The Witches of Eastwick is an utterly hilarious movie. It follows the same vein of other ’80s movies, but with a little twist – that little twist is what makes it so good. Witches accidentally summon a demon or the Devil, and he’s played by none other than Jack Nicholson. No one can play an evil, insane guy better than Jack.
Sure, the visuals are a little campy and cheesy now, but that’s just part of the charm. Another hilarious part is the torture of the Felicia, who threatens the group within the small town. Not that I want anyone to fall down stairs, but this movie had me saying “Bye Felicia” more than once.
There have been a billion and one movies made about King Arthur, the knights, and Excalibur. While Monty Python’s Quest for the Holy Grail is the best, Excalibur is a close second. Unlike many King Arthur stories, it doesn’t modernize the tale or throw in extra love interests. It focuses on what the story focused on – King Arthur and his knights.
The imagery in the film is top-notch and extremely vivid. The bright sun shining on the armor while riding through the flowers? Unforgettable. The acting could certainly be a lot, but they were playing bigger-than-life mythological characters. It just makes sense.
Come on, it’s the ’80s! We have to mention The Goonies. There are a billion reasons why this movie is so awesome. Rewatching it as an adult tells you everything you need to know. First off, who doesn’t want to go on a grand adventure? Heck, this movie almost sucks you in and makes you feel like one of the crew.
Another thing I personally love about The Goonies is that it hired kids that could actually act. It seems like casting directors will hire kids that are just cute or big names to pull in crowds. Not Goonies, though. They knew what they were doing when they hired the kid to do the Truffle Shuffle.
The Adventures of Baron Munchausen is probably one of the most forgotten movies of the ’80s, which is baffling, considering Terry Gilliam of Monty Python fame directs it. By the way, he’s responsible for most of the animation in Monty Python films. Before I get started, I have to admit that the movie is a weird mix of surrealism and fantasy (not meaning to sound stuffy, but that’s the best way to describe it).
The Adventures of Baron Munchausen has such amazing actors that it’s unforgettable, including Jonathan Pryce, Uma Therman, and (of course) Robin Williams. Williams plays the villain, but he almost didn’t make it into the movie. The role was cast for someone else, but Williams reached out and said he wanted to play the character. Thank god he did!
I’m about to hit you with a big cartoon stack of bricks, alright? This film is rated PG – can you believe it? The fact that so many of us loved it as kids says quite a lot. Rewatching it as an adult, this fantastical movie still stands up. However, it’s almost like a completely new film where adult themes and pop culture references jump out at you. Not to mention, the scary scenes where cartoons are melted in acid are still absolutely terrifying.
That’s exactly what makes this movie so amazing. Who Framed Roger Rabbit perfectly combined cartoon and real-life movies seamlessly in a way that no other movie has touched (sorry, Cool World). We can also thank Who Framed Roger Rabbit for Jessica Rabbit, who became a symbol of the ’80s.
I’m a sucker for a good soundtrack, and Legend has that in spades (especially the Tangerine Dream version). Couple that with the fact it’s directed by Ridley Scott and features Tim Curry as the bad guy? You have one of the greatest films of the ’80s. Also, as a gamer, I can also appreciate this is as close to as a Legend of Zelda movie we’ll ever get.
Honestly, what really does it for me is Tim Curry. Out of all the visions of Satan or the Devil that’s appeared in media over the years, Tim Curry’s is the best. He has the bravado, the presence, and everything needed to be terrifying but alluring. Tom Cruise is alright, too, I guess.
Everything about Beetlejuice is perfect. If you don’t agree, then we’re gonna have to fight. The casting was suburb (even down to Winona Rider), the songs are sublime, and the makeup is unparalleled. I’ve seen ghost movies time and time again, but this one put another spin on it. Ghosts navigating the afterlife while having to deal with never-ending bureaucracy and one crazy, crazy dude? Sounds like real life, but with ghosts.
While the whole cast deserves an award, Michael Keaton is exceptional. Even today, people remember Beetlejuice. He was funny and scary, but above all, every fiber of him was evil. Even worse: he cannot be stopped. Honestly, Beetlejuice was Tim Burton as his peak, and he’ll never do anything as great.
The Dark Crystal is this weird mix between horror and fantasy by puppeteer Jim Henson. At least, for kids, it’s mostly horror. Some of the scenes, like the one where the essence was stolen from the podling, stuck in our minds and absolutely terrified us for years. Honestly, I still see that horrifying thing from time to time.
Apparently, the story was a lot more cryptic and horrifying than the movie we got. It was actually changed to make it a lot to make it more kid-friendly. I wanna see the original version. I’m guessing it would be the scariest movie ever written. With all the imagery and occult tie-ins, The Dark Crystal is easily one of the best films ever made.
Maybe this one is edging toward sci-fi, but Gremlins is certainly a fantasy flick. It doesn’t have magic, chainmail, and mythological creatures, but it does have Gizmo, and he beats all that. Gremlins became the ultimate ’80s horror movie for many reasons.
It was hilarious, chaotic, and fun, something horror movies seemed to lack. The best scene is unequivocally the bar scene. Seeing those creatures eating and drinking their way to bliss? Hilarious. It was so good that it gives the cantina scene from Star Wars a run for its money.
Willow was one of those that a lot of people missed simply because it didn’t hit critical acclaim like some other fantasy movies out there. It’s a shame too because the movie is phenomenal. The titular character is so charming, and he totally outshines Val Kilmer. To be fair, Kilmer did a great job too, but not as good as Warwick Davis.
Willow was a collaborative effort of George Lucas and Ron Howard, both extremely talented writers, directors, and producers. I’m surprised it wasn’t more of a hit. The only complaint I really have about this film is that it didn’t have better music, but the actors’ charisma makes up all that. Howard couldn’t have chosen a better baby to play Ellora.
Labyrinth is iconic, and it was one of David Bowie’s best roles. If you don’t picture Bowie when you imagine this movie, you’re doing it all wrong. The film was a fantastic fairy tale about growing up and gaining independence, but it’s also about how powerful fairy tales are.
Over the years, fairy tales have been nothing more than entertainment. The whole reason and lesson behind them stopped existing! Labyrinth brought all that back. Honestly, the best part of the film for me is the fact that love doesn’t conquer all. It’s all about Sarah’s self-esteem and her adventure rather than doe-eyes.
A lot of people forget about The Last Unicorn, and that’s a shame. It’s such a great film, and not because it had a huge budget. Sure, the animation wasn’t Disney quality, but holy cow, the writing was good. There’s never been a cartoon that focuses so much on loss and sadness. As a kid, it’s hard to pick up.
Molly Grue is a great example of this. I didn’t get it as a child, but as I grew older, rewatching the movie, her statements make sense. “How dare you! How dare you come to me now, when I am this!” She spent her whole life waiting for her unicorn, which didn’t appear until it was the last one on earth when she was a middle-aged woman. Also, I personally loved the drunk skeleton. He was a riot.
The NeverEnding Story is up there as one of the best movies ever made. Naturally, it’s one of the best movies of the ’80s. Everyone who has seen the movie will remember Falkor for the rest of their lives. The adventure stuck in our minds as an adult, but no scene was more impactful than the Swamp of Sadness.
Artax was sinking into the Swamp of Sadness, and Atreyu was begging him to walk out. We all watched helplessly as he sunk. As an adult, you can see why this scene was so important. The whole movie is a coming of age story where a child learns to rely on fantasy monsters rather than standing up to bullies on his own – a lot different than other coming of age stories.
Hayao Miyazaki films have a way with everyone. No matter the topic, the films are a fantasy dream where food looks beyond delicious and terrifying creatures look strangely inviting. Even now, My Neighbor Totoro stands up as one of the best films ever made by Miyazaki (and one of the best movies of the ’80s).
The story is enchanting and totally original. It had a lot of influence from Miyazaki’s real-life while growing up in post-WWII Japan, even down to the title. It was about life as seen through a child’s eyes, and that nostalgia is why everyone loves it so much.
Duh, The Princess Bride! So, this one may be a bit controversial, but anyone who’s seen this movie (or anyone alive) knows at least two quotes from this movie. The first is “As you wish.” It’s a phrase that will make knees weak and arms jelly. Then there’s, “My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die.”
It’s inconceivable to think that another movie had a bigger impact on the world than the Princess Bride. Whether you’re a girl or guy, it was super funny. If you haven’t seen it, I highly suggest that you sit down for a spell and watch it. It’s got amazing actors, lines that would make Monty Python snicker, and scenes you’ll never forget.
