Top 20 80s Movies References on Family Guy

#20: The Law of ‘80s Movies

This one touches on multiple movies so let's kick off our list with a general dismantling of the entire ‘80s genre. There’s a cutaway in the season eleven episode “Save the Clam” that parodies basically every ‘80s teen movie ever made, and it’s absolutely hilarious. The dialogue consists entirely of ‘80s cliches, like losing your virginity and a tomboy becoming more traditionally feminine. And of course, playing over everything is Yazoo’s “Only You,” which never made it big in America but was a huge hit in the UK in 1982. There’s not one movie that is being parodied here, although the “tomboy becoming pretty” thing is perhaps most famously (or infamously) used in “The Breakfast Club”. But there are a million movies out there just like it, and this cutaway targets every single one.

#19: The Pottery Bust

“Ghostbusters” (1984)

The ‘80s classic has been parodied to death, but never quite like this. In this hilarious cutaway, we see the iconic moment from “Ghost” where Demi Moore and Patrick Swayze are affectionately molding clay. Suddenly, Peter bursts into the room geared up as a Ghostbuster. Not realizing - or just not caring - that Swayze is the love interest, Peter activates his proton pack and sucks him into the ghost trap. He then triumphantly asks for the bill, leaving Demi Moore utterly shocked and sitting alone with a lump of wet clay. It’s the perfect mashup of two supernatural ‘80s classics (okay, “Ghost” is 1990, but the vibe fits), proving that in Quahog, romance always takes a backseat to a quick paycheck.

#18: Peter Kills the Gopher

“Caddyshack” (1980)

The animatronic gopher from “Caddyshack” is the stuff of movie legend, mostly because of how wonderfully fake it looks. Of course, “Family Guy” goes and turns some harmless fun into something far more sinister. In this scene, the gopher pops up to dance to Kenny Loggins’ “I’m Alright,” mirroring the film’s famous opening credits. Peter, channeling his inner Carl Spackler, arrives with a rocket launcher and blows the gopher to kingdom come. Blood and body pieces fly everywhere, and Peter appears shocked, insisting that it was supposed to be some “harmless ‘80s fun.” Oh well, at least it bought Kenny Loggins a new hot tub for his Colorado deck.

#17: “Somewhere That’s Green”

“Little Shop of Horrors” (1986)

Musical numbers are a staple of the show, but this one might make you shudder. “Little Shop of Horrors” features the sweet ballad “Somewhere That’s Green,” sung by Audrey about her dream of a normal suburban life. In a twist only Seth MacFarlane would greenlight, the song is performed by Herbert. Seeing the neighborhood creep croon about domestic bliss while fantasizing about a teenage boy is deeply unsettling. And undeniably memorable. It takes the innocence of the original Menken and Ashman track and twists it into something predatory. It’s the kind of reference that ruins the original song for you forever, blending nostalgia with the show’s trademark dark and uncomfortable humor.

#16: The Literal Breakfast Club

“The Breakfast Club” (1985)

In the episode “Let’s Go to the Hop,” Peter goes undercover as a high school student and poses as a character straight out of “Happy Days.” But that’s not why we’re here. Wrong decade. As Peter walks into the library for detention, we expect to see the usual teenage stereotypes: the brain, the athlete, the basket case. Of course. Instead, “Family Guy” gives us a literal Breakfast Club. Sitting at the tables are our favorite morning mascots Tony the Tiger, Cap’n Crunch, Toucan Sam, Lucky the Leprechaun, and the Trix Rabbit, all of whom act out a famous scene from the movie. It’s a quintessential “Family Guy” sight gag - taking a famous movie title and taking it literally for maximum absurdity.

#15: Riding the Luck Dragon

“The NeverEnding Story” (1984)

This iconic fantasy film is a beloved childhood gem, but of course “Family Guy” just has to ruin it. Brian talks to Lois about going to therapy and references a time that Peter became obsessed with a fantasy world. We’ll give you one guess as to what that fantasy world is. The cutaway goes straight to Peter riding Falcor the Luck Dragon from “The NeverEnding Story,” but, naturally, there’s a twist. Peter is too fat to ride the creature, and it quickly crashes into the desert floor. We don’t know which bit is funnier - seeing the dragon crashing to Earth, or Peter’s gleeful, childlike cheers. We’ll just go ahead and say both.

#14: Brian’s Role

“Die Hard” (1988)

Brian Griffin loves to brag about his achievements, but in “Brian’s Got a Brand New Bag,” he drops a major bombshell about his acting career. You see, he claims to have had a small role in the action masterpiece “Die Hard.” We then cut to the scene where Dwayne is informed that the FBI has arrived, and Brian has been added between him and Powell. He doesn’t do much. He just sort of stands there. That is, until he drops a line related to the breath mint that he supposedly ad-libbed himself. This is next-level parody, inserting a cartoon character into the movie itself and having him interact with the cast. And now, every Christmas when you watch this movie, you’ll think of Brian and his mad ad-libs.

#13: Stewie Singing Through the TV

“Poltergeist” (1982)

Communicating with the other side is usually a terrifying experience, specifically in “Poltergeist” where the static-filled TV serves as a portal to another dimension. But in the parody episode “Petergeist,” Stewie Griffin finds a silver lining to the spectral void: the acoustics are absolutely amazing. While attempting to establish contact with his parents, he notices a heavy, dramatic reverb on his voice. So he immediately pivots into performance mode, belting out a spot-on rendition of Phil Collins’ “In the Air Tonight.” It is a brilliant deviation from the source material; where the movie built dread with its sound design, “Family Guy” builds a drum solo. Watching an infant treat a creepy dimensional gateway like a high-end recording studio is the kind of absurd humor that defines the show.

#12: Playing Some Volleyball

“Top Gun” (1986)

It’s the scene that launched a thousand pieces of fan fiction. “Top Gun’s” volleyball montage is famous for its sweaty, shirtless masculinity, and “Family Guy” leans heavily into the homoerotic undertones. Peter and the guys hit the sand in jeans and dog tags, enjoying the sun with an intensity that goes way beyond friendly camaraderie. The scene is drenched in oil and suggestive glances, set perfectly, once again, to “I’m Alright.” Man, Kenny Loggins is racking in the royalties. While the internet has joked about the “gay love story” of “Top Gun” for decades, seeing the show animate it with such exaggeration really drives the point home. Perhaps the best bit is Rupert, dressed as a perfectly-chiseled human, dripping sweat and sunscreen directly into Stewie’s mouth.

#11: Killing Meg

“Raiders of the Lost Ark” (1981)

It’s one of the most famous opening scenes in movie history. Indiana Jones steals a golden idol from an ancient Peruvian temple and is then pursued by the locals. He makes a last-minute escape on a float plane, narrowly avoiding all the flying arrows and darts. This scene is wonderfully parodied in the season four episode “Jungle Love.” A South American tribe learns that Chris is a freshman, instigating a chase that directly parodies the chase in “Raiders.” Only, this one ends a little differently. Peter, Lois, Chris, and Stewie safely make it to the plane and celebrate their escape, only to realize that they left Meg behind. Cut to her dropping dead in the river, a ton of darts riddled in her back.

#10: God on the Rocket Cycle

“Flash Gordon” (1980)

We know Seth MacFarlane loves the 1980 cult classic “Flash Gordon,” but apparently, the Almighty does too. Brian goes into a rant about his atheism, arguing that science and the state of the world belies the existence of God. He then asks the family what God is doing “up there”. It turns out, he’s not doing much. To answer Brian’s question, the scene immediately cuts to God on his very own rocket cycle, zooming through the clouds while “Flash's Theme” blasts in the background. It’s a hilarious, joyous, and yeah, a sort of blasphemous joke that wonderfully blends the show’s devotion to ‘80s pop culture and fierce satire of religion.

#9: Paulie’s Robot

“Rocky IV” (1985)

The “Rocky” franchise certainly went places. In one of the most baffling choices in cinema history, the fourth franchise goes full cartoon and introduces a talking robot to the equation. “Family Guy” highlights this insanity perfectly. In an attempt to cheer Brian up, Stewie introduces him to the very same robot from “Rocky IV,” complete with its monotone “Happy Birthday” voice function. Seeing the sci-fi contraption ripped from the blockbuster and placed into a cartoon emphasizes just how out of place it was in the original film. It’s a reference that doesn't need to exaggerate anything; it simply presents the robot as it was, reminding us all that the ‘80s were a time when screenwriting decisions were seemingly greenlit without a second thought.

#8: Married to Rebecca Romijn

“Stand By Me” (1986)

Season seven’s “Three Kings” tackles and parodies three Stephen King stories, one of them being the legendary “Stand by Me.” Here, the writers brilliantly recast the gang as the four boys searching for a dead body, mixing iconic scenes with dark twists - like a train running over Joe’s legs and putting him in a wheelchair. But the segment’s crowning achievement is the finale. “Family Guy” actually secured the original film’s narrator, Richard Dreyfuss, to voice the outro. Dreyfuss seamlessly transitions from sentimental storytelling to a meta-rant about how Jerry O’Connell, the actor who played Vern, grew up to marry supermodel Rebecca Romijn. It’s a perfect blend of genuine pop culture trivia and the show’s penchant of breaking the fourth wall to deliver funny asides.

#7: Tom Tucker’s Pool Fantasy

“Fast Times at Ridgemont High” (1982)

Phoebe Cates emerging from the pool in a red bikini is perhaps the most paused and replayed moment in ‘80s history. It defined a generation of crushes. Naturally, this makes for some prime parody. In “The Kiss Seen Around the World,” Meg fantasizes about her crush, news anchor Tom Tucker. The iconic synthesizer track “Moving in Stereo” kicks in, but instead of the stunning Phoebe Cates, we get the hairy, mustachioed Tucker climbing out of the water in slow motion, shaking off his water-logged hair. It’s a visual assault that relies entirely on contrast. Replacing the ultimate symbol of ‘80s sex appeal with a middle aged newsman is a gag that hits you instantly, ensuring you will never hear that song the same way again.

#6: Stewie’s Race Home

“Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” (1986)

The famous climax of “Ferris Bueller” sees the protagonist desperately racing through backyards to beat his parents home. In “Stu and Stewie’s Excellent Adventure,” the show animates a shot-for-shot remake of this iconic sequence. The camera angles, the music, and the pacing are identical to the John Hughes classic - even the scene where Stewie goes back to say hello to the pretty girls. There’s actually not much “parody” going on here. The only true parody comes at the end, where the show pokes fun at the movie’s editing style. Stewie flies through the air in slow motion, just as Ferris does in the movie, only the Griffin family are moving in real time. Needless to say, it significantly delays the baby.

#5: Calm Down!

“Airplane!” (1980)

Is it possible to parody a parody? Well, if you ask “Family Guy,” the answer is a resounding yes. In one of “Airplane!’s” most famous gags, Mrs. Hammen starts getting hysterical, forcing a long procession to, um, sort her out. Once again, “Family Guy” delivers an almost shot-for-shot remake of the famous scene, with Stewie taking the place of Mrs. Hammen. Brian scares Stewie by fabricating the Tooth Fairy lore, prompting him to get hysterical. Brian shakes him, then Chris and Quagmire both arrive to give him a few slaps. Thus begins the long procession, which also includes Cleveland with a wrench, Mayor West and Herbert with firearms, and even the Kool Aid Man with boxing gloves. Because why wouldn’t he be there?

#4: The Rickroll

“Back to the Future” (1985)

“Meet the Quagmires” is one giant parody of “Back to the Future,” with Brian and Peter playing Marty and George. The iconic dance scene is recreated in full, but then “Family Guy” breaks from tradition. Brian tells the band to follow his lead, but instead of shredding “Johnny B. Goode,” he launches into a manic version of “Never Gonna Give You Up.” The joke works on multiple levels, showing that Brian is much lamer than Marty while also executing the perfect Rickroll on the audience. In a bizarre twist of fate, this episode aired on May 20, 2007 - five days after the first known rickroll. Since “Family Guy” episodes take nearly a year to produce, the writers weren’t actually referencing the meme; they had accidentally predicted it.

#3: Road House!

“Road House” (1989)

Few references have impacted the real world quite like this one. After Peter watches the Patrick Swayze cult classic, he becomes obsessed with the idea of resolving conflicts via roundhouse kicks. Whether he is arguing with Brian or simply buying some lunch, Peter punctuates every sentence with a violent kick and a loud scream of “Road House!” It mocks the gratuitous, problem solving violence of the film by applying it to mundane suburban life, and the gag became so popular that “Road House!” soon became a legitimate catchphrase for fans. It highlights the absurdity of ‘80s action heroes who treated assault as a valid form of conflict resolution, but it’s also a loving tribute to one of the ‘80s most beloved cult classics.

#2: Blowing Up the Twins

“The Shining” (1980)

Funnily enough, Peter killing the “Caddyshack” gopher wasn’t the first time a Griffin blew up a beloved movie character with a rocket launcher. “The Shining” features one of horror’s most iconic moments with the ghostly Grady twins. “Family Guy” recreates the scene perfectly, with Stewie walking through the large halls of his new mansion. But unlike Danny, Stewie isn’t a victim. When the creepy sisters ask him to play, Stewie doesn’t cover his eyes; he pulls a rocket launcher out of nowhere and blows them to smithereens. It’s the ultimate anti-horror reaction. By answering supernatural dread with overwhelming military firepower, Stewie solves the movie’s problem in seconds. If only Jack had one of those bad boys, their experience might have been a little different.

#1: I Love You

“The Empire Strikes Back” (1980)

Taking the top spot is the moment that perfectly encapsulates the “Family Guy” “Star Wars” trilogy. Retelling “Empire Strikes Back,” the show reaches the emotional climax where Han Solo is about to be frozen in carbonite. Lois, playing Leia, delivers the tearful line, “I love you.” In the movie, Harrison Ford improvised the cool and wickedly iconic follow-up, “I know.” Here, Peter Griffin simply tells her to f off. It is a hilarious destruction of one of cinema’s most romantic moments. It strips away the heroism of Han Solo and replaces it with Peter’s callous selfishness. It’s brief, yes, but it’s also unexpected, shocking, and crude. Which is exactly why it is the greatest ‘80s reference the show has ever done.

Which reference did you find the funniest? Let us know in the comments below!