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Every decade has movies where it feels like the entire point of the film goes over audiences ' heads , and the eighties were no different . As a complex era categorized by societies fractured by Reaganomic policies , Cold War anxieties , and widespread recession , movies often subtly mull societies ' woefulness in a direction not every viewer picked up on . In sure subject , these misunderstandings led to bully films completely bombing at the box agency , and it ’s only in hindsight that their meaning and purpose seem obvious .
The mostcontroversial moviesever made usually become infamous because of some major misunderstandings , as truly insightful films challenge interview expectation and social norms . This has been especially the case in past decade , as prior to far-flung on-line discourse , it was more unmanageable for film lover to gain behind - the - prospect information or inscrutable analysis of a particular movie . Whilesome witness did not ab initio realize the message of these great films , the fact they are still being written about today register their enduring legacy .
10Wall Street (1987)
Audiences Overlooked Wall Street’s Capitalist Critique
Michael Douglas make headway the Oscar for Best Actor , playing the challenging and ruthless stockbroker Gordon Gekko inWall Street . As a daming bill of indictment of capitalism and the money - thirsty landscape painting of eighties Reaganomics , Gekko ’s ethos that “ greed , for lack of a better password , is good ” was never meant to be taken seriously . Instead , music director Oliver Stone invited viewers tolook past the fiscal gain of stocks and bail and see the soullessness and shallow philistinism behind it all .
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Wall Street , maneuver by Oliver Stone , follows the story of Bud Fox , a youthful stockbroker uncoerced to do anything to get to the top , include trading on illegal inside information . Michael Douglas stars as the ruthless corporate raider Gordon Gekko , who mentor Fox in the high - stakes humankind of finance . The film scrutinizes the ethical dilemmas and moral putridness underlying in the pursuit of riches and success in eighties America .
However , the anti - capitalism substance ofWall Streetwent over many viewers ' heads as , although it made the world of finance look desirable , it was actually a damning review article of the misanthropic culture of the 1980s . While some audiences may have seen Gekko as a charismatic achiever , the truth was he was the baddie , and the cinema dish out to highlight the doubtful morals of characters like him . AlthoughWall Streetmay have appeared aspirational , it was anything but .
9First Blood (1982)
Audiences Failed To See The Message About In The Treatment Of Veterans In First Blood
Sylvester Stallone bring to life-time a cinematic iconic as enduring as his breakout role of Rocky Balboa when he first played John Rambo inFirst Blood . As a PTSD - put up Vietnam War veteran soldier , First Bloodshowcased a man in emotional crisis bank on his fight accomplishment to survive a condemnable manhunt in the timberland near the minor town of Hope , Washington .
First Bloodwas far more than a simple action moving picture , as it symbolize the mistreatment of warfare veteran and how the contrary , deeply traumatizing personal effects of difference of opinion left their Deutsche Mark on myriad soldiers .
WhileFirst Bloodbecame a major blockbuster successand the outset of a fresh activity pic franchise , viewers miss the emotional and psychological subject underpinning its story . First Bloodwas far more than a simple action flick , as it symbolise the mistreatment of war veterans and how the untoward , deeply traumatize effects of engagement left their mark on countless soldiers .
While Rambo ’s acute Vietnam flashback and rash guerrilla warfare tactics were an extreme example , they showcased how , for those who were in the heart of struggle , it ’s difficult to leave warfare behind . First Bloodwas a complex and superimposed story of real aroused resonance ; however , the way it devolved into a pure carriage - filled natural process franchise showcased how viewers missed the point .
8Manhunter (1986)
Audiences Did Not Appreciate Michael Mann’s Stylistic Choices
Although Anthony Hopkins ’s portraiture of Dr. Hannibal Lecter inThe quiet of the Lambsmay be cinema ’s most acclaimed variation of the fictitious character , he was first act as on screen door by Brian Cox in Michael Mann’sManhunter . Asan adaptation of the novelRed Dragonby Thomas Harris , this box office disappointment was misunderstood by audience when it was first released but has since become a cult classic .
With one of thebest synth picture scores of the 1980s , Manhunterwas far more than a typical offence thriller and was categorized by pure mode and atmosphere . Mann used color to giveManhuntera tinge esthetic that evoked modality and flavour throughout .
Manhunter is a psychological thriller directed by Michael Mann . Released in 1986 , the film postdate former FBI profiler Will Graham , impersonate by William Petersen , as he tracks down a in series killer known as " The Tooth Fairy . " The film features strong performances from Brian Cox as Dr. Hannibal Lecktor and Tom Noonan as the scary antagonist . Manhunter is know for its atmospherical tenseness and complex fibre studies .
While modern-day viewers were turned off byManhunter’smore artsy style , looking back on it today , this made it stand out among a litany of forgettable and lackluster law-breaking thrillers during the 1980s . Despite not being apprize in its own meter , Manhunter’sfocus on mood and whole tone notably work later thrillers such asSe7en .
7RoboCop (1987)
Audiences Missed Out On The Satirical Depth Of RoboCop
At first coup d’oeil , RoboCopappeared to be an over - the - top action movie that owe much of its inspiration toThe Terminator . This was how the movie was received by many viewers when it was released in 1987 , when it became a boxwood part hit and the starting detail for an completely new franchise .
Some of the most controversial flick of the nineties sparked debates that miss the pointedness of the picture , often drug-addicted upon dark drollery and satire .
However , withcomplex themes about the nature of humanity , personal indistinguishability , corporate greed , and corruption , RoboCop’smessage was really far deeper than the ordinary sci - fi action movie . With a central theme around the power of corporations , RoboCopwas a thought - provoking satire of Reaganomics that spoofed right - wing veneration around drug and offence .
RoboCop is a 1987 science fiction action photographic film point by Paul Verhoeven . plant in a dystopian Detroit , the film follow Alex Murphy ( Peter Weller ) , a critically hurt constabulary officer transformed into a cyborg legal philosophy enforcement social unit . As RoboCop , Murphy battle criminal offense and depravity , while grappling with storage of his former human life . The picture show explore composition of identity element , corporate power , and the honourable import of advanced engineering science in natural law enforcement .
With spiritual imaging that convey to mind the crucifixion of Jesus Christ , it ’s only in the internet epoch of widespread online debate thatthe deeply complex subtext ofRoboCophas become a mainstream talking full point among witness . As movie devotee can come up together for online discussion around films such asRoboCop , its thematically dense , satiric tale has become mutual noesis in a way it was n’t during the 1980s .
6Scarface (1983)
Audiences Who Idolized Tony Montana Missed The Point
Scarfacewas really one of Al Pacino ’s definitive movies , whose iconography and quotations have been a touchstone of democratic culture . As Tony Montana , Pacino embodied a level of wild surfeit that showcased the ruthless and outrageous nature of gangster and powerfully updated the original 1932 Howard Hawks movie for a new generation . However , Tony Montana has since become an icon of pelvic arch - hop culture , andviewers who sawScarfaceas an idolisation of felonious behavior entirely pretermit the point .
Brian De Palma ’s iconic criminal offence drama is slackly based on the 1929 novel of the same name and follows Cuban refugee Tony Montana ( Al Pacino ) , who begins a life of offence after arriving in Miami . It chronicles his rise from a penniless tough to one of the richest and most ruthless swivel pin in the world , amassing a criminal empire worth hundred of millions of dollar .
The violent excess seen inScarface , such as the “ say hello to my little friend ” shootout and the extortionate lot of cocaine on video display , spotlight the hollow nature of materialism . While some consultation may have look to Tony as a symbol of criminal success , his troubling history was , in fact , a critique of the emptiness of the American pipe dream . While Tony wrench himself from a in straitened circumstances immigrant into a drug kingpin , it was at the disbursement of finding true meaning in life .
Custom image by Debanjana Chowdhury.
5The Thing (1982)
Audiences Failed To Appreciate The Thing, And It Has Since Been Reappraised
As a movie that commonly ranks among the greatest horror motion picture ever made , it ’s shameful just how dismissive audiences were ofThe Thingback when it was free . Although John Carpenter ’s thrilling masterpiece of paranoia and the dislocation of trust has endured throughout the decennary , The Thingunderperformed at the box seat officeas spectator favored the more optimistic stranger movieE.T. the Extra - Terrestrial . While the special effects gained praise , its plot line , and the alone atmosphere were woefully underappreciated .
A team of research worker set out to read an alien spacecraft found in Antarctica , where they also discover an alien torso on the site . The alien swallow up in ice is actually alive and has the power to imitate human form . The group must line up a way to distinguish who the real person is from The affair and stay active . John Carpenter ’s 1982 film is a remake of 1951 ’s The Thing from Another World and stars Kurt Russel as the submarine sandwich RJ MacReady .
However , The Things’reputation has only produce in the years since its discharge , and it ’s now considered perhapsCarpenter ’s heavy movie . The retrospective revaluation means it ’s now a timeless classic and a must - watch movie for revulsion lovers of all descriptions . The wayThe Thingmelded Lovecraftian horror with Cold War anxieties of reciprocally tell death was overlooked at the sentence but has since had a major result on popular cultivation and regulate everything fromThe Hateful EighttoStranger Things .
Wall Street, directed by Oliver Stone, follows the story of Bud Fox, a young stockbroker willing to do anything to get to the top, including trading on illegal inside information. Michael Douglas stars as the ruthless corporate raider Gordon Gekko, who mentors Fox in the high-stakes world of finance. The film scrutinizes the ethical dilemmas and moral corruption inherent in the pursuit of wealth and success in 1980s America.
4Heathers (1989)
Audiences Were Not Used To Heather’s Cynical Inversion Of Teen Movie Tropes
Heatherscontrasted the optimism of John Hughes - way teen movie , such asSixteen CandlesandThe Breakfast Club , with a dreary horse sense of cynicism that better be the trials and tribulations of Reagan ’s America . While this was a deeply clever gamey school caustic remark , Heathersfailed to find an hearing and bomb at the box office . The idea of a dark teen movie that unpacked the substantial horrors of bullying and stripling felo-de-se was so ahead of its time that audiences missed the point .
ling is a benighted comedy film directed by Michael Lehmann , featuring Winona Ryder as Veronica Sawyer and Christian Slater as J.D. Released in 1989 , the story delves into high school societal hierarchies and the issue of arise against popular camp . The moving picture addresses themes of teen angst , peer pressure , and the impact of destructive behavior within a satiric framework .
In hindsight , Heatherswas a hugely influential movie that only became more relevant as the year went on . While contemporary watcher ingest the motion-picture show ’s utmost scenarios and godless tone at face value , looking back , this was a cagy societal commentary on serious issues . Heathershas since become a cult classic arrive - of - age moviethat ’s been adapted as a musical and with a television reboot .
3Blue Velvet (1986)
Audiences Were Alienated By David Lynch’s Surreal Filmmaking Style
The surrealist auteur David Lynch has always forged his own way , whether critic or audiences realize his study or not . This was the case for his iconic debutEraserheadand has remained so right up to recent works likeTwin Peaks : The Return , excluding one notable example where he was not provided with a final cut for his adaptation ofDune .
It ’s a will to how much social norms have changed and progressed over the eld , considering how tame these controversial movies finger today .
As both an aesthetic and financial unsuccessful person , Lynch vowed never to make the same fault again and turn over even further into his uncompromising and often disaffect style with his follow - up feature , Blue Velvet . This was a hugely misunderstood film at the time of its release , as Lynch had yet to become wide known for his surreal and dreamlike aesthetics that undress back the sinister curtain of suburbia .
write and directed by David Lynch , Blue Velvet is a 1986 Thriller and Mystery film . Starring Kyle MacLachlan and Isabella Rossellini , the pic trace a young man that becomes embroiled in a crime .
Blue Velvetwas conceive to be a gonzo and pointlessly sexualized film when it was first release , which ignored its insightful comment on society ’s buried violence and desire . AlthoughBlue Velvethas since gained a cult follow , during the 1980s , it was just too out there for mainstream audience .
2The King Of Comedy (1982)
Audiences Failed To Enjoy The Satirical Nature Of The King Of Comedy
WithThe King of Comedy , conductor Martin Scorsese give birth one of the greatest movies of the 1980s , but lamentably , audiences were not interested in this insightful satirical flavour at renown worship and fixation . As a box spot collapse , this fib of a wannabe comedian kidnapping his matinee idol had all the hallmark ofScorsese ’s best employment , as its glum case bailiwick brought to bear in mind the black undertone of premature Scorsese movies likeTaxi Driver .
The King of Comedywas completely misunderstood when it was released , but its dark sarcasm has only become more relevant in the age since .
The King of Comedywas altogether misunderstood when it was free , but its dark sarcasm has only become more relevant in the years since . Robert De Niro gave one of his greatest public presentation as Rupert Pupkin , a stand - up comedian with mental wellness issues , who so dead walked the fine line between clowning and play that it alienated viewers .
Manhunter is a psychological thriller directed by Michael Mann. Released in 1986, the film follows former FBI profiler Will Graham, portrayed by William Petersen, as he tracks down a serial killer known as “The Tooth Fairy.” The film features strong performances from Brian Cox as Dr. Hannibal Lecktor and Tom Noonan as the chilling antagonist. Manhunter is known for its atmospheric tension and complex character studies.
The King of Comedy is a dark comedy directed by Martin Scorsese . Robert De Niro asterisk as Rupert Pupkin , an aspiring base - up comedian whose obsession with a late - nighttime public lecture show host , played by Jerry Lewis , drives him to extreme measures to accomplish fame . The pic explores themes of famous person , hallucination , and the desperation for recognition .
The cringe - inducing and awkward nature of its story was just too ahead of its clip for the 1980sbut has since had a major influence on late picture . Joker’sbox authority smash success , which strongly paid homage toThe King of Comedythroughout , was a quality model of its put up legacy .
1Do The Right Thing (1989)
Audiences Protested Do The Right Thing, Missing Its Anti-Violence Message
The fact thatDriving Miss Daisytook home the Academy Award for Best Picture overDo the in good order Thingperfectly encapsulatedhow misunderstood this definitive film was by modern-day audience . As an insightful crime - dramatic play by Spike Lee , Do the Right Thingaddressed racial proceeds in a timely and pressing mode , and , when counterpoint withDriving Miss Daisy , it was distinctly a much more pressing and powerful plastic film .
However , those who criticizedDo the Right Things’depiction of violence failed to understand the deep import at the heart of the moving picture . Do the Right Thingdepicted simmer racial tensions between a neck of the woods ’s African - American residents and the Italian - Americans on one hot summer daytime .
Do the correct matter is Spike Lee ’s Oscar - nominated movie starring himself , Giancarlo Esposito , Bull Nunn , John Turturro , and Ossie Davis . The funniness drama revolves around Spike Lee ’s unseasoned theatrical role Mookie , who is adhere in Brooklyn on the hottest mean solar day of summertime , where dogmatism and detest flesh before explode into violence .
Upon release , some resist the film and stated that it could incite orgy ( viaRolling Stone ) , despite an anti - wild message being the intact dot of the movie . Lee himself commented on the way sure audience leave out the point , calling the protests “ outrageous , egregious ” and “ racist . ”
seed : Rolling Stone
RoboCop is a 1987 science fiction action film directed by Paul Verhoeven. Set in a dystopian Detroit, the film follows Alex Murphy (Peter Weller), a critically injured police officer transformed into a cyborg law enforcement unit. As RoboCop, Murphy combats crime and corruption, while grappling with memories of his former human life. The film explores themes of identity, corporate power, and the ethical implications of advanced technology in law enforcement.
Brian De Palma’s iconic crime drama is loosely based on the 1929 novel of the same name and follows Cuban refugee Tony Montana (Al Pacino), who begins a life of crime after arriving in Miami. It chronicles his rise from a penniless thug to one of the richest and most ruthless kingpins in the world, amassing a criminal empire worth hundreds of millions of dollars.
A team of researchers set out to study an alien spacecraft found in Antarctica, where they also discover an alien body on the site. The alien buried in ice is actually alive and has the ability to imitate human form. The group must find a way to distinguish who the real person is from The Thing and stay alive. John Carpenter’s 1982 film is a remake of 1951’s The Thing from Another World and stars Kurt Russel as the hero RJ MacReady.
Heathers is a dark comedy film directed by Michael Lehmann, featuring Winona Ryder as Veronica Sawyer and Christian Slater as J.D. Released in 1989, the story delves into high school social hierarchies and the consequences of rebelling against popular cliques. The film addresses themes of teen angst, peer pressure, and the impact of destructive behavior within a satirical framework.
Written and directed by David Lynch, Blue Velvet is a 1986 Thriller and Mystery film. Starring Kyle MacLachlan and Isabella Rossellini, the film follows a young man that becomes embroiled in a crime.
The King of Comedy is a dark comedy directed by Martin Scorsese. Robert De Niro stars as Rupert Pupkin, an aspiring stand-up comedian whose obsession with a late-night talk show host, played by Jerry Lewis, drives him to extreme measures to achieve fame. The film explores themes of celebrity, delusion, and the desperation for recognition.
Do the Right Thing is Spike Lee’s Oscar-nominated film starring himself, Giancarlo Esposito, Bull Nunn, John Turturro, and Ossie Davis. The comedy drama revolves around Spike Lee’s young character Mookie, who is stuck in Brooklyn on the hottest day of summer, where bigotry and hate build before exploding into violence.
