The 1980s occupy a special place in the history of cinema. The decade launched blockbuster film franchises like Indiana Jones and Ghostbusters while also delivering enduring classics such as E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial.

But which beloved 80s movies made the most money at the box office? We've ranked the 20 top performers of the decade by their lifetime global gross. Read on to take a nostalgic trip down memory lane and discover if your favourite film made the cut.

All dollar amounts in US dollars. 

A genre-bending blend of comedy, sci-fi, action and horror, Ghostbusters (1984) stands as a defining film of the decade. Starring Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Harold Ramis and Sigourney Weaver, its all-star cast delivered unforgettable performances that elevated the quirky premise into a pop culture sensation.

The movie boasts a spooktacular global lifetime gross of $296.6 million (£220m), bolstered by multiple successful re-releases. Its popularity launched a money-spinning franchise, and to date, the five films in the series have collectively grossed over $1.1 billion (£815m) worldwide.

Rom-com flick Look Who’s Talking (1989) offered a unique spin on the genre. It starred John Travolta and Kirstie Alley in the lead roles, while Bruce Willis voiced the wisecracking baby Mikey.

Tri-Star Pictures laughed all the way to the bank as the film now boasts a lifetime gross of $297 million (£220m) globally. Its success sparked a trilogy, but the sequels failed to match the greatness of the original movie. In total, the franchise holds a lifetime gross of $354 million (£262m) worldwide.

Following the success of the first film, Beverly Hills Cop II (1987) saw Eddie Murphy return as street-smart detective Axel Foley. Meanwhile, acclaimed filmmaker Tony Scott took over from Martin Brest as director. 

A box office hit, the action-comedy has generated $300 million (£222m) globally, making it the 18th highest-grossing movie of the 1980s. Wondering how much money the first movie made? Keep reading to find out…

Few names defined 1980s cinema like Sylvester Stallone, and Rambo: First Blood Part II (1985) helped cement his status as one of the decade’s biggest stars. The sequel saw him make a highly anticipated return as Vietnam veteran John Rambo.

The pulse-pounding flick holds a lifetime gross of $300.4 million (£223m) worldwide. As a franchise, the five Rambo films have collectively earned over $819 million (£607m) globally. 

Another Stallone hit that defined the decade was Rocky IV (1985). The fourth entry in the saga saw Stallone both star and direct. Unfortunately, the film failed to live up to the acclaim of its predecessors, with Stallone receiving Razzies – parody awards that 'honour' the worst releases of the year – for Worst Actor and Worst Director.

Negative critical response aside, the movie still packed a punch at the box office and holds a lifetime gross of $300.5 million (£223m) worldwide. Meanwhile, the nine films in the franchise boast a combined lifetime gross of $1.9 billion (£1.4bn) globally.

Eddie Murphy debuted Detroit detective Axel Foley in Beverly Hills Cop (1984), launching a franchise that's produced four films over four decades.

The action-comedy boasts a lifetime gross of $316 million (£234m) globally, boosted by re-releases in 2021 and 2024. Collectively, the franchise has grossed $712 million (£527m) worldwide. However, this figure only includes the first three films, as the latest, Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F (2024), was released exclusively on streaming platform Netflix. 

Starring Glenn Close and Michael Douglas, the psychological thriller Fatal Attraction defeated tough competition from blockbuster franchises and big-budget bonanzas to become one of the biggest and most culturally impactful movies of the 1980s.

The film holds a lifetime gross of $320 million (£237m) globally. Its success led to a reboot in the form of a Paramount+ TV series in 2023, though the show flopped and was axed after just one season.

Starring Paul Hogan, Crocodile Dundee (1986) stands as one of the most beloved comedies of the 1980s. Its success launched a decade-spanning franchise featuring four films.

The funny flick boasts a lifetime gross of $328 million (£243m) globally, while the franchise as a whole has earned $607 million (£450m). However, this figure only accounts for the first three movies in the series. The fourth entry, The Very Excellent Mr. Dundee (2020), was released exclusively on Amazon Prime Video.

A groundbreaking blend of live-action and animation, Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988) stands as one of the most ambitious releases of the 1980s – no small feat in a decade known for pushing cinematic boundaries.

A critical darling, the film won three Academy Awards, including Best Visual Effects. It was a commercial success too, boasting a lifetime gross of $330 million (£244m) globally.

The sequel Back to the Future Part II (1989) saw Michael J. Fox and Christopher Lloyd reprise their iconic roles as Marty McFly and Doc Brown for another time-travelling adventure.

The film holds a lifetime gross of $332 million (£246m), boosted by numerous re-releases. Wondering how the other movies in the beloved franchise performed at the box office? Keep reading to find out...

Starring Harrison Ford and helmed by Steven Spielberg, the Indiana Jones franchise has generated some serious cash over the years. The five films have collectively earned over $2.3 billion (£1.7bn) worldwide.

Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984) saw Ford return as the whip-wielding archaeologist. The adventure saga stands as the 10th highest-grossing flick of the 1980s with a lifetime global gross of $333 million (£247m). Despite that impressive figure, it's not even the highest-grossing movie of the decade starring Harrison Ford (more on that soon).

Tom Cruise is undoubtedly one of the most iconic movie stars of the 1980s. While he's best known for his adrenaline-pumping action roles, Cruise showcased his dramatic acting chops when he starred alongside Dustin Hoffman in Rain Man (1988).

The critically acclaimed film holds a lifetime gross of $355 million (£263m) globally. As for the highest-grossing Cruise movie of the decade? Stay tuned...

Starring Tom Cruise as fighter pilot Pete 'Maverick' Mitchell, Top Gun (1986) is one of the most beloved movies of the 1980s and the highest-grossing Cruise release of the decade.

The action epic holds a lifetime global gross of $357 million (£265m). A long-awaited sequel, Top Gun: Maverick (2022), hit screens 36 years after the original and earned just shy of $1.5 billion (£1.1bn) worldwide, ranking among the highest-grossing films of all time.

Back to the Future (1985) is the seventh highest-grossing movie of the 1980s. The wacky sci-fi adventure flick holds a lifetime global gross of $385 million (£285m), bolstered by numerous re-releases over the years.

Its success launched a lucrative film trilogy, and collectively the franchise has grossed an impressive $965 million (£715m) worldwide.

The money-spinning Indiana Jones franchise kicked off with Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981).

The adventure blockbuster holds a lifetime global gross of $390 million (£289m) thanks to numerous re-releases over the decades. However, despite its epic success, it’s still not the highest-grossing Harrison Ford movie of the decade. 

Batman is one of the most successful film franchises of all time, with a global gross of over $7 billion (£5.2bn). The franchise was launched with Batman: The Movie (1966), starring Adam West.

The second entry in the series, Batman (1989), starred Michael Keaton in the titular role and Jack Nicholson stealing the show as the Joker. It boasts a lifetime gross of $412 million (£305m), and its success paved the way for future movies, from Christopher Nolan’s gritty Dark Knight trilogy to more playful entries like The Lego Batman Movie.

Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989) is the third entry in the franchise and the final film released during the 1980s. Harrison Ford’s Indy teamed up with his father, Professor Henry Jones Sr, played by Sean Connery.

The adventure movie has achieved an impressive worldwide lifetime gross of $474 million (£351m). This makes it the top-performing Indiana Jones film of the decade, though it's still not Harrison Ford’s highest-grossing 1980s release.

In addition to his iconic Indiana Jones role, Harrison Ford also portrayed Han Solo in the blockbuster Star Wars franchise. Since the release of A New Hope (1977), the franchise has released 12 films that have collectively grossed over $10.3 billion (£7.6bn). 

The third film, Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi (1983), boasts a lifetime gross of over $482 million (£357m), a figure boosted by numerous successful re-releases over the decades.

Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back (1980), the second entry in the space opera saga, saw Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford and Carrie Fisher reprise their iconic roles as Luke Skywalker, Han Solo and Princess Leia. And yes, this is Harrison Ford's biggest box office hit of the era.

The second highest-grossing movie of the 1980s, its lifetime gross of $550 million (£407m) has been added to by wildly successful re-releases. 

E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982) holds the title of the highest-grossing 1980s movie, with an out-of-this-world lifetime gross of $797 million (£590m). Surprisingly, despite its blockbuster success, the film was made on a relatively small production budget of just $10.5 million, the equivalent of around $35 million (£26m) in today's money.

Directed by Steven Spielberg, the heartwarming sci-fi tale is one of the most iconic and beloved films, not just of the 1980s, but of all time.

Now discover the 20 highest-grossing animated films ever