Obviously the decade peaked with Heaven's Gate and then it was just all downhill from there. That movie literally changed the industry, like it signaled the end of an Era!
Highlander 2 might suck, but the original wasn’t amazing. The biggest downgrade in quality for an 80s sequel was Aliens. The nadir just *feels* deeper when the apex was so high.
I dunno. Highlander 2 basically committed every film making atrocity out there, shitty acting, shitty music scoring, and taking a huge fucking choleric dump on the original’s plot line.
Besides, Aliens was pretty good once they killed off whiny ass Bill Paxton.
In 1981 alone (!) there were:
* Das Boot,
* The Road Warrior,
* Chariots of Fire,
* History of the World Part I ("...these Fifteen [one tablet drops] Oy--Ten! Ten Commandments for all to obey"),
* My DInner with Andre,
* Absence of Malice.
I swore off Hollywood movies around 1984, but I will happily watch an indie or foreign movie. Before the '80s there was all sorts of weird and interesting stuff going on in all media, but around 1982 it started compartmentalizing into franchises and genres
Excuse me Chopping Mall R.O.T.O.R, that train that people thought was coming towards them and they all ran from the theater, the 80s had a lot of classic movies
At least Highlander 2 had some neat lighting and sets. It gets a bad rap just because its script makes no damn sense and almost killed the nascent franchise.
Raiders of the Lost Arc
The Empire Strikes Back
Platoon
Aliens
Back to the Future
The Shining
Dead Poets Society
...
Your post is 100% uninformed rage bait.
Highlander 1 would have made it on the list if they'd cast Hulk Hogan as Connor MacLeod, brother. (Actual thing the lying liar has lied about being offered.)
I thought I was one of the only people who watched Suburban Commando on repeat as a kid. That movie was amazing. And I will never revisit it as an adult to see if it holds up. :)
When I show my kids a movie from the 80s, I know that more than likely something is going to happen that is no longer OK. I try not to wince as they eviscerate my childhood.
Terminator?
Caddyshack?
Batman?
Sleepless in Seattle?
Beetlejuice?
Raiders of the Lost Arc?
Close Encounters of the Third Kind?
Ghostbusters?
Aliens?
The Princess Bride?
Big?
Who Framed Roger Rabbit?
Full Metal Jacket?
Platoon?
Scarface?
The Thing?
Raging Bull?
Do The Right Thing?
Sure there have never been any good American films, but there's this little-known country called Japan, and in the 80s they invented anime, and this thing called a Ghibli movie
No, when it comes to Highlander, only the first one was good of the live action movies. I say this as a fan of the franchise who has seen all 5 movies and 3 TV series.
Ok this is bugging me now: why didn't Michael Ironside* just explode McCleod's head with telepathy?
*I won't bother looking up his character's name in Highlander 2, all Michael Ironside characters are just Michael Ironside. Growl! Yell! Gurn! Ironside!
The quiet earth. 1984. House of games. After hours. Commando (unironically good). True west. Things change. The thing. Buckaroo banzai. Repo man. Once upon a time in America.
On the one hand, DON'T FEED THE TROLL
On the other, though, I absolutely HAVE to tip my hat in deep respect to leading off with Quiet Earth, and the rest of that list as well.
Comments
Highlander was ok but 2 was trash
Besides, Aliens was pretty good once they killed off whiny ass Bill Paxton.
In 1981 alone (!) there were:
* Das Boot,
* The Road Warrior,
* Chariots of Fire,
* History of the World Part I ("...these Fifteen [one tablet drops] Oy--Ten! Ten Commandments for all to obey"),
* My DInner with Andre,
* Absence of Malice.
Please get out more.
And Warriors.....
1981 Raiders of the Lost Ark
1987 Predator
1986 Aliens
1986 the Great Mouse Detective
1988 Who Framed Roger Rabbit
1988 Oliver in Company
1989 The Little Mermaid
I know this is bait, but I cannot let it go unanswered.
Goonies
Nightmare on Elm Street
Guess we're not on the same page here... 😅
Stay happy.
The Terminator
Commando
Rambo
Robocop
Short Circuit
Batteries Not Included
Back to the Future
... So many
Where is my page? Go, villain, fetch a surgeon.
No, 'tis not so deep as a well, nor so wide as a
church-door; but 'tis enough,'twill serve
"Laugh-a while ya can, monkey boy!"
#Zeist4Lyfe
The Empire Strikes Back
Platoon
Aliens
Back to the Future
The Shining
Dead Poets Society
...
Your post is 100% uninformed rage bait.
nothing since has been as good
There was Mac and Me, I'll grant you that. But it wasn't until Suburban Commando that folks could enjoy real cinema
There can be only II.
(oh yes she can)
am I gonna die
Casey, I think there's a strong possibility that Gail Simone got at your phone while you weren't watching
The 80s rocked everything.
And there was Stop Or My Mom Will Shoot
And there's Meryl Streep's magnum opus Death Becomes Her
Then you get to the 1990s and a more enlightened time. Like the Paul Rudd character in Clueless is such a "cool nerd" his own stepsister wants him.
And what about the best Christmas movie ever, Die Hard?
Did you even SEE those two flaming knee high boulders? Masterwork of cinema
Caddyshack?
Batman?
Sleepless in Seattle?
Beetlejuice?
Raiders of the Lost Arc?
Close Encounters of the Third Kind?
Ghostbusters?
Aliens?
The Princess Bride?
Big?
Who Framed Roger Rabbit?
Full Metal Jacket?
Platoon?
Scarface?
The Thing?
Raging Bull?
Do The Right Thing?
https://bsky.app/profile/drummerfromfife.bsky.social/post/3lekrole6hc2k
https://youtu.be/0ZDbKhkLxTs?feature=shared
Caddyshack 2
Police Academy 2 or 3
Revenge of the Nerds
Porkys
Bachelor Party
Young Einstein
Bolero
Jaws 3D
A Nightmare On Elm St.
Johnny Depp was in it. 👍
Close Encounters?
Raiders of the Lost Ark?
Come ON!
No, when it comes to Highlander, only the first one was good of the live action movies. I say this as a fan of the franchise who has seen all 5 movies and 3 TV series.
*I won't bother looking up his character's name in Highlander 2, all Michael Ironside characters are just Michael Ironside. Growl! Yell! Gurn! Ironside!
Creepshow (1981) is enough good movie to carry the entire decade on its shoulders. There's so many more, I can't put that much energy into this.
Maybe stop reading "best of" lists and talk to someone that actually lived through the 80s?
😎
On the other, though, I absolutely HAVE to tip my hat in deep respect to leading off with Quiet Earth, and the rest of that list as well.
No, wait! The Thing!
...right?