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[Satyamdas]

One of those "so-bad-it's-good" movies, that for some inexplicable reason was almost impossible to find on DVD and was going for $80 on eBay and Amazon until recently. Can be had for the more reasonable price of ~$15 now. Harvey Korman fucking owns.

 

[RepairmanJack]

Thought of a couple more I don't think were mentioned yet:
Mac and Me
Don't tell mom the babysitters dead.
Drop Dead Fred

 

[megashock5]

Explorers.

Yes. The Last Starfighter as well.

 

[harriet the spy]

A mean, green mother from outerspace.

got the movie from that quote, thanks
Not sold on the broadway aspect, but it looks cool.
Looks like a Monster Mind from Jayce.

 

[Count Dookkake]

DEADLY FRIEND - a nerd, a robot, the hot chick next door... what could go wrong?

 

[Combichristoffersen]

Beetlejuice
Beetlejuice
Beetlejuice

What you did there, I see it

Critters was so much better than Gremlins.

Oh Hell no it wasn't. At least not the first Gremlins. Gremlins 2 is a bit poop though.

 

[IGotBillySoSpooked]

Just reminded myself of these in another thread:

Top Gun
Days of Thunder

Also, mentioning Top Gun reminds me of Hot Shots. Hot Shots was almost in the 80s, but it won the 90s, so it still counts. WINNING!

I look out there on all you wonderful guys and I say to myself "What I wouldn't give to be 20 years younger... and a woman". You know, I've personally flown over 194 missions and I was shot down on every one. Come to think of it, I've never landed a plane in my life.

Further, Hot Shots reminds me of Platoon, which reminds me of Wall Street.

Nothing reminds me of this, but see it anyways because it is 100% bad ass: The Burbs.

 

[RZI]

Everybody should watch To Live and Die in L.A. if you haven't already.

 

[Anticitizen One]

I approve of just about everything posted in this thread

 

[Dot50Cal]

Remo Williams holds a special place.

 

[Chuckie]

Fast Times at Ridgemont High (people who've seen it know why)
Willow
Dark Chrystal
Labyrinth
Never Ending Story

 

[Tr4nce]

I'm a Dutchy, but I absolutely loved the American movies from the 80's and early 90's. I remember a movie about a little goblin or something, and I only saw it once, but I have good memories from it.

It was called 'Upworld' or something. I see it's known also as 'A Gnome named Gnorm' what the hell.

I wonder how many of you remember this, or have seen it!

 

[sammyCYBORG]

Batteries Not Included

I must watch this again.

There are so many films being mentioned that I had long forgot about and I really want to see again. I have a feeling though that they won't be as good.

 

[Fritz]

On a side note:

I really want to recommend publisher Taschen's Movies of the 80s. A big (as in coffee table book) compilation of short essays on some of the best movies of that decade. It covers a very wide range. Apart from some obvious Hollywood choices lots of European and Asian cinema and the author doesn't shy away from niche and genre movies.

It's out of print but definitely worth checking out.

Here's a link to the author's introduction on the aesthetics of the 80s exampled by the Blade Runner:
The Cinema of Surfaces

 

[FoxSpirit]

Wow, many thanks guys for the almost overwhelming help.

Let's see how much of the stuff I can find

 

[TOP SHOTTA]

I had planned to ask this for a long time but I constantly forgot so now finally, I remember and am in front of the net. Yay!!

So I love Ghostbusters 1+2 as well as Gremlins 1+2. I never got around to see them when I was a kid since I was kinda little and I was only allowed to watch kids-appropriate stuff. Not to mention back in the 80s, those were weird American movies and I'm in Europe. But now, as a grownup, I love them. I only have to be careful not to overwatch as they are my goto movies when our group is tired and anybody just wants a nice cool film.

But what else is there from the 80s I missed that I would have loved? DieHard for sure, part 2 not so much, but what else? American "even more grown up than me" GAF can help me out for sure.

So in respect to what I mention, which shameless oversights did I make that I absolutely have to rectify? Fire away, fellow Gaffers

This is a really hard place to recommend movies within. It's target rich territory for campy stuff but there really were a few movies that were way ahead of their time. Aliens is one that embodies that the most.

Did you miss Poltergeist? Don't miss that. I saw that it was mentioned but consider this a +1 for it. So many movies have already been mentioned.

Pet Sematary freaked me out pretty bad too - 1989 though so I don't know if it counts.

Ghoulies
House
The Fly (Jeff Goldblum)
Creepshow
A Nightmare on Elm Street (first one, original one)

There are so many more. I think you're in good hands though, some excellent recommendations have been made already in this thread.

I wish I had an entire decade to explore like that. Good luck!

 

[daviyoung]

Troll

One of the most under-rated WTF fantasy movie of the 80s.

 

[RepairmanJack]

Wow, many thanks guys for the almost overwhelming help.

Let's see how much of the stuff I can find

All of it must be found!

 

[TheDrowningMan]

 

[bengraven]

I'll add some later.

Just want to say that I can agree that you can't go wrong with anything on the front page. Ghostbusters, Goonies, Karate Kid, Gremlins and Back to the Future are the movies I can always watch and I feel like I'm at home again, sitting in front of the TV, toasty and warm with no worries at all.

 

[mantidor]

Troll

One of the most under-rated WTF fantasy movie of the 80s.

I support this one.

It has been sadly overshadow by the popularity of the terribly bad Troll 2 (that doesn't have anything to do with the original). Troll 2 is also a must see for anyone for that matter, but they are very different movies.

 

[Duane Cunningham]

Wow, there's pretty much no way to add to this list, except to maybe suggest the Vacation movies, especially Christmas Vacation. Although that reminds me, there are a lot of 80's essentials in that vein... stuff with some combination of Chevy Chase, Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd and/or John Candy. These include:

Funny Farm
Spies Like Us
My Stepmother's an Alien
Nothing But Trouble
Uncle Buck
Groundhog's Day
Trains, Planes and Automobiles
Scrooged
What about Bob

These are things that weren't exactly made for kids, yet we watched them so much, they're forever part of my childhood. The bolded ones are especially recommended.

Oh, also, if you like Beetlejuice (and you will), don't miss Edward Scissorhands. (Or Batman, or Pee Wee's Big Adventure).

Oh, and we should probably mention the three Henson-still-alive Muppet Movies. At least the first two.

Oh my god. I just keep re-reading the last three pages, and realizing how much I wish I had a huge movie collection of all this stuff.

 

[jetjevons]

Weren't the first couple Lethal Weapons from the 80s?

Oh and did anyone else see Neon Maniacs?

 

[Jeramii]

This thread is awesome.

Since it hasn't been mentioned: Cocoon.

A old people becoming energetic and having sex. :|

Plus it has Wilfred Brimley.

Spoiler

But in all seriousness, aside from old people sex. I like that movie

 

[MarkMclovin]

And pretty much any movie with Arny in.

 

[Count Dookkake]

I'm a Dutchy, but I absolutely loved the American movies from the 80's and early 90's. I remember a movie about a little goblin or something, and I only saw it once, but I have good memories from it.

It was called 'Upworld' or something. I see it's known also as 'A Gnome named Gnorm' what the hell.

I wonder how many of you remember this, or have seen it!

Even though it's a movie for kids, most true horror/sci-fi fans have seen it because it was directed by Stan Winston. If you don't know who that is, GTFO.

 

[RepairmanJack]

A old people becoming energetic and having sex. :|

Plus it has Wilfred Brimley.

Spoiler

But in all seriousness, aside from old people sex. I like that movie

And you don't back up the movie from your avatar? For shame...