Top 10 Romance Movies of the 1980s
Top 10 Romance Movies of the 1980s
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The '80s brought us many romantic classics such as Dirty Dancing, When Harry Met Sally, Flashdance, Moonstruck, A Room with a View, An Officer and a Gentleman, The Princess Bride, Say Anything…and Out of Africa. Certain scenes in these movies have made an impact on pop culture and have inspired so many romance movies today such as Crazy, Stupid, Love.
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#10: “Flashdance” (1983)
Sometimes love can emerge from the most unexpected of places. Alex - a steel worker by day and stripper by night - dreams of becoming a professional dancer. One night she catches the eye of Nick, a customer at the club she dances at. Alex soon realizes Nick owns the factory she works at and the two begin to develop feelings for one another. Filled with iconic ‘80s costumes and a soundtrack to match, this sexy romance flick was a box-office smash. Noted for its steamy dance scenes and unique subject matter, this film remains one of the hottest of the decade.
#9: “Out of Africa” (1985)
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Based on the autobiographical novel of the same name, this epic romance focuses on the experiences of Karen Dinesen, a Danish woman who leaves her home to start a dairy farm in Africa, but ends up with a coffee plantation instead. Ignored by her husband, Karen strikes up a relationship with the fiercely independent big-game hunter Denys Finch Hatton. This film is a sweeping declaration to both the beauty of the land and the romance it inspired. Filled with moments of tense drama and unbridled emotion, this impossible love story was an instant hit with audiences worldwide. It also goes to show that Meryl Streep and Robert Redford were quite the sizzling pair in their primes.
#8: “A Room with a View” (1985)
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Set in turn of the 20th century Italy and based on the 1908 novel, the young and impressionable Lucy falls for the free spirited and devilishly handsome George. However, Lucy’s older cousin and a symbol of Victorian era sexual repression, is determined to keep them apart. The film oozes romance as the characters waltz through beautiful Italian cobblestone streets and frolic in the serene English countryside. As she slowly begins to shed the restrictions of her overbearing relative, Lucy struggles with her feelings for the carefree George. An intelligent film that focuses on issues that plagued star-crossed lovers in a time of emotional oppression, “A Room with a View” is a seminal piece of romantic storytelling.
#7: “Moonstruck” (1987)
Filled to the brim with eccentric performances and wit to match, this classic ‘80s oddball romance connected immediately with theater-goers and critics alike. Loretta, a Sicilian-American woman working as an accountant in Brooklyn is all set to marry her boyfriend Johnny. That is, until she unexpectedly falls in love with his brother, Ronny – a baker with an enthusiasm for the opera. Connected by their shared desire to understand why men chase women, Loretta and everyone she knows are in one way or another besieged by the power of love. Taking home a number of Oscars including Best Actress and Best Original Screenplay, this film proves that you never know how or when love will fall into your lap.
#6: “An Officer and a Gentleman” (1982)
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Falling in love is never easy; and neither is trying to become a US Naval Officer. Played by the always-dreamy Richard Gere, Zack Mayo wants nothing more than to become a first-rate navy pilot. However, his tough-as-nails drill instructor is willing to push his physical and mental limits to get him there. Along the way, Zack begins a tumultuous relationship with local factory girl Paula. The two must battle military and family sentiments in order to achieve their hearts’ desires. A story that places the importance of love and respect above all else, this film is packed with gut wrenching moments that ultimately lead to an unforgettably romantic ending.
#5: “The Princess Bride” (1987)
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Endlessly quotable, side-splittingly funny and hopelessly romantic, this film leapt off the screen and into the hearts of audiences faster than you can say “Inconceivable!” Following the epic romance of Buttercup and her farm boy Westley, “The Princess Bride” traverses the fictional country of Florin as Westley battles wits and strength in an attempt to re-claim Buttercup from the clutches of an evil prince. At the core of the film is true love: finding it, losing it and fighting to get it back. This romantic adventure takes audiences up the Cliffs Of Insanity and through the Fire Swamp in order to hammer home the idea that true love is the one thing worth dying for.
#4: “Pretty in Pink” (1986)
In the 1980s, there was one writer-director with his hand on the pulse of every teen in America: John Hughes. Having already written and directed 1984’s “Sixteen Candles”, Hughes was no stranger to the high school love triangle. In this film, working-class Andie Walsh falls for dreamy rich boy Blane McDonough. Meanwhile, Andie’s best friend Duckie secretly longs to be with her. While the film is far from sexy, it is an honest look at what happens when three people get entangled in a complicated romance. With its outlandishly ‘80s style and stellar soundtrack, this film cemented itself as one of the most popular romantic comedy-dramas of the decade.
#3: “Say Anything…” (1989)
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Even if you’ve never seen the film, chances are you can picture John Cusack standing in front of car, sporting a beige trench coat with the sleeves rolled up and proudly holding a boom box high above his head. While that scene is easily the most famous to emerge from this ‘80s love story, the movie is so much more. When kickboxing enthusiast Lloyd falls for valedictorian Diane, sparks fly. However, her overbearing father wants nothing to do with his daughter’s newest infatuation. Dubbed “one of the best films of the year” by Roger Ebert himself, “Say Anything” pulled at the heartstrings of audiences and closed out the decade on a romantic high note.
#2: “Dirty Dancing” (1987)
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Having the time of your life has never been so sexy. Spending the summer at a lavish resort in the Catskill Mountains, Frances “Baby” Houseman becomes enamored with bad-boy dance instructor Johnny Castle. Together with her new passionate lover, Baby rebels against the authority figures dominating her life and experiences the ultimate summer fling. Filled with scenes of unbridled emotion and downright steamy dance scenes, this ‘80s romance flick shocked the movie world by becoming a box office smash. With both leads earning high praise for their performances and the film winning an Oscar for Best Original Song, “Dirty Dancing” lef a lasting impression on the romance genre and film as a whole and continues to do so today.
Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions:
“The Purple Rose of Cairo” (1985)
“Romancing the Stone” (1984)
“Splash” (1984)
#1: “When Harry Met Sally…” (1989)
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This seminal take on the romance genre spit the raw truth of what it is like when a man and women attempt to be “just friends”. The titular characters first start to really get to know each other while sharing a ride from Chicago to New York in the late ‘70s. From there, they weave in and out of each other’s lives at random, sharing lengthy conversations about their views on sex and relationships. Played to perfection by Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan, these two unique personalities clash at nearly every turn. However, beneath their hard exteriors lies a profound love and admiration for one another. Bitter and sweet at all the right moments, this film gave new meaning to the phrase, “I’ll have what she’s having.”
Do you agree with our list? What is your favorite romance movie of the 1980s? For more entertaining Top 10s published daily, be sure to subscribe to MsMojo.
