When it comes to 80s comedies, John Hughes ruled the roost with a series of top teen romantic comedies that have become cult classics. From Sixteen Candles to The Breakfast Club, they were all released in the 80s. But, so many other great comedy films come from that decade, easily overshadowed by others that have had staying power over the years, from John Hughes and others.

Beyond the obvious films like Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure, The Goonies, Beverly Hills Cop, Spaceballs, National Lampoon's Vacation, Ghostbusters, Ferris Bueller's Day Off, The Princess Bride, Back to the Future, Airplane!, and Look Who's Talking, there were tons of comedies that deserve some kudos from that decade.

10 Beetlejuice (1988)

This combination of a star-studded cast that includes Alec Baldwin, Geena Davis, Michael Keaton, Catherine O'Hara, Jeffrey Jones, and Winona Ryder, direction by Tim Burton, and a hilarious fantasy film was comedy gold.

It's one of those movies everyone knows, and Keaton's Beetlejuice is an iconic character who teetered the line beautifully between funny and mean. Yet ,the movie has been overshadowed by so many other great comedy films of the decade that are better recognized in that genre: Beetlejuice is often forgotten as a comedy because of its elements of creepiness.

9 Stripes (1981)

One of the films to kick off the decade was this war comedy starring comedy legend Bill Murray. Directed by frequent collaborator Ivan Reitman, it also starred Harold Ramis and John Candy and marked the first major roles for actors who went on to become stars, including John Larroquette, Conrad Dunn, and Judge Reinhold.

It centered around a down-on-his-luck cab driver in New York who, after losing everything, decides to join the army. There, he and his best friend undergo the grueling training though they manage to have some fun at the same time.

8 Pee-Wee's Big Adventure (1985)

"I know you are, but what am I?" Pee-wee Herman himself is an iconic and memorable character, but this film is one that was huge at the time, but isn't one that's often pulled up to watch again with the kids, 35 years later, and it totally should be.

Overgrown man-child Pee-wee is innocent and happy-go-lucky, but, when his precious bicycle is stolen, he goes on a mission to find it. So, the hilarious adventure begins, and, even tough film critic Roger Ebert named this movie on his list of "guilty pleasures."

7 Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (1988)

In one of his best roles, Steve Martin stars in this film alongside Michael Caine. Both were icons of the 80s, yet among all of the movies and projects they were involved in during the decade, this flick doesn't get as much love. The comedy, a remake of the 1964 film Bedtime Story that starred Marlon Brando and David Niven, was about two con men who try to get $50,000 from a wealthy heiress.

In fairness, the film hasn't totally been forgotten: it was re-made in gender reversal fashion in 2019 in the funny movie The Hustle, which starred Anne Hathaway and Rebel Wilson.

6 Trading Places (1983)

The idea of two people swapping lives, or even bodies, was a pretty popular one in the 80s, and this film is one of those long-lost ones that are totally worth watching again. It stars Dan Aykroyd as a wealthy commodities broker and Eddie Murphy as a poor street hustler. The pair become subjects of a bet to see how each would do living in the other's life circumstances.

Naturally, the result is plenty of hilarity, thanks, in large part, to the two amazing leads, which are interesting, as the roles were initially intended for Richard Pryor and Gene Wilder. While the racial jokes and language used are questionable, it was a film of its time.

5 Diner (1982)

Few people will even realize this comedy-drama existed, but it was among the best of the decade. Starring the who's who of the 80s, including Steve Guttenberg, Daniel Stern, Mickey Rourke, Paul Reiser, Kevin Bacon, Timothy Daly, and Ellen Barkin, it tells the story of a group of friends in 1959 who get together at a diner in Baltimore to celebrate the pending nuptials of one of them.

It was actually a semi-autobiographical film with dramatic undertones examining how people change as they get older and their priorities shift and how their relationships change as a result. Nonetheless, it was still funny at heart.

4 Fletch (1985)

When anyone thinks of Chevy Chase in the 80s, they automatically think N ational Lampoon's and Caddyshack, andNational Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, released in 1989, ranks as his best film role. But, he was in another popular film during the decade, this neo-noir comedy thriller. In it, Chase plays a reporter for the Los Angeles Times who is offered a ridiculous sum of money by a millionaire to kill the wealthy man following his terminal cancer diagnosis.

Except, it turns out the man isn't sick at all, and, as "Fletch" digs deeper, his own life becomes at risk. It sounds pretty ominous, which might very well be why the movie isn't often recognized for its comedic tone. Yet, it's one of the most underrated comedy movies of the decade.

3 Back to School (1986)

No 80s comedy movies list would be complete without an entry from Rodney Dangerfield, who appeared in tons of movies during that decade. This film is one of his lesser-known ones. The premise: in an effort to show his support to his son, Dangerfield's character attends college with him.

While uneducated, his character is wealthy. The crux of the film is to bring laughs, but it also has an important lesson that money cannot buy happiness, nor an education.

2 Ruthless People (1986)

Dubbed a black comedy, this film marks the movie debut of Bill Pullman and also stars Danny DeVito, Bette Midler, and Judge Reinhold. It's about a couple who decide to get revenge on their former boss by kidnapping his wife to try and extort him for money. The plan backfires when they discover that not only is their old boss unwilling to pay to get his wife back, but he had been planning to have her killed himself anyway!

1 Revenge of the Nerds (1984)

How this film fell into oblivion is a wonder as it was a teen sex comedy that defined a generation. A group of "nerds," designed to completely fit the stereotype, are continually harassed by a group of jocks at their college.

Rife with plenty of stereotypes, racism, and misogyny, and full of typical comedy tropes, it's completely silly and fun viewing as long as it's taken for what it is. Viewers should understand before even pressing play that the movie is likely far more offensive than many remember it being. While it was universally panned by critics, the movie did have a positive underlying theme about the underdog getting his comeuppance.

NEXT: 5 Comedy Films From The '80s That Are Way Underrated (& 5 That Are Overrated)

Next Every David Lynch Movie, Ranked By Rewatchability

About The Author

Christine Persaud (1182 Articles Published)

A professional writer and editor with 20 years of experience, Christine, who shifted to working freelance in 2014, is a self-professed TV fanatic with tastes that vary considerably from comedies to dramas, sci-fi, and more. She can usually be found binging a new show at night, a glass of red in hand. With a long history writing in the field of consumer tech, she now also writes on topics from entertainment to parenting, lifestyle, marketing, and business. She resides in Toronto, Ontario in Canada with her husband and son.

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