Image credit: MGM, Walt Disney Studios, Universal Pictures, TriStar Pictures, Twentieth Century Fox, Roadside Attractions
Okay, so everyone and their grandmother have watched "The Goonies". But the 1980s produced so much more in family movie genre!
1. "The Secret of NIMH" (1982) Mrs. Brisby, a timid field mouse, is in a bit of a pickle. With her son, Timothy, sick and unable to move, she has to find a way to move her family out of the path of the farmer's plow.
Here's where the twist comes in: she discovers her late husband's ties with a society of genetically altered rats from the National Institute of Mental Health. With their superior intelligence and mysterious ways, they might be her only hope.
Watch out for a magical amulet, creepy cats, and unexpected allies in this animation wonder.
2. "Flight of the Navigator" (1986) David Freeman takes a short walk in the woods but returns 8 years later, not a day older. How? That's the million-dollar question.
It turns out David's been chilling 8 light-years away, selected by an alien spaceship to be studied. Now, with the ship (which goes by the name Max) hiding on Earth from NASA, David and Max are on a thrilling race against time to return David back to his original timeline.
Spaceships, time travel, and an alien with a personality – got your attention yet?
3. "The Last Starfighter" (1984) Who said playing video games is a waste of time? For Alex Rogan, it's the ticket to the stars! After acing the "Starfighter" arcade game, he's recruited by an alien defense force to fight in a real interstellar war. The reason? The game was a secret test to find skilled pilots. From a trailer park to piloting the Gunstar spacecraft, Alex's leap is something of legends.
The film offers impressive (for the '80s) CGI, quirky alien allies, and high stakes in the cosmos.
4. "The Watcher in the Woods" (1980) When the Curtis family moves into an old English manor, the daughters, Jan and Ellie, get more than they bargained for. There's an eerie presence in the surrounding woods and a decades-old mystery tied to the landlord's daughter's disappearance during a solar eclipse.
Mirror reflections, blindfolded games, and ghostly apparitions give this Disney film a spookier vibe. Who was Karen, and what happened in those woods? Prepare for some hair-raising moments as the Curtis girls unravel the truth.
5. "Short Circuit" (1986) Number 5 is alive! No, it's not a living creature but a military robot struck by lightning, making it sentient. Breaking free from the lab, this naive robot, now named Johnny Five, is on the loose and curious about everything. With phrases like "Need input!" and a childlike enthusiasm, he quickly wins over Ally Sheedy and Steve Guttenberg's characters. But with the military on his tail, the road to freedom isn't all sunshine and rainbows.
Robots, comedy, and a dash of action – this one's a keeper.
6. "The Boy Who Could Fly" (1986) Eric, a teenager with autism, has a peculiar belief: he can fly. After the tragic loss of his parents, he moves next door to Milly and her family. Their bond grows as Milly, coping with her own father's death, begins to believe in Eric's ability. Between school bullies and skeptical adults, the duo faces more than just the challenge of flight.
Can the power of belief and friendship make the impossible, possible? Keep an eye out for that heartwarming scene on the school rooftop.
7. "Batteries Not Included" (1987) It's a classic tale of property developers vs. elderly tenants of a run-down building, but with a twist. Enter tiny, living spaceships (or Fix-Its) to the rescue! They're here to repair everything, from electrical appliances to strained relationships.
As the residents, including an aging couple, a pregnant woman, and a washed-up boxer, rally together, they realize there's more to these alien visitors than meets the eye. Got to love when aliens turn out to be the good guys, right?
8. "The Great Mouse Detective" (1986) Basil of Baker Street is no ordinary mouse; he's a detective on par with Sherlock Holmes. When a toy-maker is kidnapped by the wicked Ratigan (with Vincent Price's excellent voice work), it's up to Basil and his trusty sidekick, Dr. Dawson, to save the day.
This rodent world, set in the underbelly of Victorian London, has everything: disguises, chases, and even a musical number in a mouse pub. It's a game of cat and mouse – well, rat and mouse.
9. "Midnight Madness" (1980) Ready for a wild, all-night treasure hunt? A nerdy college genius, Leon, invites five student teams to compete in a "Great All-Nighter" game. The challenge? Solve riddles leading them across Los Angeles to find a hidden trophy. From the Pabst Blue Ribbon brewery to the Griffith Observatory, it's a hilarious scramble full of blunders and teamwork.
Forget smartphones and GPS; this is good old-fashioned fun where a brain beats brawn every time.
10. "The Peanut Butter Solution" (1985) Hair today, gone tomorrow, and then... too much hair? When 11-year-old Michael sneaks into a burned-down house, he's scared witless by a vision, causing him to lose all his hair. But fret not! Two friendly ghosts give him a peanut butter-based recipe to regrow it. There's just one tiny problem: he uses too much, and now his hair won't stop growing!
Kidnappings, magical brushes, and endless hair make this film an odd yet delightful watch. Just remember, always follow the recipe to a T.
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