Movies of the 80s
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We love the 1980s. Everything on this page is all about movies of the 1980s. Starting in 1980 and working our way the decade, we are preserving the stories and movies of the greatest decade, the 80s. https://www.youtube.com/@Moviesofthe80s
Stories (122)
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Jack Palance, a Sword, and the Making of Hawk the Slayer (1980)
There are movies that live or die by spectacle; then there are movies whose legends outlive their budgets. Hawk the Slayer sits squarely in the latter camp. The British sword-and-sorcery film (1980), directed by Terry Marcel, is a beloved oddity: rough around the edges, gorgeously theatrical in places, and defended fiercely by a small but devoted cult. Its most enduring backstage image — the one that makes for a perfect lede — concerns Jack Palance. Fan lore holds that Palance was punctured by a sword during a filmed duel and finished the take regardless. It’s the sort of anecdote you hope is true: dramatic, a little brutal, and utterly in character for Palance’s on-screen menace.
By Movies of the 80s4 months ago in Geeks
Three Movies, One Year: Chevy Chase’s Strange 1980
Chevy Chase at the Crossroads The year 1980 was a strange one for Chevy Chase. Still fresh from his rocket rise on Saturday Night Live and his first starring vehicle Foul Play (1978), Chase entered the new decade with a mix of superstardom and uncertainty. He had the charisma, the deadpan timing, and the bankability, but his choices that year reveal an actor pulled in three directions at once: the cool improviser in Caddyshack, the screwball romantic lead in Seems Like Old Times, and the confused reincarnated detective in Oh! Heavenly Dog.
By Movies of the 80s4 months ago in Geeks
Murder, Mystery, and a Royal Assassination: The Dark History Behind The Mirror Crack’d (1980)
Glamour, Murder, and a Secret History At first glance, The Mirror Crack’d (1980) is a quintessential Agatha Christie adaptation — a stately English village, a glamorous cast led by Elizabeth Taylor, Rock Hudson, Kim Novak, and Angela Lansbury, and a murder mystery rooted in secrets from the past. It looks and feels like pure Christie escapism, all polished surfaces and melodrama.
By Movies of the 80s4 months ago in Geeks
When the Music Outlived the Movie: The Troubled Production of The Jazz Singer (1980)
A Remake That Promised Everything and Delivered Chaos In 1980, Hollywood attempted something bold and, in hindsight, misguided: remake The Jazz Singer, the groundbreaking 1927 film that ushered in the era of sound. The logic seemed sound enough. Attach a megastar musician — Neil Diamond, then at a commercial high point — surround him with prestige actors like Sir Laurence Olivier, and modernize the father-son generational conflict for a new era.
By Movies of the 80s4 months ago in Geeks
Richard Donner’s Inside Move: Making Inside Moves after being removed from Superman II
When Richard Donner wrapped Superman in 1978 he had reshaped the blockbuster — then lost control of its sequel. Donner had shot much of Superman II back-to-back with the first film, but creative and contractual clashes with producers Alexander and Ilya Salkind resulted in his abrupt removal before the picture was completed. The public fallout was sharp: a director who had redefined spectacle found himself sidelined from his own franchise, bruised and furious.
By Movies of the 80s4 months ago in Geeks
Why Jack Lemmon’s Favorite Role, Tribute (1980), Is Missing from Streaming
Jack Lemmon’s Love for Tribute (1980) Jack Lemmon’s career was filled with unforgettable performances — from The Apartment to Missing — but he often singled out Tribute (1980) as his personal favorite.
By Movies of the 80s4 months ago in Geeks
Marlon Brando’s The Formula (1980): Why Brando Did It, Why Avildsen Disowned It, and What really happened
In the pantheon of 1980s cinema, The Formula stands out as one of Marlon Brando’s more controversial late-career films—not for its box-office glory so much as what happened behind the camera. Between tension over editing, ideological clashes, and Brando’s later dismissal of the film, it’s become a case study in how even big names can’t always save a troubled production.
By Movies of the 80s4 months ago in Geeks
How Dolly Parton Wrote “9 to 5” — Her Casting in 9 to 5 and the Song’s Unforgettable Sound
Introduction Released in 1980, “9 to 5” is not just one of Dolly Parton’s most iconic songs — it’s also inseparable from her film debut in 9 to 5, a comedy about working women dealing with discrimination, low pay, and an overbearing boss. The song, its creation, and Parton’s casting are deeply intertwined, offering a window into her creativity, negotiation skills, and her ability to turn lived-in workplace frustrations into art.
By Movies of the 80s4 months ago in Beat
Jaclyn Smith’s Fight for Control: The Making of Nightkill (1980)
In 1980’s Nightkill, Jaclyn Smith went from TV stardom to psychological thriller — fighting off nudity demands, navigating on-set tension, and finding romance with cinematographer Anthony Richmond. Here’s the story behind the cult desert noir.
By Movies of the 80s4 months ago in Geeks
Frederick Forsyth, The Dogs of War, and the writer who blurred research and reality
Frederick Forsyth used undercover reporting, intelligence contacts and audacious stunts while researching The Dogs of War. That immersion gave the 1974 novel — and the 1980 film — a cold, operational realism that resonated with readers and, alarmingly, inspired real-world coup plots.
By Movies of the 80s4 months ago in Geeks
Tess (1980): How Polanski’s Troubled Production Made a Pastoral Masterpiece
Movies of the 80s recognizes that content surrounding someone like Roman Polanski can be controversial and hurtful to those who've been through similar trauma. This article is not intended to venerate Roman Polanski the man but rather, to discuss a movie that is a great work of art despite the character of its creator.
By Movies of the 80s4 months ago in Geeks
Clyde’s Revenge: The Wild Story Behind Any Which Way You Can
When Clint Eastwood released Every Which Way But Loose in 1978, audiences weren’t quite sure what to expect. The world’s most famous tough guy, known for his squints and six-shooters, was suddenly playing a laid-back trucker with a mischievous orangutan sidekick. It sounded absurd—but the film became a massive box office hit. Two years later, Eastwood returned with Any Which Way You Can (1980), a sequel that doubled down on the oddball comedy, the bare-knuckle brawling, and most importantly, Clyde the orangutan.
By Movies of the 80s4 months ago in Geeks
