Movies archive – the 10 best movies in 1983.
1983 was a golden year for film. With Tom Cruise, Chevy Chase and Al Pacino all starring in the top ten blockbusters of the year, it’s fair to say that 1983 films were amongst some of the best that the 80s spawned.
With a James Bond and Star Wars thrown in for good measure, here are the best movies of 1983.
1. Star Wars: Return of the Jedi
The third instalment in the Skywalker Saga, Return of the Jedi sees Han Solo escape the clutches of Jabba the Hut just in the nick of time.
A new Death Star is underway at the hands of the Galactic Empire, and it’s time to shut the Rebel Alliance down once and for all. It can be no surprise that Star Wars: Return of the Jedi scooped the top box office movie of 1983, bringing in a sweet $252,583,617 in theatres.
IMDb score: 8.3/10
- Classification: PG
- Genre: Sci-Fi
- Cast: Carrie Fisher, Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford and more
Stream Now On Disney+
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2. Scarface
There are iconic movies, there are blockbusters movies… and then there’s Scarface. With unfiltered brutal violence and graphic scenes of bloodshed, it’s one of the most famous stylized gangster movies of all time.
Tony Montana (Al Pacino) is a fearsome Cuban deportee, who quickly escalates to the top of the Miami gangland food chain. Fuelled with violence, drugs, sex, and quotable lines from all angles, this is one little friend movie-goers will want to say hello to, as it illustrates the seedy world of cocaine and the perils of greed. One of the top-grossing movies of 1983, it still holds decades later.
IMDb: 8.3/10
- Classification: R18+
- Genre: Crime
- Cast: Al Pacino, Michelle Pfeiffer, Steven Bauer and more
Stream Now On Netflix
3. The Meaning of Life
Why ponder the oldest question in the universe, when you have The Monty Python team to do it for you! Here Cleese, Chapman, Gillam, Palin, Idle and Jones reunite as they explore the different stages of life; from the spawning of a sperm, through to the Grim Reaper knocking at your door.
Delivered in their own unique, brilliant and at times poetic way, the Python team creates silly sketches quite like no one before or since them.
IMDb: 7.5/10
- Classification: M
- Genre: Comedy
- Cast: John Cleese, Eric Idle, Graham Chapman and more
Stream Now On Apple TV
4. Trading Places
Mortimer and Randolph Duke are brokers with a sense of humour. So when they dare to take on the task of turning around the fortunes of a criminal and transforming him into a successful businessman, the callous bet has serious repercussions.
The brilliant pairing of Dan Aykroyd and Eddie Murphy combine to bring comedy and class in one of the much-loved 1983 films.
IMDb: 7.5/10
- Classification: M
- Genre: Comedy
- Cast: Eddie Murphy, Dan Aykroyd, Jamie Lee Curtis and more
Stream Now On Apple TV
5. National Lampoon’s Vacation
As far as 1983 films go, National Lampoon’s Vacation is a veritable romp, delivering all the usual silliness and high-school humour in unapologetic doses.
Chevy Chase returns (in the fourth of six National Lampoon movies) with his family – the loveable Griswold’s. Chaos and comedy ensue, as they take a journey cross-country to Walley World theme park, where the fun really begins.
IMDb: 7.4/10
- Classification: M
- Genre: Comedy
- Cast: Chevy Chase, Beverly D’Angelo, Randy Quaid and more
Stream Now On Apple TV
6. The Big Chill
Expect tears and laughter in this comedy-drama with a roll-call of stars at the start of their careers.
Cue Glenn Close, Jeff Goldblum, William Hurt, Kevin Kline and Tom Berenger in this touching storyline with an underlining message of friendship after the suicide of a close friend. Along with a soulful soundtrack, expect plenty of dancing around the living room.
IMDb: 7.2/10
- Classification: M
- Genre: Drama
- Cast: Glenn Close, Tom Berenger, Kevin Kline and more
Stream Now On Amazon Prime
7. The Outsiders
You only need to look at the stellar cast and director (Francis Ford Coppola) to know that The Outsiders was something special.
Sliding into history with slicked-back hair and leather jackets, Matt Dhillon, Rob Lowe, Tom Cruise and Patrick Swayze, dazzle in their youth, in this story about rival gangs – the Greasers versus the Socs. Culminating in the untimely death of a member, the gangs must reap what they sew.
IMDb: 7.1/10
- Classification: M
- Genre: Drama
- Cast: Rob Lowe, Matt Dillon, Patrick Swayze and more
Stream Now On Apple TV
8. Risky Business
In the long list of film credits against his sparkling name, Risky Business will be remembered as the movie that catapulted Tom Cruise into Hollywood stardom. In his breakout movie, Cruise plays cocky teen Joel, who goes AWOL when his parents take a trip out of town.
Hiring a prostitute with extortionate fees, he goes to great lengths to repay his debt, while turning his parents’ home into a brothel at the same time. We’ve all been there, right?!
IMDb: 6.8/10
- Classification: M
- Genre: Comedy
- Cast: Tom Cruise, Rebecca De Mornay, Joe Pantoliano and more
Stream Now On Apple TV
9. Octopussy
One of the most famous 1983 films, and number 13 in the James Bond Series, Octopussy stars Roger Moore as the smooth (and now older) M16 agent.
Going undercover, Bond must unearth a jewel-smuggling operation, who threaten much more than meets the eye. Expect cheesy one-liners rolled in with high-energy stunts for all the 007 feels you’ve come to love.
IMDb: 6.5/10
- Classification: PG
- Genre: Action
- Cast: Maud Adams, Roger Moore, Kristina Wayborn and more
Stream Now On Stan
10. Flashdance
Don your legwarmers and grab a boom box, it’s time for a sweaty workout – 80s style! Dancer and dreamer Alex Owners works two jobs while hoping to become a successful ballet star.
Spurred on by her lover (and boss) she finds the confidence and courage to make her dreams become a reality. The film that defined a generation and spawned a whole-new workout look, Flashdance was one of the top box office movies of 1983. Oh what a feeling, indeed.
IMDb: 6.2/10
- Classification: M
- Genre: Dance
- Cast: Jennifer Beals, Michael Nouri, Cynthia Rhodes and more
Stream Now On Apple TV