Horror / Science Fiction / Thriller / Drama / Fantasy / Science Fiction Horror
1980
Altered States
A head-trip that never forgets the man at its centre: curiosity, marriage and a tank of trouble.
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Explore the genre
Fantasy movies from the 80s
Fantasy cinema flourished during the 1980s, filling screens with magical worlds, monsters, quests, dark fairy tales and practical creatures that gave the decade its own distinctive look.
Some films were family adventures, others surprisingly dark, but together they created a rich period of fantasy filmmaking that remains a huge part of 80s nostalgia.
79 movies so far
Fantasy movies
Action / Science Fiction / Adventure / Fantasy / Comedy
1980
Flash Gordon
Brash heroics, operatic spectacle and a Queen soundtrack — Flash Gordon wears its pulp heart on its sleeve.
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Horror / Supernatural / Supernatural Horror / Mystery / Slasher / Splatter / Thriller / Drama / Fantasy
1980
Inferno
Inferno: mortality and mortality and lifespan, and why this 1980 movie still matters.
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Romance / Science Fiction / Fantasy / Drama / Time-travel
1980
Somewhere in Time
A love so determined it teaches itself to travel.
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Science Fiction / Adventure / Action / Fantasy / Epic / Space Opera
1980
Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back
A harsher lesson in heroism: mentorship, bad luck and the cost of growing up in a galaxy far, far away.
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Action / Science Fiction / Fantasy
1980
Superman II
Love, duty and a handful of Kryptonians — Superman II asks what a hero gives up to be human.
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Romantic Comedy / Musical / Fantasy
1980
Xanadu
Xanadu: love and family, and why this 1980 movie still matters.
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Fantasy / Monster / Adventure / Action / Sword-and-sandal
1981
Clash of the Titans
A labour of gods, monsters and one man who won't be pushed around.
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Fantasy / Adventure / Medieval / Sword And Sorcery
1981
Dragonslayer
Dragonslayer: heroism and parents protecting their children, and why this 1981 movie still matters.
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Fantasy / Action / Drama / Sword And Sorcery / Medieval
1981
Excalibur
Myth, a sword and a man being made — Excalibur still asks what makes a king.
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Fantasy / Drama
1981
Quest for Fire
Quest for Fire: mortality and freedom, and why this 1981 movie still matters.
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Supernatural Horror / Zombie / Drama / Fantasy / Splatter / Body Horror / Horror / Mysticism
1981
The Evil Dead
The Evil Dead: fear and freedom, and why this 1981 movie still matters.
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Science Fiction / Fantasy / Adventure / Comedy / Time-travel / Steampunk
1981
Time Bandits
A child's map, six small thieves and a very big imagination.
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Horror / Monster / Erotic Thriller / Fantasy / Drama
1982
Cat People
Cat People: love and loss, and why this 1982 movie still matters.
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Action / Fantasy / Adventure / Sword-and-sandal / Sword And Sorcery
1982
Conan the Barbarian
A musclebound quest that talks about steel, fate and how to be remade by violence.
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Horror / Monster / Zombie / Science Fiction / Comedy Horror / Ghost / Anthology / Science Fiction Horror / Fantasy / Thriller / Black Comedy
1982
Creepshow
Five nasty little tales, a comic-book wrapper and one perfectly awkward professor.
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Horror / Ghost / Supernatural Horror / Thriller / Supernatural / Fantasy
1982
Poltergeist
A suburban home, a frightened child and a television that isn't just background noise — Poltergeist still makes the domestic uncanny feel dangerously familiar.
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Fantasy / Action / Science Fiction / Sword And Sorcery
1982
The Beastmaster
The Beastmaster: family and parents protecting their children, and why this 1982 movie still matters.
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Fantasy / Adventure
1982
The Dark Crystal
A puppet epic about a broken world — and the quiet Gelfling who must fix it.
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Fantasy / Children's
1982
The Last Unicorn
The Last Unicorn: mortality and lifespan and loss, and why this 1982 movie still matters.
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Fantasy / Adventure / Dark Fantasy
1982
The Secret of NIMH
The Secret of NIMH: family and parents protecting their children, and why this 1982 movie still matters.
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Fantasy / Action / Sword And Sorcery
1982
The Sword and the Sorcerer
The Sword and the Sorcerer: family and freedom, and why this 1982 movie still matters.
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Horror / Mystery / Drama / Thriller / Supernatural Horror / Supernatural / Fantasy / Action / Teen / Suspense / Science Fiction
1983
Christine
Obsession, adolescence and a car that won't let go.
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Science Fiction / Adventure / Fantasy / Action
1983
Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi
Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi: mortality and lifespan and mortality, and why this 1983 movie still matters.
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Horror / Science Fiction / Political Thriller / Science Fiction Horror / Suspense / Thriller / Supernatural Horror / Psychological Thriller / Psychological Horror / Psychological Drama / Drama / Independent / Fantasy / Mystery / Supernatural
1983
The Dead Zone
A quiet schoolteacher, an awful glimpse of tomorrow and the heavy work of knowing too much.
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Horror / War / Drama / Supernatural Horror / Fantasy / Suspense / Thriller / Mystery
1983
The Keep
The Keep: family and parents protecting their children, and why this 1983 movie still matters.
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Body Horror / Science Fiction / Arthouse Science Fiction / Horror / Science Fiction Horror / Fantasy / Drama / Desire Horror Fiction
1983
Videodrome
Television as a drug, a weapon and a wound — and Max Renn is the addict in the middle of it.
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Horror / Teen / Slasher / Supernatural Horror / Thriller / Splatter / Suspense / Crime / Fantasy / Exploitation / Crime Thriller / Psychological Drama / Crime Drama / Psychological Thriller / Drama / Independent / Teen Horror / Supernatural / Ghost
1984
A Nightmare on Elm Street
A Nightmare on Elm Street: family and the safety of home, and why this 1984 movie still matters.
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Action / Fantasy / Sword And Sorcery
1984
Conan the Destroyer
Conan the Destroyer: courage and love, and why this 1984 movie still matters.
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Fantasy / Comedy Horror / Monster / Action / Adventure / Comedy / Science Fiction / Buddy / Ghost
1984
Ghostbusters
A ragged band of scientists, a sardonic frontman and a city that refuses to behave — Ghostbusters still sells the joke.
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Romantic Comedy / Comedy Drama / Fantasy
1984
Splash
A mermaid arrives in New York, a sensible man gets sensible about love — and the rest is splashy business.
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Teen / Science Fiction / Fantasy / Action / Children's
1984
Supergirl
Supergirl: love and power, and why this 1984 movie still matters.
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Horror / Fantasy / Monster
1984
The Company of Wolves
The Company of Wolves: family and parents protecting their children, and why this 1984 movie still matters.
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Fantasy / Children's / Drama / Sword And Sorcery
1984
The NeverEnding Story
A boy, a book and a disappearing world — imagination as the only weapon left.
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Horror / Teen / LGBTQ-related / Slasher / Crime Thriller / Independent / Supernatural Horror / Thriller / Crime / Fantasy / Suspense
1985
A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy's Revenge
A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy's Revenge: the safety of home and family, and why this 1985 movie still matters.
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Neo-noir / Science Fiction / Fantasy / Science Fiction Comedy / Comedy / Christmas / Dystopian / Retrofuturism / Arthouse Science Fiction
1985
Brazil
A man who daydreams his way out of paperwork—and into trouble.
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Science Fiction / Fantasy / Drama / Comedy
1985
Cocoon
Old men, alien cocoons and a very convincing dip in the pool — friendship and second chances, with Ron Howard steering the canoe.
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Science Fiction / Science Fiction Comedy / Adventure / Comedy / Fantasy
1985
Explorers
Explorers: our relationship with technology and family, and why this 1985 movie still matters.
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Teen / Comedy Horror / Vampire / Thriller / Fantasy
1985
Fright Night
A suburban boy, a suave neighbour and a late‑night horror show — Fright Night makes vampire panic feel uncomfortably domestic.
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Action / Fantasy / Treasure Hunt / Comedy
1985
King Solomon's Mines
King Solomon's Mines: freedom and courage, and why this 1985 movie still matters.
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Romance / Fantasy / Adventure / Drama / Sword And Sorcery
1985
Ladyhawke
Ladyhawke: courage and freedom, and why this 1985 movie still matters.
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Fantasy / Adventure / Epic / Dark Fantasy / Sword And Sorcery / Cinematic Fairy Tale
1985
Legend
Legend: parents protecting their children and courage, and why this 1985 movie still matters.
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Horror / Fantasy
1985
Phenomena
Phenomena: family and the safety of home, and why this 1985 movie still matters.
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Fantasy / Adventure / Action / Sword And Sorcery
1985
Red Sonja
Red Sonja: freedom and courage, and why this 1985 movie still matters.
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Comedy / Fantasy / Teen / Romantic Comedy
1985
Teen Wolf
A teenage werewolf, a basketball court and a lesson about who you really want cheering for you.
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Romantic Comedy / Science Fiction / Fantasy / Science Fiction Comedy / Buddy / Teen / Action
1985
Weird Science
Fast talk, bad luck and a very literal wish come true — with consequences.
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Action / Fantasy / Martial Arts / Comedy
1986
Big Trouble in Little China
A swaggering trucker, ancient sorcery and a Chinatown that hides a very odd basement — this is John Carpenter being playful and dangerous at the same time.
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Fantasy / Adventure / Thriller / Action / Swashbuckler
1986
Highlander
Immortality, loneliness and very sharp swords.
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Fantasy / Musical / Adventure / Children's / Coming-of-age
1986
Labyrinth
A teenager, a goblin king and a maze that asks you to grow up.
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Romantic Comedy / Fantasy / Science Fiction / Drama / Time-travel / Comedy / Melodrama
1986
Peggy Sue Got Married
Peggy Sue Got Married: family and growing up, and why this 1986 movie still matters.
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Action / Fantasy / Comedy / Adventure
1986
The Golden Child
The Golden Child: parents protecting their children and mortality, and why this 1986 movie still matters.
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Horror / Teen / Drama / Slasher / Fantasy / Independent
1987
A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors
Nancy comes back to teach a new generation to fight Freddy — and she brings a team.
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Neo-noir / Fantasy / Mystery / Erotic Thriller / Erotic / Horror / Satanic
1987
Angel Heart
Angel Heart: family and the safety of home, and why this 1987 movie still matters.
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Science Fiction / Science Fiction Comedy / Children's / Fantasy / Comedy
1987
Batteries Not Included
Batteries Not Included: family and parents protecting their children, and why this 1987 movie still matters.
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Monster / Comedy Horror / Horror / Comedy / Fantasy / Anthology / Thriller / Black Comedy / Mystery / Slasher / Science Fiction Horror
1987
Creepshow 2
Creepshow 2: freedom and family, and why this 1987 movie still matters.
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Fantasy / Buddy / Monster / Science Fiction / Comedy
1987
Harry and the Hendersons
Harry and the Hendersons: love, and why this 1987 movie still matters.
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Romantic Comedy / Fantasy
1987
Mannequin
Mannequin: love and corporate power, and why this 1987 movie still matters.
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Fantasy / Adventure / Superhero / Action / Sword And Sorcery
1987
Masters of the Universe
Masters of the Universe: heroism and freedom, and why this 1987 movie still matters.
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Horror / Fantasy / Zombie / Supernatural Horror / Supernatural / Religious Horror / Suspense / Mystery / Thriller
1987
Prince of Darkness
Prince of Darkness: fear and family, and why this 1987 movie still matters.
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Fantasy / Musical / Family / Children's
1987
The Brave Little Toaster
The Brave Little Toaster: family and parents protecting their children, and why this 1987 movie still matters.
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Comedy Horror / Vampire / Fantasy
1987
The Lost Boys
A seaside teen vampire movie about belonging, bad choices and the family that refuses to let you go.
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Fantasy / Children's / Comedy Horror / Crossover Fiction / Vampire / Werewolf
1987
The Monster Squad
A band of kids, Van Helsing’s diary and a rooftop full of monsters — Sean Crenshaw leads the charge.
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Romantic Comedy / Fantasy / Pirate / Swashbuckler / Sword And Sorcery / Cinematic Fairy Tale
1987
The Princess Bride
A swashbuckling love story told like a bedtime tale — and still disarmingly good company.
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Fantasy / Female Buddy / Comedy Horror / Horror / Comedy
1987
The Witches of Eastwick
Seduction, sisterhood and a very inconvenient devil — and yes, it's still worth the trouble.
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Fantasy / Drama
1987
Wings of Desire
Angels with notebooks, a city that remembers and one angel who wants to feel.
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Comedy Horror / Fantasy / Ghost / Gothic / Dark Fantasy
1988
Beetlejuice
A haunted house, a rules-bound afterlife and one gloriously unhelpful bio‑exorcist.
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Romantic Comedy / Coming-of-age / Fantasy / Drama
1988
Big
Big: our relationship with technology and friendship, and why this 1988 movie still matters.
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Horror / Fantasy
1988
Hellbound: Hellraiser II
Hellbound: Hellraiser II: freedom and family, and why this 1988 movie still matters.
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Horror / Science Fiction / Fantasy / Action
1988
Phantasm II
Phantasm II: freedom and mortality, and why this 1988 movie still matters.
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Horror / Monster / Fantasy
1988
Pumpkinhead
Pumpkinhead: family and parents protecting their children, and why this 1988 movie still matters.
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Romantic Comedy / Fantasy / Christmas / Ghost / Comedy
1988
Scrooged
Scrooged: fear and belief in the supernatural, and why this 1988 movie still matters.
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Fantasy / Comedy / Adventure
1988
The Adventures of Baron Munchausen
The Adventures of Baron Munchausen: loss and mortality, and why this 1988 movie still matters.
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Horror / Zombie / Supernatural / Supernatural Horror / Fantasy / Adventure / Suspense / Thriller / Folk Horror / Mystery
1988
The Serpent and the Rainbow
The Serpent and the Rainbow: mortality and lifespan and corporate power, and why this 1988 movie still matters.
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Neo-noir / Buddy / Crossover Fiction / Fantasy / Live-action/animated / Comedy
1988
Who Framed Roger Rabbit
A private eye, a jittery rabbit and a very British fondness for messing about with genre.
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Fantasy / Sword And Sorcery
1988
Willow
Willow: family and freedom, and why this 1988 movie still matters.
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Fantasy / Drama / Sport / Ghost
1989
Field of Dreams
A whisper in a cornfield, a man who listens, and a small miracle of a movie about fathers and second chances.
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Fantasy / Science Fiction Comedy / Comedy Horror / Monster / Science Fiction / Comedy / Ghost
1989
Ghostbusters II
A sequel that doubles down on goo, grumpiness and grown-up responsibilities — and still depends on Venkman to keep it human.
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Horror / Fantasy
1989
Puppet Master
Puppet Master: mortality and humanity, and why this 1989 movie still matters.
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Romance / Musical / Fantasy / Children's / Melodrama / Cinematic Fairy Tale
1989
The Little Mermaid
The Little Mermaid: humanity and love, and why this 1989 movie still matters.
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