Warning: This article discusses topics of sexual assault, racism, and violence.
There are plenty of amazing‘80s sci-fi movies, but some haven’t aged well. The 1980s is a brilliant decade for cinema, and titles from this time are generally some ofthe best movies of all time.Back to the Future,Ghostbusters, andFriday the 13thare just a few of the greatest franchises from the era, and each of them has changed the film industry forever. Science fiction is a particularly prominent genre from the ‘80s, a time full of hope and potential for the future.
However, some movies aren’t up to standard. Although they are a product of their time, some of these films have aged awfully and are now criticized for things like inappropriate storylines, offensive stereotypes, and poor special effects.Even a selection ofthe best 1980s sci-fi movies, while timeless classics, aged badly in certain ways.Not every element of these titles is outdated, but overall, these ‘80s sci-fi movies stand out for negative reasons.
10 Best Movie Franchises That Started In The 1980s
From Indiana Jones to Die Hard to Back to the Future, some of the most beloved movie franchises of all time started in the 1980s.
Howard the Duck (1986)
WhileHoward the Duckis undoubtedly a solidcheesy ‘80s sci-fi movie, this doesn’t mean that it hasn’t aged badly. The film is possibly one of the worst Marvel movies ever to be released, but it’s even more of a shock that the titular character is a product of the legendary franchise.
Howard the Duck’s special effects are ridiculous by today’s standards and comparable to that of a children’s film, if anything.Howard the Duck’s storyline is rather illogical, too.
The titular character’s journey from his parallel universe to our own, and his on-and-off attempts to return, is baffling. His relationship with Beverly is completely wild as well, andif viewers think thatBee Movie’s implied love story between a human and an animal is jarring, Beverly and Howard’s almost sex scene will stun them even more.It’s been stated previously thatHoward the Duckinitially planned to be an animated movie, but perhaps that would’ve been worse.
Weird Science
Cast
John Hughes' 1985 comedy Weird Science tells the story of two high school students who create a virtual woman using their computer, only to have her come to life. Anthony Michael Hall and Ilan Mitchell-Smith star as teenagers Gary Wallace and Wyatt Donnelly, with Kelly LeBrock playing the artificially created Lisa and Bill Paxton and Robert Downey Jr. in supporting roles,
Weird Science, a notablemovie by John Hughes,has plenty of feel-good moments, but it is a product of its time. The movie’s premise is rather problematic alone, but Gary and Wyatt’s attitude toward their Frankenstein-esque creation, who takes the form of the beautiful Lisa, makes it even worse. The story is, unfortunately, quite misogynistic, andthe only thing about Lisa that matters is her appearance.
This is established from very early on, as the doll that becomes Lisa has ridiculously large breasts, which are a focus. Lisa only exists for the boys,and her character offers little else outside of this.
While the slapstick comedy and pure absurdity ofWeird Scienceis still brilliant, its plot lets it down.
The trope of two nerds who are down on their luck and attempt to earn the respect of their peers through superficial means is also ridiculously overused.Gary actorAnthony Michael Hall has endorsed a remake ofWeird Science, but if that is to happen, a lot will need to be adapted for the present day. While the slapstick comedy and pure absurdity ofWeird Scienceis still brilliant, its plot lets it down.
TRON
TRON is a 1982 science fiction film directed by Steven Lisberger. Jeff Bridges stars as Kevin Flynn, a computer programmer who becomes digitized and trapped inside a computerized world. There, he encounters various digital characters, including a heroic security program named Tron, portrayed by Bruce Boxleitner. The film explores themes of digital landscapes and the relationship between humans and technology, presenting a visually distinct depiction of cyberspace.
Tronis a breakthrough movie for visual effects, but in the present day, it’s rather painful to watch.The use of neon landscaping and luminous costuming is now hard on the eyes,and considering how far special effects have come in cinema, it looks cheap, sadly. The lead character, Kevin Flynn, is a software engineer who is transported into a computerized world and spends most of the film attempting to get back home.
But considering the appearance ofTron’s universe, it’s surprising that he manages to find his way out.
In some scenes, the computer-generated imagery looks quite similar to an ‘80s video game.While this is fitting for an ‘80s movie,Tronis supposed to be ahead of its time and delve into the endless future possibilities of technology.
Tronalso heavily relies on the concept of virtual intelligence,but a lot of the technical specifications and wording that is used don’t make a lot of sense. WhileTronwill forever be remembered for being a groundbreaking title for special effects, it simply doesn’t compare to the CGI used nowadays.
Dune
Dune, released on July 16, 2025, is a science fiction film directed by David Lynch. Set in a distant future, it follows the journey of Paul Atreides on the desert planet of Arrakis, where the precious spice Melange is found. This substance is pivotal for space travel and consciousness expansion.
The originalDuneis still a controversial movie in terms of audience opinions.While it has become greatly more appreciated in recent years, there is still a divide over its quality.Director David Lynch’s views onDunemake a lot of sense, and his reasoning for disowning the project is also why it has aged poorly. The film’s pacing is completely off, and it feels rushed, something Lynch has voiced his regret over. His cinematography is ambitious, granted, but the technology to execute his vision just isn’t there.
There are some good qualities aboutDune, however, although it’s questionable whether they’ve stood the test of time. The storyline is cheesy and stands as a great B-movie, butbecause of the many characters with psychic abilities,Duneis rife with exposition.It’s often overly complicated, too, and one core criticism ofDuneis that it isn’t true enough to the 1965 original novel by Frank Herbert.Duneis undoubtedly an important title in cinematic history, and even though it has gained a cult following in recent years, it doesn’t mean that it has aged well.
The Running Man
The Running Man is a dystopian action film set in a 2017 totalitarian state where the government uses deadly game shows to control the populace. Arnold Schwarzenegger stars as a framed convict navigating the lethal challenges of the televised spectacle The Running Man, hosted by the relentless Damon Killian.
The Running Man,the movie adaptation of Stephen King’s novel, has one crucial element that has aged badly: the plot. The film follows Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Ben Richards, a police helicopter pilot who lives in a world under totalitarian rule. However, this bizarre fictional universe is also the home of the titular reality show, which sees criminals fight for their lives against an armed stranger in the hopes of being pardoned for their misdeeds.The show is strangely reflective of the real world in some ways, but it’s also so overly dystopianthat it borders on absurdity.
The Running Manis quite cheesy, which isn’t a problem, but the sudden shift in tone between comedy and drama is off-putting and undermines the movie’s message. While there are parts of the film that are supposed to be shocking and thought-provoking, like the degradation of the criminals, a few are completely unnecessary. For example, Dynamo’s attempt to rape Amber in the climax, which seemingly comes out of nowhere and doesn’t impact the plot whatsoever.The Running Manis a fantastic action movie with an intriguing story, but it lacks a lot of logic.
Flash Gordon
Flash Gordon (1980) is a science fiction film directed by Mike Hodges, featuring Sam J. Jones as the titular hero. Flash, a football player, battles the evil Ming the Merciless (Max von Sydow) who threatens Earth. Accompanied by Dale Arden (Melody Anderson) and Dr. Hans Zarkov (Topol), Flash navigates an intergalactic struggle. The film is noted for its vibrant visuals and a memorable score by Queen.
The 1980 release ofFlash Gordon, one of manyFlash Gordonmovies and TV shows, is definitely a feel-good watch, but it’s also incredibly cringey. Gregory “Flash” Gordon’s quest to defeat the villainous Ming the Merciless and save the Earth is a classic good versus evil story, butthe context that is provided about the two main characters in the film’s opening scenes is a bit lazy.Football star Gordon magically manages to take control of an out-of-control plane and immediately accepts his new fate, and Ming’s motivation for causing the natural disasters on Earth is simply boredom.
Flash Gordon’s special effects are poor, and although it adds to the general appeal of the film, it doesn’t hold up by today’s standards.If anything, it can be a distraction, such as in the flying lesson scene, which has some pretty poor back projection. The cringeworthy performances from the cast ofFlash Gordonare loved by many, but the appreciation is typically because their portrayals are so bad they’re good.Flash Gordon’s budget is $35 million, over three times more thanStar Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope, yet its visuals are nowhere near the same standard.
Mac and Me
Mac and Me is a family sci-fi film directed by Stewart Raffill. Released in 1988, the story follows a young boy named Eric Cruise, who befriends a stranded alien named MAC that he must protect from government authorities. As Eric and his friends try to help MAC reunite with his family, they engage in various adventures and face numerous challenges. The film emphasizes themes of friendship and loyalty.
Mac and Meis essentially a rip-off ofE.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, but it fails to be anywhere as good. The film attempts to recreate the hype of one ofSteven Spielberg’s most famous movies, but it doesn’t execute it well. WhileE.T.’s special effects aren’t as strong as movies from recent years, they still hold up. However,Mac and Me’s visuals look so ridiculously fake that it’s odd that the characters who cross paths with the various aliens see them as a threat.
The biggest issue withMac and Me, though, is its shameless product placement.The cross-promotion with McDonald’s is baffling, and it’s honestly quite brave that the film does this. The same can be said about the role Coca-Cola plays in the movie’s climax, which is strangely used to revive MAC’s dying family. Even theshocking alternate ending ofMac and Me, which sees wheelchair user Eric shot and killed, has aged terribly and doesn’t save the movie from critique.
Zapped!
Zapped! is a 1982 comedy film starring Scott Baio as a high school science student who accidentally gains telekinetic powers. Using his newfound abilities, he navigates typical teenage challenges and attempts to win over his love interest, played by Felice Schachter. The film also features Willie Aames as his best friend, who enthusiastically encourages the mischievous use of these powers for personal gain.
Zapped!has a rather wholesome premise at a glance, but it quickly proves otherwise.The movie follows high-schooler Barney Springboro, who struggles to interact with girls his own age, has few friends, and typically spends most of his time working on experiments. While Barney suddenly gaining telekinetic powers seems like a setup for some amazingly funny sci-fi chaos.Instead, it spends a lot of its runtime disrespecting and demoralizing several of the characters.
Barney’s hijinks are supposed to be cute and somewhat resemble typical teenage struggles,but they’re just creepy. He causes the cardigan of a female classmate, Jane, to burst open after staring at her chest and also makes everyone attending prom completely naked. However, Barney isn’t the only character who is sleazy. Peyton randomly seduces a school administrator, manipulates Jane into sex by trying to act more maturely, and even gives her boyfriend nude photographs of her that he takes. Jane is supposed to be a vain and unlikable character inZapped!, but she is really a victim.
short circuit
Short Circuit revolves around a robot named Number 5, who is able to form intelligence and escape a military facility after being struck by lightning. The 1986 comedy sci-fi film Short Circuit stars Ally Sheedy and Steve Guttenberg and was directed by John Badham. Short Circuit led to a sequel in 1988 called Short Circuit 2.
Short Circuitis one ofthe goofiest sci-fi movies everand is about a robot that gains sentience.While it isn’t exactly ascary sci-fi movie with an AI that becomes self-aware, Number 5’s story is quite compelling. While there are misconceptions about future technology, especially the power of artificial intelligence, it doesn’t impact the overall enjoyment ofShort Circuit.
The film is still worth watching, however, except for one glaringly and painfully obvious problem in the choice of cast. Ben Jabutiya, an Indian man, is portrayed by Fisher Stevens, who is white. ,
While it’s controversial enough for Stevens to play a character of a different racial background, the fact he wears brownface makeup is even more horrifying.
Ben serves as the assistant to Newton Crosby, the designer of the robots, and he is also a cybernetic expert himself. While it’s controversial enough for Stevens to play a character of a different racial background, the fact he wears brownface makeup is even more horrifying. What’s even more shocking, however, is thatin the film’s original plan, Ben is a white American, but the casting isn’t altered to reflect the change in the character’s ethnicity(viaThe Guardian).
Alien Nationhas fantastic underlying themes that tackle topics of segregation, racism, and cultural divide, but the film executes it so badly that it ends up insulting those it tries to defend.Alien Nationfocuses on a race called the Newcomers, who are former slaves, and the backlash that they receive from the human population with their presence. Several tropes from some ofthe best buddy cop moviesever are used throughout, but the relationship between human Skyes and newcomer Francisco is immediately hypocritical ofAlien Nation’s message when Francisco mocks his new partner’s name.
Rather than demonstrating that the Newcomers can be good as well as bad,the aliens are only used as antagonists, except Francisco.Although this is the point, it’s still strange for a movie trying to depict the hardships of minorities in society. Plus, the opening scenes ofAlien Nationplay into the tiresome andcliché Hollywood movie tropethat Black characters die early on, with the death of Sykes’ original partner, William Tuggle.Alien Nation’s intentions may be pure, but it doesn’t execute the narrative it’s portraying very well.
