Die Hard 30th anniversary trailer
A plethora of remarkable films from the 1980s are available for streaming, but which ones truly stand out?
Many cinema enthusiasts would concur that the 80s was arguably the golden era for film, with a host of the most iconic movies ever made being released within this decade.
From thrilling blockbusters to chilling horror flicks, the decade gave birth to franchises, nurtured acclaimed filmmakers and shattered box office records in every direction.
Let’s delve into 10 of the undeniable classics and a few underappreciated treasures, spanning from sci-fi sagas to breathtaking animation and guaranteed tearjerkers.
Even better, all these films are currently available for streaming in the UK, including a few you can watch entirely free of charge, reports the Mirror.
NOW subscribers are guaranteed a toe-tapping good time with the Blues Brothers (Image: UNIVERSAL PICTURES)
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The Blues Brothers
This musical marvel featuring John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd is unquestionably one of the most hilarious films produced during this era.
Inspired by their legendary Saturday Night Live characters, Jake and Elwood Blues are on a mission against time to reunite their R&B band for one final performance to save the orphanage where they grew up.
With guest appearances from cherished blues artists such as Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin and James Brown, this tribute to music and the city of Chicago is bound to have you tapping your feet.
The Blues Brothers is available to stream on NOW.
This coming-of-age classic from Steven Spielberg will have you reaching for the tissues (Image: UNIVERSAL PICTURES)
ET
If there’s one name that reigned supreme in the film culture of the 80s, it’s undoubtedly Steven Spielberg.
From highly praised historical dramas such as The Colour Purple and Empire of the Sun, to thrilling escapades with Indiana Jones, the blockbuster director released what many regard as his finest films during this period.
One of his most audacious and personal projects at that time, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, was a daring endeavour due to its intimate drama and bold concept. Fortunately, the risk paid off, toppling Star Wars from its perch and remaining the highest-grossing film of all time, until Spielberg surpassed his own record a decade later with Jurassic Park.
ET is available for streaming on Netflix.
Die Hard is still the greatest action movie ever made (Image: 20TH CENTURY FOX)
Die Hard
In our opinion, the best action film ever made, Die Hard is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser whether you’re viewing it at Christmas or in the middle of the summer.
Launching the cinematic career of Hollywood titan Bruce Willis, John McTiernan’s superb thriller remains so influential today that ‘Die Hard on a [insert location/vehicle here]’ is still a viable pitch for an action film.
With so many copycats out there, ensure you make time for the triumphant original soon.
Die Hard can be streamed on Disney+.
This often overlooked historical drama is a must-watch (Image: MGM, UA)
A Dry White Season
This overlooked historical drama highlights the devastating realities of apartheid in South Africa during the 1970s.
Featuring Donald Sutherland as a teacher at a school for white pupils, he’s compelled to question his ethics when the son of his Black gardener is brutally murdered by the white police.
One of the first significant Hollywood films helmed by a Black woman, Euzhan Palcy, A Dry White Season also boasts an often overlooked Oscar-nominated performance from Marlon Brando.
A Dry White Season is available to stream on Prime Video.
Kurt Russell takes on a shape-shifting monster from outer space (Image: UNIVERSAL PICTURES)
The Thing
The 1980s saw the rise of body horror as a defining sub-genre, thanks to advancements in special effects and a growing appetite for boundary-pushing scares among film fans. John Carpenter’s The Thing, starring Kurt Russell, is widely considered the best example.
Despite being a box office flop upon release, this eerie thriller about an Antarctic research team infiltrated by a shape-shifting alien has since become a beloved horror classic.
The Thing is available to stream for free on ITVX.
Prepare to be afraid – be very afraid (Image: 20TH CENTURY FOX)
The Fly
Why settle for one gory masterpiece when there are so many excellent ones to choose from?
Arguably even more horrifying than The Thing is David Cronenberg’s The Fly. Jeff Goldblum stars in this morbid reimagining of a classic 1958 sci-fi horror, playing an ambitious scientist who begins to transform after his teleportation machine malfunctions with gruesome results.
The Fly is available to stream on Disney+.
One of the best films about race relations ever made (Image: UNIVERSAL PICTURES)
Do the Right Thing
From body horror to social satire, the 80s were a decade renowned for an array of thought-provoking dramas.
The influential director Spike Lee was merely 32 when he created Do the Right Thing, firmly establishing himself as one of the most significant Black artists in history by addressing race relations in America in an unprecedented manner.
Blending uproarious humour with high-stakes drama and career-defining performances from its cast, including Lee himself, Danny Aiello, John Turturro and Rosie Perez, it’s no wonder many film enthusiasts still regard it as one of the filmmaker’s finest works.
Do the Right Thing is available to stream on NOW.
This animated masterpiece is available on Netflix (Image: STUDIO GHIBLI)
My Neighbour Totoro
It would be a glaring omission not to include any animated films on a list of the best of any decade and, while Disney had its fair share of successes, from The Fox and the Hound to The Little Mermaid, we believe this masterpiece from Studio Ghibli outshines them all.
My Neighbour Totoro is a timeless depiction of childhood viewed through the imaginative lens of Japanese animation maestro Hayao Miyazaki, who infuses every heartfelt moment with fantasy and wonder.
If you’ve already enjoyed this animated treasure, or fall head over heels for the furry forest spirit on your first viewing, all of Studio Ghibli’s remarkable films are available on the same service.
My Neighbour Totoro is available to stream on Netflix.
Harrison Ford explores a bleak vision of the future (Image: WARNER BROS)
Blade Runner
Yes, it’s another science fiction masterpiece, but one cannot overlook its perfection. Despite inspiring a generation of intense film enthusiasts, it’s clear why this atmospheric, neon-soaked cyberpunk thriller captivated so many.
From the cinematic genius Ridley Scott, who previously transformed the genre with his iconic space horror Alien in 1979, comes an engrossing existential journey featuring Harrison Ford as a future detective tasked with tracking down synthetic humans known as replicants.
Combining classic noir with one of the most dismal visions of the future ever depicted on screen, Blade Runner is worth viewing for its visual magnificence alone, but will also leave you pondering long after the credits have ended.
Blade Runner is available to stream on Prime Video.
80s movies don’t get much better than Raiders of the Lost Ark (Image: LUCASFILM)
Raiders of the Lost Ark
What more can be said about Raiders of the Lost Ark that hasn’t been repeated countless times?
Incredibly, Spielberg produced two masterpieces consecutively, with the introduction of another iconic Harrison Ford character arriving in 1981, a year before the acclaimed director made millions of cinema-goers weep uncontrollably with ET.
The most legendary movie star of all time at his peak, a captivating, worldwide adventure, numerous booby traps and ancient puzzles, and Nazis getting punched in the face. What’s not to adore?
Raiders of the Lost Ark is available to stream on Netflix and for free on Channel 4.