Ed Harris in the foreground with more astronauts in the background in The Right Stuff (1983)Image via Warner Bros.
By
Daniel Boyer
Published 19 minutes ago
Daniel is a 27-year-old List Writer for Collider living in the south suburbs of Chicago, Illinois. As an avid film buff, he watches and analyzes many films and TV shows, especially in the horror genre, and regularly attends movie screenings.
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The 1980s were wild times in cinema. Blockbusters were all the rage, mega franchises were dominating the screens, and films were just trying to be the biggest, most memorable experience possible. So, of course, it became a decade full of hidden gems. This time was filled with excitement and iconic films hogging all the attention. Not all of them can be as well regarded as Amadeus, Aliens, Die Hard, or Raiders of the Lost Ark, but that doesn't mean the ones forgotten weren't perfect.
Today, lists are filled with hidden '80s gems from a great many genres spanning the decade. There are simply too many to point out these days, but really, some stood out for being quite unique and fascinating, even though they're not well-remembered. The following are ten arguably perfect '80s movies that hardly anyone remembers these days. Whether they were box office bombs or overshadowed by bigger projects, they deserve better attention today because of what they truly evoke in audiences.
10 'The Legend of Billie Jean' (1985)
Image via Tri Star Pictures
Plenty of films of this decade captured the fun, defiant spirit of the culture of the time, but none are quite as entertaining as 1985's The Legend of Billie Jean. Directed by Matthew Robbins, this cult classic action drama stars Helen Slater and Christian Slater as two rebellious siblings from Texas on the run and becoming local legends after a confrontation between a high school bully and his despicable father turns deadly.
The Legend of Billy Jean encapsulates the feeling of a rebellious culture that was greatly about social justice and youth empowerment. Sure, it's cheesy and over-the-top at times, but then again, so were many of the decade's best efforts. Moreover, it symbolizes a lot of what the '80s were about to many in American society and has a powerful message, coupled with invested performances, and has an overall thrilling tone.
9 'Top Secret!' (1984)
Val Kilmer as Nick Rivers and Lucy Gutteridge as Hillary Flammond in Top SecretImage via Paramount Pictures
Jim Abrahams and David and Jerry Zucker, the powerfully hilarious minds behind the comedy masterpiece Airplane!, weren't done creating just one comedic joyride in the '80s, as they teamed up for 1984's Top Secret! The late Val Kilmer truly shone in his first major leading role as a popular American singer pulled into a wacky rescue mission to save a scientist in East Germany.
Top Secret! has much of the wonderful fun and creatively abused humor that Abrahams and the Zucker brothers have become known for. Not to mention, it's backed by a powerhouse performance by Kilmer, who completely nails his character and the musical numbers he does throughout the film. But it's only a shame this one has been massively overshadowed by the Zuckers and Abrahams' other works over the years. Some critics even stated the humor here couldn't match up to Airplane! However, in recent years, it has gotten more praise and is considered one of the most enjoyable cult classic comedies of the decade.
8 'Fandango' (1985)
Image via Warner Bros.
In a decade littered with forgotten but incredible comedies, 1985's Fandango is one of those that should be a must-watch for everyone. Featuring the debut of director Kevin Reynolds and actor Kevin Costner in their first collaboration together, this profound comedy-drama is a touching tale of friendship, responsibility, and self-discovery. Set in 1971, a small group of college friends embark on a celebratory road trip before some of them get drafted to serve in the Vietnam War.
It's quite inspiring, funny, and emotionally gripping, all made more perfect thanks to the remarkable cast of current or rising stars who all do phenomenal work making their characters relatable. Fandango showed the power of both Reynolds' competent direction and Costner's remarkable star power, which is interesting considering it isn't brought up as much when discussing the highlights of both of their careers. It's certainly one that should be skipped out on.
7 'The Hidden' (1987)
Image via New Line Cinema
The 1980s were a thrilling time for horror fans, but with literally so many classics to choose from, some would be more remembered than others. One that definitely needs more praise is the 1987 sci-fi horror film The Hidden. Starring Twin Peaks' star Kyle MacLachlan, playing a different kind of FBI agent this time, it follows his character and an LAPD detective as they team up to stop a hostile alien parasite on a killing spree that jumps from one human host to the next.
It's quite tense and shocking, coupled with brilliant bits of body horror action, all mixed together in a delightful B-movie-style premise. It's perhaps that reputation that saw it be regarded as another cheesy B-movie that contributed to The Hidden flying under many people's radars for years, but now it's getting better recognition and praise for being the over-the-top horror spectacle that it truly is.
6 'Something Wild' (1986)
Jeff Daniels and Melanie Griffith in 'Something Wild'Image via Orion Pictures
Before terrifying and amazing audiences with his 1991 Best Picture-winning thriller The Silence of the Lambs, the late Jonathan Demme first impressed audiences with Something Wild, a unique genre-bending cult classic that any '80s fan needs to experience. Starring Jeff Daniels, Melanie Griffith, and Ray Liotta, it follows a New York investment banker as his life takes a wild turn when he sparks a romance with a free-spirited woman. But things become quite dangerous when the woman's criminal ex-husband reenters her life.
One part an intense crime thriller, the other part a quirky romantic comedy, Something Wild is an enjoyable thrill ride that sadly doesn't get talked about as much these days when considering memorable '80s comedies. Performances are stellar all around, as Jeff Daniels and Melanie Griffith have an incredible on-screen chemistry, and the late Ray Liotta seriously deserves more praise for his menacing yet charming role as the unstable ex-husband, Ray Sinclair. Overall, a near-perfect comedy thriller that greatly needs to be considered more.
5 'My Bodyguard' (1980)
Image via 20th Century Studios
1980 ushered in this exciting decade with a laundry list of iconic classics, but not many people thought to include Tony Bill's My Bodyguard when considering some of the best of this year. Starring Chris Makepeace, Matt Dillon, and Adam Baldwin, this coming-of-age family drama follows a bullied new kid at a Chicago school who stands up to his tormentors by hiring the tallest and scariest teen he knows, forming an unexpected friendship in the process.
My Bodyguard offers a touching story of finding friendship in the most unlikely ways. It's also brave in its depiction of bullying and the struggles of school life that a lot of modern viewers can even relate to. It's not the most remembered today for being the most compelling depiction of teenage angst, considering it came from a decade flooded with those types of movies, but it's well worth watching, and maybe it could sway anyone to love it.
4 'Angel Heart' (1987)
In 1987, director Alan Parker's neo-noir horror film Angel Heart was released to mostly positive reviews but bombed at the box office, having since become a cult classic. Featuring two powerhouse performances by Oscar nominee Mickey Rourke and two-time Oscar winner Robert De Niro, it follows private eye Harry Angel, a neurologically damaged WWII vet, as he's hired by the mysterious Louis Cyphre to track missing crooner Johnny Favorite. But just who is Cyphre? What does he want with Favorite? And, why is there more of a connection between Angel and Favorite than meets the eye?
Angel Heart is one of the darkest, most twisted psychological thrillers of the '80s, and somehow it barely gets a mention these days. It's expertly paced, filled with shocking reveals, and features De Niro at the top of his game, and his performance as the Prince of Darkness in human form is truly one of the eeriest portrayals of the Devil ever brought to the silver screen. Overall, Angel Heart is a gripping and criminally underrated film that can truly leave viewers stunned.
3 'Lost in America' (1985)
Julie Hagerty and Albert Brooks gambline at a casino table in Lost in AmericaImage via Warner Bros.
From director, writer, and actor Albert Brooks comes his hilarious road trip comedy, Lost in America, from 1985. Starring Brooks alongside Julie Hagerty, it follows the two as a Los Angeles couple frustrated with their office lives as they leave everything behind to go on a cross-country trip in search of a more fulfilling lifestyle. Soon, their misguided attempt to pursue the American dream quickly devolved into a hilarious nightmare.
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2 'Clean and Sober' (1988)
Michael Keaton's Daryl Poynter pointing in Clean and SoberImage via Warner Bros.
A gripping, emotional, and powerfully acted drama, Glenn Gordon Caron's 1988 film Clean and Sober is a rough but necessary film to watch that doesn't shy away when telling about the devastating effects of alcoholism and addiction. In his first departure from charming roles and hilarious comedies, Michael Keaton gives an Oscar-caliber performance as Daryl Poynter, a self-destructing real estate salesman who checks into a one-month rehab program to avoid punishment for fueling his addiction by embezzling from his work.
This film will truly move anyone who gives it a chance, as its message is told through the raw emotional performances, and it shows the tragic consequences of being consumed by addiction. A box office bomb but rightfully praised by critics for its compelling drama and Keaton's top-tier performance, Clean and Sober may not have been a memorable hit right out of the gate, but its standing has steadily risen over the years.
1 'The Right Stuff' (1983)
Image via Warner Bros.
Taking the top spot is not just one of the most underrated movies of the '80s but of all time. Philip Kaufman's 1983 grand historical epic The Right Stuff is a blast of cinematic excellence that, despite all the praise and Oscar nominations at the time, is one that not many people know about today. Featuring an all-star cast including Scott Glenn, Ed Harris, and Dennis Quaid, it tells of the seven-man team selected to become America's first astronauts as part of Project Mercury.
The Right Stuff tells a remarkable true story about courage, determination, and the inspiring message of reaching for the stars, all powerfully told with compelling acting, expert writing, and spectacular cinematography that makes this look timeless. It wasn't totally overshadowed or completely forgotten, but it's not as mentioned now as other masterpieces of the '80s, and it deserves more recognition.
The Right Stuff
pg-13
Drama
Release Date
October 21, 1983
Cast
Patrick J. Adams, Aaron Staton, Michael Trotter, Colin O’Donoghue, Micah Stock, Jake McDorman, James Lafferty
Runtime
193minutes
Director
Chris Long
Writers
Chris Long
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