The 80s – A Decade Like No Other [Embracing Nostalgia]

The 80s were a golden era of pop culture, marked by unmatched innovation, creativity, and lasting cultural phenomena. horror

From iconic fashion trends to groundbreaking technological advancements, the ’80s was a decade of excess.

Let’s explore why many consider the 80s one of the most unique decades ever.

Why were the ’80s the best decade ever?

The 80s were a time for excellent pop culture, including some of the most popular movies, music, TV shows, and toys.

This blog post is for anyone wanting to know what was so great about the 1980s and to walk down memory lane.

The 80s: A Decade Like No Other

Forget the avocado toast and hoverboards, folks.

Let’s rewind to when shoulder pads reached for the stratosphere, neon ruled the rainbow, and synthesizers sang anthems of hope and heartbreak.

I’m talking about the 80s, baby—the decade that continues to hold a stranglehold on our collective nostalgia. Why? because, quite simply, it was the best.

Here’s why:

1. Music That Makes You Wanna Move

From hairspray-heavy hair metal to the synth-tastic bliss of New Wave, there was a soundtrack for every mood.

Whether you were rocking out to Bon Jovi, getting lost in Michael Jackson’s moonwalk, or belting out Whitney Houston’s power ballads, music was everywhere, and it was glorious.

And don’t get me started on mixtapes – carefully curated collections of your favorite jams passed between friends like sonic treasures—pure magic.

2. Movies That Defined a Generation

The Spielberg blockbuster era, teen angst in John Hughes classics, and horror icons like Freddy Krueger and Jason Voorhees roaming the silver screen – the 80s gave us movie moments that still bring tears or make us jump from our seats.

From “Back to the Future” time-traveling adventures to the heartwarming E.T. encounter, these films shaped our pop culture landscape and continue to inspire filmmakers today.

3. Fashion That Was Out of This World

Sure, some trends were questionable (looking at you, leg warmers), but the 1980s dared to be bold and colorful. Shoulder pads became architectural marvels, ripped jeans screamed rebellion, and neon everything made a statement.

This was a decade where expressing yourself through fashion was encouraged, celebrated, and often hilarious.

4. Technology That Took Us to the Future

Remember the awe of your first Walkman, the thrill of playing pixelated Pac-Man, and the mind-blowing potential of home computers? The 80s saw technological advancements that redefined entertainment and communication.

While we may laugh at the chunky phones and clunky computers now, these innovations paved the way for the tech-driven world we live in today.

5. A Sense of Optimism That Lit Up the Night

Despite the Cold War anxieties and economic challenges, the 80s were a decade that believed in the power of dreams. Teenagers dreamt of changing the world, musicians dreamt of stadium gigs, and filmmakers dreamt of stories that would touch hearts.

This spirit of can-do optimism makes the decade endlessly nostalgic—it was a time when anything seemed possible, and the future gleamed with neon promise.

My Personal Experience of The 80s

The 1980s was a coming-of-age time for me. I was very impressionable during that era and had the fondest memories than any other decade before or since. Every movie, every song, and every fashion had meaning for me.

I’m writing about topics and events I remember the most vividly during the 1980s. More than likely, I will probably accidentally leave out some critical issues.

You probably would have had a different perspective if you had been an adult.

I did a lot of research for this post, and the 1980s were not fun for everyone; I understand this. However, because of my life experience and where I lived in Baltimore, the 80s was my decade.

The 1980s was possibly the last time kids could hit the door as soon as they woke up and stay outside and play until the street lights came on. Kids were limited only by their imaginations, at least in my experience.

We were horrified when 1983’s The Day After premiered. A television movie about a nuclear war between the United States and the Soviet Union: the nuclear scene with the giant mushroom cloud will forever be ingrained in my subconscious.

The Day After set a record as the highest-rated television film in history.

Last but not least, we were entertained through comedy movies, television shows, and stand-up comedians before political correctness – (Which started in the mid-80s).

I couldn’t imagine Andrew ‘Dice’ Clay, Sam Kinison, Richard Pryor, or Eddie Murphy doing their routines today.

They would get canceled!

Generation X

Gen X falls between Boomers and Millenials.

I’m a Gen Xer, and starting in middle school, I was a latch-key kid. That meant no adults were home when I got home from school. We had house keys, and we had to take care of ourselves.

We were self-reliant problem solvers and didn’t need to be cared for. We work to live but do not wish to live to work. We prefer a work/life balance.

I was born in the early 70s, and similar to anyone born then, we weren’t a child of the ‘70s but one of the ‘80s.

I recall very little about the 70s, fragments like dressing up as a hobo for Halloween and my Stretch Armstrong figure, which I stretched the life out of so much that the ‘grape jelly’ substance inside the doll oozed out.

If you ask any Gen Xer what the best decade was for them, they would agree it was the 80s.

What Was So Great About the 80s?

The ‘sweet spot’ for 80s culture is between 1983 and 1987. The early 80s is a carryover or transition period from the 1970s, and the late 80s is a precursor or transition to the 1990s.

(Example: Edie Brickell & New Bohemians – What I Am. Created in 1988 sounds like a 90s song to me.)

The ’80s were the best decade for movies, music, television shows, culture, and fashion. Television shows had ‘heart,’ the local newscasters were like family, and everything wasn’t politicized as it has been since then.

I remember Jerry Turner and Al Sanders on Eyewitness News, WJZ 13. They were like family, along with Bob Turk and Marty Bass. They were comforting to watch on the local news, and I mourned when they passed away.

I looked forward to watching Captain Chesapeake on WBFF TV 45 after school with his sidekick Mondy (Moan-Dee), the Seamonster, a local version of the Loch Ness Monster.

Before the show, he always said, “Ahoy crew members,” and at the end, he always said, “So long, crew members,” and his most important message was, “Be Somebody Important, Be Yourself.”

Once again, it was very comforting to watch.

When we were kids, we often played board games like Monopoly, Chutes & Ladders, Clue, Mousetrap, and Twister to occupy ourselves when we weren’t playing outside. We also went to playgrounds and rode Big Wheels and bicycles to entertain ourselves.

Every kid made blanket forts in their homes to play and sleep in.

• Going to the bowling alley with our parents was common.
• We only had one T.V. It was a 25” Color Console.
• MTV debuted in 1981 and became a symbol and culture definer in the 80s.
• Things were still affordable in the 80s or inexpensive to fix.

The Mixtape, the Walkman, VHS, Beta movie tapes, Cereals, Garbage Pail Kids, Saturday Morning Cartoons, The Harlem Globetrotters, and Saturday Night horror Movies were all popular.

Also, the ‘1980s were the start of the computer age, with Apple, Microsoft, and IBM being significant players in the game.

Car safety was still obsolete back then, so we didn’t wear seatbelts; we could sleep in the back of a station wagon or ride in the back of a pickup truck without getting pulled over.

Time appeared slower. I remember summer break feeling like an eternity—so much so that I looked forward to school starting up again. Time started speeding up in the late 1980s, and it seemed to fly by.

Everything was better: Sports, music, politics, people, and life were better. Real artists made them, and all have had more heart and soul since.

Everything wasn’t corporatized, either, like today. Mom-and-pop shops were typical, and customer service was better back then because people were more friendly.

The 80s music was a whole conglomeration. When I think of music, I don’t think of genres like pop, funk, metal, rock, rap, etc. I call it all 80s music. In my truck, I listen to 80s music on my Sirius Satellite (80s on 8) with some of the original VJs hosting.

I also have other eras programmed on my stereo, and the 1990s had some excellent songs. The Beach Boys are my favorite band from the 60s, but there is no comparison to the 80s.

I also notice many modern commercials using songs from the 1980s in them.

The ’80s were a simpler time, for sure. People’s nostalgia for that decade stems from how much calmer, slower, and simpler life was.

80s Nostalgia

When I think of nostalgia, I remember going to Orioles baseball games at Memorial Stadium, Blast indoor soccer games at the Civic Center, watching movies at Bengies Drive-In on Saturday night, and going down the beach.

In this case, the beach is at Ocean City, Maryland.

It was so much fun back then. It was a family-oriented town with hardly any crime that I can remember.

Ocean City brings back many nostalgic memories, like cotton candy and fried dough. The Dough Roller still makes the best pizza. Of course, Thrashers has the best french fries on the boardwalk. Just add some Old Bay Seasoning and malt vinegar to the boardwalk fries. NO KETCHUP EVER!

There were two haunted house attractions at O.C.: a ride on the boardwalk and a walk-through one on the pier.

There were more rides, food, and games on the pier at Ocean City, an obnoxious Dunking Clown Booth, and an incredible Haunted House: Morbid Manor. Morbid Manor was a haunted walk-through attraction.

In November 1995, Morbid Manor caught fire and burned to the ground. Unfortunately, Morbid Manor was never restored.

⇒Ocean City, MD – August 1987 – YouTube –Morbid Manor appears in the video @ 23:42

Holidays in The 80s

The holidays during the 80s were magical. In elementary school, we would wear our costumes to school. Our teachers decorated the classrooms with Frankenstein, Dracula, witches, and pumpkins. They even wore Halloween-themed sweaters.

All the kids and teachers would bring food and drinks to class. Many moms made cupcakes, cookies, and other treats for our party. Also, the proverbial red punch drink was served to us. This mysterious red punch was served in little Dixie Cups throughout elementary school.

Every year, we had a Halloween party in the classroom and visited neighboring classrooms to show off our costumes. Every Holiday was like this in elementary school.

Generally, costumes consisted of a plastic mask with a rubber band stapled and a plastic costume.

It was cheap and came in a flimsy cardboard box at your local retail store. Generally, the single, thin rubber band in the back of the mask would snap within 30 minutes of use.

The Holidays were also a great time to be with my family, relatives, and friends. The annual treats were Christmas, Thanksgiving, Easter, and watching The Fourth of July Fireworks.

We visited many houses, ate great food, and received many Christmas presents. Generally speaking, people were much more relaxed back then, and having fun, relaxing, and enjoying life was a priority.

One of the best parts of the holidays was the television shows and movies on TV. Many sitcoms would incorporate Halloween, Christmas, and Thanksgiving into their shows.

One of my favorite Halloween television episodes was 1984’s The Fall Guy, featuring Elvira.

Other classic holiday programs were The Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Frosty the Snowman, and A Christmas Carol. The holidays were way more fun then. Everything seems so ‘hurried’ these days.

In the 1980s, we only got gifts twice a year, on Christmas and birthdays. Don’t feel bad; my grandmother told me she and her sisters only got fruit for Christmas when they were young.

Playing Outside in the 80s

There are a ton of memes floating around on the internet about playing outside pre-1990s. Most kids were expected not to be inside the house too much. Playing outside in the 80s was the norm for just about every child.

We had to work a little harder to entertain ourselves then. Without cell phones, our parents would only know where we were if we told them.

A general rule was to be home once it was dark outside or when the lamp post lights came on before your father came out bellowing your name.

Once we were home, it was common to go back outside after dinner and hit lightning bugs with our wiffle ball bats while riding our bicycles. The second time to be inside was usually around 9 p.m. during warmer months.

We played and enjoyed life unsupervised for the most part. It didn’t matter where we were; adults were not concerned with our actions unless we broke something or someone got hurt.

If we broke something, we could be in trouble. If we got hurt playing, someone would put some antibacterial cleaner on the cut and a Band-Aid on it, and we would return to playing again.

The Ice-Cream Truck

One of the great things about being outside much of the day during the summer was the ice cream truck. The ice cream man would go past my house and down the street daily, playing his jingle over his loudspeaker.

The song triggered us to run inside, grab money from our parents, and then run down the road chasing the ice cream truck.

It was an exhaustive process, and it went like this:

Stop playing immediately, run inside, and locate a parent with money. Sometimes, Mom didn’t have money, so we had to find Dad. After finding Dad, he would tell me what he wanted, and I had to get ice cream for my brothers and our English Bulldog named Dudley.

Next, I ran down the street as fast as possible and caught up with the ice cream man. If I were lucky, another kid in the neighborhood would have stopped him, but not today.

I could have hopped on my Huffy Bike and caught up with him faster, but there was no way I could bring all that ice cream back to my house while peddling and steering a bicycle.

At times, it appeared as if the ice cream man sped up when he saw us chasing after him, chanting the proverbial “Wait a minute,” which he never responded to until the last minute.

Kids on my street often ran after the ice cream truck after it passed their house.  I recall one day, a small white dog ran into the road and tripped up my friend Matt, making him tumble to the ground and putting me in the lead to order my ice cream.

When I finally caught up with the ice cream truck, a quarter-mile later, I was too out of breath to place my order, and I forgot what I was supposed to buy for the rest of my family. My brother asked for a Cookie Sandwich; he got a Sherbert Push-Up instead.

Bulldog Dudley wanted a vanilla cup; he got a Pac-Man ice cream bar instead. My little brother wanted a strawberry shortcake bar; he got a toasted almond. But I digress.

The 80s Home Phone

Speaking of phones, our home phone was attached to a base by a long stretchy cord. Depending on the length of the cord, we were stuck in one spot during a conversation. Our answering machines were external devices connected to our phones.

In the 1990s, digital answering machines accessed through your home phone were used more often.

One of the many unfortunate things about landline home phones is eavesdroppers. It was typical for someone in the house to listen in on your phone conversation, and this happened a lot.

The first chargeable cordless phone was released in 1980, but most people didn’t have one until the 1990s.

The Mall in the 80s

The Mall was a hangout for many bored teenagers back then. In general, malls were always busy in the 80s, and people could smoke in the malls back then. And they were safe, too.

When I was in elementary school, I went to the mall with my Mom, and by my teenage years, I went with my friends. The mall was just somewhere we could go, be out, and enjoy ourselves.

My favorite places in the mall were Spencer’s Gifts, Time-Out Arcade, and Sam Goody Record Store. White Marsh Mall, the other mall we visited back then, was the only one I knew of with a Chick-fil-A.

They used to stand outside their restaurant, handing out chicken samples to shoppers. I used to walk by several times until the tray was empty.

Mall shopping declined drastically in the early 2000s, but they were the place to be in the 80s because we didn’t have many things to entertain us like we do today.

The 80s Were Safe

“My generation didn’t have babysitters; our parents just told us to lock the door and don’t open it for anyone.”

– Anonymous 1980s Adult

I know what you may be thinking – safe? The 1980s allegedly had way higher crime rates. How do we know if crime stats are being reported accurately now? We don’t.

Secondly, the areas I grew up in, and the people and places I visited were safe, too. The neighborhood I lived in then was very safe.

In my experience of the 1980s, one thing is for sure. You could let your guard down and relax more than you can now.

My family and I moved from Baltimore City to Baltimore County in 1979. We lived in the county just a few miles from the city’s border, so we weren’t in the suburbs or a rural area.

As an elementary school kid, I never once felt unsafe wherever I went. In the ’80s, kids were expected to spend little time, if any, inside the house, especially during the summer, so we had to find ways to entertain ourselves outside.

We often spent the weekends at one of our grandparents’ or our aunts’ and uncles’ houses, where we would hang out with our cousins. In elementary school, sleepovers were common, either at your home or your friend’s house.

It was common to ride bikes, play in the woods, climb trees, build forts, go to the arcade, hang out at Skateland on Friday and Saturday nights, play sports, tag, board games, and video games. We had an Atari home gaming system and enjoyed it.

Later on, around 1987, I had Nintendo. I stopped playing video games entirely in 1988.

In the 1980s, there was one bus stop per street, and your parents did not wait with you. Our bus stop was across the street from my house on my road, which meant every kid on the street had to walk to the bus stop in front of my house.

Plus, I was the first student on the bus, so I got to sit in the back where all the cool kids sat.

Also, schools seldom, if ever, close for snow. We had one-, two-, and three-hour delays but rarely closed for snow unless it was projected to snow the entire day.

80s Saturday Morning Cartoons

Saturday morning cartoons were the best. I usually woke up before everyone else in my house, went to the kitchen, made a bowl of Trix cereal, and went to the basement to watch them.

(If the television wasn’t nearby, it was common to read the back of the cereal box while eating.)

We didn’t have a cartoon network channel back then. Cartoons like He-Man, Scooby-Doo, The Smurfs, Transformers, and G.I. Joe were famous in the afternoon.

Cartoons were a way for advertisers to target children.

On weekdays, there were early morning television shows and cartoons, as well as after-school programs. I remember watching them before going to school and when I got home.

Morning Shows

1. Inspector Gadget
2. The Three Stooges
3. The Flintstones
4. The Little Rascals
5. The Jetsons

Afternoon Shows

1. Captain Chesapeake
2. Speed Racer
3. Scooby-Doo
4. He-Man
5. Transformers

We all watched Bugs Bunny, but the Hocus Pocus/Abracadabra episode has to be among the top three greatest Bugs Bunny episodes of all time. Do you remember this episode?

It’s been so long, so I don’t remember the lineup. But here are some of the Saturday Morning cartoons in the 80s that I remember:

• The Coyote and Roadrunner
• Heckle & Jeckle
• Bugs Bunny
• Tom & Jerry
• Super Friends
• Speedy Gonzalez
• The Smurfs
• The New Adventures of Johnny Quest
• The Littles
• The Flintstone Kids
• Josie & The Pussycats
• Fat Albert
• Alvin & The Chipmunks
• Mighty Mouse
• Pac-Man
• A Pup Named Scooby-Doo
• The Snorks
• The Real Ghostbusters
• Thundarr The Barbarian

Because of the backlash from parent groups, Saturday Morning Cartoons implemented Public Service (P.S.A.’s) Announcements to give kids something positive to remember.

• I’m Just a Bill – Schoolhouse Rock
• Time for Timer – “Hanker for a Hunk o’ Cheese.”
• Exercise your Choppers – The Bod Squad – a Fonzie look alike. Keep those choppers tough.
• Don’t Drown Your Food.
• Yuck Mouth
• Conjunction Junction – Schoolhouse Rock
• Give a Hoot – don’t Pollute! – Woodsy the Owl
• Take a Bite out of Crime – McGruff the Crime Dog
• Only You Can Prevent Forrest Fires – Smokey, the Bear

MTV Debuts

Before music television, we had the radio, records, or cassette tapes to listen to our favorite music. Most kids had a ‘boombox,’ often used to record their favorite song when it played on the radio.

If lucky, you could record the entire song instead of missing the first few seconds.

Also, the boombox was great for bringing your music wherever you went. It only took 12 D batteries, and you were good to go. However, if your batteries are low, you can forget about the cassette player working at total capacity.

The Original MTV VJs

• Martha Quinn
• Mark Goodman
• J.J. Jackson
• Nina Blackwood
• Alan Hunter

I remember the VJs and watching MTV in my basement like yesterday when I was a kid. Of all the music stars who appeared on MTV, one person benefitted the most—Michael Jackson (followed by Madonna and Prince).

Music videos like Billie Jean, Beat It, and Thriller made Michael Jackson a star above the rest.

Dire Straits had a hit song in 1985, ” Money for Nothing, ” with the lyrics, “I want my MTV.”

In 1989, MTV Unplugged was introduced to the world.

By the mid-90s, MTV almost completely stopped playing music videos and switched to programming unrelated to music, like The Real World.

Later, it became a joke that the Music Television Channel (MTV) no longer plays music.

Alternative music television channels included VH1 (Video Hits 1, which debuted in 1985) and BET (Black Entertainment Television, which debuted in 1980).

Arcades in the 80s

Arcades were ‘the thing’ in the 80s, and there were plenty of options.

We would go to one of the privately-owned arcades in my neighborhood, like Funzies (which later became a Domino’s Pizza) Odyssey or Time-Out Arcades in Golden Ring Mall. It was common for many local food joints, grocery stores, and mom-and-pop stores to have a video game or two inside.

It was easy money back then.

Most arcade games were .25 cents, and the excellent ones were .50 cents. Many Arcades’ exchanged tokens for either paper money or coins after researching why quarters tended to jam up the arcade games and cause them to break, which meant losing money for the arcade operator.

Tokens were more durable, plus exchanging real money for tokens gave the arcade operator cash upfront.

If someone were using the game that you wanted to play, you would put your quarter up on the screen out of the way to indicate you were playing next. And yes, people respected that back then.

Popular Arcade Games:

• Galaga
• Space Invaders
• Pac Man
• Ms. Pac Man
• Donkey Kong
• Frogger
• Dig Dug
• Defender
• Pole Position
• Dragons Lair
• Tron
• Centipede

80s Movies Were The Greatest

The 1980s was a cinematic renaissance, delivering some of history’s most iconic and beloved films. From the epic saga of “Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back” to the timeless charm of “Back to the Future,” the decade offered a diverse range of cinematic experiences.

Directors like Steven Spielberg and John Hughes left an indelible mark on the industry, while actors like Harrison Ford and Tom Cruise became household names.

The era also witnessed the birth of the modern blockbuster, with films like “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial” and “Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark” captivating audiences worldwide.

1984 alone stands out as one of the years of the decade with the most classic movies, such as:

1984 Top Movies

1. The Karate Kid
2. Sixteen Candles
3. A Nightmare on Elm Street
4. Revenge of the Nerds
5. Ghostbusters
6. Indiana Jones & The Temple of Doom
7. Gremlins
8. Footloose
9. Friday the 13^th: The Final Chapter
10. Children of the Corn
11. Splash
12. Breakin
13. Bachelor Party
14. Red Dawn
15. The Terminator
16. Police Academy
17. Beverly Hills Cop
18. Firestarter

Next, I will go with some of my favorite and memorable movies. This includes action movies, horror, comedies, and sci-fi.

In the 1980s, you must have realized that renting VHS or Beta tapes on Friday or Saturday Night at your neighborhood video store was a big deal.

We had several video stores near my home. If we didn’t rent tapes, we watched movies on Cable Television (Caltec Cable) if we had it.

I don’t know about other families, but we occasionally had cable television for decades. It was too expensive, I guess.

Back then, the cable TV had this channel changer connected to the converter box on top of the TV. The Channel Changer for the Cable System was plugged into the converter box and had a long extension cord so you could sit on the couch and change the channel.

The channel changer was a dial that you turned clockwise or counterclockwise to get to your preferred channel.

Classic 80s Movies List

There are so many great movies back then that it would take up too much time and space. Below are my favorite and most memorable films from the 1980s.

• Back to The Future
• The Goonies
• Rambo First Blood
• History of the World Part 1
• Overboard
• Rocky III & IV
• The Legend of Billie Jean
• The Terminator
• Aliens
• Revenge of the Nerds
• Ghostbusters
• 48 Hours
• Mommy Dearest
• Scarface
• Airplane
• Karate Kid
• The Beastmaster
• Wargames
• Arthur
• Losin It
• Mad Max 2
• Raiders of the Lost Ark
• Indiana Jones & The Temple of Doom
• Raiders of the Lost Ark
• Jaws 3D
• Top Gun
• Footloose’
• Sudden Impact
• Coming to America
• Ferris Bueller’s Day Off
• Spaceballs
• Gremlins
• Crocodile Dundee
• All the Right Moves
• Conan The Barbarian
• Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure
• Romancing the Stone
• Fast Times At Ridgemont High
• The Breakfast Club
• The Neverending Story
• Porky’s
• The Outsiders
• Willow
• Lethal Weapon
• Can’t Buy Me, Love
• Risky Business
• Poltergeist
• Caddyshack
• Valley Girl (Nicholas Cage’s first movie)
• Friday the 13^th, 1-4
• Die Hard
• The Return of the Jedi
• Vacation, European Vacation, Christmas Vacation
• Child’s Play
• The Lost Boys
• Weird Science
• Mom
• One Crazy Summer
• The Shining
• The Great Outdoors
• Fright Night
• Just One of the Guys
• Trading Places
• Children of the Corn
• Beverly Hills Cop
• An American Werewolf in London
• Beetlejuice
• Full Metal Jacket
• Stand By Me
• Twins
• A Christmas Story
• D.C. Cab
• My Bodyguard
• Adventures in Babysitting
• The Fog
• Pet Sematary
• Better Off Dead
• Christine
• Smokey and the Bandit II & III
• The Great Outdoors
• Remo Williams
• Big Trouble in Little China
• Wall Street
• Psycho II
• Spies Like Us
• The Lost Boys
• Summer School
• The Last Dragon
• Predator
• Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure
• They Live
• Clash of the Titans

John Hughes Movies

American filmmaker, writer, and director John Hughes was the king of classic 80s movies. I couldn’t write this article without giving Mr. Hughes his due respect. I rank Hughes’s films up there with those of Ridley Scott and Stanley Kubrick.

When John Hughes was involved in a movie, you knew you would get a quality film.

• Mr. Mom – 1983
• National Lampoons Vacation – 1983
• Sixteen Candles – 1984
• The Breakfast Club – 1985
• European Vacation – 1985
• Weird Science – 1985
• Pretty in Pink – 1986
• Ferris Bueller’s Day Off – 1986
• Some Kind of Wonderful – 1987
• Planes, Trains, and Automobiles – 1987
• She’s Having a Baby – 1988
• The Great Outdoors – 1988
• Uncle Buck -1989
• Christmas Vacation – 1989

80s Remakes & Nostalgia

Some of the most original films were made in the 80s. Casting and character development set these movies apart from today’s movies. In most cases, it’s not the plot that makes the movies; it’s casting the right actors.

Ghostbusters would not have worked without Bill Murray and Dan Aykroyd, Back to the Future flopped without Michael J. Fox and Christopher Lloyd, and Friday the 13th would not have been so good without Betsy Palmer playing Jason’s sadistic mom.

How about the Vacation movie series? Could anyone other than Chevy Chase pull it off?

So many people are nostalgic for the 1980s, and Facebook, Instagram, and other websites are dedicated entirely to the era. This brings me to the following topic: modern movies are either remaking classic 80s films or set in that decade.

I’ve been an avid movie watcher since I was a kid. Almost all of the ’80s remakes have been flops. Why? You can’t recapture the essence in modern times.

The only time remakes work is when you do it comically, like Starsky & Hutch with Owen Wilson and Ben Stiller from 2004 or the Brady Bunch Movie from 1995. These were hilarious because they poked fun at the era they were supposed to take place.

Coming to America Part 2, or Coming 2 America with Eddie Murphy and Arsenio Hall, will be released in 2021 through Amazon. The original Coming to America, released in 1988, was one of Eddie Murphy’s most successful movies of the 1980s.

By the way, actor John Amos, whom I adored in the television sitcom Good Times, was the best actor in the original Coming To America. Sorry, Eddie!

The 80s produced some of the most iconic horror and teen movies ever.

• Ghostbusters – 2016
• Overboard – 2018
• It – 2017
• 21 Jump Street – 2012
• Karate Kid – 2010
• Pet Sematary 2019
• Evil Dead – 2013
• Fright Night – 2011
• Annie – 2014
• Hairspray – 2007
• A Nightmare on Elm Street – 2010
• The Howling 2020
• Red Dawn – 2012
• Hellraiser – 2020
• Friday the 13^th – 2009
• RoboCop – 2014
• Conan The Barbarian – 2011
• Valley Girl – 2020

These Classic 1980s Movies Are in the Process of Being Remade

• Clue
• Escape From New York
• Fletch
• Splash
• Firestarter
• Scarface
• Flash Gordon
• Dune
• The Little Mermaid
• The Cannonball Run
• Big Trouble in Little China
• American Werewolf in London

Modern Movies and Shows Set in the 1980s

• Hot Tub Time Machine – 2010
• Adventureland – 2009
• Donnie Darko -2001
• No Country for Old Men – 2007
• The Pursuit of Happyness – 2006
• Fargo – 1996
• Let the Right One In – 2008
• Dallas Buyers Club – 2013
• Wet Hot American Summer – 2001
• American Psycho – 2000
• Mandy – 2018
• The Wedding Singer – 1998
• Boogie Nights – 1997
• The Dirt – 2019

Popular 80s Fashion

Bold, vibrant, and unapologetically expressive, the 1980s fashion scene celebrated individuality. Neon colors, oversized blazers, leg warmers, and mullets defined the era’s distinctive style.

Fashion icons like Madonna and Prince dominated the music scene and influenced how people dressed. In the ’80s, fashion embraced excess, creating an eclectic mix of styles that continues to inspire contemporary trends.

As much as I loved the 80s, I agree that the fashion was pretty bad. No decade gets as mocked as much as the ‘80s do for fashion. However, the style was memorable and nostalgic for me. Below are the fashions for men and women.

• Parachute Pants
• Leg Warmers
• Jimmy’Z Clothing
• Mullets
• Denim Jackets with or without a Rock Band Backpatch
• Air Jordan
• The Velcro Wallet
• Fanny Pack
• Sweatbands
• Jelly Bracelets
• Headbands
• Neon Clothes
• Leotards
• Rib Knit Slouch Socks
• Rat Tail Haircut
• Members Only Jackets
• Baby on Board Sign
• Fingerless Gloves
• Big Hair
• Long hair
• Short Shorts –Men and Women
• Half-Shirts – Men and Women
• Big Gold Chains (Dookies)
• O.P. Shorts
• Rolling the bottoms of your pants up
• Ray-Ban Wayfarers Sunglasses
• Swatch Watch with Swatch Guard
• The Skater Haircut
• Penny Loafers
• The Piano Key Necktie
• Boxer Shorts (the Mid Eighties)
• High-Top Sneakers
• High Waisted Jeans
• The Mustache
• Vans Sneakers
• Black Leather Jackets
• Bugle Boy Pants
• Hair Feathered and Parted in the Middle
• Popped Collar Izod Shirt
• Shoulder Pads

80s Lingo and Slang Terms

Most of the sayings below were from famous movies filmed in southern California in the 1980s, including many of the John Hughes films made then. Others were popular urban terms that made their way into the mainstream.

• Fer Sure
• Gag Me With A Spoon
• Like Totally
• Totally Awesome to the MAX!
• Yo
• Gnarly
• Psyche
• No Can Do
• Dweeb
• Trippin
• Don’t have a Cow
• Poser
• Big Time
• No Duh
• Like
• Word Up
• Word
• Numbnuts
• Barf Me Out
• Bitchin
• Radical
• Neo-Maxi Zoom Dweebie
• Bogus
• Homeboy
• Wack
• Choice
• Illin
• Wicked
• Fresh
• Def
• Dis
• Spazz/Spazzo/Spazoid/Spastic Nerf bag
• Eat My Shorts
• Bodacious
• Kicks
• Ya Know
• Buggin
• Righteous
• Dweeb
• What’s Your Damage
• Totally Tubular
• Take a Chill Pill/ Chill Out
• Wastoid
• Grody to the Max
• Bod

Famous Events of the 80s

The 1980s witnessed significant social and cultural shifts that shaped our world today. The end of the Cold War, the fall of the Berlin Wall, and the emergence of the personal empowerment movement were pivotal moments that defined the era.

The AIDS crisis prompted a global response, and the fight for civil rights gained momentum. Additionally, the 1980s laid the groundwork for the environmental awareness that continues to shape our approach to sustainability.

• Hands Across America
• Challenger Explosion
• Gandhi was assassinated.
• Berlin Wall Came Down
• The NBA reintroduced the ‘Slam Dunk Contest’ in 1984
• Microsoft releases “Word.”
• The first version of Microsoft Windows was released.
• Just Say No Campaign
• Sandra Day O’Connor is the first woman U.S. Supreme Court Justice.
• Iran-Contra Hearings
• Carl Lewis won 9 Medals in the 1984 Olympics
• John Lennon murdered
• Pro-democracy protests take place at Tiananmen Square in China.
• The Simpsons” make their debut on the Tracy Ullman Show.
• The Chornobyl nuclear reactor exploded in the USSR.
• The wreck of the Titanic was discovered.
• Macintosh Computer Debut
• Hulk Hogan slams Andre the Giant at Wrestle Mania III
• CNN Launches
• First Mobile Phone (Motorola)
• The Rise of Yuppie Culture – (Young Urban Professional)

Top 80s Musicians & Bands

The 1980s was a musical powerhouse, birthing legendary artists and bands across various genres.

The emergence of pop icons like Michael Jackson, Madonna, and Prince transformed the music landscape, while rock legends such as U2, Guns N’ Roses, and Queen dominated the charts.

The synthesis of electronic music and the rise of MTV also revolutionized how music was consumed, paving the way for a visual revolution transcending mere auditory experiences.

After listening to Mark Goodman on 8os on 8, I discovered that KC and the Sunshine Band originated the popular 90s song: ‘Please Don’t Go’ by KWS. I had no idea. I like the original KC and the Sunshine Band version, released in 1980.

• Journey
• John Cougar
• The Go-Go’s
• Dire Straits
• Rick Springfield
• Christopher Cross
• Michael Jackson
• Cyndi Lauper
• Thompson Twins
• Chicago
• Lisa Lisa & The Cult Jam
• Men at Work
• Billy Ocean
• Simply Red
• Iron Maiden
• Robert Palmer
• Billy Idol
• Dionne Warwick
• Quiet Riot
• Motley Crue
• Peter Gabriel
• Elton John
• Gloria Estefan
• Duran Duran
• Beastie Boys
• The Cars
• Wham
• Culture Club
• Madonna
• Huey Lewis and the News
• Pat Benatar
• Bruce Springsteen
• Fleetwood Mac
• Depeche Mode
• The Fat Boys
• U2
• INXS
• Lionel Ritchie
• Talking Heads
• Van Halen
• Toto
• Billy Joel
• Prince
• Eddie Money
• Bon Jovi
• Pet Shop Boys
• Whitney Houston
• Hall & Oats
• ZZ Top
• Tina Turner
• Brian Adams
• The Police
• The Bangles
• ACDC
• Ozzy Osborne
• Run D.M.C.

Popular Songs

The List of the best songs could take a while, so I’m going off of memory for this list.

• Billy Jean – Michael Jackson
• Kokomo – Beach Boys
• The Boys of Summer – Don Henley
• Don’t You Forget About Me – Simple Minds
• Girls Just Want to Have Fun – Cyndi Lauper
• Jesse’s Girl – Rick Springfield
• Moving in Stereo – The Cars
• How Will I Know – Whitney Houston
• Walk Like an Egyptian – The Bangles
• White Wedding – Billy Idol
• Take Me Home Tonight – Eddie Money
• Sharp Dressed Man – ZZ Top
• Jack and Diane – John Cougar
• Eye of the Tiger – Survivor
• In The Air Tonight – Phil Collins
• Turn Me Loose – Loverboy
• Like a Virgin – Madonna
• Never Gonna Give You Up – Rick Astley
• Fight for Your Right – Beastie Boys
• We’re Not Gonna Take It – Twisted Sister
• Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go – Wham
• In Your Eyes – Peter Gabriel
• When Doves Cry – Prince
• I Can’t Go For That (No Can Do) – Daryl Hall & John Oates
• Take My Breath Away – Berlin
• Dancing in the Dark – Bruce Springsteen
• Can’t Fight This Feeling – Reo Speedwagon
• Our Lips Are Sealed – The Go Go’s
• Addicted to Love – Robert Palmer
• If You Leave – OMD
• All Night Long – Lionel Richie
• Cum on Feel The Noize – Quiet Riot

One Hit Wonders

A musical one-hit-wonder is any song that achieves mainstream popularity and becomes known among the general public solely for that momentary successful piece of music.

The 1980s had more one-hit wonders than any other decade. My list includes bands that didn’t have another hit song I can remember. I know all the bands mentioned are musicians, and I mean no disrespect to them.

The songs below were Top Hits.

• 99 Luft Balloons –  Nena
• Take on Me – a-ha
• Tarzan Boy – Baltimora
• Whip It – Devo
• Don’t Worry Be Happy – Bobby McFerren
• I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles) – The Proclaimers
• Come on, Eileen – Dexys Midnight Runners
• She Blinded Me With Science – Thomas Dolby
• I Want Candy – Bow Wow Wow
• One Night in Bangkok – Murray Head
• Rock Me Amadeus – Falco
• Too Shy – Kajagoogoo
• Rumors – Timex Social Club
• Relax – Frankie Goes to Hollywood
• Maniac – Michael Sembello
• Major Tom – Peter Schilling
• Break My Stride – Matthew Wilder
• Obsession – Animotion
• Don’t Dream It’s Over – Crowded House
• Pass The Dutchie – Musical Youth
• Missing You – John Waite
• White Horse – Laid Back
• Cars Gary – Gary Numan
• Neneh Cherry – Buffalo Stance
• Somebody’s Watching Me – Rockwell
• 867 5309 /Jenny – Tommy Tutone
• Ah Leah – Donnie Iris
• Electric Avenue – Eddy Grant
• Tainted Love – Soft Cell
• I Melt With You – Modern English
• We Don’t Have to Take Our Clothes Off – Jermaine Stewart
• Hey Mickey – Toni Basil
• In A Big Country – Big Country
• Turning Japanese – The Vapors
• Harden My Heart – Quarterflash
• Genius of Love – Tom Tom Club
• Let the Music Play – Shannon
• The Future’s So Bright, I Gotta Wear Shades – Timbuk 3
• Oh Yeah – Yello
• In My House – Mary Jane Girls
• Somebody’s Watching Me – Rockwell
• Puttin on The Ritz – Taco
• Voices Carry – Til Tuesday
• I Can’t-Wait – Nu Shooz
• The Rain – Oran ‘Juice’ Jones
• Axel F – Harold Faltermeyer
• Heart and Soul – T’Pau
• All I Need – Jack Wagner

80s Wrestling

Ah, yes, 80s wrestling. I began watching wrestling in the early 80s because my dad and brother both watched it. Back then, there were several wrestling organizations. I watched Georgia Wrestling, NWA, AWA, and the WWF.

As memorable as wrestling was to me, nothing was more impressive than the Rock-n-Roll wrestling connection.

I remember Captain Lou training Moolah for the match. He had her eating footlong cheesesteak subs, saying she was on a strict protein diet. LOL!!!

The 80s  debuted a lot of wrestling legends, such as:

• Mr. Perfect Curt Hennig (One of the best wrestlers ever!)
• The Barbarian
• Mike Rotunda
• King Kong Bundy
• Steve Austin
• Booker T
• Charles Wright/ Papa Shango/The Godfather
• Sensational Sherri
• Arn Anderson
• Road Warriors Tag Team Hawk & Animal
• Jim Cornette
• Mick Foley
• Jim Hellwig/ The Ultimate Warrior
• Ron Simmons
• Owen Hart
• Ravishing Rick Rude
• Eddie Guerrero
• Sid Vicious
• William Regal
• Scott Steiner
• Rick Steiner
• The Rock-n-Roll Express
• Barry Darsow
• The Undertaker
• Paul Heyman
• Shawn Michaels
• Razor Ramon/ Scott Hall
• Sting
• Lex Luger
• Big Boss Man
• Bam Bam Bigelow
• Dustin Rhodes

80s Popular Television Shows

I enjoyed many television shows in the 1980s. Three’s Company debuted in the late 1970s, but most of them hit their peak in the 1980s. The most memorable time for watching television shows was when you got the double.

For example, on Saturday Nights, you had The Love Boat at 8 pm, Followed by Fantasy Island at 9 pm. Or on Friday Nights at 9 pm, You Had Magnum P.I. followed by Miami Vice at 10 p.m.

Whenever I hear the Phil Collins song – In the Air Tonight, I think of Miami Vice. It’s similar to the T.V. Series Supernatural and the song – Carry on Wayward Son.

Top 80s TV Shows

• Magnum P.I.
• Miami Vice
• ALF
• Growing Pains
• Facts Of Life
• Gimme A Break
• Family Ties
• The Cosby Show
• Married With Children
• The Simpsons
• The Phil Donahue Show
• Silver Spoons
• Who’s The Boss
• Three’s Company
• Saturday Night Live
• The Equalizer
• Charles in Charge
• Different Strokes
• Knight Rider
• The A-Team
• The Dukes of Hazzard
• The Fall Guy
• Macgyver
• Highway to Heaven
• Fantasy Island
• The Loveboat
• Dallas
• Punky Brewster
• Perfect Strangers
• TJ Hooker
• Benny Hill
• Little House on the Prairie
• Remington Steele
• Laverne & Shirley
• Benson
• The Incredible Hulk
• Saved By The Bell (Saturday Mornings)
• Mamas Family
• Happy Days
• Night Court
• Taxi
• The Greatest American Hero
• Alice
• Chips

Nostalgic 80s Commercials

There were so many memorable commercials in the ’80s. Unfortunately, we couldn’t skip commercials, so we were forced to watch them for two minutes and two seconds.

Many commercials, like the Life Cereal Commercial with Mikey and The Incredible Edible Egg, started in the ’70s.

• Where’s The Beef – Burger King Commerical
• Gimme a Cheese Wit Nuttin – Polly-O String Cheese
• Tootsie Pop – Mr. Owl
• Michael Jackson – Pepsi Commercial
• Leggo My Ego – Leggo Waffles
• Kool-Aid Man – Kool-Aid
• Move Over Bacon – Sizzlelean Bacon
• Time to Make The Donuts – Dunkin Donuts
• Peter Comes Home For Christmas – Folgers Coffee
• Michael J Fox – Diet Pepsi Commercial
• New Coke – Max Headroom – Cocoa Cola
• Get a Little Closer – Arrid Extra Dry Deodorant
• Bill Cosby – JELL-O Pudding Pops
• David Naughton – Be A Pepper – Dr. Pepper Cola
• Good Vibrations – Sunkist Soda
• Kiss a Little Longer – Big Red Chewing Gum
• I Don’t Want to Grow Up – Toys R Us.
• So Happy Together – Golden Grahams
• Gimme a Break – Kit Kat bar
• The Taste is Gonna Move You – Juicy Fruit Chewing Gum
• Mikey Likes It – Quaker Oats Life Cereal
• Whatcha Eating – Whatchamacallit Candy Bar

The 80s was a decade of mustaches, leg warmers, slouch socks, dirty teen movies, and Reaganomics. Do I want to go back to that time?

No, I am where I am, but I am Like Totally Stoked to the MAX that I got to experience firsthand the greatest decade ever! Fer Sure!

The 1980s was the best decade ever!

Conclusion

While every decade has its unique charm and significance, the 1980s stands out as a time of unparalleled creativity and innovation. From the music to the movies, the fashion to the technology, the ’80s left an indelible mark on the cultural tapestry of the world.

Nostalgia for this era endures, with countless people looking back fondly at the decade that brought us some of the most memorable moments in history.

Whether you lived through it or are discovering it through the lens of retrospection, the 1980s holds a special place in our collective consciousness as a time when everything seemed possible, and the world was a little bit more magical.

So, the next time you hear a synth line or catch a glimpse of neon, remember the magic of the 80s. It was a decade that wasn’t afraid to be loud, colorful, and cheesy. It gave us iconic music, movies, and trends that resonate today.

And most importantly, it was a decade that believed in the power of big hair, big dreams, and even bigger shoulder pads. Now, crank up the music, add your leg warmers, and rewind to the best decade ever!

What Do You Think? Was the 80s the best decade ever?

The '80s: The decade that made us - Video