25 Classic ’80’s Movies to Watch with Your Kids (All Rated PG) + Watch Some for FREE
There’s nothing better than reliving your own childhood with your children, especially when you can curl up on the couch and watch classic movies together! 😊 As an 80’s child, now with two tweens and one teenager, my kids are starting to enjoy some of the great movies that I grew up watching and still love.
NOTE: Since the PG-13 rating was not introduced until 1984, keep in mind that the content in some movies below may be suited for more mature audiences than what is found in today’s traditional PG-rated movies. Check out the Parental Guides for each movie and make your own judgements.
Here are 25 Fun & Classic 1980’s Movies (By Year):
1.) Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981 – PG)
Watch this movie FREE on Amazon Video with your Amazon Prime membership! I personally would recommend this movie for kids ages 13 and older – go here for a Parental Guide.
2.) E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982 – PG)
Rent this movie in HD on Amazon Video for just $3.99. Go here for a Parental Guide.
3.) Annie (1982 – PG)
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4.) The Outsiders (1983 – PG)
Rent this movie in HD on Amazon Video for just $3.99. I personally would recommend this movie for teens (the book is often read in high school classrooms) – go here for a Parental Guide.
5.) Ghostbusters (1984 – PG)
Rent this movie in HD on Amazon Video for just $3.99. Go here for a Parental Guide.
6.) The Karate Kid (1984 – PG)
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7.) Footloose (1984 – PG)
Watch this movie FREE on Amazon Video with your Amazon Prime membership! Go here for a Parental Guide.
8.) The Never Ending Story (1984 – PG)
Rent this movie in HD on Amazon Video for just $3.99. Go here for a Parental Guide
9.) Back to the Future (1985 – PG)
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10.) The Goonies (1985 – PG)
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11.) Teen Wolf (1985 – PG)
Watch this movie FREE on Amazon Video with your Amazon Prime membership! Go here for a Parental Guide.
14.) Three Amigos (1986 – PG)
Rent this movie in SD on Amazon Video for just $2.99. Go here for a Parental Guide.
15.) Hoosiers (1986 – PG)
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16.) The Money Pit (1986 – PG)
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17.) Flight of the Navigator (1986 – PG)
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18.) The Princess Bride (1987 – PG)
Rent this movie in HD on Amazon Video for just $3.99. Go here for a Parental Guide.
19.) Three Men and a Baby (1987 – PG)
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20.) Spaceballs (1987 – PG)
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21.) Big (1988 – PG)
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22.) Beetlejuice (1988 – PG)
Watch this movie FREE on Amazon Video with your Amazon Prime membership! Go here for a Parental Guide.
23.) Honey I Shrunk the Kids (1989 – PG)
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24.) Field of Dreams (1989 – PG)
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25.) Uncle Buck (1989 – PG)
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Do YOU have a favorite ’80’s Movie? Please share!
Written by Mary for Hip2Save. Mary is a proud mom to 3 kids in Austin, TX, who thrives off running long distance, bargain shopping, warm weather, a yummy latte…and a little Candy Crush from time to time. She loves quality time with family & friends and sharing great deals with others.
This is such a great list. I love this post ❤
Summer Rental with John Candy is good. We love the Money Pit. It’s also fun to watch TV sitcoms like Perfect Strangers, Family Ties, Growing Pains, etc.
Thanks – those are great sitcoms too!
Good list, like you said standards have changed, a lot of these have language (Big & Money Pit stick out as big ones for that), if that’s an issue for anyone. We LOVE Money Pitt, Big(which is my 4 year olds favorite movie by far lol), all the Ghostbusters, Uncle Buck. Also the Burbs and Planes, Trains, & Automobiles. Can’t go wrong with John Candy or Tom Hanks!
My boys and I love The Breakfast Club!
thank you for the list, exactly what we are going to do this summer:-)
what are good ones for the smaller kids? Like 6-8yr olds? I prefer no rough language. Thank you!
Annie!
I WOULD LIKE TO ADD “LICENSE TO DRIVE” TO THIS LIST 🙂 🙂
SO FUNNY
Thanks Grechin! It is rated PG-13 but still a great one 🙂
Agree! My kids think it’s so funny. For those that have Netflix, it’s on there.
Sadly Big has some horrible cussing in it. Hate using God’s name in vain. Honey I shrink the kids is great for the family!
Thanks for the warning. We were surprised by all the bad language/blasphemy in Back to the Future.
How could I forget The Great Outdoors, Ernest Goes to Camp, Turner and Hooch, One Crazy Summer, and PeeWees Big Adventure??
Oh we love the Great Outdoors, Summer Rental, Turner & Hooch! My kids love PeeWee, I think I was forced to watch it too much when I was little to enjoy it now lol.
More great ones!
Mr. Mom was funny too.
Yes! 😀
I was happy to see all the Indiana Jones available & included with Prime! might have to binge watch all 4 this weekend!
I love Common Sense Media site, where it lists an age that the movie is appropriate for kids. https://www.commonsensemedia.org/. For example, Big and Beetlejuice is for 13+. However, Honey I shrank the kids is 6+ and ET is for 7+. I’m going to look through these and figure out which ones are good for younger kids, like 6-8yo. Thanks for the list!
Thanks!
I use Common Sense Media to look up movies as well. I use it every week looking for appropriate movies for my boys.
Wow. That’s a walk down memory lane. So many great movies.
We’ve done some of these recently- mine LOVE Indiana jones, ghostbusters, karate kid, mission impossible threw me with a sexy scene I hadn’t remembered but my kids didn’t care, goonies up next thanks to Lego Dimensions introductions.
It’s so funny remembering how obsessed I used to be with some of the movies listed above! LOL
We recently had the kids watch Swiss Family Robinson and they LOVED it! Old Yellar and Pollyana are next. LOVE the classics! I forgot about the Indiana Jones movies ! Yes !!! Thank you
Old Yeller practically destroyed me as a kid, but we love Pollyanna! Also, Thomasina and The Ugly Dachshund.
Love love The Ugly Dachshund! We had a VHS tape of that one that we used to watch repeatedly when we were younger. Such a good one for families!
The great outdoors for sure should be on that list
Anyone remember Drop Dead Fred? Sister & I loooved that movie!
Oh Alli, Drop Dead Fred is so good, I have it on DVD!! Hello snot face!! 😂
I’d add ‘the man from snowy river’ an Australian movie and ‘the gods must be crazy’ is so funny! Both kid friendly.
I would not watch spaceballs with my kids. There’s a scene where the villain is fooling around with two women in his bed. You don’t see anything but you know what’s going on👎🏻
my 18 year old is terrified of ET, she thinks its the scariest thing. If i even take the case out she goes in her room and shuts the door lol.
Uncle Buck is so funny! Lots of great movies here!!
This is a great list!!!! Can I also add that if you’re looking at what’s in a movie (sex, violence, language, etc) our go to website is http://www.kids-in-mind.com…I think it’s early 90s to today’s titles. I have an 8 yr old and a 3 yr old and that site has been a lifesaver from “covering their eyes”, lol. Little Monsters is another oldie but goodie! 🙂
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Harry and the Hendersons.
I was just going to say that one! Kids loved it!
Lol my husband put my niece and I to watch his childhood movies. This was the first one.
Coneheads
Batteries not Included or short circuit!’
I loved the 80’s movie Adventures in Babysitting that starred Elisabeth Shue.
Blue Yonder