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Image by Federico Napoli
The term “B-movie” proves surprisingly difficult to define, and what constitutes such a film has kind of shifted over the years. Some definitions will say they’re simply movies that were cheap to produce, others will emphasize that such films are often of poor quality, and others specify that B-movies tended to be the second part of a double feature, with the first movie shown being the higher quality – or “A” – picture of the two.
Taking the term into the 1980s, B-movies here might not have often been part of double features but were generally made for little money and belonged to genres like sci-fi, horror, or action more often than not. Also, as these films (or at least some of them) show, ‘80s B-movies weren’t all of poor quality. What follows are some of the best B-grade movies of the 1980s, starting with the stupidly fun and ending with the genuinely great; films that transcend their budgetary limitations to be exceedingly effective no matter how you categorize them.
20 'Cyborg' (1989)
Directed by Albert Pyun
Image via The Cannon Group Dropping right at the tail end of the 1980s, Cyborg is perhaps the best-known film directed by Albert Pyun, who’s a fairly big name among fans of B-movies. Jean-Claude Van Damme starring in this one does bring it some prestige, at least in hindsight, given he was still relatively new to the acting scene (especially lead roles) in the 1980s, before finding increased success as a leading man in the 1990s.
Just like a good many B-grade films, Cyborg has a straight-to-the-point title and a fairly simple premise, following a martial arts master clashing with a vicious killer in a particularly cheap-looking dystopian setting. Cyborg is kind of trashy and might well feel empty to most viewers, but those in the mood for something ridiculously simple, low-grade, and action-packed from this era will likely find things to enjoy here.
19 'King Kong Lives' (1986)
Directed by John Guillermin
Image via De Laurentiis Entertainment Group At a glance, sure, the King Kong series is filled with movies that involve a big monkey going on big rampages and destroying big things, but it did also begin with a revolutionary and perhaps even powerful movie back in 1933. That one’s never quite been equaled, as far as groundbreaking effects or emotional resonance go, but that doesn’t mean sequels/spin-offs/remakes involving the Eighth Wonder of the World aren’t fun.
Case in point, King Kong Lives, the existence of which might be a little offensive to aficionados of the series, but anyone wanting some dumb, schlocky fun will be entertained. It does feel more like a B-movie than just about any other King Kong film, ensuring it feels dangerously close to a self-parody, but with sufficiently low expectations, there is something to be gained from watching it.
King Kong Lives
Release Date December 19, 1986
Director John Guillermin
Runtime 105 Minutes
18 'Invasion U.S.A.' (1985)
Directed by Joseph Zito
Image via Cannon Releasing Corporation Lovers of B-grade action movies are likely well-acquainted with Chuck Norris, because the guy really carved out a niche for himself back in the 1980s as a reliable star who was capable of shooting people and beating them up and then shooting them again and sometimes doing both at once. Invasion U.S.A. might not be one of the actor’s best movies overall, but it is one of the B-movie-est, and one of the most action-packed.
The premise of Invasion U.S.A. centers on one man taking on numerous enemy combatants who are wrapped up in a plot to invade the U.S., only they didn’t take into account the fact that Chuck Norris lives there. It might well go without saying that Invasion U.S.A., but it’s also mindlessly entertaining in a way that certainly has its charms.
Invasion U.S.A.
Release Date September 27, 1985
Director Joseph Zito
Runtime 107
17 'Hard Ticket to Hawaii' (1987)
Directed by Andy Sidaris
The best word to describe Hard Ticket to Hawaii is probably “gonzo,” because it just never lets up as an action/adventure movie, and refuses to let low production values get in the way of providing non-stop fights, shootouts, and explosions. As for the plot, who really cares? There are some criminals and the main characters want to stop the criminals from doing criminal things. What more do you need?
Hard Ticket to Hawaii seems a little aware of what it is, but not to the point where you can entirely dismiss it of qualifying for “so bad it’s good” status. It’s a sleazy time and the action isn’t exactly well-choreographed or anything, but there is a lot of it, and that’s more than enough to make it surprisingly entertaining, even if you might spend a good chunk of the film’s runtime laughing at what’s going on.
Hard Ticket to Hawaii
Release Date March 1, 1987
Director Andy Sidaris
Cast Dona Speir , Ronn Moss , Hope Marie Carlton , Harold Diamond , Rodrigo Obregón , Cynthia Brimhall , Patty Duffek , Wolf Larson , Lory Green , Rustam Branaman , David DeShay , Michael A. Andrews , Kwan Hi Lim , Joseph Hieu , Peter Bromilow , Richard LePore , Glen Chin , Shawne Zarubica , Joey Meran , Bryn George , Hideo Su'a , Jamie Searle , Choya Pennington , Sue Don Lubin , Larry Don Lubin
Runtime 96 minutes
16 'The Stuff' (1985)
Directed by Larry Cohen
Image via New World Pictures As a blend of horror, comedy, and science fiction, The Stuff is far from perfect, but it does manage to deliver some social commentary and a few unsettling scares along the way. The titular “the Stuff” is a strange product of unknown origin that seems to become an obsession for anyone who comes into contact with it, and there’s an inevitably dark secret behind its sudden appearance and capacity to alter people’s personalities.
Director Larry Cohen proved himself capable of making some interesting and offbeat stuff throughout the 1980s, with 1982’s Q: The Winged Serpent also being worth checking out for anyone after something different. But The Stuff does feel a little closer to the traditional B-movie in spirit, and though it doesn’t rewrite the rules surrounding any of the genres it belongs to, it certainly gets the job done for what it is.
The Stuff
Release Date June 14, 1985
Director Larry Cohen
Runtime 87 minutes
15 'Chopping Mall' (1986)
Directed by Jim Wynorski
Image Via Concorde Pictures Few people seemed to be as involved with the world of B-movie production as Roger Corman, as he began producing/directing his own films in the 1950s and then into the 1960s, and then later focused on producing or executive producing numerous movies, often with lowish budgets. Of the 1980s movies he was involved with, few are quite as well known as the expertly titled Chopping Mall.
Its plot sees several young people get trapped in a shopping mall that’s patrolled by robotic security guards, and they find themselves in danger when the system controlling these malfunctions, and the robots start getting murderous. It’s no surprise that Chopping Mall is silly with a premise like that and a title like Chopping Mall, but it’s a good set-up, in any event, for a B-movie, and it all just works/comes together surprisingly well.
Chopping Mall
Release Date March 14, 1986
Director Jim Wynorski
Runtime 77 minutes
14 'The Toxic Avenger' (1984)
Directed by Lloyd Kaufman and Michael Herz
Image via Troma Entertainment Ranking among the strangest superhero movies of all time, The Toxic Avenger also predated many of the iconic superhero movies that came to dominate pop culture in the decades following the 1980s. Still, those who prefer their superhero movies MCU-flavored might not love what’s on offer in The Toxic Avenger, given this film’s schlocky, crude, intentionally gross, and charmingly sloppy presentation-wise.
The story follows a young man who gains strange powers after falling into a container filled with toxic waste; powers he uses to take on various criminals that plague his town, becoming an unlikely vigilante. It was produced by Troma Entertainment, so The Toxic Avenger is naturally violent and crass, but such qualities are in line with certain B-movie sensibilities, making this film successful in the sense that it executes what it’s going for. Whether viewers will actually like what it’s going for is another story altogether.
Release Date November 1, 1985
Director Michael Herz
Cast Andree Maranda , Mitch Cohen , Jennifer Prichard , Cindy Manion , Robert Prichard , Gary Schneider , Pat Ryan , Mark Torgl , Dick Martinsen , Chris Liano , David Weiss , Dan Snow , Doug Isbecque , Charles Lee Jr. , Patrick Kilpatrick , Larry Sulton , Michael Russo , Norma Pratt , Andrew Craig , Ryan Sexton , Sarabel Levinson , Al Pia , Reuben Guss , Kenneth Kessler , Barbara Gurskey
Runtime 82 Minutes
13 'Class of Nuke 'Em High' (1986)
Directed by Lloyd Kaufman and Richard W. Haines
Image via Troma Entertainment Why not mention one more well-known Troma Entertainment film, perhaps the most famous from the 1980s that isn’t The Toxic Avenger? Enter Class of Nuke ’Em High which, like that aforementioned 1984 film, also ended up spawning a series of sequels, all revolving around a chaotic high school that’s forever changed after numerous students take some contaminated substances.
Serving as a potential parody of anti-drug PSAs, or perhaps just being an excuse to have lots of gross-out comedy, Class of Nuke ‘Em High has fun with a stupid, broad, and crass premise, and maybe you, as a viewer, will as well. One might have to enter into a film like this with a particular frame of mind, but if low-budget anarchy is your cup of tea, it’s probably worth venturing into this series by at least checking out the first of the bunch.
Class of Nuke 'Em High
Release Date December 12, 1986
Director Lloyd Kaufman
Cast Gil Brenton , Janelle Brady , Robert Prichard , Pat Ryan , James Nugent Vernon , Brad Dunker , Gary Schneider , Gary Rosenblatt , Mary Taylor , Rick Howard , Lauren Heather McMahon , Chris McNamee , Anthony Ventola , Arthur Lorenz , Jennifer Prichard , Dianna Flaherty , Don Costello , Rick Collins , Richard W. Haines , Elizabeth Lambert , Michael Herz , Théo Cohan , Donna Nardo , Lerae Dean
Runtime 86 minutes
12 'Thunder of Gigantic Serpent' (1988)
Directed by Lee Chiu
Image via IFD Films & Arts Company You get exactly what you'd expect out of Thunder of Gigantic Serpent, based on that absolutely wonderful title. It’s a cheesy, low-budget, and lovable giant monster movie that’s unsurprisingly about a gigantic serpent… though it doesn’t start out being gigantic. It’s a regular snake, and part of the fun of the movie is watching it grow, and wondering, indeed, just how gigantic it will end up getting.
It's not the sort of movie that’s going to appeal to everyone, and even enjoyers of Thunder of Gigantic Serpent might well concede that it’s not exactly a good movie in the traditional sense. Yet it does ultimately deliver as a B-movie, with the scrappiness and obviousness of the special effects proving as oddly charming as the very simple plot.
11 'The Island' (1980)
Directed by Michael Ritchie
Image via Universal Pictures The Island can count itself as one of the most underrated movies starring Michael Caine, as well as perhaps one of the legendary star’s most unusual. In it, he plays a reporter who, along with his son, goes to investigate a strange series of events that have been impacting people in the Caribbean; events that may be tied to modern-day pirates.
The lead characters get more than they bargained for, and the viewer might feel similarly overwhelmed and surprised about where The Island goes narratively. It’s a fairly grim horror movie at times, an uneasy thriller, and a dark adventure movie, all rolled into one. Though its star may be an A-lister, the rough-and-tumble nature of the film and its overall feel put it in more B-grade territory, though it can at least be called a very interesting (and overlooked) B-movie.
The Island (1980)
Release Date July 21, 2005
Runtime 127
10 'Fright Night' (1985)
Directed by Tom Holland
Image via Columbia Pictures Combining some effective comedy with more expected supernatural horror/thriller scares, Fright Night stands as a deserved cult classic and, in all honesty, is perhaps more of a B+ movie than a true B-movie. It puts a relatively fresh spin on vampire story conventions, sticking by some tropes while also subverting others, and never pushing the humorous stuff so far that the possibility for the film to frighten becomes unachievable.
Narratively, Fright Night is about a new neighbor who everyone seems to like except for the film’s protagonist, a suspicious high school student, who then sets about trying to find out the truth behind this newcomer to the neighborhood. It’s the sort of premise that can be found as far back as Alfred Hitchcock’s Shadow of a Doubt, but it’s an undeniably fun one. Plus, that Hitchcock film – for as good as it was – didn’t ultimately have anything supernatural.
Release Date August 2, 1985
Cast Chris Sarandon , William Ragsdale , Amanda Bearse , Roddy McDowall , Stephen Geoffreys , Jonathan Stark
Runtime 102
9 'The Soldier' (1982)
Directed by James Glickenhaus
Image via Embassy Pictures Though the idea of an arthouse action movie might sound ridiculous, or something of an oxymoron, The Soldier absolutely qualifies for such a definition. It is stripped back and ridiculously simple, being all about trying to stop a group of terrorists from executing a potentially devastating attack. The characters are broad, the action is matter-of-fact, and the pace is surprisingly relentless.
The Soldier is a mostly forgotten movie that deserves to have something of a cult classic status, because it just feels so odd and distinct in the best of ways. There are recognizable action movie narrative beats, archetypes, and tropes here, but the way such things are presented and communicated makes The Soldier unlike anything else. It’s almost uncanny in the way that it feels so familiar yet so offbeat at the same time.
8 'The Howling' (1981)
Directed by Joe Dante
Image via Embassy Pictures Fans of werewolf movies were spoiled for choice in 1981, given that year saw the release of both An American Werewolf in London and The Howling. Both are very good in their own ways, with the former potentially being better by a hair (a wolf’s or otherwise), but also feeling a little less B-movie in style. The Howling, on the other hand, is very, very B-ish.
There’s a level of grittiness and unpleasantness to The Howling that helps it feel like a B-movie with A-grade special effects (both it and An American Werewolf in London excel technically). It’s an uncompromising werewolf movie that’s very graphic in more ways than one, and delivers the sort of pulpy bombastic quality you'd expect – and maybe even want – out of a B-movie that’s all about werewolves.
The Howling
Release Date March 13, 1981
Cast Dee Wallace , Patrick Macnee , Dennis Dugan , Christopher Stone , Belinda Balaski , kevin mccarthy , John Carradine , Slim Pickens
Runtime 91
7 'Miami Connection' (1987)
Directed by Y.K. Kim and Richard Park Wu-sang
Is Miami Connection good? Would people who call it bad be onto something? To quote Joy Division’s Ian Curtis, who is right, who can tell, and who gives a damn right now? Such binaries surrounding good and bad probably aren’t necessary when a movie is as fun as Miami Connection, which is entertaining, thrilling, silly, spectacular, and odd all at once. Not even calling it “so bad it’s good” feels appropriate.
Definitely not to be mixed up with that Gene Hackman movie about the Connection that’s French, Miami Connection is another kind of action/crime movie, featuring a good deal more musical numbers and ninjas while telling a story about taking down drug dealers. It’s ridiculous in all the best ways, and Miami Connection deserves its status as one of its decades' best B-movies/cult classics.
6 'Bad Taste' (1987)
Directed by Peter Jackson
Image via Endeavour Productions As can be seen from some of the aforementioned titles, plenty of 1980s B-movies belonged to the science fiction genre, with Bad Taste being one of the best and most underrated of these B-grade sci-fi flicks. It’s most noteworthy today for being an early film directed by Peter Jackson, and it’s thrilling to see the young director make something with what sometimes looks like no budget, all the while knowing how much money he’d later be given to make films like The Lord of the Rings trilogy and 2005’s King Kong.
Bad Taste is a comedic alien invasion movie with a ton of unrealistic gore, and the plot admittedly feels borderline nonsensical – or at least not too important – at times. Set in some particularly sparse New Zealand locales, it’s fun seeing aliens try to take over an area that isn’t a densely populated city, and Jackson’s style shines through in some moments. The film’s rough, sure, but also oddly charming.
Bad Taste
Release Date June 21, 1989
Runtime 92 Minutes
5 'Five Element Ninjas' (1982)
Directed by Chang Cheh
Image via Shaw Brothers Studio Though it might not quite be a perfect martial arts movie, Five Element Ninjas is a perfectly entertaining one that blends elaborate fight choreography with a simple yet satisfying story. Like a good many martial arts movies, Five Element Ninjas is largely about getting revenge, and also having to undertake an arduous training process to become sufficiently awesome enough to enact said revenge.
Produced by the legendary Shaw Brothers Studio, Five Element Ninjas came at a time when the heyday of the martial arts genre was perhaps nearing its end (these sorts of flicks really thrived during the late 1960s and throughout the 1970s). As such, there are some budgetary limitations that become rather apparent, but these help add to the sense that Five Element Ninjas is kind of a B-movie. And, honestly, so long as the fighting is fun, most viewers won’t care (or even notice) some of the cost-cutting measures in play throughout the film.Watch on Mubi
4 'Voyage of the Rock Aliens' (1984)
Directed by James Fargo
Image via Fox Lorber Though Voyage of the Rock Aliens is cheesy and stupid, it’s also undoubtedly aware of what it is and achieves what it’s going for, so why not label it as one of the best sci-fi movies of all time? Seriously, why not? It’s about aliens coming to Earth and failing to fit in, but that’s understandable, given they pick a very strange town to visit: the fictional Speelburgh, where teen gangs roam freely and people break into synth-backed songs every five to ten minutes.
So, yes, this means Voyage of the Rock Aliens is also a musical, and a supremely ‘80s one at that, but those who ironically or unironically like the music from that decade will surely get a kick out of all the songs on offer. It’s a film that homages/parodies the B-movies of decades past while also itself being low-budget and a B-movie in most ways, but it all just works very well, and ensures this film is supremely underrated overall.
Voyage of the Rock Aliens
Release Date March 9, 1984
Director James Fargo
Cast Craig Sheffer , Pia Zadora , Ruth Gordon , Tom Nolan , Michael Berryman , Alison La Placa , Gregory Bond , Craig Quiter , Patrick Byrnes , Marc Jackson , Jeffrey Casey , Jimmy Haddox , Marshall Rohner , Jeffrey Cranford , Troy Mack , Peter Stelzer , Wallace Merck , G. Kelly Moore , Pete Munro , Herschel Rice , Ralph Pace , Madonna Christian , Rudy Goldschmidt , Kenneth Livingston Taylor , Dennon Rawles
Runtime 97 minutes
3 'Re-Animator' (1985)
Directed by Stuart Gordon
Image via Empire International Pictures Though it had a disappointing sequel some years later, 1985’s Re-Animator remains a decade-defining B-movie; indeed, one of those that transcends B-grade cinema in the traditional sense. It’s a comedic horror/sci-fi movie largely set inside a medical college, revolving around one student’s eventually disastrous attempts to reanimate dead tissue.
If you ever watched one of the old Frankenstein movies from the 1930s or 1940s and thought it was good, but a little tame when it came to violence, then Re-Animator might well be the movie for you. The level of gore on offer here feels borderline obscene at times, but it also pushes things far enough that certain moments may well wrap back around and become funny again, depending on the viewer. Like Bad Taste, Re-Animator is a B-movie of somewhat bad taste, but that’s something that also makes it nearly impossible to forget.
Release Date October 18, 1985
Director Stuart Gordon
Runtime 84 Minutes
2 'The Return of the Living Dead' (1985)
Directed by Dan O’Bannon
Image via Orion Pictures George A. Romero’s zombie movies had already become widely appreciated by the mid-1980s for their satirical elements, but then a non-Romero zombie movie came along and felt like it pushed things even further. Beyond having social commentary, Return of the Living Dead also feels like a very gentle parody of the sort of zombie movie Romero popularized and defined, being a little silly while also not skimping on horror and gory violence.
The plot of Return of the Living Dead is expected stuff in many regards, centering on a toxic gas that accidentally gets unleashed and begins to bring the dead back to life. Unfortunately for the living, said dead also have an unending appetite for brains. It’s wild and all over the place, but in a way that feels more like a feature than a bug, ensuring Return of the Living Dead is one of the most enjoyable zombie films of all time.
1 'The Evil Dead' (1981)
Directed by Sam Raimi
Image via New Line Cinema Establishing Sam Raimi and Bruce Campbell as cult figures who are still beloved to this day while kicking off an iconic horror movie series, The Evil Dead was a real game-changer for its genre, and for B-movies as a whole. The Evil Dead was certainly an inexpensive movie, and had a small cast, limited setting, and sometimes cheap-looking special effects… but despite all that, it still works surprisingly well as a scary movie.
Time might have diluted its impact a little, and it’s easier to see some aspects of it as camp in the wake of more comedic sequels, but for viewers in 1981, The Evil Dead was surely shocking. It turned production limitations into strengths, becoming the gold standard for “cabin in the woods” type horror movies while showing how well the genre could work if the cast and crew were dedicated enough to excel beyond the allocated budget. It’s beyond iconic, as a horror film, and deserves to be considered the best B-movie of the entire 1980s.
The Evil Dead (1981)
Release Date April 15, 1983
Runtime 85 minutes
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