17 Disney+ 1980s Movies That Have Us Rediscovering The Best Of The Decade

What's The Plot? Fantasy and adventure reign supreme in this story-within-a-story. The main plot sees young farmhand Westley (Cary Elwes) mount a rescue mission to save his beloved Princess Buttercup (Robin Wright) who is betrothed to the slimy but smart Prince Humperdinck.

Why It's Worth Revisiting: The Princess Bride remains one of the most quotable movies of all time, with numerous juicy lines to borrow and use in everyday situations. From a storytelling perspective, it provides a new spin on the classic damsel-in-distress trope that's more than welcome at this point in cinema history. In addition, the film boasts a tremendous ensemble cast that includes (along with Elwes and Wright) Fred Savage, Mandy Patinkin, Billy Crystal, and Wallace Shawn.

How '80s Is This Movie? The Princess Bride features André the Giant, one of the most memorable WWF wrestlers from the 1980s. Brains would have exploded if Hulk Hogan had showed up to bodyslam him in the movie, brother.

What's The Plot? Hotshot archaeologist and adventurer Indiana Jones (Harrison Ford) learns that the mythical Ark of the Covenant grants invincibility. Teaming up with his former flame Marion Ravenwood (Karen Allen), he tries to get to it before the evil Nazis do.

Why It's Worth Revisiting: For one, Indy gets to punch Nazis in the face, which is always welcome. Secondly, this is the first entry in the Indiana Jones franchise, which has become legendary in the action-adventure genre. And finally, it plays out like a rollercoaster ride with death-defying sequences as viewers hang onto their seats and hold their breath.

How '80s Is This Movie? As a director, Steven Spielberg owned the '80s and will forever be associated with this decade of filmmaking.

What's The Plot? The Galactic Empire readies itself to create another Death Star to blow up all those who oppose it. Trying to prevent the dark side from winning, Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) and the Rebel Alliance rise up to stop the baddies.

Why It's Worth Revisiting: Duh! It's Star Wars when the franchise was at its creative peak. This is the big finale - the granddaddy of them all - as Luke becomes a Jedi and tries to save his father's soul while spitting in Emperor Palpatine's scaly face. More importantly, this all-out epic wrapped up one of the greatest sci-fi trilogies of all time. Deep down, most Star Wars fans know this is where the story should have been left alone.

How '80s Is This Movie? The Ewoks are quintessential '80s creatures, because their expressions make for the best memes.

What's The Plot? After tasting success against the Galactic Empire, the Rebel Alliance grows in confidence and strength to continue fighting. Luke Skywalker, meanwhile, learns more about the Force from Master Yoda on his quest to become a Jedi.

Why It's Worth Revisiting: No one expected the sequel to surpass the quality of 1977's Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope. However, Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back upped the ante by expanding the world and lore, adding more character motivations, and injecting more sci-fi action than anyone could have imagined. This movie didn't only set the bar for what sequels should be; it also became the standard of what a blockbuster should strive to achieve. Many fans consider it the best Star Wars film.

How '80s Is This Movie? The "I am your father" plot twist was truly shocking. Nowadays, people groan when villains reveal themselves to be related to protagonists.

What's The Plot? Scientist Wayne Szalinski (Rick Moranis) builds a shrinking machine in his home's attic. After a baseball accident turns on the machine one day, Szalinksi's children, along with those of the neighbors, are shrunk down to insect size. Now they must traverse a variety of perilous situations in their current state to find a way back to safety and their normal size.

Why It's Worth Revisiting: Watching the kids face off against dangerous insects and embark on a life-changing adventure never gets old. Because Honey, I Shrunk the Kids made use of more practical effects in its production, it aged like a fine wine rather than milk. In addition, the film kickstarted a whole franchise where everyone gets shrunk or blown up in the end. Basically, it's like Ant-Man, but without the annoying Marvel tropes.

How '80s Is This Movie? Kids playing in the backyard, speaking to each other, and not using electronic devices - what prehistoric era is this?

What's The Plot? The adventurer Indiana Jones returns! This time, an Indian village asks him to retrieve a magical stone and children taken by a menacing and dangerous cult hidden under the catacombs of a palace.

Why It's Worth Revisiting: If viewers thought Raiders of the Lost Ark was a nail-biter, nothing could prepare them for the dangers of Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom. Featuring more imaginative sequences, mysticism, and moments of heart-stopping action, many fans consider it an improvement on the first Indiana Jones film. Even Quentin Tarantino cites it as his favorite in the series and second-favorite Steven Spielberg movie after Jaws.

How '80s Is This Movie? Temple of Doom taps into the era of “Satanic Panic” by including elements of black magic and human sacrifice that must have had some parents reaching for their crucifixes.

What's The Plot? Nelwyn farmer and aspiring magician Willow Ufgood (Warwick Davis) embarks on a journey to take foretold baby princess Elora Danan to the Daikini people. However, the wicked queen Bavmorda (Jean Marsh) wants to destroy the princess, so Willow and his companions must protect her from evil forces. 

Why It's Worth Revisiting: From the mind of George Lucas and directed by Ron Howard, Willow dazzles as a classic fantasy story. Featuring magic, fairytale creatures, and an affable lead in the form of Davis, it lures viewers into an enchanting world they never want to leave. It's also the kind of film that holds a strong rewatchable quality decades later.

How '80s Is This Movie? From the shoehorned romance to the fake-out villain death, Willow features every '80s trope under the sun.

What's The Plot? While walking through the woods, 12-year-old David Freeman (Joey Cramer) is knocked out cold. He wakes up eight years in the future, but he's the same age he was before. It turns out David had an alien experience that might be the key to unraveling this mystery as well as the spaceship NASA has discovered.

Why It's Worth Revisiting: Flight of the Navigator stands out as a family-friendly sci-fi film that makes for breezy and entertaining viewing. The special effects were also revolutionary and mind-blowing at the time, as viewers thought filmmaking couldn't get any better than this 1986 gem. In the years since its release, it developed a major cult following that's lasted for decades.

How '80s Is This Movie? The concept of meeting aliens and showing them our planet was all the rage in the '80s. Nowadays, many people would gladly board a spaceship to get away from the embarrassment known as Earth.

What's The Plot? Three happy bachelors find their lives turned upside-down when a baby appears outside their New York apartment. The little girl turns out to be one of their children, and they must learn how to develop parental qualities - fast.

Why It's Worth Revisiting: Throw Steve Guttenberg, Ted Danson, and Tom Selleck into a film with a baby and hijinks follow. The gags unfold thick and fast, as the men are so out of their element looking after a baby and struggling with the basics of childcare. Audiences seemed to agree about the humor, as Three Men and a Baby became the highest-grossing film of 1987.

How '80s Is This Movie? The concept of a single man (never mind three!) being able to look after a baby seemed unthinkable in the '80s - so much so that it got turned into a comedy franchise. Oh, how times have changed…

What's The Plot? Indiana Jones (Harrison Ford) learns his father Henry (Sean Connery) has disappeared searching for the Holy Grail. Not only does Indy need to race against time to find his father, but he must also deal with those horrible Nazis again, as they also want to get their grubby paws on the Grail.

Why It's Worth Revisiting: Face the facts: Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade was the last great Indiana Jones movie. Everything since then hasn't matched the quality of what came before it. In between all the action and adventure, this flick also tells the heartwarming story of a father and son bonding through shared adversity. The swashbuckler also turned out to be the highest-grossing picture of 1989.

How '80s Is This Movie? The addition of River Phoenix playing a younger version of Indiana Jones certainly gave it a tangy taste of the decade.

What's The Plot? After no one believes Dorothy Gale (Fairuza Balk) about the existence of a magical world somewhere over the rainbow, she returns to the Land of Oz, only to find it in ruins. Soon she discovers the evil Nome King reigns supreme over Oz, having kidnapped the Scarecrow, and it's up to Dorothy and her pals to stop the monster.

Why It's Worth Revisiting: The original Wizard of Oz (of 1939) spits out so much color and joy that it feels like a unicorn threw up to make it. Return to Oz plays out more like a horror flick, with its twisted imagery and sinister storytelling that keeps the viewer intrigued about the fate of Oz and its characters. Even though it proved to be a box office flop, it's a must-watch cult classic for any fan of dark fantasy.

How '80s Is This Movie? Only an '80s movie could make a villain out of claymation and not feel like some kind of bizarre fever dream.

What's The Plot? When 12-year-old Joshua “Josh” Baskin (Tom Hanks) is told he's too short to ride the Super Loops, he makes a wish at a fortune-telling machine to be bigger. He wakes up the next morning taller - but also an adult! Expectedly, hilarity ensues as a boy deals with being trapped in a man's body.

Why It's Worth Revisiting: As far as wish fulfillment films go, Big stands tall - pardon the pun - as one of the better ones because of its charming performances. It earned Hanks a Best Actor nomination at the 1989 Academy Awards, while also establishing him as a credible box office draw. In the end, Big earned $151.6 million from a $18 million budget, ensuring that all the studio executives made snow angels in the piles of profit garnered from the flick.

How '80s Is This Movie? It has Hanks it in - a common thread in many films on this list. If aliens visited Earth in the ‘80s, they might’ve thought he was the world's representative, judging by how many movies he appeared in.

What's The Plot? Roger Rabbit hires private investigator Eddie Valiant (Bob Hoskins) to follow his wife, Jessica, whom he suspects of having an affair with Marvin Acme. When Marvin ends up dead, however, Roger is the No. 1 suspect because of the motive. But who framed Roger Rabbit?

Why It's Worth Revisiting: Despite the toon setting and slapstick humor, Who Framed Roger Rabbit possesses a compelling murder-mystery premise that keeps the audience guessing about what will happen. The sharply written dialogue and strong performances elevate this picture from ordinary to extraordinary in the end. And special credit goes to Christopher Lloyd, who played the terrifying Judge Doom.

How '80s Is This Movie? Who Framed Roger Rabbit broke the mold by blending animation and live-action actors. However, this novel concept was soon copied copiously thereafter.

What's The Plot? Against his will, Detective Scott Turner (Tom Hanks) adopts the slobbering but beautiful canine Hooch, trying to adjust to life with his new BFF and partner. At the same time, Hooch is the only witness to a murder, so Scott must learn to speak dog real quick.

Why It's Worth Revisiting: What isn't there to like about a film where the real star isn't Hanks, but a loveably lumbering Bordeaux mastiff named Beasley? Turner & Hooch proves itself to be a heartwarming and laugh-a-minute experience that appeals to every animal lover. In addition, Hanks and Beasley have more on-screen chemistry than many dual-human costars!

How '80s Is This Movie? Pairing man and man's best friend in a buddy-cop comedy is a hallmark of '80s filmmaking. However, this is one trend that should make a comeback. In fact, let's make a deal with the filmmaking gods to trade reality TV for more films featuring dogs in the lead.

What's The Plot? Teenage babysitter Christina “Chris” Parker (Elisabeth Shue) agrees to look after the neighbors' kids one evening, but when her friend Brenda finds herself in a pickle, Chris and the kids head out to find her. What follows is a madcap night of danger, adventure, and a ridiculous amount of hearty laughs.

Why It's Worth Revisiting: Adventures in Babysitting deserves to be considered a staple part of the teen comedy genre. It's never afraid to get outrageous or to push the characters into uncomfortable situations - they go through just about everything before the night is over. Additionally, this film marked the directorial debut of Chris Columbus, whom fans know and revere thanks to Home Alone, the first two Harry Potter films, and Mrs. Doubtfire.

How '80s Is This Movie? Its depiction of teen drama and romance could be pulled out of the playbook of Saved by the Bell.

What's The Plot? Programmer and video game developer Kevin Flynn (Jeff Bridges) gets sucked into a virtual world and forced to battle against the rogue Master Control Program. However, the security protocol known as Tron comes to Kevin's aid as he tries to overcome the dastardly MCP and all its death traps.

Why It's Worth Revisiting: Tron is one of the first films to use CGI extensively. While the sequences look dated now due to the evolution of technology, it's important to note how seminal this was to the future of film when it was released in 1982. Additionally, this is an original and thrilling adventure movie that started off the Tron franchise. Sure, it might not have the Daft Punk soundtrack of its sequel, but let that slide.

How '80s Is This Movie? The fact that every futuristic game looks like Pong on the Atari.

What's The Plot? As a child, a drowning Allen Bauer (Tom Hanks) is saved by a mermaid. Years later, he falls in the same spot in the sea, and what do you know? He's saved again by the same mermaid! She then swims to New York City, where she poses as a human known as Madison (Daryl Hannah), and they find each other on land this time. Of course, they fall in love in this literal fish-out-of-water story. 

Why It's Worth Revisiting: It's a riff on The Little Mermaid as Splash proves love conquers all - even when people technically fall in love with fish. Both Hanks and Hannah put in believable performances as the couple and convince the audience to root for their star-crossed, forbidden love. The only thing missing is a singing crab who boasts about a better life under the sea.

How '80s Is This Movie? A mermaid in New York City - seriously? Would she even be able to handle the putrid stench and swim through all the garbage chucked into the water?