10 Hidden Gem Movies from 80s Cinema You’ll Want to Watch TODAY!

[@VintageVerseTV]

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[@footofjuniper8212]

1. Southern Comfort 2. Body Heat 3. Moonlighting 4. Blood Simple 5. Lost in America 6. Drugstore Cowboy 7. Mona Lisa 8. House of Games 9. Barfly 10. The Hidden

[@leodf1]

He's still not putting chapters into the video

[@christophermckenzie8486]

@@leodf1 So.....

[@Mathew-8896]

I don't know how hidden these are but I like em': The Long Riders, Thief, Angel Heart, Manhunter, Near Dark, To Live and Die in L.A., My Bodyguard, The Serpent and the Rainbow, Raising Arizona, and Sid and Nancy.

[@karlf.karlsen4365]

Southern Comfort has been one of my favorite movies ever since I watched it the first time.

[@lagodifuoco313]

Southern Comfort is a great movie. I saw it in the theater with my dad when it came out. It's been a favorite of mine, and it's still a great movie today in 2025.

[@cpcg]

“Breaking Away”. A perfect bittersweet and triumphant coming of age film. I recommend it to everyone I meet.

[@irish66]

Terrific movie.One of my favs.

[@unprofound]

Incredible film!!! '79 though, I believe.

[@John-dw6ru]

I totally agree. "And they're gonna keep calling us cutters. To them it's a dirty word. To me, it's just something else I never got a chance to be."

[@jannarkiewicz633]

Heck, I knew it was 79 b/c I watched it at 14 :-)

[@irish66]

@@jannarkiewicz633 I was 19 or twenty.

[@Juohmaru79]

Some nice recommendations right there. My definition of forgotten/hidden gem from the 80's is Cutter's Way, a superb neo noir with a great cast!

[@irish66]

yep

[@markallen2984]

"Birdy" (1984) with Nicolas Cage and Matthew Modine 1984 should be on this list. A great Alan Parker film with a Peter Gabriel soundtrack

[@markallen2984]

Also David Cronenberg's "Dead Ringers" from 1988 starring Jeremy Irons (Playing twin brothers, hence the title) Is a master work

[@allenrubinstein3696]

Talk about a movie that changed my life! I was at just the right age for "Birdy" to blow my mind, and make me a cinephile forever. I'm kind of afraid to revisit it.

[@lizzy-wx4rx]

Great list! Barfly and Drugstore Cowboy are two of my favorite movies from that decade. I'd also include After Hours, River's Edge, and Local Hero.

[@light9999]

Some love for After Hours and Local Hero. Always be wary of girls that are too cute in the night, in the dark, in the city, after hours, and, always accept an offer of a handful of sand and a girl who swims out of the ocean.

[@stevemcnary7963]

Black Widow with Debra Winger & Theresa Russell is another classic 80s Neo noir.

[@zyxw2000]

RIP William Hurt.

[@chrisman7770]

Seen and rewatched several over the years. After Dark, My Sweet. Same director as At Close Range

[@RonaldKragnes]

Southern Comfort (1981) - IMDb rating: 7.1/10 Body Heat (1981) - IMDb rating: 7.4/10 Moonlighting (1982) - IMDb rating: 7.6/10 Blood Simple (1984) - IMDb rating: 7.6/10 Lost in America (1985) - IMDb rating: 7.0/10 Drugstore Cowboy (1989) - IMDb rating: 7.3/10 Mona Lisa (1986) - IMDb rating: 7.3/10 House of Games (1987) - IMDb rating: 7.2/10 Barfly (1987) - IMDb rating: 7.1/10 The Hidden (1987) - IMDb rating: 7.0/10

[@stevemcnary7963]

The Big Red One with Lee Marvin is a hidden gem of a war film.

[@irish66]

Excellent movie. One of my favs.

[@ogarzabello]

I recommend BODY DOUBLE 1984.

[@Bo_Lew]

One of De Palma's best!

[@unprofound]

Agreed, Body Double is outstanding!

[@farmasyst]

I think Albert Brooks's RV in Lost in America ended up belonging to Walter White.

[@ranchokitty1]

Ther Hidden was a surprize good movie, saw it in the theaters in '87, also, Miracle Mile could be in this list too.

[@patmcstuff671]

I love Drugstore Cowboy is awesome! The scene when he goes home and his mom starts yelling, “hide the money”

[@chrisallen766]

Just the whole thing....its good.

[@MrUndersolo]

Great soundtrack, too!

[@norwegianblue2017]

I'm blown away that you have Barfly on this list! Definitely a hidden gem from the 80s, but I think this video is the first one I have seen to recognize this. Great list overall, btw. The only one I haven't seen is Mona Lisa. I will add one more. 'Thief', directed by Michael Mann, is something that anyone who enjoyed 'Heat' should see. The stories are actually kind of similar. Heat has a bigger budget and better shoot outs, but Thief is the better film, IMO. James Caan's performance is Oscar worthy. Cool cameo by Willie Nelson too.

[@whatthef911]

The Beast and Miracle Mile were also great gems.

[@ceddymcmartin8988]

I never knew about Blood Simple. I have to watch that. I'd also recommend Something Wild 1986. Fun comedy thriller starring Jeff Daniels, Melanie Griffith and the late great Ray Liotta

[@Emulous79]

Cool selection! I forgot about some of these which I'd seen ages ago.

[@DanDeLeoninthefield]

Great list of hidden gems. Some others to consider: Heathers Repo Man Tender Mercies Brother From Another Planet Smithereens

[@jannarkiewicz633]

I can sing every lyric of every song on the "Repo Man" sound track... Otto....

[@lisamh9037]

Wow. Movies used to be so good. You could go to the theatre and have a hard time deciding which of like 5 movies to pick .

[@adagiobreeze8493]

80s movies I love that don’t get any love: Angel Heart, Near Dark, Return to Oz, Kiss of the Spider Woman, After Hours, Atlantic City

[@paxwallace8324]

Diva, Body Heat, The Unbearable Lightness of Being, Cat People, Blue Velvet, The Duelists, My Dinner With Andre, Last of the Mohechans

[@irish66]

Not sure about Cat People. But the others yeah, I think Diva and The last of the Mohicans are the standouts of that list for me,

[@DavidWildgoose]

Diva is one of my favourite films.

[@irish66]

@@DavidWildgoose Same here. I think. Haven't seen it decades though.

[@paxwallace8324]

@@irish66 Cat People, Nastasia Kinsky (remember snake poster?)and Malcolm McDowell and New Orleans

[@irish66]

@@paxwallace8324 No, What I meant was, I was impressed by the other movies, but I don't believe I was by Cat People. But that might have been because I like the original 194o's version, and was looking for something similar. Perhaps i will give ir another look at some stage.

[@theplanetruth]

Carradine and Boothe would both star twentyish years later in DEADWOOD.

[@ThePublicDomainVaultHQ]

Mona is great choice ! The 1980s were a great time for British cinema. I would add The Long Good Friday (1980) is a tough crime film with Bob Hoskins as a mob boss facing betrayal in London. My Beautiful Laundrette (1985) looks at race, class, and love in 1980s Britain, starring Daniel Day-Lewis as a former skinhead turned lover. Withnail & I (1987) is a dark comedy about two actors on a disastrous getaway. The Draughtsman’s Contract (1982) is a unique mystery from Peter Greenaway, full of intrigue and art.

[@norwegianblue2017]

Just watched the new 4K pressing of The Long Good Friday last week. Great flick! Also love A Fish Called Wanda, A Passage to India, Monty Python's Meaning of Life, Lifeforce, Henry V, and The Krays. That last one is from 1990, but close enough. Greetings from the USA!

[@ThePublicDomainVaultHQ]

@@norwegianblue2017 Fun Fact That film and many other UK gems in the 80s were produced by Handmade Films.. The film company of George Harrison

[@BruceWalther-s2l]

@@norwegianblue2017 Great call and reminder! I've been wanting to see The Long Good Friday. I saw it once and don't remember it at all. I was a teen. Just recently bought the DVD for Mona Lisa (like it better now that i am older) and realized I had to find a BoB Hoskins flick again, reminded how good (by reputation) The Long Good Friday is. Vert hard to find on DVD.

[@jetteroheller]

Southern Comfort…I have been trying to put a name to that movie for many years now. So thank you. I saw it on cable halfway through when it first came out. I would’ve been 7, so it had an impact on me for me to remember it for so long.

[@carlcontrera1699]

Excellent choices. I've seen several of these movies multiple times and enjoyed them like it was the first time watching. Thanks for bringing these gems into the light.

[@gheller2261]

House of Games. Stellar.

[@paulkenneally789]

Mona Lisa uses London and Brighton as excellent locations…many still recognisable today.

[@patmcstuff671]

Body Heat and Blood Simple were instantly classics, the others were good too!

[@danielsegen]

Zulawski’s Possession is my fav hidden gem from 80s. One of the greatest horror movie of all times!!!

[@irish66]

A brilliant movie.

[@PerryDouglas-v5h]

Proof that Heather Graham does age and is not a vampire, but just the most gracefully aging actor in history.

[@maryturpel8413]

Seen and loved them all! Good choices.

[@Captain-Cosmo]

Very good. I worked at a beautiful movie house throughout the 80s and we played every one of these films. I only recall Body Heat doing much business, but all of them are, as you assert, gems that deserve a look today.

[@casparcoaster1936]

I still remember the time I saw "The Hidden" in a movie theatre... it was Ottumwa IA, 1982.... I was attending Maharishi University (Beatles guru) in a town 20 miles away, the title sounded like it might be spiritual... holy hell... it doesn't start that way... but it does sort of end that way

[@englishwillable]

Great list. These aren’t hidden by any means. Mostly very popular when released

[@lilOspiCB]

Another hidden favorite is Black Rainbow with Rosanna Arquette and Jason Robards.

[@watuzi]

Thanks for the list. The only one I haven't seen is Southern Comfort.

[@zyxw2000]

"Body Heat" was probably inspired by "The Postman Always Rings Twice," a classic noir.

[@ogarzabello]

American Gigolo 1980.

[@davidcunningham2074]

i had forgotten so many of these movies.

[@barrellracer]

Most folks don't realize Keith Carradine is an OSCAR WINNER... Best original song "I'm Easy" from the 1975 movie Nashville

[@MrLees-oq8wb]

Southern comfort was my dad's favourite film I'm going to watch it later.

[@hd-xc2lz]

Other than The Hidden, I wouldn't count any of these as hidden gems. These were all well known films back in the day, award winners.

[@phdtobe]

The National Guard unit’s mistake in Southern Comfort wasn’t stealing the canoes. It was bringing bringing blanks instead of live ammunition on the mission!

[@mrblitzer8705]

Hey, this is a damn good list. Kudos!

[@DrVonChilla]

"Star 80", showcasing Eric Roberts' BLAZING, BLUDGEONING, LEGENDARY performance. I've literally seen the film more than 100 times over the last four decades, beginning in the theatre upon it's release. EASILY one of the truly great film performances. SERIOUSLY

[@Bo_Lew]

Agreed, Star 80 is woefully underappreciated!

[@daveed4475]

Great list! Need to watch The Hidden.

[@ogarzabello]

THE HIDDEN is the MEN IN BLACK of the 80s!!! Lot's of action, great 80s supercars, great 80s guns, and 80s hot chicks!

[@mstob1969]

Great video, really enjoyed the content. Looking forward to checking them out. Hate to admit that I've only seen one of them (Body Heat).

[@proto-geek248]

Local Hero👍 Great flick.

[@leodf1]

Body Heat was a sensation at the time. I remember all the advertising and hype around this movie. Never watched it, but certainly no hidden gem. Barfly was also very popular in the day. I think it was Mickey Rourke's breakout role. House of Games is a movie I had forgotten about, I remember I was quite impressed by it. The Hidden is news to me, looks very interesting, going to take a look

[@daytripperhd]

blood simple is one of my favorite films. M Emmett Walsh is terrific in this. “You look stupid now.”

[@k.chriscaldwell4141]

Southern Comfort is in my Top-10. It’s just so good.

[@andrewmoonbeam321]

I like how you have 'Hidden' over the Hidden film still. 😉

[@irish66]

A Brian De Palma Double bill Dressed to kIll Blow Out.

[@allenrubinstein3696]

*applauds* Really, really fine choices. That's cream of the crop stuff for 1980s, and now I can't wait to watch "The Hidden". I presume your yen for seventies work runs similarly deep? What you've mostly got up there is the evolution of seventies film style into the new decade, don't you think?

[@himeccms893]

The actress in the thumbnail is Heather Graham (in Drugstore Cowboy)-like I've never seen her before- I thought it was the cute actress who played one of the Bride of Dracula in Van Helsing!

[@fredchampion6666]

These are only "Hidden Gems" for people who don't know or care much about movies in general... For those of us who know and love movies, these are just plain regular good movies from the 80's.. Haters are gonna hate. :)

[@Rileyhyde]

I disagree. I love movies and there are some here that I have never seen. Great list.

[@bkooo5363]

Bad AI content with poor voice work as well. It’s hidden for most people that aren’t interested in film. If this gets people watching these movies, it’s a good thing.

[@fredchampion6666]

@@Rileyhyde You're right.. I am being a little bit of a movie snob with that comment.. and I forget that there are younger generations of movie lovers who did not grow up in the 70's & 80's .. I love digging for buried movie treasures. These twenty films would be on my 80's buried treasures list : 1. Out of the Blue (1980) directed by Dennis Hopper 2. Three O'Clock High (1987) High School comedy 3. Suburbia (1983) Punk Drama 4. Deadbeat at Dawn (1988) Indie Punk Drama/Horror 5. Mystics in Bali (1981) Indonesia 6. Butcher Baker, Nightmare Maker (1981) Horror 7. Voyeur (1986) Dutch Film 8. Der Fan (1982) German Film 9. Buddha's Palm (1982) Hong Kong Fantasy Film 10. Christmas Evil (1980) Horror 11. Deadly Prey (1987) So Bad it's Good 12. Zappa (1983) and the sequel Twist & Shout (1984) Danish Teen Coming of age 13. The Amatuer (1981) Spy Thriller 14. Nightbeast (1982) Low-Budget Sci-Fi Horror 15. The Manhatten Project (1986) Teen Thriller 16. The Deadly Spawn (1983) Low Budget Sci-fi Horror 17. Retribution (1987) Horror 18. Dogs in Space (1986) Australian Teen Drama 19. Bastard Swordsman (1983) Hong Kong 20. Incident at Raven's Gate (1988) Australian Sci-Fi

[@jamesharmon7733]

Yeah, I hadn’t even heard of half of these movies and never seen any. There is just too much good stuff out there.

[@jbssfl]

​​​@@fredchampion6666 wow, really cool list -- so much I haven't heard of that I will definitely be checking out! I'm guessing you loved the recent Dinner in America

[@paulvoorhies8821]

Blood Simple is absolutely a 4 star film. And Drugstore Cowboy isn’t far behind.

[@ValdezJu]

You'll never hear _zai·duh·kow_ the same again!

[@thekeywitness]

House of Games-I need to revisit it.

[@BruceWalther-s2l]

Great list. Although the use of the phrase "hidden gem" may not fit for the neo noir Body Heat. My reasoning? Kathleen Turner was an immediate sensation; and the movie revitalized the modern day "film noir" genre. Blood Simple is a movie that is better the 2nd time (you) see it. Worth noting it stars the Cohen's first casting of eventual frequent collaborator Frances McDormand (Fargo ...) as the wife cheating on her shady(?) abusive(?) definitely very jealous husband. It amazes me Southern Comfort seemed to be an ignored Walter Hill film so soon after the respected James Gang western The Long Riders ... which, I suppose, could have made this 80's list too. Also, Walter Hill's Johnny Handsome with a great Mickey Rourke performance as well as Lance Hendriksen and Ellen Barkin chewing up the "lethal" scenery as the heavies in this neo noir opera. Good music by Ry Cooder, too, who worked for Hill often. I need to see The Hidden, again. I remember laughing AT The Hidden NOT with it. Or, maybe I was not supposed to laugh? Claudia Christian looks like she is having a ball dressed to the slutty T's and toting an arsenal to make Rambo proud. Albert Brooks was in another underrated comedy called Modern Romance. Kathryn Harrold is the woman he loves/possesses/infuriates/can't trust. Brooks' character is hysterically insecure and neurotic. Plus, there are some behind the scenes "how films are edited", George Kennedy WAS in everything (it seemed) humor. I just thought of a Ridley Scott movie that starred Tom Berenger as a "New Yawk" cop. It's one of those movies when I wondered why Berenger does not get more recognition as a good character, leading man actor (see Platoon, The Big Chill). But the movie i am talking about is Someone to Watch Over Me. Lots of style, romance and action. Someone To Watch Over Me is the movie that perfectly cast Lorraine Bracco (as the wife of a NY cop) before Goodfellas made her famous.

[@jannarkiewicz633]

Three O'Clock High -- eh, you covered 2 or 3 which were not hidden...

[@jerryschramm4399]

Outstanding choices. But there was also "The Long Good Friday", also with Hoskins and Helen Mirren. A British gangster film, it is also a hidden gem. I wouldn't change any of the choices, except possibly "Barfly", as I actually prefer "Fat City" for loser cinema.

[@Bo_Lew]

Lots of these are great, especially, IMO, Blood Simple and Moonlighting. But I couldn't get over the cheesy dialogue and wooden acting in House of Games. Just my two cents.

[@shaymayo6]

i will add "Runaway Train" (85)

[@gheller2261]

Body Heat. My only response was and still is ick.

[@mookie-e8c]

Body heat is double indemnity.

[@ranchokitty1]

funny thing about that movie I read was it was supposed to be really hot and humid in the story, but the shot it in Florida in the winter during a cold snap and the actors were freezing and acting as it was hot!

[@DanSmith-j8y]

Hidden should be called Hidden Gem.

[@ariescustom]

Quality list.

[@cathalodonoghue3205]

house of games is a mega film

[@gangly37]

wow. 7/10 of these films don't shout.

[@boycompass7769]

How you can review BARFLY and not so much as mention that it's Charles Bukowski's semi-autobiography tells me more than I need to know about your credentials.

[@Zed-fq3lj]

great list 👍

[@m.y.o.b.724]

Prince of the City Black Rain Altered States Angel Heart

[@zenbear4149]

ZY-duh-co. Not zy-DECO! Come on.

[@DoubleMonoLR]

It's probably an AI generated script & text to speech, hence the unnatural phrasing and being full of strung-together cliches.