Recently the world seems to have gone mad for 80s nostalgia. Perhaps spearheaded by the insane popularity of Netflix’s Stranger Things, which is dripping in nostalgia, from its tribute to 80s horror and its inclusion of plotlines that could have taken straight from a movie by Joe Dante, John Carpenter or even Steven Spielberg himself, to its perfect inclusion of 80s fashion, music, and even slang.
Since then, we’ve seen the resurrection of classic 80s franchises like Bill and Ted, The Weeknd dominating music charts with his 80s-infused R&B and Miley Cyrus dressing akin to Debbie Harry from peak-80s Blondie. Whatever the reason for this rekindled interest in a simpler time before the advent of the internet and smartphones, we’ve decided to celebrate this era of nostalgia by looking at some of the greatest movies released in recent times, which are set in the 80s.
Related: These Are Some of the Best ’80s Cult Classics

8
American Made

Donning a pair of large Aviator sunglasses for much of the movie, Tom Cruise exudes the same leading man swagger he showcased back in the 80s when his career first started taking off with movies like Top Gun. American Made is loosely based on the true story of Barry Seal, a commercial airline pilot who finds himself involved in drugs and arms smuggling while working for the CIA. Much like the 80s in which the movie takes place, the film is big, bold and brash, but it doesn’t take itself too seriously and is a surprisingly enjoyable flick that was widely praised by critics at the time of its release.

7
Summer of ‘84

Fans of classic 80s horror couldn’t heap enough praise on Summer of ’84, with some critics calling it the best of the horror movie of decade. Released in 2018 but set, as the title suggests, in 1984, it has all the aspects that made the movies of that era so enjoyable. With a plot clearly influenced by the Joe Dante 1989 classic The Burbs, a group of teenagers in the neighborhood begin to suspect that their policeman neighbor is up to something sinister. The story, however, actually takes a far darker tone than The Burbs and has some clever twists and turns along the way, guaranteed to keep viewers on the edge of their seats.

6
Rocketman

The 80s was a decade of excess and no one personified that excess quite like Elton John. From his flamboyant persona to his personal battles with substance and alcohol abuse, the hit-maker was an all-round larger than life character. Taron Egerton perfectly captures the essence of the legendary popstar, managing to convey the highs and lows of such an interesting character in this rip-roaring biopic. John’s career took off in the 70s, but by the end of the decade he had become helplessly addicted to cocaine. More than just a movie about living a rock’n’roll lifestyle, Rocketman depicts how the 80s was a strange period for John, demonstrating his vulnerabilities and his creative and personal struggles. Thankfully in 1990, John found sobriety and still remains one of the most celebrated pop artists of all time.

5
Mandy

Nicolas Cage is certainly one of the most interesting movie stars of all time. Love him or hate him, there’s one thing we can all agree on: whether he’s appearing in a low-budget straight to V.O.D, a blockbuster action-adventure popcorn flick, or an arty independent film, he always gives it his all. That has never been more apparent than in the absolutely insane psychedelic horror movie Mandy. Honestly, it would be near impossible to do this twisted, brutal, mind-bending thrill ride justice with words alone; the best advice would be to watch it yourself. It’s not for the faint-hearted, though.

4
I, Tonya

I, Tonya chronicles the real life of professional figure skater Tonya Harding (Margot Robbie), and the actual events that led up to the 1994 attack on her rival Nancy Kerrigan, which made world news at the time. As we follow Tonya, as she grows up through the 80s, it’s safe to say that it was somewhat unconventional with her family life being a tad dysfunctional. This is mainly due to her abusive mother, played by Allison Janney, who won a Best Supporting Actress Oscar for the part. Often played for laughs as a black comedy, the movie still has plenty of heart and doesn’t shy away from its dark subject matter making for a unique yet enthralling viewing experience.
Related: These Are the Best Margot Robbie Movies So Far, Ranked

3
Final Girls

Final Girls is a meta horror-comedy movie about a group of teenagers from the present who are transported back into a fictional 1980s horror movie (called Camp Bloodbath) in which they become the stars (and victims). Fully self-aware, it revels in the conventions and tropes of those wonderful campy 80s horror flicks. Final Girls plays out like just like one of these movies, except hilariously deconstructed and viewed through the eyes of Gen Z-ers. While most of it is played for laughs, there is some genuine heart to be found, acting as the perfect homage to a classic era for horror.

2
Straight Outta Compton

A fantastic ode to one of the most ground-breaking and controversial musical acts of all time, Straight Outta Compton is the true story of iconic rap group N.W.A’s rise to prominence in the late 80s. While some of the other films on the list play to our rose-tinted nostalgia of a bygone era, there’s no sugar-coating here. While in many ways the 80s was good for the members of N.W.A (after all they did become the biggest rap group on the planet), the movie certainly doesn’t shy away from the not-so-great aspects of the decade, many of which contributed to the gritty subject matter tackled in the group’s music, that made them so controversial. Racial tensions, police brutality, class divide, and the HIV/Aids epidemic are all uncompromisingly addressed in the movie, perfectly acted by its stellar cast.

1
It (Chapter One)

The 2017 version of It was the 2nd major adaptation of Stephen King’s 1986 book, following the 1990 version starring Tim Curry’ nightmare inducing performance as the evil Pennywise. Like the 1990 version, it is split into two parts, with the first focusing on the main characters as children set in the 1980s. Just as much a throwback to classic coming of age dramas like Stand by Me, as it is supernatural horror, director Andy Muschietti made his 80s inspirations well known. Chock-a-block full of retro references, Muschietti cites major horror directors of the era, Clive Barker, John Carpenter and Joe Dante, as influences, as well as Steven Spielberg, which is certainly apparent in the aspects that focus on the interactions between the group of children. Audiences and critics alike were impressed, and it went onto become the highest-grossing horror movie of all time.

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