Musical / Comedy
1980
Can't Stop the Music
Can't Stop the Music: love and friendship, and why this 1980 movie still matters.
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Explore the genre
Musical movies from the 80s
Music was inseparable from 1980s cinema, and the decade's musicals ranged from traditional song-and-dance productions to rock films, dance movies and music-driven dramas.
Big songs, bold fashion and unmistakable soundtracks gave many of these films an identity that extends far beyond the screen.
36 movies so far
Musical movies
Biographical / Musical / Drama
1980
Coal Miner's Daughter
Coal Miner's Daughter: family and parents protecting their children, and why this 1980 movie still matters.
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Musical / Teen / LGBTQ-related / Drama
1980
Fame
Fame: family and corporate power, and why this 1980 movie still matters.
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Romantic Comedy / Musical / Pirate / Live Action
1980
Popeye
Popeye: family and parents protecting their children, and why this 1980 movie still matters.
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Musical / Comedy
1980
The Blues Brothers
The Blues Brothers: authority and freedom, and why this 1980 movie still matters.
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Romance / Musical / Drama
1980
The Competition
The Competition: family, and why this 1980 movie still matters.
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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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Musical / Heist / Mystery / Comedy
1981
The Great Muppet Caper
The Great Muppet Caper: authority and the safety of home, and why this 1981 movie still matters.
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Comedy Drama / Musical / Children's
1982
Annie
Annie: family and freedom, and why this 1982 movie still matters.
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Musical / Drama / Art
1982
Pink Floyd – The Wall
A rock-star unravel on film: loud, strange and still oddly intimate.
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Musical / Comedy
1982
The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas
The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas: love and our relationship with technology, and why this 1982 movie still matters.
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Romantic Comedy / Musical / LGBTQ-related / Comedy
1982
Victor/Victoria
A clever musical about disguise, showbiz and the friendships that make it bearable.
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Romance / Musical / Drama / Dance
1983
Flashdance
Flashdance: family and mortality and lifespan, and why this 1983 movie still matters.
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Musical / Comedy
1983
Monty Python's The Meaning of Life
A very British banquet of bodily comedy, institutional savaging and one famously explosive dinner.
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Drama / Musical
1983
The Big Chill
A funeral, a stack of records and a weekender where old promises get examined.
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Musical / Drama / LGBTQ-related
1983
Yentl
Yentl: family and love, and why this 1983 movie still matters.
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Biographical / Musical / Drama / Flashback / Period Drama
1984
Amadeus
A tale of genius through the jealous eyes of a faithful man — and a confession that never lets you look away.
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Musical / Coming-of-age / Comedy Drama / Drama
1984
Breakin'
Breakin': friendship, and why this 1984 movie still matters.
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Romance / Musical / Drama / Teen / Coming-of-age / Dance
1984
Footloose
Teen rebellion, a ban on dancing and one determined outsider — Footloose still kicks up dust.
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Musical / Neo-noir / Drama / Romance / Biographical
1984
Purple Rain
One musician, First Avenue and a mess of ambition — Purple Rain still hums.
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Action / Musical / Thriller / Drama
1984
Streets of Fire
Streets of Fire: courage and authority, and why this 1984 movie still matters.
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Musical / Children's / Comedy
1984
The Muppets Take Manhattan
The Muppets Take Manhattan: family and friendship, and why this 1984 movie still matters.
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Musical / Comedy Drama / Drama / LGBTQ-related
1985
A Chorus Line
A Chorus Line: love and memory, and why this 1985 movie still matters.
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Romantic Comedy / Musical / Teen
1985
Girls Just Want to Have Fun
Girls Just Want to Have Fun: family and friendship, and why this 1985 movie still matters.
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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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Science Fiction / Science Fiction Comedy / Musical / Comedy Horror / Horror / Comedy
1986
Little Shop of Horrors
A doo‑wop musical about bad decisions, worse plants and one man’s awkward climb out of obscurity.
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Biographical / Musical / Drama
1986
Sid and Nancy
Sid and Nancy: love and friendship, and why this 1986 movie still matters.
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Romance / Drama / Musical
1987
Babette's Feast
A refugee, a single extravagant dinner and the curious way generosity becomes a kind of worship.
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Romance / Musical / Drama / Teen / Dance
1987
Dirty Dancing
Dirty Dancing: family and love, and why this 1987 movie still matters.
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Biographical / Musical / Drama
1987
La Bamba
La Bamba: family and friendship, 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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Children's / Musical
1987
The Chipmunk Adventure
The Chipmunk Adventure: family and parents protecting their children, and why this 1987 movie still matters.
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Romantic Comedy / Musical / Teen / Drama
1988
Hairspray
Hairspray: family and parents protecting their children, and why this 1988 movie still matters.
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Buddy / Musical / Children's / Comedy Drama / Family / Adventure
1988
Oliver & Company
Oliver & Company: family and greed, and why this 1988 movie still matters.
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Romance / Musical / Drama
1989
The Fabulous Baker Boys
The Fabulous Baker Boys: family and love, 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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