← Entertainment TOPICAL Movie Rankings
← Back

Best movies of the 1980s

The 1980s: all 597 films TOPICAL scores from these years, best first. The top three are Raging Bull (1980), Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981), Blade Runner (1982). The last column is each film's rank among all 6,624 films.

RankFilmYearScoreAll-time rank
1Raging Bull198093.646
2Raiders of the Lost Ark198192.955
3Blade Runner198292.856
4Back to the Future198592.758
5Amadeus198492.561
6The Empire Strikes Back198092.166
7Platoon198691.576
8Dead Poets Society198991.477
9E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial198290.0102
10Cinema Paradiso198887.7147
11The Elephant Man198087.4154
12Aliens198687.1160
13Rain Man198886.9165
14Fanny and Alexander198285.7194
15Grave of the Fireflies198885.4201
16My Neighbor Totoro198884.9214
17Who Framed Roger Rabbit198884.7218
18Paris, Texas198484.6221
19Gandhi198284.6223
20Die Hard198884.4226
21Return of the Jedi198384.4227
22Tootsie198284.2233
23The Right Stuff198383.7246
24Hannah and Her Sisters198682.9267
25Glory198982.9269
26The Last Emperor198782.2288
27Do the Right Thing198981.9296
28The Shining198081.6305
29Ran198581.5309
30Das Boot198181.4311
31The Untouchables198781.4312
32Once Upon a Time in America198481.3316
33Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade198980.4343
34Dangerous Liaisons198880.0357
35The Terminator198479.7366
36Full Metal Jacket198779.4376
37Terms of Endearment198379.0388
38Driving Miss Daisy198978.7399
39Brazil198578.7400
40Warriors of the Wind198478.0423
41Scarface198377.6437
42The Little Mermaid198977.4444
43Out of Africa198577.3447
44The King of Comedy198277.3448
45Blue Velvet198677.0459
46Atlantic City198077.0460
47The Princess Bride198776.8466
48Mississippi Burning198876.8467
49The Killing Fields198476.3484
50Ordinary People198076.3486
51Stop Making Sense198475.7507
52Ghostbusters198475.6509
53On Golden Pond198275.3524
54A Room with a View198675.0535
55Au Revoir les Enfants198774.7545
56The Color Purple198574.7546
57Reds198174.4558
58The Verdict198273.3600
59When Harry Met Sally...198973.0613
60Mad Max 2198172.9617
61Missing198271.5675
62A Fish Called Wanda198871.1694
63Akira198870.9703
64Castle in the Sky198670.7713
65Moonstruck198770.6717
66Chariots of Fire198170.5722
67The Mission198670.4725
68Kagemusha198070.4726
69Witness198570.3728
70sex, lies, and videotape198970.1739
71Coal Miner's Daughter198069.9748
72The Fly198669.7758
73Broadcast News198769.6760
74This Is Spinal Tap198469.2780
75Come and See198568.9793
76Stand by Me198668.6805
77Empire of the Sun198768.6807
78Kiki's Delivery Service198968.3821
79The Thing198268.0837
80The Purple Rose of Cairo198567.9841
81Airplane!198067.6853
82Sophie's Choice198267.5858
83Wings of Desire198767.4862
84Batman198967.2875
85Beetlejuice198867.1880
86Field of Dreams198967.1881
87Good Morning, Vietnam198766.9886
88Born on the Fourth of July198966.5907
89Places in the Heart198466.3920
90The Blues Brothers198065.9938
91Crimes and Misdemeanors198965.8944
92Babette's Feast198765.7949
93Koyaanisqatsi198265.2972
94Big198865.0981
95The Last Temptation of Christ198864.71,001
96Dirty Dancing198764.41,014
97Beverly Hills Cop198464.41,016
98An Officer and a Gentleman198264.21,024
99The Breakfast Club198564.11,031
100Wall Street198763.31,072
101A Nightmare on Elm Street198462.91,094
102Hoosiers198662.51,115
103The Sacrifice198662.41,120
104The Color of Money198662.31,126
105Working Girl198861.81,152
106The Goonies198561.81,154
107Victor/Victoria198261.51,168
108Fatal Attraction198761.41,177
109Henry V198961.31,180
110Top Gun198661.11,190
111Blood Simple198461.11,191
112Prizzi's Honor198560.11,245
113A Short Film About Killing198859.91,258
114Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom198459.81,263
115Ferris Bueller's Day Off198659.61,277
116Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown198859.61,278
117Back to the Future Part II198959.51,282
118The Last Metro198059.41,287
119When Father Was Away on Business198559.31,294
120Stranger Than Paradise198458.91,318
121RoboCop198758.71,330
122Kiss of the Spider Woman198558.61,331
123The Name of the Rose198658.51,337
124Heathers198858.41,346
125Silkwood198358.31,352
126The Karate Kid198458.21,355
127The Big Chill198358.11,361
128A Passage to India198458.11,364
129Predator198758.01,367
130Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan198257.91,377
131The Accused198857.81,383
132The Unbearable Lightness of Being198857.71,386
133An American Werewolf in London198157.71,388
134Pelle the Conqueror198757.51,397
135Zelig198357.51,400
136The Evil Dead198157.41,405
137Raising Arizona198757.11,423
138Dead Ringers198856.41,467
139The Abyss198956.31,471
140Tender Mercies198356.21,479
141First Blood198255.81,505
142Trading Places198355.71,510
143The Official Story198555.61,516
144The French Lieutenant's Woman198155.11,543
145The Natural198454.91,556
146Camille Claudel198854.91,560
147Children of a Lesser God198654.81,565
148Poltergeist198254.81,566
149Gallipoli198154.71,571
150After Hours198554.21,601
151Time of the Gypsies198854.01,618
152WarGames198353.91,620
153Broadway Danny Rose198453.71,632
154Evil Dead II198753.71,633
155Monty Python's The Meaning of Life198353.51,646
156Midnight Run198853.51,650
157Stand and Deliver198853.41,655
158Evil Angels198853.31,661
159Angel Heart198753.31,662
160Birdy198453.11,670
161Nostalgia198353.11,676
162My Life as a Dog198552.81,691
163Melvin and Howard198052.61,705
164Runaway Train198552.51,714
165The Road198252.41,716
166Red Sorghum198852.21,729
167'Round Midnight198652.11,738
168The Year of Living Dangerously198252.01,746
169Escape from New York198151.71,765
170The Thin Blue Line198851.61,774
171Gorillas in the Mist198851.51,778
172Lethal Weapon 2198951.51,780
173The Witches of Eastwick198751.31,789
174Hope and Glory198751.31,794
175The Fox and the Hound198150.11,870
176The Dresser198350.11,873
177Lethal Weapon198750.01,878
178Gremlins198450.01,882
179Jean de Florette198649.61,910
180The Fabulous Baker Boys198949.31,925
181Dead Calm198949.31,930
182Where Is The Friend's House?198749.01,951
183My American Uncle198048.81,960
184Gloria198048.71,968
185Matewan198748.71,969
186The Gods Must Be Crazy198048.51,986
187Planes, Trains and Automobiles198748.41,991
188Parenthood198948.31,994
189Common Threads: Stories from the Quilt198948.31,996
190Fitzcarraldo198248.22,007
191Bull Durham198848.02,016
192Casualties of War198947.82,029
193Steel Magnolias198947.62,044
194A Christmas Story198347.62,047
195Mona Lisa198647.52,052
196Arthur198147.32,066
197Ragtime198147.12,083
198The Decline of Western Civilization198146.92,096
199The Land Before Time198846.92,097
200Down by Law198646.82,103
201A Soldier's Story198446.72,111
202Mephisto198146.52,124
203Mask198546.12,155
204Maurice198745.72,180
205The Stunt Man198045.62,189
206The Great Mouse Detective198645.52,197
207The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!198845.42,207
208No Way Out198745.22,222
209Pink Floyd: The Wall198244.92,243
210Breaker Morant198044.72,259
211Man of Iron198144.62,263
212Salaam Bombay!198844.62,267
213Music Box198944.32,284
214Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home198644.22,291
215Romancing the Stone198444.22,293
216My Beautiful Laundrette198544.22,297
217Manhunter198643.92,313
218Peggy Sue Got Married198643.92,320
219Landscape in the Mist198843.72,333
220Cocoon198543.52,344
221Videodrome198343.42,355
222Tron198243.32,365
223The Times of Harvey Milk198443.22,368
224The Accidental Tourist198843.12,374
225Cry Freedom198742.92,393
226The Lost Boys198742.72,411
2272010198442.62,416
228Superman II198042.42,431
229Educating Rita198342.32,438
230Radio Days198742.22,446
231Salvador198642.22,448
232The Secret of NIMH198242.12,451
233Splash198442.12,453
234Quest for Fire198142.02,459
235Silverado198541.92,468
236They Live198841.82,473
237El Norte198341.82,476
238The World According to Garp198241.82,479
239The Trip to Bountiful198541.62,493
240The Dead Zone198341.52,498
241Purple Rain198441.52,499
242The NeverEnding Story198441.42,504
243Excalibur198141.42,506
244Little Shop of Horrors198641.42,511
245Time Bandits198141.22,520
246Fast Times at Ridgemont High198240.92,548
247Starman198440.82,552
248Tucker: The Man and His Dream198840.72,561
249Running on Empty198840.52,577
250Coup de Torchon198140.52,578
251Absence of Malice198140.22,598
25248 Hrs.198240.22,604
253Pale Rider198540.02,615
254Moscow Does Not Believe in Tears198040.02,616
255The Adventures of Baron Munchausen198839.92,623
256The Brave Little Toaster198739.92,625
257Crimes of the Heart198639.82,637
258Fame198039.52,656
259The War of the Roses198939.52,661
260Dirty Rotten Scoundrels198839.32,670
261Crocodile Dundee198638.92,702
262Diner198238.62,727
263Under Fire198338.52,736
264La Bamba198737.72,799
265Labyrinth198637.42,826
266Fright Night198537.32,834
267Betty Blue198637.32,836
268Ladyhawke198537.12,851
269Entre Nous198336.52,905
270Escape to Victory198136.42,913
271Innerspace198736.42,914
272For All Mankind198936.22,923
273The Assault198636.22,926
274Ironweed198735.92,948
275Dark Eyes198735.82,961
276Risky Business198335.62,974
277The Dark Crystal198235.52,986
278Hellraiser198735.42,990
279Roger & Me198935.33,004
280Nineteen Eighty-Four198435.33,005
281Dangerous Moves198435.03,029
282Coming to America198835.03,030
283Pathfinder198735.03,031
284Betrayal198334.53,074
285Day of the Dead198534.43,078
286Frances198234.43,081
287Yentl198334.03,111
288The Bear198833.93,121
289Willow198833.73,138
290The Decline of the American Empire198633.63,149
291The Family198733.43,163
292Top Secret!198433.23,180
293Married to the Mob198833.23,186
294The Dead198733.03,198
295Conan the Barbarian198232.93,204
296Dressed to Kill198032.83,216
297My Favorite Year198232.83,220
298The Postman Always Rings Twice198132.73,221
299Ghostbusters II198932.63,233
300Big Trouble in Little China198632.43,252
301Heaven's Gate198032.33,259
302Brubaker198031.83,303
303Hôtel Terminus: The Life and Times of Klaus Barbie198831.73,315
304Rocky III198231.53,333
305Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes198431.53,334
306Heartbreak Ridge198631.43,337
307Bird198831.33,348
308Oliver & Company198830.93,383
309Killer Klowns from Outer Space198830.83,395
310The Whales of August198730.83,397
311The Day After198330.73,399
312Moonwalker198830.73,401
313The Return of Martin Guerre198330.63,414
314The Big Blue198830.43,424
315Country198430.33,438
316Somewhere in Time198030.03,468
317National Lampoon's Vacation198329.93,474
318The Professional198129.73,490
319Clash of the Titans198129.63,501
320Altered States198029.43,514
321A Dry White Season198929.43,518
322Sea of Love198929.43,520
323The Living Daylights198729.33,524
324Never Say Never Again198329.23,537
325Young Sherlock Holmes198528.83,569
326Child's Play198828.83,574
327Flight of the Navigator198628.73,578
328Sherman's March198528.73,579
329Carmen198328.63,591
330Black Rain198928.53,602
331She's Gotta Have It198628.13,633
332The Secret of the Third Planet198127.93,657
333The Atomic Cafe198227.83,662
334Le Bal198327.83,663
335Prince of the City198127.73,678
336Armour of God198627.53,693
337National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation198927.53,694
338Commando198527.33,709
339Sweet Dreams198527.33,714
340Testament198327.13,730
341Christine198327.13,734
342Highlander198627.03,743
343The Mosquito Coast198626.93,745
344Frantic198826.93,746
345Private Benjamin198026.93,748
346Caddyshack198026.83,754
347Longtime Companion198926.63,773
348Never Cry Wolf198326.53,782
349Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence198326.43,796
350Jagged Edge198526.43,797
351Enemies, a Love Story198926.33,801
352The Fog198026.33,802
353Twice in a Lifetime198526.23,809
354Under the Volcano198426.23,811
355Licence to Kill198926.13,827
356Footloose198425.93,840
357Kin-dza-dza!198625.93,842
358Begin the Beguine198225.73,858
359Star Trek III: The Search for Spock198425.53,875
360The Cotton Club198425.43,892
361Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome198525.43,893
362Genocide198225.23,910
363Three Brothers198125.13,919
364Jesus of Montreal198924.73,959
365Agnes of God198524.63,965
366Throw Momma from the Train198724.63,967
367An American Tail198624.63,970
368For Your Eyes Only198124.53,974
369Rambo: First Blood Part II198524.33,998
370Murphy's Romance198524.24,001
371To Be or Not to Be198323.84,039
372Dad198923.84,043
373Spaceballs198723.74,053
374Thelonious Monk: Straight, No Chaser198823.64,057
375Flash Gordon198023.44,077
376Dragonslayer198123.34,092
377The Bostonians198423.04,122
378The Outsiders198322.94,125
379A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors198722.94,127
380Disco Dancer198222.84,138
381Bloodsport198822.84,142
382Blue Thunder198322.74,148
383Always198922.54,164
384Streetwise198422.44,175
385Valmont198922.44,179
386The Pope of Greenwich Village198422.44,182
387The Morning After198622.34,188
388The Journey of Natty Gann198522.24,196
389Chan Is Missing198222.14,207
390Honey, I Shrunk the Kids198921.94,231
391Swing Shift198421.64,261
392Three Men and a Cradle198521.54,266
393Mystic Pizza198821.54,267
394My Sweet Little Village198521.34,283
395The Dead Pool198821.24,293
396Flashdance198321.24,295
397Octopussy198320.94,324
398Lock Up198920.94,330
399Dune198420.84,331
400Rocky IV198520.74,341
401Resurrection198020.74,343
402Tribute198020.64,353
403Heartburn198620.64,354
404The Running Man198720.64,357
405The River198420.34,382
406Beverly Hills Cop II198720.34,390
407Outland198120.24,393
408Colonel Redl198520.04,419
409All Dogs Go to Heaven198920.04,420
410Prince of Darkness198719.94,428
411Friday the 13th198019.84,437
412We're No Angels198919.64,461
413Annie198219.54,462
414Bless Their Little Hearts198419.54,470
415Cross Creek198319.44,474
416The Money Pit198619.44,476
417Look Who's Talking198919.34,491
418The Muppets Take Manhattan198418.94,524
419Reuben, Reuben198318.84,539
420Pennies from Heaven198118.84,540
421Shirley Valentine198918.64,556
422Cannibal Holocaust198018.64,561
423Before Stonewall198418.54,566
424Blaze198918.04,617
425Pet Sematary198918.04,621
426Sudden Impact198318.04,622
427Short Circuit198617.94,629
428Red Heat198817.84,641
429Halloween II198117.74,650
430The Black Cauldron198517.54,665
431American Gigolo198017.54,672
432Tequila Sunrise198817.14,712
433Memories of a Marriage198917.14,713
434Gaby: A True Story198717.14,715
435The Jewel of the Nile198516.94,736
436A View to a Kill198516.84,739
437War-Time Romance198316.64,766
438La traviata198216.54,771
439Tango & Cash198916.54,776
440Losing Ground198216.14,816
441The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas198216.14,819
442Only When I Laugh198116.04,821
443The Competition198016.04,823
444Let's Get Lost198815.94,836
445Nine 1/2 Weeks198615.74,857
446The Flight of the Eagle198215.54,880
447Police Academy198415.44,886
448Weird Science198515.34,897
449Harry and the Hendersons198715.34,903
450Down and Out in America198615.14,915
451From Mao to Mozart: Isaac Stern in China198014.84,954
452Scrooged198814.74,960
453Rambo III198814.74,964
454Alsino and the Condor198214.74,967
455The Karate Kid Part II198614.64,971
456Popeye198014.64,973
457Road House198914.44,996
458Cujo198314.35,007
459Red Dawn198414.15,022
460He Makes Me Feel Like Dancin'198314.05,033
461Critters198614.05,034
462Broken Rainbow198514.05,036
463Weekend at Bernie's198913.65,080
464¡Three Amigos!198613.45,098
465The Ten-Year Lunch198713.25,126
466Hanussen198813.15,134
467Twins198813.05,143
468Anna198713.05,144
469Angry Harvest198513.05,145
470Heart Like a Wheel198312.95,149
471Beaches198812.75,171
472Confidence198012.55,198
473Return of the Secaucus Seven198012.55,200
474Kickboxer198912.35,219
475Private Life198212.25,228
476Firefox198212.15,239
477Little Dorrit198812.05,249
478She-Devil198911.95,266
479Return to Oz198511.85,271
480Street Smart198711.85,278
481Artie Shaw: Time Is All You've Got198511.65,292
482A Chorus Line198511.25,333
483Camila198411.25,335
484Conan the Destroyer198411.15,347
485Jason Lives - Friday the 13th Part VI198610.85,386
486One from the Heart198210.85,387
487Just Another Missing Kid198110.65,405
488St. Elmo's Fire198510.65,409
489The Music Teacher198810.45,425
490Above the Law198810.35,440
491The Milagro Beanfield War198810.05,471
492Psycho III19869.85,489
493Friday the 13th Part 219819.75,505
494The Formula19809.65,518
495Pirates19869.55,521
496Muddy River19819.45,535
497A Nightmare on Elm Street Part 2: Freddy's Revenge19859.15,570
498The Nest19809.05,581
499Inside Moves19808.95,591
500A Handful of Dust19888.95,592
501The Revolt of Job19838.85,602
502Marlene19848.65,627
503Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter19848.45,650
504Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers19888.35,657
505The Texas Chainsaw Massacre Part 219868.35,660
506The Blue Lagoon19808.35,663
507Over the Top19878.25,666
508The Delta Force19868.15,680
509Blind Date19878.05,695
510The Boat Is Full19807.85,720
511Course Completed19877.65,740
512Who Killed Vincent Chin?19877.35,771
513Beyond the Walls19847.35,777
514Legend19857.25,783
515Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins19857.25,785
516Star Trek V: The Final Frontier19897.25,786
517'38 - Vienna Before the Fall19877.25,789
518Lo que le pasó a Santiago19897.15,796
519Double Feature19846.75,843
520Supergirl19846.65,851
521K-919896.65,857
522A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master19886.55,867
523Poltergeist II: The Other Side19866.35,881
524The Punisher19896.25,892
525Raw Deal19866.15,909
526The Day After Trinity19805.75,949
527Building Bombs19895.65,963
528Garlic Is as Good as Ten Mothers19805.65,968
529Friday the 13th Part III19825.65,970
530Harlem Nights19895.55,980
531Sunset19885.26,011
532Otello19865.16,027
533The Statue of Liberty19855.06,031
534Zoot Suit19815.06,040
535Happy New Year19874.96,043
536Cocktail19884.96,049
537Superman III19834.96,050
538Brooklyn Bridge19814.66,082
539Crocodile Dundee II19884.56,090
540A Nightmare on Elm Street: The Dream Child19894.56,091
541Cobra19864.56,094
542The Mothers of Plaza de Mayo19854.46,107
543Radio Bikini19884.36,115
544Red Sonja19854.36,122
545The Cannonball Run19814.26,123
546Super Chief: The Life and Legacy of Earl Warren19894.16,135
547Missing in Action19844.16,139
548The Karate Kid Part III19894.06,156
549Police Academy 2: Their First Assignment19853.96,164
550Children of Darkness19833.66,200
551Promises to Keep19883.56,210
552The Cry of Reason: Beyers Naude – An Afrikaner Speaks Out19883.46,225
553Halloween III: Season of the Witch19823.36,229
554When Time Ran Out...19803.26,242
555Masters of the Universe19873.26,250
556Hellfire: A Journey from Hiroshima19863.16,256
557Isaac in America: A Journey with Isaac Bashevis Singer19862.86,294
558In the Name of the People19852.76,299
559Witness to Apartheid19862.76,300
560Water and Power19892.76,304
561Agee19802.66,317
562El Salvador: Another Vietnam19812.46,342
563Police Academy 3: Back in Training19862.46,344
564The Life and Times of Rosie the Riveter19802.36,354
565Chile: Hasta Cuando?19862.36,355
566Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers19892.26,357
567Soldiers in Hiding19852.26,360
568Seeing Red: Stories of American Communists19832.26,361
569First Contact19832.16,374
570In Our Water19822.16,377
571Crack USA: County Under Siege19892.16,378
572Adam Clayton Powell19891.96,401
573After the Axe19821.96,403
574Songwriter19841.76,416
575Against Wind and Tide: A Cuban Odyssey19811.76,424
576The Clan of the Cave Bear19861.66,429
577The Yellow Star: The Persecution of the Jews in Europe - 1933-194519811.66,439
578Friday the 13th: A New Beginning19851.56,445
579A Stitch for Time19871.56,447
580High Schools19841.46,456
581Superman IV: The Quest for Peace19871.26,481
582Eight Minutes to Midnight: A Portrait of Dr. Helen Caldicott19811.26,483
583A Portrait of Giselle19821.16,493
584Front Line19811.16,496
585Unfinished Business19851.16,497
586Howard the Duck19861.06,501
587Ben's Mill19821.06,502
588The Profession of Arms19830.96,512
589The Sting II19830.86,523
590Jaws 3-D19830.86,528
591Hair Piece: A Film for Nappy Headed People19840.76,543
592Hours for Jerome: Parts 1 and 219860.66,547
593Drums of Winter (aka Uksuum Cauyai)19880.66,548
594Heartbeeps19810.36,583
595Jaws: The Revenge19870.36,590
596Police Academy 4: Citizens on Patrol19870.26,600
597Police Academy 5: Assignment Miami Beach19880.16,611