HBO Max has a staggering catalog of movies, from recent blockbusters like The Batman to iconic classics like Citizen Kane. At times, it can even seem like too much content to choose from, especially for those looking for an easygoing movie night. However, there was no better time for wholesome movies than the 1980s.
Throughout the decade, the 80s churned out some of the most iconic and heartwarming flicks of all time. Simultaneously, some of these wholesome movies also have a healthy dose of dark comedy and profanity to entertain more mature (or immature) audiences. These are the best that HBO Max has to offer from the decade.
10 The Dark Crystal
By the time the 80s rolled around, Jim Henson was a household name. The puppeteer was widely known for creating the hit children's show Sesame Street, though, in the 80s, he expanded his horizons to the big screen. In 1982, that began with the grotesque family movie The Dark Crystal.
Co-directed by fellow puppeteer Frank Oz, The Dark Crystal was considered groundbreaking for its use of animatronics. While critics at the time were lukewarm on its narrative, it has since gained a cult following and has been praised for its technological achievements. For that reason alone, it makes a worthwhile watch on HBO Max.
9 Tootsie
Tootsie is a movie that hasn't avoided controversy in the past. It stars Dustin Hoffman as a difficult-to-work-with actor who begins cross-dressing as a woman to get a job. It's a pretty standard comedy of the time, featuring a lot of ironic bits that exploit the hilarity that comes from a straight cis man masquerading as a talented woman.
While the now-outdated concept is explored for its comedic potential in Tootsie, the movie also confronts the difficulties of being a woman in the workplace. This becomes a life lesson for Hoffman's character, Michael Dorsey, as well as the audience. While it's a very wholesome movie, it hasn't aged as well as other entries on this list.
8 Moscow On The Hudson
When it came to comedy actors in the 1980s, no one stole the screen more than Robin Williams. By 1984, the comedian was a legend in the stand-up and TV sitcom worlds. However, he didn't have his big silver screen breakthrough until Good Morning, Vietnam in 1987. Prior to that though, he did have one heartwarming rom-com to his name.
Moscow on the Hudson stars Williams as Vladimir Ivanoff, a Russian circus musician who visits New York City. There, he defects against the Soviet Union and pursues a romance with an American woman played by María Conchita Alonso. This movie is certainly proof that Williams had a long career ahead of him making great movies.
7 The Color Purple
The Color Purple, based on Alice Walker's novel, was released in 1985. At the time, it was a big departure for its director, Steven Spielberg, who, up until then, had directed blockbuster hits like Jaws and Raiders of the Lost Ark. The movie was also a jumping-off point for the career of Whoopi Goldberg, who stars as Celie Johnson.
The rest of the cast is also a who's who of African-American TV and movie stars, including Danny Glover, Laurence Fishburne, and Oprah Winfrey. Iconic movie critic Roger Ebert even went as far as to call The Color Purple the best movie of 1985. Unfortunately, it lost all 11 Academy Awards it was nominated for, which is a real shame.
6 Little Shop Of Horrors
In 1982, Little Shop of Horrors premiered off-Broadway before being adapted in 1986 by Frank Oz. The horror-comedy-musical-hybrid features some quintessential puppetry from Oz. In addition, it has an all-star 80s comedy line-up, including Rick Moranis and Steve Martin, and co-stars theater star Ellen Greene.
The movie has gone on to become a cult classic, especially for its iconic venus flytrap character, Audrey II. After watching this lovable romp on HBO Max, viewers will likely be humming its soundtrack for weeks on end. Who can resist the earworm-inducing melodies of the movie's most iconic song, Suddenly, Seymour?
5 Broadcast News
Writer-director James L. Brooks is the master of making corny-but-wholesome movies, including Terms of Endearment and As Good as It Gets. One of his most widely-beloved movies is Broadcast News. This romantic comedy centers on a trio of news reporters played by Holly Hunter, Albert Brooks, and the late William Hurt.
Not only is the movie an accurate representation of the world of local news, but it offers a great in-depth look at the stress that comes with working there as well. It also features one of Holly Hunter's breakthrough roles, which resulted in her first nomination for Best Actress. It even has a supporting cast including Jack Nicholson and Joan Cusack.
4 Dirty Dancing
1987's Dirty Dancing is one of those 80s movies that just feels like an 80s movie. It stars Patrick Swayze in one of his most iconic roles ever: a dance instructor who falls in love with his student, played by Jennifer Grey. What ensues is a spectacle of song and dance that, at the time, lured audiences back for return visits to movie theaters.
Those who are not convinced about the wholesomeness of Dirty Dancing, need look no further than the movie's finale. Swayze's Johnny Castle brings Grey's Baby on stage to perform the dance they rehearsed, featuring a climactic lift of Baby into the air. The movie also ends with its iconic soundtrack hit, (I've Had) The Time of My Life.
3 Beetlejuice
Tim Burton's filmography expertly walks the line between wholesome and horror. 1988's Beetlejuice is the perfect example of this. The movie stars Michael Keaton as the titular demon, who is summoned by a recently-deceased couple, played by Alec Baldwin and Geena Davis, to scare off their home's new inhabitants.
The movie is a masterclass in manic comedy acting thanks to Michael Keaton, but, thankfully, it has more substance than that. Winona Ryder's performance as the teenage Lydia is also a highlight of the movie. Given that the movie has now become a successful Broadway musical, it's definitely worth a re-watch for curious fans.
2 My Neighbor Totoro
The great Japanese filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki co-founded his iconic animation company Studio Ghibli in 1985. From then on, he began crafting brilliant and beautiful movies that were just as insightful as they were simplistic. No movie has captured Miyazaki's style better than his iconic 1988 flick, My Neighbor Totoro.
Thankfully for HBO Max subscribers, all of Miyazaki's movies are available to stream. However, My Neighbor Totoro is a great starting point for those curious about the iconic filmmaker's legacy. It's an examination of childhood and finding a new home, with some interesting and adorable encounters with the titular bear-like creature.
1 When Harry Met Sally...
When Harry Met Sally is one of the best movies to come out of the 1980s and is perhaps one of the best romantic comedies of all time. With its staggering lead performances by Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan, it's hard not to get emotional while watching this. To this day, its humor even stands the test of time.
The movie also still feels like a groundbreaking examination of whether men and women can be friends without the pressures of attraction. With one iconic scene after another, Crystal and Ryan don't leave the audience with simple answers. Instead, they show how, sometimes, love can be simple if one waits long enough for it.