80s-90s Must See Movies for a Non-Nerd
- Thread starter Kestra
- Start date
Robin Hood: Men in Tights -- this movie cracks me up every time I watch it 
, it's just a good, funny movie.
, it's just a good, funny movie.
The 80iest movie of them all is Fame.
A bunch of kids who are barely actors and NEW YORK circa 1980.
New York should have gotten top billing in the credits.
I swear I fell in love with this city from this movie and then Giuliani fricking killed it.
I loath gentrification.
A bunch of kids who are barely actors and NEW YORK circa 1980.
New York should have gotten top billing in the credits.
I swear I fell in love with this city from this movie and then Giuliani fricking killed it.
I loath gentrification.
Right^
More from the Harrison Ford's action/suspense catalog
The Fugitive
Patriot Games
Clear & Present Danger
(Might as well see the original Jack Ryan in "The Hunt For Red October" with Alec Baldwin)
Some Tommy Lee Jones goodies
Men In Black
Under Siege
Tom Cruise's good stuff
Rain Man
A Few Good Men
The Firm
A few unmentioned Bruce Willis flicks
The Sixth Sense
12 Monkeys
The 5th Element
Armageddon
More from the Harrison Ford's action/suspense catalog
The Fugitive
Patriot Games
Clear & Present Danger
(Might as well see the original Jack Ryan in "The Hunt For Red October" with Alec Baldwin)
Some Tommy Lee Jones goodies
Men In Black
Under Siege
Tom Cruise's good stuff
Rain Man
A Few Good Men
The Firm
A few unmentioned Bruce Willis flicks
The Sixth Sense
12 Monkeys
The 5th Element
Armageddon
I have to disagree with this- Its not only a fun movie, but it gives perspective on the status at the time of a large group of actors. I actually listed it as an example of the "modernization" of period pieces, a trend that continues with Romeo and Juliet, Moulin Rouge, and A Knight's Tale, to name a few.
I thought the point was to suggest movies that were relevant to the times. Ace Ventura? Seriously? Not even close. All that does is show what an ass Jim Carrey is.
That's why I picked the movies I listed. One more would be Broadcast News w/William Hurt and Holly Hunter and Albert Brooks.
That's why I picked the movies I listed. One more would be Broadcast News w/William Hurt and Holly Hunter and Albert Brooks.
Going through my dvd collection, with some that might have already appeared in the thread:
Big Trouble In Little China
The Blues Brothers
the 2 Bill & Ted movies
The Dark Chrystal
The Goonies
Gremlins 1 & 2
Jewel Of The Nile
Romancing The Stone
The Fifth Element
Galaxy Quest
Leon aka The Profesional
The Nightmare Before Christmas
The Shawshank Redemption
Big Trouble In Little China
The Blues Brothers
the 2 Bill & Ted movies
The Dark Chrystal
The Goonies
Gremlins 1 & 2
Jewel Of The Nile
Romancing The Stone
The Fifth Element
Galaxy Quest
Leon aka The Profesional
The Nightmare Before Christmas
The Shawshank Redemption
"Local Hero"
It just hit me that the Evil Dead Trilogy (Evil Dead, Evil Dead II, Army of Darkness) could be thrown in there. The first two are a bit more straightforward horror, though in crazed Sam Raimi fashion, though the second one has more humor. Army of Darkness is more of a silly medieval romp than actual scares. However, these movies are known to crop up as either influences (including the recent remake) or references in a lot of places.
I guess it's in how you define "relevant." I took that to mean movies that were popular, that are often used in pop culture references, that people still quote today, and that are a part of the collective social conscious. Ace Ventura, while not a masterpiece, is certainly a part of our culture and I still hear it quoted/referenced all the time. I mean, even now I'm still saying "allllrighty then" and I didn't even like the movie that much! I figure the point of a list like this isn't just to watch the serious, thought-provoking dramas, but also to partake in the cultural milieu of slapstick comedy, ridiculous horror films, sappy romances, and inspiring stories that made up the films of the 80s and 90s.
I was going to mention another film of the late 90s, but to talk about it would be a violation of the First and Second Rules.
The way I looked at it was in typical conversation what is more likely to be mentioned Ace Ventura or Broadcast News? I think Ace Ventura fits more with what was laid out in the original post.
As an aside, Jim Carrey put out Ace Ventura, The Mask, and Dumb and Dumber all in 1994! Not bad...
some of my faves
et
ghostbusters
back to the future I and II
burglar
footloose the original
problem child
raiders of the lost ark
single white female
he man: the secret of the sword
who's that girl
ghost
overboard
the legend of Billie jean
st elmos fire
lost boys
flatliners
Childs play
beaches
adventures in babysitting
top gun
9 to 5
masters of the universe
warlock
flight of the navigator
labyrinth
gremlins
nightmare on elm street
down and out in Beverly hills
jumpin' jack flash
fatal beauty
ruthless people
moving violations
double trouble
silence of the lambs
batman
batman returns
Thelma and louise
steel magnolias
star trek II
star trek IV
star trek VI
weird science
MASK,,,this is not the jim Carrey film but the one with cher whose son has a facial deformity
national lampoons Christmas vacation
national lampoons vacation
my cousin vinny
goodfellas
can't buy me love
mannequin
police academy
the executioner's song with Tommy lee jones
et
ghostbusters
back to the future I and II
burglar
footloose the original
problem child
raiders of the lost ark
single white female
he man: the secret of the sword
who's that girl
ghost
overboard
the legend of Billie jean
st elmos fire
lost boys
flatliners
Childs play
beaches
adventures in babysitting
top gun
9 to 5
masters of the universe
warlock
flight of the navigator
labyrinth
gremlins
nightmare on elm street
down and out in Beverly hills
jumpin' jack flash
fatal beauty
ruthless people
moving violations
double trouble
silence of the lambs
batman
batman returns
Thelma and louise
steel magnolias
star trek II
star trek IV
star trek VI
weird science
MASK,,,this is not the jim Carrey film but the one with cher whose son has a facial deformity
national lampoons Christmas vacation
national lampoons vacation
my cousin vinny
goodfellas
can't buy me love
mannequin
police academy
the executioner's song with Tommy lee jones
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I was going to say Star Trek 2-3-4 as a great adventure/comedy trilogy. Your friend may not be a nerd but these are very much era touchstones.
Also, no love for Indiana Jones? I only saw Raiders mentioned once (could be my dodgy eyesight).
Aussie movies!!
A little outside your time range but Picnic At Hanging Rock (1970s)
Crocodile Dundee
Mad Max 2
Strictly Ballroom
The Castle
Babe
Rabbit-Proof Fence
The Dish
Happy Feet (a bit later but fun)
Red Dog (also later and a bit of a tear jerker, as well as really funny, filled with Aussie humour)
Also, no love for Indiana Jones? I only saw Raiders mentioned once (could be my dodgy eyesight).
Aussie movies!!
A little outside your time range but Picnic At Hanging Rock (1970s)
Crocodile Dundee
Mad Max 2
Strictly Ballroom
The Castle
Babe
Rabbit-Proof Fence
The Dish
Happy Feet (a bit later but fun)
Red Dog (also later and a bit of a tear jerker, as well as really funny, filled with Aussie humour)
