The '80s were a memorable decade. With its Walkmans, Cabbage Patch Kid dolls, Scratch & Sniff Stickers, leg warmers, colorful clothing, big hairstyles, bodysuits, and spandex, the '80s simply screamed for attention. From this decade, we also had popular bands and artists emerge like Guns N’ Roses, Tears for Fears, R.E.M., and Bon Jovi. Besides music, the 80s also brought a collection of masterpiece films like Labyrinth, and Indiana Jones Raiders of the Lost Ark, as well as cult classics like Gremlins, The Goonies, and Ferris Bueller's Day Off.

In addition, we got MTV in 1981, which mainstreamed music videos and revolutionized the music industry, leading to more and more popular artists working in a visual medium, including soundtrack work. Overall, this period was just a fun, wacky, and crazy time to be alive, and the decade's movie music reflected this well. Music can make or break any experience, taking some films from ordinary to extraordinary. Celebrating the music that gave us energy, made us cry, and brought us hope, these are the best movie soundtracks of the '80s.

7 Ghostbusters (Composed by Elmer Bernstein and Ray Parker Jr.)

Harold Ramis, Dan Aykroyd, Bill Murray, and Ernie Hudson in Ghostbusters.
Columbia Pictures

"Who ya gonna call?" Apparently, the answer was Ray Parker Jr., who wrote and sang the popular Ghostbusters theme song from the 1984, fantasy/comedy film of the same name. Even after more than three decades, the “Ghostbusters” song continues to be a favorite at Halloween parties and throughout October. Besides the title song, Ghostbusters has a beautiful yet somewhat eerie score. Composer Elmer Bernstein does an excellent job of unsettling and mystifying viewers at the same time. In addition to Ghostbusters, the legendary Bernstein composed scores for many other films including the masterpieces True Grit (1969) and To Kill a Mockingbird (1962).

6 Dirty Dancing (Composed by John Morris, with Bill Medley)

Jennifer Grey and Patrick Swayze in Dirty Dancing.
Vestron Pictures

Of course, any musical '80s list has to have at least one dance movie on it. Dirty Dancing has a slew of toe-tapping tunes like “She’s Like the Wind” and “Hungry Eyes”. Even if you haven’t seen the movie, you’re probably still familiar with the famous dance scene between Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey, synonymous with and immortalized by the song “(I’ve Had) The Time of My Life" by Bill Medley. Besides the popular music of Dirty Dancing, the great composer John Leonard Morris created a beautiful, atmospheric accompaniment with his romantic score.

Related: Best Film Scores of the '70s

5 Footloose (Composed by Dean Pitchford and Kenny Loggins)

Kevin Bacon and Lori Singer in Footloose.
Paramount Pictures Studios

Footloose is about a small Midwestern town that has outlawed dancing and rock music. So, naturally, the only thing the teenagers want to do is dance and listen to rock music. Besides the iconic title song of “Footloose”, the movie utilized other classics like “Let’s Hear It for The Boy”, “Holding Out for A Hero”, and “Hurts So Good”. Today, these songs are still well known and played on many classic radio stations. In addition to the 1984 film, Footloose was remade again in 2011.

4 Beetlejuice (Composed by Danny Elfman and Harry Belafonte)

Michael Keaton sits on a tombstone as the titular Beetlejuice
Warner Bros. Pictures

Beetlejuice is one of many cult classics from the '80s, a dark comedy about ghosts who invoke the power of a demon and wish him to rid their haunted home of insufferable art snobs who have taken up residency. However, instead of simply scaring off the new homeowners, Beetlejuice wants to kill them instead. Sounds pleasant, right? The music is rather different and unusual as well, featuring the strange Harry Belafonte song from 1956, “Banana Boat," which was used to create one of the most bizarre and somehow appealing musical numbers in cinema history. In addition, the film also has a legendary and haunting theme by Danny Elfman, who'd go on to compose the theme for The Simpsons.

3 Back to the Future (Composed by Alan Silvestri, Glen Ballard, and Huey Lewis)

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

Back to the Future was one of the coolest movies of the '80s. It was a big break for actor Michael J Fox and the role which made many girls swoon over him. The film features a memorable theme song as well as pop songs written by rock artist Huey Lewis, including “Power of Love”. According to USA Today, when Lewis first had a meeting with director Robert Zemeckis, writer Bob Gale, and producer Steven Spielberg, he told them he didn’t want to write a song titled “Back to the Future." Zemeckis told Lewis he could title the song anything he wanted, so he changed his mind and sent them the next song he wrote; the rest is history.

Related: Star Wars 9 Composer John Williams Breaks Own Oscar Record as Most Nominated Person Alive

2 Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark (Composed by John Williams)

Harrison Ford in Indiana Jones Raiders of the Lost Ark.
Lucasfilm Ltd.

It should come as no surprise to see in any music list a film score composed by the legendary American composer, conductor, and pianist, John Williams. Williams is a musical master having won numerous awards and achievements for many of his films. To date, he has composed the scores for over 75 films, including Jaws, Star Wars, Harry Potter, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, and Schindler's List. Indiana Jones Raiders of the Lost Ark features a stunning and rousing score, along with one of the most well-known theme songs from the '80s, which remains a popular cultural cornerstone today.

1 Labyrinth (Composed by David Bowie and Trevor Jones)

David Bowie in Labyrinth.
TriStar Pictures

Villain or not, David Bowie charmed everyone as Jareth, the all-powerful goblin king. With his mystic eyes, magic dancing (pun intended), and suave hair, Jareth was the villain nearly every teenage girl in the '80s had a crush on. Besides his acting, David Bowie’s songs were perfect for Labyrinth, as they beautifully matched the fantasy feel of the film. Throughout the movie, we hear many memorable songs like “Magic Dance," “Underground," and “As the World Falls Down." In addition, there are some stunning instrumental songs like “Into the Labyrinth," “Hallucination," and “Sarah" from Trevor Jones. Combining perhaps the most recognizable pop musician in the world with this whimsical film and score helped to create one of the best movie soundtracks of the '80s.