Summary

• The 1980s saw a surge of epic action, sci-fi, and fantasy movies due to an increasing desire for escapism after Cold War tensions and economic shifts.
• Filmmakers George Lucas and Steven Spielberg dominated the 1980s with their blockbuster movies and continue to influence the cinema landscape today.
• Original dramas like "Rain Man" and high-concept films like "Back to the Future" and "Batman" achieved significant box office success, proving the diversity of successful movies in the 1980s.

Many iconic movies were released in the 1980s, but some of the highest-grossing movies of the 1980s still come as a surprise. The 1980s were an unbelievable era for cinema, as the decade was marked by an array of movies that were both hugely entertaining and reflected the cultural and historical dynamics at the time. The era was a transitional period for the film industry, as filmmakers were becoming more ambitious with technology and genres were beginning to be blended more than ever. Following Cold War tensions and economic shifts, 1980s films were a major source of escapism, which led to an influx of epic action, sci-fi, and fantasy movies.

The blockbuster franchise was born in the 1980s, and iconic characters that still feature in new movies today were born. It's safe to say that the 1980s box office was well and truly conquered by George Lucas and Steven Spielberg. While a couple of films without their involvement slipped into the top 10, the two renowned filmmakers dominated the decade and their influence on the cinema landscape is just as prevalent today as it was in the 1980s. Lucas and Spielberg tapped into the desire for heroic narratives and fantastical worlds, and the rest of Hollywood followed suit. Here are the 10 highest-grossing movies of the 1980s, with numbers from BoxOffice Mojo.

10 Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984)

Even though Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny bombed at the box office, the Indiana Jones franchise is still one of the highest-grossing of all time. Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom was actually considered a disappointment when it was released, as critics and audiences were turned off by the dark and dour tone of the prequel compared to the exciting adventure movie that is Raiders of the Lost Ark. However, the 1984 movie still turned a huge profit for the studio, making $333 million off a budget of just $28 million.

9 Rain Man (1988)

While it isn't surprising that a Tom Cruise movie would become one of the biggest earners of the 2020s, an original drama would never make the top 10 of the decade in the current cinematic landscape, even if it did star Cruise. However, that's exactly what happened when Rain Man made $354 million worldwide. Rain Man follows two long-lost brothers who are totally different but end up forming an extremely emotional bond. It's a testament to the screenplay and performances that the film stands with the likes of Indiana Jones and Star Wars despite not being a high concept or tied to an established IP

8 Top Gun (1986)

Top Gun is another movie starring Cruise, only the 1986 release is a high-octane action flick full of thrills. Cruise plays Maverick, a fighter pilot who becomes the best in the country, and it's full of intense scenes in the sky, huge 1980s pop songs, and one of the greatest bromances in movie history. The film grossed $357 million worldwide and was the first movie to prove how big of a movie star Cruise really was. Over 35 years later, Top Gun: Maverick 's ending and overall story amazed audiences, with the film grossing $1.5 billion and having an even better performance than its predecessor.

7 Back to the Future (1985)

The Back to the Future franchise is a perfect example of diminishing returns, as each sequel made significantly less than the last, but there's no denying how overwhelmingly successful the first movie was at the box office. The 1985 time travel movie totally capitalized on the impact Steven Spielberg had on the decade with sentimentality and family-friendly adventure injected into an irresistible high-concept. Back to the Future was also a coming-of-age film, a comedy movie, and an influential sci-fi flick all in one. As a result, Back to the Future grossed $383 million worldwide.

6 Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)

Coming off the heels of playing Han Solo, audiences were going to show up in droves to see Ford's next big-budget movie. Given that he was cast in Steven Spielberg and George Lucas' action-adventure project with John Williams providing the score, it was a recipe for success. Raiders of the Lost Ark was a phenomenal hit at the box office, making a total of $389 million and launching an iconic character. The movie was such a hit and spoke for itself that it didn't even need "Indiana Jones" in the title, as the archaeologist's name was added to the 1981 movie's title years later.

5 Batman (1989)

Batman made $411 million worldwide thanks to how director Tim Burton made the once goofy 60s TV character a cool, dark, and brooding enigma. While Warner Bors. has been praised for Barbie's marketing, the studio has quietly been the gold standard in marketing movies for a long time, as a lot of Batman's success comes from merchandising and how the movie became a brand before it was released. The yellow and black Batman logo was on T-shirts and belt buckles before the movie had even hit theatres, and it was set to become a hit.

4 Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989)

While some had lost interest in the franchise after Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, the threequel, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, had a bigger turnout than ever. The 1989 movie made a total of $474 million, proving to be a box-office success for a number of reasons. The title alone teased that it could be the last time audiences see Indiana Jones. The film was also considered a significant return to form following the relatively disappointing Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom. The popular Sean Connery was in the movie too, as the comically-played Indy's father, Henry.

3 Star Wars: Episode VI - Return Of The Jedi (1983)

None of the immediate follow-ups to Star Wars (1977) was as phenomenally successful as the original movie, but despite making $300 million less than the 1977 film, Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi still made $475 million worldwide. The 1983 movie is the epic conclusion to the space saga and perfectly wraps up every story arc. While the Ewoks have a bad reputation, there's no denying how exciting many of the scenes still are, such as the chase through the jungle and the battle between Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader.

2 Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980)

Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back was following the unbelievable success of the first Star Wars movie. Given that after 1977 pop culture seemed to orbit around Star Wars, the 1980 film surprisingly made $230 million less than its predecessor. Nevertheless, $538 million is still another milestone for the franchise. As The Empire Strikes Back's ending has arguably the most famous movie plot twist of all time, the film was undoubtedly carried by word of mouth too.

1 E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial (1982)

Harrison Ford was cut from E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, as he had a small role that was removed. Given how even a simple cameo role from Ford would have helped any movie's box office, it was a brave move from Spielberg to remove the famous actor from the film. Nevertheless, Spielberg was right, as not only was E.T. successful without Ford, but the 1982 movie became the highest-grossing movie of the decade and outgrossed every Indiana Jones movie, making $792 million. Given that the film isn't a part of any existing franchise, of all the highest-grossing movies of the 1980s, E.T. is the biggest success story.