Top 101 Movies of the 80s (1 Viewer)

[Andy Dufresne]

I'm not going to stand here and listen to this baloney.

 

[TripItUp]

 

[zamboni]

Rad

Love, love, love this movie. Was always part of a Young Bogart's triple feature with (pretty sure neither are making the list): Thrashin' and The Dirt Bike Kid.

Might have worn a RAD Racing t-shirt to a 35th year anniversary showing at the theater. Thought I would be the biggest fan in the place until someone walked in with the full RAD racing suit with helmet.

I suspect Bart Conner will be well represented here.

 

[KarmaPolice]

I'm not going to stand here and listen to this baloney.

He won't you know. He doesn't stand for baloney.

Now I want to watch Weird Science. Fantastic Paxton in that one.

 

[KarmaPolice]

How about we post a few?

Like last time, I won't do a ton for write-ups. Often it's not going to a pick I don't have rated highly or have even seen.

 

[KarmaPolice]

And like last time there are tons of ties and 101 movies because of a tie at the bottom.

 

[KarmaPolice]

101/100

CRIMES AND MISDEMEANORS
BETTER OFF DEAD

These are our #62 selections on our countdowns. There are a handful of movies on our lists that were ranked lower that will still show up because the other person had them as well. My pick was Better Off Dead.

 

[KarmaPolice]

98/99

STEEL MAGNOLIAS
THE STEPFATHER [AMC+, PEACOCK, TUBI, KANOPY]

Our #60 selections. Going forward, when we have our ties like this, I am just putting 80s' selection first for consistency. I will also try to look up on justwatch.com to see if the selections might be streaming anywhere currently.

The Stepfather was actually a movie I just saw for the first time last year and was really impressed with it. Great performance by Terry O'Quinn. This was one of my favorites that I watched new last year.

 

[KarmaPolice]

101/100

CRIMES AND MISDEMEANORS
BETTER OFF DEAD

These are our #62 selections on our countdowns. There are a handful of movies on our lists that were ranked lower that will still show up because the other person had them as well. My pick was Better Off Dead.

I was going to post that this is what I meant by most of the time when we have a pairing/tie at a ranking his pick is more "adult" while mine gears younger/immature. Others coming up will be more of a contrast.

 

[KarmaPolice]

97: PARIS, TEXAS [HBO MAX, CRITERION]

This is 80s' #59 pick. Damn good movie, but it was just outside of top 100 for me.

 

[KarmaPolice]

96: GOOD MORNING, VIETNAM

My #56. Hard to mess up a movie when you just wind Williams up and let him go. For me it falls off a bit toward the end but it still holds up well. Love the interactions between him and Bruno Kirby.

 

[KarmaPolice]

I'll just do those 6 for the night. I forgot to post how we got the rankings. I just added up our two rankings when they matched, and if it was just on one list, I added it's ranking + 101 for the score.
So the best a movie could do would be 2. My #2 movie is not on his list, so that movie got a 103, and is sitting around the top 30 point because the movies we agreed scored lower (got the higher ranking).

 

[zamboni]

BETTER OFF DEAD

My college housemates and I used to watch this all the time while baked. These two parts always stand out to me:

Everybody Wants Some
Howard Cosell schtick

 

[Ilov80s]

98/99

STEEL MAGNOLIAS
THE STEPFATHER [AMC+, PEACOCK, TUBI, KANOPY]

Our #60 selections. Going forward, when we have our ties like this, I am just putting 80s' selection first for consistency. I will also try to look up on justwatch.com to see if the selections might be streaming anywhere currently.

The Stepfather was actually a movie I just saw for the first time last year and was really impressed with it. Great performance by Terry O'Quinn. This was one of my favorites that I watched new last year.

I had never even heard of The Stepfather. Looks like horror?

 

[KarmaPolice]

98/99

STEEL MAGNOLIAS
THE STEPFATHER [AMC+, PEACOCK, TUBI, KANOPY]

Our #60 selections. Going forward, when we have our ties like this, I am just putting 80s' selection first for consistency. I will also try to look up on justwatch.com to see if the selections might be streaming anywhere currently.

The Stepfather was actually a movie I just saw for the first time last year and was really impressed with it. Great performance by Terry O'Quinn. This was one of my favorites that I watched new last year.

I had never even heard of The Stepfather. Looks like horror?

Yes-ish. More on the suspense end of the spectrum.

 

[Ilov80s]

My picks today:

Crimes and Misdemeanors: my dad was a huge Woody Allen fan, saw everything. I am pretty mixed on him. The movies that worked, really worked and the ones that didn't were exhausting. The cast here is pretty deep and it doesn't come off as just a Woody vehicle. One of the least Woody, Woody films.

Steel Magnolias: A favorite of my wife's that has grown on me over the years. Ridiculous cast that goes 9 deep with great performers. But I am a sucker for Shirley MaClaine and Ouiser is one of her all time best roles.

 

[Andy Dufresne]

My picks today:

Crimes and Misdemeanors: my dad was a huge Woody Allen fan, saw everything. I pretty mixed on him. The movies that worked, really worked and the ones that didn't were exhausting. The cast here is pretty deep and it doesn't come off as just a Woody vehicle. One of the least Woody, Woody films.

Steel Magnolias: A favorite of my wife's that has grown on my over the years. Ridiculous cast that goes 9 deep with great performers. But I am a sucker for Shirley MaClaine and Ouiser is one of her all time best roles.

Well. It can only go up from here.

 

[Pip's Invitation]

My picks today:

Crimes and Misdemeanors: my dad was a huge Woody Allen fan, saw everything. I pretty mixed on him. The movies that worked, really worked and the ones that didn't were exhausting. The cast here is pretty deep and it doesn't come off as just a Woody vehicle. One of the least Woody, Woody films.

I think a lot less about the Woody films I've seen after we learned what a creep he was, but I remember liking this one very much. I liked how it drew on Dostoyevsky without being over-the-top or obsequious about it (Woody wasn't always restrained in that way).

 

[Ilov80s]

My picks today:

Crimes and Misdemeanors: my dad was a huge Woody Allen fan, saw everything. I pretty mixed on him. The movies that worked, really worked and the ones that didn't were exhausting. The cast here is pretty deep and it doesn't come off as just a Woody vehicle. One of the least Woody, Woody films.

Steel Magnolias: A favorite of my wife's that has grown on my over the years. Ridiculous cast that goes 9 deep with great performers. But I am a sucker for Shirley MaClaine and Ouiser is one of her all time best roles.

Well. It can only go up from here.

Actually it’s going down from here. That’s how countdowns work.

 

[Pip's Invitation]

My picks today:

Crimes and Misdemeanors: my dad was a huge Woody Allen fan, saw everything. I pretty mixed on him. The movies that worked, really worked and the ones that didn't were exhausting. The cast here is pretty deep and it doesn't come off as just a Woody vehicle. One of the least Woody, Woody films.

Steel Magnolias: A favorite of my wife's that has grown on my over the years. Ridiculous cast that goes 9 deep with great performers. But I am a sucker for Shirley MaClaine and Ouiser is one of her all time best roles.

Well. It can only go up from here.

Actually it’s going down from here. That’s how countdowns work.

I'm not sure which one of you is the Binky in this situation.

 

[krista4]

101/100

CRIMES AND MISDEMEANORS
BETTER OFF DEAD

These are our #62 selections on our countdowns. There are a handful of movies on our lists that were ranked lower that will still show up because the other person had them as well. My pick was Better Off Dead.

I like Crimes and MIsdemeanors a lot and LOVE Better Off Dead. Great start.

 

[krista4]

98/99

STEEL MAGNOLIAS
THE STEPFATHER [AMC+, PEACOCK, TUBI, KANOPY]

Then this happened.

I kid, mostly! Steel Magnolias is a very good movie for the type it is, which doesn't happen to be my jam. The performances are excellent. And I haven't seen The Stepfather.

 

[Andy Dufresne]

TWO DOLLARS!!!

 

[Pip's Invitation]

96: GOOD MORNING, VIETNAM

My #56. Hard to mess up a movie when you just wind Williams up and let him go. For me it falls off a bit toward the end but it still holds up well. Love the interactions between him and Bruno Kirby.

High school me loved this. Dunno if I've seen it since.

 

[KarmaPolice]

96: GOOD MORNING, VIETNAM

My #56. Hard to mess up a movie when you just wind Williams up and let him go. For me it falls off a bit toward the end but it still holds up well. Love the interactions between him and Bruno Kirby.

High school me loved this. Dunno if I've seen it since.

I watched a bunch last fall when 80s and I started tossing doing this around, and this was one of them. It cooks when it's Robin riffing and doing the radio show, but it gets a bit clunky with the love interest storyline and her brother. Small knock though, and obviously it didn't drop it too much for me.

 

[KarmaPolice]

Now that I stare at it, I think the top 20 might be surprising out of context, but perfectly reflects the two people doing this. I predict at least 4 WTF??s and a few .

 

[Ilov80s]

Now that I stare at it, I think the top 20 might be surprising out of context, but perfectly reflects the two people doing this. I predict at least 4 WTF??s and a few .

Can’t wait to see. I love that the countdown is a surprise to me as well.

 

[Charlie Steiner]

The Stepfather? I see we're going the revisionist history route.

OTOH, no quibbles about Better Off Dead barely squeaking in, and I say that as someone who loves it for its quirkiness. Despite having that degenerate Dan Schneinder in it, I'm willing to give it extra points for having 2 Fast Times at Ridgemont High alums in it (Taylor Negron and Amanda Wyss), as well as Curtis Armstrong, who hits a trifecta of 80's movies with this, Risky Business and Revenge of the Nerds; he also steals the show at least four times:

I've been going to this school for 8 and a half years. I'm no dummy.

Do you know what the street value of this mountain is?

Roy Stalin (looking at Beth): You'll make a fine helper. What's your name?
Charles DeMar: Charles DeMar!

and

Roy Stalin (looking at Lane Meyer and Charles DeMar sitting with each other at the prom): Well, you certainly get my vote for cutest couple, but you better shave her closer before you kiss her goodnight:

Charles DeMar:

Ultimately, we're talking two movies that were blips on the radar in their day, but the one that became a cult classic should have a little more cache.

 

[KarmaPolice]

I gave 0 thought into if these were popular then, represent the 80s, anything like that. This was just my personal list - like I said, I thought of it more as what movies I would grab in a desert island situation. It sounds weird, but there are some on my list I've seen just once or even just this last year that I thought were great and would grab them in the fictional scenario for some rewatches and rated quite high.

 

[Manster]

Tried to watch Steel Magnolias back in the day and couldn't....seemed like a bad chick flick........I spose I could give it another go, now that I'm older, and more mature

 

[zamboni]

OTOH, no quibbles about Better Off Dead barely squeaking in, and I say that as someone who loves it for its quirkiness. Despite having that degenerate Dan Schneinder in it, I'm willing to give it extra points for having 2 Fast Times at Ridgemont High alums in it (Taylor Negron and Amanda Wyss), as well as Curtis Armstrong, who hits a trifecta of 80's movies with this, Risky Business and Revenge of the Nerds; he also steals the show at least four times:

Actually three - also Vincent Schiavelli.

 

[Charlie Steiner]

I gave 0 thought into if these were popular then, represent the 80s, anything like that. This was just my personal list - like I said, I thought of it more as what movies I would grab in a desert island situation. It sounds weird, but there are some on my list I've seen just once or even just this last year that I thought were great and would grab them in the fictional scenario for some rewatches and rated quite high.

Don't know if this is directed at me after my last post, but as a preface after the fact, much respect to you guys for taking the time and effort to do this list, and as it's subjective, take my comments with a grain of salt. I usually feel old when I talk about things from the 80's, but I think it was a great era and love talking about it nonetheless. There are a couple of movies on the more obscure end that I'm hoping make the list but feel like they won't. I won't be mad and I'll probably mention them when the countdown is over.

 

[Charlie Steiner]

Tried to watch Steel Magnolias back in the day and couldn't....seemed like a bad chick flick........I spose I could give it another go, now that I'm older, and more mature

It didn't appeal to me either since it is a chick flick, but it does have a cast of heavy hitters going through their paces.

 

[Dan Lambskin]

Fronch dressing. Fronch fries. Fronch bread. And to drink….Peru

Also no besmirching of Steel Magnolias

 

[Ilov80s]

Steel Magnolias has some great one liners

If you can't say anything nice about anybody, come sit by me

The nicest thing I can say about her is all her tattoos are spelled correctly

 

[otb_lifer]

Dorothy Parker has some great one liners

If you can't say anything nice about anybody, come sit by me

fixed for accuracy

 

[Ilov80s]

Dorothy Parker has some great one liners

If you can't say anything nice about anybody, come sit by me

fixed for accuracy

I actually think it was Teddy Roosevelt’s daughter originally.

 

[otb_lifer]

Dorothy Parker has some great one liners

If you can't say anything nice about anybody, come sit by me

fixed for accuracy

I actually think it was Teddy Roosevelt’s daughter originally.

that's a load of Bull ... you Moose be mistaken

 

[Leroy Hoard]

I actually think it was Teddy Roosevelt’s daughter originally

Pretty sure she also invented the teddy bear.

 

[Ilov80s]

I actually think it was Teddy Roosevelt’s daughter originally

Pretty sure she also invented the teddy bear.

and big sticks

 

[otb_lifer]

UNSOLICITED MUSING

there are roughly 5 under the radar gems i'm hoping to see - reason i'm popping in now with said musing is because if they are gonna be up on this countdown, i would expect them down (Binky, UP) here.

/fin

 

[KarmaPolice]

UNSOLICITED MUSING

there are roughly 5 under the radar gems i'm hoping to see - reason i'm popping in now with said musing is because if they are gonna be up on this countdown, i would expect them down (Binky, UP) here.

/fin

My guess is you want to hope for them on 80s' List.

 

[otb_lifer]

UNSOLICITED MUSING

there are roughly 5 under the radar gems i'm hoping to see - reason i'm popping in now with said musing is because if they are gonna be up on this countdown, i would expect them down (Binky, UP) here.

/fin

My guess is you want to hope for them on 80s' List.

dunno 'bout all that, ol' chum ... after all, it were me & you who convinced @krista4 to finally watch TCM, and we both rated that one extremely high.

 

[Ilov80s]

UNSOLICITED MUSING

there are roughly 5 under the radar gems i'm hoping to see - reason i'm popping in now with said musing is because if they are gonna be up on this countdown, i would expect them down (Binky, UP) here.

/fin

If they don’t make it, I am very curious to hear what you had in mind.

 

[Tick]

No-one asked me, I'll probably pop it at the end of the thread like I did for the others but I think it would be cool to do a "Top 100 80's movies from a bunch of middle aged dummies" list instead of another top x list from a single member. Less "look at awesome me and my opinion are" and more inclusive of the rest of us middle aged dummies. I realize it's a lot more work (a LOT more work) but I feel like it's a better format, sparks more discussion and is a lot more interesting all around. Just my 2 cents. . . of course I'm not willing to help with that (don't have the time). . . .and of course I'm just here to criticize. . . so carry on.

Yes, far far more work. Krista is amazing. I like your idea though. The one drawback of the movie vs music versions is that we can put all the daily songs on a playlist so that people can listen a long, discover new songs, etc. Obviously nobody can watch multiple movies everyday. Some of the movies might be difficult to find- can't just throw a link to Youtube or Spotify up. Also I can commit to listening to a 4 minute Supertramp song that I am pretty sure will annoy me. I can't commit to a 140 minute sci-fi film that I am disinterested in.

But all that said and perhaps I would consider running something like it over the summer when I have more time.

Is there a way to make a public list on some service like JustWatch, where it will give links to stream/rent on whatever service has it currently?

 

[Tick]

Hmm - I might need to put together a top 50 zombie movie list.

 

[Tick]

Rad

https://twitter.com/MCamerlengo/status/1425512841797308418?s=20

 

[Ilov80s]

No-one asked me, I'll probably pop it at the end of the thread like I did for the others but I think it would be cool to do a "Top 100 80's movies from a bunch of middle aged dummies" list instead of another top x list from a single member. Less "look at awesome me and my opinion are" and more inclusive of the rest of us middle aged dummies. I realize it's a lot more work (a LOT more work) but I feel like it's a better format, sparks more discussion and is a lot more interesting all around. Just my 2 cents. . . of course I'm not willing to help with that (don't have the time). . . .and of course I'm just here to criticize. . . so carry on.

Yes, far far more work. Krista is amazing. I like your idea though. The one drawback of the movie vs music versions is that we can put all the daily songs on a playlist so that people can listen a long, discover new songs, etc. Obviously nobody can watch multiple movies everyday. Some of the movies might be difficult to find- can't just throw a link to Youtube or Spotify up. Also I can commit to listening to a 4 minute Supertramp song that I am pretty sure will annoy me. I can't commit to a 140 minute sci-fi film that I am disinterested in.

But all that said and perhaps I would consider running something like it over the summer when I have more time.

Is there a way to make a public list on some service like JustWatch, where it will give links to stream/rent on whatever service has it currently?

Hmmm not a bad idea. Maybe I’ll look into that.

 

[krista4]

UNSOLICITED MUSING

there are roughly 5 under the radar gems i'm hoping to see - reason i'm popping in now with said musing is because if they are gonna be up on this countdown, i would expect them down (Binky, UP) here.

/fin

My guess is you want to hope for them on 80s' List.

dunno 'bout all that, ol' chum ... after all, it were me & you who convinced @krista4 to finally watch TCM, and we both rated that one extremely high.

I don't know what TCM is. Traditional Chinese medicine. Turner Classic Movies. Twin Cities Marathon. The Cucumber Man. I'm not getting there.

 

[otb_lifer]

UNSOLICITED MUSING

there are roughly 5 under the radar gems i'm hoping to see - reason i'm popping in now with said musing is because if they are gonna be up on this countdown, i would expect them down (Binky, UP) here.

/fin

My guess is you want to hope for them on 80s' List.

dunno 'bout all that, ol' chum ... after all, it were me & you who convinced @krista4 to finally watch TCM, and we both rated that one extremely high.

I don't know what TCM is. Traditional Chinese medicine. Turner Classic Movies. Twin Cities Marathon. The Cucumber Man. I'm not getting there.

 Texas  Chainsaw  Massacre