80s Movie Month – Top 5 Music-Related Movies

If you’ve spent more than a couple of seconds on this blog, you’ve likely worked out that I love 80s music and movies more than just about anything! So when these two things are combined, it makes for very happy viewing for me. With that in mind, today I’m counting down my top 5 music-related movies of the decade. These could be musicals, movies starring musicians, movies with a band theme – you’ll have to read on to find out!

5. Dirty Dancing

This one of course needs no introduction. It’s a dance movie, but the soundtrack had a pretty huge impact and it gets extra points because the wonderful Patrick Swayze (RIP) recorded a song, She’s Like the Wind, for the movie.

4. Desperately Seeking Susan

Madonna. Fashion. Music. There might have been a plot in there somewhere, but I never really pick up on it when I watch the movie.

3. Eddie and the Cruisers

This is a favorite of mine because it is an 80s movie about a 60s rock n roll band – two of the best decades covered right there! It is a wonderful look at band dynamics and the inevitable ego clashes that come along with being in any creative group.

2. Amadeus

This one isn’t quite your regular 80s music movie! Amadeus is about Mozart (yes, that one) and his relationship with another composer, Salieri, who is wildly jealous and plots to steal Mozart’s work and glory. I especially love the depiction of Mozart in this, because it is so unexpected – Tom Hulce plays him as a lewd, spoiled brat, which is hard to reconcile with the some of the most beautiful music that has ever been composed. Amadeus won big at the Oscars in 1984, taking 8 awards including Best Picture, Best Director and Best Lead Actor.

1. The Blues Brothers

I’ve always had a lot of time for anything with a Belushi in it, and John B in this movie is one of the best. John and Dan Ackroyd play brothers who try to get their old blues band back together to save the orphanage they grew up in from being foreclosed on. They get themselves into all manner of hilarious situations while running from the police and getting other bands offside, while they try to get the money to save the orphanage. Belushi and Ackroyd were two of the most talented comedians of the time, and adding a great script and killer soundtrack made this my number one choice!