I am in the same boat - now that my son is 9 and more into watching different stuff, I have been thinking about some 80s movies. Still surprises me sometimes when I go back and watch stuff just how much swearing/older content there is in the 80s movies. I guess we survived it, but just funny looking at it through parent eyes now. Even though he has seen a couple pg-13 Marvel movies, some of the stuff in the 80s movies makes me cringe a tad. Sorry for the slight rant...
A couple movies that he has watched and liked so far:
Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure: after playing Civilization, he is into history and different leaders. He loved the movie. Watched it last year and said it was one of the best movies he has seen
Neverending Story - watched this with grandpa and liked it. Didn't seem to have trouble with the parts I thought were scary as a kid.
The next movies I am considering watching with him:
Karate Kid
Goonies
The Last Starfighter
The Princess Bride
I am also curious which movies people have had success with when watching them with their kids.
When at the video stores families seemed to have a lot of fun with the 80s movies and all listed so far in the thread seemed like big hits for everyone.
Also: Pee Wee Big Adventure, Space Camp, Ghostbusters, Gremlins, E.T., Iron Eagle and others had good hit rates too.