A movie fan recently asked for a recommendation. They're looking for “80s movies that aren't corny I haven't watched enough 80s films because I feel most of them are dated (including visual and soundtrack). Any recommendations? The Untouchables, The Verdict, Rain Man, Paris Texas, and Amadeus are good.”
They continued, “I also avoid comedy, family, sports, romance, horror, war, and Sci-Fi that are unreal. Thank you so much.” People responded with these fabulous 80s movies that aren't cornball.
1. Thief (1981)
- Available to watch on Amazon Prime Video.
Thief is a neo-noir heist action thriller following a professional safecracker and jewel thief (James Caan) trying to escape his criminal lifestyle. As a result, he uses a car dealership and restaurant as covers for his illicitly-gained money. It co-stars James Belushi and Willie Nelson.
2. Dead Poets Society (1989)
- Available to watch VOD.
Set in 1959, Dead Poets Society is a drama following an English teacher (Robin Williams) who uses poetry to inspire his students at an all-boys preparatory school. It co-stars Ethan Hawke and Robert Sean Leonard.
3. Blood Simple (1984)
- Available to watch on HBO Max.
Blood Simple is an independent neo-noir crime film following a Texas bartender (John Getz) who finds himself amid a murder plot when his boss learns he is having an affair with his wife. It co-stars Frances McDormand and Dan Hedaya.
4. Heathers (1988)
- Available to stream free on Tubi.
Heathers is a black comedy teen movie following four teenage girls in a high school clique, three of whom are named Heather. Suddenly their lives are interrupted by a loner who is murdering the popular kids and staging them as suicides. It stars Winona Ryder, Christian Slater, and Shannen Doherty.
5. Wall Street (1987)
- Available to stream on Paramount+.
Wall Street is a drama following the story of Bud Fox (C. Sheen), a young stockbroker (Charlie Sheen) who becomes involved with a wealthy, devious corporate thief (Michael Douglas). It co-stars Daryl Hannah and Martin Sheen.
6. Raging Bull (1980)
- Available to watch on Amazon Prime Video and HBO Max.
Raging Bull is a biographical sports drama following an Italian-American middleweight boxer (Robert De Niro) who allowed his rage, jealousy, and self-destructive behaviors to destroy his family. It co-stars Joe Pesci, Cathy Moriarty, and Frank Vincent.
7. Midnight Run (1988)
- Available to watch on VOD.
Midnight Run is a buddy cop action comedy following a man (Joe Pantoliano) hiring a reserved bounty hunter (Robert De Niro) to locate an accountant (Charles Grodin) and bring him to Los Angelos. However, the mob and the FBI are hot on the accountants' pursuit, leading to a cross-country chase. It co-stars Yaphet Kotto, Dennis Farina, and Philip Baker Hall.
8. Empire of the Sun (1987)
- Available to watch on HBO Max.
Based on J. G. Ballard's semi-autobiographical novel, Empire of the Sun is a coming-of-age war story following a young boy (Christian Bale) who becomes a prisoner of war in a Japanese internment camp during World War II. It co-stars John Malkovich, Miranda Richardson, and Joe Pantoliano.
9. Fatal Attraction (1987)
- Available to watch on Paramount+.
Fatal Attraction is a psychological thriller following a married man (Michael Douglas) who has a weekend affair with an obsessive woman (Glenn Close) who becomes psychotic. She refuses to leave him alone and threatens his wife (Anne Archer) and child.
10. Witness (1985)
- Available to watch on Paramount+.
Witness is a neo-noir dramatic crime thriller following a police detective (Harrison Ford) protecting an Amish woman (Kelly McGillis) and her son (Lukas Haas). Her son witnessed a savage murder at the Philadelphia train station and has since become a target.
11. Do The Right Thing (1989)
- Available to watch on VOD.
The 1989 dramatic comedy from Spike Lee stars John Turturro, Danny Aiello, Giancarlo Esposito, and Lee. It's also the feature film debut of Martin Lawrence and Rosie Perez.
Do The Right Thing highlights the racial tension between African-Americans and IUtalian-Americans in Brooklyn, New York.
12. The Right Stuff (1983)
- Available to watch on VOD.
The historical drama film, based on the 1979 novel of the same name, was a box office bomb in 1983. Over time, critics and film buffs have recognized its importance and regard it as one of the best movies ever made.
13. The Natural (1984)
- Available to watch on Starz.
Starring Robert Redford, Glenn Close, and Robert Duvall, The Natural is a classic sports film with one of the most iconic endings ever seen in a movie.
Coincidentally, the movie's ending conflicts with the original ending of the 1952 novel it's based on.
This thread inspired this list. Check out these 80s movies that are so bad; they're good.
This article was produced and syndicated by Wealth of Geeks.