80s Monster Movies

From James Cameron, starring Sigourney Weaver, Michael Biehn, Carrie Henn, Paul Reiser
Rated R

Aliens is a 1986 science fiction action horror film directed by James Cameron and starring Sigourney Weaver. The plot follows Ellen Ripley (Weaver) as she returns to the planetoid LV-426, where her crew encountered the hostile Alien creature, this time accompanied by a unit of Colonial Marines. After reaching the planetoid, the Marines set out to locate the colonists, but find themselves being hunted by the Aliens. Ripley, who has been cloned and given enhanced strength and reflexes, teams up with the Marines to fight the Aliens and attempt to destroy them. The film highlights the courage and determination of the survivors as they battle the deadly Aliens in an effort to survive and prevent the creatures from reaching Earth.

From John Carpenter, starring Kurt Russell, Wilford Brimley, Keith David, Richard Masur
Rated R

The Thing is a 1982 science fiction horror film directed by John Carpenter. The film follows a group of American researchers in Antarctica who discover a shape-shifting alien life form that assimilates and imitates other organisms. The researchers must now fight for their lives in a desperate struggle against the creature, as it begins to take over the entire base, one person at a time. With paranoia and distrust mounting between the team members, the situation quickly spirals out of control as they are unable to determine who is human and who is now one of the Things.

From John McTiernan, starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, Carl Weathers, Kevin Peter Hall, Elpidia Carrillo
Rated R

Predator is a 1987 science fiction action film directed by John McTiernan and starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, Carl Weathers, and Jesse Ventura. The film follows an elite special forces team sent to a jungle in Central America on a rescue mission, only to find themselves hunted by a deadly extraterrestrial being with advanced weaponry. As the team gradually begins to be picked off one by one, they must find a way to survive the Predator before it eliminates them all.

From Sam Raimi, starring Bruce Campbell, Sarah Berry, Dan Hicks, Kassie Wesley DePaiva
Rated R

Evil Dead II follows the story of Ash Williams (Bruce Campbell) as he attempts to survive an evil curse unleashed upon him and his girlfriend. After being forced to murder his own girlfriend, Ash finds himself in a cabin, battling an onslaught of the living dead. He must fight his way out, using a combination of ingenuity and the Necronomicon, a book of the dead, to ultimately rid himself of the curse and save the day. Along the way, he encounters a host of over-the-top characters, including his own possessed hand, and a creepy-yet-hilarious villain. This cult classic is a combination of horror, comedy, and action, and is widely regarded as one of the most influential horror-comedies of all time.

From David Cronenberg, starring Jeff Goldblum, Geena Davis, John Getz, Joy Boushel
Rated R

The Fly is a 1986 science-fiction horror film directed by David Cronenberg. It follows Seth Brundle (Jeff Goldblum), a scientist who invents a teleportation device and accidentally merges his own DNA with that of a housefly during a test. His transformation into a human-fly hybrid is gradual and horrific, as he slowly loses his humanity and physical form. As his situation worsens, his relationship with Geena Davis’s character Veronica deteriorates. In the end, she is left to make a difficult decision about Seth’s fate. The Fly is a classic body horror film that has earned critical acclaim for its special effects and acting.

From John Landis, starring David Naughton, Jenny Agutter, Joe Belcher, Griffin Dunne
Rated R

An American Werewolf in London is a horror-comedy directed by John Landis in 1981. It follows two American college students, David and Jack, as they backpack through England. After a strange and frightening encounter in a remote region, David is bitten by a werewolf and slowly starts to transform into one himself. As his condition worsens, he is plagued by terrifying visions of his dead friend Jack, who warns David of the dangers of being a werewolf. Despite Jack's warnings, David soon finds himself unable to control his lycanthropic urges, leading to a vicious rampage through London. Along the way, he must confront his own personal demons, as well as a mysterious group of hunters intent on his destruction.

From Sam Raimi, starring Bruce Campbell, Ellen Sandweiss, Richard DeManincor, Betsy Baker
Rated NC-17

From Joe Dante, starring Zach Galligan, Phoebe Cates, Hoyt Axton, John Louie
Rated PG

From Dan O'Bannon, starring Clu Gulager, James Karen, Don Calfa, Thom Mathews
Rated R

From Stuart Gordon, starring Jeffrey Combs, Bruce Abbott, Barbara Crampton, David Gale
Rated Unrated

From John Carpenter, starring Roddy Piper, Keith David, Meg Foster, George 'Buck' Flower
Rated R

From Joel Schumacher, starring Jason Patric, Corey Haim, Dianne Wiest, Barnard Hughes
Rated R

From Frank Oz, starring Rick Moranis, Ellen Greene, Vincent Gardenia, Levi Stubbs
Rated PG-13

From George A. Romero, starring Lori Cardille, Terry Alexander, Joseph Pilato, Jarlath Conroy
Rated Not Rated

From Jack Sholder, starring Kyle MacLachlan, Michael Nouri, Claudia Christian, Clarence Felder
Rated R

From Tom Holland, starring Chris Sarandon, William Ragsdale, Amanda Bearse, Roddy McDowall
Rated R

From Fred Dekker, starring Andre Gower, Robby Kiger, Stephen Macht, Duncan Regehr
Rated PG-13

From Clive Barker, starring Andrew Robinson, Clare Higgins, Ashley Laurence, Sean Chapman
Rated R

From Kathryn Bigelow, starring Adrian Pasdar, Jenny Wright, Lance Henriksen, Bill Paxton
Rated R

From Ken Russell, starring William Hurt, Blair Brown, Bob Balaban, Charles Haid
Rated R

From George A. Romero, starring Hal Holbrook, Leslie Nielsen, Adrienne Barbeau, E.G. Marshall
Rated R

From John Carpenter, starring Adrienne Barbeau, Jamie Lee Curtis, Janet Leigh, John Houseman
Rated R

From Dario Argento, starring Jennifer Connelly, Donald Pleasence, Daria Nicolodi, Dalila Di Lazzaro
Rated R

From Neil Jordan, starring Sarah Patterson, Angela Lansbury, David Warner, Graham Crowden
Rated R

From Lamberto Bava, starring Urbano Barberini, Natasha Hovey, Karl Zinny, Fiore Argento
Rated Not Rated