10 Eighties Movies That Your Kids Must See!

We love our films here. We have a family movie night every weekend, and I’d say that our kids have watched a fair few classics as well as the more recent releases and a whole raft of Disney pictures. As children from the eighties, the Husband and I have a real soft spot for 80s movies, from Rocky to Ferris Bueller to the Breakfast Club to Ghostbusters to Top Gun to Rambo, they cannot be beaten, and yes I could go on listing so many more favourites for a long time! And then there’s all of the brilliant family films from that decade that we have now introduced our kids to. So today I wanted to share some of our must see kids favourites.

This list has some eighties family movies that you’d absolutely expect to top lists like this, and then a few that are a bit more random as they are favourites here.

10 80s Movies That Your Kids Must See!

1. The Goonies

In order to save their home from foreclosure, a group of misfits set out to find a pirate’s ancient valuable treasure.

An absolute classic. Everyone needs to see this film when they’re growing up. From the truffle shuffle to the treasure hunt, this makes us laugh out loud and I find myself wanting to have a gang to go on an underground adventure with!

2. Star Wars

After the rebels are overpowered by the Empire on their newly established base, Luke Skywalker begins Jedi training with Master Yoda. His friends accept shelter from a questionable ally as Darth Vader hunts them in a plan to capture Luke.

Yes, I know A New Hope was 1977, but the other two were in the eighties so I’ll go for the first of them, Episode V The Empire Strikes Back. This one also happens to be my favourite of all of the Star Wars films. We are big Star Wars fans here and have seen these many, many, many times.

3. Back to the Future

Marty McFly, a seventeen-year-old high school student, is accidentally sent thirty years into the past in a time-travelling DeLorean invented by his close friend, the maverick scientist Doc Brown.

Oh, how I loved Michael J Fox in the eighties. I had a poster of him on my bedroom wall and my mum knitted me an MJF jumper! This is a great film, a fun concept, I adore the characters and it brings back so many happy memories for me.



4. Honey, I Shrunk the Kids

The scientist father of a teenage girl and boy accidentally shrinks his and two other neighborhood teens to the size of insects. Now the teens must fight diminutive dangers as the father searches for them.

It’s an exciting adventure from start to finish, with kids as the main characters and I love the effects as you watch this back.

5. Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom

After arriving in India, Indiana Jones is asked by a desperate village to find a mystical stone. He agrees, and stumbles upon a secret cult plotting a terrible plan in the catacombs of an ancient palace.

Any and all of the Indiana Jones films are hits here. Personally, I favour Temple of Doom – ‘chilled monkey brains’, and yes, I am still saying it’s a family film! My kids love Indiana Jones, as do the Husband and I, he is just a legend.

6. The Neverending Story

A troubled boy dives into a wondrous fantasy world through the pages of a mysterious book.

Truth be told, my two weren’t that excited by this one, but it’s one that everyone just has to see, isn’t it? If we’re talking 80s fantasy films, I’d say Labyrinth definitely captured them more.

7. E.T. – The Extra Terrestrial 

A troubled child summons the courage to help a friendly alien escape Earth and return to his home world.

The very first film that I saw at the cinema. And I still cry at it every single time that I watch it. My two enjoy this one, it remains magical, though I try to avoid watching the end!

8. Labyrinth

A 16-year-old girl is given 13 hours to solve a labyrinth and rescue her baby brother when her wish for him to be taken away is granted by the Goblin King.

It’s a spectacle from start to finish, with fun and fantastical creatures, the brilliant Bowie and I love the soundtrack.



9. Harry and the Hendersons

The Henderson family adopt a friendly Sasquatch but have a hard time trying to keep the legend of ‘Bigfoot’ a secret.

Love it! It’s just a fun film. Little Man really likes this one, his favourite scene is when Harry first goes into their house and basically destroys it!

10. The Princess Bride

While home sick in bed, a young boy’s grandfather reads him a story called The Princess Bride.

This one works so well on different levels, with plenty of humour in there for us adults, action scenes to keep them entranced and funny characters throughout.

I am also looking forward to introducing them to all of those films I mentioned at the top of this post and every single John Hughes film when they are a little older. Can’t wait!

Are these favourites in your house? What would you add to this list?

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4 thoughts on “10 Eighties Movies That Your Kids Must See!”

  1. These are fantastic films!
    My teen has watched most of these and my youngest has watched a few. Ellie loved The Neverending Story, we watched it a couple of weeks ago…Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom is the only Indiana Jones film I like. hehehe

  2. Oh loads but we have also regularly bought the boys box sets of TV shows from back in the day. They have, and love, Knight Rider also The Fall Guy, Dukes of Hazzard, Airwolf, Battlestar Gallactica, the original Star Trek but The Goonies is one of our most fav – “I love you Chunk”!.

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