20 Timeless 80s Movies To Add To Your Bucketlist

Cute Gizmo Gremlin from the 80s movie Gremlins, with large ears and expressive eyes.

The 80s has always been the era most remembered by many – big hair, shoulder pads, iconic dance moves..

..but most of all the 80s movies you’d love to remember over and over again.

In spite of everything millennial that we face day-to-day, there’s something refreshing about the 80s, thinking about how simple life was back then and what the year 2000 would be like (talking about flying cars which never happened lol!).

Even if the 80s make us feel nostalgic (read: old, ugh!), the magic it cast us never faded.

There’s no doubt the 80s was the best decade ever so we’re remembering the awesome movies that shaped our lives (and we’ve got some interesting trivia that will make you want to watch them again!)

20. Pretty in Pink (1986)

Trivia: Pretty In Pink was Filmed in the same L.A. high school where Grease (1978) was made. (Source:imbd)

Iconic 1980s film "Pretty in Pink" featuring key characters in a black-and-white setting with a pop.
via impawards.com

19. Can’t Buy Me Love (1987)

Trivia: Amanda Peterson’s family claims that she has a traumatizing experience on the set at fifteen that later lead to her problems before her death. (Source imbd) 

Classic 80s movie poster featuring a young couple embracing, vibrant colours and nostalgic design.
via forgottenflix.com

18. Adventures in Babysitting (1987)

Trivia: Right before shooting a scene in which the group runs through a dirty, trash-filled alley, the Toronto Sanitation department came by and cleaned it up, so the crew had to dig through local dumpsters for more trash. (Source: imbd) 

Classic 80s movie poster featuring teenagers in an urban setting.
via movierob.wordpress.com

17. Say Anything (1989)

Trivia: “I gave her my heart, and she gave me a pen.” was voted #73 of “The 100 Greatest Movie Lines” by Premiere in 2007. (Source: imbd)

Iconic scene from the 1989 film Say Anything featuring John Cusack holding a boombox.
via dealflicks.com

16. Ferris Bueller’s Day Off  (1986)

Trivia: To produce the desired drugged-out effect for his role as the drug addict in the police station, Charlie Sheen stayed awake for more than 48 hours before the scene was shot. (Source: imbd)

80s movie poster featuring Matthew Broderick from "Ferris Bueller's Day Off".
via Wallpart.com

15. Girls Just Want To Have Fun (1985)

Trivia: All of the main characters with the exception of Shannen Doherty are older than their characters are supposed to be (Source: imbd)

Stay At Home Mum
via dvdtalk.com

14. The Princess Bride (1987)

Trivia: During the filming of some scenes, the weather became markedly cold for Robin Wright. Andr – the Giant helped her by placing one of his hands over her head; his hands were so large that one would entirely cover the top of her head, keeping her warm. (Source: imbd) 

Princess Bride movie poster with a romantic scene of a couple in front of a castle.
via readeroffictions.com

13. Beetlejuice (1988)

Trivia: Michael Keaton spent only two weeks filming his part in the film, which lasts 17.5 minutes out of the 92-minute running time. It is Keaton’s favorite film of his own. (Source: imbd)

Stay At Home Mum
via posterrevolution.com
 

12. The Goonies (1985)

Trivia: The pirate ship was entirely real. All the shots were filmed in the ship. After the film, it was offered to anyone who would take it. No one wanted it, so the ship was scrapped. (Source: imbd)

Classic 80s movie poster featuring The Goonies with adventurous kids and treasure scene.
via alphacoders.com

11. Big (1988)

Trivia: Jared Rushton‘s (Billy) hair was dyed for the film. He’s a natural blonde. (Source: imbd)

Close-up of Tom Hanks from the 80s movie "Big" showcasing his youthful charm.
via moviequiz.blogspot.com

10. The Little Mermaid (1989)

Trivia: In the opening scene when King Triton arrives at the arena, you can briefly see Mickey Mouse, Goofy, Donald Duck and Kermit the Frog in the crowd of sea-people as mermen when he passes over them. (Source: imbd)

Disney's The Little Mermaid animated movie featuring Ariel and friends.
via movies.disney.co.uk

9. The Land Before Time (1988)

Trivia: This remains the only Land Before Time film not to be a musical. (Souce: imbd)

Iconic 80s animated film featuring dinosaurs and adventure.
via weebly.com

8. The Breakfast Club

TriviaJohn Hughes wrote the screenplay to this movie in just two days (4 and 5 July 1982). (Source: imbd)

via thegalileo.co.za
via thegalileo.co.za

7. The Karate Kid (1984)

TriviaWilliam Zabka still owns the red leather jacket he wears in the film. (Source: imbd)

Classic Karate Kid movie poster featuring Ralph Macchio and Pat Morita.
via thegalileo.co.za

6. Top Gun (1986)

Trivia: Val Kilmer did not want to be in this film, but was forced to by contractual obligations. However, it became one of his most iconic roles in his career. (Source: imbd)

Young pilot in flight suit holding helmet with fighter jets in background.
via legends1027.com

5. Gremlins (1984)

Trivia: At least one of Phoebe Cates‘ screams in the scene at Dorry’s Tavern is genuine. An enormous cockroach crawled out in front of her during one take. (Source: imbd)

A person holding a mysterious box from the movie Gremlins, highlighting the film's mischievous and d.
via nicologallio.com

4. Ghostbusters (1984)

Trivia: The “marshmallow” goo was actually shaving cream. More than 50 gallons was dumped on Walter Peck (William Atherton), almost knocking him to the ground. (Source: imbd)

Classic 80s comedy film featuring supernatural adventures and iconic characters.
via gortoncenter.org

3. E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982)

Trivia: Steven Spielberg shot most of the film from the eye-level of a child to further connect with Elliott and E.T. (Source: imbd)

E.T. flying on a bicycle across the moon with a child, iconic scene from the 80s film.
via funcheap.com

2. Back to the Future (1985)

Trivia: The script was rejected forty times before it was finally green-lit. (Source: imbd)

Back to the Future movie poster with Marty McFly and DeLorean.
via alphacoders.com

1. Rocky IV  (1985)

Trivia: Rocky IV was the highest grossing film in the Rocky series, taking in just over 300 million dollars worldwide. (Source: imbd)

Iconic Rocky IV boxing scene with Sylvester Stallone in the ring.
via alphacoders.com

Which 80s movie do you love to remember?

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Clare Whitfield Chief Editor
Clare Whitfield is the Editor of Stay at Home Mum and a recognised voice in practical home management for Australian families. Based in the northern suburbs of Sydney, she balances editorial leadership with life as a stay at home mum to two school age children. Her background in home economics and more than a decade of experience in recipe development, family budgeting, and household systems inform her work.

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