10 Films That Defined A Decade

1. E.T. THE EXTRATERRESTRIAL 1982

The biggest film of the decade, it’s a dazzling technical achievement that also has a huge (glowing red) heart. Mo-cap tech still struggles to compete with this wide-eyed puppet marvel.

2. GHOSTBUSTERS 1984

They don’t make ’em like this any more (unless they remake them). Middle-aged everydude heroes, anarchic laughs, genuine scares and a mascot (Slimer) who becomes iconic with only seconds of screentime.

3. BACK TO THE FUTURE 1985

Robert Zemeckis’ near-faultless time-travel comedy has aged exceptionally well thanks to its own nostalgic treatment of the 1950s. It typifies the ’80s with its high concept and young lead.

4. THE BREAKFAST CLUB 1985

John Hughes’ high-school drama has become somewhat problematic post-#MeToo, but there’s still no denying that it’s emblematic of the era, from the Brat Pack cast to the unforgettable soundtrack.

5. BLUE VELVET 1986

David Lynch’s Lynchiest film ever? Thirty-two years on it still enthralls and disturbs, as it uses noir conventions to lift the lid on American suburbia. Dennis Hopper was never scarier.

6. TOP GUN 1986

Confirms Cruise’s star power while taking your breath away. Director Tony Scott made the fighter-jet action soar, but much credit is due to power producers Don Simpson and Jerry Bruckheimer.

7. DEAD RINGERS 1988

The Fly and Videodrome might have had more indelible imagery, but Dead Ringers lingers longest out of David Cronenberg’s ’80s oeuvre. Queasily creepy, with an astonishing dual performance from Jeremy Irons.

8. DIE HARD 1988

This contained, claustrophobic thriller recalled classic disaster movies in its tower-block setting, but created a new template for action cinema: from here on in, every film was pitched as

“Die Hard on a…”

9. WHO FRAMED ROGER RABBIT 1988

Very much of its time – as CGI would soon replace hand-drawn animation – this liveaction hybrid is still seamless entertainment. A subversive influence on anything that’s since riffed on established characters.

10. DO THE RIGHT THING 1989

Spike Lee announced himself as one of the major voices of the era with this searing, provocative, energising work, which examines race relations through the prism of one Brooklyn neighbourhood.