1980 Comedy Movies

From Robert Zemeckis, starring Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd, Lea Thompson, Crispin Glover
Rated PG

Back to the Future is a classic sci-fi/comedy film directed by Robert Zemeckis in 1985. It tells the story of Marty McFly, a teenager who is accidentally sent back in time to the 1950s in a time-traveling DeLorean. With the help of eccentric scientist Dr. Emmett Brown, Marty must find a way to get back to his own time while inadvertently changing the course of history. Along the way, he meets his parents as teenagers, gets them back together, and avoids the wrath of Biff Tannen, the bully of Hill Valley. With a combination of science and luck, Marty and Doc manage to get back to the present, but not without a few close calls and some unexpected twists. The film features an all-star cast, including Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd, Lea Thompson and Crispin Glover.

From Rob Reiner, starring Cary Elwes, Mandy Patinkin, Robin Wright, Chris Sarandon
Rated PG

The Princess Bride is a classic romantic comedy-adventure film from 1987 directed by Rob Reiner. It follows the story of farmhand Westley, who embarks on a quest to reunite with the love of his life, Princess Buttercup. Along the way, he encounters a series of obstacles and adversaries, such as a giant, a scheming prince, and a malicious Spaniard. With the help of his friends, including a giant, a sword-fighting master, a master strategist, and a miracle man, Westley must overcome these foes and reunite with his beloved princess. Along the way, they also encounter a series of comedic moments and memorable quotes. The film is set in the fictional world of Florin and stars Cary Elwes and Robin Wright as the fated lovers. The film has become a classic and is beloved by both children and adults alike.

From John Landis, starring John Belushi, Dan Aykroyd, Cab Calloway, John Candy
Rated R

The Blues Brothers is a 1980 American musical comedy film directed by John Landis and starring John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd as "Joliet" Jake and Elwood Blues. The film tells the story of two brothers on a mission from God to save the Roman Catholic orphanage in which they were raised. Along the way, they must avoid the police, angry ex-cons, and a country-and-western band determined to catch them. The film features an ensemble cast of comedians and musicians, including James Brown, Aretha Franklin, Cab Calloway, John Lee Hooker, and Ray Charles. The Blues Brothers is an affectionate parody of blues and soul music featuring an array of classic songs from the genre and a score by Elmer Bernstein. The film was a commercial success and has since become a cultural classic.

From Bob Clark, starring Peter Billingsley, Melinda Dillon, Darren McGavin, Scott Schwartz
Rated PG

A Christmas Story is a holiday comedy classic directed by Bob Clark in 1983. The film tells the story of nine-year-old Ralphie Parker, who dreams of receiving a Red Ryder BB gun for Christmas. Along the way, he must battle with his parents, teachers, friends, and even a menacing department store Santa Claus in order to make his dreams come true. The film also captures the family dynamics of the Parker family, including Ralphie's older brother Randy, their loving mother, and the oft-forgotten father. Ultimately, Christmas Day brings Ralphie the Red Ryder he so desperately wanted and a happy ending for the Parker family.

From Ivan Reitman, starring Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Sigourney Weaver, Harold Ramis
Rated PG

Ghostbusters is a 1984 supernatural comedy film from director Ivan Reitman, starring Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Harold Ramis, and Ernie Hudson. The story follows three parapsychologists—Peter Venkman (Murray), Raymond Stantz (Aykroyd), and Egon Spengler (Ramis)—who set up shop as ghostbusters, a paranormal extermination service. When the ghosts of New York City begin wreaking havoc, the trio use their proton packs and ghost traps to capture the ghosts and save the city. Along their journey, they come across an ancient Sumerian god called Gozer who plans to take over the world. With the help of their secretary Janine (Annie Potts) and a nerdy but helpful environmental scientist named Winston Zeddemore (Hudson), the Ghostbusters must fight off Gozer and save the city.

From John Hughes, starring Matthew Broderick, Alan Ruck, Mia Sara, Jeffrey Jones
Rated PG-13

Ferris Bueller's Day Off is a classic comedy directed by John Hughes. Starring Matthew Broderick as high school senior Ferris Bueller, the film follows Ferris as he skips school for a day of adventure in Chicago with his girlfriend and best friend. Along the way, Ferris outwits the school principal, fools his parents, and even manages to have a parade in his honor. The film is a celebration of teenage rebellion and a reminder that it's sometimes okay to take a break and enjoy life.

From Robert Zemeckis, starring Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd, Lea Thompson, Tom Wilson
Rated PG

Back to the Future Part II is a 1989 American science fiction comedy film directed by Robert Zemeckis. It is the sequel to the 1985 film Back to the Future and the second installment in the Back to the Future trilogy. The film stars Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd, Lea Thompson, and Thomas F. Wilson. In the film, Marty McFly (Fox) and Doc Brown (Lloyd) travel to the year 2015 to prevent Marty's future son from going to prison. However, their time-traveling DeLorean is stolen by Biff Tannen (Wilson), Doc's nemesis, who uses it to make his younger self rich in the year 1955. The two travel back to 1955 to fix the timeline and save the future. Back to the Future Part II was a commercial success, grossing over $388 million worldwide, making it the highest-grossing film of 1989. The film received generally positive reviews, with praise for its humor, visual effects, and musical score.

From John Hughes, starring Emilio Estevez, Judd Nelson, Molly Ringwald, Ally Sheedy
Rated R

The Breakfast Club is a 1985 American coming-of-age comedy-drama film written, produced, and directed by John Hughes. The plot follows five high school students—the brain, the athlete, the basket case, the princess, and the criminal—who all meet for Saturday detention in their high school library, where they learn to understand and respect each other despite their differences. As the day progresses, they grow closer and eventually become friends. The film is considered one of the most influential films of the 1980s and is a classic of the teen film genre.

From Directors: Jim Abrahams, David Zucker, Jerry Zucker, starring Robert Hays, Julie Hagerty, Leslie Nielsen, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Rated PG

Airplane! is a 1980 American comedy film directed by Jim Abrahams, David Zucker, and Jerry Zucker. Starring Robert Hays, Julie Hagerty, Leslie Nielsen, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, the film follows Ted Striker, a former fighter pilot, as he attempts to land a passenger plane after its crew falls ill from food poisoning. In the process, he has to contend with a variety of zany characters, including an uncooperative air traffic controller, a nervous doctor, a dim-witted crew member, and a runaway child. The film's slapstick humor, visual gags, and irreverent dialogue make it one of the most beloved comedies of all time.

From Richard Donner, starring Sean Astin, Josh Brolin, Jeff Cohen, Corey Feldman
Rated PG

The Goonies is a 1985 American adventure comedy film directed by Richard Donner, who produced with Harvey Bernhard. The screenplay was written by Chris Columbus from a story by executive producer Steven Spielberg. The film follows a group of pre-teens (the "Goonies") in the Goon Docks area of Astoria, Oregon, who attempt to save their homes from demolition and in doing so, discover an old Spanish map that leads them on an adventure to unearth the long-lost fortune of One-Eyed Willy, a legendary 17th-century pirate. During the adventure, they are chased by a family of criminals who want the treasure for themselves. Along the way, the Goonies find a subterranean cavern full of booby traps, which they must navigate in order to find One-Eyed Willy's fortune. The Goonies ultimately succeed, yet the treasure is largely a metaphor for the adventure itself, as the group of outcasts ultimately bond together and discover the power of friendship and loyalty.

From Robert Zemeckis, starring Bob Hoskins, Christopher Lloyd, Joanna Cassidy, Charles Fleischer
Rated PG

Who Framed Roger Rabbit is a 1988 live-action/animated film directed by Robert Zemeckis. Set in 1947 Los Angeles, the film follows Eddie Valiant, a detective hired to investigate a scandal involving the titular cartoon character, Roger Rabbit. Along the way, Eddie discovers that a sinister conspiracy is at play, involving powerful men from the entertainment industry who have a plan to get rid of all the Toons (cartoon characters). With the help of Roger and Jessica Rabbit, Eddie must find the evidence and bring down the conspirators. Along the way, he also discovers a shocking truth about the Toons' world. Who Framed Roger Rabbit is an action-packed adventure, which combines live-action with animation and features an all-star cast. It became a major box office success and won three Academy Awards.

From John Hughes, starring Steve Martin, John Candy, Laila Robins, Michael McKean
Rated R

Planes, Trains & Automobiles is a 1987 comedy directed by John Hughes. It stars Steve Martin and John Candy as two strangers who find themselves stuck together on a cross-country journey. The two men come from different walks of life and have to rely on each other as they make their way from New York City to Chicago. Along the way, they experience numerous comic misadventures, including a mix-up at an airport ticket counter, a road trip with a rude truck driver, and a chaotic stay at an economy motel. Despite their differences, the two men eventually develop a friendship as they strive to reach their destination.

From David Zucker, starring Leslie Nielsen, Priscilla Presley, O.J. Simpson, Ricardo Montalban
Rated PG-13

The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad is a 1988 American comedy film directed by David Zucker and starring Leslie Nielsen as the comically bumbling police lieutenant Frank Drebin. The film is based on the 1983 TV series Police Squad! which follows Drebin as he investigates a conspiracy to murder Queen Elizabeth II during a visit to Los Angeles. Throughout the investigation, Drebin is hindered by a seemingly incompetent group of police officers, as well as a variety of slapstick mishaps. The movie also features Priscilla Presley, O.J. Simpson, George Kennedy and Ricardo Montalban. The film was a critical and commercial success, and spawned two sequels, The Naked Gun 2½: The Smell of Fear (1991) and Naked Gun 33⅓: The Final Insult (1994).

From John Landis, starring Eddie Murphy, Dan Aykroyd, Ralph Bellamy, Don Ameche
Rated R

Trading Places is a 1983 comedy film directed by John Landis, starring Dan Aykroyd and Eddie Murphy. The plot follows two wealthy brothers, Randolph (Ralph Bellamy) and Mortimer Duke (Don Ameche), who make a bet on whether a street hustler, Billy Ray Valentine (Murphy), can be successful if given the same opportunity as their privileged nephew, Louis Winthorpe III (Aykroyd). The brothers orchestrate a devious plan to switch lifestyles and prove their point. Through a series of comic events, Billy Ray and Louis learn the value of friendship and the importance of standing up for themselves. In the end, Billy Ray and Louis team up to get revenge on the Dukes and reclaim their lives.

From Tim Burton, starring Alec Baldwin, Geena Davis, Michael Keaton, Annie McEnroe
Rated PG

Beetlejuice is a 1988 American comedy fantasy film directed by Tim Burton. It follows the recently deceased couple Adam and Barbara Maitland as they attempt to scare away the insufferable new owners of their home. When their attempts fail, they enlist the help of “bio-exorcist” Betelgeuse, a ghoulish trickster with a devilish sense of humour. Together, they unleash a series of hijinks that cause the Deetz family to reconsider their plans for the Maitlands’ house. In the end, the Maitlands reclaim their home and Beetlejuice is sent back to the Netherworld. The film stars Michael Keaton, Geena Davis, Alec Baldwin, Winona Ryder, and Jeffery Jones.

From Martin Brest, starring Robert De Niro, Charles Grodin, Yaphet Kotto, John Ashton
Rated R

Midnight Run is a 1988 action comedy directed by Martin Brest and starring Robert De Niro and Charles Grodin. De Niro plays Jack Walsh, an ex-cop and bounty hunter who is hired to take a former Mob accountant, Jonathan Mardukas (Grodin), to Los Angeles. Mardukas had embezzled money from the Mob and they want him back to face justice. The two men set off on a cross-country journey to Los Angeles, with the Mob and the FBI in pursuit. Along the way, they encounter danger, unexpected twists, and a growing respect for each other.

From Jeremiah S. Chechik, starring Chevy Chase, Beverly D'Angelo, Juliette Lewis, Johnny Galecki
Rated PG-13

National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation is a 1989 American Christmas comedy film directed by Jeremiah S. Chechik. It is the third installment in National Lampoon's Vacation film series, and was written by John Hughes, based on his short story in National Lampoon magazine, "Christmas '59". The film stars Chevy Chase, Beverly D'Angelo, and Randy Quaid. The plot follows the Griswold family's plans to have a traditional, old-fashioned family Christmas. However, things go awry when Clark Griswold's (Chevy Chase) in-laws and other unexpected visitors arrive, and the holiday turns into a chaotic mess. Through all the chaos, the Griswold family learns to appreciate the true meaning of Christmas.

From Frank Oz, starring Steve Martin, Michael Caine, Glenne Headly, Anton Rodgers
Rated PG

From Harold Ramis, starring Chevy Chase, Beverly D'Angelo, Imogene Coca, Randy Quaid
Rated R

From Martin Brest, starring Eddie Murphy, Judge Reinhold, John Ashton, Lisa Eilbacher
Rated R

From Penny Marshall, starring Tom Hanks, Elizabeth Perkins, Robert Loggia, John Heard
Rated PG

From Barry Levinson, starring Robin Williams, Forest Whitaker, Tom. T. Tran, Chintara Sukapatana
Rated R

From Jamie Uys, starring N!xau, Marius Weyers, Sandra Prinsloo, Louw Verwey
Rated PG

From Directors: Joel Coen, Ethan Coen, starring Nicolas Cage, Holly Hunter, Trey Wilson, John Goodman
Rated PG-13

From Harold Ramis, starring Chevy Chase, Rodney Dangerfield, Bill Murray, Ted Knight
Rated R