prime Video.
The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
The second Star Wars movie remains the best of the entire series. Building on the Flash Gordon-inspired original, Empire goes deeper and darker, finding real emotional resonance among its core characters while also putting truly kick-ass space action front and center. This is a high the franchise (and perhaps all of blockbuster filmmaking) has been chasing for decades. You can stream The Empire Strikes Back on Disney+ or rent it from Prime Video.
Spaceballs (1987)
Maybe you’re getting a little bored with Star Wars-style outer space action? No better antidote than the Mel Brooks classic that effectively skewers not just the sci-fi tropes on which that series leans, but the vast merchandising empire to which it gave birth (“Spaceballs: The Flamethrower!”). Even George Lucas loved it. You can stream Spaceballs on Prime Video.
Cinema Paradiso (1988)
In a war-torn Sicilian town, young Salvatore escapes from, his alternately mundane and terrifying everyday and life into the movies, befriending an old projectionist who later encourages him to pursue his love of filmmaking. It’s a lovely ode to the power of cinema, packed with memorable, colorful characters and with an all-time great ending. You can rent Cinema Paradiso from Prime Video.
Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986)
One of John Hughes funniest (and—bonus—least problematic) movies is a joyous tribute to the power of blowing off whatever you’re supposed to be doing in favor of much cooler stuff. There’s no way that the movie’s core trio (Matthew Broderick, Mia Sara, and Alan Ruck) would have learned nearly as much if they’d gone to school. You can stream Ferris Bueller on Pluto TV or rent it from Prime Video.
Elvira, Mistress of the Dark (1988)
The beloved horror host stepped onto the big screen for the first time with this gloriously silly movie involving Elvira (Cassandra Peterson) traveling to the small, conservative town of Fallwell, Massachusetts, where her revealing clothes and sassy attitude quickly turn most of the town against her. It’s like Footloose with black magic and boobs. You can stream Elvira on Tubi, Pluto TV, AMC+, The Roku Channel, and Prime Video.
The Dark Crystal (1982)
Jim Henson and company followed up The Muppet Show with this rich, dark fantasy following a couple of gelflings on a quest to restore balance to their world. The endlessly covetous Skeksis are the stuff of nightmares, but they also feel like a warning about the dangers of unchecked greed that we should have taken seriously. Henson wasn’t afraid to challenge viewers of any age with a complex moral message. You can stream The Dark Crystal on Prime Video, Hulu, Peacock, Pluto TV, and Shout Factory TV.
Who Framed Roger Rabbit? (1988)
A technical triumph from director Robert Zemeckis, Roger Rabbit is also a fun tribute to Hollywood of yore, and to the hard-boiled detective movies that were once a ubiquitous genre unto themselves. Bob Hoskins plays Eddie Valiant, a boozy and embittered gumshoe hired to investigate allegations that the wife of cartoon star Roger is having an affair. Cartoon luminaries from Bugs Bunny to Betty Boop pop in for cameos. You can stream Who Framed Roger Rabbit on Disney+ or rent it from Prime Video.
Police Story (1985)
The plot is nothing new: Jackie Chan plays a cop who singlehandedly puts away a major Hong Kong drug dealer, but then has to protect the man’s secretary with some help from his own girlfriend (Maggie Cheung). No matter: The action comedy includes several of the most breathtaking sequences of Chan’s career (which is really saying something), including a legendary sequence during which the actor falls several stories through a series of exploding light bulbs and fixtures. You can stream Police Story on Max and The Criterion Channel or rent it from Apple TV.
My Dinner with Andre (1981)
A casual dinner conversation between André Gregory and Wallace Shawn gets wildly existential in director Louis Malle’s endlessly fascinating classic. “Boring” in the best way. You can stream My Dinner with Andre on Max and The Criterion Channel or rent it from Prime Video.
Highlander (1986)
Immortal beings wander the earth, forced to fight each other to the death with swords—because there can be only one. Or something. The goofy premise is played with absolute seriousness by Christopher Lambert as the title’s highlander. As a result, the film works both as a sci-fi action epic as well as pure camp, ably assisted by Sean Connery’s Ramirez, an Egyptian immortal from Spain who, for some reason, sounds entirely Scottish. The Queen theme song, “Princes of the Universe,” kicks ass. You can stream Highlander on Tubi, Peacock, Prime Video, and Pluto TV.
The Untouchables (1987)
Brian De Palma’s very loose history lesson on Elliot Ness (Kevin Costner) as he forms the title’s team (with help from Sean Connery) to bring down Al Capone (Robert de Niro). It’s a crowd-pleasing crime thriller that also offers up some brilliant performances and artful, smart direction. You can stream The Untouchables on Peacock and MGM+ or rent it from Prime Video.
Harlem Nights (1989)
Eddie Murphy directed and stars in this period piece set in a Prohibition-era speakeasy full of gangsters and gamblers. It doesn’t entirely work, but this is a once-in-a-lifetime cast that includes Murphy, Richard Pryor, Red Foxx, Della Reese, Jasmine Guy, Arsenio Hall, etc., and it’s a lot of fun to see them all share the screen together. You can stream Harlem Nights on Tubi, Paramount+, and Pluto TV or rent it from Prime Video.
Ghostbusters (1984)
There was a craft to ‘80s comedies that I’m not sure still exists: Take something like Ghostbusters, or Back to the Future, sci-fi comedies that don’t feel excessively bombastic, and with jokes that land at least as often as they don’t. There’s a reason why we’re still watching them. You can stream Ghostbusters on Max or rent it from Prime Video.
The Little Mermaid (1989)
As much as there is to love about the recent live-action remake, it’s unlikely to entirely replace the original, gorgeously animated Disney classic. With its subtly subversive themes and massive box office, it’s also the movie that almost singlehandedly revived a then-flagging Disney and made it the company it is today (with all the good and bad that implies). You can stream The Little Mermaid on Disney+ or rent it from Prime Video.
Blue Velvet (1986)
David Lynch’s neo-noir starts with a college student finding a severed human ear in a field and leads to a world of weird sex and violence. It introduces several of the director’s major themes, particularly the idea of a small town that seems completely normal until you pull back the curtain, at which point it looks like, well, a David Lynch movie. Isabella Rossellini, Kyle MacLachlan, Dennis Hopper, Laura Dern, and Dean Stockwell lead the impressive cast. You can stream Blue Velvet on Max or rent it from Apple TV.
Akira (1988)
Set in a dystopian 2019, this beautiful cyberpunk classic finds biker Kaneda forced to face down his friend Tetsuo after he gains telekinetic abilities in an accident. The wildly kinetic movie and its highly detailed world set a new standard for anime—we’re still living in the animation world that Akira gave birth to. You can stream Akira on Crunchyroll.
They Live (1988)
The metaphor isn’t particularly subtle in this John Carpenter classic, but that’s all for the better. Roddy Piper plays a nameless drifter who comes to understand that there are secret subliminal messages everywhere: telling us to shop more, to stick to the status quo—in other words, never question American-style capitalism. It all comes under threat when our lead gets a pair of glasses that allow him to see the truth all around him. You can rent They Live from Prime Video.
Clue (1985)
An all-star comedy murder mystery? Clue was doing the Knives Out thing before that movie was even a glimmer in Rian Johnson’s eye, and it’s delightfully silly. It wasn’t terribly popular upon its initial release, but it’s become a cult classic in the years since. You can stream Clue on Pluto TV or rent it from Prime Video.
The Running Man (1987)
It’s the future as visualized in the 1980s and, well, it’s not all that far off, actually. Starring Arnold Schwarzenegger as a framed criminal forced to compete in a competition program, the movie foresaw our reality-driven television culture, the use of AI and other technologies to alter perceived reality, as well as our ever-increasing willingness to let entertainment distract us from what’s really going on around us. This fun little action movie feels almost prophetic. You can stream The Running Man on Paramount+ and MGM+ or rent it from Prime Video.
The Princess Bride (1987)
A flawlessly entertaining fantasy, The Princess Bride works on almost every level: as a quotable comedy, a soaring romance, and a Robin Hood-style action movie that has fun with the tropes of those kinds of movies. Just a delight. You can stream The Princess Bride on Disney+ and Hulu or buy it from Prime Video.
Raising Arizona (1987)
It’s not always the first movie that comes to mind when we talk about the Coen brothers, but this deliriously over-the-top crime comedy about a kidnapping (by Nicholas Cage and Holly Hunter) is, as deranged as it is, ultimately, pretty sweet. You can rent Raising Arizona from Prime Video.
Die Hard (1988)
It’s the Christmas movie that came along and kicked It’s a Wonderful Life right off the 35th floor of Nakatomi Plaza tower. A brilliantly entertaining action classic. You can stream Die Hard on Prime Video and Hulu.
This articles is written by : Nermeen Nabil Khear Abdelmalak
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