Only The Biggest Movie Buff Can Name 80% Of These 80's Movies
- by Dylan Parker
- – on
- in Movies and TV
The 1980s were practically a renaissance for filmmaking. Some of the best movies to ever be made came out of that decade. But it wasn't just arthouse films that nobody saw that went on to win Oscars; it was also major blockbuster films. In fact, the 80's were a time before blockbusters were over-saturated with CGI or cost a fortune to produce and therefore demanded a fortune in return. At the end of the day, the big blockbusters of the decade put story before spectacle. This is because it was a time where filmmakers ran Hollywood, and their films have gone on to dwell in our imaginations thirty-plus years later.
There will be some who believe they know a great deal about movies before attempting to complete this quiz. However, they will be faced with some particularly challenging entries that may just spring up at a time when they feel most confident. In fact, they may just pop-up when they think that they're acing it.
Because of this, it's just impossible for anyone to score above 80%. However, if there are those who feel like they can beat this statistic, they should attempt to prove us Quiz-masters wrong...
Best of luck on what will surely be an enjoyable yet laborious trip back in time...
Name This 80s Movie
The original Star Wars Trilogy came to a close with this 3rd act released in 1983. The film followed Luke Skywalker and his allies as they attempted to rescue Han Solo from Jabba The Hutt and then bring down Darth Vader, The Emperor, and the villainous Empire. The film, which starred Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Harrison Ford, and Billy Dee Williams, was liked and made a large amount at the box office but failed to live up to the critical success of the prior two films. What was this movie named?
Name This 80s Movie
This 1986 Tom Cruise film followed a young student, named Maverick, who went to school to learn to become a great fighter pilot. Due to his aggressive demeanor, he managed to anger other students, including Val Kilmer's Ice Man. But eventually, the two find a way to have respect for one another after a harrowing adventure. The film won an Oscar for its original song, "Take My Breath Away", by Giorgio Moroder and Tom Whitlock. What was the name of this 80s film?
Name This 80s Movie
This 1988 film, directed by Robert Zemeckis, was a unique blend of live-action performances and animation. It centered around a private-eye who gets hired to solve a crime involving a couple famous cartoon characters, who he really dislikes. The film starred Bob Hoskins, Alan Tilvern, Kathleen Turner, Charles Fleischer, Stubby Kaye, and Christopher Llyod. It won four Oscars and was a critical and financial success. It also featured several film and televisions favorite cartoon characters in supporting roles. What was the name of this 80s film?
Name This 80s Movie
This 1984 film won the Academy Award for Best-Picture and has gone down as one of the best films of all time, even though it's not as popular as some other Best-Picture winners. The film followed the lives of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and his fierce musical competitor, Antonio Salieri, who schemed to bring him down at any and all costs. It starred Tom Hulce, F. Murray Abraham, Kenny Baker, Elizabeth Berridge, and Roy Dotrice. What was the name of this 80s film?
Name This 80s Movie
This 1984 James Cameron film was the start of an epic film franchise that is still going strong today. The story followed a cyborg, disguised as a human, who is sent back in time to take out the mother of the son who will one day lead a resistance against the machines. But a member of the resistance, Kyle Reese, is also sent back in time in order to protect her from this cyborg. What is the name of this 80s film?
Name This 80s Movie
This 1988 animated feature film begun a children's film franchise that is still making films to this day, even if they are not as well-received as this touching first film. The story follows Littlefoot, a young, a young plant-eating Apatosaurus, after the loss of his mother at the jaws of a carnivorous T.Rex. Littlefoot gains a few unique friends and sets out to find the remainder of his herd in The Great Valley. What is the name of this 80s film?
Name This 80s Movie
This 1980 action, musical comedy has something for everyone. That's one of the reasons why it's become one of the most beloved films of the 1980s. The story follows a musician, Jake, who reunites with his brother Elwood. The pair wants to raise enough money to save the orphanage they once grew up in and go about doing so by restarting their band with the help of a few famous faces. The film starred John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd. What is the name of this 80s film?
Name This 80s Movie
This 1982 fantasy and science fiction film starred Jeff Bridges as Kevin Flynn, who returned to the role for the 2010 sequel. Flynn is a talented computer engineer who finds out that a colleague has been taking his work. Before Flynn can doing anything about it, he is transported to a completely digital world where he meets two unlikely characters who convince him to help save the oppressed systems within the computer world. What is the name of this 80s film?
Name This 80s Movie
The 1980s was a very lucrative time for Eddie Murphy, who starred in numerous beloved films including this 1983 comedy about an upper-crust executive and a down-and-out man who are subjects of a bet. The two characters, played by Dan Aykroyd and Eddie Murphy respectively, find out about the scheme set against them and aim to turn the tables around on the two brokers who try to ruin their lives. What is the name of this funny and touching 1980s film?
Name This 80s Movie
This 1980 psychological thriller and mystery film starred Jack Nicholson as a writer who becomes the caretaker of an old hotel in the snowy hills of Colorado. This writer begins to completely lose it as he tries to deal with his writer's block and the spirits who dwell inside the old hotel. Meanwhile, his wife, played by Shelley Duvall, tries to deal with their son who is having premonitions that become increasingly unsettling. What is the name of this 80s film?
Name This 80s Movie
Rob Reiner directed this 1987 cinematic masterpiece about a grandfather reading a bedtime story to his grandson. However, it's the bedtime story that gets the most screen-time. In it, a young farm boy in love with a Princess-to-be becomes a pirate and then sets out to reunite with her. The film starred Cary Elwes, Mandy Patinkin, Chris Sarandon, Robin Wright, Wallace Shawn, Christopher Guest, Andre the Giant, Peter Falk, Carol Kane, and Billy Crystal. What is the name of this 80s film?
Name This 80s Movie
Another great film that Rob Reiner directed, based on the Stephen King novel, came out in 1986. The film followed four boys who want to track down the remains of a man who had lost his life. Along the way, the four of them learn far more about themselves and one another that they may not have realized at the start of their journey. The film starred Wil Wheaton, Jerry O'Connell, River Phoenix, Kiefer Sutherland, and Corey Feldman. What is the name of this 80s film?
Name This 80s Movie
This John Hughes 1985 comedy-drama is pretty much the quintessential 80s film. It follows five completely dissimilar high school students who have to endure a Saturday afternoon detention and a particularly power-hungry principal played by Paul Gleason. In detention, the five students share their own stories and learn a little bit about one another, themselves, and how they can break stereotypes. The film also starred Judd Nelson, Molly Ringwald, Ally Sheedy, Anthony Michael Hall, and Emilio Estevez. What is the name of this 80s film?
Name This 80s Movie
"Wax on, wax off. Wax on, wax off." That's just one of the famous quotes from this 1984 sports drama about a young boy who moves to Southern California and becomes a target for a group of boys who study at the Cobra Kai dojo. The young boy, played by Ralph Macchio, befriends an elderly man, played by Noriyuki Morita, who teaches him how to defend himself as well as learn patience and understanding. What is the name of this 80s film?
Name This 80s Movie
Richard Donner directed this 1985 romantic adventure film which was written by Chris Columbus and created by Steven Spielberg. The film follows a group of young kids who attempt to take on a property development company who aims to bulldoze their home in order to build a country club. The group eventually finds a treasure map and go searching for the money which will hopefully be able to allow them to keep their home. What is the name of this 80s film?
Name This 80s Movie
"Who you gonna call?" This classic 1984 film, directed by Ivan Reitman, followed a group of wacky parapsychology professors who start a business that aims to stop and capture ghosts that haunt New York City. The film, which starred Bill Murray, Harold Ramis, Dan Aykroyd, Rick Moranis, Sigourney Weaver, Annie Potts, William Atherton, Ernie Hudson, and Slimer, is a unique blend of comedy and action that many films of today try to emulate. What is the name of this 80s film?
Name This 80s Movie
Can men and women just be friends? That's the central question of this classic 1989 romantic comedy. The film starred Meg Ryan and Billy crystal of a pair of college graduates who start off as enemies, become great friends and then struggle with whether or not they want to be together or not. The film, which was directed by Rob Reiner, and written by Nora Ephron, also starred Carrie Fisher and Bruno Kirby. What is the name of this 80s film?
Name This 80s Movie
This 1983 family comedy-drama, which was based on the writings of author Jean Shepherd, follows the exploits of Ralphie Parker. Ralphie spends his days cleverly avoiding being a target for mean older-kids and dreaming that he will be given a very specific air rifle. The movie is also famous for a lamp in the shape of a leg. This charming family film starred youngster Peter Billingsley, Zack Ward, Melinda Dillon, and Darren McGavin. What is the name of this 80s film?
Name This 80s Movie
This 1986 fantasy thriller was a direct sequel to the original Ridley Scott film that came out in 1979. The movie, starring Sigourney Weaver, followed Ripley as she is found in deep space and travels to a colony on LV-426 to rescue the survivors from an invasion of extremely dangerous extraterrestrials. The film was directed by James Cameron and is seen as the best sequel in the franchise which is still going today. What is the name of this 80s film?
Name This 80s Movie
Robert Zemeckis directed this 1985 science fiction fantasy film about a small-town teen named Marty McFly, played by Michael J. Fox, who, with the help of Christopher Llyod's Doc Brown, travels back to the '50s in order to make sure that his young mother and father get together otherwise he'll cease to exist. But eventually, he has to travel back in order to save Doc Brown's life. The film also starred Crispin Glover and Lea Thompson. What is the name of this 80s film?
Name This 80s Movie
Michael Keaton starred as Bruce Wayne/Batman in this 1989 superhero flick. In the film, Batman, just emerging in Gotham City, has to do battle with The Joker, played by the iconic Jack Nicholson. The movie has a uniquely Gothic visual style thanks to director Tim Burton and his team of talented filmmakers. The film also starred Kim Basinger, Robert Wuhl, Pat Hingle, Billy Dee Williams, Michael Gough, and Tracey Walter. Famously, Prince recorded the soundtrack. What is the name of this 80s film?
Name This 80s Movie
This 1986 John Badham film follows an experimental robot who is struck by lightning and given consciousness. Eventually, the robot escapes the facility it was used in and befriends a young woman named Stephanie Speck. However, the creator of the project that used this robot is desperate to reclaim it. It starred Ally Sheedy, Austin Pendleton, Steve Guttenberg, and G.W. Bailey. The film became beloved by kids for it's sweet and sentimental message. What is the name of this 80s film?
Name This 80s Movie
In 1985, Steven Spielberg released this emotional costume drama starring Whoopi Goldberg and Danny Glover. The film, based on the novel by Alice Walker, is told over the course of forty years. It centers on the life of Celie, a woman of color living in the deep South. Celie faces all sorts of unhappy events as well as she attempts to be reunited with her long lost sister across the planet. What is the name of this beautiful and emotional 80s film?
Name This 80s Movie
This 1989 Herbert Ross film featured an alstar cast of talented female actors including Sally Field, Dolly Parton, Daryl Hannah, Julia Roberts, Olympia Dukakis, and the great Shirley McLaine. These women form a unique bond that starts when one of them prepares to be married. This bond lasts through many difficult and challenging years, but their friendship grows despite it all. The film also starred Sam Shepard, Dylan McDermott, and Kevin J. O'Connor. What is the name of this 80s film?
Name This 80s Movie
John Hughes directed this 1984 film about a young woman who feels overshadowed by her sister's upcoming wedding. As she struggles to live in the shadows, she pines for an older boy as well as keeping away another boy who legitimately likes her. The film starred Molly Ringwald in the leading role, Michael Schoeffling, Justin Henry, Anthony Michael Hall, and also included a cast of hilarious character actors playing Molly Ringwald's hilarious family. What is the name of this 80s film?
Name This 80s Movie
This 1983 crime drama, directed by Paul Brickman and starring Tom Cruise, has one of the most famous dance sequences of all time. The film follows a high school senior who manages to spend a great deal of money when his parents leave town on vacation. He then does his best to raise money by any means necessary. The film also starred Rebecca De Mornay, Joe Pantoliano, Bronson Pinchot, Curtis Armstrong, Nicholas Pryor, Richard Masur, Janet Carool, and Shera Danese. What is the name of this 80s film?
Name This 80s Movie
"Say 'hello' to my little friend!" is perhaps the most famous line in this 1983 crime thriller and maybe even one of the most iconic movie lines of all time. This Brian De Palma film follows Tony Montana as he runs an illegal business in Miami under the noses of the police. Montana does everything necessary to get ahead but becomes paranoid in his pursuit of success. The film starred Al Pacino, Steven Bauer, Michelle Pfeiffer, and F. Murray Abraham. What is the name of this 80s film?
Name This 80s Movie
Cameron Crowe directed this 1989 coming-of-age starring John Cusack, Ione Skye, and John Mahoney. The film follows Lylod as he attempts to capture the love of Diane, a completely unattainable straight-A student as well as beauty. Eventually he manages to win her heart but her possessive father does everything to keep the couple apart. The film also starred Lili Taylor, Polly Platt, Bebe Neuwirth, Pamela Adlon, Jeremy Piven, Phillip Baker Hall, Joan Cusack, and Loren Dean. What is the name of this 80s film?
Name This 80s Movie
Before the 2014 remake, this 1987 action mystery film was really one of the first of its kind. The film, which was directed by Paul Verhoeven, follows a corporation in a near-apocalyptic city that aims to take the form of a wound cop, played by Peter Weller, to use in their robotic experiments. However, once this man learns of the nefarious plans, he turns on the very people who saved his life by making him into a machine. What is the name of this 80s film?
Name This 80s Movie
In 1981, Steven Spielberg released the first film in a franchise that is still expecting it's 4th sequel in 2021. The film, starring Harrison Ford, follows Indiana Jones, a professor and intrepid archaeologist who attempts to stop a villainous army from finding the Ark of the Covenant. Not only is this film known for being one of the best action/adventure films of all time, but it also has one of the best scores. The film also starred Karen Allen, John Rhys-Davies, and Paul Freeman. What is the name of this 80s film?
Name This 80s Movie
Martin Scorsese directed this 1980's sports drama written by Paul Schrader and Mardik Martin. The film followed a middleweight boxer who rises to the highest ranks in the competition. Eventually he falls in love with a woman from the Bronx. However, he has an inability to express his feelings and can only truly express himself in the ring. Eventually he spirals downward due to his obsession. The film starred Robert De Niro, Cathy Moriarty, Joe Pesci, and Frank Vincent. What is the name of this 80s film?
Name This 80s Movie
Tobe Hooper directed this Steven Spielberg fantasy thriller that centers around the creepy happenings around the house of a seemingly normal family. Eventually friendly ghosts start to communicate with youngest daughter, which causes the family to worry. Things get worse when the ghosts suddenly become menacing and seek to haunt the family. The family turns to an exorcist and parapsychologist in order to stop the haunting. The film starred Craig T. Nelson, JoBeth Williams, Domonique Dunne, Oliver Robins, and Heather O'Rourke. What is the name of this 80s film?
Name This 80s Movie
Oliver Stone directed this Best-Picture winning 1986 action drama that follows a very idealistic wannabe soldier who eventually loses his love of his job after experiencing the challenging and gut-wrenching events of the war. Eventually a large degree of in-fighting within the group of soldiers causes more chaos than the war itself. The film starred Charlie Sheen, Tom Berenger, Willem Dafoe, Keith David, Johnny Depp, Kevin Dillon, John C. McGinley, and Forest Whitaker. What is the name of this 80s film?
Name This 80s Movie
Molly Ringwald starred in yet another John Hughes 80s film, this one came out in 1986 and followed a high school outcast named Andie who hangs out with her older boss who owns the record store where she works. Eventually, she starts dating a popular boy named Blaine. But their romance isn't as easy as it first appears since Andie starts to understand that some social spheres are hard to mix. The film also starred Jon Cryer, Annie Potts, and Andrew McCarthy. What is the name of this 80s film?
Name This 80s Movie
Steven Spielberg returned to the Indiana Jones character this 1984 action film which actually takes place before the first movie. It follows Indiana Jones, his partner Shortround, and a lounge singer, played by Spielberg's future wife Kate Capshaw, as they search for the magical Sankara Stones that were taken from a remote village in the jungle. What they find is a group of fanatics who aim to control the minds of everyone around them. What is the name of this 80s film?
Name This 80s Movie
In 1987, John Hughes departed from his usual high school coming-of-age films to tell the story of two miss-matched men who are forced to come together in order to get back to their homes for Thanksgiving after a freak snowstorm that reroutes their plane to Kansas. The film starred Steve Martin and John Candy and blended comedy with a heart-breaking dramatic tone. The film also starred Dylan Baker, Kevin Bacon, Michael McKean, and Laila Robins. What is the name of this 80s film?
Name This 80s Movie
This Brain De Palma 1987 film follows a Prohibition agent named Eliot Ness who attempts to take down the legendary crime boss, Al Capone. However, Ness fails to do this as Capone's pockets are too deep and he's managed to infiltrate every level of society. Therefore, Ness gathers a team of lawmen who can't be swayed by Capone's influence. The film starred Kevin Costner, Sean Connery, Andy Garcia, Charles Martin Smith, Patricia Clarkson, and Robert De Niro. What is the name of this 80s film?
Name This 80s Movie
Sean Connery starred in another massive 80s film. This time, it was alongside Harrison Ford in another Steven Spielberg sequel to Raiders of the Lost Ark. In this adventure, Indiana Jones has to track down his father, played by Connery, who has been taken after tracking down the location of the Holy Grail. After meeting up with him, Jones and his father team-up in order to stop the army of darkness from getting their hands on it. What is the name of this 80s film?
Name This 80s Movie
In 1989, Kevin Costner starred in a film about a farmer named Ray who hears a mysterious voice that tells him to build a baseball diamond in his cornfield. Once he does, the ghosts of famous players come to play there. But Ray soon learns that so much more than just baseball players are coming. The touching father/son film also starred Amy Madigan, Gaby Hoffman, Ray Liotta, James Earl Jones, Timothy Busfield, and Burt Lancaster. What is the name of this 80s film?
Name This 80s Movie
This 1984 film featured a gadget salesman who finds a special gift for his son at a strange store. He finds this cute little creature, nicknamed Gizmo, who he decides he must purchase for his son. The shopkeeper sells him this creature but tells him not to expose it to light, feed it after midnight, or get it wet. Unfortunately, all of this happens and chaos ensues on Christmas Eve. The film starred Zach Galligan, Phoebe Cates, and Hoyt Axton. What is the name of this 80s film?
Name This 80s Movie
George Lucas stepped aside from the director's seat to let Irvin Kershner take the reigns of the this 1980's Star Wars sequel. The result was what most consider the best Star Wars sequel ever. This middle chapter was easily the most emotionally complex and featured one of the most famous movie lives of all time. Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, and Harrison Ford all reprise their roles to meet new characters like Lando, Boba Fett, and Yoda. What is the name of this 80s film?
Name This 80s Movie
Herbert Ross directed this 1984 film starring Kevin Bacon, Lori Singer, Christopher Penn, and John Lithgow. The film centers around Ren McCormak who moves to a small Midwestern town that has made dancing and rock music illegal. Ren does his best to get all of the teens in the town to go against the rules of the town and dance. The film features a number of very famous dance tunes and was even remade in 2011. What is the name of this 80s film?
Name This 80s Movie
Many consider this 1986 film to be John Hughes' best. The story centered around a young man who is able to skip school for a day in order to have the time of his life. He manages to get his girlfriend and his best friend to skip with them and the three of them embark on a journey while escaping the grasp of their controlling principal. The film starred Matthew Broderick, Mia Sara, Alan Ruck, and Jennifer Grey. What is the name of this 80s film?
Name This 80s Movie
David Zucker, Jim Abrahams, and Jerry Zucker joined together to create this 1980's absurd parody film that spoofed disaster films. The hilarious comedy centered on the crew of an airplane that have to take over after the captain gets incapacitated due to bad food. The film starred Leslie Nielsen, Robert Hayes, Julie Hagerty, Llyod Bridges, Barbara Billingsley, Robert Stack, Peter Graves, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Surely this is an 80s classic, just don't call me, Shirley. What's the name of this 80s film?
Name This 80s Movie
Amy Heckerling directed this 1982 teen drama-comedy. It starred Jennifer Jason Leigh as Stacy Hamilton who tries to find the perfect mate with the help of her more experienced friend Linda, played by Phoebe Cates. The film also followed several other students, including Sean Penn's iconic Jeff Spicoli as they navigate the trying times that come with going to high school. The film also starred Brian Becker, Robert Romanus, Ray Walston, Vincent Schiavelli, and Judge Reinhold. What is the name of this 80s film?
Name This 80s Movie
Steven Spielberg directed this 1982 drama fantasy film that followed a gentle little alien who gets stranded on earth and befriends a boy who takes him in. The boy, played by Henry Thomas, introduces the alien to his brother and sister, all of whom are struggling with their parents divorce. However, the alien begins to lose his health as he pines on going home and escaping the agents who seek to find and capture him. What is the name of this 80s film?
Name This 80s Movie
Harold Ramis directed this essential 1980's sports comedy that focused on golf-players at the snob-infested Bushwood Country Club. The film followed a teen named Danny Noonan as he volunteers to caddy in a golf tournament. Meanwhile, the groundskeeper attempts to rid the course of a pesky gofer who doesn't seem to want to leave. The film starred Michael O'Keefe, Chevy Chase, Bill Murray, Rodney Dangerfield, Ted Knight, Sarah Holcomb, Cindy Morgan, and Scott Colomby. What is the name of this 80s film?
Name This 80s Movie
Before the recent sequel, this Ridley Scott film was one of the most thought provoking and ambitious science fiction noirs of all time. Not long in the future, Rick Deckard returns to his job of hunting down androids (called Replicants) and 'retiring' them. However, Deckard starts to fall for a replicant named Rachel, which challenges his perception of his own humanity and what it means to actually be "human". The film also starred Sean young and Rutger Hauer. What is the name of this 80s film?
Name This 80s Movie
This 1988 Tim Burton film follows two spirits, played by Geena Davis and Alec Baldwin, who dwell in their old home that gets bought by a very boring couple and their odd daughter. The spirits attempt to haunt the family in hopes that they might cause them to choose to move away. However, they aren't successful and even attract a far more rambunctious spirit. The film also starred Winona Ryder, Catherine O'Hara, Jeffrey Jones, and Michael Keaton. What is the name of this 80s film?
Name This 80s Movie
Stephen Herek directed this 1989 teen comedy-fantasy film about two high school friends in the midst of starting a band. However, one of them isn't going to pass his history class so the two make-friends with a time traveler in order to go back to various points in the past to gather important figures to help them pass their history presentation. The film starred Keanu Reeves, Alex Winter, and legendary comedian George Carlin. What is the name of this 80s film?