The 80s are a nostalgic era even for those who didn’t grow up in the 80s, and everyone can live vicariously through iconic films of the decade. Comedic legends like Bill Murray, Leslie Nielsen, and Eddie Murphy starred in several of the films of the decade along with other recognizable actors like Jane Fonda, Keanu Reeves, and Michael J. Fox.
The 1980s saw some iconic comedies from rom-coms to parodies and satires to horror-comedies, here are some of the funniest films released in the decade ranked according to their IMDb ratings.
9 To 5 (1980) – 6.8
9 to 5 is a comedic satire about worker’s rights and specifically female employee’s rights in the workplace.
Three women (Jane Fonda, Dolly Parton, Lily Tomlin) want to get revenge on their chauvinistic boss when the most capable employee at the company (Tomlin) is passed over for a promotion yet again and an incompetent man is promoted in her place. The three become close and accidentally being a revenge plan that quickly and hilariously gets out of hand.
Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure (1989) – 7.0
Keanu Reeves and Alex Winter star as two high school friends who have to pass their history class to stay at the same school and keep their band, Wyld Stallyns, together. A time traveler from the future (George Carlin) appears to help them with the surprisingly important task of keeping the band together.
Bill and Ted travel throughout history and pick up various famous historical figures to help them with their history presentation. It’s a care-free, simplistic, and hilarious film that’s always worth a watch.
Little Shop Of Horrors (1986) – 7.0
Rick Moranis and Ellen Greene star in Little Shop of Horrors, a comedy horror musical about a man-eating plant. Seymour (Moranis) is a shy and quiet flower shop assistant who finds confidence and fame when an interesting plant enters his life.
Seymour has to choose between his ideal life with Audrey (Greene) or stopping the villainous plant. The film has a great balance between comedy and horror with heartfelt and catchy songs throughout.
Coming to America (1988) – 7.0
Coming to America follows Prince Akeem (Eddie Murphy) as he flees his country before his arranged marriage and travels to America.
Akeem intends to find a woman he loves and have her become his Queen instead of who his parents have chosen because he wants someone who isn’t going to blindly serve him. He disguises himself as a common exchange student and falls in love with his co-worker when he starts working at a fast-food chain.
Spaceballs (1987) – 7.1
Spaceballs is an iconic parody film from the 80s that still holds up today that has a stellar cast and is from the mind of Mel Brooks. The film takes its source material from Star Wars and creates a reminiscent universe while also creating something entirely new.
The movie takes every opportunity to land the joke and reinvents recognizable Star Wars characters into equally recognizable spoof characters from Dark Helmet to Yogurt.
Caddyshack (1980) – 7.3
Caddyshack follows a teen who gets hired as a caddy at a snobby local golf course so he can raise money for his college tuition.
The movie delves into the eccentric lives of the members and employees at the club including Rodney Dangerfield, Bill Murray, Ted Knight, and Chevy Chase. It’s a hilarious and silly film that has become a part of pop culture since its release in the 80s.
Clue (1985) – 7.3
Clue has a stellar cast including Tim Curry, Madeline Kahn, and Christopher Lloyd, and is based on the board game of the same name as a large group of characters are invited to a mysterious dinner party and have to figure out who killed the host.
The hilariously incompetent characters run around trying not to be the next one killed in the story with dry wit and sarcasm throughout making for endlessly quotable dialogue.
Airplane! (1980) – 7.7
Airplane! is a spoof comedy film that is full of one-liners, running gags, and sketch comedy bits that all take place in an airplane or in relation to the plane the main characters are on.
An ex-pilot with a drinking problem (Robert Hays), his stewardess ex-girlfriend (Julie Hagerty), and a doctor (Leslie Nielsen) must work together to safely land the plane when the entire flight crew is stricken with food poisoning.
Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986) – 7.8
Matthew Broderick stars as the titular Ferris Bueller in this memorable John Hughes film about a confident and smooth teen who skips school with his best friend and girlfriend in an increasingly and hilariously improvised plan.
The three teens run around Chicago seizing every wacky opportunity from singing in a parade to borrowing a Ferrari all while trying to avoid their parents, siblings, and their overly determined principal trying to catch them on their day off.
Back To The Future (1985) – 8.5
Michael J. Fox and Christopher Lloyd star in the first film of the Back to the Future comedic sci-fi franchise. Doc (Lloyd) invents a time machine out of a DeLorean car and successfully takes his friend Marty (Fox) back in time.
Marty meets younger versions of his parents and has to make sure they end up together so he’s born in the future, and has to save Doc’s life. It’s a fun, wacky, and hilarious film that is quintessential 80s cinema.
