The most iconic 80s movies

[theREALdotnet]

So I’ve mentioned the “The quintessential 80s pop song” thread at a family get together today. I also mentioned its anemic companion counterpart thread about the 90s. This resulted in much nodding and little disagreement – until…

Until somebody stated that the 90s were the most iconic decade for movies. Huh?

In continuation of the quintessential pop song debate the argument narrowed to the 80s vs. the 90s as the most iconic movie decades. There have been strong showings in favour of the 90s, but I was leaning towards the 80s. I thought I put it to the ASR brains trust to chime in on what the general consensus might be.

It is perfectly well understood that there were eons of great movie making outside the 80s or 90s, but the focus here is really on 80s vs. 90s.

This thread is for displaying your supporting evidence that the 80s where a more iconic decade for movie making than the 90s. There is a complementary thread about showing your support for 90s movies.

I’ll start with one of my favourites from the 80s – Terry Gilliam’s Brazil.

 

[GaryH]

 

[theREALdotnet]

Ha, I forgot that Blade Runner plays in 2019. The future isn’t what it used to be

 

[DanielT]

Praised, referenced countless times. An example, from the bizarre and funny cartoon Sci-Fi series Rick And Morty :

 

[Tassin]

 

[diddley]

Paris, Texas

 

[bluefuzz]

Until somebody stated that the 90s were the most iconic decade for movies. Huh?

Huh indeed! I would say the bulk of classic/iconic movies are more or less coincidental with the 'classic rock' period. Roughly 1965-1985 tailing off a few years on each side with the bulk of the good stuff in the 70s. There has been little of worth, especially from Hollywood, since the late 80s (IMHO) and independent cinema has faired little better.

 

[Mart68]

hard call between 80s and 90s. Think on balance I would go with the 1980s but it's not easy.

Aside from 'Goodfellas' you've got three great Tarantino films in the 90s, he wasn't even around in the 80s.

80s has all those classic teen flics from John Hughes, plus 'Back To The Future', 'The Terminator', 'First Blood', the two 'Conan' films, 'The Empire Strikes Back', and so on. 'Once Upon A Time In America', as already mentioned, is still the best film of all time.

Plus I was a teenager then and so not as jaded as I was to become.

You can tell from that lot I am not much for all the 'art house' stuff. Sorry.

 

[Rednaxela]

 

[Mart68]

Oh yes, 'Top Gun'. Me and my mates went to see that with our girlfriends when it came out.

Watched it again quite recently and it really is very poor. Even though Cruse plays an arsehole which usually means it will be a good film ('Rain Man', 'The Colour Of Money', 'Born On The Fourth Of July' etc).

 

[DJBonoBobo]

 

[raif71]

 

[Tassin]

 

[bluefuzz]

Bertrand Tavernier - Death Watch (1980)

Romy Schneider and Harvey Keitel bizarrely romping around Glasgow of all places in this dystopian thriller. The burned out cars on the streets are not scenography. That's what Glasgow looked like in 1980! A classic.

 

[Tremolo]

 

[DanielT]

It's memories of some cinema experiences that left me rather puzzled in the 80s. Something that I rarely experienced in my older years. Like this one we saw as a teenager:

With a pleasant song as the leitmotif, which of course was the intention for it to be:
(not the version in the movie)

 

[bluefuzz]

Jean Jacques Beineix - Betty Blue (1986)

 

[bluefuzz]

Ken Russell was in top form in the early 80s:

Ken Russell - Altered States (1980)

Ken Russell - Crimes of Passion (1984)

 

[bluefuzz]

Uli Edel's Christiane F. (1981) - probably one of the best anti-drugs films ever.

 

[bluefuzz]

Neil Jordan - Mona Lisa (1986)