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I’ve done my top 100 of all time before, and as there was absolutely no demand for another list, I have taken it upon myself to bring you one anyway. So here are my favourite, not best, films of the 1980’s.
They really don’t make em like this anymore (unless you watch Stranger Things or Cobra Kai or It.) simpler times, no CGI eye noise or remakes. So coming in at 100-91:
Weird Science deserves better than 99!
Scarface deserves better than 100!
No on both counts.
Weird Science hasn’t lasted the test of time as well as many other films and Scarface is just a little bit not as good as it should be.
I feel like you put Scarface at #100 just because it's Scarface, and not because it actually deserves to make the cut.
It was a toss up between that and Glory/Back to the Future 3. I think it’s better than both of those so got the nod.
Scarface is slightly better than Glory, but both are significantly better than all of the others listed so far.
I’ve just realized BTTF 3 was 1990 anyway.
Scarface went from cult classic to being firmly pushed into the pop culture lexicon in the 90s by rappers, and then there was seemingly a counter-push to call it overrated.
It is great though; people debating whether it is even a top 100 movie of the decade is funny to me. Maybe it is a B-movie but it is a damn great one.
I probably wont have seen most of these.
It struck me a few days ago that when I was growing up I barely watched any modern (at the time) films.
I have only seen Weird Science out of the first 10. Possibly Back to The Future 2 but I can only remember the first one.
I have never seen a Disney film other than Bedknobs and Broomsticks (?!) either. I need to have words with my parents.
I might use this list as a good excuse to catch up on a missed childhood if I end up having not seen most of them.
I think Weird Science has lasted better than some movies from the 80s. Young Robert Downey Jr. is in there (my kids popped for young Iron Man) and the party scene with Vernon Wells being his Mad Max 2 character is a fun tid bit. Kelly LeBrock still shines when she enters the movie with that sly "What do you maniacs want to do first?". Bill Paxton as the Chet the bully older brother raises the bar for movie bullys. Last but not least that theme song is as great as ever. Your list so not arguing but my opinion, you shafted Weird Science.
Looking forward to seeing the rest though!
Haha it does kind of feel like Scarface put at 100 simply to avoid someone going "How can you not have Scarface??" I mean, it's worse than Over The Top? Idk about that.
It is a cool movie. I think I've only seen it maybe twice in my life but obviously some very very iconic lines and scenes. I always forget it's a remake of a 30's version that was essentially about Al Capone aka Scarface.
Weird Science is basically the story of me and my best friend Brian minus the science lol. We were Gary and Wyatt. He was definitely the Wyatt, his older brothers were like Chet rolled into one always fucking with us. I just wish we had created a woman that hot holy shit. To think, Steven Segal was hittin that hard.Quote:
Originally Posted by Jarrod1983
I've only seen Dirty Dancing.
@mth are you reading this lad? You need my Netflix password for at the very least Back to the Future 2?Quote:
Originally Posted by Melly
90. Little Monsters
89. Overboard
88. Manaquin
87. Kickboxer
86. Brewster’s Millions
85. Romancing The Stone
84. Critters
83. The Road Warrior
82. When Harry Met Sally
81. They Live
Critters is massively underrated, it’s stupid nonsense and brilliant for it.
When Harry Met Sally was really ahead of it’s time. Romancing the Stone is a guilty pleasure, but fine as it’s obviously not taking its self seriously. They Live is on the list purely for the fist fight to end all fist fights.
I do have to wonder what happened between the end of Mad Max and the start of the sequel that made everyone decide leather chaps were ok.
Do you mean Little Monsters for 90? If so that movie is awesome.
Scarface should be in the top 20 minimum. Very few films capture the essence of excess of the 80s like that film. Just fucking awesome.
I enjoyed BTTF 2 as a kid, and desperately wanted self-tying trainers as well as a hoverboard. Shame 2015 came and went without them :(
With Fred Savage?Quote:
Originally Posted by Donald
Than yes that’s the one.
Fred Savage, Ben Savage, Daniel Stern, Howie Mandell, my goodness I saw that movie 20 times in my youth!
I mostly remember cat food sandwiches and something about bogies. Class.
Overboard is underrated, it was a lot of fun for its time but it's highly dated. Today's audience would find the concept appalling. Brewster's Millions was stupidly funny, and it makes me miss Richard Pryor. When Harry Met Sally was really brilliant and deserves to be higher. Romancing the Stone is another fine flick that is worth seeing again - and it holds up as a period flick precisely because as you say, it doesn't take itself seriously.
Scarface and Glory are both significantly better than all of the others listed so far.
I have seen Brewster's Millions.
I may have seen Romancing the Stone but it also may have been Big Trouble in Little China or indeed a combination of the two.
There was a remake of Overboard with Anna Farris a couple of years ago with the gender roles swapped. It looks just a little bit shit.Quote:
Originally Posted by 3puppies
They Live is one of my all time favorites, I always have trouble deciding between They Live and The Crow.
That sounds terrible.Quote:
Originally Posted by The Beer Monster
- - - Updated - - -
All 3 of those are 80's classics. Big Trouble particularly, just incredibly silly fun.Quote:
Originally Posted by MMH
I’ve always wanted to do Jack Burton for fancy dress, but haven’t had the chance. Or the guns.
Oops, no, sorry I have seen Back To The Future 1 and II.Quote:
Originally Posted by Nash Diesel
80. Tron
79. Space Camp
78. Dark Crystal
77. Red Dawn
76. First Blood
75. Airplane
74. Time Bandits
73. Scrooged
72. Masters of the Universe
71. 48 Hours
Obviously nostalgia plays a big part in this list, as if they made Red Dawn now, I’d just think it was shit.
My Mum was very keen on taking me to see He-Man, aka Dolph Lungdrun in pants, the dirty perv.
Airplane is possibly a bit low down here, oh well.
I haven’t seen the Netflix Dark Crystal yet, but I get the feeling I wouldn’t like it so keep avoiding it.
Masters of the Universe is brilliant. Airplane! would be a lot higher on my list, possibly top 10.
Scarface and Glory are both significantly better than all of these, except maybe Airplane, which deserves to be in the top 15-20 at least.
I recall actually walking out of the theater from Dark Crystal, as it just wasn't doing anything for me at the time. Saw it years later and thought better of it. First Blood was very very good and Red Dawn took a stupid premise and made it into a decent movie for its time. I recall liking Scrooged at the time, as I find Bill Murray terrific. 48 hours helped skyrocket Eddie Murphy to stardom.
Tron was clever, but it really showed how painfully slow computers were back in the day, and how poor the computer animation was especially by todays standards. When computers were doubling speed every 18 months back then, and since it took many months of development to make a movie, by the time it got into theaters the movie itself felt obsolete.
Nope.Quote:
Originally Posted by 3puppies
Tron should be higher. Fantastic film. Who doesn't love the motorbike bit.Quote:
Originally Posted by The Beer Monster
70. Space Camp
69. Highlander
68. K-9
67. Turner and Hooch
66. Pale Rider
65. Young Sherlock Holmes
64. Beetlejuice
63. War Games
62. Honey, I Shrunk the Kids
61. The Long Good Friday
All easily much better than Scarface and Glory, only a fool would disagree.
Highlander gets a raw deal because of the frankly ridiculous casting and resulting accents, but it’s pretty awesome other than that.
Joaquin Phoenix in space, what’s not to like?
And an early example of the 1 idea two films phenomenon with a dog and his cop. Hanks edges this as they had the balls to kill the dog and actually keep it dead.
I originally thought Young Sherlock was a TV show and was very disappointed when it wasn’t,
Rick Morranis should still be in films.
Space Camp at 79 and 70? Interesting...
Fucking love Masters of the Universe. Frank Langella is A++ as Skeletor.
Beetlejuice is underrated. As is Michael Keaton.
Damn it. Let me juggle that around.Quote:
Originally Posted by Donald
70. Highlander
69. K-9
68. Turner and Hooch
67. Pale Rider
66. Young Sherlock Holmes
65. Beetlejuice
64. War Games
63. Honey, I Shrunk the Kids
62. The Long Good Friday
61. Dirty Rotten Scoundrels.
Edit- tried to shoehorn one I’d forgotten in and obviously fucked that right up.
Beetlejuice and Honey I Shrunk The Kids are two movies I watched over and over as a kid, but I don't think I've seen either in 20 years.
Great time of year to re-watch Beetlejuice. My wife doesn’t do scary films, so it’s a great Halloween one for us.
This is your list and your opinion, and I thank you for compiling and posting it. I respectfully disagree on the merits of both Scarface and Glory, as both are significantly better than the others listed so far.
Beetlejuice is a terrific film - it was unique for its time and still is pretty out there, but despite the shocks and grotesque stuff it holds, it still delivers. War Games and Honey I Shrunk the Kids are both good movies. Dirty Rotten Scoundrels should have been better than it was - it had a good concept and good cast, but it still falls flat at times. Turner and Hooch was a disappointment - if it weren't for Dragnet and Vanities, it'd probably be Tom Hank's worst film.
I pity the fool.
My older boy is being Beetlejuice for Halloween.
60. Cocoon
59. Big Foot and the Hendersons
58. Santa Clause: The Movie
57. Commando
56. Akira
55. Platoon
54. Crocodile Dundee
53. Rocky VI
52. The Great Outdoors
51. Uncle Buck
Do you know what makes these films great, they aren’t set during the American Civil War and no one invites any one to say hello to their small mate.
Cocoon had an old person saying fart, which for junior Beer Monster was amazing.
Classic Arnie here where he goes a whole film with no pants.
Two appearances from John Candy here, he could be none more of an 80s movie star.
Is it really called Big Foot and the Henderson's in the uk? :lol:
Also love santa clause the movie.
Commando might be my favorite action film.
Apparently it might be Harry and the Henderdons. There’s something I’ve miss remembered for over 30 years.
50. Road House
49. Who Framed Roger Rabbit
48. Beverly Hills Cop
47. The Burbs
46. Stand By Me
45. Dragnet
44. Running Man
43. Short Circuit
42. Flight of the Navigator
41. Gremlins
Arnie, but in latex in a truly authentic adaptation of a Stephen King book. Only minor changes, minor.
Flight of the Navigator was one of the first 2 films we ever owned on video in our house, great piece of trivia for you there.
When they say “they don’t make them like that anymore” Roadhouse absolutely falls in to that category and it appears here if for nothing else the line about what that guy used to do to people like Swayze in prison.
Beverly Hills Cop at 48! That is an iconic film. Come on dude, Top 10 that.
Also an amazing soundtrack.
No way too 10, it is good though. The sequels really let it down though. I can’t remember where I read it but some one was saying how in the first film Foley is generous and sharing, which make him endearing and in the follow ups he’s just loud.
Flight of the navigator is class. Saw it again recently on disney +
2nd one was ok. 3rd one though.....ugh. I got the vinyl (!) of the soundtrack and it was my first ever.Quote:
Originally Posted by The Beer Monster
40. Never Ending Story
39. Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure
38. The Thing
37. Full Metal Jacket
36. Willow
35. Batman
34. Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home
33. Inner Space
32. The Lost Boys
31. Lethal Weapon
I’ve messed up a bit here in retrospect, Never Ending Story is a bit high up. And as I know you were all wondering what the 2nd of the 2 films were that we first got on video, it was in fact Never Ending Story. #interestingtidbit.
Apparently there is going to be a Willow tv show, massive potential to be shit there, but let’s remain hopeful.
Lethal Weapon is now one of those films that looks really cliched, because it had been copied to death. Mel Gibson is an enormous bell end but he’s really really good in this. I’ll never be too old for this shit.
Full Metal Jacket is fantastic. Surely better than Inner Space :lol:
I'd put Full Metal Jacket and Willow in my top ten for sure.
I’d rather sit and watch Innerspace if the 2 were randomly on at the same time, Full Metal Jacket is a bit more of a commitment. Hence the ordering.Quote:
Originally Posted by Romford Pele
It's amazing how many 80s films I haven't seen. 39 from your list so far I have not seen!
Watch them all, your in for a treat.
Scarface and Glory are significantly better than all of these. Roger Rabbit, Stand By Me, and Willow are very good films. Beverly Hills Cop was a lot of fun, very memorable to me as it was my first date with my now wife. Dragnet is just a terrible film. The Burbs is also just plain awful.
I rewatched some Scarface last night, Pacino’s accent alone puts it rightly down the list. Plus Robert Loggia is actually a bit shit in this.
I have never seen The Lost Boys. As part of my commitment to watch some films I missed out on in the past I have decided to watch it on Halloween.
I may throw in another one I have never seen, Nightmare on Elm Street. I worry that may have aged badly though.
I haven't seen Elm in a bit but it's a classic. I think it'll hold up upon a first watch.
Elm Street was my least favorite horror franchise, way behind Friday the 13th, Halloween, Child's Play, etc. But the first is a good film and still holds up today.
The Lost Boys sequels must and have to be avoided at all costs. Never watch them.
Dont know if Rambo will be in this list, but never seen any of them. Worth doing?
30. Twins
29. Empire of The Sun
28. The Explorers
27. Flash Gordon
26. Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back
25. This is Spinal Tap
24. Robocop
23. E.T
22. Withnail and I
21. Spacballs
Yes Empire this low down, yes I know you think it’s the best one and should definitely be top 10, well it isn’t, so tough.
Spacebslls better than Empire? Yes there was no film more quoted at my school or possibly one that I watched as many times, I haven’t seen it for years though and might keep it that way as I don’t know that it will have aged as well as I hope.
Flash Gordon was one that my Mum randomly let me stay up late on a school night to watch the very first time I saw it, I thought I was very clever the next day at school cos no one else had seen it.
All the accents in Spinal Tap are better than Scarface. And Arnie and DeVito piss all over Glory, which actually isn’t even on this list.
Empire at #26?!?!
Madness.
Empire at #29?!?!
Seems about right.
The first Rambo film (First Blood) is somewhere in the mid to high 70s on this list and the only one in the series worth watching.Quote:
Originally Posted by Romford Pele
Both Empire films there are awesome. I would rate them higher than Robocop, which is good but not great.
Robocop was THE film I wanted to see more than any other when I was little but wasn’t allowed.
I made my point about Scarface and Glory. I wholeheartedly agree that This is Spinal Tap is better than both of these. I also wonder why ET appeared already - this is a top 5 film for sure.
I named my guinea pig Barf because she had a white patch around her eye and it reminded me of John Candy in Spaceballs.
I like your list. I'm eagerly awaiting where Die Hard will land. Anything after first is unacceptable.
I'm also still waiting on The Wizard. I'm starting to think you skipped this classic.
I don't know why but I always assumed Flash Gordon was much earlier than 1980.
20. Howard the Duck
19. Labyrinth
18. Temple of Doom
17. Raiders of the Lost Ark
16. Ghostbusters
15. Big Trouble I Little China
14. Field of Dreams
13. Terminator
12. The Abyss Special Edition
11. Big
There are no excuses for liking Howard the Duck so I won’t make any.
There are some big hitting classics now at the business end. Indiana Jones makes his first showings and we also see the much underrated Big Trouble in Little China.
A James Cameron double here, I do wish The Abyss had a better ending and Terminator under Cameron is the only Terminators that should be.
Well he did produce the new one so maybe not.
Producing is just having lunches and looking important.
Big at 11 :lol:
I mean it's a fun but film but...11.
Absolutely Big at 11. It’s immense.
That's a BIG call.
I am a huge fan of Field of Dreams. And Big is terrific, it deserves a top 15 spot. Ghostbusters was better than Terminator. Howard the Duck was awful. Big Trouble in Little China, the Abyss and Labyrinth were okay, but do not belong in the top twenty. (Scarface and Glory are both significantly better)
This clearly means you liked the Last Crusade the most of the Indiana Jones movies. I'd probably have Raiders much higher than Temple of Doom instead of next to each other
Pleased to see Terminator so high. A fantastic film that is usually overshadowed by the sequel.
I looked it up as I’ve never heard of it. Looks like it absolutely would have made the list. Wondering if it was ever even released here.Quote:
Originally Posted by Jarrod1983
So you'd add the Wizard, but that logically means you'd have to take away Scarface as not being in your top 100? Yet Howard the Duck is in your top 20?Quote:
Originally Posted by The Beer Monster
Allow me to quote from your 73rd best film of this era.
Yeah, Scarface isn’t as good. I think that’s obvious. For example, That riot near the start, that’s rubbish that is.
Shame you've never seen Wizard. I love that flick.
If I had to choose between Wizard and Scarface, Wizard gets it every time.
I guess I like Nintendo more than cocaine.
I guess I like anthropamorphised Ducks more than cocaine.
Howard the Duck is a fucking classic. Excellent call.
Lea Thompson in the 80's was the ultimate crush!
10.
09.
Number 9 is my favorite film of all time. I love it.
Probs my least favorite Christmas movie
Just as long as you call it a Christmas movie.
08.
That clip misses the best line.
I always liked the mid air arm wrestling you referenced but you're right.
That should fix it.
I always liked the mid air throw Guile does in Street Fighter.
Okay carry on....
Don't kill me, or do if you must I'd be better off, but I've never seen Top Gun or Predator, which is strange because Tom Cruise and Arnold Schwarzenegger are two of my favorite actors of all time.