Tonight’s Contenders: 80s Appreciation

80s Appreciation Night

It was the decade of training montages and sticking it to the man. Nerds were kings and misfits were heroes. Though science fiction and action blockbusters were the name of the game at the box office (10 top-grossing films), angsty coming of age movies still tugged the heart strings of America’s zit-covered masses.

This week for Monday Movie Night we, the 80’s babies, pay homage to the era of our birth. Although born at the end of this noteworthy decade I know we were all privy to our share of 80’s triumphs including stylish parents, noteworthy music, and ingenious gadgets. In order to truly remember and honor the 80’s we have put forth a list of movies that’s ranges through both the decade and the genres.

Here are our 80s appreciation night movie contenders:


Weird Science (1985) 94 min: Two high school nerds attempt to create the perfect woman, but she turns out to be more than that.

Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back (1980) 124 min: After the rebels have been brutally overpowered by the Empire on their newly established base, Luke Skywalker takes advanced Jedi training with Master Yoda, while his friends are pursued by Darth Vader as part of his plan to capture Luke.

Sixteen Candles (1984) 93 min: A young girl’s “sweet sixteenth” birthday becomes anything but special as she suffers from every embarrassment possible.

E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982) 115 min: A troubled child summons the courage to help a friendly alien escape Earth and return to his home-world.

Back to the Future (1985) 116 min: A young man is accidentally sent 30 years into the past in a time-traveling DeLorean invented by his friend, Dr. Emmett Brown, and must make sure his high-school-age parents unite in order to save his own existence.

The Karate Kid (1984) 126 min: A handyman/martial arts master agrees to teach a bullied boy karate and shows him that there is more to the martial art than fighting.

Flashdance (1983) 95 min: A Pittsburgh woman with two jobs as a welder and an exotic dancer wants to get into ballet school.

Heathers (1988) 103 min: A girl who half-heartedly tries to be part of the “in crowd” of her school meets a rebel who teaches her a more devious way to play social politics; killing the popular kids.

Labyrinth (1986) 101 min: Fifteen-year-old Sarah accidentally wishes her baby half-brother, Toby, away to the Goblin King Jareth who will keep Toby if Sarah does not complete his Labyrinth in thirteen hours.

Top Gun (1986) 110 min: As students at the Navy’s elite fighter weapons school compete to be best in the class, one daring young flyer learns a few things from a civilian instructor that are not taught in the classroom.


For an excellent and comprehensive list of movies from the 80s, see IMDB’s Most Popular Feature Films Released 1980 to 1989.

-Guest post written by Sarah and Eliza

One thought on “Tonight’s Contenders: 80s Appreciation

  1. I’m good for anything except E.T. I don’t trust that little alien bastard and we need R.J. MacReady to burn it.

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