25 Classic ’80’s Movies to Watch with Your Kids (All Rated PG) + Watch Some for FREE

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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)

Rent this movie in HD on Amazon Video for just $3.99. Go here for a Parental Guide.


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)

Rent this movie in HD on Amazon Video for just $3.99. Go here for a Parental Guide.


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)

Rent this movie in HD on Amazon Video for just $3.99. Go here for a Parental Guide.


10.) The Goonies (1985 – PG)

Rent this movie in HD on Amazon Video for just $3.99. Go here for a Parental Guide.


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)

Rent this movie in HD on Amazon Video for just $3.99. Go here for a Parental Guide.


16.) The Money Pit (1986 – PG)

Rent this movie in HD on Amazon Video for just $3.99. Go here for a Parental Guide.


17.) Flight of the Navigator (1986 – PG)

Rent this movie in HD on Amazon Video for just $3.99. Go here for a Parental Guide.


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)

Rent this movie in HD on Amazon Video for just $3.99. Go here for a Parental Guide.


20.) Spaceballs (1987 – PG)

Rent this movie in HD on Amazon Video for just $3.99. Go here for a Parental Guide.


21.) Big (1988 – PG)

Rent this movie in HD on Amazon Video for just $3.99. Go here for a Parental Guide.


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)

Rent this movie in HD on Amazon Video for just $3.99. Go here for a Parental Guide.


24.) Field of Dreams (1989 – PG)

Rent this movie in HD on Amazon Video for just $3.99. Go here for a Parental Guide.


25.) Uncle Buck (1989 – PG)

Rent this movie in HD on Amazon Video for just $3.99. Go here for a Parental Guide.

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.

Join The Discussion

Comments 44

  1. Amy

    This is such a great list. I love this post ❀

  2. L

    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.

    • Mary (Stellar Sidekick)

      Thanks – those are great sitcoms too!

  3. Rebecca

    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!

  4. Alice

    My boys and I love The Breakfast Club!

  5. Nikki Rao

    thank you for the list, exactly what we are going to do this summer:-)

  6. isabella

    what are good ones for the smaller kids? Like 6-8yr olds? I prefer no rough language. Thank you!

    • Misty

      Annie!

  7. Grechin

    I WOULD LIKE TO ADD “LICENSE TO DRIVE” TO THIS LIST πŸ™‚ πŸ™‚
    SO FUNNY

    • Mary (Stellar Sidekick)

      Thanks Grechin! It is rated PG-13 but still a great one πŸ™‚

    • Eva

      Agree! My kids think it’s so funny. For those that have Netflix, it’s on there.

  8. Stacy

    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!

    • Cath

      Thanks for the warning. We were surprised by all the bad language/blasphemy in Back to the Future.

  9. L

    How could I forget The Great Outdoors, Ernest Goes to Camp, Turner and Hooch, One Crazy Summer, and PeeWees Big Adventure??

    • Rebecca

      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.

    • Mary (Stellar Sidekick)

      More great ones!

  10. L

    Mr. Mom was funny too.

    • Mary (Stellar Sidekick)

      Yes! πŸ˜€

  11. Susan

    I was happy to see all the Indiana Jones available & included with Prime! might have to binge watch all 4 this weekend!

  12. isabella

    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!

    • Kristy

      Thanks!

    • Cheryl E

      I use Common Sense Media to look up movies as well. I use it every week looking for appropriate movies for my boys.

  13. Rachel

    Wow. That’s a walk down memory lane. So many great movies.

  14. Traci

    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.

  15. Misty

    It’s so funny remembering how obsessed I used to be with some of the movies listed above! LOL

  16. Kristen E.

    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

    • Connie

      Old Yeller practically destroyed me as a kid, but we love Pollyanna! Also, Thomasina and The Ugly Dachshund.

      • ne

        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!

  17. Soccer mom

    The great outdoors for sure should be on that list

  18. Alli

    Anyone remember Drop Dead Fred? Sister & I loooved that movie!

    • Jenn

      Oh Alli, Drop Dead Fred is so good, I have it on DVD!! Hello snot face!! πŸ˜‚

  19. Tam

    I’d add ‘the man from snowy river’ an Australian movie and ‘the gods must be crazy’ is so funny! Both kid friendly.

  20. Kristy

    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 onπŸ‘ŽπŸ»

  21. tr ham

    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.

  22. Cristine

    Uncle Buck is so funny! Lots of great movies here!!

  23. Christina

    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! πŸ™‚

  24. Christina

    *

  25. Jess

    Harry and the Hendersons.

    • JA

      I was just going to say that one! Kids loved it!

      • VaNeSteR

        Lol my husband put my niece and I to watch his childhood movies. This was the first one.

  26. Jess

    Coneheads

  27. Krista

    Batteries not Included or short circuit!’

  28. Tracy

    I loved the 80’s movie Adventures in Babysitting that starred Elisabeth Shue.

  29. Mindi

    Blue Yonder

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