Top 5 '80s Comedy Gems to Torment You with a Sense of Nostalgia
These five will have you grumbling that movies used to be better.
Comedy is one of the most popular movie genres. But there just aren't many good comedies these days. Fortunately, the 1980s saw a lot of remarkable films in this genre. And here are just five of them.
Just One Of The Guys (1985, 6.5 on IMDb)
Available on: Apple TV+
Loosely based on William Shakespeare's Twelfth Night, this cult teen comedy follows Terri Griffith, a high school girl from Phoenix, Arizona, who dreams of becoming a journalist. Feeling that her teachers don't take her work seriously because she's a girl, Terri decides to enroll at another school as a gender-swapped student, Terry. As the character leads a double life, she has a lot to juggle, but everything is doomed to go wrong.
Summer School (1987, 6.6 on IMDb)
Available on: Apple TV+, Amazon Prime Video
Starring NCIS' Mark Harmon, this classic comedy revolves around a group of underachieving students at a Los Angeles high school who are forced by their vice principal to take remedial English classes over the summer. However, the English teacher has just won a lottery and left the school, which means she needs to be replaced quickly. The vice-principal appoints none other than Harmon's gym teacher to do the job, despite his plans to vacation in Hawaii with his girlfriend.
The 'Burbs (1989, 6.8 on IMDb)
Available on: Netflix
This cult comedy starring Tom Hanks and Carrie Fisher is set in a typical suburban neighborhood of an unnamed city. Ray Peterson is a respected longtime resident of the area who, bored during his week-long vacation, begins to suspect his new neighbors, the Klopeks, of performing human sacrifices in their basement. When Ray convinces his friends to investigate the neighbors, they get into all kinds of hilarious situations until the truth comes out.
Adventures in Babysitting (1987, 6.9 on IMDb)
Available on: Disney+, Apple TV+, Amazon Prime Video
The movie follows Chris Parker, a young woman who has just been dumped by her boyfriend and takes a job babysitting for her neighbors. While Chris is watching the kids one night, she gets a call from her friend who is in big trouble with some criminals in Chicago. On their way to save her friend, Chris and the kids get into trouble themselves and have to fight their way home.
Better Off Dead (1985, 7.1 on IMDb)
Available on: Paramount+, Apple TV+, Amazon Prime Video
Led by John Cusack, this black comedy centers on Lane Meyer, a high school student from Greendale in Northern California who has been dumped by his girlfriend. Devastated, Lane attempts suicide, but fortunately fails. Soon after, he falls in love with an exchange student from France, but now his main goal is to beat his ex's new boyfriend in a ski race.