The 1980s era is famous for its trashy movies, but some are nothing but fun. Some of the best movies of all time are a product of the ‘80s, a time which is known for being cheesy, over-the-top, and full of enthusiasm. The world of film changes with every ing year, but the 1980s produced some of the most notable titles in cinematic history.
Trashy films are generally considered projects with certain defining features, such as confusing storylines, poor special effects, cringeworthy acting, or bad jokes. While some controversial ‘80s movies are labeled as such because their message is lost in translation, others are referred to as trashy because of the lack of effort or poor reception. Regardless of their execution, these trashy ‘80s movies are still fantastic and enjoyable to watch.
10 Body Double (1984)
A Story About Strange Coincidences & Badly Timed Arrivals
Body Double
- Release Date
- October 26, 1984
- Runtime
- 114 Minutes
- Director
- Brian De Palma
Cast
Craig Wasson-
Melanie Griffith
WHERE TO WATCH
Body Double is a thriller film directed by Brian De Palma, starring Craig Wasson as Jake Scully, a struggling actor who becomes embroiled in a mystery involving a beautiful woman, Holly Body, played by Melanie Griffith. As Jake becomes obsessed with Holly, he finds himself entangled in a complex web of intrigue and deception.
- Writers
- Robert J. Avrech, Brian De Palma
- Studio(s)
- Delphi II Productions, Columbia Pictures
- Main Genre
- Crime
The Brian De Palma movie Body Double is wild to watch for the first time, and at a glance, it seems to be more of a sex-crazed romp title than anything else. Craig Wasson offers a decent performance as struggling actor Jake Scully, but his various interactions with Melanie Griffith as Holly Body are often so cringeworthy that it’s hard not to find it hilarious.
Body Double’s story is ridiculously over-the-top and seems rather unrealistic, but this adds to the charm of the film overall and creates some baffling, funny moments. The plot twists in Body Double are stupidly nonsensical. It feels like every character is secretly someone else, and Sam’s mask reveal at the climax of the movie is truly laughable.
Body Double is unrealistic in almost every area, even for a thriller project, but the sheer absurdity of it still makes it a fun watch.
Scully’s string of bad luck and backstory isn’t the most inventive, and his involvement in the film’s events isn’t really motivated by his actions; he is simply in the wrong place at the wrong time. Body Double is unrealistic in almost every area, even for a thriller project, but the sheer absurdity of it still makes it a fun watch.
9 Death Wish 3 (1985)
A Repeat Of The First Two Death Wish Movies
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Death Wish 3
- Release Date
- November 1, 1985
- Runtime
- 92 minutes
- Director
- Michael Winner
Cast
-
Charles BronsonPaul Kersey
-
Deborah RaffinKathryn Davis
-
Ed LauterInsp. Richard S. Shriker
-
Martin BalsamBennett Cross
WHERE TO WATCH
Death Wish 3 follows architect and vigilante Paul Kersey as he returns to New York City, where he is coerced by a corrupt police chief to combat rampant street crime instigated by a terrorizing gang. Released in 1985, this film continues the saga of Kersey's quest for justice.
- Writers
- Don Jakoby
- Main Genre
- Action
The third installment of Charles Bronson’s Death Wish movies, Death Wish 3, is often considered the best of the bunch. However, it is also a turning point in the franchise because of how it glaringly stands out from the other titles. Death Wish 3 feels like more of a caricature of its predecessors, with a badly paced story and strange editing choices.
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Bronson’s Paul Kersey returns to New York for the first time in a decade and ends up avenging the death of his friend. This story is reflective of the first movie’s plot, but the increasing lunacy of Death Wish 3 means it doesn’t have the same impact.
Kersey’s killing spree lacks much of a motive, and these violent action sequences are far too long-winded. Death Wish 3’s final fight scene is a particular instance of this, and Kersey’s use of a rocket launcher is so amazingly over-the-top. While Death Wish 3 is undoubtedly rife with action and drama, it’s so overused that it becomes comical.
8 Hell Comes To Frogtown (1988)
A Low-Budget Sci-Fi Adventure
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Hell Comes To Frogtown
- Release Date
- January 29, 1988
- Runtime
- 88 Minutes
- Director
- Donald G. Jackson, R.J. Kizer
Cast
-
Roddy PiperSam Hell
-
Sandahl BergmanSpangle
WHERE TO WATCH
Hell Comes to Frogtown is a 1988 post-apocalyptic film directed by Donald G. Jackson and R. J. Kizer. Starring Roddy Piper as Sam Hell, the film follows his journey through a dystopian world where mutant frogs have captured fertile women. Tasked with rescuing the captives to repopulate the human race, Hell navigates a treacherous landscape filled with unique challenges and adversaries.
- Writers
- Donald G. Jackson, Randall Frakes
- Main Genre
- Sci-Fi
Hell Comes To Frogtown is a great cheesy ‘80s sci-fi movie to watch with friends, and it encapsulates the tone of the era brilliantly. The post-apocalyptic film focuses on Roddy Piper’s character, Sam Hell, who is nothing short of erratic throughout. Hell Comes To Frogtown has some wacky special effects, which is down to the low budget, but this makes it even more enjoyable to watch. The movie’s bonkers story and Hell’s fight scenes against the mutant amphibian creatures are cheesy, but this is also a staple of ‘80s science fiction.
Hell Comes To Frogtown is basically a wild Mad Max rip-off, but it fails to live up to the same standards when it comes to action. Hell’s battles against the humanoid frogs are plentiful, but they are also lackluster. Plus, the cringey one-liners and innuendos are so painful that they come full circle and end up being fantastically comical. Hell Comes To Frogtown’s poor quality works in its favor, though, and the film amazes audiences by becoming more ridiculous and cheesy with every ing minute in its runtime.
7 Spaceballs (1987)
The Ultimate Science Fiction Comedy
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Spaceballs
- Release Date
- June 24, 1987
- Runtime
- 96 minutes
- Director
- Mel Brooks
Cast
-
Mel BrooksPresident Skroob / Yogurt
-
John CandyBarf
WHERE TO WATCH
Spaceballs is a 1987 comedic science fiction film directed by Mel Brooks. It follows Lone Starr and his sidekick as they confront the villainous Dark Helmet, who schemes to kidnap Princess Vespa and steal her planet's air. They encounter Yogurt, who introduces them to the mystical power known as "The Schwartz."
- Writers
- Mel Brooks, Ronny Graham, Thomas Meehan
- Studio(s)
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
- Distributor(s)
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Spaceballs is a hilarious watch that parodies the Star Wars movies and several other overused sci-fi tropes from the ‘70s and ‘80s. However, Spaceballs is a film that tries to be trashy on purpose, and it achieves this beautifully. The performances from the star-studded cast, which includes the likes of Joan Rivers, Rick Moranis, and director Mel Brooks himself, are hysterical. The use of slapstick comedy and wordplay is terrible, but in a good way, and every gag is laid on so thick that even Spaceballs’ aliens could understand.
The the very best sci-fi comedies ever made, but it is as equally trashy as it is good.
6 Chopping Mall (1986)
An Unintentionally Funny Horror Title
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Chopping Mall
- Release Date
- March 14, 1986
- Runtime
- 77 minutes
- Director
- Jim Wynorski
Cast
-
Kelli Maroney
-
Tony O'Dell
WHERE TO WATCH
Chopping Mall is a 1986 science fiction horror film directed by Jim Wynorski. Set in a shopping mall, the story follows a group of teenagers who become trapped inside overnight and must survive against a fleet of malfunctioning security robots. The film stars Kelli Maroney and Tony O'Dell, blending elements of horror and satire within a commercial retail setting.
- Writers
- Jim Wynorski, Steve Mitchell
- Main Genre
- Comedy
There are several cheesy sci-fi horror movies like Chopping Mall, but Jim Wynorski’s 1986 film is a notable one. Chopping Mall’s premise is simple, but the security robot’s takeover of a local shopping mall is even wackier than expected.
The pun title alone is enough to suggest that the movie is trashy, but the style of humor and special effects throughout Chopping Mall confirms it even more. Many of the deaths that occur are very obvious and easily predictable, and some are depicted on the screen so badly that they’re funny.
For example, the janitor’s electrocution.
Chopping Mall uses such badly animated sparks to show the man being shocked that it looks more like an animation skit than a scene from a horror movie. The movie tries to be a satire on consumerism, but it isn’t executed very well. Instead, this part of the narrative feels more like a wagging finger at teenagers who hang out at malls. Chopping Mall is undoubtedly an interesting take on slasher movies, but ironically, it never once sees a single slasher death. However, it’s also a movie that is so bad that it’s good again.
5 Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure (1989)
A Feel-Good Journey Through Time
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Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure
- Release Date
- February 17, 1989
- Runtime
- 90 minutes
- Director
- Stephen Herek
Cast
-
Alex Winter
WHERE TO WATCH
Starring Keanu Reeves and Alex Winter, Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure follows the titular heroes, two high school students in 1980s California who must go on a time-traveling quest assembling historical figures in order to a history test and in doing so ensure a utopian future that they play a large part in. George Carlin stars alongside Reeves and Winter as Rufus.
- Writers
- Chris Matheson, Ed Solomon
- Studio(s)
- De Laurentiis Entertainment Group
- Distributor(s)
- De Laurentiis Entertainment Group
Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure is still an enjoyable watch, even if plenty of things about the film don’t hold up today. The highly unlikely storyline of the titular characters traveling through time to complete a school report can be excused because the movie comes under the sci-fi genre, although a lot of the logistics of it don’t make sense. Bill and Ted are also incredibly goofy, and their banter is quite one-dimensional, but it’s still easy to understand their less-than-intelligent sense of humor.
The main character’s primary traits are that they aren’t clever whatsoever. Although this can get old and predictable quickly, it also creates many opportunities for all manner of chaos, and their over-the-top and baffling escapades are simply brilliant to watch. Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure’s wacky quotes and the combination of slapstick comedy, sexual references, and overused swearing isn’t a new format whatsoever. However, the fact the film doesn’t take itself seriously or try too hard is appealing.
4 Road House (1989)
Patrick Swayze Takes On A Robin Hood Type Role
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Road House
- Release Date
- May 19, 1989
- Runtime
- 114 minutes
- Director
- Rowdy Herrington
Cast
Kelly Lynch
WHERE TO WATCH
With a story and screenplay by David Lee Henry and direction from Rowdy Herrington, Road House is a 1989 Action release starring Patrick Swayze in the lead role. Swayze steps into the shoes of James Dalton, a bouncer that is hired by a club owner to provide security for the establishment.
- Writers
- R. Lance Hill, Hilary Henkin
- Studio(s)
- United Artists
- Distributor(s)
- United Artists
- Main Genre
- Action
Road House is an action movie in which its violence is often overshadowed by cheesiness. The film uses a heap of ‘80s tropes and relies on sexual themes a lot, but it still provides an overall enthralling story about a heroic bouncer in a fight against corruption. Patrick Swayze is overly macho and oozes stereotypical masculinity from start to finish as James Dalton, earning him a Golden Raspberry nomination for Worst Actor. One of Road House’s harsh realities is that it barely takes a break between action sequences, and another brawl happens just moments after the last one wraps up.
Strangely, Road House feels like a Western, but it isn’t. Recurring locations like the Dive Bar and the barn are very cowboy-esque, as well as Dalton’s need to protect his community and confidants from exploitation. However cheesy it may be, Road House’s story is still fun. Patrick Swayze’s wild fight scenes and Dalton’s cringey persona are too much at times, but the sheer ridiculousness of their frequency means that there isn’t any time to be bored. Plus, the film’s stellar soundtrack is enough to distract viewers from focusing on its uncomfortable moments too much.
3 Hobgoblins (1988)
A Low-Budget Reinterpretation Of The Gremlins
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Hobgoblins
- Release Date
- July 14, 1988
- Runtime
- 68 Minutes
- Director
- Rick Sloane
Cast
-
Tom Bartlett
-
Paige Sullivan
-
Steven Boggs
-
Kelley Palmer
WHERE TO WATCH
Hobgoblins, directed by Rick Sloane, follows a group of mischievous creatures that escape a studio vault. These creatures can grant fantasies but with fatal consequences. A security guard, along with his friends, must capture them before morning to prevent further chaos. Released in 1988, the film blends horror and comedy.
- Writers
- Rick Sloane
- Main Genre
- Horror
Rick Sloane’s Hobgoblins is considered one of the worst films of all time and is essentially a rip-off of Gremlins, but there’s plenty about it that makes it a fun watch. From the opening scenes, it’s clear that Hobgoblins’ budget is minimal, and the puppets used for the titular creatures aren’t great. Hobgoblins’ characters are ridiculously stereotypical, too, and they offer little much else than their primary trait.
However, the movie is full of comical moments and baffling, illogical adventures that make it easy to enjoy. A great example of this is the party scene. The hobgoblins make the fantasies of Kevin’s friends come true, which results in some stupidly funny instances.
The abrupt jumps between events are outrageously unrealistic, and every event is more erratic than the one before it, but this creates a hilarious watch.
Amy is usually a prude and wants to be a stripper, but after her wish comes true, it suddenly turns into a nightclub brawl between the humans and hobgoblins. The abrupt jumps between events are outrageously unrealistic, and every event is more erratic than the one before it, but this creates a hilarious watch.
2 Maximum Overdrive (1986)
One Of Few Stephen King Projects To Flop
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Maximum Overdrive
- Release Date
- July 25, 1986
- Runtime
- 98 minutes
- Director
- Stephen King
Cast
Emilio Estevez-
Laura Harrington
WHERE TO WATCH
Written and directed by Stephen King, Maximum Overdrive is a 1986 horror movie about a group of people who are trapped at a truck stop when all the machines in the world, including trucks, cars, and lawn mowers, become sentient and homicidal.
- Writers
- Stephen King
- Studio(s)
- 20th Century
- Distributor(s)
- De Laurentiis Entertainment Group, 20th Century
Two-time Golden Raspberry nominee Maximum Overdrive is the first and only Stephen King film that the man himself directs. Stephen King’s worst movie adaptation is unintentionally hysterical, which is a strange quality to see in a project from the author.
King’s films are usually dark and profoundly serious, but Maximum Overdrive is campy and isn’t as scary as it realistically should be. While the story about mechanical machines taking over is supposed to strike fear into audiences, it feels more like a gory parody of a children’s movie.
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However, by suspending disbelief, Maximum Overdrive is a worthy watch. If viewers ignore plot holes, such as why some cars are safe but other machines are sentient, the film is enjoyable. Even though King isn’t content with his execution, Maximum Overdrive is still a fun film. The scenes of destruction and commotion are wild, and the characters are ludicrous, but the story makes sense and is simple to follow. King states that his directional choices in Maximum Overdrive are due to the influence of drugs, so it makes sense that it is so explosive.
1 Mannequin (1987)
A Sweet Yet Weird Love Story
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Mannequin
- Release Date
- February 13, 1987
- Runtime
- 89 Minutes
- Director
- Michael Gottlieb
Cast
Andrew McCarthyJonathan Switcher
Kim CattrallEma Emmy Hesire-
Estelle GettyClaire Prince Timkin
Mr. Richards
WHERE TO WATCH
Mannequin (1987) is a romantic comedy about a young artist who creates a mannequin that comes to life. Set in a Philadelphia department store, the story follows the artist's attempts to keep the secret of the living mannequin while developing a romantic relationship. The movie explores themes of creativity, love, and the pursuit of one’s dreams in a lighthearted manner.
- Writers
- Edward Rugoff
- Main Genre
- Comedy
Mannequin is an ‘80s movie with a baffling story, but it’s also a heartwarming and overall entertaining title. The romantic comedy focuses on a young artist who develops a love affair with a department store mannequin that has come to life, which is an extremely odd but unique plot. To make things even more confusing, Emmy isn’t just an object to display clothes, she is also the reincarnated personality of a woman from Ancient Egypt who reawakens in 1987’s Philadelphia.
Jonathan’s attempts to keep Emmy under wraps are too extreme, especially as she can only come to life under his gaze and nobody else, but it fuels their love, too. Mannequin lacks a lot of logic, but it’s lighthearted and warming, so it’s easy to look past the plot holes. The film’s soundtrack is astounding, with the title track earning Mannequin a nomination for an Academy Award for Best Original Song. Mannequin tries hard to be sentimental to the point that it’s a little cheesy, but for a rom-com, it isn’t so sickly that viewers are put off.
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