Where to Watch the Best 1980s Movies Online – A Complete Streaming Guide

Where to Watch the Best 1980s Movies Online – A Complete Streaming Guide

Ghezal Amiri
Ghezal Amiri

Published on July 06, 2023

Updated on March 19, 2024

The 1980s were a decade of celebrated movies that continue to resonate with audiences today. With the introduction of iconic characters that have stood the test of time, the films of the ‘80s have given rise to some of the most recognizable figures in film history. In this guide, we'll show you where to watch 200 of the best movies released between 1980 and 1989. This includes streaming offers for all popular streaming services in the United States.

What are the best movies of the 1980s?

No discussion of '80s cinema would be complete without mentioning Back to the Future from 1985, a classic adventure-comedy directed by Robert Zemeckis and starring the beloved Michael J. Fox as Marty McFly. With its memorable characters, inventive plot and catchy soundtrack, Back to the Future has become an enduring favorite for audiences of all ages.

The decade also saw the rise of the sci-fi genre with the release of Ridley Scott’s Blade Runner and John Carpenter’s The Thing – both films released in the same year! While they initially seem to have major differences in the kind of science fiction they’re depicting, both ultimately explore the theme of what it means to be human. The Thing questions the nature of identity while Blade Runner examines the boundaries of humanity in a dystopian future. Action films were also all the rage during the time as seen with The Terminator from 1984 and Die Hard in ‘88. Both feature key iconic figures who use their unique insights and physicality to overcome seemingly insurmountable odds – although you know you shouldn’t root for The Terminator to destroy Sarah Connor, you can’t help but commend his dedication to getting the job done! 

Where to watch the best 1980s movies online

Below you will find a list of 200 incredible movies from the 1980s and streaming details for where to watch them all online today. This includes whether they are available on services such as Netflix, Prime Video, MAX and many more.

The teenager Marty McFly accidentally travels with the time machine of his friend, the quirky scientist Dr.Emmett Brown, back in the year 1955. There he accidently prevents, that his future parents fall in love with each other, which puts him at the risk of preventing his own birth. To make matters worse, his mother begins to fall in love with him. He only has one week left to get things right again…

02

Ghostbusters
After losing their university jobs, three parapsychologists start a ghost-catching business in New York City and uncover a supernatural threat that could destroy the world.
In this enchantingly cracked fairy tale, the beautiful Princess Buttercup and the dashing Westley must overcome staggering odds to find happiness amid six-fingered swordsmen, murderous princes, Sicilians and rodents of unusual size. But even death can't stop these true lovebirds from triumphing.

04

Blade Runner
In the smog-choked dystopian Los Angeles of 2019, blade runner Rick Deckard is called out of retirement to terminate a quartet of replicants who have escaped to Earth seeking their creator for a way to extend their short life spans.

05

Scarface
Scarface

Scarface

1983

After getting a green card in exchange for assassinating a Cuban government official, Tony Montana stakes a claim on the drug trade in Miami. Viciously murdering anyone who stands in his way, Tony eventually becomes the biggest drug lord in the state, controlling nearly all the cocaine that comes through Miami. But increased pressure from the police, wars with Colombian drug cartels and his own drug-fueled paranoia serve to fuel the flames of his eventual downfall.

06

The Thing
The Thing

The Thing

1982

A research team in Antarctica is hunted by a shape-shifting alien that assumes the appearance of its victims.

07

The Terminator
In the post-apocalyptic future, reigning tyrannical supercomputers teleport a cyborg assassin known as the "Terminator" back to 1984 to kill Sarah Connor, whose unborn son is destined to lead insurgents against 21st century mechanical hegemony. Meanwhile, the human-resistance movement dispatches a lone warrior to safeguard Sarah. Can he stop the virtually indestructible killing machine?

08

Die Hard
Die Hard

Die Hard

1988

High above the city of L.A. a team of terrorists has seized a building, taken hostages, and declared war. One man has manages to escape... An off-duty cop hiding somewhere inside. He's alone, tired... and the only chance anyone has got.
An alien is left behind on Earth and saved by the 10-year-old Elliott who decides to keep him hidden in his home. While a task force hunts for the extra-terrestrial, Elliott, his brother, and his little sister Gertie form an emotional bond with their new friend, and try to help him find his way home.

10

The Shining
The Shining

The Shining

1980

Jack Torrance accepts a caretaker job at the Overlook Hotel, where he, along with his wife Wendy and their son Danny, must live isolated from the rest of the world for the winter. But they aren't prepared for the madness that lurks within.

About this list

Titles

200

Total Watch Cost

$396.33

Total Watch Time

360h 59min

Genres

Drama, Comedy, Mystery & Thriller

Where can I watch this list online?

Find out which streaming services have the most titles from this list below.

There are 200 titles in this list and you can watch 55 of them on Philo. 83 other streaming services also have titles available to stream today.

  1. 55 titles Philo
  2. 52 titles Kanopy
  3. 43 titles fuboTV
  4. 35 titles Hoopla
  5. 34 titles Plex Player