Top 101 Movies of the 80s (1 Viewer)

[Ilov80s]

known to me favs from today (that have not yet been commented on)

Cowgirl In The Sand - Neil Young	timbo	one of my Neil favs - had to go to YT just to hear it again, shame he took his stuff off spotify
I Got You - Split Enz	Pip	oh man, this slipped through on me - this defines the 80s, love this song
You Could Be Mine - Guns N' Roses	Andy D	these guys are not in my wheelhouse, but this thing is out of control good
Over My Head - Fleetwood Mac	Dr. Octopus	love the Christy McVie songs
Dark Star - CSN	Sullie	later 70s song for them and it's one of my favorites - just a beautiful tune
Tom Sawyer - Rush	Raging Weasel	reaction.
Hot For Teacher - Van Halen	Val Ranneous	"I don't FEEL tardy" …gotta get one of those T-shirts
Panama - Van Halen	Mt. Man	YEAH - this was a close second for my VH pick
Expecting To Fly - Buffalo Springfield	simey	this entire album is so good
Dreams (Dream Lover) - Faye Wong	JML	wow - had no idea who sang this
Electric Blue - Icehouse	Doug B	takes me back - so MTV
Rockin' In The Free World - Neil Young	Zegras11	Neil anthem
End Of The Line - The Traveling Wilburys	AAABatteries	I am a giant George fan, and big ELO guy but find that not much of the Wilburys catalog attracts me - but this is good

known to me favs from today that have been commented on

The Chain - Fleetwood Mac	Just Win Baby
Oye Como Va - Santana	DrIanMalcolm
Under Pressure - Queen and David Bowie	shuke/westerberg
Blinded By The Light - Manfred Mann	Mrs. Rannous
Get Lucky - Daft Punk featuring Pharrel & Nile	Ilove80s
The Weight - The Band	krista
Dancing Queen - Abba	higgins
Jailbreak - AC/DC	OH

NEW to me favs from today

Children - Robert Miles	titusbramble	so soothing - this reminds me of something out of my Narada collection (which I love)
Pissing In A River - Patti Smith Group	worrierking	really need to go back and listen to those first couple of albums of hers - this is awesome
Little Talks - Of Monsters and Men	MAC 32	I had heard of these guys but couldn't attach a song to them - this is a good one
Absolute - Scritti Politti	Hov34	great ABC vibe
Tenebre - Claudio Simonetti's Goblin	jwb	this is what I would imagine would happen if you put the general attitude of Europeans, the sound of the
		Trans-Siberian Orchestra, and Roger Ebert's feisty younger brother together in a blender.

All opinions are generally valid but I’m sorry you are wrong. Those are not the best movies of the 80s.

 

[Mummy4]

All opinions are generally valid but I’m sorry you are wrong. Those are not the best movies of the 80s.

DOH!!!

 

[KarmaPolice]

Your move, creep.

 

[otb_lifer]

known to me favs from today (that have not yet been commented on)

Cowgirl In The Sand - Neil Young	timbo	one of my Neil favs - had to go to YT just to hear it again, shame he took his stuff off spotify
I Got You - Split Enz	Pip	oh man, this slipped through on me - this defines the 80s, love this song
You Could Be Mine - Guns N' Roses	Andy D	these guys are not in my wheelhouse, but this thing is out of control good
Over My Head - Fleetwood Mac	Dr. Octopus	love the Christy McVie songs
Dark Star - CSN	Sullie	later 70s song for them and it's one of my favorites - just a beautiful tune
Tom Sawyer - Rush	Raging Weasel	reaction.
Hot For Teacher - Van Halen	Val Ranneous	"I don't FEEL tardy" …gotta get one of those T-shirts
Panama - Van Halen	Mt. Man	YEAH - this was a close second for my VH pick
Expecting To Fly - Buffalo Springfield	simey	this entire album is so good
Dreams (Dream Lover) - Faye Wong	JML	wow - had no idea who sang this
Electric Blue - Icehouse	Doug B	takes me back - so MTV
Rockin' In The Free World - Neil Young	Zegras11	Neil anthem
End Of The Line - The Traveling Wilburys	AAABatteries	I am a giant George fan, and big ELO guy but find that not much of the Wilburys catalog attracts me - but this is good

known to me favs from today that have been commented on

The Chain - Fleetwood Mac	Just Win Baby
Oye Como Va - Santana	DrIanMalcolm
Under Pressure - Queen and David Bowie	shuke/westerberg
Blinded By The Light - Manfred Mann	Mrs. Rannous
Get Lucky - Daft Punk featuring Pharrel & Nile	Ilove80s
The Weight - The Band	krista
Dancing Queen - Abba	higgins
Jailbreak - AC/DC	OH

NEW to me favs from today

Children - Robert Miles	titusbramble	so soothing - this reminds me of something out of my Narada collection (which I love)
Pissing In A River - Patti Smith Group	worrierking	really need to go back and listen to those first couple of albums of hers - this is awesome
Little Talks - Of Monsters and Men	MAC 32	I had heard of these guys but couldn't attach a song to them - this is a good one
Absolute - Scritti Politti	Hov34	great ABC vibe
Tenebre - Claudio Simonetti's Goblin	jwb	this is what I would imagine would happen if you put the general attitude of Europeans, the sound of the
		Trans-Siberian Orchestra, and Roger Ebert's feisty younger brother together in a blender.

All opinions are generally valid but I’m sorry you are wrong. Those are not the best movies of the 80s.

Patti Smiff >>>>> Kathleen Turner

 

[KarmaPolice]

#25: ROBOCOP

80s' 37 and my #57. This was the movie my mom had to leave. She didn't even make it to the toxic sludge scene (when I wanted to leave). So much going on with this movie that leaves it ripe for rewatches, IMO . The commercials, the humor, over the top gore, and there is some heart to it. In the clues, this is one that I considered a "comedy" because it makes me laugh quite a bit now.

 

[KarmaPolice]

O Captain! My Captain! ...

 

[Dan Lambskin]

Please excuse my ignorance, as I don't venture into these threads too often. However, '80's film rankings are irresistible to me.

What criteria are being used for the rankings? IMDB rankings? Rotten Tomatoes? Personal taste? I understand it can't be straight critic reviews/Oscar nominations/etc.(Otherwise one of my favorite movies of all time 'Better off Dead' wouldn't have made the list(barely)).

I will withhold my pitchfork for the time being, as the list isn't finished yet. I will say, though, that I am getting ready to sharpen it....

Just KP and I chat movies a lot both on here and in text messages. We wanted to have a thread to generate some focused movie talk. So we both made a list of the 100 films we consider the best movies of the 80s. This is a combined ranking. So it’s just purely our subjective preferences. Oscars, box office, RT, IMDb didn’t factor at all.

And this is what makes the thread fun......because there are some off the wall picks here!!!! LOL!!!

are you saying Fanny & Alexander is off the wall?

just curious. it's widely considered a top "film" of the 80s. but yeah... defintely not an "80s" film

I think some people aren’t taking the list for what it is - most are just looking for a more generic “80s Nostalgia” movie list. Both approaches are fine but some are conflating the two.

Yeah, it's gotten a bit ridiculous with the "only movies that celebrate my youth" stuff.

I have a soft spot for stuff like The Last Starfighter as well, but come on.

We both chose a balanced approach, but to be fair if I went all "80s movies", people would still have issues because I don't click with the early comedies and Raiders still wouldn't have been on my list, so

Would be borderline 101.

What was the first "arcade game" movie? I mean, imagine a video game being a test for becoming an intergalactic starfighter? Excellent plot. I also think they did a good job with the side girl plot.

I don't know. When was that dumb one that was basically a Nintendo Powerglove commercial?

The wizard…with fred savage who im guessing doesn’t make an appearance in this list

 

[Scoresman]

The Last Starfighter? Please stop spoiling the next 100.

 

[Ilov80s]

#25: ROBOCOP

80s' 37 and my #57. This was the movie my mom had to leave. She didn't even make it to the toxic sludge scene (when I wanted to leave). So much going on with this movie that leaves it ripe for rewatches, IMO . The commercials, the humor, over the top gore, and there is some heart to it. In the clues, this is one that I considered a "comedy" because it makes me laugh quite a bit now.

Uh oh it has satire though?

I was very young. Like maybe 8 when my parents rented it and let me watch. They would just tell me to cover my eyes in the violent parts- which I now realize is almost all of it. I always peaked anyway. I do remember being totally hung up on the idea that this was totally possible and my parents had to keep explaining that it was absolutely not possible and was just a movie. I think I pestered them with that the whole way through.

 

[Ilov80s]

O Captain! My Captain! ...

Another Peter Weir! I think that marks 3.

 

[Scoresman]

#25: ROBOCOP

80s' 37 and my #57. This was the movie my mom had to leave. She didn't even make it to the toxic sludge scene (when I wanted to leave). So much going on with this movie that leaves it ripe for rewatches, IMO . The commercials, the humor, over the top gore, and there is some heart to it. In the clues, this is one that I considered a "comedy" because it makes me laugh quite a bit now.

You crossed one off the snub list!

 

[El Floppo]

#25: ROBOCOP

80s' 37 and my #57. This was the movie my mom had to leave. She didn't even make it to the toxic sludge scene (when I wanted to leave). So much going on with this movie that leaves it ripe for rewatches, IMO . The commercials, the humor, over the top gore, and there is some heart to it. In the clues, this is one that I considered a "comedy" because it makes me laugh quite a bit now.

it's a brilliant movie on a bunch of levels. and just fun to watch. and I'd buy that for a dollar.

 

[KarmaPolice]

#24: DEAD POETS SOCIETY

80s' #31, my #58. that was too low in hindsight on my part after thinking about the movie this morning. Love the hell out of this movie. A perfect role for Williams.

 

[KarmaPolice]

The Last Starfighter? Please stop spoiling the next 100.

My point is there are 100s of movies like this that I still love. but if I am only picking 100 to keep from the 80s, that's not all I would want to watch.

 

[KarmaPolice]

Oh, I'm a dope - I think Dead Poets was MY #31 and his #58.

 

[KarmaPolice]

#25: ROBOCOP

80s' 37 and my #57. This was the movie my mom had to leave. She didn't even make it to the toxic sludge scene (when I wanted to leave). So much going on with this movie that leaves it ripe for rewatches, IMO . The commercials, the humor, over the top gore, and there is some heart to it. In the clues, this is one that I considered a "comedy" because it makes me laugh quite a bit now.

it's a brilliant movie on a bunch of levels. and just fun to watch. and I'd buy that for a dollar.

I could watch a movie of just the commercials from Robocop and Starship Troopers.

 

[Ilov80s]

Oh, I'm a dope - I think Dead Poets was MY #31 and his #58.

Ha I was going to say, didn’t think I had it quite that high. I actually haven’t seen it in quite awhile.

 

[Manster]

Robocop is one I've seen for a looooooong time. Honestly, I chalked it up to one that would not hold up......Sounds like a re-visit is in order.

 

[Manster]

#24: DEAD POETS SOCIETY

80s' #31, my #58. that was too low in hindsight on my part after thinking about the movie this morning. Love the hell out of this movie. A perfect role for Williams.

Yep.....Robin Williams (RIP) was such a force! I miss him a lot.

 

[Ilov80s]

Robocop is one I've seen for a looooooong time. Honestly, I chalked it up to one that would not hold up......Sounds like a re-visit is in order.

I rewatch it recently and realized there’s a whole other movie there. Sure it’s fun as an over the top action flick but when I was younger I missed how funny it is and the critiques of capitalism.

 

[JAA]

#25: ROBOCOP

80s' 37 and my #57. This was the movie my mom had to leave. She didn't even make it to the toxic sludge scene (when I wanted to leave). So much going on with this movie that leaves it ripe for rewatches, IMO . The commercials, the humor, over the top gore, and there is some heart to it. In the clues, this is one that I considered a "comedy" because it makes me laugh quite a bit now.

A+ selection and placement

 

[JAA]

#24: DEAD POETS SOCIETY

80s' #31, my #58. that was too low in hindsight on my part after thinking about the movie this morning. Love the hell out of this movie. A perfect role for Williams.

A+, excellent choice and placement

 

[JAA]

Robocop is one I've seen for a looooooong time. Honestly, I chalked it up to one that would not hold up......Sounds like a re-visit is in order.

I didnt mind the remake either. IIRC Robocop II is decent.

 

[JAA]

I got 146 movies I like from the 80s so far. Ill plan to rank and share/compile should we choose to have a complementary list.

 

[Leroy Hoard]

Robocop is one I've seen for a looooooong time. Honestly, I chalked it up to one that would not hold up......Sounds like a re-visit is in order.

I rewatch it recently and realized there’s a whole other movie there. Sure it’s fun as an over the top action flick but when I was younger I missed how funny it is and the critiques of capitalism.

The scene where ED-209 attempts to follow Robocop down the stairs is quite entertaining.

 

[JAA]

I got 187. Time to start sorting. So many movies and I prolly only took 2/3's of what I found.

Is there a master list somewhere? I kinda went up (best), down (directors), and around (actors) to find them all.

 

[JAA]

Jesus

41 of 187 ranked. Its taken 3 buckets to get to a final

Title    Initial Bucket    Number bucket    Ranking    Final

 

[Mr. Mojo]

33/34:

A ROOM WITH A VIEW [hbo max, criterion]
THE THING

Our #10 picks of the decade. I added Room with a View to my 5 to watch as I said last night. 80s had me at Helena Bonham-Carter , and it has DDL in it. If I think about my favorite movies now, The Thing is one of the movies that has climbed the farthest in the last decade or so. This is one I was talking about with f/x holding up better than some others like Predator. Predator I laugh about a bit, The Thing still grosses me out. Then add in the isolation, tension, mystery of who has been taken over....

They should show those 2 together as a double feature

 

[El Floppo]

Robocop is one I've seen for a looooooong time. Honestly, I chalked it up to one that would not hold up......Sounds like a re-visit is in order.

I rewatch it recently and realized there’s a whole other movie there. Sure it’s fun as an over the top action flick but when I was younger I missed how funny it is and the critiques of capitalism.

Guns, guns, guns!

 

[Andy Dufresne]

Robocop is awesome. It is certainly a product of the 80's but still holds up as entertainment and critique.

"They'll fix you. They fix everything."

 

[Nick Vermeil]

I guess I'm on an island not caring about either Top Gun movies and their cheesiness.

Floppo feels no need… no need for speed.

 

[Nick Vermeil]

Robocop is one I've seen for a looooooong time. Honestly, I chalked it up to one that would not hold up......Sounds like a re-visit is in order.

I rewatch it recently and realized there’s a whole other movie there. Sure it’s fun as an over the top action flick but when I was younger I missed how funny it is and the critiques of capitalism.

Guns, guns, guns!

You burnt the ****ing money!

 

[rockaction]

I've seen Top Gun but not the second one.

The first was just such cheese that I can't believe there was a clamoring for a second one, but the first one seems quaint in its "jingoism" compared to today's politics, so it's almost a pleasant nostalgia back to a time when things were at least innocently and rightly pro-America and the like (the Russians were evil in their governance and still are) even if it offended you, yeah.

(It was too over the top for me at the time, even though I'm no lefty. Just seemed reflexively thoughtless, but upon further deliberation, I've decided that a certain type of person needs a certain type of attitude needs a certain type of entertainment to be patriotic and sacrifice for country. See: Plato's Republic and the Guardian section. So I've decided it's not all bad.)

And there you go. Addressing the pro-American "jingoism" in the thread because it was brought up. If it be jingoism, make the most of it. Make a now inoffensive and thoughtful sequel, best to my understanding.

 

[JAA]

I guess I'm on an island not caring about either Top Gun movies and their cheesiness.

Floppo feels no need… no need for speed.

90s

 

[Mummy4]

Robocop is awesome. It is certainly a product of the 80's but still holds up as entertainment and critique.

"They'll fix you. They fix everything."

Red makes for an awesome villain.

 

[Nick Vermeil]

I've seen Top Gun but not the second one.

The first was just such cheese that I can't believe there was a clamoring for a second one, but the first one seems quaint in its "jingoism" compared to today's politics, so it's almost a pleasant nostalgia back to a time when things were at least innocently and rightly pro-America and the like (the Russians were evil in their governance and still are) even if it offended you, yeah.

(It was too over the top for me at the time, even though I'm no lefty. Just seemed reflexively thoughtless, but upon further deliberation, I've decided that a certain type of person needs a certain type of attitude needs a certain type of entertainment to be patriotic and sacrifice for country. See: Plato's Republic and the Guardian section. So I've decided it's not all bad.)

And there you go. Addressing the pro-American "jingoism" in the thread because it was brought up. If it be jingoism, make the most of it. Make a now inoffensive and thoughtful sequel, best to my understanding.

You should check out the new one if only for the shirtless, oiled up pickle ball game.

 

[massraider]

Robocop is awesome. It is certainly a product of the 80's but still holds up as entertainment and critique.

"They'll fix you. They fix everything."

Fantastic casting of villains in that movie. Miguel Ferrer first real appearance, and he was always the best thing in everything I ever saw him in. The Latin JT Walsh. RIP to both of them.

 

[Mt. Man]

Would be borderline 101.

What was the first "arcade game" movie? I mean, imagine a video game being a test for becoming an intergalactic starfighter? Excellent plot. I also think they did a good job with the side girl plot.

I don't know. When was that dumb one that was basically a Nintendo Powerglove commercial?

1989. It's so bad
So beaten by roughly 7 years, just off the top of my head. (/spotlighting but not spotlighting)[/i]

 

[rockaction]

You should check out the new one if only for the shirtless, oiled up pickle ball game.

Not if Ron Swanson is there, screaming about everything. (Synergy and cross-thread promotion there.)

 

[Ilov80s]

Out for patio drinks tonight. I will respond to every and any comment later.

 

[rockaction]

So beaten by roughly 7 years, just off the top of my head. (/spotlighting but not spotlighting)[/i]

There was also a video game movie from the year 1984. It's the first one that came to mind for me.

 

[Dan Lambskin]

Out for patio drinks tonight. I will respond to every and any comment later.

What kind of drinks?

 

[otb_lifer]

Out for patio drinks tonight. I will respond to every and any comment later.

What kind of drinks?

Franny Alexanders

 

[El Floppo]

Robocop is one I've seen for a looooooong time. Honestly, I chalked it up to one that would not hold up......Sounds like a re-visit is in order.

I rewatch it recently and realized there’s a whole other movie there. Sure it’s fun as an over the top action flick but when I was younger I missed how funny it is and the critiques of capitalism.

Guns, guns, guns!

You burnt the ****ing money!

bitches leave.

 

[Todem]

Robocop is one I've seen for a looooooong time. Honestly, I chalked it up to one that would not hold up......Sounds like a re-visit is in order.

I rewatch it recently and realized there’s a whole other movie there. Sure it’s fun as an over the top action flick but when I was younger I missed how funny it is and the critiques of capitalism.

Really enjoyed the second one too!!!

 

[Todem]

I've seen Top Gun but not the second one.

The first was just such cheese that I can't believe there was a clamoring for a second one, but the first one seems quaint in its "jingoism" compared to today's politics, so it's almost a pleasant nostalgia back to a time when things were at least innocently and rightly pro-America and the like (the Russians were evil in their governance and still are) even if it offended you, yeah.

(It was too over the top for me at the time, even though I'm no lefty. Just seemed reflexively thoughtless, but upon further deliberation, I've decided that a certain type of person needs a certain type of attitude needs a certain type of entertainment to be patriotic and sacrifice for country. See: Plato's Republic and the Guardian section. So I've decided it's not all bad.)

And there you go. Addressing the pro-American "jingoism" in the thread because it was brought up. If it be jingoism, make the most of it. Make a now inoffensive and thoughtful sequel, best to my understanding.

Iron Eagle and Red Dawn bitches!!!

Top Gun Maverick is an awesome…..I mean awesome movie. I like it better than the original on many levels. Cruise completely and thoughtfully pulled it off!

 

[KarmaPolice]

I've seen Top Gun but not the second one.

The first was just such cheese that I can't believe there was a clamoring for a second one, but the first one seems quaint in its "jingoism" compared to today's politics, so it's almost a pleasant nostalgia back to a time when things were at least innocently and rightly pro-America and the like (the Russians were evil in their governance and still are) even if it offended you, yeah.

(It was too over the top for me at the time, even though I'm no lefty. Just seemed reflexively thoughtless, but upon further deliberation, I've decided that a certain type of person needs a certain type of attitude needs a certain type of entertainment to be patriotic and sacrifice for country. See: Plato's Republic and the Guardian section. So I've decided it's not all bad.)

And there you go. Addressing the pro-American "jingoism" in the thread because it was brought up. If it be jingoism, make the most of it. Make a now inoffensive and thoughtful sequel, best to my understanding.

Iron Eagle and Red Dawn bitches!!!

Top Gun Maverick is an awesome…..I mean awesome movie. I like it better than the original on many levels. Cruise completely and thoughtfully pulled it off!

Look at this guy spoiling titles for the next draft!!

 

[KarmaPolice]

#23: HALLOWEEN III: SEASON OF THE WITCH

My #13 and 80s, #48. No, I'm not being serious.

 

[KarmaPolice]

next up, that damn movie my co-workers wouldn't stop watching and quoting, but I still love it anyway....

 

[KarmaPolice]

#23: THE PRINCESS BRIDE [disney+ ]

80s' #29, and my #57. Yes, I still think think the movie is overrated, over watched, and over quoted, but I still love it and would want it in my collection. My video store experiences is a reason that it is even in the 50s though instead of higher.