100 Movies of the 1980s

From Amadeus to Aliens, Blue Velvet to Blade Runner, epic blockbusters to dark sci-fi: the great movies of the 1980s were experimental and excessive. This compendium has the 100 most influential and successful films from the decade of mullets and shoulder pads—complete with glossy images, detailed plot synopses and trivia.

Science fiction, horror, and action emerged as the defining genres of the decade, with non-human characters like E.T. winning the hearts of millions, and movies such as Ghostbusters and Back to the Future fused comedy and sci-fi to the delight of audiences everywhere. Inside this ’80s encyclopedia each movie masterpiece is profiled with stills, a synopsis, and cast, crew, and technical listings.