Top 10 Highest-Grossing 80s Movies

First on our list of the highest-grossing 80s movies was Beverly Hills Cop, in which Eddie Murphy exploded onto the big screen. He mixed action and laughs in a way that sent the movie soaring to the top of the box office.

In the film, Murphy played Axel Foley, a clever cop from Detroit who went to Beverly Hills to find out who killed his friend. The movie’s director, Martin Brest, made a big hit. When it debuted at the US box office, it made $15,214,805 in its first five days of release. Later, it earned a whopping total of $234 million in America. Fans enjoyed watching Murphy’s street-smart cop deal with the fancy Beverly Hills police and talk his way out of trouble. The movie did so well that they even made two more Axel Foley movies.

Beverly Hills Cop also featured music like the famous Axel F song, which became very popular. Also, casting Murphy as the main character in such a high-grossing movie helped other black actors get recognized and secure more roles in Hollywood.

Ghostbusters hit theaters in 1984, giving audiences a perfect blend of laughs and scares. This story about a team of scientists hunting ghosts in New York City quickly became a huge hit.

The film raked in $238.6 million in America. Audiences loved the comedy and spooky mix. Bill Murray, Aykroyd, and Harold Ramis starred as the titular Ghostbusters, a group of quirky guys who caught ghosts for a living. Sigourney Weaver joined the fun as Dana, a woman dealing with some seriously supernatural apartment issues.

Director Ivan Reitman packed the movie with great jokes, cool special effects, and unforgettable characters like the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man and the gluttonous green ghost, Slimer. Also, the catchy theme song became an instant classic.

The movie also spawned a media explosion of cartoons, toys, and even more movies, proving that mixing genres could lead to box office gold. Today, fans quote the movie’s clever lines and hum its iconic tune, cementing Ghostbusters as one of the top highest-grossing 80s movies.

Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade marked the third adventure for Harrison Ford‘s iconic archaeologist. This time, Indy searched for the Holy Grail.

The movie was a massive hit at the box office. It earned $197 million in America and $474 million worldwide, making it one of the year’s biggest blockbusters. Audiences loved seeing Indy team up with his father, with Sean Connery playing the elder Jones. Their chemistry added humor and heart to the adventure. It cemented the Indiana Jones series as one of the most profitable franchises of the 80s.

Another one of the highest-grossing 80s movies was Top Gun, which captured the high-flying adventures of Navy fighter pilots. The film starred Tom Cruise as Maverick, a talented but reckless pilot training at the Navy’s elite Fighter Weapons School, known as Top Gun.

Paramount Pictures struck gold with this action-packed blockbuster, which earned a massive $176 million domestically. Moviegoers couldn’t get enough of the combat scenes and the rivalry between Maverick and Iceman (Val Kilmer). The film’s iconic soundtrack, featuring hits like “Danger Zone” and “Take My Breath Away,” topped charts and boosted ticket sales even further.

The film’s success even led to a surge in Navy recruiting and influenced fashion trends with its iconic bomber jackets and aviator sunglasses. In conclusion, not only did it entertain audiences with its action-packed scenes, but it also left a lasting impact on pop culture.

Back to the Future (1985) followed teenager Marty McFly as he accidentally traveled back in time from 1985 to 1955. His goal was to ensure his parents fell in love to save his own existence.

Michael J. Fox brought charm and energy to Marty, while Christopher Lloyd‘s eccentric Dr. Emmett “Doc” Brown became an instant pop culture icon. The film’s clever script tackled complex time travel concepts with wit, appealing to both teens and adults. Back to the Future stood out for its quotable dialogue, unforgettable scenes (like the lightning-powered time jump), and a soundtrack featuring Huey Lewis and the News. It led to a successful trilogy and left a clear mark on American pop culture.

The film’s financial success was staggering. It earned $210 million domestically, making it the highest-grossing film of 1985. It later pulled in over $380 million worldwide.

Ultimately, this beloved classic resonated with audiences by tapping into universal themes of family, friendship, and the impact of our choices. Its popularity has inspired theme park rides, animated series, and endless references in other media.

Up next, Tim Burton‘s Batman brought the Dark Knight to the big screen in a new, darker style. Michael Keaton played Batman, while Jack Nicholson starred as the Joker.

Of course, the movie was an instant box office sensation. It earned a massive $251 million in America and over $411 million worldwide, making it the biggest hit of 1989. Fans rushed to see Batman’s origin story, and merchandise flew off shelves. Prince’s soundtrack also became a hit.

This Warner Bros. film’s success launched a new era of superhero movies. It proved comic book adaptations could be serious and profitable. Even today, Batman remains a landmark in both the highest-grossing 80s movies and superhero cinema.

Return of the Jedi concluded the original Star Wars trilogy in 1983. Fans eagerly awaited the final showdown between Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader.

Evidently, the movie was a massive financial success. It earned $314.3 million in the United States and $480 million worldwide, making it the top-grossing film of 1983. Audiences flocked to theaters to see how the saga would end. They loved the epic space battles and new creatures like the Ewoks.

Even after the trilogy ended, the film made money through re-releases and home videos. It proved the lasting appeal of George Lucas‘s space opera and set the stage for future Star Wars projects.

Next, Raiders of the Lost Ark introduced the iconic Indiana Jones to the world. It was an instant hit. Harrison Ford played Indy, a daring archaeologist and adventurer.

The movie made a huge $354 million worldwide. Unsurprisingly, audiences loved the non-stop action. They cheered for Indy as he fought Nazis and raced to find the Ark of the Covenant. The film had it all – snakes, booby traps, and mysteries.

Steven Spielberg directed this blockbuster, and George Lucas helped create the story. This duo truly made a perfect adventure movie. It had humor, romance, and lots of excitement. The high-grossing movie led to more Indiana Jones films and inspired many other adventure movies.

The Empire Strikes Back took the Star Wars story to new heights. This sequel brought fans back to a galaxy far away, showing them even more amazing battles.

Released in 1980, it became the highest-grossing film that year, earning approximately $401.5 million worldwide. People loved seeing Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, and Han Solo fight against the evil Empire again. New characters like the cool bounty hunter Boba Fett also added to the excitement of the film. This movie also gave us one of the biggest surprises in entertainment history with Darth Vader’s famous line, “No, I am your father.” John Williams created more great music, including the famous Imperial March.

Many fans think The Empire Strikes Back is the best Star Wars movie in the franchise. It made the Star Wars world more interesting and set up an exciting finish for the next movie. Even today, people still talk about this iconic high-grossing film.