Every decade has its hidden gems! Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the best underseen movies of the 1980’s that we think deserve a bit more love.
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00:00 "I'm gonna find Jane. How you gonna do that?"
00:05 Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we're counting down our picks for the best under-scene movies
00:09 of the 1980s that we think deserve a bit more love.
00:12 "I'll tell you what. If any rules get broken, I'll take the blame, okay? Okay."
00:19 Number 10. Knight of the Comet
00:21 Did you know that the title character of Buffy the Vampire Slayer was inspired by an 80s
00:25 horror film? Knight of the Comet is a charming and witty take on a zombie apocalypse. With
00:29 two female leads who buck stereotypes in a pair of fun, fashion-forward outfits.
00:33 "What's happening?" "Oh yeah, I guess you are a little confused."
00:36 "God, you look terrible."
00:40 They play arcade games, own their sexuality, and really know how to hold their own in a
00:43 dangerous situation. You could see the Buffy inspiration, right?
00:46 "You dirty rat." "Get her, boys!"
00:53 This film is both delightfully of its time and surprisingly well-aged, with a beautifully
00:57 saturated color palette to boot. A remake of the movie has been in the works for some
01:01 time now, but if it comes to fruition, we think it'll be hard for it to beat the original.
01:04 "You're a very strong-willed young lady." "Cancer."
01:07 "You have cancer?" "No, I am a cancer. I just want to know
01:15 where I am and what I'm doing here."
01:17 Number 9. Melvin and Howard
01:19 While everyone appreciates a good original story, sometimes you just can't beat the
01:22 strangeness of real life. "What's the matter with you? Hey, what are you doing out here?"
01:29 In 1978, a man named Melvin Dumar went to court after apparently being named in the
01:33 estate of philanthropist and film producer Howard Hughes. The jury came to the conclusion
01:38 that the will was a forgery, but writer-director duo Bo Goldman and Jonathan Demme found the
01:43 tale compelling enough to translate to screen anyway.
01:45 "You got any money?" "Well, here's something else."
01:58 This became Melvin and Howard, an endearing dramedy that went on to land two wins at the
02:02 Academy Awards, one for its screenplay and the other for actress Mary Steenburgen. Although
02:06 it has fallen into obscurity in recent years, the simple story works just as well today
02:10 as it did in 1980. "Melvin, are you lying?"
02:14 "No, sir."
02:15 #8. Tampopo This is one film that you won't want to watch
02:19 on an empty stomach or you may end up craving ramen more than ever before. Marketed as a
02:34 ramen western, a play on the spaghetti western, Tampopo is a film about a truck driver who's
02:39 stop at a noodle shop sends him on a quest to perfect the art of noodle-making.
02:57 Hoping to help save the struggling business of the title character, Goro travels from
03:01 restaurant to restaurant, noting the best and worst of her competitor's signature dishes.
03:05 Even through subtitles, the film's sharp sense of humor shines, and its attention to culinary
03:09 detail makes it the perfect love letter to good food and those who make it.
03:16 #7. Brazil Visually impressive, narratively engaging
03:32 dystopian sci-fi was all the rage in the '80s. Films like Blade Runner, They Live, and RoboCop
03:40 have remained in the public imagination for decades, in some cases even spawning modern
03:45 merchandise in sequel films. Unfortunately, Brazil is often left out of the conversation,
03:50 particularly in America. The British film presents a darkly comedic take on an intensely
03:58 bureaucratic dystopia, commenting on everything from government hyper-surveillance to plastic
04:03 surgery addiction. From the director of Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, Brazil is filled
04:07 with some unforgettably stylish imagery. This includes a number of dream sequences that
04:11 not only beautifully contrast with the film's harsh modern world, but give us a deeper understanding
04:16 of its hapless protagonist.
04:17 "I only know you got the wrong man."
04:19 "Information transit."
04:20 "Got the wrong man. I got the right man. The wrong man was delivered to me as the right
04:25 man. I accepted him on good faith as the right man. Was I wrong?"
04:30 Number 6. The Tall Guy
04:31 You've probably heard of Tall Girl, but have you heard of The Tall Guy?
04:34 "I think the sooner you come back, the better."
04:39 "Thanks."
04:40 Thankfully, this '80s rom-com has nothing to do with that maligned 2019 Netflix film.
04:44 Jeff Goldblum and Emma Thompson have so much chemistry that you'll likely be able to overlook
04:48 a few missteps, such as an ill-advised foray into adultery.
04:51 "It's over, and it meant nothing."
04:53 "Yeah, but unfortunately, while it was going on, I meant nothing, too, didn't I? And I'm
04:57 worth more than nothing, aren't I?"
04:58 The pair also get to flex their comedic chops, demonstrating their natural instinct for pitch-perfect
05:03 comedic timing. Sure, not all of the film has aged flawlessly, but overall, The Tall
05:07 Guy is so funny and endearing that it's hard to care.
05:09 "I had a girl I loved who loved me. Now, you and me on a bench. That's what I have."
05:20 "I love you, Dex."
05:22 "Oh, thanks, Charlie."
05:24 Number 5. Prince of the City
05:26 Director Sidney Lumet is a master filmmaker, responsible for a number of classic films
05:30 including 12 Angry Men, Dog Day Afternoon, and the now-cult flick The Wiz. With such
05:34 a strong filmography, a few gems are bound to get lost in the shuffle.
05:38 "Oh, we're judged on results, Counselor."
05:40 "Mm-hmm. Some of which are spectacular. One of the reasons I'm interviewing you is your
05:44 own extraordinary career."
05:46 One of these is Prince of the City, a neo-noir about a cop exposing police corruption from
05:50 within. Its gripping tale of right and wrong was well-executed enough to receive praise
05:55 from Rashomon director Akira Kurosawa.
05:57 "But nobody cares about me but my partner. You understand that? Nobody. See, I see what
06:05 kind of man you are. And you, you know? And then I look at my partner and I see what kind
06:10 of man he is, and there's just no comparison, see?"
06:13 The film was even used for training by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency. While it's certainly
06:17 on the lengthy side, clocking in at nearly three hours, if you're a fan of the crime
06:21 genre, you'll consider it time well spent.
06:23 "Needless to say, we're very proud of Detective Cello's work."
06:26 Number 4. Desert Hearts
06:27 In many ways, Desert Hearts could be considered a pretty run-of-the-mill romance. A recent
06:32 divorcee moves states for a fresh start and quickly becomes enamored with a confident
06:35 young local.
06:36 "You wanna come in? I'd love to, but you're busy."
06:40 "Well, come on in anyway."
06:42 What makes the film stand out from the crowd is that it's love stories between two women.
06:46 Considered one of the first mainstream releases to desensationalize lesbianism, Desert Hearts
06:50 is a film by lesbians for lesbians. It's sweet, down-to-earth, and easily relatable. And for
06:55 that, it was revolutionary.
06:57 In the lead roles, Helen Shaver and Patricia Charbonneau elevate the film into something
07:00 truly great, giving performances that feel lived-in and well-rounded. You could imagine
07:05 yourself knowing these women, and that goes a long way in fostering true acceptance.
07:09 "Are you okay?"
07:10 "I've been better."
07:11 "Yeah, I know what you mean."
07:16 "Why did you come?"
07:21 "I guess I'm scared to death of never seeing you again."
07:26 Number 3. Liquid Sky
07:27 Made on a budget of just $500,000, Liquid Sky is the definition of an independent film,
07:32 employing little-known actors and foregoing permits for their downtown New York shoot.
07:37 "Hey, looking forward to seeing you tomorrow night."
07:39 "I don't know."
07:40 "Oh, come on, we'll have a great time and get some terrific shots."
07:46 It's as weird as it is wonderful, portraying drug-fueled city nightlife with queer protagonists
07:50 in a science fiction slant. A celebration of the outsider, Liquid Sky was a surprise
07:54 hit in its time, becoming the most successful independent film of 1983.
07:58 "What are we gonna do?"
07:59 "We're gonna just leave him there. We're going to Berlin, baby, aren't we?"
08:05 Its wardrobe, lighting, and makeup also make for some instantly iconic imagery, sure to
08:09 stick with viewers long after its credits roll. If you're still not convinced, just
08:13 check out this delightfully '80s dance sequence.
08:22 Number 2. Paris, Texas
08:23 After being presumed dead for four years, Travis Henderson is found walking aimlessly
08:27 through a desert in West Texas.
08:28 "What the hell happened to you, anyway? You look like 40 miles of rough road."
08:32 Taken in by his brother, Walt, and his wife, Travis slowly begins to open up about his
08:36 time away, and attempts to reconnect with his estranged son, Hunter. It's a simple
08:39 and slow-paced story, but never an uninteresting one, with a deep and nuanced understanding
08:44 of the complexity of human emotions and relationships.
08:46 "I was just thinking maybe I could meet Hunter after school and we could walk home together,
08:51 if he wants to."
08:52 "Oh, that sounds like a great idea, Travis."
08:55 "Walk home? I don't want to walk home, Mom."
09:01 We really feel for Travis in spite of his many faults, and may even begin to root for
09:05 him as he sets out across a beautifully shot southwest landscape to find the mother of
09:09 his son.
09:10 "But what am I gonna say?"
09:11 "Just tell them the truth. Tell them that you're with me and that we're going to
09:16 Texas."
09:17 "They're gonna flip out."
09:19 "No, but you can handle it."
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09:37 Number 1. Come and See
09:38 War is a notoriously difficult topic to portray on film. While there are numerous movies on
09:43 the subject, many of them have faced criticism for glorifying real-life death and trauma
09:47 for entertainment.
09:48 "Why are you taking him?"
09:49 "Come on, honey, breathe."
09:50 "I'm not taking him!"
09:51 "You would not want to!"
09:52 "I would not want to!"
09:53 "Why?"
09:54 "You bought him!"
09:55 "I bought him!"
09:59 Come and See exists in a stark contrast to these war films, depicting the harrowing tale
10:03 of a teenager fighting to survive in Nazi-occupied Belarus. The film's anti-war message was so
10:08 important to its filmmaker that he fought the Soviet Union's censorship boards for
10:12 eight years in order to get it made.
10:14 "They're there! They're dead! They're dead! They're killed! Killed! I'm not
10:23 going to die!"
10:28 And that tireless effort paid off. Although criminally under-seen, Come and See was named
10:32 one of the greatest films of all time in a 2022 director's poll by Sight & Sound.
10:36 "Put him in the shitter! I want the bees on that! All the bees!"
10:43 Did we leave out any of your underrated '80s favorites? Let us know in the comments.
10:46 "What can I do you for?"
10:47 "I would like to buy this newspaper."
10:48 "Oh, now. You should buy this in here as well."
10:49 "No, I'm not buying it."
10:50 "You should buy it."
10:51 "No, I'm not buying it."
10:52 "You should buy it."
10:53 "No, I'm not buying it."
10:54 "You should buy it."
10:55 "No, I'm not buying it."
10:56 "You should buy it."
10:57 "No, I'm not buying it."
10:58 "You should buy it."
10:59 "No, I'm not buying it."
11:00 "You should buy it."
11:01 "No, I'm not buying it."
11:02 "You should buy it."
11:03 "No, I'm not buying it."
11:04 "You should buy it."
11:05 "No, I'm not buying it."
11:06 "You should buy it."
11:07 "No, I'm not buying it."
11:08 "You should buy it."
11:09 "No, I'm not buying it."
11:10 "You should buy it."
11:11 "No, I'm not buying it."