The Top 10 Best Guy Movies From The 80's

It's always fun to look back and think of fun times growing up. Many of my best memories involve some of the greatest movies of all time. Each movie has a different memory related to it and each one influenced me in a different way. Here's my list, each with a small note about the impact it made on my life.  That's the tough thing about lists, yours will would most likely be very different.

One of the most motivating movies I saw when I was young.  As a Ralph Macchio look-alike, it was easy to relate to the outsider Daniel Larusso.  Unfortunately, my Mr. Miyagi never came to town.  Plus, who could forget the most over-used movie quote from the 80's?  Wax on, wax off (and other creative version of the same quote).  Rest in peace Mr. Miyagi (Pat Morita).

The ultimate coming of age movie.  There's mystery, intrigue, a love story, and the characters are hilarious.  If you're a real fan of the movie then you're aware there was actually an alternate ending where they had to escape a giant octopus.  This is one that I still watch from time to time.

The perfect story of a boy and his pet. Only this pet spawns other little demon pets with just a little water added. I can't imagine how much I annoyed my parents by running around talking like Gizmo. And who could ever forget the great Gremlin laugh. This was a great intro to horror movies for the young but could easily be enjoyed by all ages.

Another great intro into the horror genre, but this one was an influence from many perspectives. To this day, if someone were to inadvertently ask "Who you gonna call?", I guarantee that 9 out of 10 people in the room would at least think to answer "Ghostbusters!" The theme song caught on in a way seldom seen in movies and had to be the most requested song at skating rinks. Plus, these guys made it cool to be a nerd because nerds will be there to save the day and they could still get the girl (Thank you Sigourney Weaver for the bedroom scene).

This was a gem of a B movie for boys my age. Who wouldn't love to fight against Dracula and kick the Wolfman in the nards? Unfortunately it was compared too closely to The Goonies and never quite lived up to the hype. For me though, it was and still is a must-have.

 At 12 years old, I'm sure all of us wished we were "big" at some point.  With the teen years just on the horizon, this storyline was very likeable but it couldn't have been done without Tom Hanks.  He played the part brilliantly.  I'll never learn to play chopsticks, but I'll never hear it without thinking of this movie.

 A classic 80's coming of age story.  Watch this movie now and you'll find yourself thinking about the friends you had when you were young and the trouble you may found yourself in.  The pie-eating contest has to be one of the funniest scenes I've ever seen, and the only time I've ever almost passed out was after seeing young Gordie pull the bloody leech from his tighty whiteys.

This was the first of the Rocky series that I ever saw, and to be honest this one and Rocky III are probably the best two of the series. Because of this movie, I watched all the other Rocky movies, all the Rambo movies, and actually got into watching boxing for a while. Dolph Lundgren was the perfect casting as the formidable Drago. He was intimidating, easy to hate, and HUGE! Great movie that I still own.

 Although I wasn't allowed to see The Terminator when it first came out, thank goodness for HBO.  This is one of the first movie with heavier violence and guns that I actually liked.  It's action packed and the special effects were amazing for back then.  I became a hugh Arnold fan after this one but this one still stands at the top of my list for him.  Bet you were glad your name wasn't Sarah Connor.  I'll be back...

 This is one that also gave hope to the little guy.  It also has everything you could want in an 80's movie.  Time travel, a crazy scientist, a skate-boarding rebel kid, a mom trying to seduce her future son...  The light-hearted humor and Doc Brown's crazy performance makes this one a family favorite.