Robot Movies From The 80s

From Irvin Kershner, starring Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Billy Dee Williams
Rated PG

Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back is a 1980 American epic space-opera film directed by Irvin Kershner and written by Leigh Brackett and Lawrence Kasdan, based on a story by George Lucas. It is the second installment of the original Star Wars trilogy and stars Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Billy Dee Williams, Anthony Daniels, David Prowse, Kenny Baker, Peter Mayhew, and Frank Oz. In the film, the rebels face the daunting task of thwarting the Empire's plans to capture Luke Skywalker and the rest of the Rebel Alliance. Luke travels to the planet Dagobah to receive training from the Jedi master Yoda, while Han Solo and Princess Leia are pursued by Darth Vader. As Darth Vader closes in on the Rebels, Luke must make a choice between his friends and his Jedi training. The Empire Strikes Back is hailed as one of the greatest films of all time, and is credited with helping to change the way science fiction films were made. It was nominated for four Academy Awards, including Best Sound and Best Visual Effects, and won for Best Sound. The film was a commercial success, grossing over $538 million worldwide at the box office.

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

Back to the Future is a classic 1985 science fiction adventure comedy directed by Robert Zemeckis. The movie follows the story of teenager Marty McFly, who is accidentally sent back in time to 1955 in a DeLorean time machine invented by his eccentric scientist friend, Doc Brown. While back in the past, Marty must protect his future parents, who have not yet met, while also trying to find a way to get himself back to the present. Along the way, he gets help from his 1955 parents, his girlfriend Jennifer, and Doc Brown. The movie is filled with action, comedy, and heartwarming moments as Marty struggles to get back to the future.

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

Aliens is an action-packed sci-fi horror film directed by James Cameron and released in 1986. The film is a sequel to the 1979 film Alien, and follows the further adventures of Ellen Ripley (Sigourney Weaver). Ripley and a team of Colonial Marines are sent to investigate a colony on the planet LV-426, where communications have been lost. They discover that the colonists have been wiped out by xenomorphs, a hostile alien species. Ripley and the marines must fight for survival as they try to escape the planet. Along the way, they enlist the help of the synthetic android Bishop (Lance Henriksen) and encounter the Alien Queen. The film is a thrilling and intense adventure, with iconic action sequences and groundbreaking special effects.

From Richard Marquand, starring Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Billy Dee Williams
Rated PG

Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983) is the concluding chapter of the original Star Wars trilogy directed by Richard Marquand. The story follows the Rebel Alliance's fight against the Galactic Empire as they plan a daring mission to end the tyranny of the Empire and restore freedom in the galaxy. Luke Skywalker learns the ways of the Jedi from Yoda and confronts his father, Darth Vader, in a climactic lightsaber duel. Meanwhile, Han Solo and Princess Leia, together with the Ewoks, lead the ground assault against the Imperial forces on the moon of Endor. With the help of the Force, Luke ultimately defeats the Emperor in the Emperor's throne room, but Vader redeems himself by saving his son from the Emperor's dark side. In the end, Darth Vader is redeemed, the Empire is destroyed, and the Rebel Alliance is triumphant. The forces of good ultimately prevail, and a new hope is born.

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

The Thing is a 1982 American science fiction horror film directed by John Carpenter and written by Bill Lancaster. The film stars Kurt Russell as R.J. MacReady, an American helicopter pilot in Antarctica who leads a group of researchers to investigate a shape-shifting alien that can assume the form of other organisms. The film follows the crew of a research outpost as they battle the eponymous creature, which has the ability to absorb and mimic other life forms. The Thing was a commercial success, grossing over $19 million in the United States on a budget of $15 million, though it received mixed reviews upon its release. The film has since gained a cult following and is now widely regarded as one of the greatest horror films ever made.

From Ridley Scott, starring Harrison Ford, Rutger Hauer, Sean Young, Edward James Olmos
Rated R

Blade Runner, directed by Ridley Scott, is a 1982 neo-noir science fiction film set in a dystopian future where genetically engineered replicants, bio-robots built to resemble humans, are manufactured by the powerful Tyrell Corporation. Replicants are used to serve on off-world colonies, and any replicants who return to Earth are hunted down and "retired" by specialized police officers known as blade runners. The story follows blade runner Rick Deckard (Harrison Ford), who is tasked with tracking down and retiring a group of escaped replicants who have illegally returned to Earth. As Deckard begins to track down the replicants, he unravels a dark conspiracy and meets Rachel (Sean Young), a beautiful and sensitive replicant who challenges his morals and beliefs. Ultimately, Deckard must confront the replicants and decide the fate of the future.

From James Cameron, starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, Linda Hamilton, Michael Biehn, Paul Winfield
Rated R

The Terminator is a science-fiction action film from 1984 directed by James Cameron. It stars Arnold Schwarzenegger as the Terminator, a seemingly unstoppable cyborg assassin sent back in time from the year 2029 to 1984 to kill Sarah Connor (Linda Hamilton), whose son will one day save humanity from the machines' rule. With the help of Kyle Reese (Michael Biehn), Sarah must stay one step ahead of the Terminator in order to survive and ensure the future of mankind. Time is running out, as the Terminator is relentless in his pursuit of Sarah and will stop at nothing to complete his mission.

From Steven Spielberg, starring Henry Thomas, Drew Barrymore, Peter Coyote, Dee Wallace
Rated PG

E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial is a classic 1982 science fiction film directed by Steven Spielberg. The film tells the story of a young boy named Elliott and his alien friend, E.T. Elliott and three of his friends find E.T. in the woods and take him into their home, where they teach him about the world. E.T. wants to return to his home and family, but he is pursued by the government and a group of scientists who want to capture and study him. Elliott and his friends must help E.T. escape and find his way home. Along the way, Elliott and E.T. form a powerful bond, one that will teach them both about the power of friendship and love.

From Terry Gilliam, starring Jonathan Pryce, Kim Greist, Robert De Niro, Katherine Helmond
Rated R

Brazil is a 1985 satirical dystopian science fiction film directed by Terry Gilliam and written by Gilliam, Charles McKeown, and Tom Stoppard. The film stars Jonathan Pryce as a day dreamer who gets caught in a nightmarish bureaucratic world of mistaken identity, technology run amok, and oppressive conformity. In a world in which society is controlled by a totalitarian regime, a man (Pryce) attempts to escape the dehumanizing consequences of the system through daydreams and fantasies. He is aided by a mysterious figure, whom he believes is his ally, but is actually leading him further into the web of terror. As he attempts to break free, he is pursued by the regime's agents and operatives, and must constantly fight for his life and identity. In the end, the viewer is left to discover if the hero has actually escaped his oppressors, or if it was all just a dream.

From Nicholas Meyer, starring William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, DeForest Kelley, James Doohan
Rated PG

Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan is a 1982 American science fiction action film directed by Nicholas Meyer and based on the 1960s television series Star Trek. The film stars William Shatner as Captain James T. Kirk, Leonard Nimoy as Spock, and Ricardo Montalban as Khan Noonien Singh, a genetically enhanced superhuman seeking revenge against Kirk. The story follows the crew of the USS Enterprise as they come face-to-face with Khan, a dangerous adversary from their past. Khan has stolen a powerful weapon called the Genesis Device, which he plans to use to exact his revenge. Kirk and his crew must stop Khan before he can use the device to cause destruction and chaos. The film features several thrilling space battles, a classic chess game between Spock and Khan, and a powerful climax involving a self-sacrificing action by Spock.

From George Miller, starring Mel Gibson, Bruce Spence, Michael Preston, Max Phipps
Rated R

The Road Warrior is a 1981 Australian post-apocalyptic action film directed by George Miller and written by Miller and Byron Kennedy. The film stars Mel Gibson as a loner who becomes a reluctant hero to a group of survivors during a post-apocalyptic Australia. The Road Warrior follows the story of a hardened loner who must help a small group of survivors, who are trapped in an oil refinery in the middle of a desolate wasteland, from the relentless gang of marauders who want the refinery's fuel. Along the way, the loner and the group of survivors must battle their way through the harsh environment and the marauders to reach safety. The Road Warrior is considered to be one of the greatest action films of all time, due to its groundbreaking visual style, stunts, and its influential role in the development of the post-apocalyptic genre.

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. The film follows scientist Seth Brundle (Jeff Goldblum) who experiments with a matter-transporter machine. However, a housefly gets into the machine with him, and their genetic material gets fused together. As a result, Brundle slowly begins to transform into a human-fly hybrid, becoming more violent and aggressive as the transformation progresses. His girlfriend, Veronica (Geena Davis), struggles to help him, despite his increasingly horrific and dangerous physical and mental state. The Fly is a classic horror film which explores the consequences of man playing God in the pursuit of science.

From Leonard Nimoy, starring William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, DeForest Kelley, James Doohan
Rated PG

From David Cronenberg, starring James Woods, Debbie Harry, Sonja Smits, Peter Dvorsky
Rated R

From John Carpenter, starring Kurt Russell, Lee Van Cleef, Ernest Borgnine, Donald Pleasence
Rated R

From Michael Radford, starring John Hurt, Richard Burton, Suzanna Hamilton, Cyril Cusack
Rated R

From John Carpenter, starring Jeff Bridges, Karen Allen, Charles Martin Smith, Richard Jaeckel
Rated PG

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

From Terry Gilliam, starring Sean Connery, Shelley Duvall, John Cleese, Katherine Helmond
Rated PG

From Randal Kleiser, starring Joey Cramer, Paul Reubens, Cliff De Young, Veronica Cartwright
Rated PG

From John Sayles, starring Joe Morton, Daryl Edwards, Rosanna Carter, Ray Ramirez
Rated R

From Wolfgang Petersen, starring Dennis Quaid, Louis Gossett Jr., Brion James, Richard Marcus
Rated PG-13

From Joe Dante, starring Dennis Quaid, Martin Short, Meg Ryan, Kevin McCarthy
Rated PG

From David Cronenberg, starring Jennifer O'Neill, Stephen Lack, Patrick McGoohan, Lawrence Dane
Rated R

From Steven Lisberger, starring Jeff Bridges, Bruce Boxleitner, David Warner, Cindy Morgan
Rated PG