The '80s was a glorious time of neon scrunchies, cabbage patch kids, and singing into your hairbrush to Madonna. Everyone back then wanted to look “rad” and have a “totally awesome” time. In music, fashion, and film, the '80s was a time of artistic expression and outrageously good ideas. So much so that it has maintained a relevant flair that is often paid tribute to in modern art and film. If you have no idea what it was like, or just love reminding yourself of how great this era was, get ready as we’re about to reveal our 7 top movie picks from the '80s that everyone should watch again.
E.T. was a movie released in 1982, directed by the legendary Steven Spielberg. The film centers around a young boy named Elliot who establishes an unlikely friendship with an alien who’s become stranded on Earth. Elliot and his friends embark on a mission to get E.T. back to his home planet before the government can capture him. The film might revolve around the modest story of friendship, but its earnings were far from modest, raking in more than $800 million. Indeed, E.T. became so iconic that it was selected by the United States National Film Registry to be preserved in 1994.
Released in 1989, The Little Mermaid is one of Disney’s finest classics, joining the ranks of the most beloved animated movies of the century. The story revolves around a bright-eyed, red-haired mermaid named Ariel, who dreams of experiencing the world above. She falls in love with a human named Prince Eric. With the help of a sketchy sea witch Ursula, Ariel is able to grow human legs, but she does so in exchange for her beautiful voice.
We're not crying, you are! The 1988 animated film The Land Before Time was a heartfelt story about an orphaned young “Longneck” dinosaur named Littlefoot. To survive, he must flee the famine that threatens his kind and look for the Great Valley. With the help of his dinosaur friends, Ducky, Petrie, Cera, and Spike, they embark on a journey of friendship, survival, and overcoming obstacles. It was so successful that it spawned a television series, 13 sequels, and a heap of merch. The executive producers? Steven Spielberg and George Lucas. Why are we not surprised?
If there were a movie that defined the '80s, it would be The Karate Kid, Released in 1984, it was arguably the best flick to come out of the decade. The film revolves around a teenager named Daniel LaRusso, played by Ralph Macchio, who learns karate from Mr. Miyagi as a means of defending himself. As film fate would have it, Daniel goes on to battle the biggest bully in a karate tournament. The film was a commercial success, earning $91 million at the box office.
Okay, if you have no idea what the '80s was like, you have to watch Back To The Future. It was a full showcase of the decade's culture. The sci-fi flick was created by Steven Spielberg's production company. It became 1985's highest-grossing film, earning $381 million across the globe. Marty McFly, played by Michael J. Fox, is a teen who accidentally gets embroiled in a time-traveling ordeal that throws him back into the '50s. Thanks to his scientist friend, Doc Brown, Marty gets to meet the young versions of his parents. He then has to make sure they fall in love with each other, or else he'll cease to exist.
The animated film, An American Tail, released in 1986, was another Steven Spielberg masterpiece. It tells the story of a mouse named Fievel and his family as they attempt to migrate from Russian territory to the US in search of freedom. Spielberg's company produced the film on a $9 million budget, but its success brought them back a whopping $84 million at the box office.
It wouldn't be an '80s movie hall of fame without this frightening yet kid-friendly film. Gremlins tells the story of a boy who received a strange pet as a gift. The cute but creepy critter then spawns small, evil, destructive monsters, and chaos ensues! The movie was produced by, you guessed it, Steven Spielberg and its monumental success earned him over $153 million at the box office. The film had a sequel, a novel, video games, and an animated series.