19 Cult Movies From The 1980s You Must Watch

From Dirty Dancing to The Shining, bring out your old VHS tapes for a throwback to the 1980s. We’ve rounded up some of our favorite cult movies from the era when our best friend was ET, and our crush was Patrick Swayze. Scroll on for some 1980s cult movies that you must watch, or rewatch.

The Blues Brothers (1980)

The Blues Brothers is one of the most well-known 1980s cult movies. Jake (John Belushi) and Elwood Blues (Dan Aykroyd) decide to reform their rhythm and blues group in order to save their old Catholic orphanage from destruction. A run through Chicago in the 1980s, mixed with good and bad encounters – many singing stars crossing their path (Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles, James Brow…) – remains a classic today.

The Shining (1980)

A crazy family man becomes a winter caretaker at an isolated hotel in Colorado, hoping to cure his writer’s block, but instead pursues his wife and son with a chainsaw. Try not to tremble by the character of Jack Torrance (Jack Nicholson), a film that has traumatized many generations.

American Gigolo (1980)

We can thank Giorgio Armani for the perfect wardrobe of Richard Gere playing Julian Kaye in the feature film American Gigolo, directed by Paul Schrader. In the film, Julian is a gigolo who demands high prices for his services, living a lavish lifestyle. Things heat up when he becomes the prime suspect in a murder case for a crime he did not commit.

E.T., The Extra-Terrestrial (1982)

“E.T., phone, home”. This was an unforgettable line that summed up the 1980s cinema. In 1982, Steven Spielberg presented E.T., a kind extraterrestrial with large eyes who invited himself into the home of Elliot and Gertie (Drew Barrymore). A little piece of science fiction, the film owned an entire generation, who never rode a bike again without thinking of the little creature with the luminous finger.

Flashdance (1983)

There’s no longer a need to introduce Flashdance, this cult casting scene on the soundtrack “What a Feeling” performed by Irene Cara sold over 20 million copies, and could easily sum up the passion of the 1980s. The heroine of the movie, Alex Owens (Jennifer Beals), works in a steel mill by day and dances in a bar at night. Her boss and mentor help her on her way to pursue her dancing career. Try your best not to along with the soundtrack.

Scarface (1983)

There’s no need to introduce Tony Montana, a small Cuban gangster who immigrated to the United States and became a drug lord in Miami. Al Pacino performs one of his best roles and was nominated for the Golden Globes. Although it was badly received when it was released in the early 1980s, the gangster film has since become a classic of the genre.

Gremlins (1984)

“Do not expose him to sunlight, never get him wet, and most important of all, never feed him after midnight”. These are the three commandments that must be respected when adopting a Gremlin. Unfortunately for Billy, one of the commandments is broken and trouble just begins for the small town of Kingston Falls. Christmas quickly turns into a real nightmare.

Footloose (1984)

In a small town in the Midwest, Ren moves in from Chicago and comes against a conservative society that bans dancing and rock after an accident with the son of a powerful pastor. A scenario inspired by the town of Elmore City which had banned dancing for 90 years. After trying to defy the community’s moral code, Ren and his friends will finally fight it, proving that dancing doesn’t lead to moral corruption. Huge success in theaters, the soundtrack sold over nine million copies in the U.S., and the film gave rise to a musical of the same name.

Ghostbusters (1984)

“Who you gonna call? Ghostbusters!” This became a song that many grew to know from the cult film because it was just that catchy. As an army of ghosts frightens all of New York, three parapsychology researchers decide to take things into their own hands and set up their own company: Ghostbusters. Filled with humor, it’s the perfect movie to watch when you want something spooky, but still funny.

The Terminator (1984)

In 1982, Arnold Schwarzenegger became theTerminator, an over-equipped robot with a disturbing human appearance. His mission? Kill Sarah Connor (Linda Hamilton) in the future before she gives birth to John, the future leader of the resistance who will cause the loss of his race.

Back to the Future (1985)

Back to the Future is undoubtedly one of the most influential science fiction films of the 1980s. Directed by Robert Zemeckis, the blockbuster tells the story of Marty McFly who finds himself propelled into the past, due to a travel machine made by Dr. Emmett Brown. The teenager arrives in 1955 and meets his parents who, at the time, are still in high school.

The Breakfast Club (1985)

Five high school students who seem very different meet in detention on a Saturday afternoon. The punishment brings them close as the day passes and they have to endure a power-hungry principal.

Top Gun (1986)

This is the movie that made Tom Cruise. Top Gun, directed by Tony Scott, remains as irresistible as ever, over 30 after its release. The story of the reckless pilot Maverick (Cruise) who perfects his technique at the Top Gun academy and falls in love with his instructor amazed an entire generation. The sequel, Top Gun: Maverick, is just as breath-taking as the first.

Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986)

Skipping school was never cooler than when happy-go-lucky Ferris Bueller (Matthew Broderick) did it, accompanied by his sidekick Cameron (Alan Ruck) and cool girlfriend Sloane (Mia Sara).

Pretty in Pink (1986)

Pretty much every prom-bound teenage girl at some point dreamt of dressing up in a pink confection as memorable as Molly Ringwald’s. This John Hughes rom-com is made even better by supporting performances from Jon Cryer, Annie Potts, and Gina Gershon.

Dirty Dancing (1987)

Dirty Dancing is the cult film by Emile Ardolino, released in 1987, which speaks, among other things, of the clash of cultures and liberation of Baby (Jennifer Gray), a young girl from a good family who discovers the world of dancing, and more particular, dirty dancing, a sexual dance that brings together sweaty bodies, and above all lives a passionate love affair with the dance instructor, the hot Johnny (Patrick Swayze). The peak of the film? The final scene where Baby and Johnny dance to the rhythm of the Oscar-winning soundtrack The Time of My Life, engraved in the memory of an entire generation.

Rain Man (1988)

Considered one of the first films to recognize autism, Rain Man, directed by Barry Levinson, tells the story of Charlie Babbitt (Tom Cruise), a broke young car dealer, who after the death of his father discovers he has an autistic older brother, Raymond (Dustin Hoffman). What follows is a memorable road trip across the United States where the two brothers will get to know each other. An excellent film that won four Oscars.

Beetlejuice (1988)

At just 17, Winona Ryder collaborated for the first time with Tim Burton in Beetlejuice. She plays Lydia Deetz, a tormented a moody teenager who is passionate about black magic. She moves into a new house with her dad and stepmother, where she meets the ghosts of the previous owners, Adam (Alec Baldwin) and Barbara Maitland (Geena Davis), who take Lydia under their wings. Trying to help Adam and Barbara, she meets the mischievous Beetlejuice (Michael Keaton) who tricks her into a marriage with him in order to be able to return to the world of the living.

When Harry Met Sally (1989)

This romantic comedy released in 1989 brings together Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal, who can’t stand each other in college before finding each other five years later in New York. They are engaged and everything is going well in their lives. Then they meet again five years later, single. Then it’s all history from there.

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