These are just a few movies out of the vast film industry that was the 1980s. But being an enthusiast of that decade, these are the ones I feel are the most relatable to teenagers and young adults, and who doesn’t love a classic?
1. Ferris Bueller's Day Off
I’m sure once in your life, you’ve heard someone your parents age call for someone and when they didn’t answer, they repeatedly said “Bueller…”. This comedy is surely one for the books, and everyone always wishes that their day of playing hooky was nearly as great at Ferris’.
2. The Breakfast Club
No doubt about it, this one is a classic. The tale of five students that could not be more different coming together in this emotional/romantic/comedic/and eye opening film that will leave everyone singing Simple Mind’s number one hit of the 1980’s, “Don’t You (Forget About Me)".
3. Say Anything
The perfect romantic comedy that will surely make you shed a tear at least once. This film tells the story of the witty Lloyd Dobler and the ever-so-perfect Diane Court. Their love story will leave your reeling and wanting a boy to hold a boom box over his head under your bedroom window.
4. Sixteen Candles
Known for the line “I can’t believe this. They fucking forgot my birthday,” and the oh so dreamy Jake Ryan. The movie that tells the story of a not-so-sweet sixteen and the comedy that surrounds it with multiple characters that will leave you laughing forever.
5. The Goonies
The adventure movie of a lifetime. The story of a bunch of kids on the search for treasure in the hopes of saving their hometown. It’s intense, comedic, and heart wrenching all at the same time. It really cannot get any better. #GooniesNeverSayDie.
6. Dirty Dancing
A classic movie where you get to see Patrick Swayze dance for hours? Sign me up. Taking place in the 1960’s, Dirty Dancing shows the bravery when it comes to choosing your (dance) battles and your love interest along the way.
7. The Outsiders
Starring many of the ‘80s finest actors, The Outsiders is also a blast from the past that portrays the rivalry between the lowly Greasers and the uppity Soc’s. Ponyboy Curtis brings you on the trip of a lifetime where you’ll be quoting Robert Frost the whole way through.
8. Stand by Me
A fantastic movie that takes place in the 1950’s and tells the story of four best friends on the search for a missing body. They end up finding out a lot about themselves and each other on their journey, resulting in an eye opening realization of the most important things in life. Five stars in my book.
9. Footloose
Big city boy moves to small county town. Nothing seems to be going right with the start of his new life and to make things worse…Dancing is against the law. This story with its undeniably great soundtrack will literally make you footloose.
10. Back to the Future (I, II, & III)
Great Scott! Of course these three movies are on this list. The trilogy of time traveling with the one and only Marty McFly will leave you wishing 2015 actually gave us the hover boards the movie promised us.
11. Pretty in Pink
Molly Ringwald crushes it again with this classic. The outcast life of Andie is far from the life she wants, and things begin to seem too good to be true when one of the most popular boys in school asks her out. She finds that dating someone from a complete social circle isn’t easy, but with her innate fashion talents and a best friend named Duckie, luck eventually seeks her out.
12. Can't Buy Me Love
Staring McDreamy before he was McDreamy. A declared high school nerd, Ronald, saves the popular cheerleader, Cindy, by lending her $1,000 to replace a dress she borrowed and ruined from her mother. With this payment, Cindy was asked to pretend to be Ronald’s girlfriend for a month. As Ronald grows more popular, he leaves his former best friends behind and loses sight of what’s really important. You can probably see where this is going, but it’s still worth watching.
13. Risky Business
First of all, it stars Tom Cruise. When a high school senior’s parents leave for a few days, things go completely out of the ordinary. It starts out with an encounter with a prostitute, leads to crashing his fathers Porsche, and ending with turning his house into a brothel in order to raise money. The story line may sound shady, but it stars Tom Cruise. And that is all.
14. E.T.
A classic movie about one of the worlds most well known and friendly alien. The friendship between a young boy and an extra terrestrial is actually more touching than you would think, and will leave you feeling all kinds of emotions.
15. Top Gun
Aaand more Tom Cruise. Young pilot, Maverick, is sent to The Top Gun Naval Fighter Weapons School in order to become the top fighter pilot. And all while doing that, this reckless and very confident pilot tries to win the attention of his lovely flight instructor. More of an ‘action’ movie, but still a great one.
16. Red Dawn
Starring many of our favorite ‘80s actors, Red Dawn tells the story of an alternate decade where Soviet soldiers invade a small Colorado town. Two brothers escape with their friends to the forest and plan their fight against the Soviets holding their town prisoner. This thriller is so good that they remade it in 2012, but nothing beats the original.
17. Adventures in Babysitting
When plans fall through with the babysitter’s boyfriend, she ends up getting stuck watching the Anderson kids. But when she needs to help a friend in trouble, she’s forced to drag the kids along and you can probably guess that’s the first issue in this scenario. Definitely a funny movie that’ll keep you on your toes.
