Films from the 1980s
Pattern Statistics
820
Movies
6.9
Avg Arcplot
106
Avg Runtime
1980-1989
Year Range
NaN
Avg IMDb
60%
Avg RT
55
Avg Metacritic
$35036M
Total Box Office
663
With Awards
15.0
Avg Plot Points
1980s Cinema - Narrative Structure Analysis
Films from the 1980s exhibits consistent understanding of narrative structure, capturing the narrative sensibilities of the era. Within 820 films analyzed from this era, the average Arcplot score of 7.0 shows sophisticated plot point execution.
Genre Landscape
The 1980s saw prominence in Comedy (368 films), Drama (335 films), Action (204 films), demonstrating the decade's narrative interests.
Standout narratives from this decade include Hercules (1983, 8.0), Shoot to Kill (1988, 8.0), and Short Circuit (1986, 8.0).
Films from this era averaged 1 hour and 46 minutes, reflecting efficient storytelling practices.
+50-5
0%25%50%75%100%
¡Three Amigos!
1986
'Round Midnight
1986
*batteries not included
1987
10 to Midnight
1983
2010
1984
48 Hrs.
1982
52 Pick-Up
1986
A Bad Son
1980
A Better Tomorrow
1986
A Chorus Line
1985
A Christmas Carol
1984
A Christmas Story
1983
A Fish Called Wanda
1988
A Midsummer Night's Sex Comedy
1982
A Night in the Life of Jimmy Reardon
1988
A Nightmare on Elm Street
1984
A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors
1987
A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master
1988
A Nightmare on Elm Street Part 2: Freddy's Revenge
1985
A Nightmare on Elm Street: The Dream Child
1989
A Passage to India
1984
A Room with a View
1985
A Soldier's Story
1984
A View to a Kill
1985
About Last Night...
1986
Absence of Malice
1981
Action Jackson
1988
After Hours
1985
Airplane II: The Sequel
1982
Airplane!
1980
Akira
1988
Alien Nation
1988
Aliens
1986
All Dogs Go to Heaven
1989
All Night Long
1981
All of Me
1984
All the Right Moves
1983
Altered States
1980
Always
1989
Amadeus
1984
American Gigolo
1980
American Ninja
1985
American Pop
1981
Amityville 3-D
1983
Amityville II: The Possession
1982
An American Tail
1986
An American Werewolf in London
1981
An Eye for an Eye
1981
An Innocent Man
1989
An Officer and a Gentleman
1982
Angel Heart
1987
Anne of Green Gables
1985
Annie
1982
Any Which Way You Can
1980
Armed and Dangerous
1986
Armour of God
1986
Arthur
1981
Arthur 2: On the Rocks
1988
Atlantic City
1980
Au Revoir les Enfants
1987
Author! Author!
1982
Baby Boom
1987
Bachelor Party
1984
Back to School
1986
Back to the Future
1985
Back to the Future Part II
1989
Bad Boys
1983
Bad Dreams
1988
Batman
1989
Battle Beyond the Stars
1980
Beaches
1988
Beetlejuice
1988
Benji the Hunted
1987
Best Defense
1984
Best Friends
1982
Better Off Dead...
1985
Beverly Hills Cop
1984
Big
1988
Big Top Pee-wee
1988
Big Trouble in Little China
1986
Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure
1989
Biloxi Blues
1988
Black Moon Rising
1986
Black Widow
1987
Blade Runner
1982
Blind Date
1987
Bloodsport
1988
Blow Out
1981
Blue City
1986
Blue Thunder
1983
Blue Velvet
1986
Body Double
1984
Body Heat
1981
Bolero
1984
Born in East L.A.
1987
Born on the Fourth of July
1989
Braddock: Missing in Action III
1988
Brainstorm
1983
Brazil
1985
Breakin'
1984
Breathless
1983
Brewster's Millions
1985
Broadcast News
1987
Broadway Danny Rose
1984
Bronco Billy
1980
Buddy Buddy
1981
Bull Durham
1988
Caddyshack
1980
Can't Buy Me Love
1987
Cannonball Run II
1984
Carbon Copy
1981
Care Bears Movie II: A New Generation
1986
Castle in the Sky
1986
Casual Sex?
1988
Casualties of War
1989
Cat People
1982
Cat's Eye
1985
Caveman
1981
Chained Heat
1983
Chariots of Fire
1981
Cheetah
1989
Child's Play
1988
Children of a Lesser God
1986
Children of the Corn
1984
Christine
1983
Cinema Paradiso
1988
City Heat
1984
Clash of the Titans
1981
Class
1983
Cloak & Dagger
1984
Club Paradise
1986
Clue
1985
Coal Miner's Daughter
1980
Cobra
1986
Cocktail
1988
Cocoon
1985
Cocoon: The Return
1988
Code of Silence
1985
Colors
1988
Come and See
1985
Coming to America
1988
Commando
1985
Compromising Positions
1985
Conan the Barbarian
1982
Conan the Destroyer
1984
Continental Divide
1981
Creepshow
1982
Creepshow 2
1987
Crimes and Misdemeanors
1989
Criminal Law
1989
Critters
1986
Crocodile Dundee II
1988
Crossroads
1986
Cruising
1980
Cry Freedom
1987
Curse of the Pink Panther
1983
Cyborg
1989
D.A.R.Y.L.
1985
D.O.A.
1988
Dad
1989
Das Boot
1981
Day of the Dead
1985
Dead Bang
1989
Dead Calm
1989
Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid
1982
Dead Poets Society
1989
Dead Ringers
1988
Deadly Friend
1986
Death Hunt
1981
Death Wish 4: The Crackdown
1987
Death Wish II
1982
Deathstalker
1983
DeepStar Six
1989
Dennis the Menace
1987
Desperately Seeking Susan
1985
Die Hard
1988
Die Hard
1988
Diner
1982
Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
1988
Disorderlies
1987
Disorganized Crime
1989
Do the Right Thing
1989
Down and Out in Beverly Hills
1986
Dragnet
1987
Dragonslayer
1981
Dream a Little Dream
1989
Dreamscape
1984
Dressed to Kill
1980
Driving Miss Daisy
1989
Drugstore Cowboy
1989
Dune
1984
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
1982
Easy Money
1983
Eddie Murphy Raw
1987
Eight Men Out
1988
Elvira: Mistress of the Dark
1988
Empire of the Sun
1987
Endless Love
1981
Enemies, a Love Story
1989
Enemy Mine
1985
Ernest Goes to Camp
1987
Ernest Saves Christmas
1988
Escape from New York
1981
Escape to Victory
1981
Everybody's All-American
1988
Evil Angels
1988
Evil Dead II
1987
Evil Under the Sun
1982
Explorers
1985
Extremities
1986
Eye of the Needle
1981
Eyewitness
1981
F/X
1986
Falling in Love
1984
Fame
1980
Family Business
1989
Fanny and Alexander
1982
Fast Times at Ridgemont High
1982
Fatal Attraction
1987
Fatso
1980
Ferris Bueller's Day Off
1986
Field of Dreams
1989
Firefox
1982
Firestarter
1984
Firewalker
1986
First Blood
1982
First Monday in October
1981
Firstborn
1984
Fist of the North Star
1986
Flash Gordon
1980
Flashdance
1983
Fletch
1985
Flight of the Navigator
1986
Flowers in the Attic
1987
Follow That Bird
1985
Footloose
1984
For Keeps
1988
For Your Eyes Only
1981
Forced Vengeance
1982
Fort Apache, the Bronx
1981
Frances
1982
Frantic
1988
Friday the 13th
1980
Friday the 13th Part 2
1981
Friday the 13th Part III
1982
Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives
1986
Friday the 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan
1989
Friday the 13th: A New Beginning
1985
Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter
1984
Fright Night
1985
From the Hip
1987
Full Metal Jacket
1987
Funny Farm
1988
Gallipoli
1981
Gandhi
1982
Gardens of Stone
1987
Ghostbusters
1984
Ghostbusters II
1989
Glory
1989
God of Gamblers
1989
Good Morning, Vietnam
1987
Gorky Park
1983
Gotcha!
1985
Grease 2
1982
Great Balls of Fire!
1989
Gremlins
1984
Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes
1984
Gung Ho
1986
Hairspray
1988
Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers
1988
Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers
1989
Halloween II
1981
Halloween III: Season of the Witch
1982
Hamburger Hill
1987
Hanky Panky
1982
Hannah and Her Sisters
1986
Happy Birthday to Me
1981
Hardbodies
1984
Harlem Nights
1989
Harry and the Hendersons
1987
Haunted Honeymoon
1986
Heartbreak Ridge
1986
Heartburn
1986
Heavy Metal
1981
Hellbound: Hellraiser II
1988
Hellraiser
1987
Henry V
1989
Herbie Goes Bananas
1980
Hercules
1983
Hero and the Terror
1988
Hero at Large
1980
High Spirits
1988
Highlander
1986
History of the World: Part I
1981
Honey, I Shrunk the Kids
1989
Hoosiers
1986
Hot to Trot
1988
House
1985
House II: The Second Story
1987
Howard the Duck
1986
I'm Gonna Git You Sucka
1988
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
1989
Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom
1984
Innerspace
1987
Into the Night
1985
Invaders from Mars
1986
Invasion U.S.A.
1985
Iron Eagle
1986
Ironweed
1987
Irreconcilable Differences
1984
Ishtar
1987
Jagged Edge
1985
Jaws 3-D
1983
Jaws: The Revenge
1987
Johnny Be Good
1988
Johnny Dangerously
1984
Johnny Handsome
1989
Jumpin' Jack Flash
1986
Just One of the Guys
1985
Just the Way You Are
1984
K-9
1989
Kickboxer
1989
Kiki's Delivery Service
1989
Killer Klowns from Outer Space
1988
King Kong Lives
1986
King Solomon's Mines
1985
Kiss Me Goodbye
1982
Kiss of the Spider Woman
1985
Krull
1983
Labyrinth
1986
Ladyhawke
1985
Laputa: Castle in the Sky
1986
Lean On Me
1989
Legal Eagles
1986
Legend
1985
Less Than Zero
1987
Lethal Weapon
1987
Lethal Weapon 2
1989
Leviathan
1989
Licence to Kill
1989
Lifeforce
1985
Light of Day
1987
Little Miss Marker
1980
Little Shop of Horrors
1986
Local Hero
1983
Lock Up
1989
Lone Wolf McQuade
1983
Look Who's Talking
1989
Lost in America
1985
Lovesick
1983
Lucas
1986
Mac and Me
1988
Mad Max 2
1981
Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome
1985
Maid to Order
1987
Main Theme
1984
Major League
1989
Making Love
1982
Manhunter
1986
Maniac
1980
Mannequin
1987
Married to the Mob
1988
Mask
1985
Masters of the Universe
1987
Maximum Overdrive
1986
Midnight Run
1988
Miracles: The Canton Godfather
1989
Mischief
1985
Missing
1982
Missing in Action
1984
Missing in Action 2: The Beginning
1985
Mona Lisa
1986
Monkey Shines
1988
Monty Python's The Meaning of Life
1983
Moonstruck
1987
Moscow on the Hudson
1984
Motel Hell
1980
Mr. Mom
1983
Murphy's Law
1986
Music Box
1989
My Bloody Valentine
1981
My Bodyguard
1980
My Dinner with Andre
1981
My Favorite Year
1982
My Left Foot: The Story of Christy Brown
1989
My Life as a Dog
1985
My Neighbor Totoro
1988
My Stepmother Is an Alien
1988
Mystic Pizza
1988
National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation
1989
National Lampoon's European Vacation
1985
National Lampoon's Vacation
1983
Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind
1984
Neighbors
1981
Never Say Never Again
1983
New York Stories
1989
Next of Kin
1989
Nice Dreams
1981
Night of the Comet
1984
Night Shift
1982
Nighthawks
1981
Nightmares
1983
Nine 1/2 Weeks
1986
Nine to Five
1980
Ninja III: The Domination
1984
No Mercy
1986
No Retreat, No Surrender
1986
No Way Out
1987
Nothing in Common
1986
Octopussy
1983
Off Limits
1988
Oliver & Company
1988
On Golden Pond
1981
Once Bitten
1985
Once Upon a Time in America
1984
One Crazy Summer
1986
One Magic Christmas
1985
Ordinary People
1980
Out of Africa
1985
Outland
1981
Overboard
1987
Package Tour
1980
Pale Rider
1985
Paradise
1982
Parasite
1982
Parenthood
1989
Partida
1985
Pee-wee's Big Adventure
1985
Peggy Sue Got Married
1986
Pennies from Heaven
1981
Perfect
1985
Pet Sematary
1989
Phantasm II
1988
Pink Cadillac
1989
Pink Floyd: The Wall
1982
Planes, Trains and Automobiles
1987
Platoon
1986
Plenty
1985
Police Academy
1984
Police Academy 2: Their First Assignment
1985
Police Academy 3: Back in Training
1986
Police Academy 4: Citizens on Patrol
1987
Police Academy 5: Assignment Miami Beach
1988
Police Academy 6: City Under Siege
1989
Police Story
1985
Police Story 2
1988
Poltergeist
1982
Poltergeist II: The Other Side
1986
Poltergeist III
1988
Popeye
1980
Porky's
1981
Porky's II: The Next Day
1983
Porky's Revenge
1985
Predator
1987
Pretty in Pink
1986
Prince of Darkness
1987
Prince of the City
1981
Private Benjamin
1980
Private Lessons
1981
Private School
1983
Prizzi's Honor
1985
Project A
1983
Project X
1987
Prom Night
1980
Psycho III
1986
Punchline
1988
Purple Rain
1984
Quest for Fire
1981
Quicksilver
1986
Radio Days
1987
Raging Bull
1980
Raiders of the Lost Ark
1981
Rain Man
1988
Raise the Titanic
1980
Raising Arizona
1987
Rambo III
1988
Ran
1985
Real Genius
1985
Reckless
1984
Red Dawn
1984
Red Sonja
1985
Red Spell Spells Red
1983
Reds
1981
Relentless
1989
Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins
1985
Renegades
1989
Return of the Killer Tomatoes!
1988
Return of the Living Dead Part II
1988
Return to Oz
1985
Revenge of the Nerds II: Nerds in Paradise
1987
Revenge of the Ninja
1983
Rhinestone
1984
Risky Business
1983
River's Edge
1986
Road House
1989
RoboCop
1987
Rocky III
1982
Rocky IV
1985
Rollover
1981
Romancing the Stone
1984
Romantic Comedy
1983
Roxanne
1987
Runaway
1984
Runaway Train
1985
Running Scared
1986
Ruthless People
1986
Santa Claus: The Movie
1985
Satisfaction
1988
Saturn 3
1980
Savage Streets
1984
Say Anything...
1989
Scanners
1981
Scarface
1983
Scrooged
1988
Sea of Love
1989
Secret Admirer
1985
See No Evil, Hear No Evil
1989
Seems Like Old Times
1980
Serial
1980
sex, lies, and videotape
1989
Shakedown
1988
Sharky's Machine
1981
She-Devil
1989
She's Gotta Have It
1986
She's Having a Baby
1988
She's Out of Control
1989
Sheena
1984
Shoot the Moon
1982
Shoot to Kill
1988
Short Circuit
1986
Short Circuit 2
1988
Silent Rage
1982
Silkwood
1983
Silver Bullet
1985
Silverado
1985
Sixteen Candles
1984
Slave Girls from Beyond Infinity
1987
Sleepaway Camp
1983
Smokey and the Bandit II
1980
Smokey and the Bandit Part 3
1983
Snowroller
1985
So Fine
1981
Some Kind of Wonderful
1987
Someone to Watch Over Me
1987
Something Wicked This Way Comes
1983
Something Wild
1986
Sophie's Choice
1982
Spaceballs
1987
SpaceCamp
1986
Spies Like Us
1985
Splash
1984
St. Elmo's Fire
1985
Stakeout
1987
Stand and Deliver
1988
Stand by Me
1986
Star 80
1983
Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan
1982
Star Trek III: The Search for Spock
1984
Star Trek V: The Final Frontier
1989
Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back
1980
Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi
1983
Stardust Memories
1980
Starman
1984
Staying Alive
1983
Stealing Home
1988
Steel Magnolias
1989
Still of the Night
1982
Still Smokin
1983
Stir Crazy
1980
Streets of Fire
1984
Student Bodies
1981
Sudden Impact
1983
Summer Rental
1985
Sunset
1988
Supergirl
1984
Superman II
1980
Superman III
1983
Superman IV: The Quest for Peace
1987
Switching Channels
1988
Tango & Cash
1989
Tank
1984
Tap
1989
Taps
1981
Tarzan the Ape Man
1981
Teen Wolf
1985
Teen Wolf Too
1987
Tender Mercies
1983
Tequila Sunrise
1988
Terms of Endearment
1983
Tex
1982
The 'Burbs
1989
The Abyss
1989
The Accidental Tourist
1988
The Adventures of Baron Munchausen
1988
The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension
1984
The Adventures of Milo and Otis
1986
The Amateur
1981
The Awakening
1980
The Bear
1988
The Beast Within
1982
The Beastmaster
1982
The Bedroom Window
1987
The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas
1982
The Big Brawl
1980
The Big Chill
1983
The Big Easy
1986
The Big Red One
1980
The Black Cauldron
1985
The Black Stallion Returns
1983
The Blob
1988
The Blue Lagoon
1980
The Blues Brothers
1980
The Border
1982
The Bounty
1984
The Boy Who Could Fly
1986
The Brave Little Toaster
1987
The Breakfast Club
1985
The Cannonball Run
1981
The Changeling
1980
The Chipmunk Adventure
1987
The Color of Money
1986
The Color Purple
1985
The Cook, the Thief, His Wife & Her Lover
1989
The Cotton Club
1984
The Dark Crystal
1982
The Dead Pool
1988
The Dead Zone
1983
The Decline of the American Empire
1986
The Delta Force
1986
The Devil and Max Devlin
1981
The Dogs of War
1980
The Dream Team
1989
The Elephant Man
1980
The Emerald Forest
1985
The Entity
1982
The Evil Dead
1981
The Evil That Men Do
1984
The Fabulous Baker Boys
1989
The Fly
1986
The Fly II
1989
The Fog
1980
The Formula
1980
The Four Seasons
1981
The Fourth Protocol
1987
The Fox and the Hound
1981
The Funhouse
1981
The Gate
1987
The Gods Must Be Crazy
1980
The Gods Must Be Crazy II
1989
The Golden Child
1986
The Goonies
1985
The Great Mouse Detective
1986
The Great Muppet Caper
1981
The Great Outdoors
1988
The Hidden
1987
The Hitcher
1986
The Hollywood Knights
1980
The Hotel New Hampshire
1984
The House on Sorority Row
1982
The Howling
1981
The Ice Pirates
1984
The Island
1980
The Jazz Singer
1980
The Jewel of the Nile
1985
The Journey of Natty Gann
1985
The Karate Kid
1984
The Karate Kid Part II
1986
The Karate Kid Part III
1989
The Land Before Time
1988
The Last American Virgin
1982
The Last Dragon
1985
The Last Emperor
1987
The Last Starfighter
1984
The Last Temptation of Christ
1988
The Last Unicorn
1982
The Little Mermaid
1989
The Long Riders
1980
The Lost Boys
1987
The Man from Snowy River
1982
The Man with One Red Shoe
1985
The Marquis of Grillo
1981
The Master Builder
1988
The Mighty Quinn
1989
The Milagro Beanfield War
1988
The Mirror Crack'd
1980
The Mission
1986
The Missionary
1982
The Money Pit
1986
The Mosquito Coast
1986
The Muppets Take Manhattan
1984
The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!
1988
The Name of the Rose
1986
The Natural
1984
The NeverEnding Story
1984
The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia
1981
The Ninja Mission
1984
The Osterman Weekend
1983
The Outsiders
1983
The Package
1989
The Philadelphia Experiment
1984
The Pick-up Artist
1987
The Pirate Movie
1982
The Pope of Greenwich Village
1984
The Postman Always Rings Twice
1981
The Presidio
1988
The Princess Bride
1987
The Principal
1987
The Purple Rose of Cairo
1985
The Razor's Edge
1984
The Return of Godzilla
1984
The Return of the Living Dead
1985
The Right Stuff
1983
The River
1984
The Running Man
1987
The Secret of My Success
1987
The Secret of NIMH
1982
The Serpent and the Rainbow
1988
The Shining
1980
The Sicilian
1987
The Silk Road
1988
The Soldier
1982
The Star Chamber
1983
The Sting II
1983
The Sure Thing
1985
The Survivors
1983
The Sword and the Sorcerer
1982
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2
1986
The Thing
1982
The Toy
1982
The Transformers: The Movie
1986
The Trip to Bountiful
1985
The Unbearable Lightness of Being
1988
The Unholy
1988
The Untouchables
1987
The Verdict
1982
The Watcher in the Woods
1980
The Wild Life
1984
The Witches of Eastwick
1987
The Wizard
1989
The Woman in Red
1984
The World According to Garp
1982
The Year of Living Dangerously
1982
The Young Master
1980
They Live
1988
Thief
1981
Thief of Hearts
1984
This Is Spinal Tap
1984
Three Fugitives
1989
Throw Momma from the Train
1987
Tightrope
1984
Time Bandits
1981
To Be or Not to Be
1983
To Live and Die in L.A.
1985
Tom Horn
1980
Tomboy
1985
Tootsie
1982
Top Gun
1986
Top Secret!
1984
Tough Guys
1986
Trading Places
1983
Trail of the Pink Panther
1982
Transylvania 6-5000
1985
Trick or Treat
1986
Troll
1986
Tron
1982
Troop Beverly Hills
1989
Turner & Hooch
1989
Twilight Zone: The Movie
1983
Twins
1988
Two of a Kind
1983
UHF
1989
Uncle Buck
1989
Uncommon Valor
1983
Under the Cherry Moon
1986
Urban Cowboy
1980
Used Cars
1980
Vagabond
1985
Valley Girl
1983
Vamp
1986
Velvet Dreams
1988
Vice Squad
1982
Vice Versa
1988
Victor/Victoria
1982
Vigilante
1983
Visiting Hours
1982
Volunteers
1985
Wall Street
1987
WarGames
1983
Warlock
1989
Warrior Queen
1987
Weekend at Bernie's
1989
Weird Science
1985
When Harry Met Sally...
1989
Where Is the Friend's House?
1987
Where the Buffalo Roam
1980
White Nights
1985
Who Framed Roger Rabbit
1988
Who's Harry Crumb?
1989
Wholly Moses
1980
Wild Orchid
1989
Wildcats
1986
Willow
1988
Wings of Desire
1987
Wise Guys
1986
Witchboard
1986
Without a Clue
1988
Without a Trace
1983
Witness
1985
Wolfen
1981
Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown
1988
Working Girl
1988
Xanadu
1980
Yentl
1983
Young Einstein
1988
Young Guns
1988
Young Sherlock Holmes
1985
Yuppies
1986
Yuppies 2
1986
Zapped!
1982
Zorro, The Gay Blade
1981