20 movies from the 1980s you forgot about that deserve a reboot
By
Terry TerronesNovember 15, 2018 | updated 8 years ago
"Back to School" (1986) - Thornton Melon (Rodney Dangerfield) is an over-the-top businessman who decides to enroll in his son's school to help him get through some tough times. If you ever heard of the phrase "Triple Lindy" but didn't know where it came from, watch this film. (Photo via IMDB)
While there have been plenty of recent reboots of popular films from the 1980s (“Ghostbusters,” “Annie,” “Robocop,” etc.) they’ve mostly been miss rather than hit. If Hollywood really wants to dig into the creativity of the decade, studios should look into films that time has forgotten.
Forget 80s blockbusters; polishing hidden gems is how Hollywood can really thrive. Looking for some action, comedy, romance and science fiction? Here are my recommendations for movies from the 80s that are deserving of a reboot. – Terry Terrones
“Back to School” (1986) – Thornton Melon (Rodney Dangerfield) is an over-the-top businessman who decides to enroll in his son’s school to help him get through some tough times. If you ever heard of the phrase “Triple Lindy” but didn’t know where it came from, watch this film. (Photo via IMDB)“Better Off Dead” (1985) – John Cusack, the king of 80s films, plays an aspiring cartoonist who finds creative ways to deal with being dumped by his girlfriend. Overly aggressive paper boys (“I want my $2!”) and a rival skier add to his misery. (Photo via IMDB)“Can’t Buy Me Love” (1987) – It’s hard to think of the man who would later be referred to as “McDreamy” as an unattractive nerd but that’s exactly what Patrick Dempsey plays in this 1987 film. Social outcast Ronald Miller (Dempsey) pays $1000 to the most popular girl in school to pretend to be his girlfriend. (Photo via IMDB)“Dead Calm” (1989) – Billy Zane is at his creepiest (as if there’s any other type of Billy Zane role) as a man who stows away on a husband and wife’s sailboat in the middle of the Pacific. Stars Sam Neill and Nicole Kidman in her first breakout performance. (Photo via IMDB)“Electric Dreams” (1984) – Nearly 30 years before the Spike Jonze hit movie “Her,” there was “Electric Dreams.” An AI who names himself Edgar falls in love and competes for the affections of Virginia Madsen in this 80s cult classic. (Photo via AV Club)“Explorers” (1985) – Ethan Hawke, Bobby Fite and a tie wearing and bespectacled River Phoenix build a spaceship in this unique sci-fi teen film. Any of the young actors from “Stranger Things” would be perfect in this. (Photo via IMDB)“Gymkata” (1985) – Olympic gold medalist Kurt Thomas stars as Jonathan Cabot, a man who blends gymnastics with karate (hence the title) to compete in a deadly martial arts competition. Someone get the number for Simone Biles’ agent. (Photo via IMDB)“Harry and the Hendersons” (1987) – While returning from a trip to the woods a father (John Lithgow) accidentally runs over what he thinks is an animal but turns out to be Big Foot. This might be where the idea for those “Messing with Sasquatch” ads came from. (Photo via YouTube)“Hiding Out” (1987) – In this film Jon Cryer plays a stockbroker on the run from the mob who decides to hide out by enrolling in the same high school as his nephew. In my opinion, this is Cryer’s best work. (Photo via Starpulse)“Iron Eagle” (1986) – Jason Gedrick stars as the teenage son of an Air Force pilot who retrieves his father after he’s shot down in enemy territory. Louis Gossett, Jr. is the man who trains him to fly jets while listening to Queen. (Photo via IMDB)“Jack’s Back” (1988) – A Los Angeles serial killer decides to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Jack the Ripper with a crime spree. James Spader, who plays twins in the film, is set on stopping him. (Photo via IMDB)“My Science Project” (1985) – Dennis Hopper, Fisher Stevens and the guy who played Cougar in “Top Gun” (John Stockwell) star in this unusual sci-fi film that blends the past, present (of the 80s) and the future. (Photo via YouTube)“Oxford Blues” (1984) – There are plenty of 80s Rob Lowe films that could have been included on this list (“Youngblood,” “About Last Night,” etc.) but this one has too much potential. An American/British rivalry, long scarves and rowing? ROWING! Time for a reboot. (Photo via Cineplex.com)“Real Genius” (1985) – Val Kilmer leads a team of goofy young geniuses who unwittingly build a laser to be used for nefarious purposes. Classic 80s villain William Atherton plays the jerk who manipulates his students. (Photo via IMDB)“Splash” (1984) – Okay, so some people haven’t forgotten about “Splash,” the film that helped catapult Tom Hanks into movie stardom. But unlike “Big,” this tale about a literal fish out of water hasn’t gotten the love it deserves. (Photo via IMDB)“Streets of Fire” (1984) – Michael Pare is a mercenary hired to rescue a singer, played by Diane Lane, from the leader of a motorcycle gang (Willem Dafoe). This film has one of the best soundtracks of any 80s movie. (Photo via IMDB)“The Ice Pirates” (1984) – Robert Urich, Anjelica Huston and Ron Perlman star in this space comedy where water is the universe’s most valuable substance. Battles “Spaceballs” for best sci-fi comedy of the decade. (Photo via IMDB)“The Last Starfighter” (1984) – Teenager Alex Rogan (Lance Guest) is transported to another planet when his video game skills prove to be a recruiting tool for an intergalactic fighter pilot program. Great visual effects and a heartfelt story make for a fun film. (Photo via IMDB)“The Manhattan Project” (1986) – A surprising number of movies from the 1980s still resonate today, including this one. In this film a high schooler and his girlfriend (played by “Sex in the and City’s” Cynthia Nixon) make an atomic bomb with material stolen from a scientist (John Lithgow) dating his mother. (Photo via Cineplex.com)“Uncommon Valor” (1983) – Gene Hackman is in charge of a private team of military vets, which includes Fred Ward and a young Patrick Swayze. They head to Vietnam in order to retrieve Hackman’s son, who’s been MIA for 10 years. (Photo via IMDB)
