The Best Kids Movies of the '80s

 

The 1980s was a very strange decade that would come to define things like excess and greed as well as robots and space. The styles were sometimes ridiculous and sometimes ridiculously awful. The music was borderline manic but sometimes catchy as heck. The movies, though, were a gold mine for movie fans and many of the biggest cult hits came out in the '80s. It was a wonderful time to be a kid thanks to the now legendary toys like Teddy Ruxpin and Lite Brite and the movies for kids were just as memorable. Thus, we'll give you the layout on the best kids movies of the '80s so that you can share them with your child or just revisit them yourself.

 

The Goonies (1985)

 

The Goonies was a breakthrough hit for such stars as Corey Feldman and Josh Brolin and the flick showed that Richard Donner could do more than just tape Mel Gibson going crazy. It is also one of the most beloved '80s movies ever made and everybody between the age of 35 and 20 either loves or hates the movie. At any rate, it is definitely an iconic picture for an iconic time and it is fun for all ages. Chris Columbus, the man behind Home Alone and Nine Months wrote the script based on a story by Steven Spielberg and the production values throughout the tale are stellar. If your kid is over the age of six they will likely be enthralled by this timeless treasure.

 

The Neverending Story (1984)

 

The Neverending Story was actually a German film that marked the directorial debut of Wolfgang Peterson. Nonetheless, the movie achieved success all around the world because of its sense of whimsy and adventure. It doesn't matter if you're nine or ninety when you watch this movie for the first time. It will almost assuredly capture your imagination and it can be enjoyed on the level of a child or an ironic post Gen-X sensibility. The special effects are wondrous but they may be a bit scary for kids under five years of age.

 

Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988)

 

It is hard to call Who Framed Roger Rabbit a kid's movie because it is so much more. It is a wry commentary on the state of racial prejudice in the 1940s as well as an expert parody of the film noir genre. It is also one of the most respected movies ever made because of the technical skill involved in making it. The film won a special Oscar that celebrated the way cartoons blended with live action so wondrously and it is also notable for being the only film or show where Mickey Mouse shares the screen with Bugs Bunny. At any rate, it can definitely be enjoyed by kids because pretty much every famous cartoon character ever made makes an appearance in the movie. The deeper layers and metaphors are there for the adults, though, and thus it may be the perfect family movie. The '80s may be gone but the dedication to film craft that the decade symbolized will live on in the great movies that are yet to be made.