Top 20 Underrated Movies of the 1980s

The heritage of Disney throughout the 1970s and ‘80s was marked by a handful of films boasting more mature themes. “Escape to Witch Mountain” and particularly “The Watcher in the Woods” were excellent examples to this end, as was “Something Wicked This Way Comes” from 1983. This latter film adapted the Ray Bradbury novel of the same name with a wonderfully dark atmosphere and tone for a Disney venture. Audience tastes weren’t exactly receptive to “Something Wicked This Way Comes” at the time of its release and it severely underperformed at the box office. It’s thankfully gained a cult audience today, remaining a captivating example of a risk-taking Disney flick with tons of style.

This is a film that has so much going for it. Yet, “Bright Lights, Big City” was almost a very different feature. The final cut had to be assembled from scratch, due to an original draft that bore little resemblance to its source novel. What we have turned out to be a satisfying dramatic role for Michael J. Fox, portraying a young man whose life seems to be spiraling out of control. “Bright Lights, Big City” also boasts outstanding cinematography from the legendary Gordon Willis, as well as a soundtrack full of ‘80s icons. The ensemble cast is also great, particularly Kiefer Sutherland, Phoebe Cates, and Fox’s future wife, Tracy Pollan. “Bright Lights, Big City” is definitely worth some reinvestigation.

There were numerous impressive debuts to be found in 1980’s “My Bodyguard.” Adam Baldwin, Joan Cusack, and Jennifer Beals all show up young and fresh-faced here, while the screenplay from noted horror scribe Alan Ormsby is strong. This can be felt in how Ormsby treats his young characters since a lot of respect is paid to their backstories, motivations, and feelings. This often turbulent world of adolescence is explored in “My Bodyguard” wonderfully by its leads, Chris Makepeace, Matt Dillon, and the aforementioned Baldwin. The cast executes the material in a way that feels leaps and bounds beyond typical teen fare of the day, that’s for sure.

It speaks volumes that producer Steven Spielberg requested that his name be removed from the credits to “Three O’Clock High.” This all came down to this film’s unapologetically dark and realistic tone, which is as anti-Spielbergian as an ‘80s flick can get, right? “Three O’Clock High” possesses a simple, yet interesting plot that takes place within a single day. It’s a story to which many of us can also relate, as well, since it surrounds conflict and one young man’s response to a challenge. “Three O’Clock High” failed to make its budget back at the box office, but it remains an outside-the-box ‘80s flick with a stellar electronic soundtrack from Tangerine Dream and Sylvester Levay. We think you should check out both!

The subject matter at the center of “Better Off Dead” makes it a film that would be challenging to remake today. Yet, this is perhaps also why it’s endured for so many who originally watched it back in 1985. “Better Off Dead” is a black comedy through and through, exploring lead John Cusack’s desire for self-destruction after being dumped by his girlfriend. The results meld some typical teen movie tropes with other, more surrealistic moments that feel anything but generic. It should be said that “Better Off Dead” does tend to divide some folks, including Cusack, who initially hated the film. The actor eventually softened his stance, remarking to a 2013 Reddit AMA that he was “Glad people love it still.”

Never underestimate the power of home video. If that’s not an '80s-focused sentence, then we don’t know what is. Yet, it also accurately describes the groundswell of support “Innerspace” earned after its initial release in 1987. Joe Dante’s mish-mash of comedy, action, and science fiction bombed at the box office, but found new life at the video store. It was here where “Innerspace” flourished, warming up VCRs around the globe with its tale of a tiny Dennis Quaid, a hilarious Martin Short, and all kinds of adventure. Dante’s likable style is evident throughout “Innerspace,” while the rest of the cast, including Meg Ryan, Kevin McCarthy, and John Hora, all do great work here.

The modern-day interest in true crime makes it a perfect cultural landscape for films such as 1986’s “At Close Range” to be rediscovered by audiences. The story is based upon the exploits of Bruce Johnston, whose life of crime to an end thanks, in part, to the testimony of his son. Christopher Walken is all tension and menace as Brad Whitewood, who eventually inducts Brad Jr. and his brother Tommy into his gang. It all goes south fast, with Walken and real-life siblings Sean and Chris Penn making “At Close Range” feel absolutely compelling. Meanwhile, performances from Crispin Glover, Kiefer Sutherland, Candy Clark, and Mary Stuart Masterson help solidify “At Close Range” as a viewing experience you will not soon forget.

It’s perhaps a common misconception that 1991’s “The Silence of the Lambs” served as the cinematic debut for one Doctor Hannibal Lecter. The Thomas Harris character actually showed up five years earlier, portrayed by Brian Cox for Michael Mann’s underrated “Manhunter.” The film, somewhat incredulously, bombed at the box office, though it’s largely seen today as a forward-thinking exercise in style from the ever-reliable Mann. “Manhunter” focused on forensic science during an era where old-fashioned police work was still largely seen as “the only way” to solve crimes. Meanwhile, Cox’s performance as Lecter/Lecktor is understated and menacing. The bold colors and outstanding cinematography also go a long way into making “Manhunter” a film that, in our opinion, is a must-see.

Many supremely quirky films were released during the 1980s. “The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension” comes to mind, as well as this unique take on the disaster film genre released in 1988. “Miracle Mile” asks a difficult question to its audience, namely, “What would you do if you knew the world was going to end?” Writer/director Steve De Jarnatt crafts a tale of new love and heartbreak, told in real-time amidst a backdrop of nuclear armageddon. There’s an ominous and fatalistic darkness that looms over “Miracle Mile,” yet we still feel a semblance of hope while watching Harry and Julie. Specifically, their vain attempts to reconnect as the world goes to hell.

The boundless and unstoppable creativity of Terry Gilliam was set on full display in 1988’s “The Adventures of Baron Munchausen.” This maverick director crafted an indescribable fantasy adventure that bombed at the box office, yet also captured the imaginations of many on home video. The tall tales of the Baron’s exploits feature everything from a young Uma Thurman as Venus to an uncredited Robin Williams as the King of the Moon. Meanwhile, the magical creatures and swashbuckling set-pieces ensure that these adventures remain some of the most ambitiously artistic sentiment ever set free upon the silver screen.

Based on the novel written by former Secret Service agent Gerald Petievich, this film was among the ‘80s’ most exciting. The story centers on a Secret Service agent who vows revenge against a counterfeiter who killed his partner. It sounds cliché, but the car chases and shootouts throughout the movie are so exciting, and the L.A. setting is so beautifully shot with such style, that it stands apart from other thrillers of the time. That, along with William Petersen’s and Willem Dafoe’s intense performances, makes this film an underrated gem.

Director Martin Brest enjoyed an enviable run of hits throughout the 1980s, including the OG “Beverly Hills Cop.” That movie remains insanely quotable as does Brest’s 1988 feature, the incredibly awesome “Midnight Run.” Robert De Niro and Charles Grodin possess magnificent chemistry together as a pair who are dodging the law, the mob, and everything in between… as they struggle not to kill each other. De Niro’s bounty hunter and Grodin’s mobbed-up money man are at the focus of a film with plenty of action and thrills to spare. “Midnight Run” had the difficult task of balancing action, drama, and comedy in an entertaining way, but Brest and his team absolutely rose to the occasion.

Depending who you ask, proper adaptations of Stephen King’s works are few and far between. But “The Dead Zone” definitely qualifies as a proper adaptation. Released four years after King’s novel, the story follows a teacher who wakes from a coma to discover he has psychic abilities. Christopher Walken gives one of his most underrated performances in this film, as he is both relatable and sympathetic in the main role. The story, like most of King’s, is intense, emotional, and characteristically eerie, proving to be one of the best movies of the year.

“Local Hero,” a film about an American oil representative who travels to Scotland to purchase land for his company, may not sound very exciting, but it packs a hell of a punch. The characters of this film are fascinating, human, and hilarious with performances that deftly carry the weight of their complexity. Writer and director Bill Forsyth evokes both emotion and laughs, and his efforts won him a BAFTA for Best Direction. It’s a small film, but one that encompasses more quality than some of Hollywood’s best.

Notable for being director Michael Mann’s major film directorial debut, “Thief” is just as powerful and exciting as any of his other movies. Adapted from a novel written by real thief John Seybold, it tells the story of a thief performing a job for the mafia. The film stars James Caan, and like usual, he is terrific in the role, embodying a professional thief perfectly. “Thief” is heart-stopping at its best moments, proving to be an exciting and intelligent film that broke boundaries of what a thriller could accomplish.

A great merger of Western and vampire films, “Near Dark” perfectly blends the two genres together, but never loses the unique touch that makes each one memorable. The movie is directed by Kathryn Bigelow, now a big-name A-lister, and received favorable reviews and later a cult following. However, it was released too soon after more successful vampire movies, being overshadowed by their success. Even so, as a young man becomes involved with a group of nomadic vampires, the audience is treated to a tour-de-force of beautifully shot sequences, lots of blood, and even some genuine emotion.

Action comedies are a winning combination, and this is certainly the case with “Something Wild,” an underrated gem starring the always-fantastic Jeff Daniels as a man who is taken on an adventure by a free-spirited woman. While it certainly isn’t as popular as it deserves to be due to its quirkiness, it has obtained a cult following and has been hailed as one of Daniels’ funniest, most overlooked roles. It also has plenty of tonal shifts to keep the movie interesting, and it makes for one unpredictable ride.

When we say comedy, the gritty Martin Scorsese is probably not the first person to pop into your head, but his funny bone shines in this film about a man who runs into misadventures as he makes his way home. Scorsese had successfully dabbled in comedy prior to this with “The King of Comedy,” but “After Hours”’ outrageous, fun, and relatively simple premise makes it a true gem. Scorsese even won himself the Best Director award at the Cannes Film Festival, and the movie remains darkly hilarious, but sadly overlooked to this day.

One of Brian De Palma’s masterpieces, “Blow Out” sees the director at the top of his game and features an A-list cast, including the outstanding John Travolta and John Lithgow. Negative word of mouth spread after the movie premiered due to its dreary story about a sound effects technician who discovered audio evidence of an assassination. As such, it performed poorly at the box office and never reached an audience. The ending only adds to the film’s depravity, and makes for an emotional, yet unforgettable movie experience.

If this movie were released today, with the horror comedy hybrid genre booming, it would definitely be more popular. The film follows Roddy Piper’s character (yes, that Roddy Piper) as he discovers a pair of sunglasses that let him see the truth about consumerism, advertising, and that the ruling class is concealed aliens. Not only is the movie scary and fantastically absurd, it also provides thoughtful commentary on the rich, the economic status of America, and the influence of mass media on the general population. Not bad for a silly sci-fi movie starring a wrestler.


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