The 1980s was a decade of great influence in modern filmmaking, from fiery documentaries to blockbusters that incorporated pop art. Over the past decade, with the influx of foreign films, international cinema has shown a global audience the unseen side of its culture. The 1980s saw the rise of Japanese anime maestro Hayao Miyazaki and legendary animation production company Studio Ghibli, while visionary filmmakers such as James Cameron and Kenneth Branagh began their big-screen careers.
Here are all the movies that were released in the '80s and got a perfect score on Rotten Tomatoes. In addition to receiving a 100% positive rating, the listed films received enough professional reviews to get official certification directly from the website in recognition of this rare achievement. It's true that there are more movies that can crack the perfect rating, but there aren't enough professional reviews to get official recognition.
1. The Decline of Western Civilization (1981)
The 1981 documentary The Decline of Western Civilization, directed by Penelope Sferis, was the beginning of a film trilogy exploring the music scene in Los Angeles at the end of the 20th century. In his debut film, Sferis filmed the City of Angels punk rock community from 1979 to 1980, focusing on seven famous bands. Featuring concert footage, interviews with bands, fans and local fan magazine publishers, "The Decline of Western Civilization" brings a belated glow to the punk scene.
2. The Story of Little Joseph (1983)
One of France's most acclaimed films is 1983's The Story of Little Joseph, directed by filmmaker Juzan Parsi. Based on a semi-autobiographical novel by Joseph Zobel, The Story of Little Joseph is set in Martinique in the 1930s, when Africans worked in the sugar cane fields of white overseers. The film tells the story of a young boy named José, documenting his work in the harsh conditions of The French colonial oppressors and dreaming of a way out to a better life.
3. "Don't Be Serious" (1984)
Talking Heads is one of the weirdest bands in rock and roll, and the band's return to the spotlight was explored in the 1984 concert film Don't Be Serious. After a brief pause, Talking Heads reconvened to record their 1983 album Speak in Tongues. They performed three nights in Los Angeles, playing songs from the entire record. Filmmaker Jonathan Dem has overseen the filming and editing of three shows to produce the ultimate concert film celebrating the revival of Talking Heads.
4. The Terminator (1984)
While Arnold Schwarzenegger earned some fame as an actor in Conan the Barbarian, 1984's Terminator made him a true household name. Even more impressively, the film propelled the career of filmmaker James Cameron, who directed and co-wrote the film with producer Gayle Anne Hurd.
5. Dandelion (1985)
For people like Akira Kurosawa who are as stoic and self-serious as Japanese filmmakers, Japanese cinema also boasts a powerful and effective helix-ball comedy filmmaking production. Perhaps one of the greatest Japanese comedy films is the 1985 film Dandelion, directed by Itami Thirteen, which blends themes of food and sex. The film depicts two truck drivers helping a widow push her ramen shop to new heights, confronting rivals and disgruntled customers along the way.
6. Tomb of the Fireflies (1988)
Grave of the Fireflies is one of the most influential anime films of all time, based on the 1967 semi-autobiographical short story of the same name by Akiyuki Nosaka. Written and directed by Isa Takahata, the 1988 film tells the story of two young orphans who try to survive alone after their hometown of Kobe was bombed during World War II. As two children struggle to find food, they must fight the grief of a global conflict over the loss of their parents.
Grave of the Fireflies, a meditation on the end of innocence and the high cost of war, is one of Studio Ghibli's most emotionally resonant works. Consistently voted one of the best anime films of all time, Grave of the Fireflies has been praised for its difficult subject matter and unyielding bleak story.
7. Henry V (1989)
After a successful theater career, classical-trained actor and filmmaker Kenneth Branagh made his feature film directorial debut in 1989 by adapting William Shakespeare's Henry V. Branagh also starred as the English monarch of the same name in the full-scale campaign against France in the Hundred Years' War.
While staying true to Shakespeare's original work, Branagh also tried to make a film that would appeal to modern sensibilities. This includes providing realistic battle scenes, eschewing stylized sets and opting for more natural filming locations, as well as downplaying more humorous elements of the story. This approach paid off, and the film began Branagh's famous filmmaking career and earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor and Director.