Many people consider the 1980s the golden era of movies. While nostalgia no doubt plays a part in this assessment, it’s difficult to deny that the 1980s saw the creation of a wide array of movies that have since become iconic.
This era has remained popularity thanks to modern TV shows that return to it and recreate its unique atmosphere, such as Stranger Things. In 2023, movies released in 1983 will turn 40, including some of the most iconic movies of the 1980s. In some cases, these films are just as enjoyable to watch nowadays as they were at the time of their first release.
5 Flashdance
Overcoming obstacles and achieving dreams is a topic that will never grow old. Even though Flashdance was later overshadowed by another music hit, 1987's Dirty Dancing, it remains one of the most iconic dancing-themed movies of the 1980s. Its main heroine, Alex, works as a welder, but she dreams about getting into a ballet school. Alex’s path to her dream school includes many obstacles which make it easier to cheer on her and wish her success. Music-wise, the movie includes some of the most popular hits of that time.
An interesting fact is that David Cronenberg got an offer to direct the movie but declined; in his hands, Flashdance would have been much different, possibly darker. Even though some people called the movie a modern dance fairytale, it was inspired by real events and the life of the dancer Maureen Marder. The movie won an Oscar for the best original song but was also nominated for a Razzie for worst script. It stood the test of time, though, and continues to entertain everyone who likes dancing and music.
4 The Hunger
Vampires are popular fantasy and horror creatures. Movies about them have been premiering for decades. In the 1980s, one of the most prominent vampire movies was The Hunger by Tony Scott. Unlike the more traditional portrayal of vampires, this movie presents them as sensual but ultimately cruel creatures who chase their pleasure without regard for the lives of others.
The movie was very bold for its time since it featured a romance between two women as well as a love triangle. However, The Hunger is far from optimistic and its main characters are hard to relate to. That said, thanks to the performances of Susan Sarandon, Catherine Deneuve, and David Bowie, the characters are still fascinating to watch despite the fact that they come across as otherworldly, almost alien-like.
3 Christine
Universally seen as the king of horror, Stephen King’s novels and short stories have been adapted multiple times. One of the movies based on King’s work that has reached iconic status over the years is Christine. Even though it has the traits of a B-list movie, its unique story and sense of terror helped cement it as an evergreen horror classic.
When cars play a central role in a movie, they usually serve their drivers. That is not so much the case when it comes to Christine, who has her own mind and begins controlling Arnie, a teenage boy who makes the fateful mistake of buying the car. Christine isn’t the only time the director John Carpenter worked on a Stephen King movie, and considering his experience with the horror genre, Christine remains one of the horror jewels of the 1980s.
2 Scarface
Even though it draws inspiration from a 1932 movie of the same name, most viewers will be familiar with the 1983 version of Scarface instead. It tells the story of Tony Montana (Al Pacino) who builds his own criminal empire but whose ambitions eventually get the better of it. Brian De Palma is no stranger to the crime genre, and Scarface remains one of his masterpieces. Despite the fact that many of the characters are far from sympathetic, it’s fascinating to watch what they’ll do next, and what type of rule they’ll break.
As a result, the movie never becomes boring even though it’s almost three hours long. Al Pacino gives one of his best performances, and the rest of the cast doesn’t disappoint either. Scarface regularly ranks among the best-rated, most popular movies of the 1980s, which makes the fact that the film earned De Palma a Razzie nomination for worst director even more absurd.
1 Star Wars: Episode VI - Return Of The Jedi
The epic finale of the original Star Wars trilogy remains – just like its predecessor – one of the most popular sci-fi movies of all time. It represents a worthy ending to multiple storylines created in the previous two movies, such as the complicated relationship between princess Leia and Han Solo, Luke’s eventual mastery of new powers, and, of course, the heroes‘ fight against Darth Vader and Emperor Palpatine.
The movie is full of action, and memorable characters, and doesn’t shy away from humor either. It has everything a space opera should have, from adventure to emotions. Even though Return of the Jedi didn’t win any of the Oscars it was nominated for, Star Wars fans and sci-fi fans still love the movie all these decades later. Some might even describe Return of the Jedi as the end of an era.