Oh, the 80s. The times of bright neon colors, shoulder pads, perms, scrunchies, cassette tapes, and, of course, those wonderfully cheesy 80s romantic comedies we still remember and love! What a time to be alive.
I think we can all appreciate a throwback moment (or an hour or five) to the 1980s. After all, it was a magical time that gave us classic rom coms like When Harry Met Sally, iconic movie moments like Say Anything’s boombox scene, and beautiful songs like I’ve Had The Time Of My Life from Dirty Dancing.
The movies back then were packed with well-known Hollywood names in their early days. The clothes were colorful, the scripts were quotable, and the coming-of-age stories ruled the screen. And, thanks to streaming services like Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime Video, we can relive all of those sweet 80s love stories whenever we feel like it.
So make yourself comfy, get something to snack on, and get ready for a feel-good ‘80s rom-com marathon! And if you don’t know where to start, you’re in the right place. I’ve made a list of the ten best romantic comedies from the 1980s that will make you feel nostalgic even if you didn’t live through them in the first place. I’ve also included their best quotes and songs from the soundtrack. Enjoy!
And if you’re still on a nostalgia kick after that, check out our list of the best romantic comedies from the 90s too!
10 best romantic comedies of the 1980s
10. Splash (1984)
Buena Vista Distribution
Available on: Vudu, Disney+, Prime Video
IMDB: 6,3
Cast: Tom Hanks, Daryl Hannah, Eugene Levy
Director: Ron Howard
What’s it about?
After nearly drowning in the seas off Cape Cod twenty years ago, businessman Allen Bauer finds himself in the same situation again. A mermaid he saw as a child rescues him once more, but this time she follows him to Manhattan, sprouting legs when her fins dry. The two soon fall in love, and she decides to keep her true nature hidden from Allen.
What makes it work?
This 1984 fantasy rom-com is a whimsical re-working of The Little Mermaid fairy tale. Splash is a feel-good, literal fish-out-of-water comedy, complete with incredible underwater sequences with the beautiful Daryl Hannah, and that undying Tom Hanks charm. So forget about the edgy and mean-spirited comedies, and take a deep dive into this old-fashioned and hilarious ‘80s gem.
Memorable quote: “I don’t understand. All my life I’ve been waiting for someone and when I find her, she’s… she’s a fish.”
Best song on the soundtrack: “Love Came for Me” by Rita Coolidge
9. Valley Girl (1983)
Atlantic Releasing
Available on: Vudu, Prime Video
IMDB: 6,4
Cast: Nicolas Cage, Deborah Foreman, Elizabeth Daily
Director: Martha Coolidge
What’s it about?
After she breaks up with her jock boyfriend, Julie, a fashionable San Fernando Valley girl, meets Hollywood punk Randy, and the two fall in love. However, Julie’s mall-walking gal pals hate Randy and want her to get back with her Val ex-boyfriend. Julie must decide if taking a chance on a boy she loves is more important than the approval of her social circle.
What makes it work?
Loosely based on Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet (minus the death), this 1983 teen romantic comedy perfectly captures the ‘80s in all its glory (the catchphrases! the soundtrack!). But don’t think you won’t like it if you’re not an ‘80s or ‘90s kid. Valley Girl is sweet, funny, and relatable; at its very core are the universal experiences of adolescence: first love, self-identity, and the struggle to fit in.
Memorable quotes: “Well f**k you, for sure, like totally!”, “He’s like tripendicular, ya know?”
Best song on the soundtrack: “I Melt With You” by Modern English
8. Pretty In Pink (1986)
Paramount Pictures
Available on: Hulu, Vudu, Prime Video
IMDB: 6,8
Cast: Molly Ringwald, Jon Cryer, Andrew McCarthy
Director: Howard Deutch
What’s it about?
Andie Walsh is an intelligent but awkward high school outcast. Things take a turn when her long-time crush, Blane, takes an interest in her, much to the dismay of his rich and snobby friends. But someone else is also disappointed – Andie’s friend Duckie, who is hopelessly in love with her. Who will Andie choose: the boy next door or the “richie” that every girl dreams of dating?
What makes it work?
The 1986 cult favorite, written by John Hughes, is a big-hearted that explores young love and touches on peer pressure and class divide. There’s also the inevitable, bright ’80s aesthetics and the New Wave soundtrack that only add to its charm. And like any self-respecting prom-com, Pretty in Pink ends with a glorious, totally ’80s senior prom scene.
Memorable quotes: “Love’s a bitch, Duck. Love’s a bitch.”, “You said you couldn’t be with someone who didn’t believe in you. Well, I believed in you. I just didn’t believe in me. I love you. Always.”
Best song on the soundtrack: “If You Leave” by Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark
7. Coming To America (1988)
Paramount Pictures
Available on: Netflix, Vudu, Prime Video
IMDB: 7,1
Cast: Eddie Murphy, Arsenio Hall, Shari Headley
Director: John Landis
What’s it about?
As a prince of the African kingdom of Zamunda, Akeem is supposed to marry a girl he has never met before. But prince Akeem would rather marry for love, so he packs up and goes looking for his queen in Queens, NY, of course. There he meets the strong-willed Lisa and manages to win her over, but everything threatens to fall apart when she finds out about his title.
What makes it work?
This 1988 rom-com will leave you in stitches. Eddie Murphy as Prince Akeem and Arsenio Hall as his faithful steward pose as “common folk” and work their way through some hilarious misunderstandings that will leave you in stitches. And Akeem’s trying to prove himself a worthy man to Lisa is so sweet, it’s no wonder that Coming to America became an immediate ‘80s romantic comedy favorite.
Memorable quotes: “I want a woman that will arouse my intellect as well as my loins.”, “No journey is too great when one finds what he seeks.”
Best song on the soundtrack: “Come Into My Life” by Laura Branigan & Joe Esposito
6. Sixteen Candles (1984)
Universal Pictures
Available on: Vudu, Prime Video
IMDB: 7,1
Cast: Molly Ringwald, Anthony Michael Hall, Michael Schoeffling
Director: John Hughes
What’s it about?
Samantha Baker’s sixteenth birthday may be the worst day of her life. She has to fend off the school’s geek, who’s in love with her, her busy family completely forgot her birthday, and her hunky crush, Jake, doesn’t know she exists. Add this to a day’s worth of mishaps. Will things turn around for Sam on her sweet sixteen?
What makes it work?
This coming-of-age story from 1984 is another throwback to a time when John Hughes and teen romantic comedies ruled the silver screen. Sixteen Candles is a cheerful and heartwarming portrait of ’80s youth that makes a perfect watch after a long week – giving you and the queen of the decade, Molly Ringwald, the wonderful fairy tale ending you deserve.
Memorable quotes: “That’s why they call them crushes. If they were easy, they’d call ’em something else.”
Best song on the soundtrack: “If You Were Here” by Thompson Twins
5. Moonstruck (1987)
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Available on: Vudu, Prime Video
IMDB: 7,1
Cast: Cher, Nicolas Cage, Olympia Dukakis
Director: Norman Jewison
What’s it about?
Loretta Castorini is a widowed bookkeeper who wants to turn a new page in her life, and she believes that marrying a decent man is a safe and right decision. But after an attempt to resolve the dispute between her fiance and his estranged brother, Ronny, Loretta unexpectedly falls for the passionate Ronny. She must now decide what to do about it.
What makes it work?
A full moon casts its spell on everyone in this 1987 romantic comedy, including Loretta (Cher in an Oscar-winning role! ), a woman in her late 30s who discovers she is still capable of love, and the quirky Castorini family, who are dealing with their own romantic troubles. Moonstruck is a funny and clever adult romantic comedy with a beautiful atmosphere deeply steeped in Italian-American culture.
Memorable quote: “Love don’t make things nice. It ruins everything. It breaks your heart. It makes things a mess. We aren’t here to make things perfect. The snowflakes are perfect. The stars are perfect. Not us. Not us! We are here to ruin ourselves and to break our hearts and love the wrong people and die.”
Best song on the soundtrack: “That’s Amore” by Dean Martin
4. When Harry Met Sally (1989)
Columbia Pictures
Available on: Hulu, Vudu, Prime Video
IMDB: 7,6
Cast: Billy Crystal, Meg Ryan, Carrie Fisher
Director: Rob Reiner
What’s it about?
As college graduates, Harry and Sally met while sharing a ride home to New York. They run into each other a few times over the next decade and eventually become close friends. That is, until they share a bed. Is there a friendship after that, and will the two finally confront their feelings for each other?
What makes it work?
Nora Ephron penned the 1989 rom-com classic, so expect a great relationship comedy and a whip-smart dialogue. The chemistry between Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan as Harry and Sally is electric, and it’s impossible to imagine anyone else playing two snappy Manhattanites. No matter how many times you watch, you’ll never be able to get enough of this will-they-won’t-they 80s love story.
Memorable quote: “I came here tonight because when you realize you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible.”, “I’ll have what she’s having.”
Best song on the soundtrack: “I Could Write a Book” by Harry Connick Jr
3. Dirty Dancing (1987)
Vestron Pictures
Available on: Netflix, Hulu, Vudu, Prime Video
IMDB: 7
Cast: Patrick Swayze, Jennifer Grey, Jerry Orbach
Director: Emile Ardolino
What’s it about?
A family vacation in the Catskills becomes a rite of passage when the handsome dance instructor, Johnny, catches the eye of Frances “Baby” Houseman. When Baby steps in as Johnny’s dance partner, she discovers the sensual dance world beneath the seemingly boring resort, and the tension between her and Johnny grows with each practice.
What makes it work?
The fan-favorite 1987 love story has all the right moves to sweep you off your feet: timeless good girl & bad boy romance, teenage rebellion, a killer soundtrack, one of the most iconic movie dance routines (oh, “the lift”!), perfect dialogue with just the right amount of cheese, and young Patrick Swayze, all muscle and heart. Bless you, the ’80s!
Memorable quotes: “Nobody puts Baby in the corner.”
Best song on the soundtrack: “I’ve Had The Time Of My Life” by Bill Medley & Jennifer Warnes. Duh.
2. Say Anything (1989)
20th Century Fox
Available on: Hulu, Vudu, Prime Video
IMDB: 7,3
Cast: John Cusack, Ione Skye, John Mahoney
Director: Cameron Crowe
What’s it about?
Lloyd Dobler, an underachieving high school graduate, wants nothing more than to go out with the girl who is too good for him – Diane, the beautiful class valedictorian and “most likely to succeed.” Lloyd tries to win her over over the summer before she leaves for a scholarship in England. This upsets her overprotective father’s plans for her.
What makes it work?
This 1989 teen romantic comedy is about more than just young love; it’s also an insightful look at the tricky time when carefree adolescence ends, and it’s time to make life-changing decisions. But what captivated generations of fans of this 80s rom-com is that scene, with John Cusack holding a boombox above his head and blasting “In Your Eyes” to let Diane know he’s not giving up on her. Be still, my heart.
Memorable quote: “I gave her my heart and she gave me a pen.”
Best song on the soundtrack: “In Your Eyes” by Peter Gabriel
1. The Breakfast Club
Universal Pictures
Available on: Netflix, Vudu, Prime Video
IMDB: 7,8
Cast: Emilio Estevez, Judd Nelson, Molly Ringwald
Director: John Hughes
What’s it about?
A small group of teenagers, all from completely different cliques – Claire, a popular girl, Andrew, a jock, John, a troublemaker, Brian, a class brain, and Allison, a weirdo – have to spend Saturday together in the school detention. As the day grows longer, the kids who only knew each other by reputation discover they have a lot more in common than they thought.
What makes it work?
The quintessential 1985 teen comedy from John Hughesland is almost entirely dialogue-driven. It’s an emotional story about social schisms, alienation, and angst that everyone (no matter how self-assured they appear) experiences. Friendship and love bloom in the most unlikely of places – four out of five Breakfast Club members get together at the end! Yay!
Memorable quotes: “When you grow up, your heart dies.”, “We’re all pretty bizarre. Some of us are just better at hiding it; that’s all.”
Best song on the soundtrack: “Don’t You (Forget About Me)” by Simple Minds
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