1980s Best Movies

The Long Good Friday (1980)

In the late 1970s, Cockney crime boss Harold Shand (Bob Hoskins), a gangster trying to become a legitimate property mogul, has big plans to get the American Mafia to bankroll his transformation of a derelict area of London into the possible venue for a future Olympic Games. However, a series of bombings targets his empire on the very weekend the Americans are in town. Shand is convinced there is a traitor in his organization, and sets out to eliminate the rat in typically ruthless fashion.

Hellraiser (1987)

Sexual deviant Frank (Sean Chapman) inadvertently opens a portal to hell when he tinkers with a box he bought while abroad. The act unleashes gruesome beings called Cenobites, who tear Frank’s body apart. When Frank’s brother (Andrew Robinson) and his wife, Julia (Clare Higgins), move into Frank’s old house, they accidentally bring what is left of Frank back to life. Frank then convinces Julia, his one-time lover, to lure men back to the house so he can use their blood to reconstruct himself.

No Way Out (1987)

Navy Lt. Tom Farrell (Kevin Costner) meets a young woman, Susan Atwell (Sean Young), and they share a passionate fling. Farrell then finds out that his superior, Defense Secretary David Brice (Gene Hackman), is also romantically involved with Atwell. When the young woman turns up dead, Farrell is put in charge of the murder investigation. He begins to uncover shocking clues about the case, but when details of his encounter with Susan surface, he becomes a suspect as well.

Bad Boys (1983)

Teen delinquent Mick O’Brien (Sean Penn) is sent to juvenile hall after unintentionally killing the younger sibling of a rival gang leader, Paco Moreno (Esai Morales), in a drug-deal con gone wrong. Prison life proves even more brutal than the streets when Mick is forced to face off against reigning prison toughs Viking (Clancy Brown) and Tweety (Robert Lee Rush). Worse yet, on the outside, Paco is threatening to take revenge on those close to Mick — including his girlfriend (Ally Sheedy).

Police Academy (1984)

When the mayor of a crime-ridden city loosens the restrictions on entering the police academy in order to get more cops on the street, all manner of oddball characters enlist to join the force. Among the cadets are suave Carey Mahoney (Steve Guttenberg), hulking Moses Hightower (Bubba Smith), beautiful Karen Thompson (Kim Cattrall) and sound effects-generating Larvell Jones (Michael Winslow), who all have to show initiative and courage when they are faced with tough situations out on patrol.

Allan Quatermain and The Lost City of Gold (1986)

Richard Chamberlain stars as Allan Quatermain, and Sharon Stone portrays Jesse Huston. Together, they lead an expedition with James Earl Jones as Swarma and Henry Silva as Umslopogaas to find Quatermain’s missing brother. Along the journey, they encounter treacherous terrain, hostile tribes, and face betrayal by Robert Donner’s character, Dr. Otto. In the Lost City, they defend its secrets against Otto’s greed. Their thrilling adventures forge unbreakable bonds and leave a lasting impact on their lives.

King Solomon’s Mines (1985)

Richard Chamberlain stars as Allan Quatermain, leading an expedition with Sharon Stone as Jesse Huston, seeking her missing father. They face wildlife, hostile tribes, and the enigmatic warrior Umbopa (John Rhys-Davies). Amidst betrayals by Herbert Lom and Ken Gampu’s treasure hunters, they uncover the secret of King Solomon’s Mines. Battling peril and greed, they reach the treasure, protecting it from falling into wrong hands. This action-packed adventure portrays Quatermain and Huston’s bravery in a thrilling quest through Africa’s untamed wilderness.

Airplane! (1980)

This spoof comedy takes shots at the slew of disaster movies that were released in the 70s. When the passengers and crew of a jet are incapacitated due to food poisoning, a rogue pilot with a drinking problem must cooperate with his ex-girlfriend turned stewardess to bring the plane to a safe landing.