The '80s were a crazy time to be alive in America. So many aspects of pop culture were born in that era. Television shows and movies from that time were also light years from what they are today. Not to say the '80s were a time of pure bliss onscreen and off, because that isn't the case. The '80s allowed much more questionable content than we see in shows and movies now. In the beginning, it was simply about raw, uncut entertainment. Sensitivities were ignored, and feelings were not spared when it came to money-making content.
On the other hand, the '80s were a magical time for fantasy movies, superstitions, mythical creatures, and really well-written animation. Many of the kids' movies that were born in the '80s received massive applause and have become cult classics 40 years later. This was an era before everything became computer animated. These were the times of Jim Henson's puppets and stop-motion animation. Let's take a look at some of the hit movies from the '80s that helped define America.
20 Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982)
This movie is absolutely a cult classic. It's hilarious, timeless, and kids still quote this movie 40+ years after if was released. That's what a successful film looks like. In the movie, we find ourselves along for the ride as a high school student in 1982 at California's Ridgemont High. The theme is sex, drugs, and rock n roll; these kids sure knew how to party. This movie will keep you laughing with all the pranks these crazy kids pull. This is Sean Penn at his finest and most talented work. I'm sure all the people who were featured in Fast Times at Ridgemont High still giggle about the fun times had by everyone involved.
19 Short Circuit (1986)
This sweet movie, Short Circuit, about a robot who's just trying to fit in, was extremely popular in the '80s. When the robot, "Number Five," is struck by lightning, suddenly, he has emotions and a point to his life, but being alive isn't always as much fun as it looks. We embarked on a journey with this goofy little robot as he escapes the mean scientists and takes off in search of friends and a life of freedom. Presently, we have the movie Wall-e which, if you look closely with your heart, you can make out Number Five's robot's good looks. We sure have a soft spot for anything with big googly eyes.
18 Ladyhawke (1985)
Another absolute classic starring major movie stars before they become major. In this heartwarming, bittersweet movie, Ladyhawke, a man, and a woman are kept apart by an evil, jealous man's curse; we see a young Michelle Pfeiffer and the charming Rutger Hauer and, of course, the youngster in charge of saving them all, Matthew Broderick. Pfeiffer is cursed to always become a beautiful red-tailed hawk at sunrise and Hauer a gorgeous black wolf by sunset. The lovers are doomed to never touch or be together in human form again until Broderick saves the day and night, literally. This is one of the best and most underrated movies of the '80s.
17 Ghostbusters (1984)
Ghostbusters is another one of those "once-in-a-lifetime" movies that, even with the sequel and remake, just cannot be outdone. Where else will you ever find a 112-foot Stay Puft Marshmallow Man dressed like a sailor? This was way before CGI animation, and much of the Ghostbusters was done using puppets, small-sized ghosts in an equally small New York City. They even used real actors in costumes for some of the ghost scenes, including the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man. The Ghostbusters movie and animated show are filled with nostalgia for many folks. Who doesn't know Slimer?
16 Footloose (1984)
If ever there was an original movie and soundtrack to get you dancing, it was Footloose. Once out of the city of Chicago, troublemaker and dancing boy, Ren, shows the small Midwestern town how to party. Of course, he makes plenty of friends and enemies on his way to flip this tight-laced town upside down. After a lot of noise and mischief, Keven Bacon shows us the way to winning the hearts and understanding of most people because everyone just needs to have fun and cut loose sometimes. This is certainly one classic from the '80s filled with great dancing.
15 Revenge of the Nerds (1984)
Revenge of the Nerds is a hilarious movie about a group of nerds and what they do to get back at their bullies. It goes to show that sometimes being nerdy is the only way to be if you have a sense of humor. The movie is filled with raunchy jokes, inappropriate stunts, and a myriad of hilarious moments. After putting up with the constant harassment of the Alpha Beta Fraternity, these nerds are fresh out of forgiveness and embark on a journey of revenge and chaos. They even create their own fraternity. This side-splitting movie paved the way for many other "nerd" movies and others to crawl from the sidelines and right onto center stage.
14 Dirty Dancing (1987)
Dirty Dancing is a truly iconic movie of the '80s. The steamy dance scenes, cool greaser kids, toe-tapping music, and lineup of some soon-to-be mega stars makes for an outstanding story of a loner girl who just wants to have some summer fun. The soundtrack was almost as popular as the hit movie, and you would be hard-pressed to find someone who has not heard it. Dirty Dancing is certainly one of those movies that will never fade out. Even though remakes and equals were attempted, nothing will ever burn as true as the original movie starring Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey. After all, nobody puts Baby in the corner.
13 Caddyshack (1980)
Can you think of Caddyshack without chuckling at least a little bit? Not likely. This movie is everything the '80s was and needed, plus some. The '80s saw some massive talent and funny people come out of the shadows and slap us all around with their jokes and banter. One of those actors was, of course, the infamous Bill Murray. Even now, 40+ years later, Murray frequently pops into current movies, such as Zombieland. Murray is just a really legendary and likable guy. Caddyshack will always be one of the "go-to" movies for slapstick comedy and laughing-til-you-cry antics gone terribly wrong. The goofiness alone will surely cheer up any bad day. Anything placing Chevy Chase and Murray opposite each other is doomed for "tears streaming down your face" style laughter.
12 Beverly Hills Cop (1984)
Who doesn't remember Eddie Murphy in Beverly Hills Cop? That movie defines the '80s in so many ways. Even the soundtrack for this epic movie was good. Murphy, in general, makes one think fondly of the '80s. It was truly his time to shine as an actor, and the world loved him. He was hilarious, quirky, and always in trouble in some way. In Beverly Hills Cop, we meet Murphy as a Detroit cop who just lost a friend to murder. He relocated to Beverly Hills, where he shows the crew in blue how to skip protocol and do the job the right way. This movie was a huge hit
11 Stripes (1981)
Stripes is an amusing movie about two buddies that decide to enlist in the Army after being severely disappointed with their jobs. When you put John Candy and Bill Murray together in a movie, there's nothing that could have happened except monumental amounts of humor and slapstick comedy. Pair those two goofballs with a full lineup of funny people, and you have one of the greatest movies ever made. This movie about two guys not even remotely cut out for the Army will leave you in stitches.
10 The Naked Gun: From the Files of the Police Squad (1988)
Another movie with a lineup filled with funny people is The Naked Gun. This movie is exactly what happens when you put Leslie Nielsen with the likes of "Weird Al" Yankovic and O.J. Simpson. The Naked Gun franchise never disappoints its fans with its back-to-back slapstick humor and constant bloopers. Nielsen is a bit of a clumsy idiot detective but knows how to solve a case, and it isn't always the usual way! All of the movies in The Naked Gun franchise have been absolute winners in comedy and entertainment.
9 The Karate Kid (1984)
Movies like The Karate Kid just aren't made the same way anymore. The Karate Kid was a mega-hit and, to this day, remains so. The amount of spinoffs, memes, and mentions this movie has received is certainly more than most will ever receive. Many generations have adored this film, and it shows in the number of fans engaging in the latest spinoff, Cobra Kai, where we see the same crew, only much older and with kids of their own who can't wait to get on the mat. The Karate Kid did for karate and martial arts what The Black Stallion did for black horses. To this day, there has never been a bigger martial arts-focused movie about kids than The Karate Kid.
8 Little Shop of Horrors (1986)
Plants and horror might not be on everyone's top five list, but for many, Little Shop of Horrors is one of the greatest movies and musicals ever produced. It's 40 years after production ended, and you can still find tons of Audrey II look-a-likes around Halloween every year. If anything, this cult classic gained popularity over the last two decades. What's not to love about a sweet little plant that needs to eat people to survive? The cast has a stellar lineup, so you knew before ever seeing the movie that it would be a winner with actors like Steve Martin, Jim Belushi, and Rick Moranis.
7 Lethal Weapon (1987)
Everyone thinks this Mel Gibson hit movie makes for an awesome holiday movie, but Lethal Weapon is more of an anytime; day or night movie. Mel Gibson was a household name in the '80s, and it's no wonder, with the huge amount of winning movies he starred in, why Lethal Weapon was the kind of movie that everybody's dad was always watching. Mel Gibson always played a great crazed man, and his role as Martin Riggs alongside Danny Glover's Roger Murtaugh is nothing short of a crazy cop fixated on catching a drug dealer with his polar opposite partner. Clearly, those two goofballs did something right since three more Lethal Weapons followed behind the first.
6 Scarface (1983)
Another classic that has been made into countless memes in order to prolong its life, Scarface definitely left its mark on the movie industry. There have been plenty of mafia movies and also plenty of drug cartel movies, but nothing had been created at that point that was anywhere near the quality and magnitude of Scarface. The lineup alone for this dynamic and rarely-forgotten film is phenomenal, so you just know it's going to be a winner. The actors in Scarface, such as; Michelle Pfeiffer, Al Pacino, Steve Bauer, and Mark Margolis are just kids in this '80s film. Margolis was an excellent cartel king in Breaking Bad, and he surely learned a few tricks from his role as Alberto "The Shadow" in Scarface.
5 Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984)
What a time it was to be alive in the '80s! It seems like it was THE era of the best action movies ever written. Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom came out halfway through the '80s and set the tone for the franchise that would go on to make their three main movies during that decade. Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom came in the middle of Indiana Jones Raiders of the Lost Ark and Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. Two more Indiana Jones movies have come out in the first and third decade of the 2000s, which goes to prove an older movie that was excellent can continue to build its franchise excellence decades later for an entirely new generation and still be a massive hit. We even had the awesome kids' spinoff Ridley Jones to add to Indiana Jones' family tree.
4 Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior (1981)
Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior was the fantastic follow-up movie to Mad Max, which was released in 1979 and received rave reviews. This movie was unlike other movies of the same nature, and people couldn't get enough of this lone widower ex-cop who had lost his child, wife, and everything he loved and is now out for vengeance and survival. Even after all of these years and generations, we still crave more Mad Max and friends, and that's what we will continue to receive in the new Mad Max installment Furiosa and the next chapter Mad Max: The Wasteland. We are clearly a nation that loves War Boys, insane weapons, and survival of the fittest stories where the underdog is the champion; then, of course, we are equally enthralled with the vehicular lineup that the Mad Max franchise has gifted us.
3 National Lampoon's Vacation (1983)
National Lampoon's Vacation is one of those chaotic and hilarious movies that will never die. There aren't many people out there that have made it this far in their lives without being brought to hysterical tears of laughter over a National Lampoon movie at some point. This winner, National Lampoon's Vacation, is what started it all and left us needing more from this ridiculous and clueless family. We all loved the Griswold's because they represented each of us in our suburban American lives. In this specific movie, we travel with the Griswold family as they drive cross-country on vacation. So many hilarious moments make up this iconic movie.
2 Gremlins (1984)
Gremlins was another massive hit from the '80s and are still popular today, even without a remake. This is one of those movies that just nailed it the first time and wouldn't benefit from a remake except to draw in a younger generation. With Gremlins being a cult classic, it really doesn't need help in the marketing department. Who could look at sweet Gizmo's little face and not want to watch the movie? Following the first installment of Gremlins, came the sequel that didn't become as popular as the original, but like most movies, it's tough to follow-up on something great with something even better. Gizmo is adorable and fluffy, but what he is capable of creating when fed after midnight and once wet isn't exactly cute and innocent. Who knows, maybe we will see a Gremlins remake someday.
1 The Blues Brothers (1980)
The Blues Brothers is a fantastic movie for just about anybody looking for a chuckle. The cast includes John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd, which obviously means you should expect nothing short of the finest in comedy. This goofball movie is about two brothers on a mission to save the orphanage they were raised in before it is shut down. Their journey is hilarious since they always seem to have some strange characters hunting them down. The bad guys range from neo-nazis to country bands throughout their quest, and they are chased by the police for basically the entire movie. The Blues Brothers, of course, were born on SNL skit. The follow-up sequel The Blues Brothers 2000 was released in 1998 and flopped in theaters.