The 1980s were considered by many to be a golden age of film and pop culture. Many of the most iconic movies of all time, such as Back to the Future or Die Hard, were released during this decade. Those who long for the glory days, or even the younger-gen kids who feel nostalgic, will find a lot to love in movies like these.
Thankfully, streaming services have huge catalogs of 80s movies available for people to watch at any moment. Hulu, for instance, has a large collection of not only 80s classics, but perfect watches for family movie nights or a romantic evening. These movies are great recommendations for a wholesome 80s movie night.
Updated November 9, 2022, by Blaise Santi: Like with any streaming service, Hulu’s library of classic movies rotates every so often. This means iconic movies may only be on the service for a limited amount of time before they go away again. Because of this, it can be hard to keep track of which movies are still available to watch on the service, not to mention which additional subscriptions or add-ons Hulu users will need to access them. Nevertheless, there are still plenty of great wholesome '80s movies on Hulu for movie lovers to enjoy.
11 The Muppets Take Manhattan
The Muppets have been staples of the entertainment industry for many decades. Created by Jim Henson, each generation has had plenty of opportunities to cherish the comedy of Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, and many many more. This love for the Muppets has certainly stretched to the silver screen, with movies like The Muppets Take Manhattan.
Available to stream for all Hulu subscribers, The Muppets Take Manhattan was released in 1984 and was written and directed by iconic puppeteer Frank Oz. As the final Muppets movie made while Jim Henson was still alive, it's quite an emotional experience for many Muppets fans. It also features cameo performances from stars like Joan Rivers and Elliott Gould.
10 About Last Night
This 1986 rom-com-dram stars Rob Lowe and Demi Moore as young lovers navigating a complicated committed relationship. Based on the David Mamet play Sexual Perversity in Chicago, it's certainly more of an adult movie compared to some of the other great wholesome eighties movies on Hulu. Nevertheless, its two stars certainly carry this heartwarming, realistic screen romance.
While many critics panned the movie for its play-centric flaws, such as long scenes of just dialogue, other critics like Roger Ebert showered it in praise for its realism. It was also a stunning display for Lowe and Moore as members of the Brat Pack, which was the name given to actors in the 80s appearing in movies like The Breakfast Club and St. Elmo's Fire.
9 Short Circuit
The 1980s were a fruitful decade for science fiction, with popular movies like Back to the Future and E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial. However, it was also fruitful for sci-fi movies like the future franchised Short Circuit. This movie, directed by Saturday Night Fever's John Badham, centers around a robot voiced by Tim Blaney who comes to life.
After its debut in 1986, grossing more at the box office than movies like Little Shop Of Horrors and Three Amigos, the movie saw later success in the video rental sphere. This success later spawned a 1988 sequel, as well as a video game for the Commodore 64. However, in recent years, the movie has come under fire for the casting of Fisher Stevens.
8 Dirty Dancing
Dirty Dancing is one of the most iconic movies of the 1980s. Starring Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey, the movie centers around a woman who falls in love with her dance teacher. Aside from its critical praise, the movie even got attention at the Oscars, Golden Globes, and Grammys for the iconic needle drop of "(I've Had) The Time Of My Life."
Aside from being a wholesome romantic movie, Dirty Dancing has also been praised in recent years for its depiction of abortion. It's not hyperbolic to say that Dirty Dancing has had more influence over movies than any of the many other great eighties movies on Hulu. Just the ending dance sequence alone puts it in the league of some of the greatest movies of all time.
7 Big
Before Tom Hanks was winning Oscars for his performances in Philadelphia and Forrest Gump, he was mainly known as a go-to comedy star. After appearing in the sitcom Bosom Buddies, Hanks was cast by another sitcom star, Penny Marshall, in her movie Big, which became the first female-directed movie to gross over $100 million at the box office.
Big was also a turning point for Hanks' own career. The story centers around a young boy who wishes to be older and wakes up to find himself in the body of Tom Hanks. The movie is worth watching just to see Tom Hanks navigate New York City from the perspective of a child, especially as he ends up in FAO Schwartz iconically playing The Walking Piano.
6 Terms Of Endearment
Terms of Endearment is a quintessential tear-jerker, as per usual with the work of James L. Brooks. However, there's a reason this movie won five Academy Awards including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Adapted Screenplay. It's hard to not adore this movie, which centers on the relationship between a mother and daughter.
The movie also features an incredibly strong cast with its leads, Shirley MacLaine and Debra Winger. The supporting actors include legends like John Lithgow, Jack Nicholson, Danny Devito, and Jeff Daniels. It even received a sequel in 1996, The Evening Star, with MacLaine reprising her role from the first movie.
5 The Breakfast Club
When it comes to the 1980s, no director perfectly captured the feeling of a generation more than John Hughes. With movies like Ferris Bueller's Day Off, Sixteen Candles, and Pretty in Pink, his work has influenced many filmmakers today. However, none have touched audiences quite as much as The Breakfast Club.
The Breakfast Club follows five teenagers from different walks of life spending their Saturday in detention together. It features some breakout performances from actors like Molly Ringwald and Judd Nelson. Aside from its amazing quotability and emotional depth, it features an iconic needle drop of "Don't You (Forget About Me)."
4 Peggy Sue Got Married
Francis Ford Coppola is mostly known for directing The Godfather, but mob movies weren't his only big achievement. Coppola also directed Peggy Sue Got Married, a comedy released in 1986 starring Kathleen Turner. The movie follows a woman who transports back to high school while dealing with a tough marriage in the present.
Alongside Turner, the movie has many future stars in its supporting cast. This includes Nicolas Cage, Jim Carrey, Catherine Hicks, and even Coppola's daughter Sofia, who would go on to become an acclaimed director of her own. Suffice it to say, Peggy Sue Got Married is a much breezier watch than The Godfather.
3 Moonstruck
Moonstruck is often considered to be one of the greatest romance movies of all time. Released in 1987, the movie sees an acting tour de force made out of pop star Cher. In the movie, Cher plays Loretta, a widowed woman who gets engaged again, only to find herself falling in love with her fiance's younger brother leading up to the wedding.
Loretta's romantic interest in this movie is played by Nicolas Cage, who gives a career-defining performance as Ronny. Not only is this movie incredibly witty and smart, but it's also brimming with romance and chemistry between its two unexpected leads. Still, it's a movie that will rarely disappoint audiences who sit to watch it.
2 Akira
This 1988 movie is an adaptation of the manga series of the same name. At the time it was released, it was the most expensive anime movie ever made. It was well worth it, as the animated action movie has since become a significant factor in pop culture's shift to accept Japanese art and movies in Western culture.
Akira is set in a dystopian 2019, following Shotaro, a biker whose friend Tetsuo finds he has telekinetic abilities after a motorcycle crash. The movie was influential not only to anime but to many other genres as well, such as the cyberpunk aesthetic. Watching this movie is a reminder of how important and influential foreign movies can be.
1 Say Anything...
Certain moments in 80s movies have cemented themselves into pop culture's legacy. One of those moments comes at the end of 1989's Say Anything..., starring John Cusack and Ione Skye. The two play high school students who form a relationship right before they graduate, with the movie following their cute, teenage romance.
The movie's most iconic scene finds Cusack's character standing underneath her bedroom window, playing "In Your Eyes" by Peter Gabriel through a boombox. It's one of those movie moments where an iconic action is soundtracked by an even more iconic song. It certainly still feels that way when watching the movie.