At this point, it seems like almost everyone has an Amazon Prime subscription. When you're not using it to stream fantastic series like The Boys or The Man in the High Castle, it can be used to enjoy some of the best movies from your past. There are some gems there from the 1980s.
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It's true that the catalog of streaming titles fluctuates from month to month but there's almost always a good number of nostalgic hits. That's especially true for the 1980s right now. Prime and Hulu share a fair number of titles, so this list will avoid doubling up on that already completed list.
Fright Night (1985)
Horror movies were kind of all the rage in the 1980s. Franchises like Halloween, Friday the 13th, and Nightmare on Elm Street were all booming. So, it's understandable that something like Fright Night flew a bit under the radar at the time of its original release.
However, Fright Night offered something different for the era. It focused on vampires, as a teenager discovered his new neighbor was one. Although this didn't do all that well at the box office, it spawned a sequel and a 2011 remake due to its cult classic status.
The Secret Of NIMH (1982)
The lone animated entry on this list, The Secret of NIMH has become something of a cult classic. Originally based on a 1971 kid's book called Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH, it didn't become a big hit at the time of release but now has plenty of fans.
It centers on a field mouse who goes on a journey to find a pack of rats who can help her sick son. While there, she discovers more than she ever could've bargained for. The Secret of NIMH won the Saturn Award for Best Animated Film and was praised for the cast, the visuals, and how it adapted the source material
The Color Of Money (1986)
Young Tom Cruise was always something of a treat. Think about his work in The Outsiders, Risky Business, or Top Gun. Around the time Top Gun helped boost his fame, he was part of The Color of Money, which is something of a hidden gem in his filmography.
In it, Cruise plays Vincent Lauria but the real star here was Paul Newman. He took on the role of Edward "Fast Eddie" Felson, a talented pool player who teaches Lauria the art of hustling and makes a comeback of his own. This was where Newman finally won a Best Actor Oscar after being nominated eight times.
Fatal Attraction (1987)
These days, the highest-grossing movie each year is probably part of a huge franchise, makes a billion dollars, and is often related to superheroes. That wasn't quite the case in 1987. The film to make the most money was Fatal Attraction, which grossed $320.1 million on a $14 million budget.
It became must-see due to the premise where a woman becomes obsessed with a man she has a fling with and she refuses to end it. The cast also helped, as the film was led by Michael Douglas and Glenn Close. Fatal Attraction was nominated for six Academy Awards and was even adapted into a play.
Escape From New York (1981)
Following the success of Halloween, director John Carpenter was allowed to create a film with a bigger budget and on a larger scale. He delivered that in a big way with Escape from New York, which has gone on to become one of the more iconic movies from the decade.
This sci-fi action flick introduced the world to Kurt Russell's Snake Plissken. Set in a future where Manhattan is a prison, ex-soldier and current prisoner Plissken was tasked with rescuing the President after Air Force One was hijacked. Fans everywhere still love this, while Plissken has become a legendary character.
St. Elmo's Fire (1985)
The Brat Pack is about as '80s as it gets. The group included Judd Nelson, Rob Lowe, Molly Ringwald, Emilio Estevez, Anthony Michael Hall, and a few others. They were known for starring together in classics from the era. In fact, there were a dozen movies featuring at least two of them from 1983 until 1990.
1985 was their banner year as it saw the release of both The Breakfast Club and St. Elmo's Fire. The latter featured six and focused on a group of young adults who struggled with adjusting to life following their graduation from Georgetown University.
Planes, Trains and Automobiles (1987)
If you want to have a great time while watching a movie, then look no further than this. Planes, Trains and Automobiles is a beloved holiday flick and one of the few that centers on Thanksgiving. It tells the story of a man who spent three days going through wacky adventures to get home in time for the holiday.
Although there were plenty of things to like about it, the highlight is the chemistry between Steve Martin and John Candy, which is inherently a blast. This was also prominent for marking a change in tone for John Hughes, who was mostly known for teen films before this.
Labyrinth (1986)
Jim Henson is often associated with The Muppets and that's understandable given their fame. However, he's tried his hand at some truly odd things in the past, with Labyrinth ranking near the top in that category. Of course, it still involved a fair amount of puppets.
That said, the musical fantasy tale was still unique. It saw David Bowie as Jareth the Goblin King, who sent away Sarah's (Jennifer Connelly) little brother when she wished him away. Sarah regretted the choice and went on a quest in a trippy maze to rescue him. The film wasn't a hit at first but has become one over time.
Raging Bull (1980)
The oldest film on this list, Raging Bull is arguably the best work of Robert De Niro's career. That's saying something considering his impressive filmography. Based on Jake LaMotta's memoir Raging Bull: My Story, De Niro starred as LaMotta, a former boxer.
Though a talented pugilist, LaMotta had self-destructive tendencies that wrecked his relationships and life. De Niro won the Oscar for Best Actor here and this is now considered one of the greatest films ever helmed by Martin Scorcese.
Clue (1985)
In of reviews and accolades, there are stronger movies on this list. However, none are as rewatchable as Clue. Based on the famed board game of the same name, this is a delightful black comedy murder mystery that is timeless to this day.
With a stellar cast including Tim Curry, Eileen Brennan, Christopher Lloyd, and more, the laughs are non-stop. The plot is filled with tremendous twists and multiple endings, making it the best adaptation of a board game you could possibly imagine. It's almost impossible to watch this and not have a great time.
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