The '80s were a great decade for Hollywood that audiences absolutely stellar movies including such iconic hits as The Breakfast Club, The Goonies, and Who Framed Roger Rabbit. However, it was also one of the genre-defining decades for the sci-fi genre, especially those films concerning aliens, space travel, and extraterrestrial life forms.
Whether the movies in question concerned alien planets, humans making first contact with an interstellar race, or strange beings arriving on Earth and walking amongst them, the genre went through a sort of Renaissance on the subject. The '80s brought forth an age of big hair and spandex, but they also introduced viewers to the likes of E.T., the Predator, and Ewoks.
*Batteries Not Included (6.6)
It can be said that *batteries not included mainly received such a low ranking due to its lesser-known status. However, if sci-fi fans are willing to give it a chance, they will expose themselves to an insanely delightful and charming take on UFOs.'
Produced by Steven Spielberg and written by Brad Bird, this film concerning tiny floating robots from another planet had all the right ingredients for a whimsical and entertaining sci-fi story. It's an underrated and underappreciated gem that more viewers and fans of the genre should watch.
Spaceballs (7.1)
To say that Star Wars wasn't a cultural phenomenon of the decade would be untrue. It was only a matter of time before Hollywood started releasing parities of the famous science-fiction franchise, but Mel Brooks's take on George Lucas's space opera feels like both a love letter and a satire of the famous film series.
In this parody of A New Hope, viewers are introduced to Lone Star, Barf, Princess Vespa, Lord Helmet, and more in Brook's witty and hilarious Spaceballs. References to Star Wars and the sci-fi genre in general are tossed around and coated in Brooks' personal brand of comedic genius, making it a must-watch for fans of the series.
E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial (7.2)
Steven Spielberg has often been considered one of the greatest directors of all time, but the man definitely has a certain penchant for alien films. So of course he would have sunk his teeth into the '80s blossoming film environment.
While his first foray into the genre was 1977's Close Encounters of the Third Kind, E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial was arguably what made him a household name. The sci-fi fairytale concerning a young boy's friendship with a lost space alien is a beautiful piece of film history that continues to charm and enchant audiences even today.
They Live (7.2)
Some alien movies are charming, some are funny, some are both, but things get pretty intense whenever they become the subject of the horror genre. John Carpenter was one of the biggest names in film in the '80s, and his horror commentary, They Live, was both an incredible action movie and a product of the era.
The idea of Rowdy Roddy Piper and Keith David squaring up with an invasive alien race feeding off the minds of unsuspecting humans might sound a bit far-fetched, but it works. It's a horror-comedy that addresses both the effects of overzealous consumerism, but it also answers the question of what would happen if aliens succeeded in their invasion of earth.
Star Trek II: The Wrath Of Khan (7.7)
It's corny, it's over-the-top, and it's practically responsible for one of the most notorious memes in internet lore, but it was an iconic piece of science-fiction that captured fans of the iconic Star Trek series. Kirk, Spock, and the rest of the crew of the Enterprise are forced to battle one of the evilest entities in the universe.
It might not have aged as well as some would think, but the film did turn a guest character on the series into one of the most infamous and powerful villains in the sci-fi genre. It definitely made a name for itself in the genre and in the worlds of Star Trek as well.
Predator (7.8)
The '80s were a great year to be an action movie hero, and Predator is one of the finest examples. Easily one of Arnold Schwartzenegger's finest films, the movie sees the iconic action star as Dutch, who must use his survival skills and wits as an alien threat ambushes him and his comrades in the Amazonian jungles.
The Predator is one of sci-fi's most ruthless and vicious alien species, and even the Governator had a hard time fighting him. It kills for pleasure, it hunts for sport, and it poses a violent threat to Dutch and his team of special operatives. It'll take more than a heavy arsenal of weapons to put this killer from beyond the stars down.
The Thing (8.2)
Once more, John Carpenter displays his practiced gift for science fiction with his eerie horror masterpiece, The Thing. Based on The Thing From Another World, Carpenter gave the world a new breed of suspense when a shapeshifting alien crashed outside an arctic expedition.
The Thing was one of the most horrifying creatures to grace the silver screen back when it first premiered, and its practical effects were what made it an icon of the sci-fi horror genre. With its isolated setting and claustrophobic atmosphere, it practically redefined the alien invader archetype.
Star Wars: Return Of The Jedi (8.3)
Star Wars will always be a giant of the sci-fi genre, and there are more than a few reasons to back up that claim. But what the sequels did to improve on the standard set by A New Hope was vastly expand the worlds and planets that made up the galaxy far, far away. From Wookies to Ewoks, moviegoers were introduced to vast populations of alien lifeforms. And they all came together for one final stand against the Empire in Return of the Jedi.
From the various examples of scum and villainy that inhabit tattooing to the furry friends found on the forest moon of Endor, there are certainly more than a few delightful alien characters to enjoy in this entry into the Star Wars mythos. It was definitely a great way to end the original trilogy.
Aliens (8.4)
The original Alien proved that one Xenomorph was an absolute nightmare in space, but its sequel upped the ante and proposed the scenario of what would happen if there was a whole nest of them. With a title so ambiguous as Aliens, it would have to take a lot of sci-fi carnage to win fans over.
Taking a more action-focused route with its delivery, the sequel to Ridley Scott's 1979 predecessor delivered one of the most iconic alien films in cinema. The monsters were menacing, the quotes were memorable, and the performances were absolutely out of this world. In short, it was a brilliant blend of genres that made for one of the most enjoyable sequels for a sci-fi franchise.
Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back (8.7)
On the subject of sequels, George Lucas truly had his work cut out for him when following up his original Star Wars film with a second entry. Fortunately for him, and the viewers by extension, the original film was enough of a success to find an even more exciting sequel.
It was this film that gave cinema characters like Yoda, Lando Calrissian, and the infamous Boba Fett. The Empire Strikes Back allowed the filmmakers to further develop and expand the galaxy, introducing new races of creatures, friends, and foes as Luke, Han, Chewie, and the rest of their friends battled the forces of evil.