In addition to witnessing the Chernobyl disaster, the fall of the Berlin Wall, and the invention of the first artificial heart, the 1980s played host to a number of lauded movies that are considered masterpieces as of 2025, even if they didn’t receive such effusive acclaim when they were initially released. Leveraging a compelling premise, stellar direction, and unforgettable performances from some of Hollywood’s most talented performers to the maximum effect possible, many of these outings are now considered to be some of cinema’s best movies, irrespective of genre or time period.
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From gangster genre-defining entries to cinema’s most essential horror viewing, the 1980s’ most revered masterpieces encompassed a diverse array of genres, highlighting the significant range of talent that was on display throughout one of the best decades in wider cinema. From cinematic titans like Kubrick to Scorsese, many of popular culture’s most celebrated filmmakers produced at least one near-flawless piece of work across the decade, seminal cinematic outings that have stood the test of time to this day to be regarded as masterpieces.
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10
Back To The Future (1985)
Directed By Robert Zemeckis
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Back to the Future
PG
Adventure
Comedy
Sci-Fi
10/10
150
9.3/10
Release Date
July 3, 1985
Runtime
116 minutes
Director
Robert Zemeckis
Writers
Robert Zemeckis, Bob Gale
Producers
Bob Gale, Frank Marshall, Kathleen Kennedy, Neil Canton
Cast
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Michael J. Fox
Marty McFly
-
Christopher Lloyd
Emmett Brown
Back to the Future follows teenager Marty McFly as he is inadvertently sent back to 1955, where he disrupts his parents’ meeting. With the assistance of eccentric inventor Doc Brown, Marty must restore the timeline by ensuring his parents fall in love and find a way back to 1985.
Main Genre
Sci-Fi
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Led by Michael J. Fox’s Marty McFly, 1985’s Back to the Future chronicles the teenager’s attempts to return to 1985 after inadvertently being sent thirty years back in time via a time-traveling DeLorean invented by Christopher Lloyd’s mad scientist, Dr. Emmett Brown. A timeless classic that everybody should see at least once, Robert Zemeckis’ sci-fi triumph received middling reviews upon release, but is now regarded as one of the finest movies that the genre has ever seen.
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A crowd-pleasing blend of action, drama, and comedy, Back to the Future’s running gags and cultural references make for endlessly pleasing viewing, with Thomas F. Wilson’s Biff Tannen also serving as one of cinema’s most cartoonishly entertaining villains. While the movie was followed by two excellent sequels, neither arguably came close to emulating the original’s stellar quality, a state of affairs that has contributed to its status as an ’80s movie masterpiece as of 2025.
9
Raiders Of The Lost Ark (1981)
Directed By Steven Spielberg
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Raiders of the Lost Ark
PG
Adventure
Action
10/10
31
9.2/10
Release Date
June 12, 1981
Runtime
115 Minutes
Director
Steven Spielberg
Writers
Lawrence Kasdan
Sequel(s)
Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny
Cast
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Harrison Ford
-
Karen Allen
The most popular and well-received film in the Indiana Jones movie franchise, Raiders of the Lost Ark follows Harrison Ford’s Indiana Jones in a race against Nazi forces to recover the famed Ark of the Covenant. Aided by his former lover, Marion Ravenwood (Karen Allen), Indy must work to keep the Nazis, led by Dr. Rene Belloq, from obtaining the Ark and thus becoming recipients of its power. The film is widely regarded as one of the all-time greatest movies ever made.
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Kicking off one of the most beloved film franchises of all time, 1981’s Raiders of the Lost Ark is as near to a perfect movie as one is likely to find. Introducing a front-runner for popular culture’s most iconic action hero in Harrison Ford’s whip-toting, fedora-wearing archaeologist, Indiana Jones, Steven Spielberg’s acclaimed globe-trotting action-adventure entry chronicles a desperate race against time to find the mythical Ark of the Covenant.
Magnum P.I. star Tom Selleck was originally cast as Indiana Jones, before having to drop out due to scheduling conflicts.
Considered by some film fans as legendary filmmaker Spielberg’s best movie, Raiders of the Lost Ark is near flawless cinema. It’s influenced virtually every action-adventure entry that has succeeded it, with Jones’ character serving as the archetype for a host of future imitators. A timeless classic adored by multiple generations, Raiders of the Lost Ark remains the gold standard for the genre, as well as wider cinema as a whole.
8
Blade Runner (1982)
Directed By Ridley Scott
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Blade Runner
R
Drama
Sci-Fi
Thriller
9/10
25
9/10
Release Date
June 25, 1982
Runtime
117 minutes
Director
Ridley Scott
Writers
Hampton Fancher, David Webb Peoples, Philip K. Dick, Roland Kibbee
Sequel(s)
Blade Runner 2049
Cast
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Harrison Ford
-
Rutger Hauer
The original Blade Runner is a sci-fi neo-noir film set in 2019 in a dystopian cyber-punk society. Harrison Ford stars as Rick Deckard as a Blade Runner for the LAPD, tasked with hunting rogue replicants, genetically engineered humans designed to tackle tasks that human beings cannot. When four replicants go rogue and begin killing humans, Deckard is forced out of retirement to hunt them down and stop them – but the truth isn’t as simple as it seems. Deckard will have to reckon with the philosophical dilemma of what makes someone human.
Main Genre
Sci-Fi
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English director Ridley Scott has produced a number of iconic movies over the years, but few can hold a candle to 1982’s Blade Runner. Set in a dystopian future Los Angeles, the movie sees Harrison Ford’s Rick Deckard charged with hunting down a group of highly advanced renegade synthetic humans, more commonly known as “replicants.” Featuring some of the most arresting visuals that cinema has ever witnessed, Blade Runner’s haunting story has been inviting poignant introspective reflection on the nature of sentience and existence since it first debuted.
A critically acclaimed cult classic that launched a franchise and has influenced a horde of imitators through its cyber-punk aesthetic and neo-noir leanings, Blade Runner remains one of sci-fi’s most revered cinematic offerings to this day. Boasting one of the genre’s most iconic villains in Rutger Hauer’s Roy Batty, the replicant’s “tears in rain” soliloquy is arguably worthy of “masterpiece” status in and of itself.
7
Aliens (1986)
Directed By James Cameron
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Aliens
R
Action
Adventure
Horror
Sci-Fi
Thriller
10/10
Release Date
July 18, 1986
Runtime
137 minutes
Director
James Cameron
Writers
James Cameron
Cast
-
Sigourney Weaver
-
Carrie Henn
Main Genre
Action
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Chronicling the second encounter with the franchise’s nightmarish predatory extraterrestrials, it’s hard to know where to begin with the cinematic accolades associated with Aliens. Regarded as cinematic royalty across two separate genres, James Cameron’s 1986 follow-up to 1979’s Alien is frequently touted as one of the greatest film sequels ever made, as well as one of the finest sci-fi horror movies of all time.
Kicking off the wildly successful franchise in earnest, Aliens was critically acclaimed upon release, receiving effusive praise for its electrifying action sequences, jaw-dropping effects work, and Sigourney Weaver’s iconic leading performance as Ellen Ripley.
While some movie masterpieces aren’t appreciated in their own time, this decidedly did not apply in this case. Kicking off the wildly successful franchise in earnest, Aliens was critically acclaimed upon release, receiving effusive praise for its electrifying action sequences, jaw-dropping effects work, and Sigourney Weaver’s iconic leading performance as Ellen Ripley. Even as the film rapidly approaches the fortieth anniversary of its release, Cameron’s sequel remains one of the decade’s most revered outings.
6
Full Metal Jacket (1987)
Directed By Stanley Kubrick
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Full Metal Jacket
R
Drama
War
8/10
13
9/10
Release Date
July 10, 1987
Runtime
116 minutes
Director
Stanley Kubrick
Writers
Gustav Hasford, Stanley Kubrick, Michael Herr
Cast
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Matthew Modine
Pvt. Joker
-
Adam Baldwin
Animal Mother
Full Metal Jacket, directed by Stanley Kubrick, follows U.S. Marine recruits through rigorous boot camp training and onto the battlefields of Vietnam, highlighting the war’s impact on soldiers’ psyches. Released in 1987, the film stars Matthew Modine, Vincent D’Onofrio, and R. Lee Ermey.
Main Genre
Drama
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A nihilistic tour de force from Stanley Kubrick, 1987’s Full Metal Jacket is one of cinema’s finest and most influential war movies. The story primarily follows Matthew Modine’s “Joker,” depicting the soldier’s experiences of the Vietnam War, from basic training to armed combat. Featuring some of the most iconic pieces of dialogue and scenes that the genre has to offer, Kubrick’s acclaimed offering is also notable for playing host to one of the most unforgettable characters of all time in R. Lee Ermey’s foul-mouthed Gunnery Sergeant Hartman.
Deftly balancing wickedly dark humor with a harrowing commentary on the nature of warfare, Full Metal Jacket is frequently touted as a front-runner for the greatest war movie ever made. Lurching from comedic to desolating with virtually zero warning, Kubrick’s inimitable direction and an array of knockout performances combine to produce one of the decade’s most revered outings.
5
The Shining (1980)
Directed By Stanley Kubrick
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The Shining
R
Horror
Drama
10/10
41
8.6/10
Release Date
June 13, 1980
Runtime
146 minutes
Director
Stanley Kubrick
Writers
Diane Johnson, Stanley Kubrick
Cast
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Danny Lloyd
-
Shelley Duvall
Stanley Kubrick’s horror classic starring Jack Nicholson and Shelley Duvall tells the story of the Torrance family, who move to the isolated Overlook Hotel so that father Jack Torrance can act as its winter caretaker. Stuck at the hotel due to the winter storms, the malevolent supernatural forces inhabiting the building slowly begin to drive Jack insane, causing his wife and psychically gifted son to be caught up in a fight for their lives when Jack is pushed over the edge.
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Few directors can lay claim to a single movie masterpiece in the span of a career, let alone two in the space of a decade; unless one happens to be Stanley Kubrick. Based on Stephen King’s novel of the same name, Kubrick’s 1980 adaptation of The Shining is frequently touted as one of the greatest and most influential horror movies in the history of cinema, the first outing in a decade where he would also go on to produce a seminal war outing in 1987’s Full Metal Jacket.
From the movie’s infamous “Here’s Johnny!” sequence to the notorious elevator doors scene, The Shining is renowned for featuring some of the horror genre’s most celebrated signature moments and soundbites. Spearheaded by a mesmerizing performance from Jack Nicholson that captures Jack Torrance’s descent into madness in all its horrifying glory, Kubrick’s masterpiece is arguably the most terrifying and lauded Stephen King adaptation ever brought to life on screen.
4
Come And See (1985)
Directed By Elem Klimov
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Come And See
NR
Drama
War
10/10
Release Date
October 17, 1985
Runtime
142 Minutes
Director
Elem Klimov
Writers
Elem Klimov, Ales Adamovich
Cast
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Aleksei Kravchenko
-
Olga Mironova
Come and See is a 1985 Soviet war drama directed by Elem Klimov. The film follows a young Belarusian boy named Flyora as he witnesses and experiences the horrors of World War II. Through his eyes, viewers are exposed to the brutal realities of war and its devastating impact on humanity. Renowned for its stark portrayal of violence and suffering, the film is considered a powerful anti-war statement.
Main Genre
Drama
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Chronicling an array of harrowing wartime atrocities through the eyes of a young Belarusian boy at the height of WWII, Elem Klimov’s Come and See is the consensus greatest anti-war movie ever made. Boasting one of the most impressive pieces of child acting in the history of cinema in the form of Aleksei Kravchenko’s Flyora Gaishun, Klimov’s critically acclaimed movie pulls zero punches in bringing the hell of wartime to life, culminating in an indescribably powerful and poignant masterpiece.
…Klimov’s critically acclaimed movie pulls zero punches in bringing the hell of wartime to life, culminating in an indescribably powerful and poignant masterpiece.
Like many standout anti-war classics, Come and See is unequivocally good enough to deserve masterpiece status, but so irredeemably desolating that it’s the type of movie most viewers can only bring themselves to watch once. The almost hallucinatory vibe that Klimov lends to proceedings results in a uniquely nightmarish and intense perspective on war, one that has seen Come and See showered with even further acclaim in recent years.
3
Raging Bull (1980)
Directed By Martin Scorsese
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Raging Bull
R
Biography
Sport
Drama
7/10
9.3/10
Release Date
December 19, 1980
Runtime
129 minutes
Director
Martin Scorsese
Writers
Mardik Martin, Paul Schrader
Cast
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Robert De Niro
-
Theresa Saldana
Directed by Martin Scorsese, Raging Bull is a 1980 sports drama based on the rise and fall of real-life boxer Jake LaMotta as he strives for success while dealing with his inner demons and his violent temper. Robert De Niro stars as the middleweight champion, with Joe Pesci, Cathy Moriarty, and Nicholas Colasanto in supporting roles.
Main Genre
Biography
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A biographical sports drama based on the life of legendary boxer, Jake LaMotta, 1980’s Raging Bull received middling critical and commercial results upon release but has subsequently gone on to become regarded as one of the greatest films ever made. Viewed by some as legendary director Martin Scorsese’s magnum opus, the film is a devastating deep dive into the unforgiving world of boxing, a tale that highlights the brutal realities of the sport in unflinching clarity.
Spearheaded by an Oscar-winning performance from Robert De Niro as the titular pugilist, Raging Bull arguably marks the finest collaboration between the cinematic icon and Scorsese in one of cinema’s most successful creative partnerships. A front-runner for cinema’s finest boxing movie, the film’s stunning cinematography, vicious fight scenes, and De Niro’s intense performance help to paint a picture of one of the most colorful and conflicting characters the fight game has ever seen.
2
Scarface (1983)
Directed By Brian De Palma
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Scarface
R
Crime
Drama
7/10
9.5/10
Release Date
December 9, 1983
Runtime
170 minutes
Director
Brian De Palma
Writers
Oliver Stone, Howard Hawks, Ben Hecht
Cast
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Al Pacino
-
Michelle Pfeiffer
Brian De Palma’s iconic crime drama is loosely based on the 1929 novel of the same name and follows Cuban refugee Tony Montana (Al Pacino), who begins a life of crime after arriving in Miami. It chronicles his rise from a penniless thug to one of the richest and most ruthless kingpins in the world, amassing a criminal empire worth hundreds of millions of dollars.
Main Genre
Crime
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Serving as a remake of the 1932 film of the same name, Brian De Palma’s Scarface is looked at as a defining movie for the gangster genre. Chronicling the rags-to-riches rise and subsequent bloody fall of Al Pacino’s drug lord, Tony Montana, Scarface initially received poor reviews. However, it has subsequently been reevaluated as a cinematic classic, with many going as far as to label this 1983 triumph as one of the greatest gangster movies of all time.
One of the most profane movies ever made, Scarface features 226 f-bombs.
Inspiring comic books, video games, and even rap music, Scarface’s considerable influence has permeated wider popular culture. Inspiring countless parodies and imitations, the climactic sequences depicting Tony defending his mansion with his “little friend” in an epic last stand are among the most famous scenes in cinematic history. Spearheaded by an unforgettable bow from one of cinema’s most talented performers, Scarface remains a seminal ’80s showpiece for the gangster genre.
1
Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
Directed By Irvin Kershner
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Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back
PG
Adventure
Action
Science Fiction
9/10
113
9.4/10
Release Date
May 20, 1980
Runtime
124 minutes
Director
Irvin Kershner
Writers
Lawrence Kasdan, Leigh Brackett, George Lucas
Producers
Gary Kurtz, George Lucas, Howard G. Kazanjian
Cast
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Mark Hamill
Luke Skywalker
-
Harrison Ford
Han Solo
The Empire Strikes Back is the second installment in the original Star Wars trilogy, directed by Irvin Kershner. Released in 1980, it follows Luke Skywalker as he trains under Jedi Master Yoda, while Princess Leia, Han Solo, and the Rebel Alliance face ongoing threats from the Galactic Empire and Darth Vader.
Main Genre
Sci-Fi
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The follow-up to 1977’s original installment, Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back is one of the greatest movie sequels of all time. Adopting a considerably darker tone than its predecessor, the movie chronicles the Galactic Empire’s counterattack against the rebels following the destruction of the Death Star, while Luke Skywalker trains to become a Jedi under Master Yoda on Dagobah. Like many movie masterpieces, The Empire Strikes Back wasn’t appreciated in its time, earning mixed reviews upon release.
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It’s a remarkable state of affairs looking back, given that Irvin Kershner’s sequel is frequently touted as the best Star Wars movie ever made as of 2025. Loaded with many of the franchise’s most iconic moments, The Empire Strikes Back’s cocktail of jaw-dropping effects, heart-pounding action sequences, and seismic narrative revelations makes for near flawless viewing. From the epic battle on the ice world of Hoth to Luke and Darth Vader’s fateful showdown on Bespin, this is a sci-fi cinematic masterpiece like no other.
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