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Best 1980S

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Rankings use category fit, feature coverage, pricing signals, public reception, and recency. Affiliate relationships do not affect scores.

0.0 - 10.0
Best 1 Come and See

Come and See is a 1985 Soviet anti-war drama adapted from survivor accounts detailing experiences during Nazi occupation in Belarus. The film, directed by Elem Klimov, was produced after eight years of censorship following its screenplay’s basis in novel and testimony collections. It portrays the br...

2 Tetris
Tetris

Tetris is a classic strategy video game created by Alexey Pajitnov in the Soviet Union during the 1980s. It involves arranging falling geometric blocks, known as tetrominoes, to form complete horizontal lines. The game challenges players’ spatial reasoning and reaction skills. Tetris remains popular...

3 Ramayan
Ramayan

Ramayan is a Hindi-language television adaptation of the ancient Sanskrit epic Ramayana. Produced by Ramanand Sagar and initially broadcast on DD National between 1987 and 1988, it achieved global popularity with an estimated viewership exceeding 650 million. The series generated significant revenue...

4 Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back

Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back continues the conflict between the Galactic Empire and the Rebel Alliance following events in *Star Wars*. Luke Skywalker trains with Yoda to combat Darth Vader, a student of Emperor Palpatine, as the Imperial forces intensify their attacks. This film e...

5 Super Mario Bros. 3

Super Mario Bros. 3 is a 1988 platform game for the NES, created by Nintendo Entertainment Analysis and Development under the leadership of Shigeru Miyamoto and Takashi Tezuka. The game’s initial release occurred in Japan on October 23, 1988, with subsequent launches in North America on February 12,...

6 E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial

E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial is a 1982 science fiction drama about a boy’s friendship with an alien stranded on Earth. The film explores themes of connection and compassion through its poignant narrative. It's notable for its emotional impact and lasting cultural influence. Primarily aimed at children...

7 Vale Tudo
Vale Tudo

Vale Tudo is a Brazilian crime-drama television series created in the 1980s. Set against the backdrop of political upheaval in Brazil, it explores themes of corruption and power struggles through the lens of a wealthy family’s ambitions. The show garnered significant attention for its complex narrat...

8 Magic Johnson

Earvin "Magic" Johnson Jr., a dominant point guard for the Los Angeles Lakers, revolutionized the NBA with his exceptional passing skills and court vision during the 1980s, leading the team to five championships.

9 Apple IIe
Apple IIe

The Apple IIe, released in 1983, was an 8-bit home/personal computer known for its improved keyboard and expanded memory capabilities compared to earlier models in the Apple II series.

10 Do the Right Thing

Do the Right Thing portrays escalating racial tensions within a Brooklyn neighborhood centered around a pizzeria. The film’s narrative unfolds over a single summer day, showcasing conflict between African-American residents and Italian-American business owners. It culminates in an event involving tr...

11 Super Mario Bros.

Super Mario Bros. is a 1985 platform game for the NES developed by Nintendo under Shigeru Miyamoto’s direction. Players control Mario or Luigi to navigate levels within the Mushroom Kingdom, rescuing Princess Toadstool from King Koopa. The gameplay involves traversing side-scrolling stages and utili...

12 Shoah
Shoah

Shoah is a 1985 documentary film examining the Holocaust through extended interviews conducted by Claude Lanzmann. The eleven-year production involved filming at locations in Poland, including former extermination camps, and gathering testimonies from survivors, witnesses, and individuals associated...

13 Airplane!
Airplane!

Released in 1980, 'Airplane!' redefined the parody genre with its relentless barrage of visual gags, puns, and absurd situations. It mercilessly mocks disaster movies, subverting tropes and expectations with impeccable comedic timing. The film's success spawned countless imitators, but few have matc...

14 Whitney High School

Whitney High School is a California public magnet school located in Cerritos. It’s known for its rigorous academic program and strong emphasis on classical studies, particularly drawing from the traditions of the 1980s. The school prepares students for college success and attracts dedicated learners...

15 Lonesome Dove

Lonesome Dove is a 1989 U.S. CBS miniseries adapted from Larry McMurtry's novel, widely noted for reviving the television Western.

16 When Harry Met Sally...

Nora Ephron's masterpiece remains the gold standard for romantic comedies. The film explores the age-old question of whether men and women can truly be 'just friends' through the witty and insightful interactions of Harry and Sally over several years. Its sharp dialogue, realistic portrayal of relat...

17 Fanny and Alexander

Fanny and Alexander depicts the lives of siblings within a large Swedish family in Uppsala during the early 20th century. The narrative centers around the aftermath of the children’s father’s death and subsequent familial upheaval, including an abusive relationship involving one son. The film explor...

18 Ran
Ran

Ran chronicles the decline of Hidetora Ichimonji, a powerful daimyō who divides his kingdom among his sons before ultimately losing control. The narrative draws from Shakespeare’s *King Lear* and Japanese legends surrounding Mōri Motonari, depicting a warlord's fall from power. It portrays the conse...

19 Brideshead Revisited

Brideshead Revisited was a 1981 British television adaptation of Evelyn Waugh’s novel, created by Derek Granger and starring Jeremy Irons and Anthony Andrews. Produced by Granada Television for ITV, the serial received recognition as one of the top 100 television programs of all time according to Ti...

20 IBM Personal Computer 5150

The IBM Personal Computer 5150, released in 1981, was a groundbreaking desktop computer featuring an Intel 8088 processor and initially offered 64KB of RAM, establishing a new standard for personal computing.

21 Larry Bird
Larry Bird

Larry Bird was a dominant forward for the Boston Celtics from 1979 to 1992, renowned for his exceptional shooting accuracy, intense competitiveness, and key role in three championship victories alongside teammates Kevin McHale and Robert Parish.

22 The Princess Bride

The Princess Bride is a 1987 fantasy-adventure-comedy film adapted from William Goldman’s novel. It recounts the journey of Westley, who seeks to rescue Princess Buttercup from Prince Humperdinck, alongside a group of allies. The narrative incorporates a metafictional element, presented as a story b...

23 This Is Spinal Tap

Rob Reiner's 'This is Spinal Tap' (1984) is a brilliant mockumentary that satirizes the excesses and absurdities of the rock and roll lifestyle. The film follows a fictional heavy metal band as they embark on a disastrous American tour. Its improvisational style and deadpan delivery create a remarka...

24 Wings of Desire

Wings of Desire depicts invisible angels residing in Berlin, observing and offering solace to isolated humans. One angel, desiring connection, chooses mortality to experience human sensations and pursue a relationship with a trapeze artist. The film explores themes of longing and the desire for tang...

25 A City of Sadness

A City of Sadness is a 1989 Taiwanese drama focusing on the Lin family during the 1947 February 28 Incident. The film explores the KMT’s authoritarian rule following World War II and its impact on Taiwan, marking the first cinematic depiction of this event. It has been recognized for examining Taiwa...

26 Pac-Man
Pac-Man

Pac-Man is a seminal arcade game created by Namco in Japan during the 1980s. Players control Pac-Man within a maze environment, strategically consuming dots and utilizing power pellets to temporarily influence the behavior of pursuing ghosts. The game’s addictive gameplay and iconic design have made...

27 Journey to the West

Journey to the West is a television adaptation of Wu Cheng'en’s novel, featuring a narrative centered around a pilgrimage undertaken by four individuals: Sun Wukong, Tang Sanzang, Zhu Bajie, and Sha Wujing. The series was directed by Yang Jie and cast Liu Xiao Ling Tong in the role of Sun Wukong, al...

28 Time of the Gypsies

Time of the Gypsies, directed by Emir Kusturica, is a 1988 Yugoslav film set in Sarajevo, Skopje, and Milan. The story centers on a young Romani man with magical abilities who becomes involved in criminal activities through deception. Featuring dialogue in Romani, Serbo-Croatian, and Italian, the fi...

29 M.U.L.E.
M.U.L.E.

M.U.L.E. is a 1983 strategy game developed by Ozark Softscape for Atari systems. The title, an acronym for “Mine Until Lollipop Empty,” presents players with a complex resource management simulation where four individuals compete to extract resources and dominate a shared island. Its innovative mult...

30 Back to the Future

Robert Zemeckis' 'Back to the Future' remains a cornerstone of the time travel genre. Marty McFly's accidental journey to 1955 and his subsequent efforts to ensure his parents' meeting are both hilarious and heartwarming. While the film employs the 'alternate timeline' trope, it does so with charm...

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