Must-See Movies from the '80s

The '80s gave us so much. The decade gave us great music, sports, culture, and, of course, movies. We are going to introduce you to four must-see favorites from the '80s in this article. Perhaps you've seen them all before, never seen them before, or have completely forgotten about them.

No matter what, we are giving you four great movies you should watch or rewatch this summer. Watch these movies before the NFL football season starts in the fall when all you can care about is the NFL Week 1 odds. Let us have a look at these fantastic, all-time favorites!

Scarface (1983)

One of Al Pacino’s career highlights is Scarface, directed by Brian De Palma (The Untouchables, Mission: Impossible). Pacino has the role of the charismatic Cuban gangster Tony Montana, who, together with his friend, turns up as gangsters in Miami. They make one good drug deal after another, wading in money and seeming almost unstoppable. Everything seems to be going smoothly - before Montana gets strong feelings for another gangster's girlfriend.

Scarface has now received the recognition it merits as a classic. Pacino almost passes as unidentifiable and excels as the greatest cinematic gangster ever! Scarface is a superbly well-written movie that offers insight into a grim yet interesting world.

National Lampoon's Vacation (1983)

Most of us have experienced a family holiday that did not go exactly according to plan.

National Lampoon’s Vacation depicts just that. It is easy to recognize oneself in the Griswold family's very unsuccessful holiday. In the film, we meet a great number of crazy characters. But no one can beat the father of the family, Clark W. Griswold (Chevy Chase), who messes up everything. Chase has never been this much fun and he steals the show in every scene he participates in.

The Shining (1980)

A follow-up to The Shining, arguably the scariest movie of the 1980s, was released in 2019. Doctor Sleep, the sequel, was an admirable effort, but it lacked weirdness and was of much lower quality than the first movie.

In The Shining, Jack Torrance, played by Nicholson, introduces us to his family. Over the winter, they must maintain the abandoned hotel, The Overlook. It appears to be a rather quiet, typical hotel. But eventually, things start to take place. Torrance loses control as the line between his dream and reality gets increasingly hazy.

Some accomplishments stick in people's minds more than others. To suggest that Nicholson gives one of his greatest performances as Torrance is not an exaggeration. The film is a great masterpiece, like most of Kubrick's films. An extremely stylistic, claustrophobic, and well-played psychological thriller that never ceases to be fascinating.

E.T. The Extra Terrestrial (1982)

Spielberg produced a string of film office hits in the 1970s and 1980s, including "Shark Summer," "Third Grade Close Contact," the "Indiana Jones" series, and not to mention "E.T." Few directors—if any—can cite such a series of gems. Consequently, it is hard to choose a favorite during Spielberg's heyday as a filmmaker. But if forced to make a decision, E.T. may stand out.

This is a movie that has it all and appeals to both adults and children. And it says something about Spielberg's exceptional capacity for embracing a broad variety. It's tough to avoid getting engrossed in the tale of Elliott and his pals assisting E.T. on his journey back to space. The most compelling performances in the movie are given by the young performers, such as Drew Barrymore and Henry Thomas. E.T. is a really affecting and thrilling popcorn movie with a fantastic, Oscar-winning soundtrack by John Williams.