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BEST 80's Movies

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Totally Tubular 80's Titles

Some of the "best" movies came out in the 80's. I can remember a bunch of us kids would come back to my house every day after junior hight and watch the same movie every day for months at a time until we got bored with it and moved on to the next video. These movies are ingrained in my brain. I use quotes and quips from them daily. Honestly, I feel bad for people who didn't grow up in the 80's. They really missed out on a great era.

This lens will take a look at some of the awesome 80's movies as well as some of the awesomely BAD 80's movies that should be viewed with the goal in mind that the entertainment value rests in the absurdity that this movie was ever produced in the first place.

Take a stroll with me back to the 80s...

This is a brand new lens, so I will be adding much more to it. Be sure to favorite it and come back for updates. Or become a fan and get on the squidcast.

New Table of Contents

  1. Most Iconic 80's Movie
  2. The Breakfast Club
  3. Sixteen Candles
  4. Ferris Beuller's Day Off
  5. Red Dawn
  6. Risky Business
  7. Teen Witch
  8. Adventures in Babysitting
  9. Girls Just Wanna Have Fun
  10. Best of the Best Brat Packers
  11. Pending Reviews:

Most Iconic 80's Movie

According to ME

I think the Breakfast Club is the most iconic movie of the 80's. You got something to say about that?

What is the most iconic 80's movie?

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The Breakfast Club

DJWAYNO says:

THE BREAKFAST CLUB

Something else

Taylor says:

i can't choose between the karate kid, ferris bueller's day off and pretty in pink, they are all really good movies!

Shadrosky says:

Gotta agree with Lost Boys!

JB says:

Goonies!!

maria says:

Back To The Future!

Chris says:

Lost Boys had to be the most iconic film with my self and my friends, we would watch that show 3 or 4 times a day.

 
view all 7 comments

The Breakfast Club

1985: Molly Ringwald, Judd Nelson, Anthony Michael Hall, Emilio Estevez, Ally Sheedy

The biggest baddest brat pack movie made. It's a comedy, it's a romance, it's a bromance, it's a dumb humor, pot lover movie. I just absolutely love it, and it's one of those movies that me and my friends watched every day after school for about 3 months in a row.

Best Quotes from this movie:
"Claire, you wanna see a picture of a guy with elephantitis of the nuts? It's pretty tasty."
"Not even close, bud!"
" I wanna be just like you. I figure all I need, is a lobotomy and some tights."
"Don't mess with the bull, young man. You'll get the horns."
"-Where's your lunch?
-You're wearing it.
-You're nauseating."
"Uh, Dick? Excuse me; Rich. Will milk be made available to us?"
"-What if your home... what if your family... what if your *dope* was on fire?
-Impossible, sir. It's in Johnson's underwear."
"Hey, homeboy, what do you say we close that door, we'll get the prom queen impregnated."
"So it's sorta social, demented and sad, but social. Right? "

If you like the Breakfast Club

Try Ten Things I Hate About You

A little edgier, but still about the social lines and distortions of high school and crossing those boundaries. It's a personal favorite!
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Sixteen Candles

1984: Molly Ringwald, Anthony Michael Hall, John Cusak, Justin Henry

It's gotta be one of the best romantic comedies EVER if only of the 80's. If you notice, I include John Cusak in the list of stars even though he wasn't a prominent character in this movie, he's so amazing, I had to throw him in there.

My favorite lines from the movie:
"I loathe the bus"
"No more yankie my wankie. The Donger need food."
"What's happenin' hot stuff?"
"Nice ma- nice manners, babe."
"Relax, would you? We have seventy dollars and a pair of girls underpants. We're safe as kittens."

I give it a 10 out of 10

If you like Sixteen Candles

Try Love, Actually

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Ferris Beuller's Day Off

1986: Matthew Broderick, Alan Ruck, Mia Sara, Jennifer Grey

One of those guys that just everyone loves skips school for the last time. This movie follows him around Chicago as he gets into himself, his best friend Cameron and his super hot girlfriend into one hilarious situation after the next. Hilarity ensues.

Some of the best lines:
"When Cameron went to London town...Let my Cameron go."

If you like Ferris Beuller's Day Off

Try Van Wilder

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Red Dawn

1984: Patrick Swayze, Charlie Sheen, C. Thomas Howell, Leah Thompson, Jennifer Grey

A group of high school jocks turn into guerrilla fighters after their town is invaded by Cubans and Ruskie soldiers at the onset of WWIII. This is the lesser know first pairing of Johnny and Baby (Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey) though not a romantic pairing. It's a badass movie that I grew to love after being forced to watch it the first time.

If you like Red Dawn

Try Starship Troopers

A futurist take on "invaders" invading the good guys. This time instead of the Russians invading, it's smart bugs. NPH is worth seeing the movie alone. Another movie I was forced to watch the first time and I'm glad I did. It's a great one!
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Risky Business

1983: Tom Cruise, Rebecca De Mornay, Joe Panoliano

Rich kid gets in over his head, falls in love with a hooker, saves hooker from a life of moral depravity, and basically saves the day.

If you like Risky Business

try The Girl Next Door

Same old story, but without the 80s cliches and wardrobe.
Rich genius kid falls in love with the girl next door who happens to be a porn star. Kid gets in over his head, comes up with a plot to save the day and the girl. It's a really good movie too.
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Teen Witch

1989: Robyn Lively

An unpopular high school girl finds out that she's descendant of the Salem witches and has powers. She uses these powers to gain popularity and the affection of the hot guy at school.

OK. This one made the list by request. It has a warm place in my heart because of the "memorable" rap number performed by a teen aged white girl with no sense of street or rhythm.

Rap Number from Teen Witch

Top That

It makes me cringe, but I can't stop watching it.
Teen Witch Rap Scene- Top that!
by lgblksatinlace | video info

3,592 ratings | 2,127,768 views
curated content from YouTube

If you like Teen Witch

try The Craft

Just a tad bit edgier and a little darker, the Craft chronicles the new girl in catholic school who has some trouble making friends until she joins the local coven of witches. She finds that her dearly departed mother was a witch and so is she.
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Adventures in Babysitting

1987: Elizabeth Shue, Keith Coogan, Anthony Rapp, Vincent D'Onofrio

The babysitter of 3 kids gets a call from her girlfriend who she has to pick up in the big bad city, with the kids in toe she heads off for the city and gets into one bad situation after the next.

Favorite Quotes:
-Don't f*** with the Lords of Hell.
-Don't f*** with the babysitter.

...it's a good check. See, Chris' mom wrote it to Chris 'cause Chris bought her something, I can't remember what. Then I bought Chris some press-on nails, I gave Chris the difference, and she wrote the check over to me. So I'll write the check over to you, you keep the difference, and I'll take the hot dog. So, you got a pen?

Chris I'm begging you, it's really scary here. I've just seen three people shoot up, a bald Chinese lady with no pants on, and there's this old guy outside who wants his bedroom slippers!

If you like Adventures in Babysitting

try Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead

Just a few years after Adventures in Babysitting, Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead came out. When a mother of 4 lands a job in Australia for a few months, she hires a babysitter to take care of the kids. Turns out the babysitter is an ancient mean old woman who dies the first day. So, the oldest daughter, played by Christina Applegate, poses as an adult and enters the workforce. She struggles to keep her summer free from parental authority all the while trying to take care of her younger siblings...hilarity ensues.

My favorite quote from this movie..."I'm right on top of that Rose" I say this at least once a week at work even though my boss's name is Sally.
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Girls Just Wanna Have Fun

1985: Sarah Jessica Parker, Helen Hunt, Lee Montgomery, Jonathon Silverman, Shannen Dougherty

OK. This was definitely one of my very favorite movies of the 80's. The story of the new girl in town going to the private school (probably why I related to this one). She soon meets Lynne (Helen Hunt) who has something in common with Janey--they both love the tv show DTV (Dance TV). This is probably the other reason I loved this movie so much. I used to dance on the local Philadelphia dance tv show, Dancin' on Air. You may have heard of one of the regulars on that show...Kelly Rippa.

Anyway, Sarah Jessica Parker is really cute and Helen Hunt is funny and quirky and the lead guy is hot.

Best quote:
Velcro. Next to the Walkman and tab it is the coolest invention of the 20th century!
Now does that quote scream the 80's or what?

If you like Girls Just Wanna Have Fun

try Hairspray

The 2007 remake of this fantabulous musical is essential viewing is you're a fan of Girls Just Wanna Have Fun. Chubby unpopular girl with a great personality gets to dance on live tv and steal the hot guy from the snotty rich girl. It makes me feel good deep down in my soul.
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Best of the Best Brat Packers

Who's your favorite?

Do you go more for the bad boys and girls--like Judd Nelson and Demi Moore?
Or more of the low key personalities--like Andrew McCarthy and Ally Sheedy?

Let the world know who should be on top!

1

Vote Up
Vote Down

Anthony Michael Hall

Sixteen Candles
The Breakfast Club
Weird Science more...1 point

2

Vote Up
Vote Down

John Cusak

Class
Sixteen Candles
The Sure Thing
Better Off Dead more...1 point

3

Vote Up
Vote Down

Kevin Bacon

Footloose
Quicksilver
She's Having a Baby more...1 point

4

Vote Up
Vote Down

Emilio Estevez

The Outsiders
The Breakfast Club
St. Elmo's Fire more...0 points

5

Vote Up
Vote Down

Rob Lowe

The Outsiders
Class
Oxford Blues
St. Elmo's Fire
About more...0 points

6

Vote Up
Vote Down

Andrew McCarthy

St. Elmo's Fire
Pretty in Pink
Class
Mannequin (a personal more...0 points

7

Vote Up
Vote Down

Demi Moore

St. Elmo's Fire
About Last Night
One Crazy Summer more...0 points

8

Vote Up
Vote Down

Judd Nelson

The Breakfast Club
St. Elmo's Fire0 points

9

Vote Up
Vote Down

Molly Ringwald

Sixteen Candles
Pretty in Pink
The Breakfast Club
For more...0 points

10

Vote Up
Vote Down

Ally Sheedy

War Games
Oxford Blues
The Breakfast Club
St. Elmo's more...0 points

11

Vote Up
Vote Down

Robert Downey Jr.

Weird Science
Back to School
Less Than Zero
Johnny more...0 points

12

Vote Up
Vote Down

Jon Cryer

Pretty in Pink
Hiding Out0 points

13

Vote Up
Vote Down

Jami Gertz

Sixteen Candles
Less Than Zero
The Lost Boys
Quick more...0 points

Pending Reviews:

The following list will be reviewed soon complete with recommendations to more recent movies you may enjoy.


  • Valley Girl
  • 48 Hours
  • The Lost Boys
  • Trading Places
  • Less Than Zero
  • The Empire Strikes Back
  • The Shining
  • Nightmare on Elm Street
  • Raiders of the Lost Ark
  • Goonies
  • Say Anything
  • One Crazy Summer
  • Back to the Future
  • Return of the Jedi
  • Die Hard
  • The Princess Bride
  • Stand By Me
  • Scarface
  • The Blues Brothers
  • Rain Man
  • A Christmas Story
  • This is Spinal Tap
  • E.T.
  • Xanadu

by

kristenuhess

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