80 Greatest '80s Movie Moments

Who Framed Roger Rabbit? (1988)

The Moment: The opening animated short over, Roger Rabbit and Baby Herman walk off-set and into a live-action film studio.

Only In The '80s: ...could the major studios be persuaded to bury the hatchet and collaborate on something like this.

If It Was Made Today: Failing to get the character rights, they’d have to use made-up ‘toons instead of classic Disney and Loony Tunes icons.

The Princess Bride (1987)

The Moment: Mandy Patinkin repeats his mantra, just in case Christopher Guest doesn’t get it: “I am Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die!”

Only In The '80s: ...did every film have a catchphrase.

If It Was Made Today: Inigo Montoya? Too foreign. How about Chuck Manly?

Top Gun (1986)

The Moment: Seduction, Navy Seal style – Tom Cruise sings a karaoke You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feeling to pull Kelly McGillis.

Only In The '80s: ...would the entire bar join in.

If It Was Made Today: It’d probably be a sodding James Blunt song.

Indiana Jones and The Temple of Doom (1984)

The Moment: A waiter with a gun. A diamond on ice. A poisoned Indy. And a great big massive gong. Anything goes in Shanghai.

Only In The '80s: ...was Spielberg rocking the confidence to open an action-adventure with a screwball/musical hybrid.

If It Was Made Today: A gopher in the desert. Not quite as iconic, is it?

Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982)

The Moment: Judd Reinhold gets caught having a wank as he imagines Phoebe Cates taking off her red bikini.

Only In The '80s: Could something this pervy be so strangely innocent.

If It Was Made Today: The scene would be kept back until the uncut extended DVD release.

Stand By Me (1986)

The Moment: Gordie LaChance tells his latest short story to his friends – the tale of pie-eating machine Lardass.

Only In The '80s: ...could a complete and total barf-o-rama come across as charming.

If It Was Made Today: All crudity, zero charm.

The Breakfast Club (1985)

The Moment: Troubled Judd Nelson gets out of detention a changed man, and punches the air in triumph.

Only In The '80s: ...could a single man – John Hughes – unite the athletes, basket cases, princesses, geeks and criminals.

If It Was Made Today: The influence of Glee would ensure that ‘Alive and Kicking’ would be sung by the cast.

The Fabulous Baker Boys (1989)

The Moment: Michelle Pfeiffer drapes herself over a piano in the slinkiest of red dresses and melts hearts and more with her rendition of Making Whoopee .

Only In The '80s: ...could a romantic drama be made starring Beau Bridges. Jeff, yes. But not Beau.

If It Was Made Today: The Baker Boys would probably be bakers.

Full Metal Jacket (1987)

The Moment: Real-life Marine Drill Sergeant R. Lee Ermey practices his stand-up comedy routine on his latest recruits. “I bet you're the kind of guy that would fuck a person in the ass and not even have the goddamn common courtesy to give him a reach-around."

Only In The '80s: ...would Vietnam War movies be so popular a director could made half a film simply about their training.

If It Was Made Today: They’d probably hire an actor to play the sarge.

The Long Good Friday (1980)

The Moment: Every emotion under the sun plays out on Bob Hoskins’ face as he realises that his limo driver (one Pierce Brosnan) is going to kill him.

Only In The '80s: ...would an audacious long-take close-up be soundtracked by disco music.

If It Was Made Today: The kids would assume it was a Guy Ritchie rip-off, and not vice versa.