In terms of movies, the 1980s were full of incredible works. There were movies with intense action like Die Hard and Rambo; captivating adventures like Indiana Jones, coming-of-age stories like The Breakfast Club and Pretty in Pink; and other mega-hits like Top Gun, Footloose, and Gremlins.
The ‘80s are an instantly recognizable decade, from the music to the fashion and overall vibe. And while the ‘80s occurred more than 30 years ago, the decade still reigns supreme today, as ‘80s nostalgia is overwhelmingly prevalent in modern media.
There are countless movies from the ‘80s that were not only major hits at the time of their release, but also remain popular today. The decade seemed to touch just about every genre and produce a slew of hits, one of those genres being thrillers.
While the movies made in the ‘80s certainly weren’t as technologically advanced as what we see in theaters today, there were still several that managed to evoke undeniable chills and thrills. In a way, something about the stripped-down nature of ‘80s film production — as opposed to the tech of today — is part of what makes some of the thrillers from the ‘80s so believable and successful.
There are countless ‘80s thrillers that have made a lasting impression on the genre, but here are six of the best.
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6 Fatal Attraction (1987)
Paramount Pictures
This psychological thriller premiered in 1987, starring acclaimed actors Michael Douglas (Falling Down) and Glenn Close (101 Dalmatians). It’s about Dan Gallagher (Douglas), a married man who has a weekend affair with a woman named Alex (Close) who becomes obsessed with him and won’t leave him alone. Fatal Attraction was a big box office success and went on to be nominated for several Academy Awards including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Actress.
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Close’s character has been used as an example when psychiatrists discuss borderline personality disorder, a condition Close’s character quite effectively portrays. While the movie has received some criticism over the years because of its portrayal of mental health, it still stands out as one of the great, recognizable thrillers from the ’80s. The suspense and tension of having a relentless stalker is a chilling plot that hasn’t lost its touch.
5 Clue (1985)
Paramount Pictures Studios
This comedic mystery brought the popular board game Clue to life on the big screen. Starring Tim Curry (It) in the role as the butler, leading the group of zany guests on a night of murder and thrilling mystery as they all scramble to figure out “whodunnit.” At the time of its release in 1985, it received mixed reviews and didn’t wow at the box office. However, over time this campy mystery has amassed a significant cult following.
In 2018, it was announced that Ryan Reynolds (Deadpool) will star in a Clue remake produced by 20th Century. The remake is in development, but there’s no set release date or detailed casting information yet.
4 The Dead Zone (1983)
Paramount Pictures/De Laurentiis Entertainment Group
The Dead Zone, which premiered in 1983, is one of the most successful Stephen King adaptations from the ’80s. The movie is based on King’s 1979 novel of the same name and follows Johnny Smith (Christopher Walken) who wakes from a coma with psychic powers that allow him to see a person’s future just from a simple touch. At one point Johnny shakes hands with an aspiring politician and sees that there’d be great danger if he comes into power, so Johnny sets out to kill him before the future he saw becomes reality.
The movie is a true mystery/thriller, but also has some sci-fi elements, making it enjoyable for just about anyone. The Dead Zone received very positive reviews and is often referred to as one of the best Stephen King movie adaptations. Following the movie’s success, it was remade as a TV show starring Anthony Michael Hall (The Breakfast Club) that ran from 2002 to 2007.
3 Blue Velvet
De Laurentiis Entertainment Group
Blue Velvet is a thrilling mystery that combines psychological horror, film noir, and drama to create a very compelling storyline. It’s about Jeffrey (Kyle MacLachlan), a college student who returns home to take care of his sick father. Upon his arrival, he discovers a severed ear in a field and teams up with a detective’s daughter (Laura Dern) in attempts to solve the mystery. It took a while for Blue Velvet to hit the big screen. The screenplay was passed around quite a bit in the ’70s and early ’80s, as no production studio felt comfortable producing a film with such graphic sexual and violent content.
When Blue Velvet finally premiered, it received a divided response, as some critics didn’t enjoy the explicit content or found it necessary to the story. However, as time marched on, Blue Velvet became recognized as one of Lynch’s greatest works and one of the best movies of the 1980s. In 2008, Blue Velvet was chosen as one of the greatest mystery films ever made by the American Film Institute, further solidifying its place in cinematic history.
2 Heathers (1989)
New World Pictures
This comedic drama is a unique and dark take on high school life, from the cliques to the schemes and everything in between. It’s about a group of girls — three of which are named Heather, plus Veronica (Winona Ryder) — who rule the school in their untouchable clique at an Ohio high school until Veronica’s new boyfriend JD (Christian Slater) shows up. JD wants to kill all the cruel, popular kids at the school that he doesn’t like and frame their deaths as suicides and Veronica sets out to try to stop him.
Heathers didn’t shine at the box office, but it went on to have a cult following and is often called one of the greatest coming-of-age films. In 2010, Heathers was adopted into a successful Broadway musical. The show closed on Broadway in 2014. Since then there have been a variety of off-Broadway performances and the musical has been performed at local theatres throughout the country, bringing the thrills of the hit movie to stages all over.
1 The Shining (1980)
Hawk Films
This psychological horror/thriller is one of Stephen King’s most recognizable works and film adaptations. Based on the novel of the same name, The Shining is about Jack Torrance (Jack Nicholson) and his family as they travel to the Overlook Hotel to look after the space during the winter. Jack is a writer, hoping to clear his writer’s block in the isolated Colorado hotel, but the Overlook isn’t exactly what it seems. From disturbing visions to psychological turmoil, Jack begins to spiral out of control into a homicidal maniac set on murdering his family.
The movie is full to the brim with chills and thrills. The music is eerie, the shots and camera angles are unsettling, and all these elements work together to make the audience feel like they’re slipping into madness alongside Jack. On top of the excellent production, the performances in The Shining are also top-notch, with Nicholson’s portrayal of one of King’s most notable characters ranking as one of the best performances from a King movie adaptation.
