The 15+ Best 80s Movies on Netflix if You Love Classics!

Best-80s-Movies-on-Netflix

We are in the middle of a re-birth for 80s nostalgia. Just about every best movie of the 80s is on some sort of media platform. But more than any other platform, there has been an explosion on Netflix. The streaming giant exploded in popularity, and of course, they acquired a large number of the best movies from the 80s. Without further ado, here are the best 80s movies on Netflix

The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad (1988)

Director: David Zucker

Writer: Jim Abrahams, David Zucker, Jerry Zucker

Cast: Leslie Nielsen, O.J Simpson, Priscilla Presley

IMDB Rating: 7.6/10

Meet Lt. Frank Drebin, a cop who is as dumb as he is smart. When an attempt on Queen Elizabeth II’s life ends up with his wife kidnapped and himself, shot in the face. Drebin wakes to find that his sidekick now has a girlfriend, and he’s tasked with solving yet another assassination attempt at a football game. This is among the best 80s movies on Netflix you can watch with your family.

The Natural (1984)

Director: Barry Levinson

Writer: Phil Dusenberry, Roger Towne, Bernard Malamud (book)

Cast: Robert Redford, Robert Duvall, Glenn Close

IMDB Rating: 7.5/10

Roy Hobbs is a baseball player with a mysterious past. He is given a chance to achieve baseball greatness when he’s chosen by the New York Knights, shocking everyone who knows him, including his disapproving best friend and teammate. Hobbs has 108 stitches on his bat, which is considered a magical number in baseball lore. With this bat and a little help from a love interest named Memo, Hobbs sets out to achieve greatness.

Related: Best Movies to Watch on Netflix Canada

Airplane! (1980)

Director: Jim Abrahams, David Zucker, Jerry Zucker

Writer: Jim Abrahams, David Zucker, and Jerry Zucker

Cast: Robert Hays, Julie Hagerty, Leslie Nielsen

IMDB Rating: 7.7/10

When a flight crew succumbs to food poisoning from bad shellfish, it falls to a man who has never flown a plane before to save the day by landing the airplane while the air traffic controller is in hysterics. This isn’t just any old comedy film; this was written by three guys that made over 100 comedy films over their careers.

E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982)

Director: Steven Spielberg

Writer: Melissa Mathison

Cast: Dee Wallace, Henry Thomas, Peter Coyote

IMDB Rating: 7.8/10

A group of young friends gets together to try and help a lost alien find his way home while dodging the government, who wants to perform experiments on him. Don’t let the children’s movie title fool you; this is a fantastic film responsible for some of Spielberg’s highest-grossing movies.

Also Read: Fantasy Movies in Canada

Back to the Future (1985)

Director: Robert Zemeckis

Writer: Robert Zemeckis, Bob Gale

Cast: Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd, Lea Thompson

IMDB Rating: 8.5/10

When an inventor accidentally sends himself back in time 30 years, he must make sure his teenage parents meet and fall in love, or he’ll cease to exist. If you haven’t seen this movie yet, you are missing out on one of the best movies ever made. It’s among the best 80s movies on Netflix right now.

Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)

Director: Steven Spielberg

Writer: Lawrence Kasdan, George Lucas, Phillip Kaufman

Cast: Harrison Ford, Karen Allen, Paul Freeman

IMDB Rating: 8.4/10

When Dr. Indiana Jones gets hired by the government to find an ancient artifact called the Ark of the Covenant before it falls into Nazi hands, he must find a way to get it first. This is another one of those movies that you simply need to watch before you die because it’s an experience unlike any other.

She’s Gotta Have It (1986)

Director: Spike Lee

Writer: Spike Lee, Zora Neale Hurston

Cast: Tracy Camilla Johns, Tommy Redmond Hicks, John Canada Terrell

IMDB Rating: 6.8 /10

Nola Darling is a sexually free woman in Brooklyn who must balance her personal life with three men who love her. This movie is a Spike Lee classic, but it’s also one of the best 80s movies on Netflix now.

Tootsie (1982)

Director: Sydney Pollack

Writer: Larry Gelbart, Murray Schisgal, Don McGuire

Cast: Dustin Hoffman, Jessica Lange, Teri Garr

IMDB Rating: 7.4/10

Michael Dorsey is merely an unemployed actor until he pretends to be a woman named Dorothy Michaels in order to get a part in a soap opera. Any movie with Bill Murray in it is going to be one that you won’t want to miss, and “Tootsie” is no exception!

The Evil Dead (1981)

Director: Sam Raimi

Writer: Sam Raimi

Cast: Bruce Campbell, Ellen Sandweiss, Richard Demanincor

IMDB Rating: 7.5/10

Five friends travel to a cabin in the woods, where they find unspeakable evil lurking among the trees. This movie makes “Friday the 13th” look like a Disney film; it’s that gory.

Bloodsport (1988)

Director: Newt Arnold

Writer: Sheldon Lettich, Christopher Cosby, Mel Friedman

Cast: Jean Claude Van Damme, Donald Gibb, Leah Ayres

IMDB Rating: 6.8/10

A U.S. soldier goes to a martial arts tournament in Hong Kong in order to track down a drug lord. This movie is “Kickboxer meets American Ninja”, so it’s sure to be an action-packed experience. This is among the best 80s movies on Netflix you need to watch.

Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986)

Director: John Hughes

Writer: John Hughes

Cast: Matthew Broderick, Alan Ruck, Mia Sara

IMDB Rating: 7.8/10

A high school-wise guy is determined to have a day off from school, despite what the principal thinks of it. This movie is one that everybody needs to see at least once in their lifetime; it’s an instant classic!

Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989)

Director: Steven Spielberg

Writer: Jeffrey Boam, George Lucas, Menno Meyjes

Cast: Harrison Ford, Sean Connery, Alison Doody

IMDB Rating: 8.2/10

The famous archaeologist Indiana Jones becomes involved in the search for the Holy Grail. He must locate this priceless relic and keep it out of the hands of both friends and enemies.

Purple Rain (1984)

Director: Albert Magnoli

Writer: William Blinn, Albert Magnoli

Cast: Prince Rogers Nelson, Apollonia Kotero, Morris Day

IMDB Rating: 6.5/10

The story of a young man who finds success in the world of the Minneapolis music scene. A subplot involving his troubled home life parallels the rise of his career, which eventually collapses. This is one of the best 80s movies on Netflix you need to include in your list.

Popeye (1980)

Director: Robert Altman

Writer: Jules Feiffer, E.C Segar

Cast: Robin Williams, Shelley Duvall, Raw Watson

IMDB Rating: 5.3/10

An animated feature based on the comic strip “Popeye” by E. C. Segar. The movie portrays Popeye as a loveable loser who must prove himself a worthy boyfriend and save his sweetheart Olive Oyl from the clutches of villain Bluto, all while hamburgers and other food items sing about their desire to be eaten.

Blade Runner (1982)

Director: Ridley Scott

Writer: Hampton Fancher, David Peoples, Phillip K Dick

Cast: Harrison Ford, Rutger Hauer, Sean Young

IMDB Rating: 8.1/10

In a cyberpunk vision of the future, man has developed the technology to create replicates, human clones used to serve in the colonies outside Earth but with fixed life spans. In Los Angeles, 2019, Deckard is a Blade Runner, a cop who specializes in terminating replicates. Originally in retirement, he is forced to re-enter the force when five replicas escape from an off-world colony to Earth.

The Evil Dead (1981)

Director: Sam Raimi

Writer: Sam Raimi

Cast: Bruce Campbell, Ellen Sandweiss, Richard DeManincor

IMDB Rating: 7.5/10

Five college students take time off to spend a peaceful vacation in a remote cabin surrounded by woods. To their dismay, they discover the place is not as peaceful as it seems. A demonic presence lurks in the forest, ready to possess them and unleash unspeakable evil.

Raging Bull (1980)

Director: Martin Scorsese

Writer: Jake LaMotta, Joseph Carter, Peter Savage

Cast: Robert De Niro, Cathy Moriarty, Joe Pesci

IMDB Rating: 8.2/10

The story of the life and career of middleweight boxing legend Jake LaMotta, as the violence and temper that leads him to the top in the ring, destroys his life outside of it. Raging bull is among the best 80s action movies you need to watch.

The above are some of the best 80s horror movies you can watch on Netflix. The only thing stopping you from watching these top-rated films is your spare time. Therefore, if you have more time and you need the best 80s action movies, look no further than these best 80s movies on Netflix. The good thing about Netflix is that you can stream everything while on your bed. So get your account now, some popcorn, and make yourself comfortable. With respect to this list, you can also watch the best horror movies on Netflix.

Joshua Garner

Joshua calls himself nerd+geek who is also passionate about rugby. He enjoys comics, animes, and science fiction. He finds his comfort in writing about suspense, thrillers and science fiction shows and movies.

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