The1980sleft a lasting mark on popular culture through itsvarious iconic films, television, and music scenes. Many classic hits that were remade or rebooted in the modern era originated from the 1980s, includingTop Gun, The Little Mermaid,andIndiana Jones. However, the kid-oriented films of this decade particularly stand out, as they ended up becoming lasting classics that kids today can enjoy while their parents reminisce in nostalgic glory.
The entries on the list stand out from other films released during the decade for many reasons. Some were genre-defining films, while others became instant classics. Some found major success at the box office, while some even became the highest-grossing film of their respective year of release. Many of these films were even selected by the Library of Congress for preservation in the United States National Film Registry, due to their status of being “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.” Without further delay, here are the 20 best 80s kids movies ever made.
Updated Aug 25, 2025: This article has been updated with additional information and useful features.
20The Goonies (1985)
The Goonies
Released theatrically in 1985,The Gooniesis an adventure comedy film starring Sean Astin, Jeff Cohen, Corey Feldman, Kerri Green, Martha Plimpton, and Ke Huy Quan. Based on a story by Steven Spielberg, the film follows a group of kids living in the “Goon Docks” of Astoria, Oregon. In an attempt to save their homes from foreclosure, they discover an old treasure map that leads them on an adventure to unearth a long-lost treasure. However, their discovery draws the attention of a criminal family who want the treasure for themselves.
The Goonies Is an Iconic Cult Film
Though it may not be as widely-recognized nowadays,The Goonieswould be an instrumental film in the early careers of Sean Astin, Corey Feldman, and Josh Brolin. The sheer number of child actors here should’ve doomedThe Gooniesto failure, yet they somehow create a set of performances that are not only convincing, but genuinely compelling on top of it.Ke Huy Quan even had a lead roleinTemple of Doomonly a year prior toThe Goonies, having played the comic relief character of Short Round. Director Richard Donner would later go on to direct the widely-recognized buddy cup film franchise,Lethal Weapon, towards the latter half of the 1980s.
Buy or Rent on Prime Video
19Back to the Future (1985)
Back to the Future
Back to the Future follows teenager Marty McFly as he is inadvertently sent back to 1955, where he disrupts his parents' meeting. With the assistance of eccentric inventor Doc Brown, Marty must restore the timeline by ensuring his parents fall in love and find a way back to 1985.
Starring Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd, Lea Thompson, Crispin Glover, and Thomas F. Wilson,Back to the Futureis a science fiction film released in 1985. Set in the same year it was released, the film follows teenager Marty McFly as he is sent back in time via a time-traveling DeLorean car constructed by Emmett “Doc” Brown. Now stuck in 1955, Marty accidentally prevents his parents from falling in love, forcing him to get them back together before he is subsequently wiped away from existence.
Back to the Future Popularized the DeLorean
As memorable as it was original,Back to the Futurewas a staple of many childhoods throughout the 1980s, due in part to the terrific lead performance by Michael J. Fox, and the unique premise made more intense with dramatic stakes. The film also had a hand in turning the infamous DMC DeLorean car, a vehicle once mocked for its bizarre features, into a coveted piece of cinematic history. Of course, we can’t mentionBack to the Futurewithout also mentioning thefantastic score provided by Alan Silvestri, whose compositions made the film’s most memorable scenes truly pop.
18Ghostbusters (1984)
Ghostbusters
Ghostbustersis a 1984 supernatural comedy film starring Bill Murray as Peter Venkman, Dan Aykroyd as Ray Stantz, and Harold Ramis as Egon Spengler. After being kicked out of university, these three friends form the “Ghostbusters,” an unconventional business where they rid New York City of paranormal phenomena when needed – for a price. Sigourney Weaver and Rick Moranis also star, with Annie Potts, Ernie Hudson, and William Atherton starring in supporting roles.
Ghostbusters Is an All-Time Classic Comedy
Whether you grew up with the original film, its numerous animated series, or any combination of the two,Ghostbusterswouldn’t be where it is without the incredible talent attached to the production. With a script penned by both Harold Ramis and Dan Aykroyd, along with memorable scenes featuring Bill Murray and Ernie Hudson,Ghostbustersmelded the supernatural with super hilarityin a way you’ll rarely find nowadays. Even if it wasn’t necessarily a movie made for kids, that didn’t stop them from swarming in to see the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man wreaking havoc.
17The NeverEnding Story (1984)
The Neverending Story
Released in 1984,The NeverEnding Storyis a fantasy film directed by Wolfgang Petersen as his first English-language film. It is based on Michael Ende’s 1979 novel of the same name, and stars Noah Hathaway, Barret Oliver, Tami Stronach, Patricia Hayes, Sydney Bromley, Gerald McRaney, Moses Gunn, and Alan Oppenheimer. The film follows a boy who finds a magical book, one that tells a dramatic tale of good overcoming evil in the magical world of Fantasia.
The NeverEnding Story Took Bold Risks
Despite the disparity between the film’s title and its finite length,The NeverEnding Storywould become an iconic piece of 1980s filmmaking for many kids, making it perfect fodder for amodern-day reboot. Whether its success was due to its imaginative characters, its willingness to venture into darker territory, or its surprisingly bold storytelling, is up for debate. The film would even become the subject of numerous pop culture parodies over the years, with references in bothThe SimpsonsandRobot Chickenlending it more credence as a 1980s staple.
16The Karate Kid (1984)
The Karate Kidis a 1984 martial arts drama filmstarring Ralph Macchio, Pat Morita, Elisabeth Shue, and William Zabka. It follows Daniel LaRusso, an Italian-American teenager who moves with his widowed mother to Los Angeles. LaRusso quickly becomes a target for bullying from the locals, including Johnny Lawrence, the ex-boyfriend of LaRusso’s love interest. As a result, LaRusso learns karate from Mr. Miyagi, a war veteran, so he can learn to defend himself in a karate tournament against his bullies.
The Karate Kid Lives On
You could argue that a handful of elements inThe Karate Kidmeld together to form a 1980s classic. Maybe it’s the incorporation of Pat Morita as Mr. Miyagi, whose subdued performance lent his character an authentic aura of wisdom. Maybe it’s the similarities toRockythat are found throughout, where an underdog learns to improve himself via martial arts. Maybe it’s the over-the-top nature of the film’s villains, with William Zabka’s Johnny Lawrence in particular taking the cake. Whatever the case may be,The Karate Kidis a film whose differing elements combine into a compelling whole, making bank at the box office while also leaving an enduring influence on pop culture as a whole.
Buy or Rent on Apple TV
10 TV Shows Every ‘80s Kid Remembers
While the invention of VHS made watching movies at home more affordable during the ’80s, television continued to thrive.
15Stand by Me (1986)
Stand by Me
Released in 1986,Stand by Meis a coming-of-age dramabased on Stephen King’s 1982 novella,The Body. Set in 1959 and taking place in the fictional town of Castle Rock, Oregon,Stand by Mefollows four boys who go on a dangerous journey to find a dead body. Wil Wheaton, River Phoenix, Corey Feldman, and Jerry O’Connell star as Gordie Lachance, Chris Chambers, Teddy Duchamp, and Vern Tessio, respectively, with Kiefer Sutherland as John “Ace” Merrill.
Stand by Me Was a Perfect Coming-Of-Age Film
Though not necessarily a “kids” movie by a typical definition,Stand by Meis no less a film many kids saw during the 1980s. Corey Feldman continued his prolific film career here alongside Wil Wheaton, and the film itself would secure an Academy Award nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay. Rob Reiner takes King’s original novella, a story made more unique by its aversion to outright horror, and turns it into one of the most captivating coming-of-age films ever made, a film tailor-made for the transition between childhood and adulthood.
Stream on Netflix
14Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)
Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark
Raiders of the Lost Arkis a 1981 action-adventure film directed by Steven Spielberg, based on an original story by George Lucas and Philip Kaufman. It is the first in theIndiana Jonesfranchise, and stars Harrison Ford as Indiana Jones, with Karen Allen and Paul Freeman in supporting roles. The film follows an adventurous archaeologist racing against Nazi forces in 1936, as he tries to uncover the long-lost Ark of the Covenant — an ancient artifact which is rumored to contain incredible power. Since its release, there have beenfour more filmsin theIndiana Jonesfranchise, with the latest one being released in 2023.
Raiders of the Lost Ark Is a Classic Adventure Film
BeforeTemple of Doomwould play a hand in establishing content ratings for the film industry as a whole,Raiders of the Lost Arkis likely the most kid-friendly of the widerIndiana Jonesfranchise — minus theinfamously horrifying face-melting scene, of course. Everything leading up to that, however, was a brilliant modernization of the adventure serials of old, with Harrison Fold finding a new home in the role of the titular Indiana Jones. His enthusiasm for portraying the character made theIndiana Jonesfilms as a whole a blast to watch.
Stream on Disney+
13Honey, I Shrunk the Kids (1989)
Starring Rick Moranis, Matt Frewer, Marcia Strassman, and Kristine Sutherland,Honey, I Shrunk the Kidsis a comedic science fiction film released in 1989. The filmfollows a struggling inventorwho does exactly what the title suggests, accidentally shrinking both his own children and those of his neighbors to miniature size. After being accidentally thrown out with the trash, getting back to normal size is fraught with all the dangers you’d come to expect from a suburban backyard.
Honey, I Was a Box Office Success
The film was an unexpected box office success, becoming one of the highest-grossing live-action Disney films for a time. Though its success seems modest compared to Disney’s modern offerings,Honey, I Shrunk the Kidswas popular enough to spawn two feature-length sequels in addition to a full-blown theme park attraction, the latter usually being reserved for the best of the best that Disney has to offer. It’s certainly an impressive accolade. Director Joe Johnston would utilize the success of this film in his future films, withThe Rocketeer,Jumanji, andCaptain America: The First Avengerbeing other notable high points in his filmography.
12The Princess Bride (1987)
The Princess Bride
The Princess Brideis a fantasy adventure comedy film that was released in 1987. The film stars Cary Elwes, Robin Wright, Mandy Patinkin, Chris Sarandon, Wallace Shawn, Andre the Giant, and Christopher Guest. The film is adapted from William Goldman’s 1973 novel of the same name, telling the story of the adventurous farmer Westley as he attempts to rescue Princess Buttercup from Prince Humperdinck.
The Princess Bride Is Beloved Nowadays
While the film saw moderate success at the box office, it has since gained a cult following, and is considered one of the best movies of the 80s. It’s for good reason. Aside from featuring a unique premise, Rob Reiner’s direction allows Cary Elwes and Robin Wright to truly shine with someimpressively memorable quotes. Even Andre the Giant, whose health concerns and scheduling conflicts threw a few hurdles into the production, stands out as a memorable performer throughout.
11Gremlins (1984)
Gremlinsis a 1984 comedy horror film starring Zach Galligan, Phoebe Cates, Hoyt Axton, Polly Holliday, and Frances Lee McCain. The story follows a young man who receives a “mogwai,” a supernatural creature, as a pet, with a strict set of rules to always follow for its care. However, when the rules are broken, the mogwai multiplies into small, destructive, mischievous gremlins that wreak havoc on Christmas Eve.
Gremlins Is a Violent Holiday Classic
Arguably one of the biggest oddities to come out of the decade in terms of its premise,Gremlinscombines slapstick comedy and violencein such a way that it resembles a PG-13Looney Tunescartoon instead of a toned-down cut ofEvil Dead. The violence depicted did cause a bit of a stir at the time, especially when paired withTemple of Doom, but you could argue that it made the surrounding film work more effectively as a result. The Gremlins themselves are horrible monsters, and their risqué antics — along with their equally grisly demises — make for a film that’s equally entertaining and tense.
