Whether we like to admit it or not, every one of us likes a bit of romance to spice up our daily lives. You may like the unrealistic aspect of the romance on screen, or you may use them as a tool to escape the scrutinizing reality; whatever the case may be, what better way to wind down after an exhausting day than to watch the over-the-top sappy romantic movies from the 80s?
Actors like Nicolas Cage, Patrick Swayze, Julia Roberts, and Meg Ryan all owe big thanks to the abundance of romantic movies that were produced in the 80s and subsequently gave them the chance to enter the big Hollywood scene. Although there were many classics to choose from, take a look at our compiled list of the best 80s romantic movies, ranked
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8 Dirty Dancing (1987)
Vestron Pictures
Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey take us to the dance floor in this romantic drama movie. The plot is centered around a summer resort for rich families, more specifically the Houseman family and their daughter Frances “Baby”, who falls in love with a dance instructor Johnny Castle. It’s your perfect story of forbidden love, where money and age make a whole lot of difference. Grossing over $214 million worldwide, Dirty Dancing is the Top Gun of dancing movies. It may come off as a surprise, but there is actually a Dirty Dancing sequel in production with Grey reprising her role.
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7 Terms of Endearment (1983)
Paramount Pictures
Terms of Endearment was a major commercial success, grossing over $165 million at the box office and winning five Academy Awards: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actress (for Shirley MacLaine), Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Supporting Actor (for Jack Nicholson). It tells the story of a mother and her daughter, their mutual relationship, and their desperate need to find love. Although the movie is centered on a mother-daughter relationship, there’s no denying that the romances and plot will make you cry every single time.
6 Pretty In Pink (1986)
Pretty In Pink is a cult classic among the lovers of teen romance movies. Directed by Howard Deutch, the plot focuses on the social cliques in an American high school, more specifically on a teen girl who has to choose between her childhood sweetheart and a rich, sensitive boy. Commonly defined as a “Brat Pack” movie, due to the same actors appearing together in teen romance movies, Pretty In Pink has some of the most memorable best friends in teen romance, with its focus on unrequited love.
5 Arthur (1981)
Orion Pictures
Earning over $95 million domestically, Arthur became fourth-highest-grossing movie of 1981. The plot is centered on a billionaire named Arthur who must marry someone arranged for him because of money, but ends up falling in love with an ordinary, working-class woman. He has to decide whether to marry for money or for love. It’s definitely one of those re-watchable movies due to Arthur’s sweetness and hilarious humor — although it does make you realize that alcoholism and drunk driving isn’t as funny as this movie make it out to be.
4 Tootsie (1982)
Columbia Pictures
Selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry, Tootsie has become a culturally significant artifact in the American culture. This romantic comedy focuses on a talented but volatile actor, who adopts a new identity of a woman to get an acting job. Starring Dustin Hoffman, the movie became the second most profitable of 1982. The movie does indeed have some problematic parts, but it’s still considered one of the most iconic movies of the 80s.
3 When Harry Met Sally (1989)
An all-time classic that we cannot miss including on our list is certainly a romantic comedy When Harry Met Sally. The story follows 12 years of chance encounters between two characters and tries resolving the ever unanswered question: can a man and a woman be just friends? Of course, they can, but this movie does not prove it. Meg Ryan was definitely the queen of rom-coms back in the 80s and 90s. But, this one in particular captures every human emotion just perfectly. You can definitely feel that the romance is written by a woman (Nora Ephron).
2 Big (1988)
20th Century Studios
Although some may not consider this movie to be romantic, we had to include it on our list. Big became a pivotal moment in Tom Hanks’ career, labeling him as a major box-office actor. Both Hanks and the movie received nominations at the Academy Awards. The movie is centered around Josh Baskin, a young boy who magically becomes an adult overnight after making a wish and gets to experience adulthood firsthand with all types of love.
1 Sixteen Candles (1984)
Universal Pictures
What was supposed to be her sweet sixteen turns into a complete disaster. Basic plot for a coming-of-age movie, right? But it surprisingly works perfectly. High school sophomore Samantha is excited to celebrate her upcoming birthday, only to get forgotten by her own family. As the day progresses, everything gets even more embarrassing and disastrous; from turning tomato-red in front of the hottest guy in school because he says ‘hi’ to her to having to sleep on the couch on her birthday because Sam’s grandparents forget that she’s turning sixteen. As John Hughes’ directorial debut, Sixteen Candles received positive reviews.
