1980s: The Blockbuster Boom and Rise of Home Video
Technologies:
Special effects advanced with films like Tron (1982) using CGI, and animatronics were widely used in E.T. (1982) and The Terminator (1984).
VHS and home video revolutionized distribution, enabling home viewing and creating secondary revenue streams.
Narrative Trends:
Adventure, sci-fi, and fantasy genres flourished, often with family-friendly heroes and aspirational narratives, appealing to younger audiences.
Action films grew in popularity, often featuring larger-than-life protagonists and spectacle-focused storytelling.
Industry Shifts:
The home video market transformed film consumption, leading studios to consider video rentals in profitability strategies.
Blockbuster franchises (e.g., Indiana Jones, Back to the Future) helped cement sequel culture in Hollywood.
Notable Films: E.T. (1982), Blade Runner (1982), Die Hard (1988).
Eaten Alive! (1980)
Friday the 13th (1980)
Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
The Blues Brothers (1980)
Battle Creek Brawl (1980)
1981
Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)
For Your Eyes Only (1981)
The Evil Dead (1981)
Ghost Story (1981)
Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior (1981)
Piranha II : The Spawning (1981)
Fantasies (1981)
1982
Shaolin Temple (1982)
Conan the Barbarian (1982)
Rocky III (1982)
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982)
Blade Runner (1982)
Man has made his match... now it's his problem.

The Thing (1982)
The Living Dead Girl (1982)
First Blood (1982)
Gandhi (1982)
Sorceress (1982)
Grease 2 (1982)
Sophie’s Choice (1982)
The Hunters of the Golden Cobra (1982)
1983
52. Treasure of the Four Crowns (1983) 4.1
Rate
Blue Thunder
53. Blue Thunder (1983) 6.4
Rate
Zu: Warriors from the Magic Mountain
54. Zu: Warriors from the Magic Mountain (1983) 6.6
Rate
Fantasy Mission Force
55. Fantasy Mission Force (1983) 4.7
Rate
Fire and Ice
56. Fire and Ice (1983) 6.6
Rate
Screwballs
Jaws 3 (1983)
Screwballs (1983)
My Tutor (1983)
Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983)
Psycho II (1983)
Octopussy (1983)
Daffy Duck's Movie: Fantastic Island (1983)
Never Say Never Again (1983)
The First Turn-On!! (1983)
Scarface (1983)
1984
Sixteen Candles (1984)
Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984)
Ghostbusters (1984)
The Terminator (1984)
A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)
Beverly Hills Cop (1984)
Dune (1984)
Bolero (1984)
The Lost Empire (1984)
Bruce Lee, The Legend (1984)
The Story of the Dolls (1984)
The Ice Pirates (1984)
1985
The Breakfast Club (1985)
Witness (1985)
Police Academy 2: Their First Assignment (1985)
Scandalosa Gilda (1985)
Malibu Express (1985)
Rambo: First Blood Part II (1985)
A View to a Kill (1985)
Back to the Future (1985)
Scandalous Gilda (1985)
Rocky IV (1985)
Young Sherlock Holmes (1985)
House (1985)
Out of Africa (1985)
Police Story (1985)
The Holcroft Covenant (1985)
Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome (1985)
1986
Troll
130. Troll (1986) 4.5
Rate
Martial Arts of Shaolin
131. Martial Arts of Shaolin (1986) 6.5
Rate
Martial Arts of Shaolin
132. Martial Arts of Shaolin (1986) 6.5
Rate
9½ Weeks
9½ Weeks (1986) or Nine And A Half Weeks
Christina (1986)
Police Academy 3: Back in Training
135. Police Academy 3: Back in Training (1986) 5.4
Rate
Crocodile Dundee
136. Crocodile Dundee (1986) 6.6
Rate
Breeders
137. Breeders (1986) 3.7
Top Gun (1986)
143. Big Trouble in Little China (1986) 7.3
Rate
Aliens
Aliens (1986)
9
Howard the Duck
Howard the Duck (1986)
Armour of God
146. Armour of God (1986) 7
Rate
Blue Velvet
Blue Velvet (1986)
7
Crime Story
148. Crime Story (1986–1988) 8.4
Rate
An American Tail
149. An American Tail (1986) 6.9
Rate
Asterix in Britain
150. Asterix in Britain (1986) 7.1
Rate
The Golden Child
151. The Golden Child (1986) 6
Rate
King Kong Lives
152. King Kong Lives (1986) 3.9
Rate
1987
153. The Stepfather (1987) 6.8
6
Born of Fire
154. Born of Fire (1987) 6.1
Rate
Return to Horror High
155. Return to Horror High (1987) 4.3
Rate
A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors
156. A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors (1987) 6.6
Rate
Le
Iris (1987)
Lethal Weapon (1987)
Erotic Ghost Story (1987)
Angel Heart (1987)
Evil Dead II (1987)
The Fourth Protocol
161. The Fourth Protocol (1987) 6.6
Rate
Iris
162. Iris (1987) 6.4
Rate
Hard Ticket to Hawaii (1987)
Escape from Sobibor
164. Escape from Sobibor (1987 TV Movie) 7.4
Rate
The Gate
165. The Gate (1987) 6.1
Rate
Hangmen
166. Hangmen (1987) 3
Rate
Hellraiser
167. Hellraiser (1987) 7
6
A Prayer for the Dying
A Prayer for the Dying (1987)
House II: The Second Story (1987)
Beverly Hills Cop II (1987)
Rate
The Untouchables
171. The Untouchables (1987) 7.9
8
The Untouchables
The Untouchables (1987)
Predator (1987)
The Living Daylights (1987)
Innerspace
175. Innerspace (1987) 6.8
Rate
Eastern Condors
176. Eastern Condors (1987) 7.2
Rate
RoboCop
177. RoboCop (1987) 7.5
Rate
Jaws: The Revenge
Rate
Superman IV: The Quest for Peace
179. Superman IV: The Quest for Peace (1987) 3.7
1
Project A 2
180. Project A 2 (1987) 7.1
Rate
Masters of the Universe
181. Masters of the Universe (1987) 5.4
Rate
The Last Emperor
The Last Emperor (1987)
10
Prince of Darkness
183. Prince of Darkness (1987) 6.7
Rate
Cobra nero
184. Cobra nero (1987) 4.4
Rate
Fu shi feng qing hui
185. Fu shi feng qing hui (1987) 5.9
Rate
A Better Tomorrow II
186. A Better Tomorrow II (1987) 7.3
Rate
City of Blood
187. City of Blood (1987) 2.7
Rate
1988
188. Dragons Forever (1988) 7.2
Rate
Bloodsport
189. Bloodsport (1988) 6.8
Rate
Taffin
190. Taffin (1988) 5.5
Rate
Picasso Trigger
Picasso Trigger (1988)
BASEketball (1988)
Rate
Switching Channels
192. Switching Channels (1988) 5.9
Rate
Demonwarp
193. Demonwarp (1988) 4.6
Rate
My Neighbor Totoro
194. My Neighbor Totoro (1988) 8.2
Rate
Crocodile Dundee II
195. Crocodile Dundee II (1988) 5.6
Rate
The Incredible Hulk Returns
196. The Incredible Hulk Returns (1988 TV Movie) 5.8
Rambo III (1988)
Black Eagle
198. Black Eagle (1988) 3.8
Rate
Red Heat
199. Red Heat (1988) 6.1
Rate
Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988
Coming to America (1988)
Day of the Panther
202. Day of the Panther (1988) -
Die Hard
Die Hard (1988)
The Dead Pool
204. The Dead Pool (1988) -
Mac and Me
205. Mac and Me (1988) -
Police Story 2
206. Police Story 2 (1988) -
A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master
207. A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master (1988) -
Dead Ringers (1988)
Hellbound: Hellraiser II
209. Hellbound: Hellraiser II (1988) 6.5
Rate
The Lair of the White Worm
210. The Lair of the White Worm (1988) 5.9
Rate
Daffy Duck's Quackbusters
211. Daffy Duck's Quackbusters (1988) 7.1
Rate
Bloodstone
212. Bloodstone (1988) 4.4
Rate
Without a Clue
Without a Clue (1988)
Oliver & Company (1988)
Scooby-Doo and the Reluctant Werewolf
215. Scooby-Doo and the Reluctant Werewolf (1988 TV Movie) 6.8
Rate
Il rivale
216. Il rivale (1988) 0
Rate
Strike of the Panther
217. Strike of the Panther (1988) 4.4
The Naked Gun (1988)
Ghost Town (1988)
My Neighbor Totoro (1988)
1989
218. Weekend at Bernie's (1989) 6.4
Rate
The 'Burbs
219. The 'Burbs (1989) 6.9
7
The Church
220. The Church (1989) 6.2
Rate
The Killer
221. The Killer (1989) 7.8
Rate
Dead Calm (1989)
229. Hellgate (1989) 3.5
Rate
Jackie Chan’s Miracle (1989)
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989)
License to Kill (1989)
The Wizard (1989)
Batman (1989)
When Harry Met Sally... (1989)
Dragon Ball Z: Dead Zone (1989)
The Gods Must Be Crazy II (1989)
Kiki's Delivery Service (1989)
Pet Sematary (1989)
Back to the Future Part II (1989)
Killer Crocodile (1989)
Wild Orchid (1989)
Tango & Cash (1989)
Parenthood (1989)