The ' eighty were a great 10 for Hollywood that audiences absolutely star movies including such iconic hits asThe Breakfast Club , The gooney , andWho Framed Roger Rabbit . However , it was also one of the genre - defining decades for the sci - fi musical style , especially those celluloid concerning aliens , space travel , and extraterrestrial life chassis .

Whether the movie in enquiry concerned exotic planets , human being making first contact with an interstellar backwash , or unusual beings arriving on Earth and walking amongst them , the genre give-up the ghost through a sort of Renaissance on the topic . The ' 80s brought forth an age of big hair and spandex , but they also introduced watcher to the likes of E.T. , the Predator , and Ewoks .

*Batteries Not Included (6.6)

It can be said that*batteries not includedmainly obtain such a low ranking due to its lesser - known position . However , if sci - fi fans are unforced to give it a chance , they will queer themselves to an insanely delightful and witching take on UFOs . '

produce by Steven Spielbergand written by Brad Bird , this film concerning tiny floating robots from another major planet had all the right component for a impulsive and entertaining sci - fi narration . It ’s an underrated and underappreciated gem that more viewers and fans of the genre should watch .

Spaceballs (7.1)

To say thatStar Warswasn’t a cultural phenomenon of the decade would be out of true . It was only a matter of fourth dimension before Hollywood started releasing parities of the famous skill - fiction dealership , but Mel Brooks ’s take on George Lucas ’s space opera feels like both a erotic love letter and a satire of the renowned film series .

In this takeoff ofA New Hope , viewing audience are introduced to Lone Star , Barf , Princess Vespa , Lord Helmet , and more in Brook ’s witty and hilariousSpaceballs . reference toStar Warsand the sci - fi genre in general are tossed around and coated in Brooks ' personal brand of comedic mastermind , making it a must - watch for fans of the series .

E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial (7.2)

Steven Spielberg   has often been considered one of the greatest directors of all time , but the man definitely has a certain taste for alien films . So of track he would have sunk his tooth into the ' 80 inflorescence motion-picture show environs .

While his first raid intothe genre was 1977’sClose Encounters of the Third Kind , E.T. The Extra - Terrestrialwas arguably what made him a household name . The sci - fi fairytale concerning a vernal boy ’s friendly relationship with a lost space alien is a beautiful piece of flick story that proceed to charm and enchant audience even today .

They Live (7.2)

Some exotic moving picture are magical , some are suspicious , some are both , but thing get pretty intense whenever they become the national of the repulsion genre . John Carpenter was one of the crowing names in film in the ' 80 , and his horror commentary , They go , was both an incredible natural process motion picture and a product of the era .

The idea of Rowdy Roddy Piper and Keith David square up with an invasive foreign backwash feeding off the minds of unsuspecting humans might sound a spot far - fetched , but it works . It ’s a horror - comedy that address both the effects of overzealous consumerism , but it also answers the interrogation of what would happen if aliens deliver the goods in their encroachment of world .

Star Trek II: The Wrath Of Khan (7.7)

It ’s platitudinal , it ’s over - the - top , and it ’s much responsible for one of the most notorious memes in internet lore , but it was an iconic piece of science - fiction that captured fans of the iconicStar Trekseries . Kirk , Spock , and the rest of the crowd of the endeavor are forced to battle one of the evilest entity in the universe .

It might not have aged as well as some would think , but the film did ferment a node character on the serial into one of the most infamous and powerful villains in the sci - fi genre . It definitely made a name for itself in the genre andin the worlds ofStar Trekas well .

Predator (7.8)

The ' 80s were a great class to be an military action movie Heron , andPredatoris one of the finest examples . Easily one of Arnold Schwartzenegger ’s fine films , the movie sees the iconic activeness star as Dutch , who must use his survival accomplishment and witticism as an alien threat ambush him and his fellow in the Amazonian jungle .

The Predator is one of sci - fi ’s most ruthless and savage alien species , and even the Governator had a hard meter struggle him . It kills for pleasure , it hunts for sport , and it amaze a violent menace to Dutch and his team of limited private detective . It ’ll take more than a heavy armory of weapon to put this killer from beyond the stars down .

The Thing (8.2)

Once more , John Carpenter display his exercise talent for science fable withhis eery horror chef-d’oeuvre , The Thing . found onThe matter From Another World , Carpenter gave the humans a novel breed of suspense when a shapeshifting alien crashed outside an polar expedition .

The affair was one of the most horrible creatures to beautify the ash grey screen back when it first premiered , and its practical event were what made it an icon of the sci - fi horror writing style . With its isolated setting and claustrophobic atm , it practically redefine the alien invader archetype .

Star Wars: Return Of The Jedi (8.3)

Star Warswill always be a whale of the sci - fi musical style , and there are more than a few reasons to back up that claim . But what the continuation did to improve on the standard set byA New Hopewas vastly elaborate the worlds and planets that made up the galaxy far , far forth . From Wookies to Ewoks , moviegoers were introduced to vast populations of alien lifeforms . And they all came together for one final stand against the Empire in Return of the Jedi .

From the various model of scum and villainy that inhabit tattooing to the furred friends find on the forest moon of Endor , there are certainly more than a few delightful alien characters to enjoy in this entrance into theStar Warsmythos . It was unquestionably a great direction to end the original trilogy .

Aliens (8.4)

The originalAlienproved thatone Xenomorph was an sheer nightmare in space , but its sequel upped the ante and proposed the scenario of what would happen if there was a whole nest of them . With a title so equivocal asAliens , it would have to take a plenty of sci - fi butchery to succeed fans over .

Taking a more action - focalise itinerary with its delivery , the sequel to Ridley Scott ’s 1979 predecessor delivered one of the most iconic alien motion-picture show in cinema . The monster were forbidding , the quotes were memorable , and the performances were absolutely out of this world . In short , it was a brainy blend of genres that made for one of the most enjoyable sequels for a sci - fi enfranchisement .

Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back (8.7)

On the subject of sequels , George Lucas truly had his work cut down out for him when following up his originalStar Warsfilm with a 2d entry . luckily for him , and the viewers by extension ,    the original film was enough of a success to find an even more exciting sequel .

It was this film that move over celluloid role like Yoda , Lando Calrissian , and the infamous Boba Fett . The Empire Strikes Backallowed the filmmakers to further grow and expand the galaxy , introducing new races of creatures , friends , and foes as Luke , Han , Chewie , and the quietus of their friends combat the forcefulness of immorality .

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Two Examples of Alien movies from the ’80s

The aliens as they appeared in Batteries Not Included

Yogurt firing the flamethrower in Spaceballs.

ET and Elliot flying across the moon on their bike.

An alien makes a speech in They Live

Khan as he appeared in Wrath of Khan

The original Predator from the first movie

The head grows spider legs in The Thing

Jabba the Hutt laughts while Boba Fett stands at attention in Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi.

Aliens

Luke carries Yoda while training in Dogobah in The Empire Strikes Back

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