Random Features

Best 80's Movies that Defined the Decade

The Best 80's Movies that Personify the 80's Culture and Style

A lot of good movies came out of the 80's, but some were better at reflecting the decade - its music, styles and hair colors. While many great sci-fi and action movies came out in those years, we've compiled of list of only movies that personify the 80's. These are movies that really show us, or remind us, what the 80's were all about. Peek through the looking glass, these are the Top 15 "eighties" movies about the 80's decade :


1 - Modern Girls starring Daphne Zuniga and Virginia Madsen. In 1986 this movie didn't turn many heads, but looking back it was very funny. The lines are well written; the sets really show us the culture of that time. The film is about 3 girls who hop from club to club searching for a pop star, Bruno X, as well as other love interests. Not many people saw this movie, but you should. "Modern Girls" is witty and funny. Several immortal lines sent me rolling on the floor laughing. It showcases some memorable 80's music, many club scenes, and wild hair & clothing styles. Watch this movie to get to the 80s for 90 minutes.


  (Depeche Mode MV from the Modern Girls soundtrack with scenes)

2 - Sixteen Candles , a John Hughes movie with the usual 1984 stars: Molly Ringwald, Anthony Michael Hall, and even a young John Cusack. Great music from Thomson Twins, David Bowie, Wham, the Vapors and more. A great look at the that moment in time.

3 - The Wild Life starring Chris Penn and Lea Thomson, and a cool Bananarama song!

4- About Last Night starring Rob Lowe, Demi Moore, and James Belushi. Very funny with just a splash of drama. A comedic look into one night stands, the stamp of the 80s.

5 - One Crazy Summer starring John Cusack and Demi Moore, the same cast that did Better Off Dead .

6 - St. Elmo's Fire starring the whole Brat Pack from Rob Lowe to Emelio Estevez, Demi, Andrew, Judd, Ally, all were there, showing us the excesses of a wild decade.

7 - Pretty in Pink , complete with a Psychedelic Furs song, this is another John Hughes movie that swings us into the MTV years. Molly Ringwald, Jon Cryer and Andrew McCarthy joined to make us laugh.

8 - Risky Business , a very young Tom Cruise and Rebecca De Mornay run from "Guido the killer pimp." A genuinely good movie. "Sometimes you've just gotta say What the F(reak)."

9 - Footloose with Kevin Bacon in the early days, fighting off a town of loonies. The soundtrack is cool, even if the movie is a bit silly.

10 - Flashdance , another shallow movie that was made famous by its soundtrack. These songs shaped a few years of eighties.

11 - Adventures in Babysitting ... very funny.

12 - Ferris Beuller's Day Off starred teenage Matthew Broderick, Alan Ruck and Ben Stein.

13 - The Goonies!

14 - The Wedding Singer was not actually filmed in the 80s, but is about the Eighties nonetheless. Adam Sandler, Drew Barrymore, and Billy Idol made us laugh at a decade we'd like to go back to.

15 - Desperately Seeking Susan , starring Madonna



Since I don't have a time machine, we just use popcorn and DVDs to take us back every once in a while to a fun, wild, insane 80's decade... and smile. These 80's movies really take us back. The VHS and MTV years, ...ahhh.

No comments:

Post a Comment