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The 1980s marked an exceptional era of filmmaking. The decade saw the emergence of multiple iconic franchises that gave rise to several beloved characters that continue to captivate viewers across the globe. Films made during this time are magnetically influential; so much so that even four decades later, they are quoted and referenced in conversations and on social media platforms. This era of cinema, successful both critically and commercially, has become an integrated part of modern culture. Movies being made now strive to match the standard set by movies made in this decade.
Explore the the golden era of cinema with this ranking of the 10 highest-grossing films from that time; based on their reception and cultural impact.
10Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom(1984)
Box Office Collection:$333 million
Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doomwas the second installment of the Indiana Jones series. In the film, the world-traveling archaeologist finds himself in a remote village in British India, where he has to fight the cult that practices human sacrifice in the name of religious practices.
The film is more intense and in a darker tone than its predecessor,Raiders of the Lost Ark.Directed bySteven Spielberg, the film seesHarrison Fordreprise his role as Indiana Jones in this beloved adventure-action flick from the 1980s.
Despite its immense success, the film faced some controversy for its cultural depictions and intense scenes. The film’s dynamic action sequences and Spielberg’s masterful direction made the film a blockbuster.
Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doomis available to stream on Prime Video.
9.Batman(1989)
Box Office Collection:$411 million
DirectorTim Burtonrevolutionized the superhero genre of films forever with this feature film.Batmanoffers a darker, more gothic take on the Gotham City and the Caped Crusader’s adventures. The choice ofMichael Keatonto play Batman was initially met with controversy. However, the actor did justice to the role through his complexly nuanced performance.
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Furthermore,Jack Nicholsan‘s portrayal of the Joker went down in history as one of the most gruesome portrayals of a supervillain. This film was a success on both commercial and critical fronts. Burton’s unique vision paved the way for modern superhero films.
Batmanis available to stream on Max.
8Top Gun(1986)
Box Office Collection:$357 million
The 1980s were the era when action films enjoyed a different level of popularity. And in addition to the celebrated action flicks is Tony Scott’s Top Gun. With this film, Tom Cruise established himself as a superstar. The definition of cool at the time, the film follows naval pilot Pete “Maverick” Mitchell (Cruise) along with Nick “Goose” Bradshaw (Anthony Edwards) get a chance to train at the United States Navy’s Fighter Weapons School, Top Gun.
The film’s exploration of the themes of camaraderie, personal development, and rivalry resonated with audiences, creating a lasting impact. The film captured hearts on such a scale that over three decades later the film had a rerun in theaters viaBox Office Mojo. And had a sequel.
Top Gunis available to stream on Paramount+.
7Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade(1989)
Box Office Collection:$474 million
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusadeis the third installment of the Indiana Jones series. It brings inSean Conneryto the cast who plays the beloved archaeologist’s father, Professor Henry Jones. The chemistry between Ford and Connery, the onscreen father-son duo was something that added to an already impactful script and a well-executed film. It also adds another layer of exploration to the film.
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It follows Indy as he embarks on a search for the Holy Grail and teams up with his father to race the Nazis once again. It is a fan-favorite installment of the series, immaculately balancing humor, action, emotional depth, and mystery.
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusadeis available to stream on Prime Video.
6Rain Man(1988)
Box Office Collection:$355 million
Rain Manstands out on this list as it is not an action-packed installment of a popular franchise. Rather, it is a character-driven almost family drama that features Tom Cruise andDustin Hoffmanin lead roles. Directed by Barry Levinson, the film follows Charlie Babbit (Cruise), who discovers that his estranged father has given the entirety of his multi-million inheritance to someone else- his autistic brother, Raymond (Hoffman), of whose existence Charlie was unaware of.
The brothers end up embarking on a cross-country road trip and Charlie gets to learn about family, responsibility, love, and his childhood.
Hoffman’s portrayal of Raymond won him an Academy Award and the film became one of the most heartfelt pieces of cinema that emerged in the 1980s.
Rain Manis available to stream on Freevee.
5Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi(1983)
Box Office Collection:$375 million
Return of the Jediwas the final installment of theStar Warstrilogy and the sixth film in the Skywalker saga. Directed by Richard Marquand, it follows the ongoing battle between the Galactic Empire and the Rebel Alliance. Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) tries to bring his father, Darth Vader back from the dark side. Meanwhile, the alliance launches a final attack on the Empire’s new Death Star to destroy it.
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Iconic moments like Han Solo (Harrison Ford) being rescued, the ultimate lightsaber duel and the speeder bike chase wonderfully concluded one of cinema’s most popular trilogies.
Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jediis available to stream on Disney+.
4Raiders of the Lost Ark(1981)
Box Office Collection:$354 million
Another Indiana Jones movie has found its place on the list and unsurprisingly so.Raiders of the Lost Ark: the film that introduced the world to the phenomenon Indiana Jones went on to become had to be on this list. Another directorial feature from Steven Spielberg, the film features Harrison Ford in the titular role. Set in the 1930s, the film follows Indiana Jones, the globe-trotting archaeologist who must get to the Ark of Covenant before the Nazi forces exploit its powers.
The film combines action and adventure flawlessly and has become a blueprint for the films to come in the genre.
Raiders of the Lost Arkis available to stream on Prime Video.
3Back to the Future(1985)
Box Office Collection:$381 million
The decade of extreme exploration in the science fiction genre produced the slice of extreme entertainment that isBack to the Future. Directed byRobert Zemeckis, the film is a perfect blend of comedy, adventure, and science fiction. One of the most clever scripts of all time, the film follows a teenager Marty McFly (Michael J. Fox), who accidentally travels back to 1955. A DeLorean time machine invented by the eccentric Doc Brown has caused the execution of this operation.
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Marty, who has to ensure the romantic involvement of his parents to preserve his existence is met with a whole new challenge when his mother starts falling for him. The humorous and heartfelt tone of the film and the timeless chemistry between Marty and Doc made the film a huge success, resulting in two more sequels.
Back to the Futureis available to stream on Fubo TV.
2Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back(1980)
Box Office Collection:$538 million
The Empire Strikes Backis often regarded as the bestStar Warsmovie. The film redirects the franchise in multiple ways. With the shocking revelations and high-stakes battles, the film took the franchise on a darker turn. Directed by Irvin Kershner, the film is the second installment of the Star Wars franchise and the fifth chronological film of the Skywalker series. It chronicles the epic battle between the evil Galactic Empire and the Rebel Alliance.
Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) trains to master the Force to attack and defeat the Empire’s most loyal protector, Darth Vader. However, revelations of his parentage shock Skywalker and audiences alike.
The duel at the Cloud City and the Battle of Hoth,The Empire Strikes Backgave several memorable moments to its fans; emerging as the era’s strongest cinematic masterpiece.
Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Backis available to stream on Disney+.
1E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial(1982)
Box Office Collection:$793 million
At the top of this list isE.T. the Extra-Terrestrial. The film was groundbreaking in terms of the concept it brought to life. A heartwarming friendship between two beings who could not have been more different: a young boy named Elliott (Henry Thomas) and a stranded alien. The film brought a sense of wonder, magic, and fascination on screen which, blended with the universal themes of friendship has become one of the most beloved films of all time.
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Directed by the great Steven Spielberg,E.T.was probably one of the first portrayals of aliens as a friend and not a foreign foe. The iconic image of Eliott and E.T., on Eliott’s bike, flying across the moon continues to stir the emotions of warmth and nostalgia in the millions whose childhood was defined by this movie.
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrialis available to stream on Starz.
The ’80s brought a new charisma to the filmmaking industry. With some of the best talents behind and in front of the camera, the decade produced several cinematic masterpieces. From rom-coms to coming-of-age films to timeless franchises, the ’80s were the most cinematically rich era in the history of filmmaking. They truly do not make films like these anymore.
Arpita Joshi
Articles Published :73
Arpita Joshi is an Evergreen Content Writer at FandomWire. With almost two years of experience, she has learned intricate details of writing in different niches, particularly entertainment.
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Anthony EdwardsDustin HoffmanHarrison FordHenry ThomasJack NicholsonMark HamillMichael J. FoxMichael KeatonRobert ZemeckisSean ConnerySteven SpielbergTim BurtonTom CruiseTony Scott
