Sci-fi is a popular movie genre, enchanting audiences with out-of-this-world ideas and technology, even influencing today’s tech byusing science fiction to create science facts. Drawing on topics that are based in science but are still currently fictional (aliens, robots, interstellar travel, and so on) has let writers and directors to explore their creativity over the years. Fromhorror moviesto action-adventure, sci-fi has so many opportunities to branch out that each new movie is able to thrill people in different ways than the other.
The real sci-fi boom came shortly after the success ofStar Wars, the popular franchise that is still growing to this day. Ever since, it has paved the way for smash hits and multiple franchises, many of which began in the ‘80s. Even though these movies are around 40 years old now, they are still very popular and are watched over and over again. Take a look at the best sci-fi movies that were released in the ‘80s.
Updated on August 14th, 2023 by Callum Jones:This article has been updated with additional content to keep the discussion fresh and relevant with even more information and new entries.
13Flash Gordon (1980)
‘Gordon’s alive!’ said in the booming voice of Brian Blessed is a legendary quote in movie history that manages to neatly sum up the campy, ’80s cheesiness that definesFlash Gordon.Based on the comic strip of the same name that was first published in 1934, the film sees the star quarterback titular character transported to the planet Mongo along with NASA scientist, Dr. Hans Zarkov (Topol) and travel agent, Dale Arden (Melody Anderson). The three must unite the planet’s warring factions to stop the evil Ming the Merciless (Max von Sydow), who is intent on destroying Earth.
With its corny dialogue, bright costumes, and over-the-top performances,Flash Gordoncould be dismissed as a poor man’sStar Wars. And while it certainly can’t compete with some of the more groundbreaking and technically accomplished science fiction films of the era, in terms of pure old-fashioned pulpy sci-fi fun, few can compete. Plus, Queen’s killer soundtrack makes it all the more enjoyable.Thor: Love and Thunderdirector,Taika Waititi is currently working on the script for a sequel.
12TRON (1982)
When the originalTRONmovie was first released in 1982, it was a true technical and visual accomplishment. Given how advanced computer animation has become in the forty-plus years since it’s hard to truly conceive how bold and unique this must have been considered at the time.TRONtells the story of a computer hacker (Jeff Bridges) who is pulled into a computer’s mainframe and forced to partake in a series of games in order to escape.
The story is rather on the thin side, with the plot being more of an excuse to show off a sequence of visually dazzling set pieces than anything else. However,TRONis worth watching purely for the thrill of the action scenes and the landmark visual effects. The movie generated a sequel in 2010,TRON: Legacy,as well as a spin-off TV series,TRON: Uprising,which ran from 2012-2013. Additionally, a third film titled,TRON: Ares, is in the early stages of production.
11Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (1982)
Generally speaking, theStar Trekfilms prior to the 2009 reboot weren’t all that great, especially when compared to the far superior TV series.Wrath of Khanis the exception though, and when it was released in 1982, it demonstrated thatStar Trekreally could compete on the big screen with the likes ofStar WarsandAlien.The plot sees the crew of the Enterprise go head-to-head with Khan Noonien Singh (Ricardo Montalban), a genetically-engineered superhuman who first appeared in the Original Series episode, “Space Seed”.
Captain Kirk and his team must stop their old foe before he can get his hands on a terraforming weapon known as the Genesis Device.Star Trek IIis regarded highly byTrekfans, with many believing it saved the series. Meanwhile, Spock’s iconic death scene in the final act is considered among the greatest of the franchise, thanks to some brilliant performances by Leonard Nimoy and William Shatner.
10Akira (1988)
Based on the manga series of the same name by Katsuhiro Otomo,Akirais widely regarded as one of thegreatest animated films of all time. Set in the metropolis of Neo-Tokyo in a dystopian 2019, it follows the teenage leader of a biker gang, Shotaro Kaneda, whose fellow biker friend, Tetsuo, goes on a rampage when he acquires telekinetic abilities after being involved in a motorcycle accident. Tetsuo’s powers threaten an entire military complex, and it falls to Shotaro to save his friend before it’s too late.
Akiracombines original and mature storytelling with beautiful animation to create something a sci-fi tale that is truly unique. It’s dynamic, violent, and complex, and still holds up well 35 years after its' original release. Furthermore, the sheer impactAkirahad on the world of film and television cannot be understated. Without it, it’s hard to imaginePokémon, Dragon Ball, Ghost in the Shell, Cowboy Bepop, and other animes, ever reaching the popularity they did.
9Star Wars Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983)
Any sci-fi list of the ’80s (or even of all time) would be incomplete without at least oneStar Warsmovie on it. During the ‘80s, two were released, the second of which wasStar Wars: Episode VI—Return of the Jedi. The final installment in the original series,Episode VIsees the rebels take on the Galactic Empire for one last time, after discovering that a second Death Star is under construction. Meanwhile, Jedi Knight Luke Skywalker attempts to bring his father, Darth Vader, back to the light side of the force.
The originalStar Warsmovies are filled with iconic moments that have become recognizable in pop culture, andReturn of the Jediis no exception. From the opening scenes in Jabba the Hutt’s palace, to the speeder chase on Endor, and the final showdown between Luke, Vader, and the Emperor,ROTJis a nonstop showcase of everything that’s great about the series. Although not as well revered as its two predecessors, the closing chapter in the original trilogy still has a place in the hearts of fans.
Related:The 8 Best Star Wars Rip-offs, Ranked
8Predator (1987)
Predatoris an action horror film set in the jungles of Central America. As a military rescue team flies in to help save a foreign cabinet minister and his aide from insurgents, they quickly find that not everything is as it seems. Not only was their true mission (to stop a Soviet-backed invasion) hidden from them, but something is hunting them through the jungle and killing them off. Their new mission is to escape from this largely invisible alien, using all the technology they have, as they hurry back to the extraction point in one piece.
Reviews for the movie were arguably mixed, and critics couldn’t seem to agree on whether they liked the movie or not, praising some technical aspects while condemning aesthetic ones. However, 20th Century Fox saw it as a success, using the popularity it gained with audiences to make three sequels, lots of merchandise, novels, comics, and games, and even began a crossover series with another popular sci-fi horror movie, creatingAlien vs. Predator.
7RoboCop (1987)
Set in a dystopian future,RoboCopplays around with the idea of cyborgs. Officer Alex Murphy (an excellent Peter Weller) is killed in action in the streets of Detroit, and his corpse is taken to become the RoboCop. With his new coding, he becomes the perfect cop—however, without any real clarity about the memories of his previous life, dreams, and people haunt his programming. He begins to discover who he is, but his humanity is stuck in the machine that holds him back.
The Paul Verhoeven movie was a clever critique of capitalism and the technology surrounding it and was well-received by fans and critics alike, as people were intrigued by the cyborg– instead of a robot-like human, the cyborg showed what the loss of humanity is like. The movie was such a success that two sequels were made, as well as two TV spin-offs, and even a recent reboot. However, nothing compares to the original.
6Aliens (1986)
The second film in the Alien franchise,Aliensis set in the far future. Lieutenant Ellen Ripley is the only survivor from her ship when the alienXenomorph attacked, having escaped in a shuttleafter her ship was destroyed. When communications are suddenly lost with a new colony, Ripley joins a team to look into what happened, almost certain that the aliens had gotten to everyone. Even after the success of the firstAlienmovie, this sequel took a while to produce.
With delays and a lack of enthusiasm from 20th Century Fox, it almost seemed like it wouldn’t happen. However, it did go through, and became one of the greatest sequels ever made, beginning a franchise that has spanned decades. It remains an important piece in pop culture, and there aren’t anyplans for the franchise to end any time soon.
5The Terminator (1984)
The Terminatoris a thrilling action movie that brings another famous cyborg to the big screen. This cyborg is the titular assassin, who has time-traveled to the past from a future where robots have taken over, but the human resistance is about to win. The Terminator is looking to kill the resistance leader’s mother, Sarah, before she conceives him, hoping to put a stop to the rebels. Reese, another time traveler, works against him to try and save Sarah and make sure the past still goes as planned.
The movie won a Saturn Award for best science fiction film, along with two others for makeup and writing. Though the studio was afraid it wouldn’t do well and feared the critical response, reviews were mostly positive, and it remains an iconic piece of pop culture today. Anotherlong-running franchisewas born from this James Cameron film, also;he seems to be a fan of franchises. There are currently six films, the most recently released in 2019, and the original has left an indelible mark on sci-fi, influencing many other movies in the genre.
4E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982)
The classic filmE.T. the Extra-Terrestrialis more than just a movie about an alien, it’s aniconic coming-of-age film. When a group of aliens that were visiting Earth gets chased off by the government, they accidentally leave one of their own behind. Luckily for him, he hides in a shed where a young boy, Elliot, finds him and befriends him. Working together, they must find a way to get the alien back home while avoiding the government agents spying on them.
The movie was nominated for many awards, including several Academy Awards and some Golden Globes, and was universally well-received by critics. It did amazingly well with audiences if the 16 weeks it spent at the top of the box office says anything. It’s warmed the hearts of any who have watched it and still remains a popular sci-fi film to this day.
