Underrated 80s
An evolving list of 80s movies that I feel all deserve more love. Some of these films make the list for having low average user ratings. Others are here for having very few user ratings. All of these are movies I like. (Though some are certainly better than others!) Here, then, is my list of the best unappreciated, misunderstood and/or unknown 80s movies that I particularly enjoyed, films that surely deserve higher ratings and/or a bigger audience.
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- 131 titles
- DirectorRuggero DeodatoStarsRobert KermanFrancesca CiardiPerry PirkanenAn anthropologist ventures into the Amazon rainforest on a rescue mission, where he recovers footage shot by a film crew documenting their disastrous encounters with local cannibal tribes.
- DirectorJoel DeMottStarsJoel DeMottJeff KreinesMark RanceThe film chronicles filmmaker Joel DeMott, significant other/film partner Jeff Kreines and filmmaker Mark Rance as they head to Michigan to make a low budget horror film.
- DirectorJoe CampStarsChevy ChaseJane SeymourBenjeanA murdered detective must avenge his murder after he is reincarnated as a dog.
- DirectorAlbie ThomsStarsKenneth BrownNat YoungAmanda BerryOver the course of 48 hours, three stories intertwine: Joe is looking for drugs; Leilane has run away from home, and Paul is unemployed and angry.
- DirectorAlan RudolphStarsMeat LoafKaki HunterArt CarneyA young Texas good ol' boy has a knack with electronic equipment, and that talent gets him a job as a roadie with a raucous travelling rock-and-roll show.
- DirectorBrian Trenchard-SmithStarsGrant PageMonique van de VenMargaret GerardAustralia's top stuntman Grant Page travels to Hollywood to shoot a TV show while showing off his various dangerous stunts, interspersed with a rock band concert and other sketches.
- DirectorRobert GreenwaldStarsOlivia Newton-JohnGene KellyMichael BeckA struggling artist living in Los Angeles meets a girl who may hold the key to his happiness.
- DirectorDavid CarradineStarsDavid CarradineBarbara HersheyMichael GreeneIn a small town in rural Kansas, a troubled veteran attempts to restore an old merry-go-round ride.
- DirectorUmberto LenziStarsGiovanni Lombardo RadiceLorraine De SelleDanilo MatteiThree friends embark on a trip through the Amazon jungle to disprove cannibalism, where they meet a pair of fugitive drug smugglers forcing a vicious cannibal tribe to harvest cocaine.
- DirectorAl AdamsonStarsDon StewartJennifer HoultonHoward SegalA carnival magician with actual magic powers works with a talking chimp. The magician and the chimp soon become the stars of the carnival, drawing in big crowds. However, the wild-animal trainer decides to kidnap Alex and sell him.
- DirectorJimmy HustonStarsCecile BagdadiJoel S. RiceRalph BrownA psycho killer shows up on college campus to slash up pretty co-eds and dumb jocks.
- DirectorHerb FreedStarsChristopher GeorgePatch MackenzieE. Danny MurphyA masked killer begins murdering students on the school track team after a track runner dies upon completion of a 30 second 200-meter race.
- DirectorSheldon RenanStarsChuck RileyEd DorrisThomas NoguchiA documentary of the decline of America. It features footage (most exclusive to this film) from race riots to serial killers and much, much more.
- DirectorsKathryn BigelowMonty MontgomeryStarsWillem DafoeJ. Don FergusonRobert GordonTrouble ensues when a motorcycle gang stops in a small southern town while heading to the races at Daytona.
- DirectorRoy Ward BakerStarsVincent PriceJohn CarradineAnthony SteelA horror writer is summoned to a "monster club" by an enigmatic elder. There, three macabre tales unfold before him, interspersed with musical interludes. The convergence of storytelling and performance creates an eerie atmosphere.
- DirectorDusan MakavejevStarsSusan AnspachErland JosephsonPer OscarssonA bored wealthy housewife on the verge of insanity cuts loose with some lively Yugoslavian immigrants who delight in their bohemian lifestyle.
- DirectorMichael LaughlinStarsMichael MurphyLouise FletcherDan ShorA scientist is experimenting with teenagers and turning them into murderers.
- DirectorPeter BogdanovichStarsAudrey HepburnBen GazzaraPatti HansenA madcap private-eye caper about a team of detectives who are following, and are being followed by, a group of beautiful women.
- DirectorRalph L. ThomasStarsNick MancusoSaul RubinekMeg FosterDavid is a young man seduced by a religious cult that uses starvation, exhaustion, and brainwashing to mold recruits into money hustling disciples of a messiah-like leader. Chronicles David's chilling transformation into a gaunt, mindless shadow of his former self...and his ultimate salvation when friends and family launch a plan to kidnap and deprogram him.
- DirectorDerek BurbidgeStarsWall of VoodooStan RidgwayMarc MorelandLive performances from dozens of leading early-1980s musical acts - new wave, punk, ska, reggae - it's all here.
- DirectorPhilo BregsteinStarsPier Paolo PasoliniAlberto MoraviaLaura BettiDocumentary on the life and death of Pier Paolo Pasolini.
- DirectorTim BurstallStarsJohn Phillip LawMel GibsonSam NeillA group of Australian commandos launch a secret mission against Japanese forces in World War II.
- DirectorRichard JefferiesStarsJames Earl JonesJosé FerrerLila KedrovaAn adventurer hunting for treasure in Greece accidentally frees a monster that forces local villagers to sacrifice virgins.
- DirectorPatrick MontgomeryStarsJohn LennonPaul McCartneyGeorge HarrisonThe history of the great British rock band.
