Best Movies of the 1980s, Ranked

35 films, ranked on my own star ratings by Arwin Edward Bagaslao. Updated 2026-10-07.

This is my ranked list for films from the 1980s, based on the ones that connected with me the most and fully worked on me in my own taste. What I like about this decade is how stacked it feels with films that are big, emotional, thrilling,

1. 1
   Die Hard (1988)

   ★★★★★

   Iba talaga ang charisma ni Bruce Willis nung bata bata pa.

2. 2
   Aliens (1986)

   ★★★★★

   <i>"Get away from her, you bitch!" </i> I really appreciate the old school filmmaking craft here.

3. 3
   The Last Temptation of Christ (1988)

   ★★★★★

   I don’t know why, but I felt really unmotivated to watch this.

4. 4
   The Empire Strikes Back (1980)

   ★★★★½
5. 5
   Grave of the Fireflies (1988)

   ★★★★½

   Grabe ang war. Kawawa talaga ang mga bata.

6. 6
   Return of the Jedi (1983)

   ★★★★
7. 7
   Back to the Future (1985)

   ★★★★

   A charming time travel adventure carried by music, character growth, and genuine likability.

8. 8
   Back to the Future Part II (1989)

   ★★★★

   I call this Project Almanac. There are a lot of callbacks from the first movie.

9. 9
   Predator (1987)

   ★★★★
10. 10
    Full Metal Jacket (1987)

    ★★★★

    Starts darkly funny then slowly turns into a cold, unsettling war experience.

11. 11
    The Terminator (1984)

    ★★★★

    I love how the film establishes the Terminator as a pure force of intent from the moment he arrives.

12. 12
    First Blood (1982)

    ★★★★

    First Blood is a grounded, physical action film that proves how effective practical filmmaking can be when paired with strong thematic weight.

13. 13
    Scarface (1983)

    ★★★★

    This feels like a raw, flashy rise and fall crime story carried by Al Pacino’s intense presence and a neon soaked Miami atmosphere.

14. 14
    Gremlins (1984)

    ★★★★

    I can imagine someone pitching this to a studio executive as, “Imagine an Ewok and a Xenomorph combined together with what would later feel like Jurassic Park DNA.”…

15. 15
    Cinema Paradiso (1988)

    ★★★★

    Toto reminded me of the innocence in Children of Heaven (1997).

16. 16
    Blade Runner (1982)

    ★★★½

    Maganda ang world building, with lots of miniature work and early VFX, very similar to Star Wars which pioneered this technique.

17. 17
    Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)

    ★★★½
18. 18
    Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984)

    ★★★½
19. 19
    Thief (1981)

    ★★★½

    Maganda ang color ng lights sa gabi, may pagka blue green.

20. 20
    E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982)

    ★★★½
21. 21
    Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989)

    ★★★½
22. 22
    Top Gun (1986)

    ★★★
23. 23
    Ran (1985)
24. 24
    Manhunter (1986)

    ★★★

    The musical score immediately sets the tone.

25. 25
    My Neighbor Totoro (1988)

    ★★★

    My daughter liked this. She likes Ponyo too, so I can see the pattern of what appeals to her.

26. 26
    The Breakfast Club (1985)

    ★★★
27. 27
    Platoon (1986)

    ★★★
28. 28
    Come and See (1985)

    ★★★

    Glasha and Flyora’s acting feels overacted at times.

29. 29
    Tron (1982)

    ★★½
30. 30
    Stand by Me (1986)

    ★★½

    I like the old school filmmaking techniques and texture here, especially during the train tracks scene.

31. 31
    Raging Bull (1980)

    ★★

    Opening credits pa lang, ang ganda na agad ng framing.

32. 32
    The Shining (1980)

    ★½

    I actually watched this before back in college because I was reading the book and wanted some visuals in my head.

33. 33
    Castle in the Sky (1986)

    ★

    I really struggled to stay awake here, even during the action sequences.

34. 34
    The Abyss (1989)

    ★
35. 35
    Dead Poets Society (1989)

    ½

    I don’t know why this film is considered a classic.