Everyone has their own mental image when they think of the 1980's. Whether it's the hair bands, bombastic fashion styles, or retro gaming, it's tough to argue that movies from the '80s didn't have some of the greatest lasting impact, even spawning a whole line of breakfast cereals. Movies from the 80s are like time capsules, preserving all of the sounds and sights people came to love from the decade. With shows like Stranger Things and musicians like Dua Lipa embracing the nostalgia for the decade, and The Karate Kid spin-off Cobra Kai amassing great popularity, it can be helpful to look back on the most culturally significant films of this period.

There are so many deserving films that have helped define cinema and pop culture even to this day, with movies like Terminator, Bill and Ted, Gremlins, Batman, and The Karate Kid all certainly creating lasting impacts on the social lexicon. Just as each person forms a unique and different mental image when they consider the '80s, so too do they pick movies differently. With this in mind, let's dive into just some of our favorite and most impactful films from the '80s.

Related: Here's What Makes Die Hard the Best '80s Action Movie

8 Dirty Dancing

Patrick Swayze dances in Dirty Dancing
Vestron Pictures

I'm not sure there is a more iconic pairing than Dirty Dancing and the song "(I've Had) TheTime of My Life". I would be willing to bet that when you see or hear one you immediately think of the other. Even if you don't like Dirty Dancing or have never seen the full film, you have absolutely seen a duo try and pull off the dance move only to fail miserably. This simple romantic film has permeated the cultural zeitgesit, and is almost automatically remembered at weddings or parties when the song plays, sometimes leading to hilariously awkward results. No Dirty Dancing means no humorous dance fails. A movie we can't live without, indeed.

7 The Empire Strikes Back

Mark Hamill hangs off the Death Star in Empire Strikes Back
20th Century Fox

There honestly isn't a lot anyone can say about The Empire Strikes Back which hasn't already been said at some point. Heralded as one of the best films in the entire Star Wars saga, even Mark Hamill himself reflected on his time shooting the movie as it neared its 40th anniversary. It's hard to make it through a week, sometimes even a day without seeing or hearing some Star Wars reference. Do you have a "Baby Yoda" something or other in your house? A pet named "Chewie"? Do you look at your children and utter "I am your father" in a weird deep voice? If not you, then you know someone who would probably answer yes to these questions. We have Empire to thank for that, and with The Book of Boba Fett now streaming, it looks like Star Wars isn't going away anytime soon.

Related: The Empire Strikes Back Bloopers & Never-Before-Seen Footage Revealed for 40th Anniversary

6 Big

Tom Hanks in Big
20th Century Fox

You know how every time you go on a trip and your spouse finds the fortune-teller machine to make a wish? Oh... That's just me? Well, if this does apply to you or someone you know, it's all because of the movie Big. The irony here is that she... er, um, these "people" who use the machine haven't even seen the movie Big, which is really a testament to how iconic that concept is. It also helped influence a whole host of popular body swap movies, but we all know the real magic here is that Big made Zoltar who he is today.

5 The Breakfast Club

The brat pack cast of The Breakfast Club sits down
Universal Pictures

The original teen "dramedy," The Breakfast Club showed the world what that genre could be, and paved the way for John Hughes to keep making movies about the normal, everyday lives of young people. A group of kids stuck in detention, a teen who just wants a day off from school in Ferris Bueller, a kid who gets left Home Alone, and even a story about a guy trying to get home for the holiday in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles. All of his movies are relatable, and they just work even if they are a bit dated.

4 Ghostbusters

The cast of Ghostbusters are suited up
Columbia Pictures

For the theme song alone and its famous line "Who ya gonna call," Ghostbusters makes the list. Everyone knows both of those things, and with the recent release of Ghostbusters: Afterlife, anyone who doesn't surely will. On top of that, Bill Murray and Harold Ramis give iconic, time-tested performances in this hilarious blockbuster. It's hard to imagine a childhood (or an adulthood) without having had the Ghostbusters. There is no escaping it, and why would we want to? If only they would bring back the Slimer themed ecto cooler juice boxes.

Related: Ghostbusters Afterlife Review: A Fantastic Sequel Sets the Franchise Back on Track

3 Back to the Future

Christopher Lloyd and Michael J. Fox test the car in Back to the Future
Universal Pictures

Michael J. Fox himself recently reflected on how the Back to the Future franchise impacts people still to this day. Not only has the movie spawned shoe styles, hoverboard imitations, and current fan-favorite cartoon Rick and Morty, but the DeLorean Motor Company still facilitates sales of its classic early and mid-80s cars, as featured in the movie. As recently as Avengers: Endgame we were faced with a debate over the the "rules" set forth in Back to the Future. The film holds up surprisingly well due to the era-specific settings of the time travel themes, setting the bar for what a time-travel movie should be to this day.

2 E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial

Christopher Lloyd and Michael J. Fox test the car in Back to the Future
Universal Pictures

Another science fiction classic, E.T. builds on director Steven Spielberg's success with Close Encounters of the Third Kind and led the way to a genre of alien sci-fi that didn't revolve around a horrific world-ruining extraterrestrial domination. With an unforgettable glowing finger and the phrase "E.T. phone home", E.T. is instantly recognizeable even amongst many of today's youth. If you grew up in the '80s and '90s, it was an absolute staple, and it probably shaped how we viewed and compared alien movies going forward. It also made all of us afraid of hazmat suits. Oh... that's just me again?

1 Raiders of the Lost Ark

Harrison Ford eyes some treasure in Raiders of the Lost Ark
Paramount Pictures

The very first Indiana Jones movie has spawned a whole subset of globetrotting adventure media. Noteably, Tomb Raider and Uncharted have dipped into both video games and film, all while keeping the spirit of 'treasure hunting meets supernatural mumbo jumbo' that Raiders of the Lost Ark brought to life in the '80s. Hot off the success from Star Wars, Harrison Ford delivers a character who is nearly as iconic as his counterpart Han Solo. Aging remarkably well due to the time period the original films are set in, we can only hope that the forthcoming Indiana Jones 5 captures all the awesome wonder of the originals.