The 1980s gave us blockbusters, Brat Pack dramas, and the birth of the modern action hero. But between the E.T.s, Raiders, and Breakfast Clubs, some truly fantastic films slipped through the cracks — overshadowed by box office giants or dismissed by critics at the time.
Whether you’re a seasoned VHS warrior or a curious streamer ready to dig deeper, here are 11 criminally underrated 80s movies that deserve a second (or first!) look.
1. To Live and Die in L.A. (1985)
Directed by: William Friedkin
A sun-bleached, nihilistic crime thriller from the director of The Exorcist, this film oozes style and tension. Willem Dafoe is magnetic as a counterfeiter, and the synth score by Wang Chung is pure 80s perfection. The car chase alone rivals The French Connection.
2. The Last Starfighter (1984)
Directed by: Nick Castle
What if beating a video game meant you were recruited to fight in an intergalactic war? This charming space opera had early CGI, heartfelt performances, and a big sense of wonder — a spiritual cousin to Star Wars that never quite got its due.
3. After Hours (1985)
Directed by: Martin Scorsese
Overshadowed by Scorsese’s gangster canon, this black comedy about a man’s surreal, nightmarish journey through downtown NYC is one of his sharpest and strangest films. A Kafkaesque odyssey wrapped in neon.
4. Streets of Fire (1984)
Directed by: Walter Hill
A “rock & roll fable” blending 1950s greasers with 1980s music-video aesthetics. Featuring Diane Lane, Willem Dafoe, and a blistering soundtrack, this is a cinematic fever dream — stylish, surreal, and ahead of its time.
5. Manhunter (1986)
Directed by: Michael Mann
Before Silence of the Lambs made Hannibal Lecter a household name, Manhunter introduced him in icy, neon-soaked style. It’s more psychological art film than slasher — with Mann’s signature cool visual flair and an unforgettable villain in Tom Noonan.
6. Time Bandits (1981)
Directed by: Terry Gilliam
A time-hopping fantasy packed with satire, surrealism, and Monty Python wit. It’s a film for adults disguised as a kids’ movie, and its absurdist charm hasn’t aged a day.
7. My Bodyguard (1980)
Directed by: Tony Bill
Before high school dramas got glossy, this one delivered raw, real emotion. A bullied teen hires the school loner for protection, and what unfolds is a surprisingly heartfelt story of friendship, trauma, and redemption.
8. Cloak & Dagger (1984)
Directed by: Richard Franklin
A spy thriller for kids with a surprisingly dark undercurrent. Henry Thomas (E.T.) and Dabney Coleman anchor this story of imaginary friends and real-world danger — part Rear Window, part Cold War paranoia, all underrated gem.
9. Near Dark (1987)
Directed by: Kathryn Bigelow
A gritty, punk-infused vampire western. Forget capes and castles — these bloodsuckers ride in RVs and rob bars. Stylish, brutal, and romantic, Near Dark is one of the best vampire films you’ve (probably) never seen.
10. The Hidden (1987)
Directed by: Jack Sholder
A shape-shifting alien hijacks bodies and goes on a violent crime spree — and it’s up to Kyle MacLachlan to stop it. It’s Invasion of the Body Snatchers meets Lethal Weapon, with a killer sense of humor and energy.
11. Something Wicked This Way Comes (1983)
Directed by: Jack Clayton
Based on Ray Bradbury’s novel, this Disney-produced horror-fantasy is darker than you’d expect. A creepy traveling carnival tempts townsfolk with their desires — for a price. Thoughtful, scary, and beautifully shot, it’s a Halloween classic in hiding.
Honorable Mentions
Outland (1981), Runaway (1984), Dreamscape (1984), Night of the Comet (1984), Enemy Mine (1985) — because even 11 isn’t enough when it comes to buried 80s treasure.
Final Reel
These movies may have been ignored, overlooked, or misunderstood in their day, but they’re rich with the style, ambition, and imagination that made the 1980s such a wild decade for cinema. Fire up your LaserDisc player, dust off the VHS, or cue up the stream — just don’t let these gems slip past you again.
