When I was growing up, movies were a big deal in my family. Once my brother and I decided that we liked a movie, we watched it a million times on repeat. As my daughter gets older, I am excited to share some of my favorite 80s movies with her, especially since I have assumed the role of the annoyed parent who does not want to watch bad movies over and over.
Here are a few favorites 80’s movies I can’t wait to share with my daughter:
The New Adventures of Pippi Longstocking
I remember seeing this movie for the first time with our cousins in Washington, D.C. Pippi is the girl every child wants to be: she’s brave, bold, courageous, and fun. I can’t think of anyone who wouldn’t want to spin around like a helicopter or live in a house with a horse, a monkey, and no adults. This fun-filled movie contains one of my favorite quotes, “life is a breeze. We live it for fun. No apologies to anyone.” What a great motto.
Troop Beverly Hills
Shelley Long is at the top of her game in Troop Beverly Hills. This movie makes me want to be a wilderness girl, preferably in Beverly Hills. “Camping” in a ritzy hotel? Count me in. I also love how Shelley Long’s character redeems herself at the end. My favorite quotes from the movie are, “it’s cookie time. It’s cookie time. It’s cookie TIIIIIME!” and “patches. We don’t need no stinkin patches.”
Labyrinth
I had no idea how popular this movie was until I got older. David Bowie plays such a convincing goblin king that I will never hear his name without thinking of Labyrinth. I recently watched this as an adult and realized this movie is actually kind of scary. Those goblins are no joke.
Adventures in Babysitting
I always wanted a babysitter as cool as Chris. It didn’t seem to bother me that someone gets stabbed and Sara ends up hanging off the side of a skyscraper in the end. I need to watch this again as an adult, because I’m sure I will not think it’s as fun as I did when I was younger. It’s still one of my favorite 80s movies, but I might have to wait another decade before letting my daughter watch this with me. I don’t want her getting any ideas, like convincing her babysitter she should drive her to Chicago.
The Chipmunk Adventure
This movie is more my daughter’s speed: cartoon talking chipmunks traveling around the world in a hot air balloon to deliver diamonds and fuel in an illegal business. Wait what? Why couldn’t this just be a wholesome trip around the world with couscous and friendly snakes who dance around with chipmunks in a beautifully decorated palace? My brother and I loved standing on the edge of the couch and recreating the scene where the chipmunks sing, “we are the girls/boys of rock ‘n’ roll,” while leaning out the side of our “hot air balloon.” “You better believe it. Yeah yeah yeah.”
Rainbow Brite and the Star Stealer
Rainbow Brite is one of my favorite cartoons from the 80s. In this movie she proves that rainbows are stronger than hate… or something. She also proves that rainbows can blind the bad guys and bring spring back to earth. Yay for rainbows!
This is a small sampling of my favorite 80s movies. The world of cinema is forever indebted to the 80s for its numerous contributions, and I could have added many more to the list.
What are some of your favorite 80’s movies that you can’t wait to watch with your kids?
Never Ending Story! Also scary and disturbing, but that’s just how kid movies were back then ^_^
Yes!! We loved that movie too. I agree that kid movies from the 80s movies were just a little bit weird, but we loved them anyways. I haven’t seen The Neverending Story in a long time. Might have to watch it again soon!
Yes I remember all of these movies all too well. ?
Yes, you were the lucky one who got to watch all of these with us over and over. Thanks for being a good sport! Haha