Best Films of the 1980s List
(For optimum viewing, adjust the zoom level of your browser to 125%.)
Last Updated: 4/30/25
Note:
It's simple and straightforward: the best films of the decade in cinema history for 1980s. In order to be
considered, the films must have been released any time from 1980 to 1989 according to IMDb. Multiple parts
(i.e. duology, trilogy, etc.) can be put together as one if there's a continuation in the narrative. Miniseries
and telefilms are fair game, but documentaries are excluded.
These films have made the cut because they have shown brilliance in most, if not all, aspects: acting, characters,
screenplay, plot, direction, editing, cinematography, and so on. They must also be "culturally, historically, or
aesthetically significant." Then, I think about cultural phenomenon, uniqueness, famous movie moments, iconic
scenes and/or lines, cinematic power, and timelessness.
This list is based on what I have seen so far and is limited to the top 10 with 5 honorable mentions in that order.
Michael Douglas is chilling as Gordon Gekko and steals every scene. The most famous line of Wall Street
is: "Greed, for lack of a better word, is good." It's also full of Gekkoisms such as "The most valuable commodity
I know of is information," "Ever wonder why fund managers can't beat the S&P 500? 'Cause they're sheep, and sheep
get slaughtered," and "I don't throw darts at a board. I bet on sure things. Read Sun-tzu, The Art of War.
Every battle is won before it's ever fought."
They don't make movies like E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial anymore. The 80's was the decade of E.T. with the
dolls, Reese's Pieces, Atari game cartridges, and VHS tapes being all over the place. It was impossible to escape
them. The story is unique and can easily hit all people of any age. Two most famous moments are
when Elliott and E.T. start to fly through the air on the BMX bike and be in front of the moon.
Very few films have the distinction of being described as one of the most beautiful made, and
Chariots of Fire, without doubt, is such that. The opening scene of runners on the beach is absolutely
powerful and represents what the movie is all about: the celebration of human spirit. Honor and virtue are
routinely stressed and backed by actions.
Dith Pran, the subject of the film, was the first to coin the term "killing fields" to describe the Cambodian
genocide. Sydney Schanberg received the Pulitzer Prize for his wartime reporting there. A first-time
nonprofessional actor, Dr. Haing S. Ngor lived through the experience. Therefore, The Killing Fields
is a powerful film of what it's like to be in a war zone.
Nothing gets anyone going at the beginning than it does in Raiders of the Lost Ark when Indiana Jones
has his bullwhip ready to get rid of the gun before he's faced with the most devilish booby traps inside the
cave that's deep in the South America jungles. A must-see for people of all ages, it's what movies should be about.
Some have said Amadeus is boring. Some have said Amadeus is too long. And some have said
Amadeus is nothing more than the music. But they all miss out the masterpiece in Amadeus. It's
unbelievable watching F. Murray Abraham and Tom Hulce perform at their absolute best, and they'll be remembered
forever for this film. The writing is first-rate. So are the interior set decoration, costumes, and cinematography.
A landmark in black cinema, The Color Purple captures the human spirit so well that it's a strange
yet moving work of art with powerful scenes. Making her astonishing film debut is Whoopi Goldberg. There's so
much for the characters to overcome such as domestic violence, incest, forced separation, rape, slavery,
pedophilia, poverty, racism, and sexism.
*table crashing* "Bodder me abott a steak? Huh? You bodda me abott a steak??!" That scene pretty much sums up
what Raging Bull is about. As almost unrecognizable as he looks, Robert De Niro gives a performance
that's among the ten greatest in history. Both cinematography and editing are the icing on the cake to reach
for that certain oomph.
Riveting and moving, Glory is the top film of 1989 and ranks among the very best of the decade. Without
doubt, the most spectacular performance comes from Denzel Washington who clinched the Oscar during the flogging
scene. The 54th's assault on Fort Wagner underscores how dramatic the whole thing is. The night before is
incredible because these men knew they were going to die and felt prepared about it.
If you have to pick one Merchant Ivory picture to watch, make it A Room with a View. It's a rare
achievement in filmmaking which is transforming the screenplay into a motion picture with the feel of a 19th
century novel with brilliant performances. The direction is adroitly done, and the cinematography is magnificent.
Honorable Mentions:
Lean on Me (1989),
Platoon (1986),
Dangerous Liaisons (1988),
This Is Spinal Tap (1984),
and
9½ Weeks (1986)