Armour of God
1986 · TMDB 7.0/10 · 670 votes
Jackie Chan stars as Asian Hawk, an Indiana Jones-style adventurer looking to make a fortune in exotic antiquities. This title fits the list's theme and selection thresholds.
Curated by SceneIt · United States
Best 1980s Movies
Revisit standout releases from 1980 through 1989, selected for viewers who want a strong starting point instead of an exhaustive catalog.
Updated 2026-08-03 · Ratings from TMDB
How we chose these titles
Titles are ranked by TMDB audience rating with a minimum vote threshold, then checked for relevance to the release decade.
Hoosiers
1986 · TMDB 7.0/10 · 598 votes
Failed college coach Norman Dale gets a chance at redemption when he is hired to coach a high school basketball team in a tiny Indiana town. This title fits the list's theme and selection thresholds.
Escape from New York
1981 · TMDB 7.0/10 · 3,572 votes
In a world ravaged by crime, the entire island of Manhattan has been converted into a walled prison where brutal prisoners roam free. This title fits the list's theme and selection thresholds.
Fright Night
1985 · TMDB 7.0/10 · 1,580 votes
Charley Brewster, a high school student, accidentally discovers the true and creepy nature of Jerry Dandrige, his dashing and enigmatic new neighbor; but no one seems willing to believe him. This title fits the list's theme and selection thresholds.
Lethal Weapon 2
1989 · TMDB 7.0/10 · 3,803 votes
Riggs and Murtaugh are on the trail of South African diplomats using their immunity to engage in criminal activities. This title fits the list's theme and selection thresholds.
Radio Days
1987 · TMDB 7.0/10 · 662 votes
The Narrator tells us how the radio influenced his childhood in the days before TV. This title fits the list's theme and selection thresholds.
Quest for Fire
1981 · TMDB 7.0/10 · 586 votes
In the prehistoric world, a Cro-Magnon tribe depends on an ever-burning source of fire, which eventually extinguishes. This title fits the list's theme and selection thresholds.
Gorillas in the Mist
1988 · TMDB 7.0/10 · 667 votes
The story of Dian Fossey, a scientist who came to Africa to study the vanishing mountain gorillas, and later fought to protect them. This title fits the list's theme and selection thresholds.
An Officer and a Gentleman
1982 · TMDB 7.0/10 · 1,208 votes
Zack Mayo is an aloof, taciturn man who aspires to be a navy pilot. This title fits the list's theme and selection thresholds.
Double Trouble
1984 · TMDB 7.0/10 · 591 votes
A stuntman and a saxophonist stand in for two billionaires threatened by killers. This title fits the list's theme and selection thresholds.
Day of the Dead
1985 · TMDB 7.0/10 · 1,420 votes
As the world is overrun by zombies, scientists and military personnel in an underground Florida bunker must decide on how they should deal with the undead. This title fits the list's theme and selection thresholds.
Knick Knack
1989 · TMDB 7.0/10 · 621 votes
Life on a shelf as a snowman trapped in a snow-globe blizzard can become wearing, especially when you're surrounded by knickknacks from sunnier locales. This title fits the list's theme and selection thresholds.
The Dead Zone
1983 · TMDB 7.0/10 · 1,860 votes
Johnny Smith is a schoolteacher with his whole life ahead of him but, after leaving his fiancee's home one night, is involved in a car crash which leaves him in a coma for 5 years. This title fits the list's theme and selection thresholds.
Manhunter
1986 · TMDB 7.0/10 · 1,558 votes
FBI Agent Will Graham, retired after catching notorious cannibal Hannibal Lecter, returns to duty to engage in a risky cat-and-mouse game with Lecter to capture a new killer. This title fits the list's theme and selection thresholds.
Willow
1988 · TMDB 7.0/10 · 2,204 votes
The evil Queen Bavmorda hunts the newborn princess Elora Danan, a child prophesied to bring about her downfall. This title fits the list's theme and selection thresholds.
Born on the Fourth of July
1989 · TMDB 7.0/10 · 1,914 votes
Paralyzed in the Vietnam war, Ron Kovic becomes an anti-war and pro-human rights political activist after feeling betrayed by the country he fought for. This title fits the list's theme and selection thresholds.
Say Anything...
1989 · TMDB 7.0/10 · 1,138 votes
Average student and eternal optimist Lloyd Dobler seeks to capture the heart of Diane Court, a beautiful but unattainable valedictorian classmate. This title fits the list's theme and selection thresholds.
Ladyhawke
1985 · TMDB 7.0/10 · 1,270 votes
Captain Etienne Navarre is a man on whose shoulders lies a cruel curse. This title fits the list's theme and selection thresholds.
The Adventures of Baron Munchausen
1988 · TMDB 7.0/10 · 1,018 votes
An account of Baron Munchausen's supposed travels and fantastical experiences with his band of misfits. This title fits the list's theme and selection thresholds.
Go for It
1983 · TMDB 7.0/10 · 563 votes
After Doug picks up hitchhiking Rosco with his truck, they are mistaken for two bank robbers by the traffic police. This title fits the list's theme and selection thresholds.