Whether or not you were in the 80s, there is a special fascination with that decade From fashion to music to movies, even if you were not born in the 1980s, it is impossible not to look back with nostalgia It was the golden age of popular culture Many actors and filmmakers made their debuts during this decade and went on to become Hollywood's leading stars

The 80s brought more blockbusters, the rise of romantic comedies, classic teen movies, and much more Countless films from that era continue to exist in our culture today as if they were released last weekend So it's nearly impossible to narrow down the best '80s films to such a short list But we've gathered a few of the top films that can't be missed, and we hope you enjoy them as much as we did

In this adaptation of "Ordinary People," Timothy Hutton plays Conrad, who suffers from severe depression following the death of his brother in a boating accident His mother, Beth Jarrett, played by Mary Tyler Moore, and his father, Calvin, played by Donald Sutherland, are trying to regain their normal lives while navigating the murky waters of grief

Calvin's father encourages him to visit his therapist, Dr Berger, played by Judd Hirsch The film is a wonderful, Academy Award-nominated drama about depression, family issues, and the struggle of loss Director Robert Redford and star Timothy Hutton deservedly won Oscars Mary Tyler Moore and Judd Hirsch were both nominated for Oscars for their roles, revealing the depth of their characters This is a film that should be seen at least once in a lifetime [ET: The Extraterrestrial, produced and directed by Steven Spielberg, received four Academy Award nominations for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Screenplay, and Best Cinematography, and also won for Best Sound Starring Henry Thomas as Elliot, who befriends a small alien called ET who is stranded on his family's spaceship

When Elliot introduces his two siblings, Drew Barrymore as Gertie and Robert McNaughton as Michael, to their new otherworldly friend, they try to keep the biggest secret of their lives from everyone around them Their greatest challenge, however, is reuniting ET with his family as he slowly deteriorates before their eyes Although the film is aimed at children, it appeals to the inner child in adults, making it a timeless classic

Streaming on Peacock

"The Karate Kid" is one of those 80s films that has made a comeback in our culture, thanks in part to the Netflix series "Cobra Chi" Ralph Macchio plays Daniel, who moves from New Jersey to Reseda, California with his mother He falls in love with the local rich girl, Ali, played by Elizabeth Shue However, Daniel's California dreams are shattered when he encounters the local bullies of the Cobra Chi Studios karate club

It is not until Daniel meets Mr Miyagi, played by Pat Morita, that he begins to set things in motion After being taught karate techniques in an unconventional manner and learning important life lessons, Daniel begins to overcome his fears and learn to fight back against his enemies Pat Morita was nominated for an Academy Award for his role as Mr Miyagi Coupled with great music, this is one of the best films of the 80's

Streaming on Netflix

Starring Michael J Fox as Marty McFly and Christopher Lloyd as Dr Emmett Brown, "Back to the Future" is a movie you will never forget It all begins when Marty McFly goes to see Dr Emmett Brown (or "Doc") in the middle of the night He is shocked to see his friend's latest invention, a time machine

As expected, everything goes wrong and Marty jumps into the time machine to escape Fate sends him back to his parents' youth Things get a little strange when a budding romance between the two gets in the way Marty has only a few hours left to live A blend of time travel, adventure, and even a little romance, this film embodies much of what we loved about the 80s

Streaming on Peacock

Top rated on IMDb and considered one of Stephen King's favorite adaptations, it's hard to believe that "Stand By Me" is over 35 years old Starring Wil Wheaton as Gordy LaChance, the late River Phoenix as Chris Chambers, Corey Feldman as Teddy Duchamp, and Jerry O'Connell as Vern Tessio

They are four friends who, while adjusting to the idea of adulthood, embark on a journey to find the body of a dead child

Richard Dreyfuss' narration as adult Gordy guides us through this wonderful film and gives us deep insight into the circumstances of his growing up Each character faces his or her own personal struggles, and while there are sad moments in the film, there are also humorous moments that will bring tears to your eyes Rob Reiner's direction has created a film that will resonate with audiences long after the film is over

Streaming on Netflix

Another Stephen Spilbeg 80s classic, "The Goonies" stars Sean Astin as Mikey and three friends who discover an old treasure map in his attic, Jeff Cohen as Chunk, Mouse The film focuses on Corey Feldman and Ke Hui Quan as Data He discovers an old treasure map in his attic, which he claims leads to the real treasure, and they head to a nearby old restaurant that has become a hideout for criminals

They are then joined by his brother Brando, played by Josh Brolin, and soon by two teenage girls who have romantic feelings for Brando, and they all experience a series of boob traps and life-threatening situations But they have only one mission: to save Gundox It may not have won any awards, but it's probably a movie that will be on the list of favorites of many kids growing up in the 80s

Rent/Stream Buy on Amazon or Apple

It's hard not to talk about 80s movies without mentioning at least one John Hughes film He was the director of many memorable films of the era, including Sixteen Candles and The Breakfast Club One of his best films, however, was "Planes, Trains, and Automobiles," in which the popular family man of the decade, John Candy, co-stars with comedian Steve Martin

Neil Page, played by Steve Martin, has trouble getting home and asks Del Griffith, played by John Candy, for help Unfortunately, Del seems to be making it difficult for Neil to reach Thanksgiving dinner In this holiday road movie, an unbelievable and hilarious situation seems to keep Neil away from home, but also brings them closer together Considering that we lost both John Candy and John Hughes far too soon, this is a treasured film that will remain with us for decades to come

Streaming on Paramount Plus