When people talk about 80s films, it’s usually the same old biggest hits that come to their mind: Back to the Future, Ghostbusters, Indiana Jones, and The Breakfast Club. The decade was indeed a lot of blockbusters, but apart from that, it was filled with offbeat comedies, risk-taking dramas, and cult classics that never quite got their fair share of the limelight. If you are still ready to venture a little further into the VHS-era archives, here are 10 underappreciated ’80s flicks you absolutely need to add to your list (counting down from 10, because let’s shake it up).
10. The Tall Guy (1989)
Combine Jeff Goldblum’s eccentric charm, Emma Thompson in her first film, and Richard Curtis’ clever writing, and what you have is The Tall Guy. This offbeat rom-com isn’t nearly as famous as it should be, but it’s a wonderful blend of dry humor, cringeworthy romance, and oddball humor. It manages to be both touching and laugh-out-loud funny, with a sweetness that sneaks up on you. If you’re looking for a hidden gem in the rom-com world, this one deserves your time.
9. The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension (1984)
Few films are as gloriously chaotic as Buckaroo Banzai. It’s a sci-fi, comedy, action, and rock-and-roll mash-up that refuses to stay in a single lane. Peter Weller portrays the definitive Renaissance man—a neurosurgeon, physicist, and rock star—while John Lithgow delivers one of his most out-of-control villain roles ever. The movie is unabashedly eccentric, full of curious quirks and off-kilter comedy, the sort of thing you can’t take in one sitting. Seeing it is akin to being a member of an insider’s club, one that gets funnier and more dreamlike with each repeat exposure.
8. The Gate (1987)
What ensues when children tunnel an enigmatic hole in the backyard? In The Gate, it is opening up all manner of demons. This underappreciated horror classic reads like a combination of the action-packed fun of The Goonies and the supernatural unease of Poltergeist. With its realistic effects, unsettling stop-motion monsters, and actually scary atmosphere, it embodies that particular 1980s blend of unbridled innocence and actual fear. It’s a great nostalgia trip for anyone who enjoys horror with a bit of old-school adventure.
7. Paris, Texas (1984)
Paris, Texas, by Wim Wenders, is a film that lingers long after its conclusion. Based around Harry Dean Stanton’s iconic performance as an individual attempting to rebuild his life and family, the film is a slow, contemplative burn. It’s not a road trip movie; it’s a subdued examination of regret, forgiveness, and desire. With stunning photography by Robby Müller and an unsettling Ry Cooder score, the movie appeals on an emotional level that creeps up on you, making an impact that can last for years to come.
6. Alien Nation (1988)
On the surface, Alien Nation appears to be a buddy-cop thriller. But it’s much more than that—this science fiction story has a social commentary veneer, as a recently arrived extraterrestrial race grapples with becoming a part of humanity. James Caan stars as the tough cop assigned a partner who happens to be an alien, and they fight crime on top of battling prejudice and distrust. The combination of action, comedy, and intelligent world-building makes the movie work, taking what might have been a gimmicky setup and making it witty and unexpectedly emotional.
5. The Mosquito Coast (1986)
Harrison Ford gives one of his most nuanced performances in The Mosquito Coast, starring as an inventor who relocates his family to Central America in search of a new beginning. The film teases out the thin boundary between visionary brilliance and destructive fixation, with Helen Mirren and River Phoenix making excellent supporting performances. Initially, upon its release, it baffled viewers who were anticipating a conventional adventure, but it’s since been reassessed as a dark, hypnotic drama. It’s a compelling study in ambition and hubris that stays with you long afterwards.
4. The Sure Thing (1985)
Before John Cusack was the poster boy for late-’80s romantic movies, there was The Sure Thing. Starring and directed by Rob Reiner, this road comedy teams two opposites—a relaxed, snarky guy and a buttoned-up, rule-abiding girl—on a journey across the country. Naturally, what starts as an argument turns into something else, but the film is too smart and funny to resort to clichés. With clever dialogue and real chemistry between the leads, it’s one of those rom-coms that feels both timeless and distinctly of its era.
3. Repo Man (1984)
If you’ve ever wanted a film that feels like pure punk energy turned into cinema, Repo Man is it. Emilio Estevez stars as a disillusioned young man who falls into a repo job repossessing cars, then finds himself ensnared in a strange world of government conspiracy theories, UFO legend, and anti-authoritarian humor. Alex Cox’s movie is a wisecracking, almost lunatic freakout, and it captures the wacky underside of Los Angeles in the 1980s like no other film. It’s half science fiction, half satire, and all cult classic.
2. Near Dark (1987)
Kathryn Bigelow’s Near Dark is a vampire film like no other. Forget gothic mansions or glitzy rock-and-roll vampires; this one combines western grime with horror grime, relating the tale of a wanderer who’s lured into a gypsy-type vamp clan. The result is hip, bloody, and unnerving, with career performances from Bill Paxton and Lance Henriksen. Overtaken in its day by the flashier The Lost Boys, Near Dark has rightfully taken its place as one of the coolest, most atmospheric horror films of the era.
1. They Live (1988)
John Carpenter’s They Live is more than just another horror-action movie—it’s a whip-smart work of social satire masquerading as trashy fun. Professional wrestler Roddy Piper takes on the role of a drifter who comes across a pair of sunglasses that demonstrate the astonishing reality: aliens have invaded and are secretly manipulating the strings behind consumer culture and power. What ensues is both part sci-fi paranoia and part action extravaganza, and part incisive analysis of greed and conformity. Naturally, the movie also presents us with one of the greatest back-to-basics fistfights ever committed to film and a bubblegum one-liner that has become a reference point in pop culture lexicon. Thirty-five years on, They Live remains keen, fun, and strangely prescient.
The blockbusters of the 1980s—The Breakfast Club, Back to the Future, Top Gun—receive most of the attention when folks reflect on the decade, but the real gold is in the anomalies and forgotten gems lurking just below the surface. These were the films that pushed the boundaries, experimenting with genres, shattering expectations, and occasionally confounding viewers during their initial release.
Revisiting them now isn’t just fun nostalgia; it’s like unearthing a time capsule of bold filmmaking choices and unforgettable characters that didn’t always get the recognition they deserved. If you’ve already rewatched the classics, these are the ones worth discovering—or rediscovering—for a fresh taste of the ’80s at its most inventive.