In addition to witnessing the Chernobyl disaster, the fall of the Berlin Wall, and the invention of the first artificial heart, the 1980s played host to a number of lauded movies that are considered masterpieces as of 2025, even if they didn’t receive such effusive acclaim when they were initially released. Leveraging a compelling premise, stellar direction, and unforgettable performances from some of Hollywood’s most talented performers to the maximum effect possible, many of these outings are now considered to be some of cinema’s best movies, irrespective of genre or time period.
From gangster genre-defining entries to cinema’s most essential horror viewing, the 1980s’ most revered masterpieces encompᴀssed a diverse array of genres, highlighting the significant range of talent that was on display throughout one of the best decades in wider cinema. From cinematic тιтans like Kubrick to Scorsese, many of popular culture’s most celebrated filmmakers produced at least one near-flawless piece of work across the decade, seminal cinematic outings that have stood the test of time to this day to be regarded as masterpieces.
10
Back To The Future (1985)
Directed By Robert Zemeckis
Led by Michael J. Fox’s Marty McFly, 1985’s Back to the Future chronicles the teenager’s attempts to return to 1985 after inadvertently being sent thirty years back in time via a time-traveling DeLorean invented by Christopher Lloyd’s mad scientist, Dr. Emmett Brown. A timeless classic that everybody should see at least once, Robert Zemeckis’ sci-fi triumph received middling reviews upon release, but is now regarded as one of the finest movies that the genre has ever seen.
A crowd-pleasing blend of action, drama, and comedy, Back to the Future’s running gags and cultural references make for endlessly pleasing viewing, with Thomas F. Wilson’s Biff Tannen also serving as one of cinema’s most cartoonishly entertaining villains. While the movie was followed by two excellent sequels, neither arguably came close to emulating the original’s stellar quality, a state of affairs that has contributed to its status as an ’80s movie masterpiece as of 2025.
9
Raiders Of The Lost Ark (1981)
Directed By Steven Spielberg
Kicking off one of the most beloved film franchises of all time, 1981’s Raiders of the Lost Ark is as near to a perfect movie as one is likely to find. Introducing a front-runner for popular culture’s most iconic action hero in Harrison Ford’s whip-toting, fedora-wearing archaeologist, Indiana Jones, Steven Spielberg’s acclaimed globe-trotting action-adventure entry chronicles a desperate race against time to find the mythical Ark of the Covenant.
Magnum P.I. star Tom Selleck was originally cast as Indiana Jones, before having to drop out due to scheduling conflicts.
Considered by some film fans as legendary filmmaker Spielberg’s best movie, Raiders of the Lost Ark is near flawless cinema. It’s influenced virtually every action-adventure entry that has succeeded it, with Jones’ character serving as the archetype for a host of future imitators. A timeless classic adored by multiple generations, Raiders of the Lost Ark remains the gold standard for the genre, as well as wider cinema as a whole.
8
Blade Runner (1982)
Directed By Ridley Scott
English director Ridley Scott has produced a number of iconic movies over the years, but few can hold a candle to 1982’s Blade Runner. Set in a dystopian future Los Angeles, the movie sees Harrison Ford’s Rick Deckard charged with hunting down a group of highly advanced renegade synthetic humans, more commonly known as “replicants.” Featuring some of the most arresting visuals that cinema has ever witnessed, Blade Runner’s haunting story has been inviting poignant introspective reflection on the nature of sentience and existence since it first debuted.
A critically acclaimed cult classic that launched a franchise and has influenced a horde of imitators through its cyber-punk aesthetic and neo-noir leanings, Blade Runner remains one of sci-fi’s most revered cinematic offerings to this day. Boasting one of the genre’s most iconic villains in Rutger Hauer’s Roy Batty, the replicant’s “tears in rain” soliloquy is arguably worthy of “masterpiece” status in and of itself.
7
Aliens (1986)
Directed By James Cameron
Chronicling the second encounter with the franchise’s nightmarish predatory extraterrestrials, it’s hard to know where to begin with the cinematic accolades ᴀssociated with Aliens. Regarded as cinematic royalty across two separate genres, James Cameron’s 1986 follow-up to 1979’s Alien is frequently touted as one of the greatest film sequels ever made, as well as one of the finest sci-fi horror movies of all time.
Kicking off the wildly successful franchise in earnest, Aliens was critically acclaimed upon release, receiving effusive praise for its electrifying action sequences, jaw-dropping effects work, and Sigourney Weaver’s iconic leading performance as Ellen Ripley.
While some movie masterpieces aren’t appreciated in their own time, this decidedly did not apply in this case. Kicking off the wildly successful franchise in earnest, Aliens was critically acclaimed upon release, receiving effusive praise for its electrifying action sequences, jaw-dropping effects work, and Sigourney Weaver’s iconic leading performance as Ellen Ripley. Even as the film rapidly approaches the fortieth anniversary of its release, Cameron’s sequel remains one of the decade’s most revered outings.
6
Full Metal Jacket (1987)
Directed By Stanley Kubrick
A nihilistic tour de force from Stanley Kubrick, 1987’s Full Metal Jacket is one of cinema’s finest and most influential war movies. The story primarily follows Matthew Modine’s “Joker,” depicting the soldier’s experiences of the Vietnam War, from basic training to armed combat. Featuring some of the most iconic pieces of dialogue and scenes that the genre has to offer, Kubrick’s acclaimed offering is also notable for playing host to one of the most unforgettable characters of all time in R. Lee Ermey’s foul-mouthed Gunnery Sergeant Hartman.
Deftly balancing wickedly dark humor with a harrowing commentary on the nature of warfare, Full Metal Jacket is frequently touted as a front-runner for the greatest war movie ever made. Lurching from comedic to desolating with virtually zero warning, Kubrick’s inimitable direction and an array of knockout performances combine to produce one of the decade’s most revered outings.
5
The Shining (1980)
Directed By Stanley Kubrick
Few directors can lay claim to a single movie masterpiece in the span of a career, let alone two in the space of a decade; unless one happens to be Stanley Kubrick. Based on Stephen King’s novel of the same name, Kubrick’s 1980 adaptation of The Shining is frequently touted as one of the greatest and most influential horror movies in the history of cinema, the first outing in a decade where he would also go on to produce a seminal war outing in 1987’s Full Metal Jacket.
From the movie’s infamous “Here’s Johnny!” sequence to the notorious elevator doors scene, The Shining is renowned for featuring some of the horror genre’s most celebrated signature moments and soundbites. Spearheaded by a mesmerizing performance from Jack Nicholson that captures Jack Torrance’s descent into madness in all its horrifying glory, Kubrick’s masterpiece is arguably the most terrifying and lauded Stephen King adaptation ever brought to life on screen.
4
Come And See (1985)
Directed By Elem Klimov
Chronicling an array of harrowing wartime atrocities through the eyes of a young Belarusian boy at the height of WWII, Elem Klimov’s Come and See is the consensus greatest anti-war movie ever made. Boasting one of the most impressive pieces of child acting in the history of cinema in the form of Aleksei Kravchenko’s Flyora Gaishun, Klimov’s critically acclaimed movie pulls zero punches in bringing the hell of wartime to life, culminating in an indescribably powerful and poignant masterpiece.
…Klimov’s critically acclaimed movie pulls zero punches in bringing the hell of wartime to life, culminating in an indescribably powerful and poignant masterpiece.
Like many standout anti-war classics, Come and See is unequivocally good enough to deserve masterpiece status, but so irredeemably desolating that it’s the type of movie most viewers can only bring themselves to watch once. The almost hallucinatory vibe that Klimov lends to proceedings results in a uniquely nightmarish and intense perspective on war, one that has seen Come and See showered with even further acclaim in recent years.
3
Raging Bull (1980)
Directed By Martin Scorsese
A biographical sports drama based on the life of legendary boxer, Jake LaMotta, 1980’s Raging Bull received middling critical and commercial results upon release but has subsequently gone on to become regarded as one of the greatest films ever made. Viewed by some as legendary director Martin Scorsese’s magnum opus, the film is a devastating deep dive into the unforgiving world of boxing, a tale that highlights the brutal realities of the sport in unflinching clarity.
Spearheaded by an Oscar-winning performance from Robert De Niro as the тιтular pugilist, Raging Bull arguably marks the finest collaboration between the cinematic icon and Scorsese in one of cinema’s most successful creative partnerships. A front-runner for cinema’s finest boxing movie, the film’s stunning cinematography, vicious fight scenes, and De Niro’s intense performance help to paint a picture of one of the most colorful and conflicting characters the fight game has ever seen.
2
Scarface (1983)
Directed By Brian De Palma
Serving as a remake of the 1932 film of the same name, Brian De Palma’s Scarface is looked at as a defining movie for the gangster genre. Chronicling the rags-to-riches rise and subsequent bloody fall of Al Pacino’s drug lord, Tony Montana, Scarface initially received poor reviews. However, it has subsequently been reevaluated as a cinematic classic, with many going as far as to label this 1983 triumph as one of the greatest gangster movies of all time.
One of the most profane movies ever made, Scarface features 226 f-bombs.
Inspiring comic books, video games, and even rap music, Scarface’s considerable influence has permeated wider popular culture. Inspiring countless parodies and imitations, the climactic sequences depicting Tony defending his mansion with his “little friend” in an epic last stand are among the most famous scenes in cinematic history. Spearheaded by an unforgettable bow from one of cinema’s most talented performers, Scarface remains a seminal ’80s showpiece for the gangster genre.
1
Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
Directed By Irvin Kershner
The follow-up to 1977’s original installment, Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back is one of the greatest movie sequels of all time. Adopting a considerably darker tone than its predecessor, the movie chronicles the Galactic Empire’s counterattack against the rebels following the destruction of the Death Star, while Luke Skywalker trains to become a Jedi under Master Yoda on Dagobah. Like many movie masterpieces, The Empire Strikes Back wasn’t appreciated in its time, earning mixed reviews upon release.
It’s a remarkable state of affairs looking back, given that Irvin Kershner’s sequel is frequently touted as the best Star Wars movie ever made as of 2025. Loaded with many of the franchise’s most iconic moments, The Empire Strikes Back’s cocktail of jaw-dropping effects, heart-pounding action sequences, and seismic narrative revelations makes for near flawless viewing. From the epic battle on the ice world of H๏τh to Luke and Darth Vader’s fateful showdown on Bespin, this is a sci-fi cinematic masterpiece like no other.
