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When you think of the ’80s, a few images come to mind: shoulder pads, big hair, and all-cheesy-everything. However, the decade had more to contribute to pop culture than being known as the New Jersey of the 20th century. It was also an era for incredible classic movies, ones that shifted the film industry as we know it. From John Hughes’ The Breakfast Club to Steven Spielberg’s E.T., the movies of the 1980’s not only shaped its generation but inspired subsequent generations in every way imaginable.

The following decade of films were equally memorable, Is it really possible to pick a single best movie of the 1990s? This is the decade that gave us Goodfellas in 1990, Fight Club in 1999 and countless masterpieces in between. It was a decade when Quentin Tarantino went from video store clerk to the hottest director in town. At least a few of the films we revisit are guaranteed to be close to your heart and ours. So we invite you to find a comfortable spot on the sofa, and join us for a journey through our vast VHS collections.

Just One of The Guys (1985)

When Terry Griffith (Joyce Hyser) loses her high school’s writing competition, she’s convinced that it’s because she’s a girl. So Terry decides to change high schools and pose as a boy to prove her point. Her brother, Buddy (Billy Jacoby), helps her pass as a guy so well that she is soon making friends with the boys at school, including the attractive Rick (Clayton Rohner), who becomes her new best friend. But her gender-swapping makes things difficult when she falls in love with him.

Run Lola Run (1998)

Run Lola Run (1998) is a high-octane German thriller directed by Tom Tykwer that follows Lola (Franka Potente) as she races against time to save her boyfriend, Manni (Moritz Bleibtreu), who has lost a gangster’s money and faces deadly consequences if he can’t replace it within 20 minutes. The film unfolds in three alternate scenarios, each showing how small decisions and chance events impact the outcome of her desperate run. With its intense pacing, energetic soundtrack, and innovative storytelling, Run Lola Run explores themes of fate, love, and the power of choice.

Withnail and I (1987)

Withnail and I (1987) is a British dark comedy following two struggling, eccentric actors—Withnail (Richard E. Grant), a flamboyant alcoholic, and Marwood, or “I” (Paul McGann), his neurotic friend—who escape their grim London lives for a chaotic, booze-soaked retreat in the English countryside. Their plans for relaxation quickly devolve into disaster as they face hostile locals, relentless rain, and Withnail’s lecherous Uncle Monty (Richard Griffiths). Filled with biting wit and bleak humor, the film explores themes of friendship, failure, and the search for meaning amid disillusionment.

Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977)

When ordinary man Roy Neary (Richard Dreyfuss) witnesses mysterious lights in the sky, his life is turned upside down as he becomes obsessed with uncovering the truth behind these strange phenomena. Drawn to an isolated mountain along with other people experiencing the same visions, Roy joins a scientist (François Truffaut) and a mother (Melinda Dillon) in a breathtaking journey that leads them face-to-face with extraterrestrial visitors. Close Encounters of the Third Kind is an awe-inspiring tale of discovery and human connection with the unknown, where the extraordinary meets the everyday.

Betty Blue (1986)

In this intense and passionate tale, handyman Zorg (Jean-Hugues Anglade) finds his mundane life ignited by his whirlwind romance with the fiery and unpredictable Betty (Béatrice Dalle). As their relationship spirals into chaos, Betty’s fierce determination to achieve a better life unravels her mental state, dragging Zorg into a tumultuous journey of love, madness, and self-destruction. With raw emotion and vivid cinematography, Betty Blue explores the fine line between passion and obsession, leaving the audience captivated by its beauty and heartbreak.

Payback (1999)

In this gritty revenge thriller, ex-criminal Porter (Mel Gibson) is left for dead after being double-crossed by his partner and wife, but he survives with one goal: to get back the $70,000 that was stolen from him. As Porter methodically takes down anyone standing in his way, he finds himself battling both the criminal underworld and corrupt cops in a relentless pursuit of payback. With its dark humor, brutal action, and a chilling antihero, Payback delivers a hard-hitting tale of vengeance and redemption.

A Fish Called Wanda (1988)

In this uproarious heist comedy, seductive con artist Wanda (Jamie Lee Curtis) and her bumbling lover Otto (Kevin Kline) team up with a hapless barrister (John Cleese) to steal a fortune in jewels. But as double-crosses pile up and loyalties shift, the eccentric crew finds themselves in a hilarious tangle of romance, greed, and deception. With razor-sharp wit and memorable performances, A Fish Called Wanda delivers a riotous blend of crime and comedy that will leave audiences laughing out loud.

SLC Punk! (1998)

Set against the backdrop of Salt Lake City’s conservative culture, rebellious punk Stevo (Matthew Lillard) and his best friend Bob (Michael A. Goorjian) live life on the edge, rejecting authority and embracing chaos. But as Stevo faces the inevitable crossroads between reckless youth and adulthood, he begins to question his ideals, friendships, and the true meaning of rebellion. With its blend of humor, angst, and heart, SLC Punk! captures the wild spirit of the punk movement while delivering an unexpectedly emotional punch.