Darren Carver-Balsiger

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VOTE: Best Films of the 1980s

A community vote to find the best films from 1980 to 1989 (using Letterboxd dates)

In the comments below, vote for up to 10 films. 1 point goes to each film you pick, and you don't have to rank your selections. Films don't have to already be on the list, you're welcome to induct new entries.

You can change your votes at a later time if you want.

My personal favourites of the 1980s are here.

The list is sorted by points, then alphabetically by film name.

Other votes I run: Directors | Sci-Fi Films | Comedy Films | Romance Films | Animated Films | LGBTQ+ Films | Horror Films | 2000s Films | 1990s Films | 1970s Films | 1960s Films | 1950s Films | 1940s Films | 2018 Films

VOTING IS NOW CLOSED

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Read notes
  • The Shining

    1

  • The Empire Strikes Back

    2

  • Blade Runner

    3

  • Back to the Future

    4

  • Raiders of the Lost Ark

    5

  • Die Hard

    6

  • The Thing

    7

  • Do the Right Thing

    8

  • Blue Velvet

    9

  • Raging Bull

    10

  • Aliens

    11

  • E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial

    12

  • Ran

    13

  • Amadeus

    14

  • Come and See

    15

  • My Neighbor Totoro

    16

  • Once Upon a Time in America

    17

  • Paris, Texas

    18

  • Grave of the Fireflies

    19

  • Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade

    20

  • The Terminator

    21

  • The Princess Bride

    22

  • Who Framed Roger Rabbit

    23

  • The King of Comedy

    24

  • Possession

    25

  • Brazil

    26

  • The Breakfast Club

    27

  • Fanny and Alexander

    28

  • Return of the Jedi

    29

  • Scarface

    30

  • Dead Poets Society

    31

  • Full Metal Jacket

    32

  • The Sacrifice

    33

  • Airplane!

    34

  • Predator

    35

  • Videodrome

    36

  • Wings of Desire

    37

  • Blood Simple

    38

  • Cinema Paradiso

    39

  • Evil Dead II

    40

  • Ghostbusters

    41

  • The Little Mermaid

    42

  • Stand by Me

    43

  • Batman

    44

  • The Elephant Man

    45

  • Fitzcarraldo

    46

  • Koyaanisqatsi

    47

  • Platoon

    48

  • Stop Making Sense

    49

  • Akira

    50

  • Angel's Egg

    51

  • Field of Dreams

    52

  • A Fish Called Wanda

    53

  • Heathers

    54

  • Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind

    55

  • Pink Floyd: The Wall

    56

  • Raising Arizona

    57

  • RoboCop

    58

  • Shoah

    59

  • Spaceballs

    60

  • When Harry Met Sally...

    61

  • Withnail & I

    62

  • The Blues Brothers

    63

  • A Christmas Story

    64

  • The Cook, the Thief, His Wife & Her Lover

    65

  • Dekalog

    66

  • Empire of the Sun

    67

  • Ferris Bueller's Day Off

    68

  • Gremlins

    69

  • Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom

    70

  • Mishima: A Life in Four Chapters

    71

  • Nostalgia

    72

  • Sans Soleil

    73

  • sex, lies, and videotape

    74

  • Vagabond

    75

  • Where Is the Friend's House?

    76

  • Back to the Future Part II

    77

  • Born on the Fourth of July

    78

  • Caddyshack

    79

  • Chariots of Fire

    80

  • Clue

    81

  • The Color Purple

    82

  • Das Boot

    83

  • Death of a Salesman

    84

  • The Evil Dead

    85

  • First Blood

    86

  • The Fly

    87

  • Good Morning, Vietnam

    88

  • Hannah and Her Sisters

    89

  • Kagemusha

    90

  • Kiki's Delivery Service

    91

  • The Last Temptation of Christ

    92

  • Little Shop of Horrors

    93

  • The Living Daylights

    94

  • Love Streams

    95

  • Mad Max 2

    96

  • Manhunter

    97

  • Mystery Train

    98

  • National Lampoon's Vacation

    99

  • The NeverEnding Story

    100