20 Best 80s Movies: The Classics Every '80s Kid Grew Up With

The 1980s were the decade of the VHS rental, the multiplex and the John Hughes teen movie. These 20 classic 80s movies are as fun to watch today as they were the first time.

Adventure and sci-fi

1. The Empire Strikes Back (1980): often considered the best Star Wars film.
2. Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981): Harrison Ford's debut as Indiana Jones.
3. E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982): Spielberg's heartwarming classic became the highest-grossing film of its time.
4. Back to the Future (1985): Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd and a time-traveling DeLorean.
5. The Goonies (1985): a treasure hunt for One-Eyed Willy's gold.
6. Ghostbusters (1984): Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Harold Ramis and a giant marshmallow man.
7. The Princess Bride (1987): a fairy tale full of quotable lines.
8. Batman (1989): Tim Burton's dark take, with Michael Keaton and Jack Nicholson as the Joker.

Teen and coming-of-age

9. The Breakfast Club (1985): five teens, one Saturday detention.
10. Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986): the ultimate skip day.
11. The Karate Kid (1984): "Wax on, wax off" with Mr. Miyagi.
12. Dirty Dancing (1987): Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey at a Catskills resort.
13. Big (1988): Tom Hanks as a boy in a grown man's body.

Action

14. Top Gun (1986): Tom Cruise, fighter jets and a hit soundtrack.
15. Die Hard (1988): Bruce Willis as John McClane. Is it a Christmas movie? You decide.
16. Beverly Hills Cop (1984): Eddie Murphy at his best.

Comedy and drama

17. Coming to America (1988): Eddie Murphy and Arsenio Hall in multiple roles.
18. When Harry Met Sally... (1989): the template for the modern romantic comedy.
19. Field of Dreams (1989): a baseball story about fathers, sons and second chances.
20. Rain Man (1988): Dustin Hoffman and Tom Cruise. Best Picture winner.

How well do you know them?

Take our 80s movie trivia quiz, see the famous 80s actors, or revisit the best 70s movies.