11 best 80s dvds

The 1980s was a significant decade for movies, and there are many classic films from that era that are available on DVD, particularly in the Kids & Family genre. These DVDs often contain beloved films that have become iconic in the world of family entertainment. Here are some notable 1980s kids and family movies that you might find on DVD:

  1. E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982): Directed by Steven Spielberg, this heartwarming film tells the story of a young boy who befriends an alien stranded on Earth.

  2. The Goonies (1985): A group of kids embarks on a treasure hunt adventure to save their neighborhood from foreclosure.

  3. The Princess Bride (1987): A fairy tale adventure filled with romance, humor, and swashbuckling action.

  4. Back to the Future (1985): A time-traveling adventure that has become a beloved classic.

  5. The NeverEnding Story (1984): Follow the adventures of a young boy who reads a magical book and becomes part of the story.

  6. Ghostbusters (1984): A team of ghost hunters battles supernatural forces in this iconic comedy.

  7. The Karate Kid (1984): A martial arts coming-of-age story about a young boy learning karate from an unconventional mentor.

  8. Honey, we Shrunk the Kids (1989): A science fiction adventure where kids are accidentally shrunk to miniature size.

  9. The Land Before Time (1988): An animated film featuring young dinosaurs on a journey to find the Great Valley.

  10. An American Tail (1986): An animated tale of a young mouse immigrating to America.

These DVDs often come with special features, such as behind-the-scenes documentaries, interviews with cast and crew, and commentary tracks.They provide an opportunity for both nostalgic adults and new generations of kids to enjoy these classic films from the 1980s. Keep in mind that the availability of these DVDs may vary, but they are frequently found in the Kids & Family section of movie stores or online retailers.

Below you can find our editor's choice of the best 80s dvds on the market
  

Mask: Director's Cut

Universal Studios

Based on 4 reviews Check latest price

Product description

Acclaimed filmmaker Peter Bogdanovich directed this heartwarming and inspirational film based on the real-life story of Rocky Dennis (Eric Stoltz), a terribly disfigured but highly sensitive and intelligent teenager. Motivated by his loving mother, Rusty (Cher), and her boyfriend, Gar (Sam Elliott), Rocky ultimately overcomes pain, loneliness and prejudice to become a role model to his classmates and teachers alike.



Bonus Content:

  • Mask Revealed: A Conversation with Director Peter Bogdanovich
  • Feature Commentary with Director Peter Bogdanovich

    Product features

    Mask: Director's Cut

    Synopsis

    Acclaimed filmmaker Peter Bogdanovich directed this heartwarming and inspirational film based on the real-life story of Rocky Dennis (Eric Stoltz), a terribly disfigured but highly sensitive and intelligent teenager. Motivated by his loving mother, Rusty (Cher), and her boyfriend, Gar (Sam Elliott), Rocky ultimately overcomes pain, loneliness and prejudice to become a role model to his classmates and teachers alike.

    General Info

    • PG-13
    • Drama

    Cast

    • Cher
    • Eric Stoltz
    • Sam Elliott

    Who's That Girl (DVD)

    Warner Manufacturing

    Based on 2 reviews Check latest price

    Product description

    Who's That Girl (DVD)

    A funny thing happened on the way to the bus station.Madonna stars as Nikki Finn in at totally offbeat comedy.Nikki's just been released from prison after serving four years for acrime she didn't commit ... and she's angry. When one of Nikki's lawyerscomes to drive her home from the penitentiary, she hijacks the uptightattorney to help her find the real culprit. Now, harassed by the police,hunted by killers and babysitting a rare, wild South American feline,the two careen through the city on a madcap quest to find the personguilty of the crime for which Nikki served the time.

    ]]>

    After Desperately Seeking Susan, Madonna was proclaimed a promising screen presence, but the one-two punch of Shanghai Surprise and Who's That Girl put a dent in her ascent. Directed by James Foley, who worked with Sean Penn in At Close Range (and shot the video for "Papa Don’t Preach"), it's an aggressively 1980s gloss on the screwball comedies of the 1930s. Jonathan Demme pulled off the gambit in Something Wild, but lightning did not strike twice. As the proceedings begin, platinum blonde bubblehead Nikki Finn (Madonna in Judy Holliday-gone-punk mode) has just been released from prison for a crime she didn't commit. Loudon Trott (Griffin Dunne, After Hours), a fastidious tax attorney, is assigned by future father-in-law Mr. Worthington to make sure she gets on the bus to Philly. (Turns out Worthington was involved with Nikki's bid in the pokey.) Loudon is also charged with delivering a rare cougar to eccentric superior Montgomery Bell (Sir John Mills)--on the day before his nuptials. In short order, the cat escapes and Nikki drags Loudon away from his wedding preparations to clear her name. Along the way, these two diametrically opposed entities fall improbably in love. The movie may have bombed, but the soundtrack, featuring four Madonna tracks, was a hit. Co-written by Ken Finkleman (The Newsroom) and lensed by Jan DeBont (Speed), Who's That Girl is manna for Madonna-philes. All others are advised to proceed with caution--or head straight for Howard Hawks’ timeless Bringing Up Baby instead. --Kathleen C. Fennessy

    The Breakfast Club

    UNI DIST CORP. (MCA)

    Based on 12 reviews Check latest price

    Product description

    From writer/director John Hughes (Sixteen Candles, Weird Science), The Breakfast Club is an iconic portrait of 1980s American high school life. When Saturday detention started, they were simply the Jock, the Princess, the Brain, the Criminal and the Basket Case, but by that afternoon they had become closer than any of them could have imagined. Featuring an all-star ’80s cast including Emilio Estevez, Anthony Michael Hall, Judd Nelson, Molly Ringwald, and Ally Sheedy, this warm-hearted coming-of-age comedy helped define an entire generation!



    Bonus Content:

  • Accepting the Facts: The Breakfast Club Trivia Track
  • Sincerely Yours
  • The Most Convenient Definitions: The Origins of The Brat Pack
  • Theatrical Trailer
  • Feature Commentary with Anthony Michael Hall and Judd Nelson

    Product features

    The Breakfast Club

    They were five students with nothing in common, faced with spending a Saturday detention together in their high school library. At 7 a.m., they had nothing to say, but by 4 p.m. they had bared their souls to each other and become good friends. John Hughes, creator of the critically acclaimed Sixteen Candles, wrote, directed and produced this hilarious and often touching comedy starring Emilio Estevez, Anthony Michael Hall, Judd Nelson, Molly Ringwald and Ally Sheedy. To the outside world they were simply the Jock, the Brain, the Criminal, the Princess and the Kook, but to each other, they would always be The Breakfast Club.

    What About Bob?

    Buena Vista Home Video

    Based on 6 reviews Check latest price

    Product description

    Comic wizard Bill Murray (CRADLE WILL ROCK, RUSHMORE) teams up with Academy Award(R)-winner Richard Dreyfuss teams up with (Best Actor, 1978, THE GOODBYE GIRL; MR. HOLLAND'S OPUS) in an outrageously wild comedy that's sure to drive you off the deep end! Murray plays Bob Wiley, a troubled but lovable therapy patient who fears everything! After seeking help from noted psychiatrist Dr. Leo Marvin (Dreyfuss), Bob feels revived. But when the good doctor skips town to go on a quiet family vacation, Bob, afraid of being alone, follows -- showing up unexpectedly at the therapist's lakeside retreat. That's when the fun really begins! Bob innocently becomes the houseguest who just won't leave -- endearing himself to the other family members ... and, in the end, driving the stressed-out shrink absolutely crazy!

    Honey, I Shrunk the Kids

    Buena Vista Home Video

    Based on 6 reviews Check latest price

    Product description

    Get set for the adventure of a lifetime in the #1 comedy hit of the year, HONEY, I SHRUNK THE KIDS! Rick Moranis stars as a preoccupied inventor who just can't seem to get his electro-magnetic shrinking machine to work. Then, when he accidentally shrinks his kids down to one-quarter-inch tall and tosses them out in the trash, the real adventure begins! Now the kids face incredible dangers as they try to make their way home through the jungle of their own backyard! Hurricane sprinklers! Dive-bombing bees! A runaway lawn mower and much, much more! Directed by Academy Award(R)-winner Joe Johnston (Visual Effects, RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK, 1981), this record-breaking smash is full of amazing special effects, hilarious comedy, wild chases, and nonstop surprises!|Early on one of the characters realizes, "We're now a quarter of an inch tall and 64 feet from the house. That's an equivalent of 3.2 miles."|The movie was directed by Joe Johnston, who won a 1981 Academy Award® for Visual Effects for RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK.

    Product features

    The Karate Kid Collection

    The Karate Kid is an American martial arts drama multi-media franchise, created by screenwriter Robert Mark Kamen. The franchise began in 1984 with The Karate Kid, and was followed by three film sequels: The Karate Kid Part II (1986), The Karate Kid Part III (1989) and The Next Karate Kid (1994). The original film was remade in 2010. Cobra Kai, a television series that serves as a sequel to the films, premiered in 2018.

    Honey I Shrunk the Kids DVD

    Wayne Szalinski is an inventor who just can't seem to get his electro-magnetic shrinking machine to work. When he accidentally shrinks his kids down to one-quarter-inch tall, the adventure begins.

    Magic in the details

    Rick Moranis stars as a preoccupied inventor who just can't seem to get his electro-magnetic shrinking machine to work. Then, when he accidentally shrinks his kids down to one-quarter-inch tall and tosses them out in the trash, the real adventure begins! Now the kids face incredible dangers as they try to make their way home through the jungle of their own backyard! Directed by Joe Johnston.

    The Tom Hanks Comedy Favorites Collection (The Money Pit / The Burbs / Dragnet)

    uni

    Based on 2 reviews Check latest price

    Product description

    Tom Hanks lights up the screen in this hilarious collection of three of his most popular comedies: The Money Pit, The 'Burbs and Dragnet. Available together for the first time on DVD, this must-own collector's set features some of Hollywood's most well-known stars including Dan Aykroyd, Shelley Long and Carrie Fisher. See one of the world's most talented actors at his comedic peak in Tom Hanks: Comedy Favorites Collection.



    Bonus Content:

    Disc 1 - The Money Pit:

  • The Making of the Money Pit
  • Theatrical Trailer




  • Disc 2 - Dragnet (1987):

  • Theatrical Trailer




  • Disc 2 - The 'Burbs:

  • Alternate Ending
  • Theatrical Trailer

    Product features

    The Tom Hanks Comedy Favorites Collection (The Money Pit / The Burbs / Dragnet)

    Synopsis

    Tom Hanks lights up the screen in this hilarious collection of three of his most popular comedies: The Money Pit, The 'Burbs and Dragnet. Available together on DVD, this must-own collector's set features some of Hollywood's most well-known stars including Dan Aykroyd, Shelley Long and Carrie Fisher. See one of the world's most talented actors at his comedic peak in Tom Hanks: Comedy Favorites Collection.

    Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead

    HBO

    Based on 6 reviews Check latest price

    Product description

    Mom has taken a trip, leaving the kids with a babysitter. There's only one problem - she just died! Now the kids can have a summer full of fun - or can they?

    Product features

    Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead

    Mom has taken a trip, leaving the kids with a babysitter. There's only one problem: she just died!

    Now the kids can have a summer full of fun…or can they?

    The Twilight Zone: The Complete 80s Series

    PARAMOUNT - UNI DIST CORP

    Based on 351 reviews Check latest price

    Pure '80s DVD: Video Idols

    Universal Music

    Based on 73 reviews Check latest price

    Product description

    Like totally awesome! The hottest '80s video DVDs now available individually! An eclectic visual experience including STYX 'Mr. Roboto', Suzanne Vega 'Luka', Olivia Newton-John 'Physical' and many more.

    Better Off Dead

    Paramount

    Based on 4 reviews Check latest price

    Product description

    After his girlfriend (Amanda Wyss) ditches him for a boorish ski jock, Lane (John Cusak) decides that suicide is the only answer. However, his increasingly inept attempts bring him only more agony and embarrassment. Filled with the wildest teen nightmares, a family you can't help but identify with and a host of wonderful comic characters, Savage Steve Holland's writing/directorial debut is a masterful look at those painfully funny teen years.

    E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial

    Universal Studios

    Based on 14 reviews Check latest price

    Product description

    Relive the adventure and magic in one of the most beloved motion pictures of all-time, E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial, from Academy Award-winning director Steven Spielberg. Captivating audiences of all ages, this timeless story follows the unforgettable journey of a lost alien and the 10-year-old boy he befriends. Join Elliot (Henry Thomas), Gertie (Drew Barrymore) and Michael (Robert MacNaughton) as they come together to help E.T. find his way back home, E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial is "one of the great American films" (Leonard Maltin) that forever belongs in the hearts and minds of audiences everywhere.



    Bonus Content:

    2-Disc DVD with over 3 Hours of Bonus Features!

    The E.T. Journals: Featuring behind the scenes footage from the filming of the movie, this featurette gives viewers a unique feeling of being on-set and living the excitement of what it was like to make E.T. (Blu-ray Exclusive)

    Steven Spielberg & E.T.: The director reflects back on the film and discusses his experience working with children as well as his overall and current perspective on E.T.

    Deleted Scenes

    A Look Back: A special insider's look into the making of E.T. featuring interviews with Steven Spielberg, the cast, and others intimately involved with the film.

    The Evolution and Creation of E.T.: From idea to screenplay, through casting and making the film.

    The E.T. Reunion: The cast and filmmaker reunite to discuss their thoughts on the impact of the film.

    The Music of E.T. A Discussion with John Williams: Interviews and footage of the long-standing relationship between John Williams and Steven Spielberg.

    The 20th Anniversary Premiere: Composer John Williams played the score of E.T. live at the Shrine Auditorium for the re-release premier of E.T. This featurette gives us a behind the scenes look at this presentation.

    Designs, Photographs and Marketing

    Theatrical Trailer

    Product features

    E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial

    Synopsis

    Journey back to the magic and adventure with E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial, the beloved masterpiece from director Steven Spielberg. Henry Thomas, Drew Barrymore and Robert MacNaughton star in the unforgettable story of a lost alien and the 10-year-old boy who helps him find his way home. Digitally remastered for optimal picture and sound, this astounding story is sure to thrill viewers of all ages again with its timeless message of trust, courage, and the overwhelming power of friendship.

    General Info

    • PG
    • Sci-Fi
    • Family
    • Fantasy
    • Adventure
    • Teen
    • Tween

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