In addition to witnessing the Chernobyl disaster, the fall of the Berlin Wall, and the invention of the first artificial heart, the 1980s played host to a number of lauded movies that are considered masterpieces as of 2025, even if they didn’t receive such effusive acclaim when they were initially released. Leveraging a compelling premise, stellar direction, and unforgettable performances from some of Hollywood’s most talented performers to the maximum effect possible, many of these outings are now considered to be some of cinema’s best movies, irrespective of genre or time period.
