Summary
- Some beloved '80s movies, like Escape from New York and They Live, would be ideal for a Netflix series, with each episode packed with action and excitement.
- Shows based on '80s films like RoboCop and Stand By Me would be a great opportunity to explore themes like law enforcement and growing up, while maintaining the dark and thrilling aspects of the original stories.
- Nostalgia for '80s culture in movies and TV shows is still strong, making now the perfect time for Netflix to adapt these beloved films into new series that capture the spirit of the originals.
The 1980s delivered some of the most beloved films of all time, but there are some special '80s movies perfect for a Netflix series. The '80s was the time when Hollywood really graduated into taking big risks, even without the possibility of a big pay-off. Several unconventional, genre-bending ideas were made into films that were ahead of their time or maybe just too real for mainstream audiences. From high-concept comedies to wild action movies to touching rom-coms, there are plenty of '80s movies that would be ideal for a television format.
In the golden age of serialized streaming, some of the unforgettable '80s movie premises need to make their way onto Netflix in an original show format, especially films that had to pack in quite a few dynamite storylines in just two hours. With nostalgia for '80s culture in movies and TV shows still going strong, these titles would certainly be in demand. Now is their time to enjoy a new format and Netflix seems to have the resources to make it happen.
25 Escape From New York (1981)
- Stream on Freevee
John Carpenter's Escape From New York delivered one of the greatest cinematic anti-heroes with Kurt Russell's Snake Plissken. The futuristic action movie found Plissken, a criminal, being forced by the government to rescue the President of the United States whose plane crashed in New York City which has become a massive prison island. While the movie is a fun setup for action on its own, having a show about Snake Plissken and his adventures as a futuristic outlaw sounds like a winning idea. Each episode or season could rank among Netflix's most action-packed releases.
24 They Live (1988)
- Stream on Starz
One of John Carpenter's best movies of the 1980s, They Live, would serve as a terrific show. The film is a sci-fi thriller with a great satirical sense of humor. The movie finds a blue-collar hero uncovering a vast conspiracy in which aliens live among humans in disguise, manipulating society through subliminal messaging. In the modern age of social media and podcasts being so influential on public thinking regardless of the facts, the concept seems ripe to explore again, making for a topical series as well as an exciting one.
23 RoboCop (1987)
- Stream on Prime Video
One of the best action movies of the 1980s would make a thrilling sci-fi crime series. RoboCop follows a dedicated police officer who is killed in the line of duty only to be brought back to life as a cyborg programmed to be the ultimate cop. The show could explore the evolution of law enforcement as well as A.I. taking over such an industry. It would also be a great mystery as RoboCop investigates his past life, his death, and the true purpose behind why he was built.
22 Clue (1985)
- Stream on Prime Video & Paramount Plus
Though it was not one of the biggest hits of the '80s, Clue has gained a cult following over the years and there are likely many fans who would jump at the chance to see it made into a television show. Based on the board game of the same name, Clue is a throwback to closed-door murder mysteries with a cast of colorful characters as suspects but told with a broad and wacky sense of humor. A show could go in a variety of different directions. It could be an anthology series similar to The White Lotus or follow a case-of-the-week format like Poker Face.
21 Big (1988)
- Stream on Disney Plus
Tom Hanks earned his first Oscar nomination for playing a kid in a grown man's body. Big follows a young boy who makes a wish to be big and wakes to find himself as an adult. The body swap concept is used to great effect here with a lot of fun being had with Hanks' character navigating the adult world with an immature yet enthusiastic young mind. While the show would not be highbrow entertainment, really embracing the ridiculousness of the concept could make for a great sitcom.
20 Stand By Me (1986)
- Stream on Tubi
There have been a few Stephen King adaptations that have been made into television shows, but it is somewhat surprising that Stand By Me was never attempted. The movie follows a group of young boys in the 1950s who set out on a summer adventure to locate the body of a local boy. There is a great sense of nostalgia to the story while also being a touching and insightful look at growing up. Adapting this as a drama series could use these qualities to create something really special while also maintaining some of the darker King aspects of the story.
19 Scarface (1983)
- Stream on Prime Video
Scarface's Tony Montana is one of the most popular movie protagonists of all time and he would be a fascinating subject to follow in a series. Al Pacino starred as Tony, a Cuban immigrant whose ruthlessness and boldness allowed him to rise up as the drug kingpin of Miami. Like Breaking Bad, a crime series could follow Tony's entry into the drug business, his rise to power, and how his ego leads to his downfall. While it would be hard to find someone to follow in Pacino's iconic footsteps in the role, it would be a thrilling series.
18 The Breakfast Club (1985)
- Stream on Netflix
The Breakfast Club is seen as the quintessential '80s teen movie. It follows a group of students, each coming from very different social circles in the school, who are forced to spend a day of weekend detention together. Through their time together, they learn they have more in common than they thought and that each of them is struggling with some unseen pain. A series could follow the real-time and isolated setting of the movie with each episode covering another hour in detention with a group of characters who highlight the lives and struggles of modern teens.
17 Back To The Future (1985)
- Stream on TBS, TNT, & TruTV
While it is probably a good thing Back to the Future 4 never happened, a series adaptation of the movie could be the right way to continue the franchise. The movie follows the time-traveling adventures of Marty McFly and Doc Brown. While remaking the original would be a mistake, the Back to the Future franchise has gone to the 1950s, into the future, and back to the Old West. The series could tackle a new era in time with each season as Marty and Doc attempt to set right the mistakes they've made to the timeline and make it home.
16 Dead Poets Society (1989)
- Stream on Tubi
One of Robin Williams' best movie roles is in Dead Poets Society, a school-set story that could make for a wonderful series. The movie follows a group of young men at a prestigious boarding school who are inspired by an unorthodox teacher (Robin Williams) who ignites their passion in poetry while also giving them confidence in themselves and to follow their other passions. Having a teen series that is less about relationships and fitting in and is more about the power of a good teacher could be a refreshing change for the genre with each season following a year at the school.
15 Top Gun (1986)
- Stream on Paramount Plus
While there may be a Top Gun 3 on the way, a series could be another avenue for the franchise to explore. The movie sets up a great new kind of school-set drama with the pilots of the TOPGUN academy competing in the skies to be the best. The movies always excelled at having fun with the ego clashes and the high-flying action while also making the relationships matter. It could be a thrilling show about the dangers these pilots face in the air and the drama they deal with on the ground.
14 Spaceballs (1987)
- Stream on Max
While there are a number of high-profile Star Wars shows out there, a parody of the beloved franchise could also make a great show. Spaceballs is a fan-favorite comedy from Mel Brooks that pokes fun at the original Star Wars trilogy with its silly and absurd humor. The Star Wars franchise has grown so much since then that there is endless material to have fun with. Getting Rick Moranis back as Dark Helmet would only make the idea of the series all the more appealing.
13 The Thing (1982)
- Rent on Vudu
Yet another John Carpenter movie is ready for the television treatment. The Thing is a sci-fi horror movie that follows a group of workers at an isolated research facility who find themselves in danger when a shape-shifting alien infiltrates the group. Perhaps the best way to tackle a series would be as a sequel to the original movie. The Thing's ending was ambiguous but left the possibility that the alien would survive. The show could follow the human heroes attempting to stop the alien as it makes its way further into the real world and begins to take over.
12 Working Girl (1988)
- Stream on Prime Video
In an ideal world, Working Girl would be a serialized show about how Melanie Griffith calls out sketchy bosses and exploitative work cultures across corporate America. But now is the perfect time to make a show that can explore gender dynamics in the modern workplace, and maybe even star Griffith's superstar daughter Dakota Johnson as the lead. Working Girl was an iconic film because it was so ahead of its time and was ready to have a discussion that people weren't and that's the kind of energy everyone needs when it comes to binge-watching content.
11 Labyrinth (1986)
- Stream on Hulu
While television musicals can be hard to pull off, the fantasy fun of Labyrinth seems worth exploring further on the small screen. The movie follows a young girl whose infant brother is taken by the Goblin King (David Bowie) into his realm where she must travel to get him back. The 1986 film was inspired by conceptual sketches by fantasy illustrator Brian Froud and that gives the makers a lot of room to play around with the themes and design and add quirky graphics. If the show is willing to commit to the puppet characters and the surreal style, it could be a special entry into the fantasy genre.
10 Raging Bull (1980)
- Stream on Max
It's unclear why this fantastic study of masculinity hasn’t received the in-depth, serialized treatment yet, but if someone does decide to work on the audacious material, Jake LaMotta’s story could make for a timely look at the concept of manhood, especially through a contemporary lens. Martin Scorsese’s Raging Bull was praised for its complex approach toward fame and glory, especially because the celebrated lightweight boxer doesn’t fit the stereotypical mold of a sports hero. Moreover, Netflix doesn’t have a lot of legitimate sports-led dramas that can offer a no-nonsense look at the industry of that time.
9 A Nightmare On Elm Street (1984)
- Stream on Max
A Nightmare on Elm Street introduced Freddy Kruger, one of the most iconic villains in the horror movie genre. The movie follows a group of kids who are tormented by Kruger who is able to enter their dreams and kill them in the real world. Given Stranger Things season 4's villain Vecna and the appearance of Robert Englund in the series, it is easy to see how effective a horror series about a group of young heroes taking on a supernatural villain could be.
8 Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986)
- Stream on Netflix & Paramount Plus
The world needs a new Ferris Bueller, the charismatic and mischievous high schooler who took full advantage of a day off school. The show probably wouldn’t be about a day off and doesn’t have to be set in the 80s, but there was an element of breezy innocence in the film that is hugely missing from new high school-focused shows, possibly because students really do have bigger problems today. A new Ferris Bueller show could explore the lighter side of the school-going experience and Gen-Z’s camaraderie with their teachers.
7 When Harry Met Sally (1989)
- Stream on Prime Video
When Harry Met Sally is seen as one of the great rom-coms of all time, starring Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan as two people whose friendship grows over time, making way for something new. It’s a great movie, but the premise is designed for the serialized treatment. Two people who share an obvious connection and keep running into each other but never seem to get their timing right is something that could be really interesting to watch in the Tinder age. Some fundamental elements would obviously need a facelift if a When Harry Met Sally show is to be made in this era, but that is also why this plot needs to be made into a show.
6 The Untouchables (1987)
- Stream on Showtime
Shows like Boardwalk Empire and Peaky Blinders have had great success exploring crime stories of the past, both of which featured or referenced the notorious gangster Al Capone. That makes The Untouchables an ideal idea for a show, especially since Brian De Palma's movie is based on a show in the first place. The movie didn't feel beholden to historical accuracy, instead being more concerned with telling a thrilling crime story about a group of law enforcement officers trying to take down Capone. The show could similarly play fast and loose with the facts while being the next great gangster show.