10 comedy movies from the 1980s that have aged surprisingly well

Comedies don’t always age well, but thankfully there are plenty of classics from the 1980s that are just as funny today. Comedy films often rely on topical humor and cultural references, both of which can date them terribly. Another common problem is that, as social attitudes change, people no longer laugh at things that were considered acceptable. There are many old jokes that have some questionable jokes on reflection.

The 1980s produced some classic comedies, although some have been seen as increasingly problematic in recent years. Older comedies are almost expected to have a few off-color jokes, so it’s a pleasant surprise when a comedy with a potentially offensive subject turns out to be forward-thinking and light-hearted. People’s view of what is funny is always changing, but there are still some timeless comedy movies that reach across generations.

10 Tootsie (1982)

Dustin Hoffman’s gender-bending comedy is surprisingly forward-thinking

Public opinion about gender roles has changed a lot since the 1980s, so it’s surprising to see that a film Tootsie Holds up so well. Tootsie Dustin Hoffman stars as a struggling actor in New York City who dresses as a woman to get himself a female role on a popular daytime soap. Michael Dorsey keeps his secrets from everyone who works on the show, even his female castmates for whom he develops feelings.

Tootsie Works because it digs deeper than a simplistic comedy about the differences between men and women. Most of the gender-based jokes are about how Michael is treated It is different when he is presenting as a woman. Despite all his actions being the same, Michael is disrespected, ignored and abused by the men around him. It is also important that Tootsie Michael is made fun of for many things, but not his refusal to conform to gender stereotypes.

9 Place of Business (1983)

Trading places suggest that the working class is the victim of an unfair system

trading space Follows a perplexing social experiment run by two out-of-touch billionaires Debate the age-old argument of nature vs. Nature, they conspire to replace one of their brokers with a homeless man, the broker has nothing to fall back on. It is hard to ignore the obvious racial bias of the testAs Dan Aykroyd and Eddie Murphy play two characters who trade places.

Although it runs on some shaky ground, trading space Manage to avoid anything too problematic. Its message suggests that privilege is more important than natural characteristics. Aykroyd and Murphy’s characters have some superficial cultural differences, but try to be just as intelligent and resourceful in their own ways when given the chance. Decades later, Aykroyd is working on a script trading space The sequel, which proves that the movie has aged well.

8 Coming to America (1988)

Eddie Murphy’s fun romcom avoids any potential pitfalls

trading space Eddie Murphy isn’t the only 1980s movie with a potentially awkward premise. Coming to America Shows an African prince who travels to New York in search of a wife who is unaware of his wealth and status. The culture-clash comedy could have easily poked fun at African stereotypes, but It draws many of its jokes from American attitudes.

Since Prince Akeem is from the fictional land of Jofar Jamunda, Coming to America Gives yourself license to be ordinary. It is not trying to represent any particular race, so it cannot be accused of misrepresentation. This allows Eddie Murphy’s comedic style to flow without too much obstruction. Coming to America One of Eddie Murphy’s best movies thanks to his witty comedy about race in America.

7 This Is Spinal Tap (1984)

Some of the references may be dated, but the humor is timeless

Rob Reiner’s classic rock mockumentary is firmly rooted in the 1980s, so many of the rock band references aren’t as relevant as they once were. Spinal Tap represents classic 1970s rock bands such as Judas Priest and The Who.But they fell on hard times in the following decade as tastes changed. This particular period in rock history may be long gone, but it’s generally true of any zeitgeist artist who gradually falls out of fashion.

Even though bands like Spinal Tap aren’t as popular as they used to be, it has given This is spinal tap An extra layer of comedy. The short-lived craze of hair metal bands is an extreme example, but any popular musician can be labeled redundant and passé just like a spinal tap. upcoming Spinal tap The sequel will follow with the band to see how they handled decades of obscurity.

6 Do the Right Thing (1989)

Spike Lee looks at race in America with wit and humanity

Do the right thing examines racial tensions in a Brooklyn neighborhood, but Spike Lee’s intelligent, considered approach means it has stood the test of time. Do the right thing There are many laughs, but it takes its message seriously. What Lee had to say about the divergent approaches within the civil rights movement is something that is still an important issue today.

Do the right thing A meditation on violence and instability, and how these relate to the ongoing struggle for equality. The multifaceted vision of the movie holds up well and so does its humor. Some of these characters Do the right thingBed-Stuy’s version is reduced to stereotypes and clichés, but they serve as simplified stand-ins for the various perspectives in the debate surrounding America’s civil rights movement.

5 Spaceballs (1987)

Mel Brooks has always flirted with controversy

Mel Brooks is certainly no stranger to controversy, as most of his movies probe the boundaries of good taste. his Star Wars dodge spaceball not different spaceball There are jokes about stereotypes that seem a little too risqué by today’s standards, but Brooks has a knack for talking about taboo subjects without ever crossing the line. It helps that his sense of humor is so absurdly silly that it’s hard to take his jokes too seriously.

spaceball Black soldiers have aged surprisingly well, despite jokes about “scrambling” in the desert with an Afro pick and the Jewish ritual of yogurt. Brooks’ rapid-fire comedy style mixes wordplay, slapstick, site gags, satire and more. In his world, nothing is off the table. A spaceball A sequel is now in the works, but it remains to be seen if the movie retains Brooks’ sense of humor without the director’s involvement.

4 Back to the Future Part II (1989)

Don’t fall back on future predictions

Back to the Future Episode II Sends Marty and Doc forward in time to 2015. It should have given the sci-fi comedy an expiration date, but its view of 2015 isn’t entirely accurate. something Back to the FutureIts predictions, like the ubiquity of video calling and wearable technology, have come true, but 2015 seems alien and fantastical to Marty, so many technological leaps are out of the question.

2015 didn’t quite start like that Back to the Future Episode II This will be the proposalSince there were no hoverboards and Jaw 19 Wasn’t in theaters, but the retrofuturistic world serves the story perfectly. Actually made some bad predictions Back to the Future Episode II Makes the movie more charming. It was never very likely that people would start wearing two ties at once, but this kind of big swing is admirable, when more serious sci-fi films can play it safe.

3 An American Werewolf in London (1981)

Horror comedies still look great

There is no humor in John Landis’ horror-comedy An American Werewolf in London was in danger of aging badly, but the cinema’s use of practical effects was a different story. Looking back, the effects hold up surprisingly well. David’s transformation scene is still revered as a masterpiece of the use of practical effects, and it looks as believable and terrifying as any in the movie today.

if An American Werewolf in LondonIf its visuals don’t stand the test of time, the entire movie will fall flat. This isn’t the horror-comedy that pokes fun at B-movies, bad effects or the suspension of disbelief that the genre often requires. Instead, It genuinely tries to scare its audience in between laughs. The transformation scene, Jack’s terrifying apparition and the finale with the creature roaming around central London are all incredibly effective.

2 Airplane! (1980)

Airplane parodies are some of the movies that have gone out of fashion

airplane Especially a hilarious spoof of disaster movies Airport 1975 And Zero hour! None of these movies have been popular for decades, so that’s impressive airplane No less ridiculous. Although modern audiences may have no knowledge of disaster movies airplane Just kidding, the script is packed with great jokes that still work out of context.

airplane Disaster movies and melodramatic B-movies work well as more elaborate parodies, so it’s not essential that viewers have seen them either. zero hour the gold Airport 1975. airplane Endlessly quotable, with a significant number of witty jokes that could easily transfer to any comedy script. Even more specific jokes only require basic knowledge of flying and movie tropes.

1 Rising Arizona (1987)

The Coen Brothers make a joke about kidnapping

Raising Arizona Use a very dark baseBut the Coen brothers have proven time and time again that they can master the art of black comedy without going too far. Raising Arizona Nicolas Cage stars as a petty crook who decides to kidnap a child when he and his wife discover they are unable to conceive. The joke is always his own ignorance and misfortune, so Raising Arizona Your age is good

Raising Arizona One of the Coen brothers’ best movies, showcasing the directing duo’s talent for avoiding the pitfalls of taboo subject matter. The child is often treated like a McGuffin raising arizona, To fight as a treasure, rather than a real, weak man. However, although Junior is tossed around a lot, Raising Arizona Fantastic and cartoonish enough to make light of the situation without implying that the child might be in real danger.