The 1980s were truly an amazing time, particularly when it comes to movies. But the star didn’t always steal the show. Sometimes it was the sidekicks that are most memorable!
That’s why we’d like to take you on a walk down memory lane and count down the top ten cutest sidekicks of the 1980s.
Howard The Duck may have been a box office flop, only making $38 million on a $37 million budget and winning four Razzie Awards. However, Lea Thompson was arguably the best part of it with her iconic character of Beverly Switlzer, stealing the movie right out from under the title character!
“A sarcastic humanoid duck is pulled from his homeworld to Earth where he must stop an alien invasion with the help of a nerdy scientist and a struggling female rock singer,” the film’s official IMDB synopsis reads.
Be sure to check this one out if you haven’t seen it!
Most people think about Matthew Broderick when they think about this classic 1986 movie, but who didn’t fall in love with Mia Sara’s Sloane Peterson after watching it?! The film was a massive hit, making $70 million on a $5 million budget, and it’s still beloved to this day.
“A popular high school student, admired by his peers, decides to take a day off from school and goes to extreme lengths to pull it off, to the chagrin of his Dean, who’ll do anything to stop him,” the IMDB description reads.
Sara plays the title character’s girlfriend, and she joins him for all of his crazy shenanigans around the city of Chicago. It’s hard to steal this movie, but Sara might just do it!
Sara plays one of Bueller’s two sidekicks, and the other one Cameron Frye is played masterfully by Alan Ruck, who has some of the most memorable scenes in movie history in this film.
While young men everywhere fell in love with Sara’s Sloane while watching this movie, they could all relate to Ruck’s Cameron, who plays the “everyman” straight man to Ferris’ outrageous character.
And his work still holds up to this day!
Before she played Ferris Bueller’s sister, Jennifer Grey starred as Toni in the 1984 movie Red Dawn, which made $38 million on a $17 million budget.
“It is the dawn of World War III,” the film’s IMDB synopsis reads. “In the west mountains of America, a group of teenagers band together to defend their town, and their country, from invading Soviet forces.”
Thompson plays the one other girl in the group, and the boys include Patrick Swayze, C. Thomas Howell, and Charlie Sheen, but it is Grey’s tragic character of Toni that ends up being one of the most memorable parts of the movie. This one is such a classic that it was even remade in 2012, but that one simply can’t hold a candle to the original.
Who could forget Kerri Green in this movie? The film was a massive hit, making over $61 million on a $19 million budget. To this day, Millennials and Gen Xers can be heard telling each other, “Goonies never die!”
“A group of young misfits called The Goonies discover an ancient map and set out on an adventure to find a legendary pirate’s long-lost treasure,” the movie’s IMDB description reads.
While everyone in this movie is iconic, it’s Green who steals the film in the eyes of many as the It Girl! This movie holds up, so if it’s been awhile since you’ve seen it, be sure to check it out again.
Based on the Stephen King novella “The Body,” this classic film was a huge hit, making $52 million on an $8 million budget, and one of the highlights was Jerry O’Connell’s character of Vern.
“A writer recounts a childhood journey with his friends to find the body of a missing boy,” the film’s simple IMDB description reads.
Vern plays the scaredy-cat, but is also the moral center of the film, and his character has tons of memorable moments – like being sure to bring a comb.
O’Connell has gone on to be both a heartthrob actor and a popular talk show host, but he got his start here in this beloved movie!
This beloved 1980s sidekick is animated, but he’s just as iconic as the others are! Ariel would never have gotten anywhere without her good pal Sebastian, who sticks with her throughout her entire journey to love. A lot of the credit for Sebastian’s popularity should go to Samuel E. Wright, who voiced the role incredibly well.
“A mermaid princess makes a Faustian bargain in an attempt to become human and win a prince’s love,” the IMDB description reads.
The movie made $84 million on a $40 million budget, and it is still just as beloved to this day. This is one that fans of any age can definitely enjoy!
Played by Beasley the Dog, this classic movie also starred Tom Hanks and made $71 million on a $13 million budget.
While Hooch is portrayed as a slobbering mess, he’s also a dog – and they are always cute.
“A detective must adopt a rambunctious dog in order to help him find a killer,” the film’s IMDB synopsis reads.
By the end of this movie, you’re sure to be in love with Hooch, which is a testament to the fantastic acting of Beasley the Dog. If only dogs were eligible for Oscars!
Long before he starred in the sitcom “Two & A Half Men,” Jon Cryer was the legendary Duckie in Pretty In Pink, a beloved 1980s movie that made $40 million on a $9 million budget.
“A poor girl must choose between the affections of dating her childhood sweetheart or a rich but sensitive playboy,” the IMDB description reads.
Duckie’s cuteness comes from his steadfast loyalty to Andie, played by Molly Ringwald, and his colorful antics.
After you watch this movie, you’ll understand why Cryer has gone on to have such a successful career in Hollywood!
This was one of the most successful films of all time, making $179 million on a budget of $28 million. While many think of Harrison Ford’s Indiana Jones when they think of this movie, it’s really Ke Huy Quan’s Short Round who really steals the show.
“In 1935, Indiana Jones is tasked by Indian villagers with reclaiming a rock stolen from them by a secret cult beneath the catacombs of an ancient palace,” the IMDB description reads.
Cute little guy Short Round is by Jones’ side for the entire journey, and Quan more than holds his own when it comes to acting with Ford. It’s easy to see why Quan won an Oscar last year for his work in Everything Everywhere All At Once, because he’s one talented actor!