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!

On Monday, I posted about the one movie from the 80s I can’t stand. Mostly though, I have an appreciation for all 80s movies – the good, the bad and the ugly! Today I’m counting down my top 5 movies that were so bad they were actually good. Because sometimes there’s nothing quite as satisfying as a really bad viewing experience!

5. Satisfaction

I am such a big fan of band-centric movies. Any type of band, any type of music, it’s one of my fave movie sub-genres. So, of course I had to check this one out, especially because it stars Justine Bateman, i.e. Mallory from Family Ties! She plays Jennie, leader of a band who needs to travel south for an audition. The whole movie is pretty stupid, but the cast is awesome, with Julia Roberts and also Liam Neeson, who hooks up with Mallory… I mean, Jennie.

4. Look Who’s Talking

I double dare you to pretend you didn’t love this movie in the 80s. EVERYONE loved it! John Travolta was at the height of his fame, and Kirstie Alley was the gorgeous new starlet to make it big. In the movie we could hear what Kirstie’s baby is thinking and it’s 80s-hilarious – partly because baby Mikey is voiced by tough-guy actor Bruce Willis!

3. Xanadu

People talk a lot of trash about Xanadu, but it is a personal favorite of mine. It’s got Olivia Newton-John, Gene Kelly (tap dancing!) and Michael Beck; lots of dancing; roller skating; singing and awesome 80s hair. So, I ask you, what is NOT to love?

2. The Pirate Movie

I was surprised a few years ago when I canvassed some Internet friends and found out almost no one knew about / remembered this amazing musical. The Pirate Movie is an updated version of Pirates of Penzance, with Kristy McNichol and Christopher Atkins (from Blue Lagoon) in the lead roles and the incredibly dashing Ted Hamilton as the Pirate King, all singing the classic original songs, with some new 80s-style tunes thrown in for good measure. It’s a fun, silly movie that laughs at itself and lets you laugh along with it.

1. Surf Nazis Must Die

This deserves a place on the list on the strength of its title alone! It starred no one you’ve ever heard of, and made no one famous. It is set after an earthquake destroys the California coastline and (for some reason) a bunch of gangs take over the beach, including a neo-Nazi gang. Unlike other gang movies, for example The Warriors, which is an excellent look at futuristic gang life, Surf Nazis Must Die is just stupid. But thoroughly enjoyable!