money 25 Horror Movies from the ’80s That Have Stood the Test of Time
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25 Horror Movies from the ’80s That Have Stood the Test of Time
We may well be something of a horror renaissance these days—but none of it would be possible without the genre-defining films that came before. From classic teen slasher flicks to creepy creature features to films that blend the lines between horror and comedy, the best ’80s horror movies are guaranteed to please cinephiles and casual fans alike.
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The Fly (1986)
David Cronenberg's body horror classic is the vanishingly rare remake that transcends the original. As the title suggests, it follows scientist Seth Brundle (Jeff Goldblum) as—after a fateful encounter with a fly in a teleportation machine—he begins to look more and more bug-like.
ScreamFactoryTV@Youtube - 3/26
The Evil Dead (1981)
Sam Raimi's take on the "scary cabin in the woods" trope still holds up.
Rotten Tomatoes Classic Trailers@Youtube - 4/26
Videodrome (1983)
Cronenberg's second film on this list is a wholly original creation: a meditation on the nature of media and violence, equal parts carnal and cerebral (though Videodrome makes a compelling case that those two concepts aren't as separate as they might appear). Viewed decades after its debut, it's all the scarier for its prescience.
YouTube Movies@Youtube - 5/26
Friday the 13th (1980)
There's a lot of debate about the best Friday the 13th movie (the original spawned a dozen sequels and reboots) but what better place to start than with the slasher that started it all?
Rotten Tomatoes Classic Trailers@Youtube - 6/26
A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)
There's a reason why Freddy Krueger's become such an enduring character in pop culture: the original installment in the Nightmare on Elm Street franchise boasts an intriguing premise, terrifying villain, and plenty of teenage drama.
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Gremlins (1984)
For the sizable community of people who've always been convinced that Furbies were hiding a dark secret, Gremlins is sure to reinforce a long-held suspicion or two.
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The Shining (1980)
Horror fan or not, The Shining is required viewing: the carpeted halls of the film's expansive hotel are embedded in our cultural memory, and the films iconic moments are referenced ad infinitum in movies and TV of all stripes. It's also just really, really good.
Rotten Tomatoes Classic Trailers@Youtube - 9/26
The Return of the Living Dead (1985)
Nothing's more punk than the undead in this high-energy tale of a group of punks who face flesh-eating consequences when one of their parties unearths a toxin that turns human into zombies.
Rotten Tomatoes Classic Trailers@Youtube - 10/26
Aliens (1986)
David Cameron's follow-up to Ridley Scott's seminal Alien sees Sigourney Weaver (er, Ellen Ripley) once again besieged by parasitic extraterrestrials—though this sequel is much heavier on the action, and a little lighter on the thrills, than its predecessor.
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The Thing (1982)
The premise of The Thing revolves around a shape-shifting alien, but the protagonists are plagued as much by their own very human foibles as any extraterrestrial foe.
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Little Shop of Horrors (1986)
Catchy tunes, a brilliant cast, and a healthy dose of camp turn this creature feature into a bloody good time.
Rotten Tomatoes Classic Trailers@Youtube - 13/26
An American Werewolf in London (1981)
A pioneering entry into the now ubiquitous self-aware horror-comedy sub-genre, An American Werewolf in London manages to land jokes and scares with equal effect.
Rotten Tomatoes Classic Trailers@Youtube - 14/26
Creepshow (1982)
Inspired by 1950s horror comics, this anthology film (which marks Stephen King's screenwriting debut) by George Romero is a note perfect blend of comedy and creeps.
Rotten Tomatoes Classic Trailers@Youtube - 15/26
Predator (1987)
Prefer your creature features with a little more muscle? This sci-fi action romp (featuring Arnold Schwarzenegger) will soothe your savage soul.
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Poltergeist (1982)
A key part of Poltergeist's lore is that despite director Tobe Hooper's name in the credits, producer and screenwriter Steven Spielberg had more of a hand on the wheel—but ultimately, it's the movie itself, not its disputed authorship, that ensured it would endure.
Rotten Tomatoes Classic Trailers@Youtube - 17/26
Child's Play (1988)
The creepy doll genre gets a snarky twist with this quippy supernatural horror featuring the now famous Chucky doll—which happens to house the soul of a serial killer.
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Tenebre (1982)
Dario Argento, the Italian horror auteur behind the original Suspiria, also created the (somewhat) lesser-known Tenebre—a film about an American mystery author who travels to Rome, only to find himself enmeshed in a real-life murder investigation.
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Hellraiser (1987)
Clive Barker's directorial debut (based on his own 1986 novella) not only gave us our first look at the bizarre world of the Cenobites, it also introduced the world to the now-iconic Pinhead.
Rotten Tomatoes Classic Trailers@Youtube - 20/26
Beetlejuice (1988)
The '80s really embraced the intersection of humor and scares, and few movies typified that quite as much as Tim Burton's famous tale of a couple of ghosts who try to exorcise the humans from their house.
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The Dead Zone (1983)
Cronenberg and Stephen King mashup in this Christopher Walken-starring classic about a man who develops psychic powers after waking up from a coma.
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They Live (1988)
Considered one of horror-master John Carpenter's most underrated films, this subversive sci-fi flick takes aim at consumerism with a satirical story of a drifter who finds a pair of sunglasses that reveal a dangerous alien plot.
Rotten Tomatoes Classic Trailers@Youtube - 23/26
The Lost Boys (1987)
An idyllic seaside town hides a frightful secret in this teen vampire thriller.
Rotten Tomatoes Classic Trailers@Youtube - 24/26
Fright Night (1985)
Before the '90s gave us Scream, this self-aware scare-fest paved the way, thanks to horror-loving teen Charley, who becomes convinced his neighbor is secretly a creature of the night.
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The Changeling (1980)
A decidedly grown up take on the haunted house genre, George C. Scott brings a moving, emotional core to this ghost story.
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Dead and Buried (1981)
Where better to create an army of undead from than the coroner's office? That's exactly what happens in this cult-classic that will make you think twice about stopping in small, scenic towns.
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