The 1980s are usually remembered for the biggest crowd pleasers like Back to the Future, Ghostbusters, and Raiders of the Lost Ark. Those movies never left the conversation. What has slipped away are the films that were respected in their time, influenced later directors, or lived long lives on cable and VHS, then quietly faded from the modern streaming spotlight.
If you have already rewatched the usual 80s hits more times than you can count, it is time to look a little deeper into the decade. Here are ten underrated 1980s movies you may have forgotten about, but are absolutely worth revisiting.
To Live and Die in L.A. (1985)
William Friedkin followed The Exorcist and The French Connection with To Live and Die in L.A., a neon-soaked crime thriller about Secret Service agents chasing a ruthless counterfeiter. Willem Dafoe is fantastic as the villain, and the movie features one of the decade’s most intense car chases. It captures the grimy, stylish side of 80s Los Angeles that most people now only know from music videos and nostalgia reels.
Where to watch: Available to stream; sold on physical media and digitally.
Witness (1985)
Harrison Ford took a rare break from franchises for Witness, a crime thriller that turns into a quiet, emotional drama. After a young Amish boy witnesses a murder in a Philadelphia train station, Ford’s detective hides out in the Amish community to protect him. The clash between urban violence and rural tradition gives the film real weight, and Ford’s performance earned him an Oscar nomination. It is one of his best roles, but it rarely gets mentioned next to Star Wars or Indiana Jones.
Where to watch: Available to stream; sold on physical media and digitally.
The Right Stuff (1983)
The Right Stuff tells the story of the early American space program, from test pilots in the desert to the first astronauts. It is an ensemble piece with standout turns from Ed Harris, Sam Shepard, and Dennis Quaid, and it balances awe, humor, and political pressure with ease. Despite critical acclaim, the movie did not become a mainstream hit. Today, it remains one of the most cinematic looks at NASA’s beginnings, overshadowed by later space films.
Where to watch: Available to stream; sold on physical media and digitally.
My Dinner with Andre (1981)
On paper, My Dinner with Andre sounds like the least cinematic concept imaginable. Two men meet at a restaurant and talk for the entire runtime. In practice, it is oddly hypnotic. Wallace Shawn and Andre Gregory discuss art, philosophy, anxiety, and the meaning of everyday life, and the conversation slowly pulls you in. It is the kind of film people joke about rather than watch, which is a shame, because it is still sharp and surprisingly accessible.
Where to watch: Available to stream; sold on physical media and digitally.
Local Hero (1983)
Local Hero is a gentle Scottish dramedy about an American oil executive sent to buy a small coastal village so his company can build a refinery. The locals are more than willing to sell, but the longer he stays, the more the town and its people get under his skin. It is quietly funny, a little magical, and full of small, perfect character moments. For anyone who likes their 80s cinema with a softer touch, this is a gem.
Where to watch: Available to stream; sold on physical media and digitally.
Running on Empty (1988)
River Phoenix gives one of his best performances in Running on Empty, a family drama about former radicals who have been on the run from the authorities for years. Their son, who has grown up living under false identities, starts to dream about a life of his own. The film captures the tension between political ideals and parental love, and Phoenix’s work earned him an Oscar nomination. It is a powerful movie that rarely shows up in modern 80s retrospectives.
Where to watch: Available to stream; sold on physical media and digitally.
The Hidden (1987)
The Hidden is a fast, clever sci-fi thriller built on a simple hook. A murderous alien parasite can jump from body to body, turning ordinary people into violent criminals, and a detective teams up with a mysterious federal agent to stop it. The result plays like a mix of cop movie and cult monster flick, complete with car chases, shootouts, and dark humor. It is the kind of movie that filled video store shelves but never quite broke through to mainstream canon.
Where to watch: Available to stream; sold on physical media and digitally.
The Year of Living Dangerously (1982)
Set in Indonesia during political upheaval in the mid-1960s, The Year of Living Dangerously follows a foreign correspondent, played by Mel Gibson, as he covers the rising tensions and falls into a complicated romance with a British diplomat, played by Sigourney Weaver. Linda Hunt won an Oscar for her performance as a local photographer who becomes his moral compass. The film is atmospheric, morally complicated, and rarely discussed now, in part because it can be difficult to find.
Where to watch: Available to stream; sold on physical media and digitally.
Starman (1984)
John Carpenter is best known for horror films like Halloween and The Thing, but Starman shows his softer side. Jeff Bridges plays an alien who takes on the form of a grieving woman’s late husband and asks her to help him reach a rendezvous point before the government captures him. What could have been a cold science fiction story becomes a moving road movie and an unlikely love story, anchored by Bridges’ quietly brilliant performance.
Where to watch: Available to stream; sold on physical media and digitally.
Glory (1989)
Glory tells the story of the 54th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment, one of the first African American units in the American Civil War. Matthew Broderick plays the young officer put in charge, but the heart of the film belongs to the soldiers played by Denzel Washington, Morgan Freeman, and Andre Braugher. Washington’s work earned him an Oscar, and the final battle remains one of the most powerful sequences in 80s cinema. Despite that, it is surprisingly absent from many modern discussions of the decade.
Where to watch: Available to stream; sold on physical media and digitally.
Why These 1980s Movies Are Worth Revisiting
The 1980s were more than just franchise launches and high concept comedies. Movies like To Live and Die in L.A., Running on Empty, and Starman show how much variety the decade really had, from paranoid thrillers to intimate dramas and offbeat character pieces. Revisiting these titles is a reminder that even in a blockbuster era, there was still plenty of room for risk taking and originality on the margins of the release schedule.
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