Rotten Tomatoes - The Essential 140 80s Movies
Created by Dwaffle.
Favorited 1 time, disliked 0 times, added to 2 watchlists.
Welcome to our big list of the most Essential 1980s movies, showcasing 140 of the decade’s best and most iconic Fresh (and not-so-Fresh) movies. That’s right, we recommend some Rotten additions for your ’80s movie playlists, because this is one decade only fully experienced with the good, the bad, and the feathered neon.
Any ’80s movie with a Tomatometer was considered for our Essentials guide, and after including the truly timeless material (Raiders of the Lost Ark, Raging Bull), we focused on works that represented the cinematic trends and social themes of the era. Some of those include the fantasy epic (NeverEnding Story, Princess Bride), teen movies (Breakfast Club, Weird Science), the new corporate overlord (Wall Street, Trading Places), women making strides in the workplace (Baby Boom, Working Girl), and rising hip-hop culture (Krush Groove, Do the Right Thing).
Fire up the flux capicator and cue the workout montage because it’s time for Rotten Tomatoes’ 140 Essential ’80s Movies!
Pssst, want to check out the Rotten Tomatoes - The Essential 140 80s Movies list in our new look?
Filter
-
4 new
Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back
1980, in 25 top lists Check -
8 new
Raiders of the Lost Ark
1981 — a.k.a. Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark, in 29 top lists Check -
12 new
Die Hard
1988, in 21 top lists Check -
13 new
The Terminator
1984, in 24 top lists Check -
18 new
Predator
1987, in 9 top lists Check -
25 new
Akira
1988, in 22 top lists Check -
32 new
RoboCop
1987, in 15 top lists Check -
35 new
The Blues Brothers
1980, in 11 top lists Check -
38 new
Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi
1983, in 18 top lists Check -
40 new
Batman
1989, in 9 top lists Check -
44 new
Mad Max 2
1981 — a.k.a. The Road Warrior, in 14 top lists Check -
48 new
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
1989, in 16 top lists Check -
50 new
Big Trouble in Little China
1986, in 3 top lists Check -
52 new
Lethal Weapon
1987, in 5 top lists Check -
54 new
They Live
1988, in 7 top lists Check -
57 new
Dip huet seung hung
1989 — a.k.a. The Killer, in 16 top lists Check -
58 new
Escape from New York
1981, in 5 top lists Check -
63 new
To Live and Die in L.A.
1985, in 2 top lists Check -
64 new
Ran
1985, in 25 top lists Check -
71 new
Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom
1984, in 11 top lists Check -
77 new
Dragonslayer
1981, in 1 top list Check -
88 new
The Karate Kid
1984, in 3 top lists Check -
91 new
Commando
1985, in 2 top lists Check -
101 new
Beverly Hills Cop
1984, in 7 top lists Check -
104 new
Tron
1982, in 5 top lists Check -
113 new
Adventures in Babysitting
1987 — a.k.a. A Night on the Town, in 0 top lists Check -
117 new
The Last Starfighter
1984, in 0 top lists Check -
120 new
Top Gun
1986, in 8 top lists Check -
122 new
The Transformers: The Movie
1986, in 2 top lists Check -
123 new
Willow
1988, in 2 top lists Check -
128 new
The Toxic Avenger
1984, in 4 top lists Check -
129 new
Highlander
1986, in 2 top lists Check
Last updated on Feb 1, 2019; source