Top 10 80s Movies That Got Popular Again

This testosterone-fuelled flick was 1986’s highest-grossing blockbuster, solidifying Tom Cruise as a superstar. While Cruise’s star power continued to rise, respect for “Top Gun” seemed to dwindle over time. Parodies like “Hot Shots!” didn’t help, but it was during the internet era that “Top Gun” fell into self-parody territory thanks to the relentlessly memed volleyball scene. With the success of “Top Gun: Maverick” over 30 years later, many were reminded of how much the original film rocked, from its daring aerial sequences to its killer soundtrack. The legacy sequel also inspired newcomers to finally check out its predecessor, giving them their first taste of Tony Scott at his peak. Some may prefer “Maverick,” but there’s one thing the sequel could never top: 80s vibes.

Once Christopher Nolan came along, Joel Schumacher’s contributions to the Batman franchise became relics of the past. At the same time, many seemed to forget just how groundbreaking Tim Burton’s first “Batman” movie was. As gritty realism started to oversaturate the superhero genre, people eventually revisited the gritty surrealism of Burton’s “Batman.” In an entertainment landscape dominated by CGI, the practical sets of Burton’s Gotham City are a bittersweet beacon of a bygone era. For many, the film doesn’t just include the definitive version of Gotham, but the best cinematic Batman in Michael Keaton. Such reappraisal led to Keaton donning the cape and cowl again in “The Flash.” Meanwhile, the original film’s continuity has been recently expanded upon through comics and novels.

Upon release, this fantasy film was a financial disappointment, but it would develop a cult following. Appreciation for “Labyrinth” has only grown as more people reevaluate the impact and legacy of director Jim Henson, this being his last feature. Speaking of once-in-a-lifetime talents we lost too soon, “Dance Magic Dance” made the rounds as we said goodbye to David Bowie in 2016. Two years later, “Labyrinth” saw a theatrical re-release. Around this time, Brian Henson revealed that a stage adaptation of “Labyrinth” was in the works. There were also whispers of a potential cinematic follow-up with Robert Eggers being attached to direct in late 2024. Underappreciated during its time, “Labyrinth” is more popular now than Jim Henson ever could’ve imagined.

When the country as a whole doesn’t share your political beliefs, it can feel as if aliens are replacing the population. They may look human on the surface, but underneath, they’re ghouls feeding into a system of manipulation. This provided the basis for John Carpenter’s “They Live,” which tackled Reaganomics through a sci-fi horror lens. While the film found an audience, critics at the time took issue with its social commentary. Fast-forward a few decades, critics today have not only praised the commentary as smart, but still relevant. As Donald Trump ushered in a new political era with corporate greed and prejudice on the rise, parallels were drawn to Roddy Piper putting on his sunglasses, seeing the world for what it has become.

How were you introduced to “The Princess Bride?” If you grew up in the late 80s or 90s, chances are a friend or family member brought over their VHS copy. Like Fred Savage’s character, you might’ve been skeptical, but by the end, you were ready for a rewatch. For a period, “The Princess Bride” felt like a secret with only true fans understanding the significance of words like “inconceivable.” Now, you’d be surprised to find just how many fans can quote the film line for line. So much so that during COVID, numerous celebrities participated in a fanmade remake and the original cast partook in a virtual reading. From cult favorite to universal comfort movie, “The Princess Bride” is still living its happily ever after.

One of the decade’s most original films, “Beetlejuice” found several names on the cusp of major success: Michael Keaton, Winona Ryder, Catherine O’Hara, Tim Burton, the list goes on! While all of them went on to even bigger things, they’d weather through their fair share of career setbacks as well. Around the same time that the film’s key talents started to see career resurgences, the “Beetlejuice” musical became a surprise smash on stage. Aside from reminding fans how much they loved the film that started it all, people started asking about that long-delayed “Beetlejuice” sequel. With the original film, its cast, and its director back in the spotlight, 2024 was as good a time as any to get the band back together for “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice.”

While “The Goonies” was a hit in 1985, there weren’t a lot of critics or Academy members championing it as a cinematic milestone. For a generation of young moviegoers, though, “The Goonies” was a creative catalyst for a future career in filmmaking. This is apparent in modern films like “Super 8” and shows like “Stranger Things.” Not everyone who grew up with “The Goonies” went on to make movies, but virtually every 80s and 90s kid has passed it on to their children, giving “The Goonies” a second life. The actors have also kept the film in the zeitgeist with much of the cast going on to find massive success during adulthood. Whether or not a sequel ever happens, Goonies never say die.

Even if you had never seen the original “Karate Kid,” everyone knew about this sports underdog story. During the 2010s, the film reentered the conversation for reasons nobody expected. William Zabka, who played the antagonistic Johnny Lawrence, suggested the film was really about his character. Although Zabka was joking, he got people thinking that maybe Johnny did get a bad rap and Daniel wasn’t such a great guy. The discussion seemingly peaked with an episode of “How I Met Your Mother,” but that was just a warmup for “Cobra Kai,” a legacy series presented through Johnny and Daniel’s perspectives. The hit show has influenced a new generation to rediscover the first film and its sequels, which are more fondly remembered now.

In addition to becoming the top-grossing comedy film for a period, “Ghostbusters” spawned one of the 80’s most prominent media franchises. Over the following decades, though, the franchise’s presence in pop culture faded - save for the occasional video game or short-lived TV show. With the sudden passing of Harold Ramis in 2014, legions of fans shared their fond memories of the 1984 classic while also lamenting that a true “Ghostbusters 3” would never happen. Since then, Hollywood has tried resurrecting the franchise with varying degrees of success. Whatever your thoughts on the modern incarnations are, they’ve given younger audiences a reason to seek out the original “Ghostbusters,” finding out why so many view it as a sacred work of art that can’t be topped.

When this sequel hit theaters, audiences liked it, but generally thought it wasn’t as timeless as the first film. Ironically, time has been quite kind to “Back to the Future Part II.” As we approached 2015, people were surprised to realize how much the film got right about the future, from video communication, to excessive sequels, to a surge of 80s nostalgia. Even after 2015, the film’s predictions kept coming to fruition. Not only did the Cubs win the World Series in 2016, but Biff’s ascension to power felt eerily similar to a certain politician’s presidential victory. We’re still waiting for real hoverboards, but when the technology is finally perfected, “Back to the Future Part II” is sure to dominate headlines yet again.


What 80s movie do you hope makes a comeback? Let us know in the comments.