10 '80s Rom-Coms That Still Hold Up Surprisingly Well
Dyah graduated from Satya Wacana Christian University in October 2019 with a Bachelor's degree in English Literature, concentrating on Creative Writing. She is currently completing her Master's degree in English Literature Studies, with a thesis on intersectionality in postcolonial-feminist studies in Asian literary works, and is expected to graduate in 2026.
Born and raised between Indonesia and Singapore, Dyah is no stranger to different cultures. She now resides in the small town of Kendal with her husband and four cats, where she spends her free time cooking or cycling.
The '80s really did everything better, including rom-coms. From MTV and neon fashion to the gloriously unnecessarily big hair, the decade had pop culture completely on lock. Today's generations are still taking notes from those golden years, especially when it comes to romance. '80s movies turned falling in love into a big, bold, unapologetic spectacle.
Even now, there's a lot audiences can still learn from '80s rom-coms. Whether they're about high school crushes, parental pressure, or trying to survive the big, bad corporate world, these flicks continue to hit close to home. Good romance never goes out of style with the right story. Without further ado, here are 10 '80s rom-coms that still hold up surprisingly well.
10 'Can't Buy Me Love' (1987)
It's the best of both worlds in Can't Buy Me Love. Nerdy Ronald Miller (Patrick Dempsey) is tired of being invisible, desperate to crack the high school social hierarchy. When head cheerleader Cindy Mancini (Amanda Peterson) finds herself in a financial bind, Ronald offers her $1,000 — money he saved all summer — to pretend to be his girlfriend for a month.
The fake relationship instantly boosts his popularity, but the glow-up comes at a cost. Ronald starts losing sight of who he really is, and he slowly becomes the type of person he used to detest. Although Ronald and Cindy lean into their geek-chic tropes, Ronald isn't so clueless, and Cindy is far from vapid.
9 'Valley Girl' (1983)
No other story is more timeless than William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. In this neon-drenched, '80s adaptation, Valley Girl follows the same familiar storyline between two teens from different social circles. Julie Richman (Deborah Foreman) is a sweet but image-conscious Valley Girl who dumps her boring boyfriend and unexpectedly falls for Randy (Nicolas Cage), a punk outsider.
Even the most rebellious punks have their soft sides. Despite his obsession with crashing parties, Randy can't help but melt at the sight of Julie. The feeling is mutual, and so begins their flirtatious courtship. But with Julie's shallow friends dismissing Randy as "Holly-weird," she begins to question if there's more to life than popularity.
8 'Some Kind of Wonderful' (1987)
Big dreams and messy feelings collide in this classic '80s love triangle. Some Kind of Wonderful introduces Keith Nelson (Eric Stoltz), a working-class kid with artistic endeavors. To his peers, he's just some socially awkward person. That's about to change when he finally scores a date with the school's golden girl, Amanda Jones (Lea Thompson).
Not everyone's thrilled, especially Amanda's bitter ex. Unbeknownst to Keith, his toughest, tomboy best friend Watts (Mary Stuart Masterson) secretly harbors feelings for him. As Keith gets closer to his dream girl, he's forced to figure out what actually matters. Just because somebody is the perfect match doesn't mean she's perfect for Keith.
7 'Pretty in Pink' (1986)
These teenagers might know a thing or two about love. Pretty in Pink follows the random shenanigans of Andie (Molly Ringwald). Although she's incredibly smart and witty to a fault, she's unfortunately not the most popular among her peers. Andie sticks with her best friend Duckie (Jon Cryer), who's been quietly in love with her forever.
Things get complicated when Blane (Andrew McCarthy), a rich and well-liked guy, takes an interest in her. The prospect of dating the No. 1 hottie at school sounds inviting, but with Blane's snobby friends disliking her and the pressure of prom weighing down on her shoulders, Andie eventually learns that what matters most is what she wants — not what everyone else expects from her.
6 'Say Anything...' (1989)
Say Anything... follows Lloyd Dobler (John Cusack), a kindhearted underachiever with no grand career plans. He does, however, have a goal in mind: winning the heart of brilliant valedictorian Diane Court (Ione Skye). As summer slowly passes by, Lloyd fights for their relationship against Diane's overprotective father and the looming threat of her scholarship to England, forcing Diane to make a difficult choice.
No matter how carefully people plan their lives, there's always that one curveball that throws everything off. And that's not always a bad thing — it can push us out of our comfort zones and make us rethink what actually makes us happy. For Diane, a future with Lloyd might not look as impressive as her academic career, but it might be the one that truly makes her happy.
5 'Dirty Dancing' (1987)
"Nobody puts Baby in the corner." Dirty Dancing follows Baby Houseman (Jennifer Grey) in the summer of 1963 as she vacations at a Catskills resort, expecting boredom but finding dance, desire, and rebellion. Falling for a working-class instructor, Johnny Castle (Patrick Swayze), Baby finds herself pulled into a vibrant world of rhythm. However, she'll have to keep this a secret from her overbearing father.
Dirty Dancing is peak '80s cinema, packed with dancing, romance, and pure vibes in one flick. There's a special kind of adrenaline that comes with defying your parents, especially when they think they know what's best for you. But there's only so much control a parent can have before their child starts breaking the rules. Baby's got the moves and a mind to prove it.
4 'Broadcast News' (1987)
No day is the same in Broadcast News. Set inside a Washington, D.C. TV newsroom, the fiercely capable producer Jane Craig (Holly Hunter) struggles to pursue serious journalism while keeping her anxiety under control. Together with her best friend, Aaron Altman (Albert Brooks), a brilliant but undervalued reporter, they try to find their place in the studio.
When charismatic anchor Tom Grunick (William Hurt) starts favoring style over substance, Jane isn't exactly impressed. Things get even messier when she finds herself developing feelings for Tom, much to Aaron's disgust. There's no rivalry quite like a workplace romance. Broadcast News shows what happens when you fall in and out of love with a co-worker and how that emotional chaos can spill into your work.
3 'Working Girl' (1988)
The stock exchange isn't ready for this business-savvy woman. Working Girl follows Tess McGill (Melanie Griffith), a sharp, ambitious secretary stuck at the bottom of Wall Street's food chain. When she starts working for executive Katherine Parker (Sigourney Weaver), Tess believes her ideas are finally being valued. But after Katherine breaks her leg and takes leave, Tess discovers her boss plans to steal her big business idea.
Despite the progress that has been made, women are still subjected to the pressure of not being taken seriously in the corporate world. Worse still, women are often placed in competition with one another instead of being encouraged to support each other. Yet, like Tess, sometimes all it takes is courage to go far, even if you are just one person overcoming the system.
2 'Sixteen Candles' (1984)
Turning sixteen has never been this stressful. Sixteen Candles follows Samantha Baker (Ringwald), whose sixteenth birthday is completely forgotten as her family obsesses over her sister's wedding. At school, she quietly pines for popular senior Jake Ryan (Michael Schoeffling), while enduring the attention of hopelessly awkward Ted (Anthony Michael Hall).
Viewers know the all-too-familiar feeling of being overshadowed. However, it's even more painful when our own parents do it. With so much going on at home, Samantha's big day turns into a crash course in teenage insecurity. Families are never perfect, but what's more important is how we make amends. If nothing else works, try sending a late-night apology over birthday cake like Samantha's dad.
1 'When Harry Met Sally...' (1989)
They say men and women can just be friends, and that theory is put to the test in When Harry Met Sally.... The film follows a 12-year journey of a platonic connection that slowly shifts into something more. Beginning as an 18-hour carpool from Chicago to New York, the snide Harry Burns (Billy Crystal) and chirpy Sally Albright (Meg Ryan) talk all things love, sex, and friendship.
What is meant to be a one-off thing turns into a series of meet-cutes that stretch across nearly a decade. The two keep running into each other at different stages of their lives, usually when love isn't going so great. As near-misses stack up, it becomes harder to ignore the inevitable truth of their blossoming romance.
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