Image: ââ¬Å½The Geffen Company / Cannon Film Distributors / ââ¬Å½De Laurentiis Entertaint
About This Quiz
Think you can identify early Nicolas Cage films like "Raising Arizona" or "Vampire's Kiss" from a single screenshot? Remember such forgotten classics as "Little Darlings" or "The 'Burbs"? Think you can pick out sci-fi classics like "Dune" or "Aliens" from just one image? If you consider yourself an '80s expert, take our quiz to prove your mastery of all things movies!
Sure, you know about the movies that topped the charts in the '80s, but do you remember some of the sleeper hits of the decade? It's hard to find anyone who lived through the decade that didn't see "The Empire Strikes Back," or "Raiders of the Lost Ark," but that doesn't mean these are the only flicks from the period that are worth seeing. For every "Breakfast Club" and "Fast Times," there's a teen drama that's been relegated to history. For every "Terminator" or "Die Hard," there's an action flick filled with big names that will keep you on the edge of your seat. And for every "Ghostbusters" and "Back to the Future," there's an '80s film that you'll one day rank among your favorites -- if only you can discover it first.
Think you know about some of the sleeper hits of the '80s -- the ones that didn't quite blow up the box office but still deserve a little love? Take our quiz to prove your underrated '80s movie IQ!
tmdb
Can you name this under-appreciated '80s flick?
"The Dark Crystal"
"At Close Range"
"Vampire's Kiss"
"Vision Quest"
"Vision Quest" is the story of a high school wrestling star who falls for an older woman. The 1985 coming of age flick famously features Madonna as a bar singer crooning her song, "Crazy for You."
American Broadcasting Company
Can you name this under-appreciated '80s flick?
"Summer Rental"
"The Burbs"
"Three O'Clock High"
"The Flamingo Kid"
In "The Flamingo Kid," Matt Dillon plays Jeffrey Willis, a teen who gets a job at a beach resort. The 1984 comedy was one of the first movies ever to receive a PG-13 rating.
Cannon Film Distributors
Can you name this under-appreciated '80s flick?
"Platoon"
"Raising Arizona"
"The Hollywood Knights"
"The Last American Virgin"
In "The Last American Virgin," three L.A. high school students are willing to do almost anything to score with women. This includes buying them pizza and offering them Sweet 'n Low disguised as cocaine to win their fancy.
Advertisement
Universal Pictures
Can you name this under-appreciated '80s flick?
"Drugstore Cowboy"
"Something Wild"
"Xanadu"
"Xanadu" was a box office flop, but it's since grown to become a cult classic. This off-beat 1980 film is most famous for the songs "Magic" and "Xanadu," which were radio hits for star Olivia Newton-John​.
"Hannah and Her Sisters"
tmdb
Can you name this under-appreciated '80s flick?
"River's Edge"
"She's Having a Baby"
The 1988 film, "She's Having a Baby," starred Kevin Bacon and Alec Baldwin. Bacon played a dad-to-be awaiting the birth of his first child, while Baldwin played his single buddy who kept reminding him how fun bachelorhood could be.
"Frantic"
"Summer Rental"
Hemdale Film Corporation
Can you name this under-appreciated '80s flick?
"Vampire's Kiss"
The 1989 comedy, "Vampire's Kiss," didn't do too well at the box office, but it has become more famous since then. Images of Nicolas Cage -- who played a yuppie who believed he was turning into a vampire in the film -- have since become a very well-known meme known as "You don't say!"
"Near Dark"
"The Verdict"
"Birdy"
Advertisement
Imagine Entertainment
Can you name this under-appreciated '80s flick?
"Broadcast News"
"The Burbs"
It's hard to believe any film featuring Carrie Fisher and Tom Hanks could be underappreciated, but "The 'Burbs" might not be the first flick you think of when you picture movies from the '80s. In the film, Tom Hanks plays a suburban man who becomes convinced his neighbors are murderers.
"Aliens"
"To Live and Die in L.A."
tmdb
Can you name this under-appreciated '80s flick?
"To Live and Die in L.A."
"Platoon"
"Lucas"
The 1986 film, "Lucas," was a David Seltzer rom-com that focused on the joy and pain of young love. The sleeper hit featured such future stars as Corey Haim, Winona Ryder, Charlie Sheen and Courtney Thorne-Smith.
"Hannah and Her Sisters"
Hemdale Film Corporation
Can you name this under-appreciated '80s flick?
"Hannah and Her Sisters"
"To Live and Die in L.A."
"At Close Range"
"River's Edge"
Even a tag line like "The most controversial film you will see this year" didn't help "River's Edge" break any box office records. The 1986 dark teen flick told the story of a group of young people trying to recover after one of them murdered his girlfriend.
Advertisement
Walt Disney Productions
Can you name this under-appreciated '80s flick?
"Birdy"
"Near Dark"
"Midnight Run"
The 1988 film, "Midnight Run," featured some huge stars. Robert De Niro played a bounty hunter named Jack Walsh, with Charles Grodin as an accountant who has embezzled money from an angry mob boss.
"Broadcast News"
america1jose via youtube
Can you name this under-appreciated '80s flick?
"Little Darlings"
"Little Darlings" is a classic teen comedy that came out in 1980. Tatum O'Neal and Kristy McNichol play a pair of girls named Ferris and Angel who are competing to lose their virginity while attending summer camp.
"Three O'Clock High"
"Hannah and Her Sisters"
"Broadcast News"
The MovieDb
Can you name this under-appreciated '80s flick?
"Nothin' But Trouble"
"Raising Arizona"
"The Hollywood Knights"
"The Hollywood Knights" tells the story of a car racing club playing pranks one Halloween night. The 1980 comedy stars Michelle Pfeiffer, Fran Drescher and Tony Danza.
"The Verdict"
Advertisement
De Laurentiis Entertainment Group
Can you name this under-appreciated '80s flick?
"Drugstore Cowboy"
"Summer Rental"
"Frantic"
"Hiding Out"
He's not so Duckie in this film. In the 1987 flick, "Hiding Out," John Cryer is a witness who is forced to hide from the mob by masquerading as a high school student.
Saul Zaentz
Can you name this under-appreciated '80s flick?
"Vampire's Kiss"
"The Mosquito Coast"
The Peter Weir drama, "The Mosquito Coast," didn't break any records when it came out in 1986, but it did feature some big names. Harrison Ford, Helen Mirren, and River Phoenix play a family who moves​ from America to a home in the jungles of Central America.
"Platoon"
"River's Edge"
ââ¬Å½De Laurentiis Entertaint
Can you name this under-appreciated '80s flick?
"Hannah and Her Sisters"
"Manhunter"
The 1986 film, "Manhunter," was based on the book, "Red Dragon," by Thomas Harris. While it failed at the box office, it has found new popularity thanks to other Hannibal Lecter works.
"Vision Quest"
"Little Darlings"
Advertisement
A&M Films
Can you name this under-appreciated '80s flick?
"Birdy"
The 1984 film, "Birdy," is about a young man from Philly who is obsessed with flying, and eventually heads off to fight in the Vietnam War. Nicolas Cage stars as Birdy's best friend, Al.
"She's Having a Baby"
"To Live and Die in L.A."
"Aliens"
Melvin Simon Productions
Can you name this under-appreciated '80s flick?
"My Bodyguard"
The 1980 film, "My Bodyguard," featured a young Matt Dillon playing a bully named Melvin Moody. When Melvin threatens a new kid in school, the new kid hires the school outcast to protect him. This was one of the first films for Joan Cusack, and also featured Jennifer Beals in an uncredited role.
"At Close Range"
"The Hollywood Knights"
"Drugstore Cowboy"
Cineplex Odeon Films
Can you name this under-appreciated '80s flick?
"Xanadu"
"The Dark Crystal"
"Talk Radio"
"Talk Radio" was a 1988 Oliver Stone drama. In the flick, which stars John McGinley and Alec Baldwin, an obnoxious radio host stirs up trouble when he winds up dead.
"Little Darlings"
Advertisement
ââ¬Å½The Geffen Company
Can you name this under-appreciated '80s flick?
"The Last American Virgin"
"After Hours"
The 1985 film, "After Hours," was directed by Martin Scorsese. The dark comedy tells the story of a man named Paul Hackett, who doesn't have enough money to hitch a ride to his NYC home. In his efforts to reach his apartment, he winds up witnessing a murder and getting covered in plaster.
"Three O'Clock High"
"Nothin' But Trouble"
Religioso Primitiva
Can you name this under-appreciated '80s flick?
"Aliens"
"Little Darlings"
"Frantic"
"Something Wild"
In the 1986 film, "Something Wild," Melanie Griffith plays a woman named Lulu who hires a man named Charles -- played by Jeff Bridges -- to pose as her husband. Things go just fine until her real husband shows up and spoils the plan.
tmdb
Can you name this under-appreciated '80s flick?
"Near Dark"
The 1987 horror flick, "Near Dark," was way ahead of the '00s vampire craze, and may be more appreciated by fans of Bella, Edward, and Sookie Stackhouse. Despite good reviews, this film about a man who joins a group of traveling vampires didn't perform so hot at the box office while it was in theaters.
"Platoon"
"The Verdict"
"Johnny Dangerously"
Advertisement
Avenue Pictures
Can you name this under-appreciated '80s flick?
"Hannah and Her Sisters"
"Summer Rental"
"Drugstore Cowboy"
The 1989 crime drama, "Drugstore Cowboy," stars Matt Dillon and Heather Graham. Based on a novel by James Fogle, it tells the story of a pair of drug addicts that rob hospitals and drugstores to get their fix.
"Raising Arizona"
Hemdale Film Corporation
Can you name this under-appreciated '80s flick?
"The Flamingo Kid"
"Platoon"
"Platoon" was the first in a series pf three Vietnam War films directed by Oliver Stone. The 1986 drama starred Tom Berenger, Willem Dafoe, ​and Charlie Sheen.
"Vampire's Kiss"
"To Live and Die in L.A."
ââ¬Å½Embassy International
Can you name this under-appreciated '80s flick?
"Dune"
"Aliens"
"The King of Comedy"
The 1982 film, "The King of Comedy," was directed by Martin Scorsese. It stars Robert De Niro as a deranged man named Rupert Pupkin who dreams of being a stand-up comedian.
"She's Having a Baby"
Advertisement
tmdb
Can you name this under-appreciated '80s flick?
"Aliens"
Most horror fans agree that "Aliens" was pretty good, but it got a bit lost in the shadow of the original 1979 film. This 1986 sequel stars Sigourney Weaver as Ellen Ripley, who returns to space to hunt down the creature who attacked her crew.
"At Close Range"
"To Live and Die in L.A."
"Birdy"
tmdb
Can you name this under-appreciated '80s flick?
"Frantic"
"Xanadu"
"River's Edge"
"Dune"
People are willing to die for a drug called "The Spice" in the 1984 movie, "Dune." The David Lynch film tells the story of the battle for the planet Arrakis, home to the coveted drug.
Warner Bros.
Can you name this under-appreciated '80s flick?
"Nothin' But Trouble"
In "Nothin' But Trouble," a group of people is trapped in a mansion owned by a quirky judge. The comedy horror was directed by Dan Aykroyd and starred Chevy Chase, Demi Moore, and John Candy.
"She's Having a Baby"
"The Burbs"
"To Live and Die in L.A."
Advertisement
Kingsmere Properties
Can you name this under-appreciated '80s flick?
"Johnny Dangerously"
"The Mosquito Coast"
"Top Secret!"
Val Kilmer made his movie debut in the 1984 comedy, "Top Secret!" The David Zucker comedy also featured Omar Sharif and Peter Cushing.
"Vampire's Kiss"
Orion Pictures, Paper Clip Productions
Can you name this under-appreciated '80s flick?
"Birdy"
"Back to School"
Rodney Dangerfield stars as a wealthy dad who goes back to college in the 1986 film, "Back to School." Even in the classroom, he "can't get no respect."​
"Aliens"
"The Dark Crystal"
SLM Production Group, New Century Productions, United Artists
Can you name this under-appreciated '80s flick?
"Vision Quest"
"Little Darlings"
"River's Edge"
"To Live and Die in L.A."
The 1985 action film, "To Live and Die in L.A.," stars Willem Dafoe and William Petersen. The pair play Secret Service agents sent to L.A. to capture a master counterfeiter by any means necessary.
Advertisement
tmdb
Can you name this under-appreciated '80s flick?
"Broadcast News"
The 1987 comedy "Broadcast News" focused on three TV news anchors working at a network in Washington DC. The film stars William Hurt, Joan Cusack, Holly Hunter and Albert Brooks.
"Birdy"
"The Last American Virgin"
"Johnny Dangerously"
20th Century Fox
Can you name this under-appreciated '80s flick?
"Something Wild"
"The Verdict"
Despite some big name actors, "The Verdict" doesn't always get the attention it deserves. The legal film features Paul Newman as Frank Galvin, a lawyer working on a major medical malpractice case.
"The Flamingo Kid"
"The Hollywood Knights"
tmdb
Can you name this under-appreciated '80s flick?
"Johnny Dangerously"
"To Live and Die in L.A."
"Hannah and Her Sisters"
"Hannah and Her Sisters" featured family drama, love and romance wrapped around the Thanksgiving holiday. This 1986 film features Mia Farrow, Barbara Hershey, Michael Caine, and Carrie Fisher.
"She's Having a Baby"
Advertisement
Paramount Pictures
Can you name this under-appreciated '80s flick?
"Xanadu"
"Aliens"
"Raising Arizona"
The 1987 film, "Raising Arizona," stars Nicolas Cage as an ex-con named Hi. After marrying a police officer -- played by Holly Hunter -- the pair kidnap a child to raise as their own.
"The Mosquito Coast"
Universal Pictures
Can you name this under-appreciated '80s flick?
"Summer Rental"
The 1985 film, "Summer Rental," stars John Candy as an air traffic controller. After an incident at work, ​he takes his family to a Florida beach, where pretty much everything that can go wrong does go wrong.
"Vampire's Kiss"
"Drugstore Cowboy"
"The Verdict"
tmdb
Can you name this under-appreciated '80s flick?
"The Burbs"
"Johnny Dangerously"
The 1984 flick, "Johnny Dangerously," is a parody of the classic 1930s and '40s gangster movies. The film features such big names as Michael Keaton, Joe Piscopo, Danny DeVito, and Marilu Henner -- plus Dom DeLuise as the Pope.
"She's Having a Baby"
"Little Darlings"
Advertisement
Universal Pictures
Can you name this under-appreciated '80s flick?
"Drugstore Cowboy"
"Near Dark"
"Three O'Clock High"
"Three O'Clock High" is a 1987 teen comedy set in a school. It features a nerdy high school student named Casey who will stop at nothing to avoid the attention of the tough school bully.
"Broadcast News"
Hemdale Film Corporation
Can you name this under-appreciated '80s flick?
"Something Wild"
"The Hollywood Knights"
"The Verdict"
"At Close Range"
The 1986 crime drama "At Close Range" tells the story of an organized crime family operating out of Pennsylvania. The film features such big names as Sean Penn, Christopher Walken, Kiefer Sutherland, and Mary Stuart Masterson.
Warner Bros.
Can you name this under-appreciated '80s flick?
"Frantic"
Despite starring Harrison Ford, the 1988 film, "Frantic," doesn't get as much attention as it should. The action-packed flick features Ford trying to track down his kidnapped wife on the gritty streets of Paris.
"Xanadu"
"Aliens"
"Vision Quest"
Advertisement
ITC Entertainment
Can you name this under-appreciated '80s flick?
"The Dark Crystal"
How could a film directed by Jim Henson and Frank Oz be anything short of amazing? The 1982 fantasy, "The Dark Crystal," featured intense animatronics that bordered on scary for younger viewers, and told the story of a Gelfling named Jen who went on an epic quest.
"The Last American Virgin"
"She's Having a Baby"
"Raising Arizona"
You Got:
/40
ââ¬Å½The Geffen Company / Cannon Film Distributors / ââ¬Å½De Laurentiis Entertaint