1980s (Early)
by trekbody-1 | created - 10 May 2018 | updated - 29 May 2018 | Public- Instant Watch Options
- Genres
- Movies or TV
- IMDb Rating
- In Theaters
- Release Year
- Keywords
1. Thundarr the Barbarian (1980–1981)
TV-Y7 | 30 min | Animation, Action, Adventure
Thundarr the Barbarian and his companions Ookla the Mok and Princess Ariel wander a devastated future Earth and fight evil wherever they find it.
Stars: Henry Corden, Robert Ridgely, Nellie Bellflower, Dick Tufeld
Votes: 1,801
2. Bosom Buddies (1980–1982)
TV-PG | 30 min | Comedy
Two young single ad men must disguise themselves as women to live in the one apartment they can afford.
Stars: Tom Hanks, Peter Scolari, Donna Dixon, Holland Taylor
Votes: 4,626
3. That's Incredible! (1980–1984)
60 min | Family
A collection of amazing feats of human and animal endeavor.
Stars: Cathy Lee Crosby, John Davidson, Fran Tarkenton, Alicia Witt
Votes: 374
4. The Return of the King (1980 TV Movie)
Not Rated | 98 min | Animation, Adventure, Family
Two Hobbits struggle to destroy the Ring in Mount Doom while their friends desperately fight evil Lord Sauron's forces in a final battle.
Directors: Jules Bass, Arthur Rankin Jr. | Stars: Orson Bean, John Huston, Theodore Bikel, William Conrad
Votes: 4,627
5. Galactica 1980 (1980)
60 min | Adventure, Sci-Fi
When the Battlestar Galactica finally arrives at Earth, they find they must subtly raise its tech level while protecting it from the Cylons.
Stars: Kent McCord, Barry Van Dyke, Robyn Douglass, Lorne Greene
Votes: 4,092
6. Hill Street Blues (1981–1987)
TV-14 | 60 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
The lives and work of the staff of an inner city police precinct.
Stars: Daniel J. Travanti, Michael Warren, Bruce Weitz, James Sikking
Votes: 10,555
7. The Greatest American Hero (1981–1983)
TV-14 | 60 min | Adventure, Comedy, Sci-Fi
A teacher is asked to be a superhero using a special alien suit with powers he can barely understand or control.
Stars: William Katt, Connie Sellecca, Robert Culp, Michael Paré
Votes: 6,614
8. Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends (1981–1986)
TV-Y7 | 22 min | Animation, Action, Comedy
Spider-Man battles crime in New York City with the help of Iceman and Firestar.
Stars: Hans Conried, Sally Julian, Jerry Dexter, Anne Lockhart
Votes: 4,039
9. The Smurfs (1981–1989)
TV-Y | 30 min | Animation, Adventure, Comedy
The Smurfs are tiny blue creatures that live in mushroom houses in a peaceful forest. They repeatedly try to outwit Gargamel, an evil sorcerer, his apprentice, Scruple, and his mangy cat, Azrael.
Stars: Don Messick, Danny Goldman, Lucille Bliss, Michael Bell
Votes: 21,019
10. The Fall Guy (1981–1986)
TV-PG | 60 min | Action, Adventure, Comedy
The adventures of a film stuntman who moonlights as a bounty hunter when movie work is slow.
Stars: Lee Majors, Douglas Barr, Heather Thomas, Markie Post
Votes: 8,967
11. Simon & Simon (1981–1989)
TV-PG | 60 min | Action, Crime, Drama
Two brothers of disparate tastes and manners run a private detective agency.
Stars: Jameson Parker, Gerald McRaney, Mary Carver, Tim Reid
Votes: 6,105
12. At the Movies (1982–1986)
30 min | Talk-Show
Chicago film critics, Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert, review films.
Stars: Roger Ebert, Gene Siskel, Elva Poznanski, Rex Reed
Votes: 962
13. Blackadder (1982–1983)
TV-PG | 195 min | Comedy
In the Middle Ages, Prince Edmund the Black Adder constantly schemes and endeavors to seize the crown from his father and brother.
Stars: Rowan Atkinson, Brian Blessed, Elspet Gray, Tim McInnerny
Votes: 41,064
14. St. Elsewhere (1982–1988)
TV-PG | 60 min | Comedy, Drama
The lives and work of the staff of St. Eligius Hospital, an old and disrespected Boston teaching hospital.
Stars: Ed Begley Jr., Howie Mandel, David Morse, Christina Pickles
Votes: 5,208
15. Cheers (1982–1993)
TV-PG | 22 min | Comedy, Drama
The regulars of the Boston bar "Cheers" share their experiences and lives with each other while drinking or working at the bar where everybody knows your name.
Stars: Ted Danson, Rhea Perlman, John Ratzenberger, George Wendt
Votes: 62,016
16. Ripley's Believe It or Not! (2000–2003)
42 min | Documentary
Ripley's Believe It or Not! is a curious format, sort of a 'Guiness Book of Records'-like magazine on TV. It has no permanent cast or storyline, just a presenting host in the castle-type LA... See full summary »
Stars: Dean Cain, Kelly Packard, Daniel Browning Smith, Larry Gomez
Votes: 1,557
17. Remington Steele (1982–1987)
TV-PG | 60 min | Action, Adventure, Comedy
The cases of a female private detective partnered with a former thief who assumes the role of a fictitious detective in the business.
Stars: Stephanie Zimbalist, Pierce Brosnan, Doris Roberts, James Read
Votes: 9,975
18. Family Ties (1982–1989)
TV-G | 30 min | Comedy, Drama, Family
Chronicles liberal ex-hippies Steven and Elyse Keaton, their conservative son Alex, daughters Mallory and Jennifer, and later, youngest child Andrew.
Stars: Michael J. Fox, Michael Gross, Meredith Baxter, Justine Bateman
Votes: 20,318
19. Knight Rider (1982–1986)
TV-PG | 46 min | Action, Crime, Drama
A lone crimefighter battles the forces of evil with the help of a virtually indestructible and artificially intelligent supercar.
Stars: David Hasselhoff, Edward Mulhare, Richard Basehart, Patricia McPherson
Votes: 37,573
20. The Joy of Painting (1983–1994)
TV-G | 25 min | Documentary, Family
In this half-hour program, artist Bob Ross paints a beautiful oil painting on canvas.
Stars: Bob Ross, Steve Ross, Dana Jester, Peep
Votes: 6,134
21. Dungeons & Dragons (1983–1985)
TV-Y7 | 30 min | Animation, Action, Adventure
A group of kids are thrown into a fantasy world where they must search for a way home, armed with magic weapons that an evil tyrant wants.
Stars: Willie Aames, Don Most, Adam Rich, Peter Cullen
Votes: 6,151
22. V (1983)
Unrated | 99 min | Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi
When aliens come to Earth to ask for our help, a few suspicious humans discover their horrific true intentions and prepare to resist.
Stars: Jane Badler, Michael Durrell, Faye Grant, Peter Nelson
Votes: 17,136
23. The A-Team (1983–1987)
TV-PG | 60 min | Action, Adventure, Crime
Four Vietnam vets, framed for a crime they didn't commit, help the innocent while on the run from the military.
Stars: George Peppard, Mr. T, Dwight Schultz, Dirk Benedict
Votes: 41,787
24. Tales from the Darkside (1983–1988)
TV-14 | 30 min | Comedy, Drama, Fantasy
"Tales from the Darkside" was a horror anthology series where the viewer is taken through ghost stories, science fiction adventures, and creepy, unexplained events.
Stars: Paul Sparer, Catherine Battistone, John Marzilli, Karen Shallo
Votes: 6,947
25. He-Man and the Masters of the Universe (1983–1985)
TV-Y7 | 30 min | Animation, Action, Adventure
The most powerful man in the universe, He-Man, goes against the evil forces of Skeletor to save the planet Eternia and to protect the secrets of Castle Grayskull.
Stars: John Erwin, Alan Oppenheimer, Linda Gary, Lou Scheimer
Votes: 20,028
26. Scarecrow and Mrs. King (1983–1987)
TV-14 | 60 min | Adventure, Comedy, Romance
The adventures of a housewife and a spy, with whom she fell in love.
Stars: Kate Jackson, Bruce Boxleitner, Beverly Garland, Mel Stewart
Votes: 3,814
27. Inspector Gadget (1983–2023)
TV-Y7 | 30 min | Animation, Action, Adventure
Outfitted with high-tech gizmos, a bumbling inspector clashes with the fiendish Dr Claw. Although his enthusiasm for the law never fails, Gadget's gadgets often do. Luckily, Gadget is backed by his clever niece Penny and her faithful dog.
Stars: Don Adams, Holly Berger, Frank Welker, Luc Durand
Votes: 23,303
28. Jeopardy! (1984– )
TV-G | 30 min | Short, Game-Show, Reality-TV
A returning champion and two challengers test their buzzer skills and their knowledge in a wide range of academic and popular categories.
Stars: Alex Trebek, Johnny Gilbert, Jimmy McGuire, Sarah Whitcomb Foss
Votes: 8,216
29. The Transformers (1984–1987)
TV-Y7 | 30 min | Animation, Action, Adventure
Two opposing factions of transforming alien robots engage in a battle that has the fate of Earth in the balance.
Stars: Frank Welker, Peter Cullen, Corey Burton, Christopher Collins
Votes: 23,538
30. Night Court (1984–1992)
TV-PG | 30 min | Comedy
An eccentric fun-loving judge presides over an urban night court and all the silliness going on there.
Stars: Harry Anderson, John Larroquette, Richard Moll, Charles Robinson
Votes: 17,855
31. The Day the Universe Changed (1985)
52 min | Documentary, History
James Burke explores key moments in Western History where new knowledge in science changed the way the modern Western world thinks.
Stars: James Burke, Roger Avon, Peter Sproule, Jeff Pirie
Votes: 624
32. The Mechanical Universe... and Beyond (1985–1986)
25 min | Documentary
Stars: Aaron Fletcher, David L. Goodstein, Chris Tashima
Votes: 161
33. Thundercats (1985–1989)
TV-Y7 | 30 min | Animation, Action, Adventure
A team of humanoid cats fight evil in their adopted home world.
Stars: Bob McFadden, Larry Kenney, Earl Hammond, Lynne Lipton
Votes: 19,045
34. MacGyver (1985–1992)
TV-PG | 48 min | Action, Adventure, Crime
The adventures of a secret Agent armed with almost infinite scientific resourcefulness.
Stars: Richard Dean Anderson, Dana Elcar, Bruce McGill, Robin Mossley
Votes: 42,006
35. Moonlighting (1985–1989)
TV-PG | 3,073 min | Comedy, Drama, Mystery
The quirky cases of a former model and a smart aleck detective who manage a private detective agency.
Stars: Cybill Shepherd, Bruce Willis, Allyce Beasley, Curtis Armstrong
Votes: 24,254
36. Amazing Stories (1985–1987)
TV-PG | 30 min | Adventure, Comedy, Drama
Truly amazing, fantastical, funny, and odd, and sometimes scary, sad, and endearing stories are portrayed. Many famous actors, actresses, and directors made guest appearances.
Stars: Charles Durning, Douglas Seale, Sharon Spelman, Louis Giambalvo
Votes: 6,413
37. The Max Headroom Show (1985–1986)
Animation, Comedy, Music
Showcases Max Headroon, the artificial intelligence program with a speech impediment, as he gets to host his own talk show.
Stars: Sting, Matt Frewer, Roger Daltrey, Boy George
Votes: 421
38. The Real Ghostbusters (1986–1991)
TV-Y7 | 23 min | Animation, Action, Comedy
The continuing adventures of the staff of the ghost removal service.
Stars: Maurice LaMarche, Dave Coulier, Frank Welker, Arsenio Hall
Votes: 11,015
39. Galaxy High School (1986)
TV-G | 30 min | Animation, Family, Sci-Fi
Two Earth teenagers -- popular athlete Doyle and star pupil Aimee -- are accepted into the intergalactic high school Galaxy High School on the asteroid Flutor.
Stars: Susan Blu, Pat Carroll, Nancy Cartwright, Guy Christopher
Votes: 530
40. Matlock (1986–1995)
TV-PG | 60 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
Ben Matlock is a very expensive criminal defense attorney, who charges one hundred thousand dollars to take a case. Fortunately, he's worth every penny, as he and his associates defend his clients by finding the real killer.
Stars: Andy Griffith, Linda Purl, Kene Holiday, Nancy Stafford
Votes: 9,339
41. The New Hollywood Squares (1986–1989)
TV-PG | 30 min | Game-Show
An updated version of the classic game show, hosted by John Davidson. Celebrities, seated in squares in a tic-tac-toe arrangement, would give their answers to questions on various subjects.... See full summary »
Stars: John Davidson, Shadoe Stevens, Jim J. Bullock, Joan Rivers
Votes: 241
42. Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987–1994)
TV-PG | 45 min | Action, Adventure, Drama
Set almost 100 years after Captain Kirk's 5-year mission, a new generation of Starfleet officers sets off in the U.S.S. Enterprise-D on its own mission to go where no one has gone before.
Stars: Patrick Stewart, Brent Spiner, Jonathan Frakes, LeVar Burton
Votes: 135,922
43. DuckTales (1987–1990)
TV-G | 23 min | Animation, Action, Adventure
Huey, Dewey, and Louie are in for an epic surprise when they meet their wealthy but reclusive uncle, Scrooge McDuck. The family embark on globe-trotting adventures and treasure hunts, uncover family secrets, and face dangerous enemies.
Stars: Alan Young, Russi Taylor, Terence McGovern, Chuck McCann
Votes: 35,000
44. Thirtysomething (1987–1991)
TV-14 | 60 min | Drama, Romance
Seven tricenarians living in Philadelphia struggle with everyday adult angst.
Stars: Timothy Busfield, Polly Draper, Mel Harris, Peter Horton
Votes: 3,044
45. Mighty Mouse: The New Adventures (1987–1988)
TV-Y7 | 30 min | Animation, Action, Adventure
Mighty Mouse has humorous, satirical adventures in this short-lived Saturday Morning cartoon by Ralph Bakshi.
Stars: Patrick Pinney, Dana Hill, Rodger Bumpass, Michael Pataki
Votes: 726
46. Beauty and the Beast (1987–1990)
TV-PG | 60 min | Crime, Drama, Fantasy
The adventures and romance of a sensitive and cultured lion-man and a crusading assistant district attorney in Manhattan, New York City.
Stars: Ron Perlman, Roy Dotrice, Jay Acovone, Linda Hamilton
Votes: 7,882
47. Mystery Science Theater 3000 (1988–1999)
TV-14 | 90 min | Comedy, Sci-Fi
In the not-too-distant future Joel Robinson is held captive by Dr. Forrester and TV's Frank, forced to watch B-Grade movies on the Satellite of Love with the help of his robot friends: Cambot, Gypsy, Tom Servo and Crow T. Robot.
Stars: Joel Hodgson, Michael J. Nelson, Trace Beaulieu, Kevin Murphy
Votes: 25,851
48. American Experience (1987– )
TV-PG | 120 min | Documentary, Biography, History
A series showcasing documentaries on American history.
Stars: David McCullough, David Ogden Stiers, Michael Murphy, Oliver Platt
Votes: 2,202
49. The Kids in the Hall (1988–2021)
TV-14 | 25 min | Comedy
The TV series of the Canadian sketch comedy troupe that, more often than not, puts bizarre, unique, and insane twists in their skits.
Stars: David Foley, Bruce McCulloch, Kevin McDonald, Mark McKinney
Votes: 11,087
50. Whose Line Is It Anyway? (1988–1999)
TV-PG | 36 min | Comedy, Game-Show
Host Clive Anderson arbitrarily awards points as four players act their way through a series of improvisational games based on suggestions from either Clive or the studio audience.
Stars: Clive Anderson, Ryan Stiles, Colin Mochrie, Richard Vranch
Votes: 5,923
51. Mission: Impossible (1988–1990)
TV-PG | 47 min | Action, Adventure, Crime
An elite covert operations unit carries out highly sensitive missions subject to official denial in the event of failure, death or capture.
Stars: Peter Graves, Thaao Penghlis, Antony Hamilton, Phil Morris
Votes: 4,298
52. Seinfeld (1989–1998)
TV-PG | 22 min | Comedy
The continuing misadventures of neurotic New York City stand-up comedian Jerry Seinfeld and his equally neurotic New York City friends.
Stars: Jerry Seinfeld, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Michael Richards, Jason Alexander
Votes: 351,297
53. The Simpsons (1989– )
TV-14 | 22 min | Animation, Comedy
The satiric adventures of a working-class family in the misfit city of Springfield.
Stars: Dan Castellaneta, Nancy Cartwright, Harry Shearer, Julie Kavner
Votes: 435,710
54. Quantum Leap (1989–1993)
TV-PG | 60 min | Action, Adventure, Drama
During an experiment into time travel, a scientist finds himself trapped in the past, "leaping" into the lives of different people, sorting out their problems and changing history in hopes of getting back to his own life in the present.
Stars: Scott Bakula, Dean Stockwell, Deborah Pratt, Dennis Wolfberg
Votes: 36,461
55. Tales from the Crypt (1989–1996)
TV-MA | 25 min | Comedy, Crime, Fantasy
"Tales from the Crypt" was a 1989 horror story anthology series based on the gruesome E.C. comic books of the 1950s presented by the legendary "Crypt Keeper", a sinister ghoul obsessed with gallows humor and horrific puns.
Stars: John Kassir, Roy Brocksmith, Miguel Ferrer, Cam Clarke
Votes: 27,062
56. Cops (1989–2023)
TV-14 | 30 min | Action, Crime, Reality-TV
Camera crews follow police officers while they work.
Stars: Ruben Barela, Andrew Fincher, Alex Cox, Heather Ashley Chase
Votes: 7,177
57. American Gladiators (1989–1996)
TV-PG | 60 min | Action, Game-Show, Sport
The teams compete in such events as Power Ball, Assault, The Wall and Hang Tough. The Eliminator round decides the winner of the tournament.
Stars: Mike Adamle, Jim Starr, Raye Hollitt, Larry Thompson
Votes: 3,206
58. America's Funniest Home Videos (1989– )
TV-PG | 30 min | Comedy, Family, Reality-TV
Viewers from around America send in home videos with comedic moments.
Stars: Jess Harnell, Tom Bergeron, Bob Saget, Alfonso Ribeiro
Votes: 5,762
Tell Your Friends