10 Forgotten 1980s Romance Movies That Were Excellent

10 Forgotten 1980s Romance Movies That Were Excellent

Featuring some of the biggest stars, and some of their strongest performances, these 1980s romance movies should be given another look.

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The 1980s was the decade of excess, and that was certainly true for films in the romance genre. It produced some of the most unconventional, torrid, and star-crossed movies of all time, and while many romantics gravitated towards When Harry Met Sally, Dirty Dancing, and Pretty in Pink, there were several forgotten films that showed love in a variety of tender, tragic and uplifting ways.

Whether fans were drawn towards love affairs between extraterrestrials and humans, members of the same gender, or sweeping period dramas between members of high and low classes, there was something for everyone to get caught up in. Featuring some of the biggest stars, in some of the strongest performances, and centered on the most emotional subjects, these 1980s romance movies should be given another look.

10 OUT OF AFRICA (1985)

In a similar vein to Titanic, this sprawling epic tells the story of wealthy aristocrat Karen Blixen, determined to be a dairy farmer in Africa with her equally affluent husband. When he uses their funds to purchase a coffee plantation and proves to be unfaithful, she leaves him high and dry.

She begins developing affections for rugged hunter Denys (Robert Redford), though their differences in lifestyle present a problem for romance. Generally regarded as one of Meryl Streep’s best roles (she was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress), it won the Academy Award for Best Picture in 1986, as well as Best Director for Sydney Pollack.

9 STARMAN (1984)

Worlds and hearts collide when NASA sends a beacon to communicate with extraterrestrial life and it gets answered by a cosmic being. Their ship gets grounded by a missile strike and forced to act fast, the “starman” takes on the form of a deceased Wisconsin man.

Desperate to get home, Starman kidnaps the man’s widow Jenny and begins a wild trip to Arizona to reunite with his ship, dodging government officials wanting to kill him and scientists wanting to study him. Jeff Bridges brings his usual charisma to the role of Starman and plays wonderfully off of a post- Raiders of the Lost Ark Karen Allen in this John Carpenter sci-fi romance.

8 SPLASH (1984)

Tom Hanks is at his best in this rollicking romantic comedy about a man who was saved by a mermaid as a boy only to be reunited with her 20 years later as an adult. As Allen Bauer he has to make the difficult decision of whether to join his fantasy lover under the sea or help her survive on land.

Their unconventional romance is complicated by a scheming scientist who is determined to find her and use her for all sorts of devious experiments. Daryl Hannah is luminous as Maddison the mermaid and John Candy is his usual hilarious self as Allen’s brother.

7 STREETS OF FIRE (1984)

When his mercenary Tom Cody returns to his hometown, he is shocked to discover his former lover Ellen (Diane Lane) has been kidnapped by the gangster turned biker Raven Shaddock (Willem Dafoe), and he must go on an epic quest to save the popular rockstar.

Full of colorful characters (Rick Moranis plays Ellen’s manager), a rocking soundtrack by popular ’80s artists, and a unique aesthetic style, this film combines sweeping romance with exciting action flick and musical numbers to present a unique rock opera experience.

6 A ROOM WITH A VIEW (1985)

The first of several lavish Merchant-Ivory productions in the ’80s and ’90s, A Room With A View chronicled the adventures of brash Lucy Honeychurch (a young Helena Bonham-Carter) on the Continent, touring Italy with her fellow English countrywoman (Maggie Smith).

Lucy meets George Emerson (Julian Sands) at her hotel in Florence, and his free-spirited ways are a direct contrast to the persnickety behaviors of her wealthy betrothed Cecil (Daniel Day-Lewis). Lucy must decide which man will claim her heart; the dashing dreamer or the prudent match in this sweeping period romance.

5 MY BEAUTIFUL LAUNDERETTE (1985)

When a young Pakistani man (Gordon Warnecke) takes over his uncle’s laundromat in a seedy part of London, he dreams of turning it into a thriving business. No sooner has he gotten the keys than he’s jumped by a group of racist street punks, led by his former lover Johnny (Daniel Day-Lewis).

Omar diffuses the situation and the men eventually resume their former romantic relationship, working together to make the laundromat something special while social concerns threaten to ruin it. This powerful romantic drama pushes boundaries and doesn’t shy away from barriers. It also launched the career of Daniel Day-Lewis.

4 MOONSTRUCK (1987)

Cher wows as Loretta, a no-nonsense Italian-American widow who’s just come around to love again after her husband’s death. She agrees to marry her oafish boyfriend Johnny until she meets his younger brother Ronny (Nicolas Cage), and begins an explosive affair with the hunky butcher.

This fast-talking slice-of-life film paints a beautiful picture of family life in New York City as the backdrop for Loretta and Ronny’s forbidden romance. Cage stands out as a Byronic lover embarrassed by his missing hand, the product of an accident he blames his brother for.

3 MAURICE (1987)

Before there was Brokeback Mountain, a film about star-crossed Edwardian youth was the LGBTQ+ film that movie audiences weren’t ready for in the ’80s. Based on E.M. Forester’s classic novel and produced by Merchant Ivory, it was another lavish period piece combined with modern sensibilities to create a scathing tableau of ideologies.

Starring Hugh Grant as Clive Durham, a wealthy socialite obsessed with his friend Maurice (James Wilby), who must ultimately break things off for the sake of appearances when the two cannot continue on with their love affair. Maurice goes on to marry a woman, and Clive continues to hold a candle for him all the rest of their days. Performed with quiet conviction and emotion, the film remains under-seen even with a recent 4k remastering.

2 MANNEQUIN (1987)

When Jonathan, a department store window dresser is overseeing a new display one evening, he discovers that one of the mannequins is actually alive. She introduces herself as Emmy (Kim Catrall), and the two create gorgeous displays together which attract throngs of customers.

While the displays keep the struggling store in business, Jonathan and Emmy struggle to have a romance despite the meddling schemes of his manager (James Spader). This unlikely romantic film will cast a spell on viewers with its quirky humor and charming leads.

1 SAY ANYTHING (1989)

John Cusack made a name for himself with the part of Lloyd Dobbler, a slacker whose only aspiration in life is to become a kickboxer and love Sloane, his high school girlfriend who’s way out of his league.

This charming coming-of-age film treated teenagers’ problems seriously, balancing an introspective look at Lloyd’s burden of aimlessness with Sloane’s realization that her father (an excellent John Mahoney) may not be the inspirational figure she’d always hoped.

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