You probably dismissed these movies as meaningless or silly trash. Everyone did initially. But underneath the crude humor and ridiculous plots lived razor-sharp observations about capitalism, consumerism, corporate greed, and more.

No ranking, because that’s a whole other argument—and that’s not the point here. The point is simple: pick the 30 best films from the best movie decade. And here they are (again, in no particular order)…

The 1980s had a very specific way of doing romance. It was awkward, loud, occasionally inappropriate, and usually wrapped in synth music, big hair, and questionable fashion choices. Looking back now, they’re still charming, still funny, and sometimes way smarter than we remember.

Special effects have never been just about flash. At their core, they’re about solving impossible problems, dreaming up ways to show audiences something that technology hasn’t quite caught up with yet. Every so often, a film arrives that doesn’t just wow viewers; it changes the rules for everyone.

From the unforgettable pop anthems of Guardians of the Galaxy to the haunting melodies of Fargo, film soundtracks have long been more than just background scores; they’re storytellers, mood-makers, and cultural milestones.

For years, these films were treated as common knowledge. They played on TV, sat on shelves, and came up in conversation without explanation. Boomers didn’t recommend them—they assumed you'd seen them. Millennials, meanwhile, grew up just far enough removed that the assumption could no longer be assumed. And the result is a long list of “classic” war movies that quietly (and sadly) skipped an entire generation.