The 1980s arguably contributed more to American pop culture than any other decade, delivering many essential pieces of style, music, values and memes through the movie screen. The movies of the '80s, from teen comedies to action flicks to quintessential romances, still hit years later. Since people love to debate their favorite movies of the decade, we gathered data from Ranker to round up the best classic films from the 1980s.
The Princess Bride
Anyone who has seen "The Princess Bride" can rattle off at least a few of the movie's classic quotes. "My name is Inigo Montoya." "As you wish." "Mostly dead." "Inconceivable!" And on and on.
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Beverly Hills Cop
Eddie Murphy had a good decade in the 1980s, putting out hits like "Coming to America" and "Trading Places," but fans have voted "Beverly Hills Cop" his best picture of the period for the biting satire it presents of '80s Los Angeles, the dry comedy throughout, and Murphy's sleek little mustache.
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Stand By Me
The Academy Award and Golden Globe-winning film lines up perfectly with nostalgia for the era, returning viewers to 1980s boyhood, whether they lived it or not. The Stephen King story remains one of the great tales of friendship.
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The Terminator
While the sequel ranks as one of the greatest action movies of all time, the original "Terminator" remains a hallmark of '80s cinema. Another quote machine, no pun intended, the movie launched Arnold Schwarzenegger to uber stardom, cementing him as the most muscled hero (or villain in this case) of the decade.
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The Karate Kid
Part of American fascination with Japan during the '80s, "The Karate Kid" combined an adorable Ralph Macchio with a wisened Pat Morita for a classic story of good teen vs bad teen. The final fight scene is must-see cinema.
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The Breakfast Club
We could have filled this list entirely with John Hughes movies. "The Breakfast Club" is his quintessential teen movie, presenting viewers with a number of high school 'types' to identify with. Molly Ringwald, Emilio Estevez, and Ally Sheedy are all at their peak, making for excellent rewatching.
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Ferris Bueller's Day Off
Another John Hughes gem and still the stuff of school-day fantasies, "Ferris Bueller's Day Off" was funny at every turn, smartly written, and presented audiences with great characters. Perhaps its greatest feat was maintaining its fast, light-hearted tempo from start to finish. Rewatching today, you can jump in anywhere and have a good time.
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The Goonies
In "The Goonies," Steven Spielberg and crew combined '80 love for teen comedies with '80s love for action/adventure films in a surefire formula. Starring a larger cast of young actors than most others, including stars like Sean Astin, Josh Brolin, and Corey Feldman, the movie has enough personalities to keep the jokes and the drama flowing smoothly.
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Back to the Future
The second best '80s movie doesn't actually spend that much time in the '80s, but it's still great watching Michael J Fox and Christopher Lloyd explore the 1950s through the '80s lens. With a good mix of humor, sci-fi, and quirky plot, the movie holds up even better than either of the sequels.
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Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back
When the first "Star Wars" hit theaters in 1977, it was a big deal. When the sequel hit in 1980, with its complete downer of an ending and epic plot twists, it was a revelation. Still the best "Star Wars" movie of all time, "Episode V" took the franchise from fun interstellar movie to high cinema.
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