Skip to main content
Join The Community
- Join our community
Commenting
Join the discussion
Exclusive Articles Coming Soon
Member-only articles
Weekly Newsletters
Weekly gaming & entertainment news
Member Badges
Earn badges as you go
Exclusive Competitions
Members-only prize draws
Curated Deals Coming Soon
Tech and gaming deals worth grabbing
GET COMMUNITY ACCESS QUICK
For the quickest way to join, simply enter your email below and get access. We will send a confirmation and sign you up to our newsletter to keep you updated on all your gaming news.
By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.
FIND OUT ABOUT OUR MAGAZINE
Want to subscribe to the magazine? Click the button below to find out more information.
Find out more
GET Community ACCESS QUICK

Join the GamesRadar community for quick access. Enter your email below and we'll send confirmation, and sign you up to our newsletter.

By submitting your information, you confirm you are aged 16 or over, have read our Privacy Policy and agree to the Terms & Conditions. Geographical rules apply.

Welcome to GamesRADAR+ Community !
Hi ,

Your membership journey starts here.

Keep exploring and earning more as a member.

MY ACCOUNT

Earn your first badge
Read 1 article to unlock your first badge.
Keep earning badges
Explore ways to get more involved as a member.
Latest Games News

Latest Games News

Breaking gaming news and updates

Read Now
Latest Games Reviews

Latest Games Reviews

Expert verdicts on the newest releases

Read Now

See what you’ve unlocked.

Explore your membership benefits.

Explore
Member Exclusives

Stay Ahead with GamesRadar+

Get the biggest gaming news, reviews, and releases straight to your inbox.

Explore

Sign Out
GamesRadar+
US EditionUS CA EditionCanada UK EditionUK AU EditionAustralia
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
  • Games
    • Game Insights
      • Games News
      • Games Features
      • Games Reviews
      • Games Guides
      • Big in 2026
      • Big Preview
      • Future Games Show
      • Golden Joystick Awards
    • Genres
      • Action Games
      • RPGs
      • Action RPGs
      • Adventure Games
      • Third Person Shooters
      • FPS Games
    • Platforms
      • PS5
      • Xbox Series X
      • PC
      • Nintendo Switch
      • Nintendo Switch 2
      • Tabletop Gaming
    • Franchises
      • Grand Theft Auto
      • Pokemon
      • Assassin's Creed
      • Monster Hunter
      • Fortnite
      • Cyberpunk
      • Red Dead
      • The Elder Scrolls
      • The Sims
  • Entertainment
    • TV Shows
      • TV News
      • TV Reviews
      • Anime Shows
      • Sci-Fi Shows
      • Superhero Shows
      • Animated Shows
      • Marvel TV Shows
      • Star Wars TV Shows
      • DC TV Shows
    • Movies
      • Movie News
      • Movie Reviews
      • Big Screen Spotlight
      • Superhero Movies
      • Action Movies
      • Anime Movies
      • Sci-Fi Movies
      • Horror Movies
      • Marvel Movies
      • DC Movies
    • Streaming
      • Apple TV Plus
      • Disney Plus
      • Netflix
      • HBO
      • Amazon Prime Video
      • Hulu
    • Comics
      • Marvel Comics
      • DC Comics
  • Hardware
    • Insights
      • Hardware News
      • Hardware Reviews
      • Hardware Features
      • Buying Guides
    • Computing
      • Desktop PCs
      • Laptops
      • Handhelds
    • Peripherals
      • Headsets & Headphones
      • TVs & Monitors
      • Gaming Mice
      • Gaming Keyboards
      • Gaming Chairs
      • Speakers & Audio
    • Accessories & Tech
      • Gaming Controllers
      • Tech
      • SSDs & Hard Drives
      • VR
      • Accessories
      • Retro
  • Deals
    • Toys & Collectibles
    • Lego
    • Dungeons and Dragons
    • Merch
  • Video
    • Videos
    • GR+ Replay - Submit Your Clips
    • G+RLS Podcast
  • Edge
  • Newsletters
    • Quizzes
    • About Us
    • How to pitch to us
    • How we score
    • Newsarama
    • Retro Gamer
  • Home
  • Games
    • View Games
      • Games News
      • Games Features
      • Games Reviews
      • Games Guides
      • Big in 2026
      • Big Preview
      • Future Games Show
      • Golden Joystick Awards
      • Action Games
      • RPGs
      • Action RPGs
      • Adventure Games
      • Third Person Shooters
      • FPS Games
    • Platforms
      • View Platforms
      • PS5
      • Xbox Series X
      • PC
      • Nintendo Switch
      • Nintendo Switch 2
      • Tabletop Gaming
      • Grand Theft Auto
      • Pokemon
      • Assassin's Creed
      • Monster Hunter
      • Fortnite
      • Cyberpunk
      • Red Dead
      • The Elder Scrolls
      • The Sims
  • Entertainment
    • View Entertainment
    • TV Shows
      • View TV Shows
      • TV News
      • TV Reviews
      • Anime Shows
      • Sci-Fi Shows
      • Superhero Shows
      • Animated Shows
      • Marvel TV Shows
      • Star Wars TV Shows
      • DC TV Shows
    • Movies
      • View Movies
      • Movie News
      • Movie Reviews
      • Big Screen Spotlight
      • Superhero Movies
      • Action Movies
      • Anime Movies
      • Sci-Fi Movies
      • Horror Movies
      • Marvel Movies
      • DC Movies
    • Streaming
      • View Streaming
      • Apple TV Plus
      • Disney Plus
      • Netflix
      • HBO
      • Amazon Prime Video
      • Hulu
    • Comics
      • View Comics
      • Marvel Comics
      • DC Comics
  • Hardware
    • View Hardware
      • Hardware News
      • Hardware Reviews
      • Hardware Features
      • Buying Guides
      • Desktop PCs
      • Laptops
      • Handhelds
    • Peripherals
      • View Peripherals
      • Headsets & Headphones
      • TVs & Monitors
      • Gaming Mice
      • Gaming Keyboards
      • Gaming Chairs
      • Speakers & Audio
      • Gaming Controllers
      • Tech
      • SSDs & Hard Drives
      • VR
      • Accessories
      • Retro
  • Deals
    • Toys & Collectibles
    • Lego
    • Dungeons and Dragons
    • Merch
  • Video
    • View Video
    • Videos
    • GR+ Replay - Submit Your Clips
    • G+RLS Podcast
  • Edge
  • Newsletters
    • Quizzes
    • About Us
    • How to pitch to us
    • How we score
    • Newsarama
    • Retro Gamer
Trending
  • Best Netflix Movies
  • Movie Release Dates
  • Best movies on Disney Plus
  • Best Netflix Shows
Your movies and TV digest from the team at GamesRadar+

Bringing all the latest movie news, features, and reviews to your inbox


By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

You are now subscribed

Your newsletter sign-up was successful


Join the club

Get full access to premium articles, exclusive features and a growing list of member rewards.


An account already exists for this email address, please log in.
  1. Entertainment
  2. Movies

80 Greatest '80s Movie Moments

Features
By Simon Kinnear
Published 9 May 2011

We're calling it the grEighties for short

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

  • Facebook
  • X
  • Pinterest
  • Flipboard
  • Email
Share this article
Join the conversation
Follow us
Add us as a preferred source on Google
Subscribe to our newsletter

Who Framed Roger Rabbit? (1988)

The Moment: The opening animated short over, Roger Rabbit and Baby Herman walk off-set and into a live-action film studio.

Only In The '80s: ...could the major studios be persuaded to bury the hatchet and collaborate on something like this.

If It Was Made Today: Failing to get the character rights, they’d have to use made-up ‘toons instead of classic Disney and Loony Tunes icons.

The Princess Bride (1987)

The Moment: Mandy Patinkin repeats his mantra, just in case Christopher Guest doesn’t get it: “I am Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die!”

Only In The '80s: ...did every film have a catchphrase.

If It Was Made Today: Inigo Montoya? Too foreign. How about Chuck Manly?

Top Gun (1986)

The Moment: Seduction, Navy Seal style – Tom Cruise sings a karaoke You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feeling to pull Kelly McGillis.

Latest Videos FromGamesRadar+
Watch full video here:

Only In The '80s: ...would the entire bar join in.

If It Was Made Today: It’d probably be a sodding James Blunt song.

Indiana Jones and The Temple of Doom (1984)

The Moment: A waiter with a gun. A diamond on ice. A poisoned Indy. And a great big massive gong. Anything goes in Shanghai.

You may like
  • The 30 best horror movies of all time: pictures from The Wicker Man, The Shining, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, and Hereditary. The 30 best horror movies that will haunt you long after the credits roll
  • The best horror comedies The 15 best horror comedies that will have you laughing from behind your sofa
  • Jacob Elordi as Heathcliff in Wuthering Heights 20 best movies on HBO Max to watch right now

Only In The '80s: ...was Spielberg rocking the confidence to open an action-adventure with a screwball/musical hybrid.

If It Was Made Today: A gopher in the desert. Not quite as iconic, is it?

Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982)

The Moment: Judd Reinhold gets caught having a wank as he imagines Phoebe Cates taking off her red bikini.

Only In The '80s: Could something this pervy be so strangely innocent.

If It Was Made Today: The scene would be kept back until the uncut extended DVD release.

Your movies and TV digest from the team at GamesRadar+

Subscribe for a weekly digest of the movie and TV news that matters, direct to your inbox. From first-look trailers, interviews, reviews and explainers, we’ve got you covered.

By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

Stand By Me (1986)

The Moment: Gordie LaChance tells his latest short story to his friends – the tale of pie-eating machine Lardass.

Only In The '80s: ...could a complete and total barf-o-rama come across as charming.

If It Was Made Today: All crudity, zero charm.

The Breakfast Club (1985)

The Moment: Troubled Judd Nelson gets out of detention a changed man, and punches the air in triumph.

Only In The '80s: ...could a single man – John Hughes – unite the athletes, basket cases, princesses, geeks and criminals.

If It Was Made Today: The influence of Glee would ensure that ‘Alive and Kicking’ would be sung by the cast.

The Fabulous Baker Boys (1989)

The Moment: Michelle Pfeiffer drapes herself over a piano in the slinkiest of red dresses and melts hearts and more with her rendition of Making Whoopee .

Only In The '80s: ...could a romantic drama be made starring Beau Bridges. Jeff, yes. But not Beau.

If It Was Made Today: The Baker Boys would probably be bakers.

Full Metal Jacket (1987)

The Moment: Real-life Marine Drill Sergeant R. Lee Ermey practices his stand-up comedy routine on his latest recruits. “I bet you're the kind of guy that would fuck a person in the ass and not even have the goddamn common courtesy to give him a reach-around."

Only In The '80s: ...would Vietnam War movies be so popular a director could made half a film simply about their training.

If It Was Made Today: They’d probably hire an actor to play the sarge.

The Long Good Friday (1980)

The Moment: Every emotion under the sun plays out on Bob Hoskins’ face as he realises that his limo driver (one Pierce Brosnan) is going to kill him.

Only In The '80s: ...would an audacious long-take close-up be soundtracked by disco music.

If It Was Made Today: The kids would assume it was a Guy Ritchie rip-off, and not vice versa.

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 6
  • 7
  • 8

Current page: Page 4

Prev Page Page 3 Next Page Page 5
Simon Kinnear
Read more
The 30 best horror movies of all time: pictures from The Wicker Man, The Shining, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, and Hereditary.
Horror Movies The 30 best horror movies that will haunt you long after the credits roll
 
 
The best horror comedies
Action Movies The 15 best horror comedies that will have you laughing from behind your sofa
 
 
Jacob Elordi as Heathcliff in Wuthering Heights
Movies 20 best movies on HBO Max to watch right now
 
 
Cillian Murphy in 28 Days Later
Horror Movies The 25 best zombie movies of all time
 
 
A girl's head smiling during one of the best scary movies, House.
Horror Movies I've seen over 600 horror movies, and these are the scary must-watches to add to your Halloween playlist
 
 
Austin Abrams as Bryan in Resident Evil
Horror Movies Resident Evil movie review: "The best Resi movie by a distance and the best video game movie full stop"
 
 
Latest in Movies
Paul Atreides (Timothee Chalamet) in the Dune: Part 3 final trailer
Sci-Fi Movies Dune 3 star Timothée Chalamet says he's "absolutely" satisfied with the final film's ending
 
 
Sonic and Chuck in The Angry Birds Movie 3
Animated Movies Sonic the Hedgehog is in The Angry Birds Movie 3 for some reason, and people are confused
 
 
Scytale standing among the Fremen
Sci-Fi Movies Robert Pattinson says there was a "350-foot-long model of a sandworm" on the set of Dune 3:
 
 
Anya Taylor-Joy as Alia Atreides in Dune: Part 3
Sci-Fi Movies Dune 3 star Anya Taylor-Joy didn't realize Alia Atreides is a "bad guy" in the sequel until the end of the movie
 
 
Ralph Fiennes as President Snow in The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping
Action Movies Hunger Games' President Snow crashed election night coverage for an in-universe advert
 
 
Channing Tatum as Gambit in Deadpool and Wolverine
Marvel Movies Gambit's updated Avengers: Doomsday accent has been revealed – in a Dunkin' Donuts commercial
 
 
Latest in Features
D&D World of Warcraft book on a wooden surface
Tabletop Gaming D&D World of Warcraft is like MMO loot with some hits and misses, but overall it lives up to the promise
 
 
PSVR 2 Review Image showing the headset, and lens adjustment scrolling wheel on the top left of the headset
VR PlayStation made the best VR headset for gaming, and then left it to die
 
 
Paul Bettany as human Vision in VisionQuest
Marvel TV Shows VisionQuest episode 7 Easter eggs: All the Marvel references explained
 
 
A rebuilt gaming PC with a Rode Hub next to it
Desktop PCs My entire PC was shorting after I swapped my motherboard, and you'll never believe why this simple USB hub fixed everything
 
 
A collection of Klevv Cras RAM at Computex
Desktop PCs If Sam Altman thinks gaming PCs only use RAM 5% of the time, he knows less than I thought
 
 
GTA 6 extended look trailer 3 artwork showing protagonists Lucia and Jason masked with bandanas and walking away from a parked car
Grand Theft Auto GTA 6 sounds like an RPG – so why deny it any more?
 
 
LATEST ARTICLES
  1. I've been hands-on with the book for a few days, and it's looking good so far
    1
    D&D World of Warcraft is like MMO loot with some hits and misses, but overall it lives up to the promise
  2. 2
    PlayStation made the ultimate VR headset for gaming, and then left it to die
  3. 3
    "Microsoft chose to close Arkane" by "sabotaging the game it funded," workers claim in damning letter: "We want to finish Blade and release it to the players"
  4. 4
    Fortnite players desperate for free skins have mapped out the fastest routes to grind for the Pirate Shop token, because yes, it really is that serious
  5. 5
    Stellar Blade studio confirms previous game Nikke was hacked – launcher "script files may have been tampered with by a third party"

GamesRadar+ is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

Add as a preferred source on Google Add as a preferred source on Google
  • About us
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Terms and conditions
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Advertise with us
  • Review guidelines
  • Write for us
  • Accessibility statement
  • Careers

© Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...