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The 10 Best 80s Movies to Watch Right Now

The best movies of the decade including comedies, sci-fi, and adventure

By Molly McLaughlin Molly McLaughlin Senior Editor & Content Strategist Molly K. McLaughlin has been a technology editor and writer for over a dozen years. She runs product reviews for Lifewire, overseeing the process from hands-on testing to publishing. lifewire's editorial guidelines Updated on September 8, 2022 Reviewed by Kayla Dube Reviewed by Kayla Dube J. Everette Light Career Center Kayla Dube has 4+ years' experience in videography and filmmaking. She frequently works in production with indie film companies. lifewire's editorial guidelines Tweet Share Email Tweet Share Email Streaming TV, Movies, & More Netflix Hulu Disney+ Prime Video Apple TV+ Favorite Events The eighties were a wild decade full of time travelers, ghosts, snakes, and frozen concentrated orange juice futures. These 10 films represent a wide range of genres and characters. 01 of 10

Best Early Eighties Fashion Flashdance 1983

IMDb Rating: 6.2 Genre: Drama, Music, Romance Starring: Jennifer Beals, Michael Nouri, Lilia Skala Director: Adrian Lyne Motion Picture Rating: R Running Time: 1 hour, 35 minutes Based in Pittsburgh, Flashdance features a steel mill worker, an aspiring ballerina, and a cabaret performer—who are all the same person. The movie won an Academy Award for best song (Flashdance... What a Feeling) and has some fantastic dancing scenes. Watch 'Flashdance' on Amazon Prime Video Now 02 of 10

A Crash Course in Commodities Trading Trading Places 1983

Archive Photos / Getty Images IMDb Rating: 7.5 Genre: Comedy Starring: Eddie Murphy, Dan Aykroyd, Ralph Bellamy Director: John Landis Motion Picture Rating: R Running Time: 1 hour, 56 minutes The Duke brothers, who own a commodities brokerage firm, conduct a nature vs. nurture experiment with two men, one born wealthy and one not. Eventually, those two men uncover an insider trading plot and plan revenge. Watch 'Trading Places' on Amazon Prime Video Now 03 of 10

Best Fast Food Knock-Off Coming to America 1988

Paramount IMDb Rating: 7.0 Genre: Comedy, Romance Starring: Eddie Murphy, Arsenio Hall, James Earl Jones Director: John Landis Motion Picture Rating: 16+ Running Time: 1 hour, 56 minutes A crown prince (Eddie Murphy) arrives in Queens and takes a job at MacDowell's fast-food joint (not to be confused with that other restaurant). He's looking for love while trying to hide his wealth. The movie even features a cameo of the Duke brothers from Trading Places. Watch 'Coming to America' on Amazon Prime Video Now 04 of 10

Because We Should Always Listen to the Scientists Aliens 1986

Sygma / Getty Images IMDb Rating: 8.3 Genre: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi Starring: Sigourney Weaver, Michael Biehn, Carrie Henn Director: James Cameron Motion Picture Rating: R Running Time: 2 hours, 17 minutes Officer Ripley somehow gets convinced to go back to space after surviving a relentless alien attack, and once again, her warnings are unheeded until it's nearly too late. Nevertheless, she persists. Watch 'Aliens' on YouTube Now 05 of 10

Best Paternity Reveal—Star Wars The Empire Strikes Back Episode V 1980

serts / Getty Images IMDb Rating: 8.7 Genre: Action, Adventure, Fantasy Starring: Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher Director: Irvin Kershner Motion Picture Rating: PG Running Time: 2 hours, 4 minutes How to Watch Star Wars Movies in Order on Disney+ This second Star Wars movie (in order of release) features Lando Calrissian, Han Solo in carbonite, and Yoda's wise teachings. (Do. Or do not. There is no try.) No wonder it's the most popular film in the franchise. Watch 'The Empire Strikes Back' on Disney Plus Now 06 of 10

Artificial Intelligence Gone Rogue TRON 1982

Albert L. Ortega / WireImage / Getty IMDb Rating: 6.8 Genre: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi Starring: Jeff Bridges, Bruce Boxleitner, David Warner Director: Steven Lisberger Motion Picture Rating: PG Running Time: 1 hour, 36 minutes A software engineer is digitized and downloaded to a mainframe and must fight a powerful and evil AI. This movie has a very eighties feel of what the future looks like, though much of it is still relevant concerning artificial intelligence and users' rights. Watch 'TRON' on Disney Plus Now 07 of 10

Worst Movie for Ophidiophobia Sufferers Raiders of the Lost Ark 1981

Sunset Boulevard / Corbis / Getty Images IMDb Rating: 8.4 Genre: Action, Adventure Starring: Harrison Ford, Karen Allen, Paul Freeman Director: Steven Spielberg Motion Picture Rating: PG Running Time: 1 hour, 55 minutes How to Watch the Indiana Jones Movies (plus TV Shows) in Order Why'd it have to be snakes? Searching for the titular artifact before the Nazis can get their hands on it, archaeologist Indiana Jones finds himself surrounded by those slithering creatures. And that's only the start of it. Watch 'Raiders of the Lost Ark' on YouTube Now 08 of 10

Epic Entrepreneurs Ghostbusters 1984

Archive Photos / Getty Images IMDb Rating: 7.8 Genre: Action, Comedy, Fantasy Starring: Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Sigourney Weaver Director: Ivan Reitman Motion Picture Rating: PG Running Time: 1 hour, 45 minutes Featuring outrageous New York real estate and a terrifying marshmallow man, Ghostbusters is iconic, spawning sequels, remakes, and an animated series. Who ya gonna call? Watch 'Ghostbusters' on Amazon Prime Video Now 09 of 10

Double-Crossing Diamond Thieves A Fish Called Wanda 1988

MGM Studios / Getty Images IMDb Rating: 7.5 Genre: Comedy, Crime Starring: John Cleese, Jamie Lee Curtis, Kevin Kline Director: Charles Crichton, John Cleese (uncredited) Motion Picture Rating: R Running Time: 1 hour, 48 minutes After a successful heist, a group of thieves fights over their haul of diamonds. Things quickly go south as everything that can go wrong does go wrong. You'll never look at a steamroller the same way. Watch 'A Fish Called Wanda' on Amazon Prime Video Now 10 of 10

A Brooklyn Time Capsule Do the Right Thing 1989

Getty Imges IMDb Rating: 8.0 Genre: Comedy, Drama Starring: Danny Aiello, Ossie Davis, Ruby Dee Director: Spike Lee Motion Picture Rating: R Running Time: 2 hours This movie, which takes place over one hot summer day, follows Mookie, a pizza delivery guy, played by Spike Lee, as he makes the rounds around Bed-Stuy Brooklyn. It's a snapshot in time, highlighting racial and neighborly tensions. Watch 'Do the Right Thing' on Amazon Prime Video Now Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day Subscribe Tell us why! Other Not enough details Hard to understand Submit More from Lifewire The Best Action Movies to Watch Right Now The Best Disney Plus Movies Right Now (October 2022) The Best Movies on HBO Right Now (October 2022) The 10 Best Sports Movies to Watch Right Now The 10 Best 90s Movies to Watch Right Now The Best Movies on Hulu Right Now (September 2022) The 10 Best Movies of the 2010s to Watch Right Now The Best Romantic Movies on Netflix Right Now (September 2022) The 22 Best Christmas Movies on Netflix (2022) The Best Kids Movies on Disney Plus (October 2022) The Best Netflix Thrillers to Watch Tonight The Best Family Movies on Amazon Prime Right Now (October 2022) Best Free Movies on YouTube (September 2022) The Best Teen Movies on Netflix (September 2022) The Best LGBT Movies on Netflix Right Now (October 2022) The 15 Best Inspirational Movies of 2022 Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookies Settings Accept All Cookies