Most watched 80s Movies on Netflix

The 1980s were a great decade for movies because it was a time when storytelling was paramount

Many of the most iconic films of the era were driven by strong plots, well-developed characters, and memorable dialogue.

Filmmakers relied on practical effects and practical stunts to create thrilling action sequences, and this often resulted in more believable and immersive movies.

Additionally, the 1980s saw the rise of the blockbuster film, which led to more investment in high-quality productions and helped to elevate the art form of cinema. Overall, the decade produced many of the most beloved and influential films in history, and it remains a golden age for cinema.

If you’re finding yourself scrolling through Netflix in need of a retro fix we’ve got you covered on some of the greatest movies available to stream from the decade. Strap yourself in and enjoy the best 80s movies on Netflix.

For more recommendations, check out our list of the best 90s and 2000s movies on the platform or the best shows and movies on Netflix.

The Breakfast Club

She’s Gotta Have It (1986)

Run Time: 1 hr 24 min | Genre: Black-and-White Comedy Drama | Director: Spike Lee

Cast: Tracy Camilla Johns, Redmond Hicks, John Canada Terrell, Spike Lee, Raye Dowell

She’s Gotta Have It is the fascinating debut of Spike Lee’s singular filmmaking voice. A black-and-white dissection of sexual identity, the patriarchy, slut-shaming, and the undue pressures put on black women. It features a terrific lead performance from Tracy Camilla Johns, a stunning deconstruction of male-crafted “Hollywood endings,” and a worldview so ahead of its time in 1986 that it was readapted for a two-season Netflix show in 2017. It also — and here I will give a content warning for sexual assault — features the worst scene Lee has ever committed to celluloid: and those are his words, not mine. At one point in the narrative, one of the three male suitors desperate to lock Nola (Johns) down into a form of oppressive monogamy, the most performatively “nice” of the three, rapes her.

Lee said “If I was able to have any do-overs, that would be it. It was just totally…stupid. I was immature. It made light of rape, and that’s the one thing I would take back. I was immature and I hate that I did not view rape as the vile act that it is. I can promise you, there will be nothing like that in She’s Gotta Have It, the TV show, that’s for sure.” If you’re willing to contextualize this depiction as an artifact of the shortcomings of historical perspectives, or even read it as being in dialogue with the rest of the film’s chaotic renderings of progressive ideals (i.e. monogamy can never work under our patriarchy because of horrible senses of entitlement and trauma like this), She’s Gotta Have It remains an alive arrival of a lively filmmaker.

Dirty Dancing

Dirty Dancing is a 1987 romantic drama film directed by Emile Ardolino. The movie takes place in the early 1960s and tells the story of Frances “Baby” Houseman (Jennifer Grey), who is on vacation with her family in the Catskills. There, she falls in love with Johnny Castle (Patrick Swayze), a dance instructor at the resort. The two come from different backgrounds and face several obstacles, but ultimately find a way to be together.

Labyrinth (1986)

Run Time: 1 hr 41 min | Genre: Musical Fantasy | Director: Jim Henson

Cast: Jennifer Connelly, David Bowie, Brian Henson, Frank Oz

There aren’t many movies in any genre more bursting with imagination than Labyrinth, Jim Henson‘s high fantasy puppetry extravaganza. Sixteen-year-old Sarah Williams (Jennifer Connelly) is frustrated with watching her baby brother…until the child is carried off by a pack of goblins, led by the Goblin King (David Bowie, just astonishingly iconic in this role). Sarah descends into a jaw-droppingly vibrant maze of monsters and mayhem to find her brother, encountering everything from a helpful dward named Hoggle (Brian Henson) to the Bog of Eternal Stench. Labyrinth is so dang impressive on a technical level that it’s a must-watch for pretty much any age, but it’s especially an irreplaceable gem as something to show a generation raised on CGI. This movie proves you can actually create magic with your hands.

Footloose

Footloose is a 1984 musical drama film directed by Herbert Ross. The movie tells the story of Ren McCormack (Kevin Bacon), a teenager from Chicago who moves to a small town where dancing and rock music have been banned by the local authorities. Ren rebels against the strict rules and rallies his classmates to fight for their right to dance and express themselves. Along the way, he falls in love with the minister’s daughter, Ariel (Lori Singer).

Hard Lessons (1986)

Run Time: 1 hr 33 min | Genre: Biography Drama | Director: Eric Laneuville

Cast: Denzel Washington, Lynn Whitfield

Also known as The George McKenna Story, Hard Lessons is another inspiring teacher flick. Denzel Washington stars as the principal of George Washington Preparatory High in South Los Angeles, who attempts to rid the school of gangs, drugs, and violence. Despite its low budget, Hard Lessons is a beautiful movie about a determined principal. Denzel Washington’s grounded and powerful performance sets it apart from other made-for-TV movies of the time.

As Good As It Gets

As Good As It Gets is a 1997 romantic comedy-drama film directed by James L. Brooks. The movie stars Jack Nicholson as Melvin Udall, a misanthropic and obsessive-compulsive writer who forms an unlikely friendship with a gay artist named Simon (Greg Kinnear) and a waitress named Carol (Helen Hunt). As the three navigate their personal and professional challenges, they learn to understand and support each other in unexpected ways. The film was praised for its performances and won several Academy Awards, including Best Actor for Nicholson and Best Actress for Hunt.

Fletch (1985)

Run Time: 1 hr 38 min | Genre: Mystery Comedy | Director: Michael Ritchie

Cast: Chevy Chase, Joe Don Baker, Dana Wheeler-Nicholson

Based on the popular Fletch novels by Gregory Mcdonald, the 1985 film follows the titular character, a reporter played by Chevy Chase, as he is offered an enormous amount of money to kill a millionaire — by the millionaire himself, as he has just received a terminal cancer diagnosis. However, things get more complicated when he discovers the man isn’t ill, and his investigation puts his own life at risk. The film was a critical and commercial success, noted for its sharp comedy and excellent performance by Chase.

Labyrinth

Parenthood (1989)

Run Time: 2 hr 4 min | Genre: Comedy Drama Family | Director: Ron Howard

Cast: Steve Martin, Tom Hulce, Rick Moranis, Martha Plimpton

Legendary director Ron Howard helms Parenthood, a funny, heartfelt, and relatable film about three adult siblings and the various struggles they go through raising their children. There’s Gil (Steve Martin), a sales executive who learns his kids need therapy while his wife becomes pregnant with another child; divorced Helen (Dianne Wiest), whose ex wants nothing to do with the childrearing; Susan (Harley Jane Kozak), who clashes with her husband on the decision regarding whether to grow their family; and Larry (Tom Hulce), the youngest sibling with a gambling problem who discovers he has a child from a one-night stand. The film was nominated for two Oscars, including Best Supporting Actress for Dianne Wiest.

Beverly Hills Cop

Road House (1989)

Run Time: 1 hr 54 min | Genre: Action Thriller | Director: Rowdy Herrington