by Adriana Lopez
In other words, things got much grander and larger-than-life on the silver screen. And yet, the 1980s also saw a rise in feel-good adventures targeted at younger generations, including Back to the Future, Fast Times at Ridgemont High, and Stand By Me. Meanwhile, unhinged comedy also took a front seat in flicks like Airplane! and Beetlejuice alongside scream-inducing horror like The Thing and Poltergeist.
Despite the fact that over forty years have passed between the release of films like Blade Runner and Raiders of the Lost Ark, these movies remain incredibly popular (and Harrison Ford is still acting). But not all 80s blockbusters can stand the test of time. Looking back, which of these top 80s movies still hold up?
Rain Man (1988)
Rain Man brought two acting giants together: Tom Cruise and Dustin Hoffman. In the movie, the pair head to Vegas where Cruise’s character relies on his half-brother’s mental math skills to turn a profit from counting cards. Hoffman’s character was one of the first autistic characters depicted on film.
But the movie has aged quite a bit. First, Hoffman’s character was depicted as a savant, which helped instill a false image of what it is to be neurodivergent. This has led to more than a few presumptions about what it is to be a savant. For example, plenty of regular people learn to card count.
Second, most casino buffs head online to play their favorite games—not to Vegas. Blackjack remains incredibly popular today, but many platforms also offer different variations in games like roulette, including American and high roller options. A remake today would likely feature a few online casinos.
Aliens (1986)
When James Cameron set out to follow up Ridley Scott’s masterpiece, Alien, not many held out hope. After all, the original is still hailed as a masterpiece—how could it be topped or even matched? But Cameron pulled out the stops, along with his cast. In fact, Sigourney Weaver’s riveting performance remains one of the biggest elements of Aliens’ success.
So, what has helped this movie stand the test of time? First, the movie has an escalating sense of intensity, which culminates in an exoskeleton battle scene. Second, Aliens finds a way to make jump scares acceptable. Third, let’s point back to Weaver’s character, whose heroism is a necessary thread that keeps the audience afloat.
Blade Runner (1982)
With a 2049 sequel just behind us, there’s no better time to review the original. When discussing whether or not Blade Runner has stood the test of time, many point to its special effects. They haven’t aged well and can feel a bit clunky and cheesy.
However, the rest of the film remains groundbreaking, somehow simple, slightly ambiguous, and profoundly human. From Roy Batty’s final speech to the complexity of Rachael’s character as a robot love interest, the film takes its time to build out a wholly convincing future.
In fact, when filmmakers decided to reboot the neo-noir film for Blade Runner 2049, they carried this spirit into the next iteration. The film carries the introspective tone and style from the original, then rehashes it with a brighter sci-fi visual style.
The Breakfast Club (1985)
Similar to Rain Man, it’s hard to make a case for the ongoing success of The Breakfast Club. In many ways, it seems to reflect the era it was made, which makes it difficult to relate to for audiences forty years down the line. The language, fashion, and nuances are different. Today, Ally Sheedy’s oddball character would likely be the focus—not the ‘Princess’.
However, there’s one element that the film nails: angst. The dynamics that bind together the film’s characters are familiar to audiences today—even if they don’t know what a burner is or would never tell someone to eat their shorts. The sense of being on the verge of freedom while still being pressed under someone’s thumb is a universal theme that won’t be foreign any time soon.
