The Best 80s Kids Movies Ever Made

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The 1980s had a huge impact on what’s popular today, especially in movies, TV, and music. Many of the hits we see remade now actually started in the ’80s – think Top Gun, The Little Mermaid, and Indiana Jones. But the movies made for kids during that decade are especially memorable, becoming timeless classics that both children and their parents can enjoy – though for different reasons!

The films on this list are remarkable for a variety of reasons, setting them apart from other movies of the decade. Some were groundbreaking for their genre, and others quickly became timeless favorites. While some were huge commercial successes, topping the box office charts in their release year, others found popularity later through home video. Notably, many of these films have been recognized for their cultural and artistic importance and are preserved by the Library of Congress in the National Film Registry.

Without further delay, here are the best ’80s kids’ movies ever made.

‘The Monster Squad’ (1987)


Tri-Star Pictures

Fred Dekker’s The Monster Squad centers around a group of kids who are obsessed with classic movie monsters – they even named their club after them! Their monster knowledge gets a real workout when Dracula comes to town, determined to cover the world in darkness. He doesn’t plan to do it alone, though, and summons other creatures like the Creature from the Black Lagoon and the Wolfman to help him.

For many children of the 80s, their journey into horror began with a VHS copy of The Monster Squad. The film perfectly captures the familiar story of kids using their bikes to fight evil, and focuses on a dangerous situation that only they can fix. It was notably more intense than most movies made for children at the time. Though it wasn’t a box office success, The Monster Squad became a beloved classic, especially for kids who loved all things spooky, and found a strong following through home video.

‘Willow’ (1988)


MGM

As a lifelong movie fan, I still remember being completely captivated by Willow when it came out. Directed by Ron Howard and with George Lucas heavily involved, it really launched Warwick Davis into the spotlight. He plays Willow, a genuinely good-hearted farmer who dreams of becoming a sorcerer. The story kicks off when he discovers a baby who’s prophesied to defeat the wicked Queen, and he’s suddenly responsible for keeping her safe. Along the way, he teams up with this incredibly skilled, but somewhat reluctant, swordsman named Madmartigan, played by Val Kilmer, and together they face all kinds of dangers as the Queen tries to eliminate the threat to her power.

Look, ‘Willow’ is one of those films that really opened my eyes – and a lot of other kids’ – to the world of fantasy. What blew me away back then, and still holds up today, were the special effects. They weren’t just good for the time; they genuinely pulled you into this huge, sweeping adventure. And like the best family films of the ’80s, ‘Willow’ didn’t dumb things down for younger viewers. It gave us a genuinely exciting, high-stakes story that we could really sink our teeth into.

‘The Goonies’ (1985)


Warner Bros. 

Released in 1985, The Goonies is a fun adventure film featuring Sean Astin, Jeff Cohen, Corey Feldman, Kerri Green, Martha Plimpton, and Ke Huy Quan. The story, originally conceived by Steven Spielberg, centers around a group of kids from Astoria, Oregon, who find an old map. They hope to use the map to find hidden treasure and save their neighborhood from being taken away.

The movie The Goonies helped launch the careers of Sean Astin, Corey Feldman, and Josh Brolin. Despite having so many young actors, the film was a success thanks to surprisingly believable and engaging performances. Ke Huy Quan was already known for his role in Temple of Doom just a year earlier, and the movie’s cast and exciting story of friendship and adventure really appealed to kids.

‘Back to the Future’ (1985)


Universal

Okay, let me tell you about Back to the Future. This movie is a classic, starring Michael J. Fox as Marty McFly, and Christopher Lloyd absolutely kills it as the eccentric Doc Brown. The story? Marty gets thrown back to 1955 in Doc’s incredible time-traveling DeLorean. But here’s the catch: he messes with his parents’ first meeting! Now, he has to make sure they fall in love, or he risks being wiped from existence. It’s a wild, funny, and surprisingly heartwarming ride.

Back to the Future was a hugely popular and groundbreaking film for many growing up in the 1980s. Michael J. Fox’s performance was a major part of its success, and the film’s clever story was made even better by its high stakes. It also famously transformed the DeLorean car – once considered strange – into an iconic movie symbol. And no discussion of Back to the Future is complete without mentioning Alan Silvestri’s incredible music, which perfectly enhanced the film’s most unforgettable moments.

‘Ghostbusters’ (1984)


Columbia Pictures

Ghostbusters is a funny 1984 movie about the supernatural, starring Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, and Harold Ramis. The film follows three friends who lose their jobs at a university and start a unique business: they become ‘Ghostbusters,’ offering to remove ghosts and other paranormal disturbances from New York City – for a fee.

No matter how you first experienced Ghostbusters – through the original movie, its cartoon series, or both – the film’s success is thanks to the amazing creative team behind it. Written by Harold Ramis and Dan Aykroyd, and starring memorable performances from Bill Murray and Ernie Hudson, Ghostbusters uniquely combined spooky supernatural elements with laugh-out-loud comedy – a rare combination even today.

‘The NeverEnding Story’ (1984)


Warner Bros.

Released in 1984, The NeverEnding Story is a fantasy film and Wolfgang Petersen’s first movie made in English. It’s based on Michael Ende’s 1979 novel and features Noah Hathaway, Barret Oliver, Tami Stronach, and others. The story centers on a boy who discovers a special book that tells the exciting story of good versus evil in the fantastical land of Fantasia.

Even though The NeverEnding Story actually has an ending, it became a hugely popular movie for many children of the 1980s, making it a good candidate for a remake today. It’s open to discussion whether the film’s success came from its creative characters, its willingness to explore serious themes, or its surprisingly brave storytelling. Over the years, the movie has been referenced and parodied in popular culture, appearing in shows like The Simpsons and Robot Chicken, which further cemented its place as a classic from the 80s.

‘The Karate Kid’ (1984)


Columbia Pictures

Released in 1984, The Karate Kid is a classic martial arts movie starring Ralph Macchio, Pat Morita, Elisabeth Shue, and William Zabka. The film centers on Daniel LaRusso, a teenager who moves to Los Angeles with his mother after her husband passes away. He quickly finds himself being bullied, particularly by Johnny Lawrence, who used to date the girl Daniel likes. To protect himself, Daniel begins learning karate from Mr. Miyagi, a wise and experienced war veteran, preparing for a karate tournament where he’ll face his tormentors.

Several things likely contributed to The Karate Kid‘s status as a beloved 1980s film. Pat Morita’s performance as Mr. Miyagi brought a genuine sense of wisdom to the character. The movie also shares similarities with Rocky, focusing on an underdog’s journey of self-improvement through martial arts. And let’s not forget the memorable villains, especially William Zabka as Johnny Lawrence. Ultimately, all these elements came together to make The Karate Kid a truly captivating film.

‘Stand by Me’ (1986)


Columbia Pictures

Released in 1986, Stand by Me is a coming-of-age story adapted from Stephen King’s novella, The Body. The film, set in the fictional town of Castle Rock, Oregon, in 1959, centers on four boys—Gordie Lachance (Wil Wheaton), Chris Chambers (River Phoenix), Teddy Duchamp (Corey Feldman), and Vern Tessio (Jerry O’Connell)—who set out on a risky adventure to find a missing person. Kiefer Sutherland plays the antagonist, John “Ace” Merrill.

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While not strictly a children’s movie, Stand by Me was widely seen by kids in the 1980s. The film helped launch the careers of Corey Feldman and Wil Wheaton, and it received an Academy Award nomination for its screenplay. Director Rob Reiner adapted Stephen King’s story, known for its focus on character rather than scares, into a beloved and memorable film about growing up.

‘Raiders of the Lost Ark’ (1981)


Paramount Pictures

Released in 1981, Raiders of the Lost Ark is an action-packed adventure directed by Steven Spielberg. The story, originally conceived by George Lucas and Philip Kaufman, introduces the character of Indiana Jones—played by Harrison Ford—and kicks off the Indiana Jones franchise. The film centers on Indiana Jones, an archaeologist, as he races against the Nazis in 1936 to find the Ark of the Covenant, a legendary artifact said to hold immense power, with Karen Allen and Paul Freeman also starring.

While Temple of Doom later helped create the movie rating system, Raiders of the Lost Ark is probably the most suitable for kids in the Indiana Jones series—except for that famously scary scene with the melting faces. Before that moment, the film was a clever update of classic adventure stories, and Harrison Ford perfectly embodied the role of Indiana Jones. His energy and enjoyment playing the character made all the Indiana Jones movies incredibly fun to watch.

‘Honey, I Shrunk the Kids’ (1989)


Buena Vista Pictures Distribution 

Released in 1989, Honey, I Shrunk the Kids is a funny science fiction movie starring Rick Moranis, Matt Frewer, Marcia Strassman, and Kristine Sutherland. The story centers around an inventor who unintentionally shrinks his own kids and those next door down to a tiny size. Once they’re tossed out with the garbage, the shrunken kids face many dangers as they try to get back to normal in a typical suburban backyard.

The movie surprisingly did very well in theaters, becoming one of Disney’s most successful live-action films for a while. While it might not seem like a huge hit compared to Disney’s recent films, Honey, I Shrunk the Kids was popular enough to get two sequels and even its own ride at a theme park. Director Joe Johnston used this success as a springboard, going on to direct other well-known films like The Rocketeer, Jumanji, and Captain America: The First Avenger.

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2026-02-20 23:06