The modern era of films has undeniably changed the face of cinema, all thanks to advancements in technology, diverse ideas, and the rise of streaming services. However, many regard the 1980s as the peak decade of cinema, as they crafted high-concept stories that entertained the audience to the fullest. The era witnessed the birth of popular blockbuster franchises like Indiana Jones, Ghostbusters, and Batman and, significantly, the rise of comedy classics. 80s movies also spanned various genres like thrillers, suspense, horror, drama, and so on. Yet, comedy films have always remained a go-to genre for most of the audience.
A stressful day, melancholy mood, or want to feel good? Comedy films are always the solution. 80s comedy films are an amalgamation of witty dialogue, unforgettable characters, impressive casts, and amusing storylines. While the films focused more on making the audience laugh, they also gave prominence to unique themes and thought-provoking narratives. Despite the popularity of teen comedies in the old era, it didn’t constrain filmmakers from exploring new ideas and styles like parody, slapstick, fantasy, dark comedy, etc.
If you’re someone who likes to watch a plethora of humorous and enjoyable comedy films from the 1980s, here are the quintessential movies you should see at least once.
10 Uncle Buck (1989)
Uncle Buck is one of the most popular comedy films of the 1980s, exploring themes like family dynamics, responsibility, and personal growth. The film revolves around Bob Russell, who gets a promotion, and he and his wife, along with their three kids, aged 15, eight, and six, move to Chicago. One fine day, Bob’s wife, Cindy, gets a call that her father suffered a heart attack. The couple plans to visit, handing over the responsibility of the kids to Uncle Buck (Bob’s brother).
A clumsy, big-hearted, and unemployed Uncle Buck babysits the children, following the daunting household and guardian responsibilities. As the film unfolds, he manages to adapt to the disciplined lifestyle, which is completely different from his own. John Candy portrays the lead role of Uncle Buck and has received acclaim worldwide. Due to the massive popularity of the 1989 film, a spinoff series was created of the same name which aired on ABC.
9 A Fish Called Wanda (1988)
A Fish Called Wanda is directed by Charles Crichton and features a talented cast including Jamie Lee Curtis, Kevin Kline, Michael Palin, Tom Georgeson, and John Cleese in the main roles. The story revolves around a gang that plans out a diamond heist, which leads to chaos, misunderstanding, and madness.
Successful in their attempt to conduct a heist, the members try to trick each other into getting the stolen diamonds for themselves. The 1988 film is filled with witty wordplay, physical comedy, and hilarious encounters between the characters. It gained recognition at the Academy Awards by receiving three nominations: Best Supporting Actor (Kline), Best Director, and Best Original Screenplay.
8 Airplane! (1980)
Infused with slapstick comedy and quick jokes, Airplane! is a parody film helmed by David Zucker, Jerry Zucker, and Jim Abrahams. It’s the tale of a terrified former pilot who is the last escort to land the plane for people onboard suffering illness. What’s more, this film deals with overcoming fears and saving the lives of many in a humorous way. The story is about Ted Striker, played by Robert Hays, a former pilot who faces a traumatizing experience during a war that leads to his fear of flying airplanes.
His girlfriend, Elaine, a flight attendant, breaks up with him and boards the Trans-American flight. To patch up, Ted too gets on the plane. The film takes an unexpected turn when everyone onboard falls victim to severe food poisoning. The lives of people lie in the hands of Ted Striker, who takes the responsibility to land the plane, keeping aside his fright. The sequel to the movie released in 1982 was titled Airplane II: The Sequel.
7 Beetlejuice (1988)
Beetlejuice is a perfect blend of horror and comedy. Released in 1988, the movie features a star-studded cast, including Michael Keaton (Beetlejuice), Winona Ryder (Lydia Deetz), Geena Davis (Barbara Maitland), Alec Baldwin (Adam Maitland), and others. Director Tim Burton, who is popularly known for his dark and gothic take on horror films, directed the movie.
The film follows Adam and Barbara, a deceased couple who find themselves trapped in their own house, now owned by a new family called the Deetz. Desperate to reclaim the house, they put in efforts to scare away the family but miserably fail. Further, they hire a freelance bio-exorcist named Beetlejuice to help them haunt the family. The film’s main highlights remain the weird Halloween dress-up, iconic musical score, dark humor, and outstanding performances by actors.
6 Sixteen Candles (1984)
Director John Hughes is renowned for making films in the teen genre. Sixteen Candles is another addition to his impressive repertoire of storytelling as a writer, producer, and director. The film stars Samantha Baker, a 16-year-old high school teen played by Molly Ringwald, whose birthday is forgotten by her parents amidst being preoccupied with her sister’s wedding.
Further, she finds herself entangled in a love triangle between her, Jake Ryan (her senior), and a nerdy freshman, Ted. The film takes an interesting turn when she and Jake Ryan start developing a special bond, leading to her birthday ending on a positive note. The theme of the film teaches us valuable lessons like self-discovery, the stages of growing up and embracing individuality.
5 Ruthless People (1986)
Buena Vista Distribution
Ruthless People is a dark comedy film that exposes the complexity and unpredictability of human nature. It showcases how a person can go to any lengths to achieve their desire, even if it means deceiving, betraying, or manipulating others. Helmed by Jim Abrahams and David Zucker, the story revolves around Sam Stone, who plans to murder his wife Barbara to inherit her family fortune.
Sam’s sinister plan goes awry when a couple named Ken and Sandy abduct his wife, hoping to extort hefty money from Sam. But he sees this as an opportunity to get rid of his wife and refuses to pay. As the plot unfolds, the film takes many unexpected and hilarious twists and turns. Danny DeVito’s performance as Sam Stone won him a Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture.
4 Johnny Dangerously (1984)
The crime comedy genre seamlessly adds a hilarious approach to a film centered around a crime or mysterious narrative. The 1984 film is about the duality of Johnny Kelly, played by Michael Keaton. At home, he is a good son who takes care of his ill mother and brother, who aspire to pursue law. But outside, he takes on his new identity as a gangster named Johnny Dangerously, hired by crime boss Jocko Dundee.
He conceals his misconduct from his family by maintaining his secret identity. The criminal world witnesses the rise of Johnny, but soon he gets entangled in a rivalry with ruthless gangster Danny Vermin. The journey of staying low as a criminal and safeguarding his family brings a lot of troubles into Johnny’s life. The film received mixed reviews from the critics and also didn’t do well at the box office, but was still appreciated for its playful take on the gangster genre.
3 The Gods Must Be Crazy (1980)
The Gods Must Be Crazy is set in South Africa and weaves together elements of comedy and social commentary. The story is about a tribe named San, whose member XI confronts modern civilization for the first time as a Coca-Cola bottle falls from a flying airplane. The tribe sees it as a gift from the gods, thus leading to conflicts among them.
XI embarks on a journey beyond the boundaries of the Kalahari to return the bottle, facing various experiences and chaotic situations. The 1980 movie also got another sequel named God Must Be Crazy II, also written and directed by Jamie Uys. Initially, the movie shattered box office records in South Africa. It was made on a budget of $5 million and scored an earning of $34 million+ worldwide.
2 See No Evil, Hear No Evil (1989)
Starring Richard Pryor as Karue and Gene Wilder as Dave Lyons, the film revolves around themes like friendship, facing adversities, and the power of teamwork. Karue is a blind man who applies for a job at a newsstand run by Dave, a deaf man. The two become close friends, but one fine day their lives turn upside down when they become suspects in a murder case that occurred at their newsstand.
Undeterred by their disabilities, the two friends work together with their collective senses to find the real culprit. Throughout the film, they try to clear their names and tackle dangerous situations in a comedic way. See No Evil, Hear No Evil is helmed by Arthur Hiller and has an IMDb rating of 6.8.
1 Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986)
Director John Hughes brings the authenticity of real-life high school teen moments to life. Matthew Broderick stars as Ferris Bueller, the main character in the film. He is a high school senior boy who decides to take a day off for fun by convincing his parents that he is sick and informing his principal about the same. Finally getting the freedom to roam around the city of Chicago, he is accompanied by his two friends.
They visit various places like the Art Institute of Chicago, basketball games, vibrant parades, and so on. However, the thrill of a fake sick leave didn’t last long, as the principal became aware of his truancy and decides to catch Ferris red-handed. Ferris Bueller’s Day Off gives the viewer nostalgia for former school days of bunking classes to enjoy with friends. Well, Hughes gave an interesting and fun take to this light-hearted movie, which to date remains a fan favorite.