Unveiling the Greatest ‘80S Cinema Classics to Binge-Watch Today

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The eighties were a wild decade full of time travelers, ghosts, snakes, and frozen concentrated orange juice futures. These 10 films represent a wide range of genres and characters.

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Because We Should Always Listen to the Scientists: Aliens (1986)

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IMDb Rating : 8.3

Genre : Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi

Starring : Sigourney Weaver, Michael Biehn, Carrie Henn

Director : James Cameron

Motion Picture Rating : R

Running Time : 2 hours, 17 minutes

Officer Ripley somehow gets convinced to go back to space after surviving a relentless alien attack, and once again, her warnings are unheeded until it’s nearly too late. Nevertheless, she persists.

Watch ‘Aliens’ on YouTube Now

02

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Artificial Intelligence Gone Rogue: TRON (1982)

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IMDb Rating : 6.8

Genre : Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi

Starring : Jeff Bridges, Bruce Boxleitner, David Warner

Director : Steven Lisberger

Motion Picture Rating : PG

Running Time : 1 hour, 36 minutes

A software engineer is digitized and downloaded to a mainframe and must fight a powerful and evil AI. This movie has a very eighties feel of what the future looks like, though much of it is still relevant concerning artificial intelligence and users’ rights.

Watch ‘TRON’ on Disney Plus Now

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Worst Movie for Ophidiophobia Sufferers: Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)

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IMDb Rating : 8.4

Genre : Action, Adventure

Starring : Harrison Ford, Karen Allen, Paul Freeman

Director : Steven Spielberg

Motion Picture Rating : PG

Running Time : 1 hour, 55 minutes

How to Watch the Indiana Jones Series in Order

Why’d it have to be snakes? Searching for the titular artifact before the Nazis can get their hands on it, archaeologist Indiana Jones finds himself surrounded by those slithering creatures. And that’s only the start of it.

Watch ‘Raiders of the Lost Ark’ on YouTube Now

How to Watch Steven Spielberg Movies in Order

04

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Best Early Eighties Fashion: Flashdance (1983)

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Watch ‘Flashdance’ on Amazon Prime Video Now

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Epic Entrepreneurs: Ghostbusters (1984)

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IMDb Rating : 7.8

Genre : Action, Comedy, Fantasy

Starring : Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Sigourney Weaver

Director : Ivan Reitman

Motion Picture Rating : PG

Running Time : 1 hour, 45 minutes

How to Watch the ‘Ghostbusters’ Movies in Order

Featuring outrageous New York real estate and a terrifying marshmallow man,Ghostbusters is iconic, spawning sequels, remakes, and an animated series. Who ya gonna call?

Watch ‘Ghostbusters’ on Amazon Prime Video Now

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Best Paternity Reveal—Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back (Episode V) (1980)

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IMDb Rating : 8.7

Genre : Action, Adventure, Fantasy

Starring : Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher

Director : Irvin Kershner

Motion Picture Rating : PG

Running Time : 2 hours, 4 minutes

How to Watch ‘Star Wars’ Movies in Order on Disney Plus

This second_Star Wars_ movie (in order of release) features Lando Calrissian, Han Solo in carbonite, and Yoda’s wise teachings. (Do. Or do not. There is no try.) No wonder it’s the most popular film in the franchise.

Watch ‘The Empire Strikes Back’ on Disney Plus Now

07

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A Crash Course in Commodities Trading: Trading Places (1983)

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IMDb Rating : 7.5

Genre : Comedy

Starring : Eddie Murphy, Dan Aykroyd, Ralph Bellamy

Director : John Landis

Motion Picture Rating : R

Running Time : 1 hour, 56 minutes

The Duke brothers, who own a commodities brokerage firm, conduct a nature vs. nurture experiment with two men, one born wealthy and one not. Eventually, those two men uncover an insider trading plot and plan revenge.

Watch ‘Trading Places’ on Amazon Prime Video Now

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Double-Crossing Diamond Thieves: A Fish Called Wanda (1988)

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IMDb Rating : 7.5

Genre : Comedy, Crime

Starring : John Cleese, Jamie Lee Curtis, Kevin Kline

Director : Charles Crichton, John Cleese (uncredited)

Motion Picture Rating : R

Running Time : 1 hour, 48 minutes

After a successful heist, a group of thieves fights over their haul of diamonds. Things quickly go south as everything that can go wrong does go wrong. You’ll never look at a steamroller the same way.

Watch ‘A Fish Called Wanda’ on Amazon Prime Video Now

09

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A Brooklyn Time Capsule: Do the Right Thing (1989)

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IMDb Rating : 8.0

Genre : Comedy, Drama

Starring : Danny Aiello, Ossie Davis, Ruby Dee

Director : Spike Lee

Motion Picture Rating : R

Running Time : 2 hours

This movie, which takes place over one hot summer day, follows Mookie, a pizza delivery guy, played by Spike Lee, as he makes the rounds around Bed-Stuy Brooklyn. It’s a snapshot in time, highlighting racial and neighborly tensions.

Watch ‘Do the Right Thing’ on Amazon Prime Video Now

10

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Best Fast Food Knock-Off: Coming to America (1988)

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IMDb Rating : 7.0

Genre : Comedy, Romance

Starring : Eddie Murphy, Arsenio Hall, James Earl Jones

Director : John Landis

Motion Picture Rating : 16+

Running Time : 1 hour, 56 minutes

A crown prince (Eddie Murphy) arrives in Queens and takes a job at MacDowell’s fast-food joint (not to be confused with that other restaurant). He’s looking for love while trying to hide his wealth. The movie even features a cameo of the Duke brothers from_Trading Places_ .

Watch ‘Coming to America’ on Amazon Prime Video Now

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