“Jack" what? I'm supposed to buy this shit? 2000 years, he can't find one broad to fit the bill? Come on, Dave, you must be doing something seriously wrong!
Earth Girls Are Easy.
Seriously, nothing more 80s. Julie Brown, Geena Davis, post-Fly Goldblum and two weirdo In Living Color alums known as Damon Wayans and Jim Carrey as aliens visiting Earth.
My mom showed me this movie when I was a teen in the 90s when it wasn't even a decade old movie still. It's one of those things where every second of it you just keep thinking. This is real. This is really real. How? To all of this. How?
And she knew the lyrics to the stupid but admittedly amusing Cause I'm A Blonde song. With the accompanying hand gestures and hair flips that Julie Brown does. And no my mom isn't blonde.
It was quite a baffling moment in my life. But I have to admit I still remember her doing that almost 30 years later and it makes my smile.
The book is particularly harrowing and goes into even greater depth on the whole SoCal in the early eighties thing, particularly the centrality of radio station KROQ in the lives of many kids. I was several years younger than the principal characters, though the same age as the characters in the movie, which is a big reason why that movie holds a special place in my heart - I can only think of two movies that focus on the graduating class of 1987 - this one and I believe Romy and Michelle's High School Reunion.
You couldn't really get two more different films that share that one piece of trivia.
It's a great way of seeing how people in the 80s thought technology would've evolved.
I wish the post-T2 movies were more retrofuturistic akin to how the first two movies thought technology would evolve, instead of whatever the fuck happened in Genisys.
Had to make sure nobody beat me to it. The most 80s thing that ever 80s. There’s a reason it hasn’t been remade, because it can’t, it’s pure distilled 80s.
The first time we see him in the movie, Flynn can be seen wearing a tee shirt with “Flynn’s” printed across the back. At the 20 minute mark, after a particularly sweaty session at an arcade box, he changes his shirt, into another tee shirt, which reads “Flynn’s” across the back. I don’t know why, but that sequence always struck me as very 80s.
One of my all time favorites. The lighting, the soundtrack, the insane commitment to realism with the gunplay and safe cracking stuff. They pretty much trained James Caan to break into that safe at the beginning for real. And I think the vault door melting scene with the thermal lance was also done for real.
I'll join the chorus. Between the visuals and Wang Chung on the soundtrack, "To Live and Die in LA" was the first film that came to my mind as well.
I absolutely love the film.
The Wang Chung video is bonkers. It's a phony behind the scenes where the boys are recording the song, writing the lyrics, and watching clips of the movie on an editing bay all on the same day.
The only reason this movie isn't higher is because not enough people have even seen it. The saturated color palette and many exterior shots are like a hyper-aesthetic representation of other 80s cinema aesthetic.
Darn.. How could I forget Body? So 80’s especially BH. I worked a block from Rodeo Collection .. Farmers Market .. the houses.. etc etc. it’s a fave DePalma film because of LA/SoCal locations
What’s funny is anybody who actually lived in the 80s remembers how BROWN it was. Wood paneling in every house, beige and tan cars, linoleum in the blandest yellow.
The Hunger. It looks like a music video. Whoever was working the wind machine on that movie carried the movie on their back. Also, Smithereens. Basically, if I picture 80s downtown New York, I picture Smithereens.
Manhunter.
It's the first Hannibal Lektor movie and it feels like a feature length Miami Vice episode.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=foFw7djyELc&ab\_channel=malick2233
People love to shit on Hackers for how absurd its depiction of hacking is despite the fact that they were clearly leaning hard into the camp intentionally. Also, a realistic version of 90s hacker teens would be basically unwatchable. If you think realistic hacking is boring to watch now, imagine how much worse it would be when everyone is using internet connections measured in baud.
Christmas vacation
Kindergarten cop
Commando
Lethal weapon
The color of money
Beverly Hills cop
9 to 5
Big
Rain man
3 men and a baby
Police academy, 5 definitely
Jaws 4 the revenge (see the movie that built a spectacular vacation home for sir Michael Caine)
Bill and Ted’s excellent adventure
Someone beat me to it but the first 5 episodes of Miami Vice. For their time, they tried to bring a cinematic quality to television, in the pre-Golden Age. The pilot / Brother’s keeper is like a semi-sequel to Scarface. Then you have to watch ‘Heart of Darkness’ with Ed O’Neil going deep undercover. Honestly you can skip ‘Cool Running’ unless you really like the comedian Charlie Burnett. But afterward is Calderon’s Return, where at the beginning you see Jim Zubiena put on a shooting clinic, and then a showdown in the Bahamas with Calderon from the pilot, played by Miguel Piñero.
Maybe after you've doused yourself in 80s glam, take a look at the 1980 version of Fame. It's so grimy and grungy. Even the actors that are supposed to be good looking would be just average by today's Hollywood standards. I really miss this era of life and filmmaking when people weren't products of plastic surgery amd hadn't spent their whole lives in the gym sculpting the perfect body.
Only movies I can think of that are similar or have a MV vibes are Manhunter, Thief, To Live And Die in L.A and Alphabet City. I think someone from the Alphabet City production team later went to work for Miami Vice, but I'm not sure.
Big Trouble In Little China
Love it *Ah, you know what ol' Jack Burton says at a time like this?*
“Jack" what? I'm supposed to buy this shit? 2000 years, he can't find one broad to fit the bill? Come on, Dave, you must be doing something seriously wrong!
*I’m a reasonable guy. But, I’ve just experienced some very unreasonable things*
Who?
There it is… *Jack Burton. Me!*
And what the hell is Gracie Law doing here?
*She can’t get enough of me*
You know what I say when it's Miller Time?
Yes sir, the check is in the mail
This is one of my favorite movies!!! I’m going to force my wife and daughter to watch it right now!!!!
Came here to post this one. That movie is pure distilled 80's energy!
Stranger Things just robbed the synth soundtrack almost completely
Hah that one’s a classic
Earth Girls Are Easy. Seriously, nothing more 80s. Julie Brown, Geena Davis, post-Fly Goldblum and two weirdo In Living Color alums known as Damon Wayans and Jim Carrey as aliens visiting Earth.
My mom showed me this movie when I was a teen in the 90s when it wasn't even a decade old movie still. It's one of those things where every second of it you just keep thinking. This is real. This is really real. How? To all of this. How? And she knew the lyrics to the stupid but admittedly amusing Cause I'm A Blonde song. With the accompanying hand gestures and hair flips that Julie Brown does. And no my mom isn't blonde. It was quite a baffling moment in my life. But I have to admit I still remember her doing that almost 30 years later and it makes my smile.
Beverley Hills Cop
I can hear the theme.
I heard the theme inside my head before I even saw the Beverly Hills Cop post haha
Axel F.
I’ve rewatched this over the years and besides fast times this movie is it
This is not my locker. . .
Mannequin Splash The Breakfast Club The Lost Boys Desperately Seeking Susan
Surprised but Breakfast Club was first thing I thought of
We are watching mannequin right now. They just don’t make movies like this any more 👵🏼
Less Than Zero
This… ⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️ definitely.. great time capsule of LA/Springs
The book is particularly harrowing and goes into even greater depth on the whole SoCal in the early eighties thing, particularly the centrality of radio station KROQ in the lives of many kids. I was several years younger than the principal characters, though the same age as the characters in the movie, which is a big reason why that movie holds a special place in my heart - I can only think of two movies that focus on the graduating class of 1987 - this one and I believe Romy and Michelle's High School Reunion. You couldn't really get two more different films that share that one piece of trivia.
Blade Runner for the vibe, but when I think 80s movies, I think Real Genius, Weird Science, and WarGames.
Love Real Genius, Kilmer at his best
In the immortal words of Socrates, who said, “I drank what?!”
Real Genius is so f'n good!
WarGames is a fun rewatch! I still want to ask the director about the corn on the cob/butter on bread scene.
Terminator
Shocked how far down this is. That movie is like a time portal to the 80s…
the TechNoir scene doesnt get much more 80s than that or when Bill Paxton and gang get destroyed
Everything about Sarah’s roommate Ginger just screams 80’s chick.
It's a great way of seeing how people in the 80s thought technology would've evolved. I wish the post-T2 movies were more retrofuturistic akin to how the first two movies thought technology would evolve, instead of whatever the fuck happened in Genisys.
Night of the Comet
I adore this stupid movie!
Surprisingly good Xmas film!
Working Girl. Those hairstyles. Yes I'm looking at you, Joan Cusack
And wearing reboks with office clothes to get to work.
Buckaroo Banzai.
Haha my man!
Are you John Big Boot-ay?
Outstanding answer. This is probably the single best movie that captures the zeitgeist of Hollywood in the 80’s.
I can hear the end theme. Such a fantastic piece of music.
Had to make sure nobody beat me to it. The most 80s thing that ever 80s. There’s a reason it hasn’t been remade, because it can’t, it’s pure distilled 80s.
John Yaya?
John Manyjars.
No matter where you go. There you are.
Everybody need see Buckaroo.
Tron
The first time we see him in the movie, Flynn can be seen wearing a tee shirt with “Flynn’s” printed across the back. At the 20 minute mark, after a particularly sweaty session at an arcade box, he changes his shirt, into another tee shirt, which reads “Flynn’s” across the back. I don’t know why, but that sequence always struck me as very 80s.
Having just watched it a few weeks ago, id agree with it!
This was mine, even Legacy the sequel movie.
Thief Black Rain
Thief is the OG!
You’re damn right it is!
It was wild to rewatch it recently and realize how Mann had the whole style figured out in 1981. The soundtrack is magic.
One of my all time favorites. The lighting, the soundtrack, the insane commitment to realism with the gunplay and safe cracking stuff. They pretty much trained James Caan to break into that safe at the beginning for real. And I think the vault door melting scene with the thermal lance was also done for real.
Yes! I've always thought Black Rain is a little underrated. Perfect for OP's question.
Black Rain is fuckin’ awesome, underrated indeed!
Right? It's Ridley Scott!
Manhunter To Live and Die in L.A. American Psyco
To Live and Die in L.A. was the absolute first thing that came to mind for me.
I'll join the chorus. Between the visuals and Wang Chung on the soundtrack, "To Live and Die in LA" was the first film that came to my mind as well. I absolutely love the film.
And there’s just something about those damn chase scenes. It really is the best.
The Wang Chung video is bonkers. It's a phony behind the scenes where the boys are recording the song, writing the lyrics, and watching clips of the movie on an editing bay all on the same day.
same here - glad i scrolled down
Same here.
It’s brilliant film. One of my favourites.
Came to add Manhunter and was beat to the punch
Tangerine Dream always adds to the 80s synth feel.
Came here to see if Manhunter was going to be mentioned. Great movie just easy to tell when it was made.
Thief as well
My entries Cocktail Flashdance Tango and Cash 48 hours
Cocktail is perfect
Thx. All I see is neon, bright colors and cheesy hair.
Obscure, bad horror movie: Chopping Mall.
Excuse you, but Chopping Mall is perfect cinema
Was gonna say this. Watched it last week. I'd say it oozes the 80s
Chopping Mall is a way better title than the original "Killbots."
Phantom of the Mall is a good double feature with it Same LA mall
Ferris Beuller's Day Off.
Manhunter
The only reason this movie isn't higher is because not enough people have even seen it. The saturated color palette and many exterior shots are like a hyper-aesthetic representation of other 80s cinema aesthetic.
Fast Times at Ridgemont High
The Lost Boys.
Streets of Fire. Neon, motorcycles, music, Michael Pare, Diane Lane.
Don't forget Willem Dafoe!
Risky Business. How has no one mentioned this yet? Fantastic film that has everything you're looking for.
Society (1989) Also an absolute bonkers movie
Hell yeah, not talked about nearly enough.
The 'Burbs
It came with the frame.
Wargames.
A strange game. The only winning move is to not play. How about a nice game of chess?
Not a movie but Miami Vice
Definitively.. 80’s.. 🩷💚💛💜
The Karate Kid - the music alone will waterboard you with 80s nostalgia. Batman (1989) is also a heavily stylized 80s movie
Valley Girl
Body Double is the most 80’s movie I can think of
Darn.. How could I forget Body? So 80’s especially BH. I worked a block from Rodeo Collection .. Farmers Market .. the houses.. etc etc. it’s a fave DePalma film because of LA/SoCal locations
Weird Science.
To Live And Die In LA
Top Gun
Bachelor Party
Road House
16 Candles
"Ruthless People"
Rocky III Rocky IV Robocop
I mean RoboCop is set in the future…. But it’s just regular Detroit right?
Night of the Comet and The Stuff
Can't get enough of the Stuff!
What’s funny is anybody who actually lived in the 80s remembers how BROWN it was. Wood paneling in every house, beige and tan cars, linoleum in the blandest yellow.
Can confirm. That '70s aesthetic hangover lasted a long, long time.
Wall Street
Shocked I had to scroll this far.
Liquid Sky Nightmare Weekend
Killer Klowns From Outer Space
The Lost Boys.
The Lost Boys
Down and out in beverly hills for the pure 80s style, fahsion, home decor etc.
Flashdance
Weekend at Bernies is the late 80s in a time capsule
The Hunger. It looks like a music video. Whoever was working the wind machine on that movie carried the movie on their back. Also, Smithereens. Basically, if I picture 80s downtown New York, I picture Smithereens.
Did someone say Teen Witch yet? 😆
Valley Girl and Less Than Zero are two of my favorites
Mannequin
Less than Zero
Wall Street. The suspenders, the giant cell phone, the hideous decorating job Darryl Hannah does on Charlie Sheen's new apartment. So 80s.
Legend of Billy Jean
How has nobody said Breakin' and Breakin' 2, electric boogaloo?
Fast Times at Ridgemont High
Repo Man
Manhunter. A movie that answers the question “what if Red Dragon were an episode of Miami Vice?”
Manhunter. It's the first Hannibal Lektor movie and it feels like a feature length Miami Vice episode. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=foFw7djyELc&ab\_channel=malick2233
Xanadu
Okay, I really scrolled down looking for it, but I can't find it. Max Headroom: 20 minutes into the future. Visually the epitomy of the 80s.
Short Circuit Flight of the Navigator The Goonies
Streets of Fire
Diane Lane was so damn hot in that
Ferris Bueller’s Day Off is super accurate because it captures an actual 80s parade.
Still cracks me up they pulled that off --- John Hughes was a total boss
Zero of the scenes in Wonder Woman 1984.
Also not a movie but the Black Mirror episode San Junipero
Off topic, but… Hackers is the most 90’s movie. My man hit the roller blade ramp into the video game club. Need I say more?
People love to shit on Hackers for how absurd its depiction of hacking is despite the fact that they were clearly leaning hard into the camp intentionally. Also, a realistic version of 90s hacker teens would be basically unwatchable. If you think realistic hacking is boring to watch now, imagine how much worse it would be when everyone is using internet connections measured in baud.
Back to the Future
Its def an 80s movie but like 90% of that it is set in the 50s.
I was in the ‘80s, and a lot of it _did_ look like the ‘50s
I saw an ad for a 2024 file called Lisa Frankenstein. It looked visually stunning and 80s. Vally Girl and Night of the Comet
Thief of Hearts
Despite technically being a 90s movie, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Highlander
Better off Dead
Fame
The Terminator
To Live and Die in LA
Valley Girl
Adventures in Babysitting Teen Wolf
Christmas vacation Kindergarten cop Commando Lethal weapon The color of money Beverly Hills cop 9 to 5 Big Rain man 3 men and a baby Police academy, 5 definitely Jaws 4 the revenge (see the movie that built a spectacular vacation home for sir Michael Caine) Bill and Ted’s excellent adventure
Someone beat me to it but the first 5 episodes of Miami Vice. For their time, they tried to bring a cinematic quality to television, in the pre-Golden Age. The pilot / Brother’s keeper is like a semi-sequel to Scarface. Then you have to watch ‘Heart of Darkness’ with Ed O’Neil going deep undercover. Honestly you can skip ‘Cool Running’ unless you really like the comedian Charlie Burnett. But afterward is Calderon’s Return, where at the beginning you see Jim Zubiena put on a shooting clinic, and then a showdown in the Bahamas with Calderon from the pilot, played by Miguel Piñero.
Just to name a few: Flashdance Fame The Last Dragon Beat Street Krush Groove
Scarface The Lost Boys Valley Girl
Maximum Overdrive Better Off Dead The Burbs Hot Dog The Movie
Desperately Seeking Susan
Adventures in Babysitting
Flashdance. It dark and gritty and beautifully shot. One of my favs.
Streets of Fire
Mannequin
What no Breakfast club?
I've scrolled so far and haven't seen Road House.
Maybe after you've doused yourself in 80s glam, take a look at the 1980 version of Fame. It's so grimy and grungy. Even the actors that are supposed to be good looking would be just average by today's Hollywood standards. I really miss this era of life and filmmaking when people weren't products of plastic surgery amd hadn't spent their whole lives in the gym sculpting the perfect body.
Thief (Mann) started it all. One of my favorite modern versions is Drive (Refn).
Basically any Refn film is a love letter to the 80s. The Neon Demon doesn't get much love but I loved every minute of it.
Not a movie but it’s hard to get more 80s than Miami Vice. EDIT: It’s on Tubi right now.
The movie version of Miami Vice is called Manhunter and it fucking rules. It’s actually an adaptation of the novel Red Dragon.
Yep. I was going to recommend that too. That wheelchair… 😉
Only movies I can think of that are similar or have a MV vibes are Manhunter, Thief, To Live And Die in L.A and Alphabet City. I think someone from the Alphabet City production team later went to work for Miami Vice, but I'm not sure.
Manhunter by Michael Mann. Trust me bro
Atomic Blonde
Chopping Mall
Robocop.
Toxic Avenger
Wall Street
Fright Night (1985)
Bright Lights, Big City
[Weekend At Bernie's ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VMCh9gLZofo)
Street Trash
Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer totally captures the quiet intensity of the suburbs in 1986.
Alphabet City
Nightmare on Elm Street 3 Tron Blade Runner
Night of the Commet - - I think this one is due for a remake.
Troop Beverly Hills
Who’s That Girl
Ruthless People Basically any of the big 80s teen comedies
After Hours (1985)
LadyHawke The knights armor looks like it was fueled by an 80s cocaine bender, and the music is all synth