Where the ’70s pioneered sci-fi film making with such titanic contributions as Logan’s Run and Alien, the ’80s took the successful elements of the genre and inflated them. The era of excess was championed by notable directors like James Cameron and John Carpenter, who used advancements in computer effects to improve the impact of sci-fi films like never before.
With technological advancement came even more predictions of the future, as well as critiques of the present, and a barrage of sci-fi films tackled both subjects. In many ways these films became products of their time, but others (like the ones on this list) remain timeless representations of their genre. Here are 10 ’80s sci-fi movies that are still mind-blowing today.
BLADE RUNNER (1982)
Debuting in 1982, Ridley Scott’s sci-fi opus Blade Runner was like nothing audiences had seen before. Whereas most ’70s science fiction contributions provided sleek, optimistic versions of the future, his film offered a dystopic Los Angeles in which humans and androids lived uncomfortably together.
When six androids (referred to as Replicants) go rogue, a “blade runner” (Harrison Ford) is hired to hunt them down, and in the process learns what it means to be human. Hailed for its gritty realism, stunning visual effects, and technological concepts, it inspired everything from The Matrix to Altered Carbon, and was followed by Blade Runner 2049 in 2017.
THEY LIVE (1988)
Who knew that a film made in 1987 would seem so relevant in today’s hyper-consumer society. John Carpenter’s They Live was a searing critique of capitalism and materialism, revolving around alien overlords taking over the clueless humans of Earth.
When blue collar George Nada (Roddy Piper) finds a random box of sunglasses, he has no idea that a single pair of shades is going to reveal the corruption of the elite class. Whenever he puts them on, he sees the 1% for what they truly are; grotesque aliens keeping humanity docile and unaware by capitalizing on it’s constant need to consume.
THE THING (1982)
Another John Carpenter classic, The Thing remains as terrifying now as it did in 1986, and even the 2011 remake can’t touch it. It takes humankind’s greatest fears of the unknown and distills them into one pulse-pounding roller-coaster of paranoid horror.
When a remote arctic outpost receives an unexpected visitor, none of the researchers are prepared for it to be from the far reaches of space. It attacks them one by one, mimicking the form of its victims until no one can be sure their identity is their own, and the ambiguity remains right up until the chilling final moments.
TRON (1982)
Disney’s digital adventure Tron was completely ahead of its time in 1982, but its premise makes for an exciting film even now. At the time, computers weren’t half as sophisticated as they are now, but the visual effects and computer animation are considered landmarks in cinema.
Computer engineer Kevin Flynn (Jeff Bridges) decides to hack into the operating system of his company after he gets wind that his boss is stealing his work. He gets transported to a digital frontier, where he teams up with the program Tron to battle the ominous Master Control Program and gain his freedom. It’s sequel Tron Legacy came out in 2010.
THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK (1980)
Riding on the unprecedented success of Star Wars in 1977, The Empire Strikes Back did what few sequels have ever managed to do before or since; surpass their predecessor. It took the epic space battles, lively banter, astounding visual effects, and beloved characters and improved them tenfold.
The film brought in personal dramatic tension to the fight between the Rebel Alliance and the Evil Empire, with turmoil between Han and Leia, Luke Skywalker accepting his father’s legacy, and the loss of hope that comes with heroes failing. It took bold risks that paid off for the franchise, and remains to many fans the best Star Wars film ever made.
ALIENS (1986)
Like The Empire Strikes Back, Aliens managed to improve the franchise started with Alien by taking it in a different direction, as well as honoring the spirit of its predecessor. James Cameron took over from Ridley Scott and made one of the most action-packed sci-fi movies of all time.
Ellen Ripley faces off against the xenomorph once again, this time after having been frozen in stasis for decades. Her extraterrestrial nemesis has only gotten more powerful, and one alien has become many when it infects a colony of humans. Full of memorable new characters and exciting new visual effects, it remains to many fans the best of the franchise.
BACK TO THE FUTURE PART II (1989)
Like Marty McFly sliding across the counter-top of the Cafe ’80s, Back to the Future II just barely slips onto the list with a debut in 1989. Building off of the madcap sci-fi shenanigans in Back to the Future, it once again follows Doc Brown and Marty McFly as they travel “back to the future” for real.
After visiting the year 2015, Marty finds that he needs to go back to 1985 to prevent Biff from using a sports almanac to predict the outcome of hundreds of sporting events, get obscenely rich, and forever alter Hill Valley. The accuracy of “alternate” 1985 is particularly -and eerily- topical today, for fairly obvious reasons.
THE FLY (1986)
Mullets, technology, and ’80s fashion aside, The Fly is a psychological and bodily sci-fi horror film that stands the test of time. Not only do the visual effects hold up, but the potentially preposterous storyline is well-anchored by the acting of Jeff and Geena Davis.
Goldblum plays Seth Brundle, a scientist on the verge of a breakthrough in the field of teleportation. Just as he’s executing his latest experimental test, a house fly finds its way into the teleportation chamber along with him. When he emerges seemingly all in one piece it’s the success of a lifetime, until he begins to undergo a truly horrific metamorphosis.
DUNE (1984)
Like Star Wars, Dune is an epic space opera of mythic proportions which, though it often sags under the weight of its cinematic ambitions, holds up surprisingly well considering it was released in 1984. It’s an amalgamation of medieval concepts in space, based on Frank Herbert’s popular novel.
When a powerful duke is awarded Arrakis, a planet rich in a universally coveted spice, its previous overlords the Harkonnens vow war. When they attempt to regain their property, his son Paul (Kyle MacLachlan) unites the Arrakian natives to defend against invaders and keep control of the spice. A remake is currently in development.
THE TERMINATOR (1984)
While James Cameron may have taken over from Ridley Scott to make Aliens, he created his own sci-fi franchise with The Terminator in 1984. The story, the visuals, and the world-building continue to deliver a rush even when compared to today’s modern blockbusters.
The film created one of the most deadly cinematic villains of all time with the T-800, the cyborg assassin who traveled back in time to murder the couple responsible for creating John Connor, the future leader of the human resistance. It’s considered a game changer in the genre, and one of Arnold Schwarzenegger’s most iconic film roles.
