There are endless places to start for new fans of film, but some 1980s classics should be seen as essential viewing. Whether someone has a newfound pᴀssion for film or they simply want to broaden their understanding of the medium, movies like The Shining and Blade Runner ought to be near the top of their watch lists.

The 1980s saw the rise of blockbusters, after movies like Jaws and Star Wars first invented the concept in the 1970s. Many of the biggest hits of the ’80s saw a synthesis of substance and spectacle. Classics like Raiders of the Lost Ark are known for their thrilling action set pieces, but they also have emotional, relatable stories that mean they’ve held up well over the years. The ’80s saw innovations in many genres that are still sending ripples through the landscape of modern cinema.

8

The Shining (1980)

Stanley Kubrick’s Horror Classic Is Essential Viewing

Many of Stanley Kubrick’s movies are good starting points for someone just getting into film for the first time. While his earliest works can seem too old-fashioned to newcomers, and others like 2001: A Space Odyssey are slow and cerebral, The Shining is a perfect blend of intelligent filmmaking and sheer entertainment value. It remains one of the best and most influential horror movies ever made.

The Shining is an adaptation of a Stephen King novel, but Kubrick had a habit of disregarding whatever elements of his source material didn’t fit his tastes. As a result, The Shining is part-King and part-Kubrick, and utterly compelling. Jack Nicholson delivers an outstanding performance as a man slipping into psychosis. The Shining is worth watching multiple times to pick up on the tangled web of mysteries and horrors that inhabit the Overlook H๏τel.

7

Raiders Of The Lost Ark (1981)

Steven Spielberg’s Action-Adventure Offers Pure Entertainment

It’s no wonder that Raiders of the Lost Ark started a successful franchise, because its snappy, adventurous style makes it a captivating thrill ride from start to finish. The Indiana Jones franchise is a throwback to adventure serials and old comic books. The setting isn’t the only thing that it takes from the 1930s. Somehow, Steven Spielberg refreshes this old genre for a brand-new audience, and his approach has given Raiders of the Lost Ark a timeless quality.

Raiders of the Lost Ark creates one of cinema’s great heroes, with Harrison Ford drawing on his considerable charms and bringing just enough comedy to make Indy relatable and easy to root for. Spielberg’s scintillating flair for action does the rest of the work. He strings together a remarkable number of iconic action sequences on his globe-trotting adventure, starting with the rolling boulder scene and ending with an equally memorable finale. There isn’t a second of wasted time in Raiders of the Lost Ark, making it one of Steven Spielberg’s best movies.

6

When Harry Met Sally (1989)

Billy Crystal And Meg Ryan Make A Perfect Pair

When Harry Met Sally is a classic rom-com, even though it defies a lot of the genre’s most common conventions. Rather than having the couple caught up in some comic miscommunication or driven apart by cruel fate, the only thing standing in Harry and Sally’s path to happiness is themselves. The action of the story plays out almost entirely in dialogue, since the heart of the conflict is the ideological disagreement between the two main characters.

When Harry Met Sally has a flawless script, pushing the story forward and fleshing out the characters while delivering a steady procession of laughs. Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan’s wonderful chemistry is also key, as they provide an on-screen dynamic that’s easy to get wrapped up in. Even for those who wouldn’t normally watch rom-coms, When Harry Met Sally is worth a sH๏τ.

5

Die Hard (1988)

Die Hard Embodies The Action Genre

If one movie could ever sum up the action genre, especially the action genre of the 1980s, it would be Die Hard. Bruce Willis plays his most iconic character in the Die Hard franchise, and John McClane is introduced with gusto in the original movie. The cop unwittingly caught up in a dangerous hostage situation has to use his limited resources and his wits to overpower a group of terrorists.

Die Hard has some great quotes, with Bruce Willis bringing a lot of wry humor to proceedings. This is just one thing that makes John McClane a relatable hero, which heightens the impact of the jaw-dropping action scenes. The premise has been twisted, subverted and replicated ad nauseam, but Die Hard has never been bested. Its commitment to hefty practical effects means that it probably never will be.

4

Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988)

Robert Zemeckis’ Strange Genre Mash-Up Somehow Works Perfectly

For anyone just getting into film, it’s always worth watching a few movies that are completely bizarre and unpredictable, if only to gain an understanding of the limitless potential of the form. Who Framed Roger Rabbit is one such movie, a strange genre mash-up of film noir, classic cartoons and child-friendly comedy that somehow fits all of its pieces together into a cohesive whole.

Who Framed Roger Rabbit features a mix of original characters and cartoon icons. It’s the only time that Bugs Bunny and Mickey Mouse have ever shared the screen together, alongside Betty Boop, Daffy Duck, Goofy and many more. These colorful cartoons prove to be the perfect way to poke fun at the film noir genre, although Who Framed Roger Rabbit still works as an exciting whodunnit, with Bob Hoskins playing it perfectly straight as a world-weary private eye.

3

Aliens (1986)

James Cameron’s Sequel Is A Sci-Fi Action Classic

James Cameron has always had a flair for the spectacular. While his sequel to Ridley Scott’s Alien maintains some of the unsettling, haunted-house atmosphere, it largely prefers action to horror, as a group of heavily-armed soldiers embark on a dangerous rescue mission. Fans of the Alien franchise are split between the first two movies, but audiences can enjoy Aliens without having seen Alien first.

Aliens is an all-out action extravaganza. Once Cameron sets the scene, he unfolds a series of breathtaking firefights and chases, pitting his Colonial Marines against some of the most terrifying creatures ever created for film. Of course, this might all be meaningless if not for the emotional core of the film, but Ripley is a hero worth rooting for, and her fierce protection of Newt raises the stakes.

2

Amadeus (1984)

Amadeus Is An Entertaining Historical Drama

Amadeus revolves around the idea that Salieri and Mozart were fierce rivals, although historians generally agree that there was no such animosity between the two composers. Even if it is pure fiction, there’s no denying that the lie at the heart of Amadeus is an entertaining one. The story of Salieri’s destructive obsession is tinged with dark comedy and deep, agonizing drama.

Amadeus is an intense psychological study of jealousy and hatred, set in the opulent ballrooms and opera houses of Vienna. The luxury of the setting is a perfect counterpoint to Salieri’s miserable internal life, as he finds little joy in his own accomplishments or his comfortable lifestyle. Amadeus demonstrates how obsession can be a destructive force for everyone. It has a light tough, carrying the audience from comedy to tragedy with the utmost finesse.

1

Blade Runner (1982)

Blade Runner Continues To Impact The Sci-Fi Genre

There are a few movies which can be used as a shortcut to understanding the sci-fi genre, and Blade Runner is an essential bullet point on this list. Ridley Scott’s dystopian neo-noir thriller stars Harrison Ford as a detective charged with hunting down artificial humans and putting them out of commission by any means necessary. It’s a grizzly detective story that Raymond Chandler would be proud of, but set in a completely alien world.

Blade Runner has had a huge impact on the sci-fi genre, both in terms of its aesthetic style and its themes. Countless sci-fi films have tried to replicate the realistic, lived-in feeling of Blade Runner‘s world. Its delicate, complex approach to the idea of artificial intelligence has also aged brilliantly. Blade Runner 2099 is set to expand the world further, proving that Ridley Scott’s classic still has the power to captivate people decades later.