10 Feel-Good ‘80s Gems for When You’re Having a Bad Day

There’s something about the 1980s that screams “comfort.” The Friday trip to the video rental store, the navigation through the bins, and the selection of the same old rundown VHS tapes that had your favorite films on them. Regardless of how old you were and whether you had had a bad day or not, things got better at that moment. Trips to the movie theater amplified that great feeling; multiplexes were being expanded, and almost every summer, Spielberg cashed in on his new vision.

’80s movies have a sort of innocent, feel-good, and tangible aspect to their textures and narratives. While there were thrills, even horror represents a comfort zone for many people. This feel-good quality is especially represented by the following movies from the ’80s that will automatically improve your bad day.

10 The Goonies (1985)

The Goonies follows a group of teenagers getting themselves in trouble for an honorable cause. The gang, who call themselves the Goonies, find a treasure map in Mikey Walsh’s attic, and they decide to find the pirate loot that will prevent their homes from being taken by the owners of a country club. What they don’t know is that a group of criminals will follow them and try to snatch the pirate treasure from their hands.

Does It Get Any More ’80s Than The Goonies?

Produced by Steven Spielberg, The Goonies had all the look and feel of an Amblin movie about exciting adventures without any fantasy or sci-fi elements. Even though there are criminals, the film stays on a very safe path toward the conclusion. Themes of friendship and bonding are very well-represented in this adventure thriller that obviously inspired Netflix juggernaut Stranger Things.

9 Ghostbusters (1984)

In Ghostbusters, a group of specialists coming from different areas form a research team in 1980s New York City. Their specialty? Hunting ghosts and keeping the city safe. When a portal to another dimension is opened in the heart of Manhattan, Venkman, Ray, Egon and Winston suit up and fight humankind’s worst enemy.

The Perfect Supernatural Comedy

Ghostbusters is a beautiful blend of safe horror and comedy with a backdrop of state-of-the-art special effects and the participation of some of the best comedians of its time. It was very, very successful at the box office (although another comedy, Beverly Hills Cop, beat it by $5 million that year), and it has everything you want in a 1980s film: an iconic theme song, practical effects, and raunchy dialogue.

8 Flight of the Navigator (1986)

Flight of the Navigator follows David Freeman, a 12-year-old boy who goes through something unbelievable: he goes missing for eight years, and when he reappears, he hasn’t aged one day. When he undergoes experiments, David finds out he was taken by aliens who are now communicating with him through telepathy, and they convince him to board a very cool spaceship.

An Outstanding Cult Film for Kids

The film never addresses the obvious “dark” elephant in the room: David is abducted by aliens, and they do experiments on him. Instead, the Disney-produced sci-fi adventure maintains its air of innocence throughout the entire run, even at the end where the screenwriters solve the issue of abduction masterfully. Flight of the Navigator is a great film for children that doesn’t cut back on its ’80s vibes and will also appeal to nostalgia-driven adults.

7 Back to the Future (1985)

Marty McFly joins Doc Brown in his latest experiment. While Marty shoots the video, Doc introduces a time machine. But suddenly, terrorists arrive and kill Doc, and Marty is forced to jump into the DeLorean that takes him 30 years back in time. Somehow, Marty will have to find a younger Doc and convince him that his experiment worked, and he has to return to 1985. The problem is that Marty changes the past and, therefore, his own future.

The Quintessential Sci-Fi Adventure Classic

Another production by Steven Spielberg, Back to the Future, was the highest-grossing film of 1985. The film is a nod to everything ’80s, with Marty playing the guitar, trying to emulate Eddie Van Halen, and riding his skateboard like everybody wished they could back in 1985. The script backs a marvelous teenager’s adventure in which, although he faces some hardships, director Robert Zemeckis never makes you feel as if he isn’t going to make it. We guarantee an honest smile on your face for the whole 116 minutes of its running time.

6 This is Spinal Tap (1984)

This is Spinal Tap follows Martin Di Bergi, a filmmaker who’s making a documentary about the rise and fall of Spinal Tap, an English heavy metal band that has seen better days. Using a journalistic approach, Martin documents the ridiculous nature of being a rock star in the mid-1980s.

An Extremely Funny Execution of the Mockumentary Concept

Rob Reiner debuts in Hollywood with a very clever mockumentary film written by him and the stars of the movie. It’s a gem of the improvisation method seldom used in big Hollywood films, but comedians Christopher Guest, Michael McKean, and Harry Shearer make it seem authentic. It will make you feel good because laughter is the best medicine, and there’s no way you won’t find This is Spinal Tap a hilarious piece of ’80s non-traditional comedy.

5 Planes, Trains and Automobiles (1987)

Neal Page is trying to get to Chicago from New York City two days before Thanksgiving dinner. Of course, he runs late, and just as he tries to catch a cab to the airport, someone else takes it. It’s the beginning of his encounter with Del Griffith, an insufferable salesman who always finds a way to interrupt Neal’s journey.

The Beginning of a Beautiful Friendship

One of the few movies by John Hughes that doesnt star teenagers, Planes, Trains and Automobiles is undoubtedly one of the best comedy films ever made. Starring Steve Martin and John Candy, the road trip film is a collection of setbacks that make Neal’s ordeal absurd and hysterical. Once again, you won’t be able to stop laughing.

Elliot is a lonely boy. His parents’ divorce is inevitable, and he’s going through a difficult age when no one seems to pay attention to him. However, Elliot finds something in the shed in his backyard: a bizarre, wrinkled creature that has magic powers. “E.T.,” Elliot calls him, and even though they bond beautifully, Elliot decides to help the alien return home to his distant planet.

OK, You Might Cry, But It’s All Worth It

E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial has one of the most impressive third acts of the 20th century. Almost no dialogue and a twister of emotions will make you bite your nails, as well as cry while celebrating that E.T. is able to go home. Spielberg proves he’s the master of the decade with a film that made almost $800 million at the box office. It’s an icon of a movie, and while we all wish E.T. had stayed with Elliot, this mix of emotions is part of the experience that makes one of the most heartwarming films in history.

3 Airplane! (1980)

Airplane! is a satirical comedy that follows Ted Striker as he boards a flight from Los Angeles to Chicago in order to win back his girlfriend, Elaine. She’s a stewardess on the flight where something tragic happens: the pilots get food poisoning. Ted is forced to save the day while revisiting his past as a fighter pilot.

The Absolute Best of Its Kind

The film is a spoof on the disaster film trend of the 1970s. Airplane! was a groundbreaking success for Paramount Pictures, who had recycled their own movie Zero Hour!, and remade it for modern audiences. The humor, the jokes, and the slapstick elements make it a film apt for viewers of all ages, although the kids won’t understand everything.