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
Sci-Fi movies from the 80s
Science fiction had an extraordinary run during the 1980s. Alien worlds, time travel, dystopian futures, robots and ambitious practical effects turned the genre into one of the decade's creative powerhouses.
Some films became enormous crowd-pleasers while others found their audience later, but together they helped shape the visual language of modern science-fiction cinema.
109 movies so far
Sci-Fi movies
Action / Science Fiction / Adventure
1980
Battle Beyond the Stars
Battle Beyond the Stars: fear and family, and why this 1980 movie still matters.
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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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Action / Adventure / Science Fiction
1980
Raise the Titanic
Raise the Titanic: exploitation, 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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Science Fiction / War / Mystery / Time-travel
1980
The Final Countdown
The Final Countdown: fear and isolation, and why this 1980 movie still matters.
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Crime / Mystery / Science Fiction / Political Thriller
1980
The Formula
The Formula: corporate power and exploitation, and why this 1980 movie still matters.
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Horror / Science Fiction / Mystery / Ghost
1980
The Watcher in the Woods
The Watcher in the Woods: family and parents protecting their children, and why this 1980 movie still matters.
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Horror / Zombie / Science Fiction / Mystery
1981
Dead & Buried
Dead & Buried: mortality and fear, and why this 1981 movie still matters.
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Action / Thriller / Science Fiction / Post-apocalyptic / Prison / Dystopian
1981
Escape from New York
Escape from New York: freedom and heroism, and why this 1981 movie still matters.
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Action / Science Fiction / Monster / Horror / Adventure
1981
Galaxy of Terror
Galaxy of Terror: fear and parents protecting their children, and why this 1981 movie still matters.
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Action / Drama / Science Fiction
1981
Knightriders
Knightriders: family and courage, and why this 1981 movie still matters.
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Science Fiction
1981
Looker
Looker: our relationship with technology and consumerism, and why this 1981 movie still matters.
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Action / Adventure / Thriller / Road Movie / Dystopian
1981
Mad Max 2
Petrol, fury and a man who would rather ride away — Mad Max 2 still hits like a fistful of sand.
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Science Fiction / Screwball Comedy
1981
Modern Problems
Modern Problems: the safety of home and friendship, and why this 1981 movie still matters.
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Action / Science Fiction / Adventure
1981
Outland
Outland: family and mortality and lifespan, and why this 1981 movie still matters.
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Thriller / Science Fiction / Mystery / Horror / Action
1981
Scanners
Telepathy, corporate control and one of cinema’s most unforgettable practical stunts.
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Comedy / Science Fiction / Science Fiction Comedy
1981
The Incredible Shrinking Woman
The Incredible Shrinking Woman: 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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Tech Noir / Cyberpunk / Thriller / Neo-noir / Dystopian / Film Noir / Science Fiction / Drama / Action / Crime / Crime Drama / Crime Thriller
1982
Blade Runner
Four engineered years, a handful of memories and a detective who isn’t sure he wants to do his job.
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Action / Rape And Revenge / Thriller / Science Fiction / Drama
1982
Class of 1984
Class of 1984: family and the safety of home, and why this 1982 movie still matters.
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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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Science Fiction / Drama / Children's / Family
1982
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
A story about a lonely boy, a stranded stranger and the small, uncanny bravery of childhood.
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Horror / Science Fiction
1982
Halloween III: Season of the Witch
Halloween III: Season of the Witch: family and freedom, and why this 1982 movie still matters.
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Action / Science Fiction
1982
Megaforce
Megaforce: fear and friendship, and why this 1982 movie still matters.
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Action / Thriller / Science Fiction / Adventure
1982
Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan
Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan: parents protecting their children and fear, and why this 1982 movie still matters.
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Science Fiction / Science Fiction Comedy / Superhero / Horror / Science Fiction Horror / Comedy Horror / Comedy / Adventure / Action / Monster / Drama / Science Fiction Action / Black Comedy / Thriller
1982
Swamp Thing
Swamp Thing: freedom and fear, and why this 1982 movie still matters.
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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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Horror / Science Fiction / Mystery / Body Horror / Science Fiction Horror / Monster / Drama / Splatter / Thriller / Survival / Action / Suspense
1982
The Thing
A frozen outpost, a dog, and a man who must choose who to trust — The Thing still knows how to make suspicion feel like a physical thing.
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Action / Science Fiction / Adventure / Cyberpunk
1982
Tron
A film about authorship, arcade‑style justice and a man who literally has to fight for his credit.
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Science Fiction Comedy / Parody
1982
Zapped!
Zapped!: family and the safety of home, and why this 1982 movie still matters.
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Crime / Action / Thriller / Science Fiction
1983
Blue Thunder
A maverick pilot, a flying surveillance machine and a paranoid 1980s that still feels eerily familiar.
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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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Horror / Science Fiction / Black Comedy
1983
De Lift
De Lift: corporate power and our relationship with technology, and why this 1983 movie still matters.
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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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Science Fiction / Comedy / Action
1983
Superman III
Superman III: our relationship with technology and courage, 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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Parody / Science Fiction / Science Fiction Comedy / Comedy Horror / Horror / Comedy
1983
The Man with Two Brains
The Man with Two Brains: love and authority, 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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Science Fiction / Adventure / Drama / Mystery
1984
2010: The Year We Make Contact
2010: The Year We Make Contact: our relationship with technology and humanity, and why this 1984 movie still matters.
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Horror / Monster / Zombie / Slasher / B Movie / Science Fiction
1984
C.H.U.D.
C.H.U.D.: fear and authority, and why this 1984 movie still matters.
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Horror / Science Fiction / Thriller
1984
Dreamscape
Dreamscape: authority and freedom, and why this 1984 movie still matters.
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Romantic Comedy / Science Fiction / Science Fiction Comedy / Drama
1984
Electric Dreams
Electric Dreams: love and our relationship with technology, and why this 1984 movie still matters.
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Action / Thriller / Science Fiction / Horror
1984
Firestarter
Firestarter: family and parents protecting their children, 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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Science Fiction / Science Fiction Comedy / Action / Comedy Horror / Zombie / Post-apocalyptic / Horror / Comedy
1984
Night of the Comet
Sisters, malls and a comet — Night of the Comet is a B-movie that learned how to be fun and oddly wise about survival.
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Action / Science Fiction / Crime
1984
Runaway
Runaway: our relationship with technology and family, and why this 1984 movie still matters.
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Action / Science Fiction / Adventure
1984
Star Trek III: The Search for Spock
Star Trek III: The Search for Spock: our relationship with technology and family, and why this 1984 movie still matters.
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Romance / Science Fiction / Drama
1984
Starman
A road movie in which an alien borrows a dead husband's face and, with a borrowed curiosity, teaches a widow how to keep living.
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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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Superhero / Science Fiction / Science Fiction Comedy / Comedy
1984
The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension
The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension: freedom and courage, and why this 1984 movie still matters.
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Science Fiction / Science Fiction Comedy / Action / Adventure / Coming-of-age
1984
The Last Starfighter
A trailer-park teenager, an arcade cabinet and a very old-school call to adventure.
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Action / Science Fiction / Drama / Mystery / Biographical / Time-travel
1984
The Philadelphia Experiment
The Philadelphia Experiment: loss and authority, and why this 1984 movie still matters.
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Sci-Fi / Action
1984
The Terminator
A relentless machine, a desperate human, and a future that won't wait.
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Science Fiction / Adventure / Comedy / Teen / Time-travel
1985
Back to the Future
A time machine, a restless teenager and a very particular set of family problems.
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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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Horror / Science Fiction Horror / Action / Zombie / Thriller / Drama / Independent / Splatter / Post-apocalyptic / Mystery / Suspense / Dystopian
1985
Day of the Dead
A bunker drama with zombies, a scientist who won a festival, and a soldier who won't listen.
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Action / Science Fiction / Adventure / Military Science Fiction / Drama
1985
Enemy Mine
Enemy Mine: humanity and mortality and lifespan, and why this 1985 movie still matters.
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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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Science Fiction / Adventure / Vampire / Zombie / Science Fiction Horror / Monster / Horror / Thriller / Suspense / Drama
1985
Lifeforce
Lifeforce: mortality and freedom, and why this 1985 movie still matters.
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Action / Adventure / Dystopian / Post-apocalyptic / Science Fiction
1985
Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome
A gladiator ring, a methane economy and one reluctant road warrior — Mad Max still knows how to make survival feel personal.
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Science Fiction / Comedy Horror / Zombie / Splatter / Body Horror
1985
Re-Animator
A medical-school madman, a glowing green reagent and enough stage blood to cause moral indigestion.
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Romantic Comedy / Science Fiction / Science Fiction Comedy / Teen
1985
Real Genius
Real Genius: the safety of home and family, and why this 1985 movie still matters.
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Zombie / Comedy Horror / Science Fiction
1985
The Return of the Living Dead
Brains, bad decisions and Burt — a punky, gory little time-bomb.
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Comedy Horror / B Movie / Horror / Parody / Science Fiction
1985
The Stuff
The Stuff: corporate power and mortality, and why this 1985 movie still matters.
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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 / Horror / Thriller / Science Fiction Horror / Adventure / Science Fiction / Monster / Suspense / War / Science Fiction Action
1986
Aliens
Motherhood, marines and monsters: why Ripley still makes Aliens sing.
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Action / Horror / Science Fiction
1986
Chopping Mall
Chopping Mall: our relationship with technology and freedom, and why this 1986 movie still matters.
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Science Fiction / Adventure / Comedy Horror / Horror / Comedy / Action
1986
Critters
Critters: freedom and family, and why this 1986 movie still matters.
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Sci-Fi / Adventure / Family
1986
Flight of the Navigator
A boy, eight missing years and a chrome spaceship that needs him as much as he needs home.
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Splatter / Science Fiction
1986
From Beyond
From Beyond: freedom and our relationship with technology, and why this 1986 movie still matters.
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Superhero / Science Fiction Comedy / Action / Comedy
1986
Howard the Duck
Howard the Duck: courage and heroism, and why this 1986 movie still matters.
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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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Action / Horror / Science Fiction / Comedy
1986
Maximum Overdrive
Maximum Overdrive: humanity and freedom, and why this 1986 movie still matters.
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Zombie Comedy / Science Fiction / Comedy Horror / Comedy
1986
Night of the Creeps
Night of the Creeps: the safety of home and mortality, and why this 1986 movie still matters.
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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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Sci-Fi / Comedy / Family
1986
Short Circuit
A lightning-struck robot, a handful of humans who care, and an argument about what counts as being alive.
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Science Fiction / Science Fiction Comedy / Adventure / Time-travel
1986
Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home
Humpback whales, a stranded starship crew and Admiral Kirk’s habit of ignoring the rulebook — in other words, proper Star Trek business.
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Horror / Science Fiction / Monster / Drama / Romance / Body Horror / Science Fiction Horror / Romantic Drama / Romantic Horror / Thriller
1986
The Fly
The Fly: humanity and our relationship with technology, and why this 1986 movie still matters.
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Action / Science Fiction / Adventure / Super Robot
1986
The Transformers: The Movie
A loud, fast, slightly brutal toy advert that somehow turns a brash kid into a leader.
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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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Science Fiction / Science Fiction Comedy / Comedy
1987
Innerspace
Innerspace: our relationship with technology and freedom, and why this 1987 movie still matters.
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Action / Science Fiction / Horror / Thriller / Suspense / Science Fiction Horror / Adventure / Monster / Science Fiction Action
1987
Predator
A squad of soldiers, a silent hunter — and mud becomes a weapon.
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Sci-Fi / Action
1987
RoboCop
A murdered cop rebuilt as a product — RoboCop still asks who gets to sell justice.
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Science Fiction Comedy / Adventure / Parody / Science Fiction / Comedy
1987
Spaceballs
A madcap space spoof where a reluctant hero, a man-dog and a merchandising gag steal the show.
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Science Fiction / Action / Speculative Fiction
1987
Superman IV: The Quest for Peace
Superman IV: The Quest for Peace: courage and parents protecting their children, and why this 1987 movie still matters.
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Science Fiction / Action / Horror / Buddy Cop / Thriller
1987
The Hidden
The Hidden: mortality and lifespan and mortality, and why this 1987 movie still matters.
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Action / Science Fiction / Dystopian
1987
The Running Man
Television as theatre of cruelty — and one man who won't shoot.
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Horror / Science Fiction / Adventure / Comedy Horror
1988
Critters 2: The Main Course
Critters 2: The Main Course: fear and mortality, and why this 1988 movie still matters.
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Science Fiction / Alien Invasion / Comedy Horror / Horror / Comedy
1988
Killer Klowns from Outer Space
Teenagers spot a circus in the woods, everyone else shrugs — then the popcorn guns start firing.
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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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Science Fiction / Comedy Horror / Zombie Comedy / Comedy
1988
Return of the Living Dead Part II
Return of the Living Dead Part II: freedom and family, and why this 1988 movie still matters.
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Horror / Science Fiction / Monster
1988
The Blob
Teenagers, a creeping alien goo and a whole town that won't listen — welcome back to The Blob.
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Action / Science Fiction / Action Thriller / Dystopian / Thriller / Science Fiction Action / Horror / Science Fiction Horror / Black Comedy / Adventure / Suspense
1988
They Live
Sunglasses, slogans and a man who will not let you look away.
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Buddy / Science Fiction / Comedy
1988
Twins
A mismatched pair, a lab experiment and a very 1980s idea of family.
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Science Fiction / Teen / Comedy / Time-travel / Dystopian
1989
Back to the Future Part II
Hoverboards, alternate 1985s and one man trying to stop his whole family from unravelling—again.
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Comedy / Science Fiction / Science Fiction Comedy / Buddy / Teen / Time-travel
1989
Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure
A daft time‑travel comedy where being mates saves the world — and yes, Ted matters more than you remember.
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Action / Science Fiction / Post-apocalyptic / Cyberpunk
1989
Cyborg
Cyborg: mortality and heroism, and why this 1989 movie still matters.
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Action / Horror / Science Fiction / Monster / Science Fiction Horror / Suspense / Thriller / Adventure / Natural Horror / Drama
1989
DeepStar Six
DeepStar Six: fear and parents protecting their children, and why this 1989 movie still matters.
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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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Science Fiction Comedy / Science Fiction / Comedy
1989
Honey, I Shrunk the Kids
A shrinking accident, a towering backyard and one very distracted inventor.
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Action / Science Fiction / Adventure
1989
Star Trek V: The Final Frontier
Star Trek V: The Final Frontier: humanity and power, and why this 1989 movie still matters.
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Science Fiction / Adventure / Drama / Mystery
1989
The Abyss
Deep-sea scares, a tense countdown and a foreman who keeps everyone breathing.
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Horror / Thriller / Monster / Science Fiction / Body Horror
1989
The Fly II
The Fly II: family and humanity, and why this 1989 movie still matters.
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