Best 1980s Movies
'Fast Times at Ridgemont High'
Release date: Aug. 13, 1982
Plot: This flick, based on a book by Cameron Crowe, follows innocent high school freshman Stacy as she looks for love. Some of today's big stars, including Nicolas Cage and Forest Whitaker, had small parts.
Stars: Sean Penn, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Judge Reinhold, Phoebe Cates
'The Princess Bride'
Release date: Sept. 25, 1987
Plot: This fairy tale, which a man reads to his grandson, follows the love story of beautiful Buttercup and Westley. When Buttercup is kidnapped, Westley comes to her rescue, befriending some and having many adventures along the way.
Stars: Robin Wright, Cary Elwes, Peter Falk, Mandy Patinkin
'The Empire Strikes Back'
Release date: May 21, 1980
Plot: When friends Princess Leia and Han Solo are captured by Darth Vader, it's up to Luke Skywalker to rescue them. Lucky for him, Luke gets trained by the mighty Yoda in this "Star Wars" film.
Stars: Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher
'Back to the Future'
Release date: July 3, 1985
Plot: Marty McFly accidentally heads back in time to his parents' high school years in this first film of the legendary trilogy. His entire existence is put at risk as his mom develops a crush on him. He's got to get his parents back together and get himself back to the present day.
Stars: Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd, Lea Thompson
'When Harry Met Sally'
Release date: July 12, 1989
Plot: A car ride to New York is the start of an interesting relationship for strangers Harry and Sally. The question "Can men and women really be just friends?" guides the characters as they continue to cross paths in later years.
Stars: Billy Crystal, Meg Ryan
'Field of Dreams'
Release date: April 21, 1989
Plot: When farmer Ray Kinsella hears voices, he follows their instructions and plows through his corn crop to build a baseball field. Deceased players, who were banned following the Black Sox scandal, show up to play -- as does the man behind the true purpose for the field.
Stars: Kevin Costner, Ray Liotta, James Earl Jones
'Ferris Bueller's Day Off'
Release date: June 11, 1986
Plot: Chronic school-skipper Ferris Bueller decides to go out with a bang before graduation. He skips school with his friends and spends the day cruising around Chicago in a Ferrari while his principal does his best to catch him.
Stars: Matthew Broderick, Jeffrey Jones, Jennifer Grey, Alan Ruck
'Tootsie'
Release date: Dec. 17, 1982
Plot: Struggling actor Michael Dorsey dresses up as a woman to get a part on a soap opera. His star power rises as Miss Dorothy Michaels, but things become sticky when he falls in love with his lady co-worker.
Stars: Dustin Hoffman, Jessica Lange, Sydney Pollack
'The Breakfast Club'
Release date: Feb. 15, 1985
Plot: Five high school students from different cliques spend a Saturday in detention together in this classic '80s movie. As they get to know one another, they find their stereotypes fading away.
Stars: Emilio Estevez, Judd Nelson, Molly Ringwald, Anthony Michael Hall, Ally Sheedy
'Flashdance'
Release date: April 15, 1983
Plot: Alex, a welder during the day and an exotic dancer at night, dreams of making it big as a ballet dancer. The movie is set in Pittsburgh and features the song "Flashdance…What a Feeling."
Stars: Jennifer Beals, Michael Nouri, Lilia Skala
'Pretty in Pink'
Release date: Feb. 28, 1986
Plot: Another great '80s movie by writer John Hughes, this flick follows social misfit Andie as she dates popular Blaine.
Stars: Molly Ringwald, Jon Cryer, Harry Dean Stanton, Andrew McCarthy
'Footloose'
Release date: Feb. 17, 1984
Plot: When Ren's family moves from Chicago to a small town, he's shocked to find his new home has banned rock music and dancing. He leads the rebellious force to do away with such rules, dancing along the way to songs such as "Let's Hear It for the Boy."
Stars: Kevin Bacon, Lori Singer, John Lithgow
'Top Gun'
Release date: May 16, 1986
Plot: Hunky Maverick attends the Top Gun school to become a fighter pilot in this iconic movie. He competes with classmates to be the best in class and works hard to romance teacher Charlie.
Stars: Tom Cruise, Val Kilmer, Kelly McGillis, Anthony Edwards
'Sixteen Candles'
Release date: May 4, 1984
Plot: Awkward Samantha has a crush on the most popular boy in school. Will his attention make up for the fact that her family forgot her Sweet 16 birthday? It just might, but poor Sam will have to endure some embarrassing moments before things turn around.
Stars: Molly Ringwald, Anthony Michael Hall, Justin Henry
'Dirty Dancing'
Release date: Aug. 21, 1987
Plot: Nobody puts Baby in a corner. Rich girl Baby vacations with her family at a resort and falls in love with Johnny, a dancing instructor from the wrong side of the tracks.
Stars: Jennifer Grey, Patrick Swayze
'Risky Business'
Release date: Aug. 5, 1983
Plot: When Joel's parents leave him home alone, the Chicago high schooler gets up to no good. Before you know it, he's dancing around in his underwear and hiring a prostitute, and somehow his parents' Porsche ends up in Lake Michigan.
Stars: Tom Cruise, Rebecca De Mornay, Joe Pantoliano
'Die Hard'
Release date: July 15, 1988
Plot: New York cop John McClane heads west to Los Angeles for Christmas, but it won't be a relaxing holiday. When hostages are held captive by terrorists, it's up to McClane to rescue them.
Stars: Bruce Willis, Alan Rickman, Bonnie Bedelia
'E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial'
Release date: June 11, 1982
Plot: Young Elliot meets E.T., a lost alien who is stranded on Earth. Will Elliot decide to help E.T. find his way home, even though it means he'll lose him? Helmed by this famed director.
Stars: Henry Thomas, Drew Barrymore, Peter Coyote
'The Terminator'
Release date: Oct. 26, 1984
Plot: Arnold Schwarzenegger is the Terminator, a cyborg sent back in time to kill Sarah Connor. Will he succeed, or will Sarah and protector Kyle Reese escape?
Stars: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Michael Biehn, Linda Hamilton
'The Goonies'
Release date: June 7, 1985
Plot: When an Astoria, Ore., neighborhood is set to be bulldozed, it's up to a group of kids to save it. They embark on a wild treasure hunt, encountering many adventures along the way.
Stars: Sean Astin, Josh Brolin, Jeff Cohen, Corey Feldman
'Planes, Trains and Automobiles'
Release date: Nov. 25, 1987
Plot: Director John Hughes has another winner with this film, which follows uptight Neal as he journeys home to Chicago for Thanksgiving. Neal winds up with talkative Del for the duration of the journey, and the two encounter many challenges on their way.
Stars: John Candy, Steve Martin
'The Karate Kid'
Release date: June 22, 1984
Plot: Miyagi teaches bullied Daniel karate so that Daniel can take on his nemesis, Johnny, and win the affections of love Ali. Jaden Smith starred in the 2010 remake.
Stars: Ralph Macchio, Pat Morita, Elisabeth Shue, Martin Kove
'Raiders of the Lost Ark'
Release date: June 12, 1981
Plot: Archeologist Indiana Jones hunts for the Ark of the Covenant. The only problem? The Nazis are looking for it, too. Directed by Steven Spielberg and produced by George Lucas, this is the first of the legendary Indiana Jones films.
Stars: Harrison Ford, Karen Allen, Paul Freeman
'Ghostbusters'
Release date: June 8, 1984
Plot: Three parapsychologists lose their jobs at Columbia University and start a ghost-hunting business. When a band of spirits descends upon New York, the Ghostbusters are called upon to save the city.
Stars: Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Sigourney Weaver
Source:specials.msn
