Everyone loves a classic '80s movie, and there’s always something for everyone – everything from Star Wars to Dirty Dancing. As classic and beloved as these movies often are, the stories they tell aren’t bound by their production date. The characters and plots hold up into the modern-day (save for some lingo, like the ever-quoted "neo maxi zoom dweebie").
With the recent resurgence of the Star Wars movies and spin-offs, as well as the upcoming Indiana Jones 5, it leaves a lot of opportunities for other '80s movies and franchises to make a comeback and gain a new generation of adoring audiences. Here’s a look at some films that have the potential to be the next resurgence.
Gremlins
The Gremlins movies are an evergreen source of entertainment for anyone who likes a bit of dark comedy with a splash of horror. These films are fun for all ages. While there has been some news on the development of the animated series, a new take on the movie is something that would stir excitement across multiple generations of movie-goers. The adorable yet unruly gremlins are the keystone of the films. Still, even if the little troublemakers got a slightly updated look, the quality of Hollywood’s puppets has gotten significantly better, as audiences have been able to see in various examples such as Baby Yoda from The Mandalorian. Having a come-back of this comedic yet spooky franchise would definitely bring crowds to theatres. Who wouldn’t want to enjoy the chaos a fuzzy little monster fed after midnight can bring?
Weird Science
Weird Science is a wild and fun movie by famous '80s filmmaker John Hughes, and despite its themes of raunchiness, it has a surprising amount of substance to it. The film centers around two geeky boys who Frankenstein their way into making their ideal woman come to life. And while their super-model creation is a stunner that leaves everyone around them in jealousy and awe, she is far from a brainless doll to do their bidding.
The coming-of-age story is led by the gorgeous Lisa as she protects her two boys and teaches them lessons about facing difficult people and challenges, as well as adding to themes of fragile/toxic masculinity. Weird Science is arguably one of Hughes’ more bizarre films, but it has themes that are still relevant today. This is easily a movie that could get a revival on the big screen for a wide audience to enjoy (especially if Robert Downey Jr. makes a cameo appearance).
The Breakfast Club
One of John Hughes’ most renowned films, The Breakfast Club, is a timeless coming-of-age story with relatable elements for almost anyone in the audience. Whether you were one of these characters or knew someone like them, this movie tugs at the heartstrings. The popularity of the film has led to it being referenced in plenty of movies and tv shows, yet it’s never had a proper resurgence.
A new rendition of The Breakfast Club would unite multiple generations of watchers while bringing in a new era of actors into a timeless story. Younger folks would be able to see their favourite actors go through the same things they do – struggles with self-confidence, friendships and family, depression, abuse, anxiety, and so on – all set in a time and vibe that they can relate better to. This film returning to theatres would be a spectacular experience for younger generations and could easily tackle these difficult yet relevant topics that it did so well with the first time.
Back to the Future
Everyone loves the Back to the Future trilogy; even the cast likes to revisit the glory days of this film series. But many of the futuristic events and years in the films have come and gone, making the movies more comedic due to the fact they’ve become outdated (October 21, 2015, is so near yet so far). By giving the series even just a single comeback movie, it would give them a chance to be more relevant to the modern-day again. Audiences could see a more accurate distant future akin to films like Wall-E or Blade Runner. It would provide an opportunity for designers to create a beautiful or chaotic utopia for the setting of the future, as well as provide a chance for an upcoming actor to become the next Marty McFly. While no one could ever replace the talented Michael J. Fox, having a new Back to the Future movie would be an exciting project for the film industry to produce and an equally exciting project for audiences to await.
Overall, there are plenty of movies and franchises from the 1980s that have the potential for a revival. Some of these oldies but goldies are so good that they still stand up on their own, but some are ripe with opportunities for actors, designers, and filmmakers alike. Whether you’re a fan of action, horror, or outcast characters, these movies would be thrilling to relive in theatres again.