The 1980s were a wild time for partygoers from the crazy colour schemes to tight neon pants, perms, and leg warmers, the one constant is that there were lots and lots of dancing, and some of the best dance-themed movies ever made were released in this decade.
With dance being such a strong theme of the 80s, it comes as little surprise that so many good dance-inspired films were made at that time. The only trouble is there were so many good ones it makes picking a top five quite tricky. However, the following have stood the test of time and remain popular films that inspire viewers and filmmakers to this day, in no particular order.
Hairspray (1988)
Hairspray is a comedy written and directed by John Waters. The film is set in Baltimore in 1962 and follows the story of teenager Tracy Turnblad as she pursues a career as a dancer on television. Interestingly, the film only had decent success on release in cinemas and would go on to receive a massive following after its release on home video in the 1990s.
The film is now considered a classic, though, and was adapted into a broadway musical in 2002. That musical was then readapted into a 2007 film starring John Travolta. In 2016 there was also a live television adaption of the movie called Hairspray Live!, which aired on NBC in December of that year starring Ariana Grande and Harvey Fierstein.
Dirty Dancing (1987)
Dirty Dancing is an all-time classic film of any genre, let alone when just comparing it to other 1980s dance films. Starring Jennifer Grey and Patrick Swayze, its a movie about the power of music and dance, about the inner strength that can be gained from letting go of societal expectations and just being yourself. It is a timeless message and one that will be consumed and enjoyed by modern audiences for many years yet. It grossed more than $214-million at the box office and was the first-ever title to sell more than a million copies on home video.
The success and seemingly undying popularity of the film have seen it continually reproduced and parodied in popular culture and scenes from Family Guy and Crazy, Stupid, Love are a proof of that. The mega-hit (I’ve Had) The Time of My Life is another example of the popularity of the movie as numerous various versions, samples and remixes have been released. The film has left its traces in iGaming as well as there is a branded Dirty Dancing online slot that players can find on casinos with no-deposit bonuses such as Betfair and 777 Casino.
Girls Just Want To Have Fun (1985)
Girls Just Want To Have Fun is an interesting case because it could technically be argued that it was a box office flop on its release in 1985. The film made $1.7-million in its opening weekend and grossed a total of $6.3-million after costing $5-million to make. It was reviewed very negatively at the time despite an all-star cast that included the likes of Sarah Jessica Parker, Shannen Doherty, and Helen Hunt. The main gripe with the movie at the time was that it came across as too “cheesy”.
However, it has generated a massive cult following with modern audiences, who tend to enjoy the cheesiness and quirkiness of 1980s films as a juxtaposition against the dark and serious themes of many movies today. It has proved so popular with modern audiences that 20th Century Fox and Lakeshore Entertainment announced plans to remake the film, although no news about how the project is progressing has been forthcoming.
Footloose (1984)
Footloose was a smash hit but just about any measure, but no-one seemed willing to admit that they like the movie. It grossed more than $80-million at the American box office alone, yet one critic was still moved to write, “may be a hit, but it’s trash – high powered fodder for the teen market”.
The film stars Kevin Bacon as the rebellious teenager Ren McCormack stuck in a town where dancing and rock music are banned. Inspired by his girlfriend, McCormack sets about trying to reverse the ban and return some fun and dancing to the town. The film is perhaps best known for its soundtrack after Kenny Loggins received an Academy Award nomination for Best Music (Original Song) for his contribution.
Flashdance (1983)
Flashdance was slightly more risque than its teenager-focused contemporaries. The film follows the story of Alex Owens, played by Jennifer Beals, who is a welder during the day and an exotic dancer at night. She wants to defy the odds and break out of the rut she is in by becoming a professional dancer. Despite, or maybe because of, the more adult themes, Flashdance performed very well at the box office, bringing in over $200-million making it the third most successful movie of 1983.
There have been rumours of a sequel since the 1990s, but nothing serious has materialised as yet, but the film was adapted into a Broadway musical in 2001. The movie is also being rebooted in the form of a television series by Paramount for its streaming service and is set to be released in October next year.
