How many of these hit ’80s movies can you guess from a single image?
Remember how many you get right…
…because we’ll tell you how you scored at the end.
Let’s start with…
1980
This is an easy one.
Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back was the biggest hit at the domestic box office in 1980, but this was No. 2.
It boasted one of the best main songs of the ’80s, courtesy of the woman in the photo above.
1980 Answer: Nine to Five
The film starred, from left to right, above, Dolly Parton, Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin as three hardworking women fed up with the sexism of their lazy, chauvinistic boss, played by Dabney Coleman.
So of course they have to kidnap him.
The film combines fun, farce and frustration into a cogent comedy with something to say. And it’s classic main song, of course, is Dolly Parton’s “Nine to Five.”
1981
This transatlantic hit involves two college students who come across something they shouldn’t, with transformational results.
It was the No. 11 movie at the domestic box office in 1981.
Given that there’s a nurse in it (above), you may think it’s a medical drama. And we guess it is, in a strange sort of way.
Ready with your guess? Then click ahead. It is:
1981 Answer: An American Werewolf in London
Starring David Naughton, Griffin Dunne and Jenny Agutter, An American Werewolf in London was a huge success for writer-director John Landis, who was on a hot streak after breaking out with The Kentucky Fried Movie in the ’70s, then directing Animal House and The Blues Brothers back-to-back.
He and went on to direct Trading Places, Coming to America, and Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” video, among many other successes.
Let’s change genres for our next year…
1982
There are two unforgettable pairings in this film, and the one above is the less romantic.
If you went on a date in 1982, there’s a good chance this is the movie you saw.
It was the No. 5 movie of the year.
Ready? Here we go…
Ready for the answer? OK. It is… scroll down…
1982 Answer: An Officer as a Gentleman
Richard Gere and Debra Winger had irresistible onscreen chemistry in An Officer and a Gentleman, which won a best supporting actor Oscar for Louis Gossett Jr., seen in the mud with Gere in the previous photo.
The film follows Zack Mayo (Gere), a U.S. Navy Aviation Officer candidate who falls for Paula (Winger), as he tries desperately to win the approval of Gunnery Sergeant Emil Foley, played by Gossett.
The film’s mix of romance and military machismo was later embraced by another hit ’80s movie, Top Gun.
1983
This sequel found the absolutely ripped gentleman on the left reprising one of his best-known roles.
It was directed by fellow Italian Stallion Sylvester Stallone, and came out between Rocky III and Rocky IV.
Ready? It is of course…
1983 Answer: Staying Alive
This absolutely wild sequel to Saturday Night Fever brought Travolta’s character out of the disco era. He’s now a Manhattan dance teacher, trying to make it on Broadway.
At one point, it was the highest-grossest movie with a zero on Rotten Tomatoes, but then a critic gave it a good review, to rescue it from that dubious distinction.
We saw it with our mom, who always loved Travolta and Stallone and dance movies, and enjoyed it a lot.
These are going to get harder as we go, by the way. Ready for our next year?
1984
Just look at these two sweet kids. They must have starred in a sweet romantic comedy, right?
One where they stayed home and threw a snack in the microwave?
Maybe? Not exactly. They’re the stars of…
1984 Answer: Gremlins
Phoebe Cates and Zach Galligan starred in this stunning creature feature, the No. 3 movie at the box office in 1984.
Galligan plays a young man who gets a cuddly pet for Christmas: a furry creature called a mogwai whose just as cuddly as can be as long as you follow three rules: Don’t him out of bright light, don’t get him wet, and don’t feed him after midnight.
Unfortunately for the people in the movie — but very fortunately for the people watching it — rules get broken. Gremlins is one of the most essential movies of 1984 as well as one of the biggest hits.
Ready for 1985?
1985
The picture above is from the No. 8 movie of 1985, but we bet you have no idea what it is.
If you do, by all means sound off.
Ready? Here we go…
1985 Answer: Police Academy 2: Their First Assignment
Police Academy 2: Their First Assignment was the quickly released sequel to Police Academy, the No. 5 movie of 1984.
Its ensemble cast included Michael Winslow, seen in the previous image and third from left, above. He played Larvell Jones, a role that allowed him to show off his absolutely awesome ability to make cool, ultra-realistic sound effects using only his voice.
We were blessed with seven Police Academy movies in all, and Michael Winslow was the only star to appear in all of them.
Ready for 1986?
1986
The fellow on the left starred in many great ’80s movies, and also enjoyed a stint on Saturday Night Live.
He’s still going strong, and stars in one of the most anticipated movies of this year.
We’re sure you recognize him. But can you name the movie he’s pictured in above, which was the No. 4 movie of 1986 at the box office?
1986 Answer: Back to School
We know: You think of Back to School as a Rodney Dangerfield movie, not a Robert Downey Jr. movie.
Downey plays Derek Lutz, roomate and only friend of Jason Melon (Keith Gordon, seen with Downey in the previous image.)
Jason’s dad, Thornton Melon, decides to enroll in college to help his son get motivated, and everyone, especially viewers, has an absolute blast.
Downey returns this year as Doctor Doom in Avengers: Doomsday.
And now onto the next year…
1987
The character above gets done wrong, very wrong, in the No. 3 movie of 1987.
It sparked a lot of discussion and debate, becoming a cultural phenomenon.
Any guess what it is?
1987 Answer: Fatal Attraction
Michael Douglas and Glenn Close (above) get most of the screen time in Adrian Lyne’s Fatal Attraction.
But Anne Archer, seen in the previous image, holds down the fort as Beth Gallagher, the wife Douglas’ character, Dan Gallagher, foolishly cheats on.
Fatal Attraction ranks very highly among films of its genre.
And look, it’s already time for 1988.
1988
There were a lot of military movies in the 1980, as the country processed still-raw memories of Vietnam.
If we showed you the main character in the film above, you would get it instantly.
Any guess? Radio it in.
1988 Answer: Good Morning Vietnam
Robin Williams stars in the wartime comedy Good Morning Vietnam as Adrian Kronauer, a real-life radio host who gives hope and honesty to fellow soldiers, even as he shocks the higher-ups with his refusal to censor himself.
Forest Whitaker, seen in the previous image, plays Cronauer’s loyal friend, Private First Class Edward Garlick.
Directed by Barry Levinson, who was on quite a creative and commercial run, Good Morning Vietnam was the No. 3 movie at the box office in 1988.
And now, as the decade nears its end…
1989
You certainly would recognize the co-lead of one of the biggest action franchises of the ’80s and ’90s.
But remember his first love interest?
If you do, you’ll recognize the movie from a single image of her.
1989: Lethal Weapon 2
Mel Gibson and Danny Glover as partners Riggs and Murtaugh in Lethal Weapon, the No. 8 film of 1987.
They returned in 1989 for Lethal Weapon 2, which introduced love interest Rika van den Haas, played by Patsy Kensit, seen in the previous photo. (In the first Lethal Weapon, Murtaugh was too distraght by his wife’s death to think about anyone else.)
Kensit and Gibson have an electric grocery-store scene that we still think about almost every time we go shopping.
Lethal Weapon 2 was the No. 3 movie of 1989 and an even bigger smash than the original. It’s one of the best buddy movies ever.
How’d You Score on Recognizing Hit ’80s Movies From a Single Image?
How many of these hits of the 1970s did you recognize? Here’s how you scored:
9 or more correct… Jedi Master
7 or more correct… Beverly Hills Cop
5 or more correct… An Officer and a Gentleman
3 or more correct… Goonies
Fewer than 3 correct… Losers Club
And if you liked this list, you might also like seeing how many of these 1970s movies you can recognize from a single image.
And please follow us for more stories like this.
Main image: Debra Winger in a promotional image for An Officer and a Gentleman. Paramount.
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