The 80s was an amazing decade for genre films. Almost everything Spielberg touched turned to gold, Star Wars was at a creative peak, James Cameron made his debut on the cinematic stage, and the hybrid sci-fi/horror genre bestowed the world with quite a few gems. In the decades since the '80s, certain science-fiction works have gone on to achieve all-time classic statuses, whilst others have faded in their luster over time.
In modern times, filmmakers are constantly going to the '80s sci-fi well for nostalgia and pastiche. We've updated our existing list of films that have stood the test of time, and others that are crumbling underneath its weight. Don't be fooled, however. Some of the entries on this list are quite good, despite their weathered exterior.
Updated on September 13th, 2020 by Derek Draven: As mentioned in our updated intro, we've added 5 more entries to our existing list of sci-fi films from the 1980s that have remained fantastic over the decades, and others who just can't keep up with the changing tides. Some might have started off well, only to lose their luster after the fact, while others have only become worse since their ill-fated debut.
Did Not Age Well: Highlander (1986)
Two things can be true at once - Highlander is an awesome film, and it also hasn't aged well. Part of its appeal is the unique concept of immortals who have been secretly battling each other throughout the centuries, unbeknownst to man. It's a timeless story of love, loss, tragedy, and triumph, with a few brutal beheadings thrown in for good measure.
This relatively low budget sci-fi cult classic is plagued with some unfortunate trappings, including bad sound editing and hokey plot twists. It's practically Citizen Kane compared to its sequel, but Highlander's visage has tarnished a bit over the last few decades.
Timeless: The Terminator (1984)
James Cameron's original breakout hit spawned an entire franchise and paved the way for not one, but two of the highest-grossing films of all time. Here, Cameron made the most of a low budget by playing every single card trick he learned under the tutelage of Roger Corman.
The result is a film that holds up perfectly, even to this day. Arnold Schwarzenegger's chilling performance as a killer cyborg is one for the ages, making The Terminator the perfect sci-fi horror film for people who love smart stories and believable characters.
Did Not Age Well: Masters Of The Universe (1987)
Gary Goddard spent much of 1987 working on the hit sci-fi TV show Captain Power & The Soldiers Of The Future, but he also directed the live-action adaptation of He-Man & The Masters Of The Universe. At the time, interest in the children's cartoon and toy property was starting to wane, but a silver screen treatment seemed like fair game.
Unfortunately, for all its bluster and bravado, Masters Of The Universe hasn't aged particularly well over the years. Dolph Lundgren is the perfect physical embodiment of He-Man, but he's relegated to the background whenever Frank Langella takes center stage as Skeletor. The decision to base most of the action on 1980s Earth was also a major miscalculation. While charming and entertaining in its own right, Masters Of The Universe continues to face an uphill battle with fans.
Timeless: Aliens (1986)
James Cameron scored not one, but two massive hits in the 1980s when he decided to take on sequel duties to Ridley Scott's iconic 1979 classic Alien. 20th Century Fox put (unheard of) faith in the young director on the back of runaway success of The Terminator, and it paid off. Cameron's decision to switch a horror movie for a combat film was a stroke of genius, without losing any of the frightening tension.
Aliens isn't better - it's different. Both films are diametrically opposed to one another in theme, but they are completely harmonious as logic chapters in a large story. It has more quotable lines than one can shake a stick at, plus intense firefights, multiple xenomorphs, and one truly terrifying Queen to obliterate audience expectations.
Did Not Age Well: Mac And Me (1988)
Steven Spielberg struck gold in 1982 with the runaway smash success of E.T. - The Extra Terrestrial, but it wouldn't be long before the corporate machine attempted to capitalize on its windfall. The result was Stewart Raffill's repulsive knockoff Mac And Me, featuring (you guessed it), a benevolent alien who befriends a young Earth boy.
Mac And Me is so bad that it holds a 0% critical rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with a 38% audience score, which is too kind. It remains one of the most loathed copycat films ever made, and blatant corporate product placement by McDonalds didn't help matters much, either. Thirty-plus years later, the film is practically radioactive.
Timeless: Akira (1988)
One of, if not, the greatest anime films of all time, Akira is truly an epic science-fiction masterpiece. Taking place in a futuristic version of Tokyo ("Neo-Tokyo"), Akira tells the story of a duo of teenage heroes who have to take on a dangerous biker who has been augmented by a government experiment.
The film's script is littered with intelligent dialogue and interesting speculative fiction topics, exceeded only by the film's visual palette and unique style. Riveting, beautiful, dark, and smart, Akira's cult-film hype is much deserved.
Did Not Age Well: Tron (1982)
Tron is not a bad film by any stretch of the imagination. In many ways, it has aged better than its 2010 sequel, Tron Legacy. That being said, the early computer-generated visuals of the film are undeniably dated. Without the application of nostalgia-goggles, parts of the film's more effects-heavy sequences can verge on laughable.
Additionally, video games have made exponential leaps since the film was released, leading to the titular game's mechanics also carrying a stamp of their time. Fun but inherently flawed, Tron will likely only continue to age in unflattering ways.
Timeless: Back to the Future (1985)
One of the most beloved films of all time, the original Back to the Future remains a classic. By not relying too heavily on the science-fiction concepts that drive the film's comedic narrative, the film is an accessible, crowd-pleasing comedy that everyone can get something out of.
After Marty McFly is sent back to the 1950s, he has a limited amount of time to ensure the timeline isn't erased. Michael J. Fox became a slacker icon with his portrayal of Marty, and the film became a massive hit with the box office, critics, and audiences. One of the decade's most creative and witty blockbusters.
Didn't Age Well: Leviathan/DeepStar Six (1989)
Yes, technically these are two separate films made by two separate crews of filmmakers. However, the two are similar in their aesthetics, bland storytelling, and generic sea creatures. Both films came out the same year as James Cameron's The Abyss, and thus were both largely written off as lesser knock-offs.
However, both Leviathan and DeepStar Six owe more to Ridley Scott's Alien than anything else. Both are lame sci-fi horrors set underwater in submarines wherein the crews of the vessels come into contact with malicious sea-dwelling monsters. The creature designs and puppetry are respectable in both cases, but almost everything else in them is forgettable.
Timeless: The Fly (1986)
Body horror maestro David Cronenberg's reinterpretation of the Vincent Price schlock thriller, The Fly, is one of the most uncompromisingly nasty mainstream releases of the decade. The film features Jeff Goldblum, in his best role, as Seth Brundle, a scientist who is experimenting with teleportation.
After he accidentally trades DNA with a common fly, Brundle begins to literally melt away into a truly disturbing human-fly hybrid. Cronenberg's sensibilities match the story perfectly, and the result is an intense and eerie look into the dangers of "playing God."
Didn't Age Well: Zapped! (1982)
The first film to appear on this list that can honestly be considered a "bad film," Zapped! is a raunchy teen-sleaze-fest from 1982 that starred Scott Baio as a dorky kid who gets telekinetic powers. What follows is an aimless and juvenile slog of bad writing and even worse acting.
Zapped!'s awkward treatment of the female anatomy and some truly offensive dialogue has caused the film to only depreciate further in value over the years. Thankfully, the film is mostly forgotten about.
Timeless: The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
It is inescapable. No matter who you talk to, the second theatrical film in the Star Wars franchise, The Empire Strikes Back, is one of the defining moments of the 1980s. Everything in the film works, all the major elements of great genre filmmaking are firing on all cylinders here.
The sequel takes the epic story of A New Hope and elevates it to even higher theatrical heights. Culminating in one of the most iconic climaxes of all time, The Empire Strikes Back is, indeed, one of the best sequels in film history.
Didn't Age Well: Xanadu (1980)
Unfortunately, the last onscreen appearance of Hollywood-hero Gene Kelly was this Olivia Newton-John vehicle. Thoroughly bizarre and lacking any charm, Xanadu's shoddy plot follows a struggling young man as he befriends Kelly's retired bandleader while in search for one of eight roller skating muses from a mural.
Only making less sense from there, the film's campy veneer has long since faded to reveal a misjudged effort with an irritating soundtrack that serves as a disappointing swan song for one of Hollywood's best musical leading men. The film maintains a cult-film status amongst fans of its glittery disco-drenched nonsense.
Timeless: Blade Runner (1982)
A perfect example of a film that has only continued to garner further acclaim over the 30-years since its release, Ridley Scott's Blade Runner is a cyberpunk slice of movie genius. A dark and contemplative sci-fi thriller that also happens to have some awe-inspiring action setpieces, the film has come to attain the title of "classic."
No matter which of the many cuts someone watches, the core excellence of the work remains intact. Harrison Ford is at his grumpy best here as a former detective investigating a noir-like series of eerily prescient operations in the shady world of androids. Brilliant and relevant, Blade Runner is a completely overwhelming experience.
Didn't Age Well: Howard the Duck (1986)
Howard the Duck is one of those legendarily terrible films that, in part thanks to his cameo in Guardians of the Galaxy, has garnered an endearing reputation as a "fun disaster." However, no retroactive cameo can disguise the fact that the Robert Zemeckis produced film is an unmitigated disaster.
Though it has its followers and devotees, the film's attempts at quirky humor is uncomfortable and poorly performed. Additionally, the titular fowl is tremendously obnoxious and all-around unpleasant to watch. The effects and script have only gone further and further out of taste since the movie's release, and Howard the Duck is likely to continue to sour.