Buzz
While the 1970s are often celebrated for their intense, dramatic films, the 1980s arguably reign supreme for comedy. This era produced not only massive hits like Ghostbusters, Beverly Hills Cop, and Back to the Future but also countless timeless comedy gems. Here are 10 unforgettable comedies from the ’80s you can stream today on platforms like Netflix, Hulu, Prime Video, Paramount+, and Disney+.
1. Twins (1988)
Arnold Schwarzenegger and Danny DeVito shine as an unlikely duo in this Ivan Reitman-directed hit. Reunited after being separated at birth, the fraternal twins embark on a journey to find their mother. Plans for a sequel, Triplets, featuring Eddie Murphy or Tracy Morgan, were discussed years ago, but the project never came to fruition.
Stream it now: Netflix
2. Back to School (1986)
Rodney Dangerfield achieved the pinnacle of his career with his role as Thornton Mellon, a middle-aged father who joins college to support his son. Featuring Robert Downey Jr., the film almost cast Jim Carrey as the beleaguered professor, a part ultimately played by Sam Kinison.
Watch it here: HBO Max
3. Airplane! (1980)
The creative trio David Zucker, Jim Abrahams, and Jerry Zucker, known as ZAZ, revolutionized the spoof genre with their hilarious twist on 1970s airplane disaster films. Interestingly, co-star Robert Hays holds a real pilot’s license.
Stream it now: HBO Max
4. Running Scared (1986)
Gregory Hines and Billy Crystal team up in this action-comedy about two Chicago detectives aiming to retire and start a bar, only to be thwarted by drug dealer Julio (Jimmy Smits). Initially, Gene Hackman and Paul Newman were in talks for the lead roles.
Watch it here: Amazon Prime
5. A Fish Called Wanda (1988)
John Cleese and Jamie Lee Curtis headline this star-studded comedy about a botched diamond robbery. Cleese’s character, Archie Leach, is a nod to Cary Grant, whose real name was Archie Leach.
Stream it now: Amazon Prime
6. Stripes (1981)
Bill Murray’s early career soared with this film about two slackers (Murray and Harold Ramis) who join the U.S. Army to escape joblessness. Though Ramis co-wrote Stripes, he initially preferred Dennis Quaid for his role, but Murray pushed for Ramis to take the part.
Stream it now: Paramount+
7. Fletch (1985)
Chevy Chase stars as Irvin “Fletch” Fletcher, a witty investigative journalist skilled in impersonations. The movie’s poster features Chase dressed as a hockey player and a relief pitcher, though these scenes were ultimately removed from the final cut.
Watch it here: Netflix
8. Big (1988)
Tom Hanks’s dream of becoming an adult becomes a reality in this Penny Marshall-directed comedy. Interestingly, Harrison Ford and Steven Spielberg were once involved in the project, with Spielberg’s sister, Anne, co-writing the screenplay.
Stream it now: Hulu
9. Adventures in Babysitting (1987)
Elisabeth Shue leads this timeless family comedy about a babysitter and her young wards surviving a chaotic night in Chicago. Initially, Molly Ringwald was considered for the starring role.
Watch it here: Disney+
10. Honey, I Shrunk the Kids (1989)
Rick Moranis launched a beloved franchise with this family-friendly comedy about an inventor who accidentally shrinks his kids to a minuscule size. The film’s success was partly fueled by Batman (1989), as audiences turned to Honey when Tim Burton’s blockbuster was sold out.
Stream it now: Disney+
