13 Quintessential 80's Movies

Most 80's movies lists will include John Hughes films, "Rambo" or some other Stallone film, "Dirty Dancing", "Top Gun", "Goonies", "E.T.";  mine will not.

1. Beverly Hills Cop - I can watch this movie 100 times and not get sick of it. Even today it doesn't seem as dated as most 80's films. It has an awesome synthesizer soundtrack, it's very well made, the look of the movie epitomizes 80's high-class style, Serge is one of the greatest characters ever and Eddie Murphy was never funnier. Favorite moment: any scene with Serge.

2. Wall Street - Michael Douglass plays his usual rich guy character but nobody does it better than him. It's weird to think that there was a time when Charlie Sheen actually had talent. The film captures the capitalistic zeitgeist of the 80's and hideous 80's interior design. Favorite moment: when Gordon Gekko realizes that he's been duped by Bud Fox and he tells someone to "dump it" (referring to his stock) and the screen goes dark.

3. Risky Business - The message of the movie perfectly illustrates the 80's attitude that as long as you don't get caught, you can do whatever the hell you want. Most 80's movies after this would have kids getting into trouble while their parents were nowhere to be seen. The movie looks really good too, courtesy of cinematography Bruce Surtees (who also did the photography on Beverly Hills Cop), and has a great synth score by Tangerine Dream. Favorite moment: Tom Cruise interacting with his college interviewer and smiling with Ray Bans on when he realizes (and no longer cares) that he won't get into an Ivy League.

4. Fast Times at Ridgemont High - The best 80's high school movie. There are so many good characters and quotes, especially Spicoli, the poster child of the pot smoking surfer. Favorite moment: Spicoli having a pizza delivered to his history class.

5. Maid to Order - One of the most underrated 80's movies. I like how the film is both a romance and satire of the spoiled rich. A Cinderella story in reverse, which was a really cool concept. Favorite moment: Jessie hanging out at a club touching some guys mohawk.

6. Beetlejuice - Hilarious, brilliant black comedy. Michaels Keaton's performance is one of the best ever. Favorite moment: Beetlejuice's rant after Adam and Barbara ditch him and leave the model.

7. Scarface - Epic, violent rise-and-fall story. Probably has the best 80's montage, the "Push it to the Limit" sequence. Favorite moment: The scene after Frank's murder where Tony is smoking a cigarette at night and sees a blimp that says "the world is yours".

8. Better Off Dead - Unique, quirky 80's high school teen comedy with lots of absurd humor. John Cusack was never better. Favorite moment: The scene where lane is about to kill himself with lighter fluid but instead he's forced to have a hysterical meal with Ricky and his mom.

9. Valley Girl - Not as good as Fast Times but it has the best 80's soundtrack ever and gives a better representation of 80's culture, including the ubiquitous shopping mall obsession. Favorite scene: The final scene where "I Melt With You" plays after Julie throws the bracelet out of the limo window.

10. Revenge of the Nerds - Probably the funniest 80's film, it doesn't get better than "Booger" winning the belching contest or Takashi riding around in a kid tricycle while a Japanese version of "Daisy Bell (Bicycle Built for Two) is playing. Favorite moment: The entire contest.

11. Less Than Zero - Drastically different from the famous novel but still a very good film. The cinematography is gorgeous and it probably best exemplifies the 80's music video influenced look of vibrant pastels and icy blues and nighttime turquoise colored swimming pools, Robert Downey Jr. basically plays himself but does a great job at it. Favorite moment: Any scene where there is a shimmering swimming pool.

12. To Live and Die in L.A. - An underrated masterpiece. One of the few movies that actually looks like Los Angeles and Wang Chung composed the excellent soundtrack. Willem Dafoe is great as the villain, a nihilistic, psychotic artist/counterfeiter. Favorite moment: the montage where Rick Masters (Dafoe) is basically teaching you how to counterfeit money. The 80's was all about cool montages.

13. Desperately Seeking Susan - Another underrated film with really great cinematography (by Edward Lachman who also did the photography on Less Than Zero). Rosanna Arquette steals the show in this movie. Favorite moment: all the scenes with Rosanna Arquette and Aidan Quinn.

14. Heathers - One of the best black comedies ever made even if the end borders on the ridiculous and silly. The movie is endlessly quotable (ex. "The extreme always seems to make an impression", "How very.", etc.) and really encapsulates the look and style of the 80's. Favorite moment: every scene with Christian Slater, especially the two scenes with his psychotic father.