Sci-Fi Cinema in the 1980s
Science fiction movies from the eighties (1980-1989), including TV movies as well as stand-alone mini-series. This list uses a fairly strict definition of science fiction, and therefore does not include most films that deal with fantasy, the supernatural, or super heroes. Films that fall more under the umbrella of horror (like a lot of zombie and pandemic films) have also been omitted.
See also: Sci-Fi Cinema in the 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s
Related sci-fi list: Sci-Fi Television in the 1980s
See also: Sci-Fi Cinema in the 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s
Related sci-fi list: Sci-Fi Television in the 1980s
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- DirectorRidley ScottStarsHarrison FordRutger HauerSean YoungA blade runner must pursue and terminate four replicants who stole a ship in space and have returned to Earth to find their creator.
- DirectorsJimmy T. MurakamiRoger CormanStarsGeorge PeppardRobert VaughnRichard ThomasA farm boy recruits a band of outlaws to save the planet Akir from dark forces that threaten to wipe them out from the face of the universe. A battle stretching beyond the stars begins here.
- DirectorLuigi CozziStarsIan McCullochLouise MarleauMarino MaséA former astronaut helps a government agent and a police detective track the source of mysterious alien pod spores, filled with lethal flesh-dissolving acid, to a South American coffee plantation controlled by alien pod clones.
- DirectorKinji FukasakuStarsMasao KusakariTsunehiko WataseIsao NatsuyagiAfter a virus devastates the global human population, survivors in Antarctica desperately try to find a cure and save the human race.
- DirectorMike HodgesStarsSam J. JonesMelody AndersonMax von SydowA football player and his friends travel to the planet Mongo and find themselves fighting the tyranny of Ming the Merciless to save Earth.
- DirectorWilliam SachsStarsStephen MachtAvery SchreiberJ.D. HintonIn the 31st century, sexy blonde android Galaxina helms the crew of a space cruiser on a mission to find the Blue Star, a mystical gem that holds unlimited power.
- DirectorPiotr SzulkinStarsMarek WalczewskiKrystyna JandaJoanna ZólkowskaThe film is set in a terrorizing world of the future, where technology commands the movements of individuals, supervised by the doctors, carrying out a program to improve the human race. Thus, instead of doctors creating a monster, the monsters are already there as the species of the future - but one of them is suspected by the doctors of being a human being. That is Golem in reverse.
- DirectorJames L. ConwayStarsDarren McGavinRobert VaughnGary CollinsAfter a UFO crashes in Arizona, due to a space collision with a NASA satellite launch, the U.S. government tries to cover-up the incident for political reasons.
- DirectorsStanley DonenJohn BarryStarsFarrah FawcettKirk DouglasHarvey KeitelTwo lovers stationed at a remote base in the asteroid belt of Saturn are intruded upon by an anal-retentive technocrat from Earth and his charge: a malevolent eight foot tall robot.
- DirectorIrvin KershnerStarsMark HamillHarrison FordCarrie FisherAfter the Empire overpowers the Rebel Alliance, Luke Skywalker begins training with Jedi Master Yoda, while Darth Vader and bounty hunter Boba Fett pursue his friends across the galaxy.
- DirectorJohn CarpenterStarsKurt RussellLee Van CleefErnest BorgnineIn 1997, when the U.S. president crashes into Manhattan, now a giant maximum security prison, a convicted bank robber is sent in to rescue him.
- DirectorBruce D. ClarkStarsEdward AlbertErin MoranRay WalstonA ragtag spaceship crew sent on a rescue mission encounter a formidable enemy, their worst fears projected by their own imaginations.
- DirectorAllan ArkushStarsAndy KaufmanBernadette PetersRandy QuaidTwo household robots run away and try to start a family.
- DirectorMartyn BurkeStarsLee MajorsBurgess MeredithChris MakepeaceA former race car driver's car is confiscated. He rebuilds it and drives to Free California with a teen's help. Agents dispatch a jet pilot to stop him, fearing his autonomy threatens their control.
- DirectorBruce BryantStarsJoe PennyKristine DeBellCarl LumblyThe first interplanetary cruise ship malfunctions halfway to Jupiter, forcing most of the crew and passengers to abandon ship. A handful of people are trapped onboard.
- DirectorMichael CrichtonStarsAlbert FinneyJames CoburnSusan DeyThree of four models, who had plastic surgery done by Larry after a computed list, are dead. Neither the cops nor Larry believe they're suicides. Larry investigates and stays with the fourth model. Who's behind the lists and murders?
- DirectorGeorge MillerStarsMel GibsonBruce SpenceMichael PrestonIn the post-apocalyptic Australian wasteland, a cynical drifter agrees to help a small, gasoline-rich community get rid of a horde of bandits.
- DirectorPeter HyamsStarsSean ConneryFrances SternhagenPeter BoyleA federal marshal stationed at a mining colony on the Jupiter moon of Io uncovers a drug-smuggling conspiracy. He gets no help from the workers or authorities when he finds himself marked for murder.
- DirectorDavid CronenbergStarsJennifer O'NeillStephen LackPatrick McGoohanA scientist trains a man with an advanced telepathic ability called "scanning" to stop a dangerous Scanner with extraordinary psychic powers from waging war against non scanners.
- DirectorTerry GilliamStarsSean ConneryShelley DuvallJohn CleeseA young boy accidentally joins a band of time travelling dwarves, as they jump from era to era looking for treasure to steal.
- DirectorsRichard ViktorovNikolay ViktorovStarsYelena MetyolkinaNadezhda SementsovaVadim LedogorovA female creature created in space tries to live on earth and has special (and sometimes dangerous) powers.
- DirectorPiotr SzulkinStarsRoman WilhelmiKrystyna JandaMariusz DmochowskiFilm opens on December 28, 1999, three days before the dawn of the new century. A local reporter, Iron Idem, announces that the Martians have landed. Shortly after that his program loses its independence: he is given the script telling the crowds how to welcome the invaders. Then the chaos breaks out: the Martians and police mistreat the populace; things become violent. Idem's own wife is kidnapped and it seems somebody is trying to reduce his effectiveness as a reporter. Idem decides to fight back: he illegally broadcasts a message during a rock concert, but nobody believes him anymore.
- DirectorAllan SandlerStarsCamille MitchellDavid ChandlerAdam WestA ship is found adrift in space with no trace of its crew, or any signs of life at all. A psychic is brought into to try to "join" her mind with the memories lingering in the spacecraft so she can find out what happened to the crew and where they are now.
- DirectorAaron LipstadtStarsKlaus KinskiDon Keith OpperBrie HowardA strange doctor secretly experiments with androids on his space station. His assistant is Max, a curious android who wants to see the world and meet a girl. Criminals hide on their station and soon violence erupts.
- DirectorHarley CokelissStarsMichael BeckAnnie McEnroeJames WainwrightPost World War III futuristic tale of collapsed governments & bankrupt countries heralding a new lawless age.