This is one of the most fan-favorite decades in all of cinema, with blockbuster franchises and critical darlings released in nearly every year of the1980s. Thus, some films therefrom have gone under the radar throughout the years, be it in gross at the box office or review scores from pundits.
Some of the biggest directors the industry has ever seen show up on this list, and their films for the most part feature star-studded casts to boot. And this list runs the gamut of genre, from dark fantasy and neo-Westerns to science fiction and neo-noir. There should be something for everyone included herein. And for what it’s worth, no international films will be included on this list, as they’re inherently more underrated for English-speaking audiences. All that said, these are the twenty most underrated movies of the 1980s, ranked.
20The Mosquito Coast
Based on the 1981 novel of the same name by Paul Theroux, this drama by Peter Weir features Harrison Ford in the leading role. Films with thespians of that caliber don’t often go under the radar. But somehow,The Mosquito Coast(1981) did not at all appeal to film fans, as it made just $14.3 million in box office results against a budget of $25 million. Sure, critics for the most part had positive things to say. But there’s no justifying its coming up shortin movie theaters, especially not by such a wide margin.
Following Ford’s protagonist Allie Fox, he relocates his family to the jungles of Central America, attempting to find a more peaceful life for those he loves. But upon their arrival, Allie becomes unstable. And the plot escalates from there with many notable elements of filmmaking going on behind the scenes. But it’d be criminal not to mention the other actors portraying members of the Fox family. Helen Mirren plays his wife Margot, while River Phoenix shows up as his son, Charlie. And their performances define the quality ofThe Mosquito Coastfrom start to finish.
19Near Dark
A neo-Western horror film,Near Dark(1987) saw direction under Kathryn Bigelow from a script she co-wrote alongside Eric Red. It stars Adrian Pasdar, with en equally unknown supporting cast from there. But Bill Paxton does make an appearance, for what it’s worth. The film chronicles a young man from Oklahoma who finds himself intertwined with the happenings of a vampiric American family.
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And although critics resonated with this on-paper premise and subsequent execution, audiences were less than intrigued to line up en masse at their respective local movie theaters.Near Darkbombed at the worldwide box office, in fact, garnering just $3.4 million off a $5 million budget. However, it’s since amassedquite the cult following, and justifiably so. It ultimately comes in here at number nineteen.
Directed by Ridley Scott, this entry follows protagonist Jack (played by Tom Cruise) as he attempts to halt the plans of the Lord of Darkness, who seeks to set upon the world an eternal state of night. And aside from Cruise in the lead role,Legend(1985) features another familiar face in Tim Curry. And they both put on performances that were praised by pundits.
A director’s cut was released on DVD in 2002, with both Scott and Cruise preferring that version over its theatrical counterpart. If you’re going to watchLegend, it should be that version. Overall, its special effects hold up well today — of course, they were particularly impressive upon release — and its story presents legitimate questions about human morality. This may not be the best film you’ll read about today, but it’s up there as the most underrated.
17The Cotton Club
If there was ever a film by the famous Francis Ford Coppola that could be considered underrated, it’d have to beThe Cotton Club(1984). Despite receiving decent praise from critics, it absolutely bombed with regard to ticket sales, and it hasn’t exactly gained traction with audiences since. But high-quality facets of behind-the-scenes filmmaking are consistently at play, from itscarefully chosen camera shotsto its well-timed tactics of editing. The latter was even noticed by the Academy Awards, asThe Cotton Clubpicked up a nomination for both Best Film Editing and Best Art Direction.
It’s set in the titular Harlem Jazz club during the 1930s, and as per many Coppola films, its plot is centered on gangsters. But what’s also worth noting is its star-studded cast, with thespians such as Richard Gere, Diane Lane, Nicolas Cage (the director’s nephew), and Laurence Fishburne. They all perform brilliantly, withThe Cotton Clubas a whole going down as essential viewing of the 1980s. It’s time audiences took notice.
16River’s Edge
Starring Crispin Glover and Keanu Reeves with an awesome, unhinged, and show-stealing performance from Dennis Hopper, the stars ofRiver’s Edge(1986) are perhaps the focal point when considering the film’s quality. It also features Ione Skye Lee in her feature film debut, along with a supporting effort from Daniel Roebuck.
Its plot follows a group of teenage friends living in Northern California when one of them (John, played by Roebuck) kills his girlfriend. The friend group is forced to deal with the event and dispose of her body, with this story taking inspiration from the 1981 murder of Marcee Renee Conrad in Milpitas, California. And aside from the portrayal of its characters,River’s Edgealso features some truly thrilling sequences that help make it an underrated entry of 80s cinema.
15Electric Dreams
Championed by famousfilm critics such as Gene Siskel, this project revolves around a love triangle between a man, a woman, and a personal computer. Quite the engrossing plot off the bat. And although there aren’t many prominent names among its cast and crew, it’s worth noting thatElectric Dreams(1984) marked the directorial debut of Steve Barron.
He would go on to direct other projects likeTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtles(1990) andConeheads(1993), with the film at hand going down as his most underrated. This is the first of two science fiction projects on the list — and despite its elements of that fan-favorite genre,Electric Dreamscame up short both in theaters and in the eyes of critics. But really, it holds up well even today.
14The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension
With Peter Weller as the eponymous Buckaroo Banzai, this film features perhaps the most star-studded supporting cast on the list: John Lithgow, Jeff Goldblum, Ellen Barkin, and Christopher Lloyd. They put forth convincing-enough performances, but what’s particularly notable aboutThe Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension(1984) would be its inherently intriguing premise.
The lead character specializes in various fields: Buckaroo Banzai isn’t just a physicist, but also a neurosurgeon, a test pilot, and even a rock star. And when a group of aliens who hail from “Planet 10” invade earth,the titular characteris tasked with defeating them. And as you might suspect, this plot didn’t exactly attract moviegoers en masse. The movie bombed at the box office, in fact. But critics were somewhat positive in their reviews, and justifiably so.
13Somewhere in Time
Directed by Jeannot Szwarc, the script forSomewhere in Time(1980) was adapted by Richard Matheson from his 1975 novelBid Time Return. And the film at hand stars Christopher Reeve in his first of two appearances on the list — with more similarities that will be touched on in a bit — alongside Jane Seymour and Christopher Plummer. Set in 1972, it follows Reeve’s protagonist Richard Collier, a playwright who wishes himself back to 1912 to fall in love with an actress named Elise McKenna.
And although the film did manage to rake in $10 million against a budget of $4 million, it came up short in the realm of critical reception. In fact,Somewhere in Timeholds a middling approval rating of 52% on Rotten Tomatoes, while at the same time, audiences on that website (more than 25,000 of them) approved of the film with an average score of 88%. And justifiably so. If not for its original premise alone,Somewhere in Timedeserves a spot on the list.
12Body Double
The first of two films from Brian De Palma to appear on the list isBody Double(1984), an erotic thriller withtangible elements of neo-noir. De Palma co-wrote the script alongside Robert J. Avrech, with its plot conceived as an homage to the films of Alfred Hitchcock such asRear Window(1954),Dial M for Murder(1954), andVertigo(1958). And although this was nowhere near as well-received,Body Doublehas without a doubt gone down as overlooked throughout the years.
It’s now considered a cult classic, in fact, with its plot homing in on a struggling actor named Jake Scully who lands a job house-sitting for someone in the Hollywood Hills. From there, he utilizes the home’s telescope to snoop on the neighborhood lifestyle, and ends up witnessing a murder. And frankly,Body Doubleis as good as it sounds.
11Angel Heart
With two big-name actors — Mickey Rourke and Robert De Niro — in the lead roles,Angel Heart(1987) brims with entertainment value from its very first frame. Their performances bolster the quality of the film the whole way through, in fact. And with an endgame twist for the ages, the audience’s attention will have flourished into something truly special before its plot is complete.
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Critics for the most part agreed with those notions, noting the film’s unique premise and distinct visual style in tandem with solid performances from the aforementioned leads. But despite the popularity of Rourke and De Niro, the film failed to make back its $18 million atthe worldwide box office. And somehow, it seems audiences are still sleeping onAngel Hearttoday.
