Paste Magazine's 80 Best Movies of the 1980s
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Welcome to Paste’s 80 Best Movies of the 1980s. This list takes into account what the critics and audiences of the time could not—the lasting ripple effects of iconic performances, influential direction and pop-culture sweet spots, as well as some simply overlooked gems. That said, a great performance or popular endearment isn’t necessarily enough. The films on this list must be good, solid examples of their respective genre (and in some cases, the template for said genre).
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1 new
Raging Bull
1980, in 34 top lists Check -
2 new
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
1982, in 30 top lists Check -
3 new
Do the Right Thing
1989, in 25 top lists Check -
4 new
The Princess Bride
1987, in 19 top lists Check -
5 new
The Thin Blue Line
1988, in 12 top lists Check -
6 new
Raiders of the Lost Ark
1981 — a.k.a. Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark, in 29 top lists Check -
7 new
Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back
1980, in 25 top lists Check -
8 new
Ordinary People
1980, in 9 top lists Check -
9 new
The Right Stuff
1983, in 13 top lists Check -
10 new
Raising Arizona
1987, in 9 top lists Check -
11 new
Brazil
1985, in 23 top lists Check -
12 new
Blade Runner
1982, in 36 top lists Check -
13 new
The Mission
1986, in 6 top lists Check -
14 new
Die Hard
1988, in 21 top lists Check -
15 new
Amadeus
1984, in 24 top lists Check -
16 new
The Killing Fields
1984, in 12 top lists Check -
17 new
Dangerous Liaisons
1988, in 8 top lists Check -
18 new
Ran
1985, in 25 top lists Check -
19 new
Chariots of Fire
1981, in 14 top lists Check -
20 new
A Fish Called Wanda
1988, in 8 top lists Check -
21 new
The Big Chill
1983, in 7 top lists Check -
22 new
Das Boot
1981 — a.k.a. The Boat, in 15 top lists Check -
23 new
Blue Velvet
1986, in 27 top lists Check -
24 new
Sophie's Choice
1982, in 3 top lists Check -
25 new
Aliens
1986, in 24 top lists Check -
26 new
The Untouchables
1987, in 9 top lists Check -
27 new
Field of Dreams
1989, in 10 top lists Check -
28 new
Fanny och Alexander
1982 — a.k.a. Fanny and Alexander, in 25 top lists Check -
29 new
Sex, Lies, and Videotape
1989, in 11 top lists Check -
30 new
Shoah
1985, in 18 top lists Check -
31 new
Nuovo Cinema Paradiso
1988 — a.k.a. Cinema Paradiso, in 20 top lists Check -
32 new
The King of Comedy
1982, in 15 top lists Check -
33 new
Full Metal Jacket
1987, in 18 top lists Check -
34 new
The Shining
1980, in 28 top lists Check -
35 new
Der Himmel über Berlin
1987 — a.k.a. Wings of Desire, in 21 top lists Check -
36 new
Ferris Bueller's Day Off
1986, in 11 top lists Check -
37 new
Gates of Heaven
1978, in 4 top lists Check -
38 new
Crimes and Misdemeanors
1989, in 12 top lists Check -
39 new
When Harry Met Sally...
1989, in 16 top lists Check -
40 new
House of Games
1987, in 7 top lists Check -
41 new
Broadcast News
1987, in 10 top lists Check -
42 new
Hannah and Her Sisters
1986, in 8 top lists Check -
43 new
Kagemusha
1980, in 10 top lists Check -
44 new
Coal Miner's Daughter
1980, in 7 top lists Check -
45 new
My Left Foot: The Story of Christy Brown
1989 — a.k.a. My Left Foot, in 7 top lists Check -
46 new
Mitt liv som hund
1985 — a.k.a. My Life as a Dog, in 7 top lists Check -
47 new
Platoon
1986, in 21 top lists Check -
48 new
Tender Mercies
1983, in 4 top lists Check -
49 new
Nostalghia
1983 — a.k.a. Nostalgia, in 9 top lists Check -
50 new
Babettes gæstebud
1987 — a.k.a. Babette's Feast, in 11 top lists Check
Last updated on Aug 14, 2013; source