I don't necessarily mean what is the best movie of the 80's, but rather which movie is best for stirring up feelings of 80's nostalgia?

I think I'll go with either The Breakfast Club or Pretty in Pink.  New Wave soundtracks, John Hughes movies with multiple members of the Brat Pack in them? What more could an 80's fan want?  Hmm, based on that, I should probably be including Sixteen Candles and Weird Science, plus Ferris Beuhler's Day Off is a classic, but that one almost seems to transcend the 80's.

I'd say A Nightmare on Elm Street really epitomizes the 80s. It's dark, stylish, shocking, features a wacky villain, features synthesized music, and even revolves around troubled teens talking about their insecurities. Not to mention, there were 5 Nightmare on Elm Street movies to come out of the 1980s, all of which were commercially relevant. It's a mish-mash of high school and horror-comedy, both two of the first genres that come to mind when people think of the 80s. The only thing that would perfext it is a macho action hero, but I suppose Freddy Krueger at least nails the intimidating, one-liner-spewing qualities that breathe life into Schwarzenegger flicks.

Mannequin (1987). It's one of my favorite movies and it always reminds me how '80s it is!

I'd say A Nightmare on Elm Street really epitomizes the 80s. It's dark, stylish, shocking, features a wacky villain, features synthesized music, and even revolves around troubled teens talking about their insecurities. Not to mention, there were 5 Nightmare on Elm Street movies to come out of the 1980s, all of which were commercially relevant. It's a mish-mash of high school and horror-comedy, both two of the first genres that come to mind when people think of the 80s. The only thing that would perfext it is a macho action hero, but I suppose Freddy Krueger at least nails the intimidating, one-liner-spewing qualities that breathe life into Schwarzenegger flicks.


Interesting perspective. I wouldn't have thought of that.

St. Elmo's Fire (1985). 80's as hell!  :D

How about "Risky Business"? It was the first movie to show the shift away from more 60s and 70s values in young people to 80s values of capitalism and materialism.  The Reagan era legitimized greed. Joel Goodson is a "Young Achiever", the future is so bright he's gotta wear shades, even the hooker (also around Joel's age, played by Rebecca De Mornay)) is into that, singing the praises of owning real estate. To use music as an example, in ten years we had gone from George Harrison's very spiritual 1973 song "Living In The Material World" where he hopes to escape from it ("hope to get out of this place/by the Lord Sri Krsna's grace...") to the extreme materialism of Madonna's 1985 "Material Girl", where she exults in it ("this is a material world/and I am a material girl").

Either Valley Girl or Eddie And The Cruisers.

I think the quintessential 80s movie needs to have an "Eye of the Tiger" montage where they're gettin' sh!t done! I can't recall, but I don't think any of the movies mentioned above has such a montage.

Maybe "The Karate Kid" with "You're the Best Around" is close enough.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oomCIXGzsR0

Or the "Scarface" "Push it to the Limit" montage might do.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vT8OU5WtfkQ

It's just a scientific fact that a defining 80s movie needs a montage with upbeat "getting it done" music.

When I want to dip back into the 80s it's always through television movies as they were more true to every day life and had more suburban scenes. There are literally too many to name. But for official big screen movies, maybe something like
"Like Father Like Son", "The Boy Who Could Fly", "Dance Til Dawn" or "Baby Boom".

How about "Risky Business"? It was the first movie to show the shift away from more 60s and 70s values in young people to 80s values of capitalism and materialism.  The Reagan era legitimized greed. Joel Goodson is a "Young Achiever", the future is so bright he's gotta wear shades, even the hooker (also around Joel's age, played by Rebecca De Mornay)) is into that, singing the praises of owning real estate. To use music as an example, in ten years we had gone from George Harrison's very spiritual 1973 song "Living In The Material World" where he hopes to escape from it ("hope to get out of this place/by the Lord Sri Krsna's grace...") to the extreme materialism of Madonna's 1985 "Material Girl", where she exults in it ("this is a material world/and I am a material girl").


Was the radiant dawn of Reagan's Morning in America so overpowering that sunglasses had to become popular in the 80s, just out of necessity? I've often wondered why they were.

It's funny how Madonna was anathema to the Christian right of the 80s and yet personified, at least in her stage persona, the other half of Reaganism and of modern U.S. conservatism: Wall St and, more broadly, the materialism it symbolizes. It's like the spirit of the counterculture had been fully reconstructed such that personal expression and egotism were acceptable, even encouraged for their energy, as long as the new economic regime wasn't challenged.

Literally any non period movie from 1985. That year epitomized every '80s stereotype.

Some good suggestions here. I was also going to mention Valley Girl, but someone beat me to it.  Fast Times at Ridgemont High is another one.

Some good suggestions here. I was also going to mention Valley Girl, but someone beat me to it.  Fast Times at Ridgemont High is another one.


Although I haven't seen it in years, I think "Fast Times At Ridgemont High" still has a more 70s vibe to it than 80s. It was released in 1982, which means it was likely being made in 1980 and 1981, so it's still 70s-ish, if you believe, as I do, that the cultural 80s began in 1981. Plus, all of the musical performers on the soundtrack are artists from the 70s and 60s. Very little of what we have now come to think of as "80s music". In fact, I recall this was a criticism of the movie at the time, that the current youth weren't really listening to these artists anymore. Though Jackson Browne somehow managed to eke a hit single out of it with "Somebody's Baby".

Although I haven't seen it in years, I think "Fast Times At Ridgemont High" still has a more 70s vibe to it than 80s. It was released in 1982, which means it was likely being made in 1980 and 1981, so it's still 70s-ish, if you believe, as I do, that the cultural 80s began in 1981. Plus, all of the musical performers on the soundtrack are artists from the 70s and 60s. Very little of what we have now come to think of as "80s music". In fact, I recall this was a criticism of the movie at the time, that the current youth weren't really listening to these artists anymore. Though Jackson Browne somehow managed to eke a hit single out of it with "Somebody's Baby".


You could definitely tell that Fast Times..... still had a 70's vibe. It wasn't until 1984 when the 80's vibe, in movies, dominated.

I believe that Material Girl was a satire of materialist attitudes, not an actual celebration. It's another song that's been misinterpreted over and over again. Take a look at the music video: all these rich guys are after Madonna trying to win her over with their wealth but there's also appears this one guy who doesn't have a lot of money but is shown as a really good guy; she ends up picking him over the others during the end of the video showing that wealth isn't everything.

I believe that Material Girl was a satire of materialist attitudes, not an actual celebration. It's another song that's been misinterpreted over and over again. Take a look at the music video: all these rich guys are after Madonna trying to win her over with their wealth but there's also appears this one guy who doesn't have a lot of money but is shown as a really good guy; she ends up picking him over the others during the end of the video showing that wealth isn't everything.


It could just as easily be argued that this aspect of the music video is counter-signaling by the producers who knew that the message of the song was just the opposite or would be received as just the opposite. It's rather like toning down the hedonism for the sake of marketing.

In fact I think this interpretation is better supported when you consider that Madonna is clever and knew that she could increase her fame on the rising tide of ego, excess, and edginess at that time. This song taps into that trend.

Despite the video it's hard to mistake the message of the lyrics.


Some boys kiss me
Some boys hug me
I think they're ok
If they don't give me proper credit
I just walk away

They can beg and they can plead
But they can't see the light (that's right)
'Cause the boy with the cold hard cash
Is always Mister Right

'Cause we are living in a material world
And I am a material girl
You know that we are living in a material world
And I am a material girl

Some boys romance
Some boys slow dance
That's all right with me
If they can't raise my interest then I
Have to let them be

Some boys try and some boys lie but
I don't let them play (no way)
Only boys who save their pennies
Make my rainy day

'Cause we're living in a material world
And I am a material girl
You know that we are living in a material world
And I am a material girl

Boys may come and boys may go
And that's all right you see
Experience has made me rich
And now they're after me

'Cause everybody's living in a material world
And I am a material girl
You know that we are living in a material world
And I am a material girl

You could definitely tell that Fast Times..... still had a 70's vibe. It wasn't until 1984 when the 80's vibe, in movies, dominated.


Fast times seemed like a mix of 70s and 80s. Pretty strange. Like it was in a nowhere land.

For late Gen Xers this movie was full of 80s elements - shopping malls, big hair etc.

I think every major sitcom had a cast member in this...

kJY0v9DMQUU

I believe that Material Girl was a satire of materialist attitudes, not an actual celebration. It's another song that's been misinterpreted over and over again. Take a look at the music video: all these rich guys are after Madonna trying to win her over with their wealth but there's also appears this one guy who doesn't have a lot of money but is shown as a really good guy; she ends up picking him over the others during the end of the video showing that wealth isn't everything.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6p-lDYPR2P8

It could just as easily be argued that this aspect of the music video is counter-signaling by the producers who knew that the message of the song was just the opposite or would be received as just the opposite. It's rather like toning down the hedonism for the sake of marketing.

In fact I think this interpretation is better supported when you consider that Madonna is clever and knew that she could increase her fame on the rising tide of ego, excess, and edginess at that time. This song taps into that trend.

Despite the video it's hard to mistake the message of the lyrics.



Madonna did say this:

"I can't completely disdain the song and the video, because they certainly were important to my career. But talk about the media hanging on a phrase and misinterpreting the damn thing as well. I didn't write that song, you know, and the video was about how the girl rejected diamonds and money. But God forbid irony should be understood. So when I'm ninety, I'll still be the Material Girl. I guess it's not so bad. Lana Turner was the Sweater Girl until the day she died."

She could mean it or maybe she's just trying to cover up for previously promoting a materialist message in the 80's by saying this. In the end, no one really knows but her.

http://img.moviepostershop.com/breakin-movie-poster-1984-1020192814.jpg

http://img.moviepostershop.com/breakin-movie-poster-1984-1020192814.jpg


Excellent, excellent choice.

Madonna: The Virgin Tour Live VHS
Basically her 1985 Virgin Tour.

https://http2.mlstatic.com/madonna-the-virgin-tour-live-vhs-importado-unica-ed-1985-hwo-D_NQ_NP_13324-MLM3251445548_102012-F.jpg

The outfits, the fashion, the music, the energy, the mania! http://www.kanyetothe.com/forum/Smileys/default/HWaQd6Z.png http://www.kanyetothe.com/forum/Smileys/default/HWaQd6Z.png http://www.kanyetothe.com/forum/Smileys/default/HWaQd6Z.png http://www.kanyetothe.com/forum/Smileys/default/HWaQd6Z.png

http://img.moviepostershop.com/breakin-movie-poster-1984-1020192814.jpg


Ollie And Jerry sang "Ain't No Stopping Us" in this film.

Madonna: The Virgin Tour Live VHS
Basically her 1985 Virgin Tour.

https://http2.mlstatic.com/madonna-the-virgin-tour-live-vhs-importado-unica-ed-1985-hwo-D_NQ_NP_13324-MLM3251445548_102012-F.jpg

The outfits, the fashion, the music, the energy, the mania! http://www.kanyetothe.com/forum/Smileys/default/HWaQd6Z.png http://www.kanyetothe.com/forum/Smileys/default/HWaQd6Z.png http://www.kanyetothe.com/forum/Smileys/default/HWaQd6Z.png http://www.kanyetothe.com/forum/Smileys/default/HWaQd6Z.png
Shown as a movie?

Shown as a movie?


I don't think this was a movie? ???

Madonna did say this:

"I can't completely disdain the song and the video, because they certainly were important to my career. But talk about the media hanging on a phrase and misinterpreting the damn thing as well. I didn't write that song, you know, and the video was about how the girl rejected diamonds and money. But God forbid irony should be understood. So when I'm ninety, I'll still be the Material Girl. I guess it's not so bad. Lana Turner was the Sweater Girl until the day she died."

She could mean it or maybe she's just trying to cover up for previously promoting a materialist message in the 80's by saying this. In the end, no one really knows but her.


In the end I think what matters, at least in what I'm talking about, is the message people were getting from that song and how it's emblematic of broader things in society.

I like a lot of Madonna's songs; some are very pretty and melodic, like Crazy for You (seems way innocent nowadays), La Isla Bonita, Borderline, Like a Prayer and many others. I just find a lot of the cultural changes of the 80s fascinating and think they help explain the last few decades.

That's funny, I was just trying to find Breakin' on Youtube last week.

That's funny, I was just trying to find Breakin' on Youtube last week.


just type in the search bar "Breakin full film".