The Best '80s Movies Everyone Should Watch at Least Once

The snowflakes are perfect. The stars are perfect—and so is this movie! In her Oscar-winning role, Cher stars as a widow who unexpectedly falls for her fiancé's brother (Nicolas Cage), leading to a romance that's messy, passionate, and full of unforgettable one-liners.

The unbelievable adventures of Marty McFly (Michael J. Fox) and the wacky Doc Brown (Christopher Lloyd) will keep the whole family glued to the TV. Between the time-travel chaos and the heart at the center of it all, it's one of those movies you can jump into at any point and still have the best time.

Based on Alice Walker's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, The Color Purple tells the story of a Black woman in the rural South struggling to overcome decades of abuse. It's emotional, powerful, and full of performances that stay with you long after the credits roll.

Who ya gonna call? Back in 1984, it was Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Harold Ramis, and Ernie Hudson. This supernatural comedy mixes just the right amount of spooky and silly, with quotable lines and scenes you'll recognize instantly.

Nobody puts Baby in a corner—or sleeves on Patrick Swayze, for that matter—in this classic about a wealthy girl falling for her dance teacher. Set at a summer resort, it’s equal parts romance, music, and dance numbers that will have you wishing you could learn that final lift.

We won’t start any battles over which Star Wars is best, but there’s no doubt Empire Strikes Back is iconic. The stakes are higher, the story gets darker, and it delivers some of the most memorable moments in the entire franchise.

One of the most romantic movies of all time, you’ll be entranced by the tale of a man who will do anything to be reunited with his one true love. Want to watch it for the millionth time? As you wish!

Bruce Willis plays a New York cop who shows up to the wrong Christmas party at exactly the wrong time. Trapped inside a high-rise taken over by criminals, he ends up going head-to-head with one of the most memorable villains of the decade—barefoot, outnumbered, and very much winging it.

Whether you’re a brain, an athlete, a basket case, a princess, or a criminal, you’ll want to watch this one for many years to come! Five high schoolers who would never speak to each other in the hallway end up stuck in detention together for an entire Saturday. What starts out tense and awkward slowly turns into something more honest, as they let their guard down and realize they have more in common than they thought.

Hotshot Navy pilot Maverick pushes every limit he can—sometimes in the air, sometimes on the ground. Between the training sequences, the rivalry, and that beach volleyball scene everyone remembers, it’s as much about ego and growing up as it is about fighter jets

Ferris has one goal: skip school and make the most of it. What follows is a perfectly orchestrated day around Chicago, complete with fake-outs, close calls, and one very stressed-out principal trying to catch him in the act.

After moving to a new town, Daniel finds himself dealing with bullies almost immediately. Mr. Miyagi steps in as an unlikely mentor, teaching him discipline in ways that don’t look like training at all—at least not at first. And if you’ve kept up with Cobra Kai, you already know this story still has a life of its own—Ree included, who’s been all in on the next chapter!

Charlie expects a quick inheritance and instead finds out he has an older brother he never knew about. Their road trip starts out tense, but as the miles pass, their relationship begins to shift in small, meaningful ways that sneak up on you.