Lights, Camera, Action!
80’s movie marathon
October 19, 2018
The 1980’s was an era of bold fashion, rock music, iconic singers such as Michael Jackson and Madonna, and had innovative popular food items such as sloppy joes and salisbury steak. The 80’s were known as many things and various iconic movies was one of them. Netflix has multiple films from the decade which can make for a perfect 80’s movie marathon. After binge-watching you will feel like you grew up with New Kids on the Block and were constantly wearing neon slap bracelets.
Starting off the 80’s movie marathon is the widely popular, coming-of-age cult classic, The Breakfast Club. This film was released in 1985 and is well known today for giving us an unforgettable storyline, a talented cast, and an iconic soundtrack. The film follows five high school students from diverse backgrounds and their experience in Saturday detention. The group includes a rebel, princess, jock, brain, and an outcast. In detention, they discover themselves and learn that stereotypes might not always be what they seem. The film stars Judd Nelson as rebel John Bender, along with Molly Ringwald, Ally Sheedy, Emilio Estevez, and Anthony Michael Hall. Soundtracks can make or break a movie, and this movie included iconic songs. One song, “Don’t You Forget About Me” sang by Simple Minds, has remained a symbol of the film for years. If you want to watch a comedic movie that was ahead of its time, this film is a great way to kick off your marathon.
The 1980’s was an era with many films devoted to romance. This next movie, The Money Pit released in 1986, is a perfect romantic comedy suitable for all ages. The film follows young couple Walter and Anna on their quest to renovate their dream home. Problems occur when their house starts to fall apart from old age, and they start to question if their struggles for the perfect home are really worth their money. The film stars Tom Hanks as Walter and Shelly Long as Anna. This motion picture will be sure to make you laugh through relatable romance issues that are still time relevant today.
To finish your perfect night of 80’s classics is the teen drama Heathers which was released in 1989. The film is a well-known cult classic for its dark plot which includes a malicious revenge scheme. The movie follows seventeen-year-old Veronica Sawyer, the most popular girl in school and a member of a trendy clique consisting of three girls all named Heather. When Veronica realizes that she does not agree with the beliefs of the other members of the group, she enlists help in outsider J.D., who seems to be able to help her solve all of her problems. The cast consists of Winona Ryder, who plays Veronica Sawyer, along with Christian Slater as J.D. This movie is a perfect way to close out your marathon, but be warned, it is not for the faint of heart.
Though many of these 80’s fan-favorite movies have been losing popularity and recognition throughout the years, they still achieve the goal of every film: to entertain. Junior Bryan Alaezi pointed out, “The 80’s is a good time period to reflect on, especially through movies because it helps us learn about the past and also enjoy ourselves while watching vintage films.”