Romantic comedies can be very hit or miss, but there’s something incredibly special about those that have stood the test of time. The cheesiness of the ‘80s, in particular, provided audiences with an abundance of laughs, tears, and exceptionally sweet love stories—and still do! Not only were their soundtracks laden with some of the best songs from that era, but they also launched careers for a large number of Hollywood’s famous faces, includingMolly Ringwald,Nicolas Cage, and evenTom Hanks.
With the recent release ofValley Girl’smusical remake, we wanted to take a look at some of the best rom-coms from the 80s. Not only do these films continue to capture our hearts, but each story offers up something new and different for audiences to take away. So, in no particular order, here are 15 of the best 80s romantic comedies.
Valley Girl (1983)
What better way to kick off this list than withMartha Coolidge’s recently remade rom-com,Valley Girl? This tale of star-crossed lovers, loosely based on Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet”, is a must-watch for any fan of the genre. It centers on a teenage girl from The Valley named Julie (played byDeborah Foreman) who falls in love with a Hollywood punk named Randy (Nicolas Cagein his first leading role). Despite being from two vastly different worlds, and receiving near constant pushback from their friends and family, the two become determined to stay together. Not to mention,Valley Girlhas a killer soundtrack that includesModern English’s mega hit “I Melt With You”, which is guaranteed to bring a smile to your face during the film’s cheesy montage sequence.
When Harry Met Sally (1989)
Even if you haven’t seenWhen Harry Met Sally,you’ve surely heard of the New Year’s Eve scene at the very end.Billy Crystal’s Harry runs to profess his love for his best friend,Meg Ryan’s Sally, in the sweetest fashion right before the clock strikes 12. It’s a scene that’s always been a staple in the rom-com genre, and for good reason. This is a movie that’s endured for so long mainly for its brilliant writing, courtesy ofNora Ephron, and its excellent performances from both Ryan and Crystal. Even though its story feels fairly predictable from the get-go, it’s the journey that makes it worthwhile. Not to mention, it’s filled with plenty of memorable moments, including the hilarious and oft-quoted “I’ll have what she’s having,” scene.
Say Anything… (1989)
Another film with an iconic rom-com movie moment.Say Anything…, a story about two people from very different lives who fall in love the summer before college, is largely recognized for the scene withJohn Cusackholding a boombox over his head blastingPeter Gabriel’s “In Your Eyes”. It’s an adorable scene that not only captures the time period, but also makes this sweet love story stand out in a very special way. This film’s writer and director,Cameron Crowe, is a master of capturing emotional connections between individuals and pondering the complexities of their lives.Say Anythingis one such movie that relishes in this, and the performances from Cusack andIone Skyeare just the cherry on top.
The Princess Bride (1987)
The Princess Brideis easily one of the most quotable movies ever. At some point, you (or someone you know) has probably repeated Inigo Montoya’s “you killed my father, prepare to die” line or Vizzini’s “inconceivable!” or even Westley’s “as you wish.” It’s not your typical romantic comedy, per se, but it has all the elements of one. Although the film centers on a grandpa (Peter Falk) reading to his grandson (Fred Savage), the real adventure lies in the fantastical love story he tells him… “a kissing book,” as Savage describes it.The Princess Bridehas always been a classic, especially for its humor and exceptionally sweet love story. It’s not just a must watch for romantic comedy fans, every movie fan should see this movie at least once in their life.
Sixteen Candles (1984)
Molly Ringwaldwas one of the most famous faces in the ‘80s, mainly for being aJohn Hughesstaple.Sixteen Candles, which was written and directed by Hughes, was led by Ringwald as a teenager named Sam who pines for the attention of a senior named Jake (Michael Schoeffling) while being pursued by a geeky freshman named Ted (Anthony Michael Hall). Moreover, though, it also focuses on the trials and tribulations of Sam’s life, especially when her family forgets her sixteenth birthday. Though some scenes certainly haven’t aged well, as Ringwald herself even pointed out in a New Yorker article, these rom-coms hold value because they legitimized teenagers’ feelings. In the article, she points out that Hughes just “wanted people to take teens seriously,” and they certainly did with films like this.
Dirty Dancing (1987)
Dirty Dancingis a movie that famously stated “nobody puts Baby in a corner,” and topped it all off with an extremely memorable dance sequence that many have tried to replicate over the years. Yes,I’m looking at you, Ryan Gosling. Not to mention, it’s difficult to hear “(I’ve Had) The Time of My Life” without immediately thinking about this movie. Led by excellent performances fromPatrick SwayzeandJennifer Grey,Dirty Dancingcenters on Grey’s character, Baby, who falls in love with Swayze’s suave Johnny Castle during a party. Together, they dance the summer away despite pushback from Baby’s father who believes she can do better than Johnny. It’s a romantic classic with an incredibly catchy soundtrack to boot.
Mystic Pizza (1988)
It’s clear coming-of-age films in the ‘80s were a dime a dozen, as evident by Hughes’s many famous features that stole the box office, but this was also a time when female-centric ones started taking center stage more often.Mystic Pizzais one such film that did this, centering on three teenage girls working at a pizza parlor and navigating love and life in the town of Mystic, Connecticut. FeaturingJulia Roberts,Annabeth Gish, andLili Tayloras the film’s leading trio, this romantic comedy is a delightfully cheesy one, much like its titular food.
Broadcast News (1987)
There are a number of productions that chronicle the complex inner workings of news outlets, especially broadcast, butJames L. Brooks’Broadcast Newsdoes so with an exceptional cast and even better writing. This movie examines a complicated love triangle between two television reporters, Aaron (Albert Brooks) and Tom (William Hurt), and a producer named Jane (Holly Hunter), but it stands out for how this love story is written. Each character is layered in a very interesting way, especially Hunter’s Jane. Brooks wrote her character, specifically, in a way that diverts from the traditional romantic comedy stereotype, bringing forth a fiercely independent and complicated feminist personality. It’s made all the more better with Hunter filling the shoes of this role with an abundance of personality.
Pretty in Pink (1986)
Everyone’s favorite Hughes staple makes her triumphant return to the ‘80s rom-com list.Pretty In Pink, written by Hughes but directed byHoward Deutch, also starred Ringwald and built uponSixteen Candles’ formula to create a more respectable nod to the female teenage experience. Centering on Andie (played by Ringwald), the film chronicles her high school experience as she navigates its complicated social structure while two boys – her best friend Duckie (Jon Cryer) and a popular kid named Blaine (Andrew McCarthy) – are vying for her affection. Again, though some aspects may seem outdated, Ringwald is overflowing with charisma and makes this role, in particular, a memorable one.
Coming To America (1988)
Eddie Murphyhas brought to life a number of charismatic personalities over the years, and one of his best was Prince Akeem inComing To America. Centering on Murphy’s Prince Akeem, this film follows his journey from Africa to America in search of a bride rather than going through with an arranged marriage. Alongside Murphy, there are many more famous faces in the cast includingJames Earl JonesandArsenio Hallthat help elevate the script with their riotous performances. Considering a sequel to this film (titledComing 2 America) is set to release sometime this year, with most of the original cast set to return, what better time to give this hilarious romantic comedy a watch?
