With all of the popularity of the nostalgia for the 1980s, with pop culture exploring the "me decade" with entries like ABC's The Goldbergs, the novel (and soon to be film) Ready Player One, Netflix's Stranger Things, and the always-present adoration by all following generations for '80s music, we decided now would be the perfect time to take a dive into insanity. Just like our Top 50 list we did of 1990s movies, we bit the bullet in taking on a nearly impossible task: choosing the best 50 films of the 1980s! This list represents a collaboration between us to determine what was the best of the best of that decade. Like with our 1990s list, each of us created our own personal top 50 and shared them with each other. Twenty-seven (27) of the films picked were on both our lists. Needing 23 more to complete our work, we each selected 13 remaining movies from our own lists and shared them. Then each of us got to choose 3 movies we'd eliminate from the other's 13 and we were given one save to keep one of those three the other tried kick off. Confused? For example - Matt chose 3 movies to kick off from Jay's list and then Jay got to save one of those. Jay did the same for Matt. Ultimately, there was one (1) person who had to give up two picks, and, this time out, Jay graciously sacrificed his final two picks. (He'll get preferential pick on the next list!)
Looking at this list and how it shaped out, there is plenty for us both to agree and disagree on. I think it's a true melding of our tastes in movies and what makes our site so great. Two different opinions that can be polar opposites at times and then agree totally on others. It should be stated that this was a very difficult list to condense down! And there are bound to be A LOT of films that people think should've made the cut but didn't; but, keep in mind, this list was made from the picks of Jay and Matt, and then whittled down to what you are about to see.
Also like before, this list contains numbers 50 through 41. We will release 4 more posts to complete the list of 50 in the days to come. The 80's was one of the greatest decades for film -- nearly every film made during this decade has gone on to pop culture history and left an indelible mark in audiences and future filmmakers alike! Since Jay and I grew up during this decade, many of these movies hold a special place for us. Much of what we learned about film and our appreciation of the medium was born out of this decade. Enjoy!
50. The Razor's Edge (1984)
Directed by John Byrum
Starring Bill Murray, Theresa Russell, Catherine Hicks, Denholm Elliott, and James Keach
Tibetan Monk: "The pathway to salvation is as narrow and as difficult to walk as a razor's edge."
Jay: I tried to get this movie eliminated, but I was not successful. It's not that it's a terrible film -- its OK -- but it deserves no place in the top 50. I used to own it on VHS and Matt borrowed it from me when we were teenagers. I think its central message of selflessness and living a simple, unmaterialistic life spoke to him a lot and I can respect that. It just falls into that category of films that I once thought was great that I now look back on and think, "Why did I like this so much?" It's just too flawed a picture for this list.
Matt: Jay can whine all he wants, but I don't think this film is nearly as flawed as he's making it out to be. The backstory to this film is that in order to get Bill Murray to sign on to do Ghostbusters, Columbia Pictures agreed to let him do this film. I enjoyed this version much better than the original 1946 film starring Tyrone Power, and Murray's foray into drama was greatly needed during the greed which imbued the decade. Based on my favorite book of all-time (W. Somerset Maugham's The Razor's Edge), this film is nearly as good and I do connect to the overall message of the story -- not so much of living a simple life, but more about the concept that life is a reward. Murray brings just the right amount of humor and charm to a character going through World War I and post-war America and Europe. However, this is still not your typical Murray comedy as the film explores many philosophical facets of life. To me, I would have scored this film slightly higher but I understand Jay's argument that it may not speak to everyone. Nevertheless, it's definitely a film worth watching!
49. St. Elmo's Fire (1985)
Directed by Joel Schumacher
Starring Judd Nelson, Ally Sheedy, Rob Lowe, Andrew McCarthy, Demi Moore, Emilio Estevez, and Mare Winningham
Billy: "Jules, ya know, honey. This isn't real. You know what it is? It's St. Elmo's Fire. Electric flashes of light that appear in dark skies out of nowhere."
Jay: Judd Nelson and Ally Sheedy become yuppies, Emilio Estevez is a creepy stalker, and Rob Lowe perfects the 80's saxophone-playing scene. I don't mind St. Elmo's Fire -- it's just not anywhere near as good as most of the other 80's era, "Brat Pack" movies that came out this decade. There isn't a lot here that makes me want to say that this is a film that reflects the era well.
Matt: One of the few "Brat Pack" movies without the involvement of John Hughes, St. Elmo's Fire may not be the most popular film of the '80s -- especially when compared to films such as Sixteen Candles -- but its story always appealed more to me than the older version: The Big Chill, if for no more reason than Elmo's is more realistic. Now, I know this film isn't for everyone, but if you give it a try, it just may become a guilty pleasure. The film, which centers around seven college best friends as they are thrown into the real world of post-college life, perfectly captures the "me generation" in all of their glory as they begin turning into the people they said they would never become. But at the core of this film is how deep-seeded friendship sadly changes as one gets older. It's a bittersweet part of life and the performances perfectly capture it. When Judd Nelson laments to his former roommate Andrew McCarthy over his break-up with Ally Sheedy, "I don't ... think ... I can get her back," and it's played to the stinging sax of David Foster's score, anyone who's ever lost a lover can feel that pain. I know there are other "Brat Pack" films or Hughes films that most may think outrank this one, but because of its obscurity and being so underrated, I think it deserves a spot here.
48. Time Bandits (1981)
Directed by Terry Gilliam
Starring Craig Warnock, John Cleese, Sean Connery, Shelley Duvall, Katherine Helmond, Ian Holm, Michael Palin, and David Warner
Evil: "If I were creating the world I wouldn't mess about with butterflies and daffodils. I would have started with lasers, eight o'clock, Day One!"
Jay: When I was a kid I wanted a map that would allow me to jump anywhere in time and I wanted a gang of little people to join me and together we'd rob Napoleon, Robin Hood, Agamemnon, and anyone else we felt like. OK, maybe I was just watching Terry Gilliam's fantastic Time Bandits, a film that proves you don't need a lot of money or fancy effects to create a perfectly realized fantasy world. Gilliam's background as an illustrator serves him well here. Everything about this movie is perfectly crafted and realized like most of his pictures. It wouldn't be Gilliam without the cynicism and mistrust of technology, though, would it? Kevin is a boy badly in need of an escape from his television-obsessed, materialistic parents. Pursued by the "Supreme Being," a God that lacks any sort of kindness or understanding, he and his friends find themselves facing the Ultimate Evil (David Warner in his best role). The fact that Evil is fixated on hi-tech gadgets and a future where everything digital is truly supreme was not lost on me, even as a child. I was always drawn to the darker, more pessimistic stories, where innocence is up against impossible odds. After the ending we see in Time Bandits, it was clear that Kevin never stood a chance in Gilliam's cruel world. If only he could have stayed with Sean Connery.
Matt: This was one of Jay's picks and he can speak more to its greatness than I can. Gilliam is a good director but I don't think Time Bandits is as good as Buckaroo Bonzai. Still, it is a quintessential '80s fantasy film and worth checking out!
47. They Live (1988)
Directed by John Carpenter
Starring Roddy Piper, Keith David, and Meg Foster
Nada: "I have come here to chew bubblegum and kick ass . . . . and I'm all out of bubblegum."
Jay: Is it fair to say that John Carpenter could be the most prolific filmmaker of the 1980's? This is the first -- and it won't be the last -- time he makes an appearance on our list. They Live is one of more unappreciated movies. Over time, though, it has gained more and more street cred. Roddy Piper, in his film debut, plays Nada, a drifter who comes to the city looking for work only to stumble across a pair of sunglasses that allow him to see that nearly half our population is actually aliens who are disguised to look like us. They have also embedded in our advertising subliminal messages that keep us focused on consuming and contributing to a capitalist society gone a-muck. Recently, Carpenter had to respond to white supremacists who claimed They Live was about Jewish control over our society and economy, and the director rightly responded to that ridiculous claim with the film's true themes of anti-capitalism. The movie is also famous for inspiring graphic artist "Shepard's Fairy" to create the "OBEY" logo which he turned into a popular clothing line, and it also happens to feature the greatest and possibly longest fist fight in movie history between Piper and Keith David as the former tries to get his friend to try on the sunglasses and see the truth for himself.
Matt: A cult classic, for sure! Yet another of one of the many underrated films by master filmmaker John Carpenter (Jay is right; Carpenter is one of the most prolific filmmakers of the '80s)! When first viewing They Live, any viewer could pick up what Carpenter is putting down. The anti-capitalism message is cleverly put to metaphor as Piper's Nada discovers a conspiracy which leaves him unable to trust most people he comes to meet. This is one of the better cult films of the era and is essential viewing for any horror fan!
46. Coming to America (1988)
Directed by John Landis
Starring Eddie Murphy, Arsenio Hall, James Earl Jones, John Amos, Shari Headley, and Eriq La Salle
Prince Akeem: "Sir, did you happen to catch the professional football contest on television last night?"
Cleo McDowell: "No, I didn't."
Prince Akeem: "Oh sir, the Giants of New York took on the Packers of Green Bay. And in the end, the Giants triumphed by kicking an oblong ball made of pigskin through a big "H". It was a most ripping victory."
Cleo McDowell: "Son, I'm only going to tell you this one time."
Prince Akeem: "Yes?"
Cleo McDowell: "If you want to keep working here, stay off the drugs."
Jay: Coming to America is the quintessential Eddie Murphy comedy. Even more so than 48 Hours or Beverly Hills Cop before it, this classic comedy allows Murphy to show off everything that made him a genius in his prime. It was also one of the first movies where he played multiple characters. There are so many hysterical moments that it's hard to keep up. Murphy is also buoyed by a strong supporting cast including Arsenio Hall as his "man-servant," Semmi. Even though it wouldn't be on my personal top 50 of the 1980's, I can't argue with Matt putting this one forward. It's one of those movies I can't pass by when I see it on TV on any given day.
Matt: This is my favorite Murphy movie (second is another '80s film, Harlem Nights), and that says a lot for someone who put out a string of great comedies throughout the decade! If there's one thing you'll notice about our list -- and the same can be said for '80s movies in general -- it's that there were a lot of hits in the comedy, horror and fantasy genres. What's a bit weird is that there weren't close to as many dramas. Anyway, with America, you can't have a list like this and not include it. The story and humor is integral to the decade. While Murphy and Hall shine, it is John Amos -- one of the finest actors out there -- who I enjoy in this film as he plays the father to Murphy's love interest, Lisa (Shari Headley), as well as the owner of McDowell's, a second-rate McDonald's.
45. Romancing the Stone (1984)
Directed by Robert Zemeckis
Starring Michael Douglas, Kathleen Turner, and Danny DeVito
Jack T. Colton: "Dammit, man! The Doobie Brothers broke up!? Shit! When did that happen!?"
Jay: Unfairly maligned by some as an Indiana Jones rip-off, Romancing the Stone is a great adventure movie and pretty much single-handedly launched the acting career of Michael Douglas. When her sister is kidnapped in Colombia, romance novelist Joan Wilder (Kathleen Turner) sets off to bring the ransom money to the criminals. Along the way she meets Jack Colton (Douglas), who offers to help her but may have ulterior motives concerning the mysterious treasure map she is bringing to the kidnappers. Robert Zemeckis had a major hit with this fun movie. He would go on to bigger and better things obviously (Back to the Future, Forrest Gump), but here is delivering pure fun. Kathleen Turner has never been better here and the chemistry between her and Douglas is what really sells this film. Oh, and Danny DeVito is great as the devious Ralph!
Matt: This was my first foray into romantic comedies and, to this day, it is one of the best! Director Robert Zemeckis would follow this film (his third) up with a little sci-fi comedy called Back to the Future, and while Douglas is very good here, it is Kathleen Turner who steals the show! Jay pretty much said all there is to say about Stone, but I will add that it's the perfect date film -- great viewing for men and women.
44. A Fish Called Wanda (1988)
Directed by Charles Crichton
Starring John Cleese, Jamie Lee Curtis, Kevin Kline, and Michael Palin
Otto: "You're a very attractive man, Ken. You're . . . smart, you've got wonderful bones, great eyes, and you dress really interestingly."
Ken: "What you . . . ?"
Otto: "We could have a lot of fun together, you and I. And I think we'd be really good for each other. What do you say?"
Ken: "You must be j-j-j...
Otto: "May I kiss you, Ken?"
Ken: "No you fucking can't!"
Jay: Picking a quote from A Fish Called Wanda was a nearly impossible task. No other comedy is more quotable in my mind. Also, about 90% of those quotes belong to one character, Otto, played brilliantly by Kevin Kline. Kline would win a richly deserved Oscar for his performance here, and it is unique as one of the only times the Academy has rewarded an actor for a purely comedic performance. You can watch this movie a hundred times and it makes you laugh each and every time. John Cleese and Michael Palin, Monty Python alums, bring their particular brand of British comedy and Jamie Lee Curtis is fantastic as Wanda. In a decade that is crammed with some of the best comedies ever, A Fish Called Wanda stands up as one of the very best.
Matt: Jay loves this film and while It's not one of my favorites of the decade, I have to admit it's earned a place on this list. Kline is one of my favorite actors and this film is an essential viewing for his fans. This is one hell of a heist film with many twists and turns, making it hard for the audience to guess who will end up with the prize, but pulling out many laughs along the way!
43. This is Spinal Tap (1984)
Directed by Rob Reiner
Starring Rob Reiner, Michael McKean, Christopher Guest, Harry Shearer, and Bruno Kirby
Marty DiBergi: "This pretentious ponderous collection of religious rock psalms is enough to prompt the question, 'What day did the Lord create Spinal Tap, and couldn't he have rested on that day too?"
Jay: The template from which all "mockumentaries" would take their cues from, Spinal Tap is a masterpiece of improvisation, A parody of the popular heavy metal bands of the 1980's like Van Halen, Def Leppard, AC/DC, etc., the guys of Spinal Tap are treading water in their own mediocrity, oblivious to their own stupidity and lack of musical talent. There are so many moments of side-splitting laughs that it makes it even more amazing when you know that all of the dialogue was spoken off-the-cuff and in the moment. Christopher Guest is particularly funny as lead guitarist Nigel Tufnel whose amps go all the way to 11. Why 11 you ask? Because it's one more than 10, of course.
42. The NeverEnding Story (1984)
Directed by Wolfgang Petersen
Starring Barret Oliver, Noah Hathaway, Tami Stronach, Deep Roy, Moses Gunn, Thomas Hill, and Gerald McRaney
Mr. Koreander: "Your books are safe. While you're reading them, you get to become Tarzan or Robinson Crusoe."
Bastian: "But that's what I like about 'em."
Mr. Koreander: "Ahh, but afterwards you get to be a little boy again."
Bastian: "Wh-what do you mean?"
Mr. Koreander: "Listen. Have you ever been Captain Nemo, trapped inside your submarine while the giant squid is attacking you?"
Bastian: "Yes."
Mr. Koreander: "Weren't you afraid you couldn't escape?"
Bastian: "But it's only a story."
Mr. Koreander: "That's what I'm talking about. The ones you read are safe."
Jay: I saw this one in the movie theater as a kid. There were so many moments that stood out: the introduction of the Rock Biter, Atreyu's battle with the evil wolf, G'Mork, the first flight with Falcor. But none compare to Atreyu's impossible attempt at saving his horse Artax from the Bog of Eternal Sadness. WTF? Seriously? Let's just scar 80's children for the rest of their lives by showing them the senseless drowning/suffocation of a boy's horse in a swamp. It's really demented, and as you can tell I still haven't gotten over it. So, The Neverending Story is notable for making thousands of little kids cry in a particularly sadistic way. I guess that's enough to earn it a spot, but I would have rather moved on without it. NOOOOO!!! ARTAX!!!!!!!
Matt: I picked this film because of its heavy imaginative imagery and story. I know most love Labyrinth (and I do too!), but Story taps into childhood and the importance of imagination. Yes, as Jay pointed out, there are some scarring parts for kids, but, thanks to the also-released-in-the-'80s original animated Transformers Movie, it wasn't the only one. I also loved that just when you think the film is over and the good guys have won, there's more to go. The story is filled with several story vignettes and unforgettable characters, but, do yourself a favor, and don't watch the two sequels ... EVER!
41. National Lampoon's Vacation (1983)
Directed by Harold Ramis
Starring Chevy Chase, Beverly D'Angelo, Anthony Michael Hall, Dana Barron, Randy Quaid, Imogene Coca, and John Candy
Clark Griswald: "We're all gonna have so much f@*#ing fun we're gonna need plastic surgery to remove our goddamn smiles! You'll be whistling 'Zip-A-Dee Doo-Dah' out of your a$$holes! I must be crazy! I'm on a pilgrimage to see a moose. Praise Marty Moose! Holy Shit!"
Jay: The original Vacation is still the best. Although, I do have a special love for Christmas Vacation as well. Chevy Chase is particularly good as bumbling, good-hearted dad, Clark Griswald. The moment where he tells his family they are all "fucked in the head" for wanting to turn around and go home before making it to Wally World is my personal favorite. It's a very funny movie and even though I may not have put it this high, I understand why it is so loved.
Matt: The first John Hughes entry on this list! Hughes, who wrote for the National Lampoon magazine, wrote a story called Vacation '58, which he said was loosely based on his family vacations from when he was a kid. Hughes would define two-to-three generations (mine included), making him one of the most crucial filmmakers of the decade. And Chevy Chase played the part of dipshit-but-lovable dad so well! Vacation takes every aspect about a family road trip that you hate or annoyed by, and makes them laugh-out-loud hysterical; and that's what makes it so great and timeless!
Awesome picks and reviews! Can't wait to see more ��
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