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Top 10 80s Children's Films

Here’s our list of the top 10 best kid's films from the 1980s, what a time to be a kid!
No.10. *batteries not included (87)

No.10. *batteries not included (87)

Bottom of my list but I have fond memories of watching the movie. As all good children's movies should be, it had a perfect balance of a dismal reality and the wondrous fantasy. Maybe the only time that I found machines slightly cute!

No.9. Short Circuit (86)

No.9. Short Circuit (86)

I take that back, Johnny 5 was also quite cute, and fricking cool! I remember watching this film, in the decade of technological fascination, and truly wondering what the future might hold for the world. Would robots be running the world and be able to read books in seconds, now the future is here and we're not far off, but films like this are still loved and I don't personally have a robot. Obviously, I haven't been very successful in life!

No.8. The NeverEnding Story (84)

No.8. The NeverEnding Story (84)

I am not totally sure why this film is in here? It mainly made me feel bloody scared, freaked out and made be contemplate the world in whole different light (not necessarily a better one). But, I can remember the awe and fascination I had when watching it, probably trying to work out what it was all about, but it gripped me, and for that, it's in!

No.7. Gremlins (84)

No.7. Gremlins (84)

Now I remember going to the cinema to watch this, but at the age of 4 I don't think I could have done. I was scared when I did watch it, so if I watched it at 4 I think I would have been scarred for life. Such a clever "horror" flick, scary enough to make you grab the pillow but child friendly enough to allow your children to watch it, aw, Gizmo! Although, it still makes my spine tingle thinking about the bite of that 6th Mogwai!

No.6. Who Framed Roger Rabbit (88)

No.6. Who Framed Roger Rabbit (88)

I definitely watched this one at the cinema, I remember it vividly! I remember being amazed by the use of animation and live action and how the cartoon world was linked to human life. Being 8 I didn't necessarily appreciate Jessica Rabbit as I do now, but I did appreciate the melting of people's faces and when the steam roller flattened Judge Doom, played by Christopher Lloyd. Awesome!

No.5. Honey, I Shrunk the Kids (89)

No.5. Honey, I Shrunk the Kids (89)

Again, I watched this one at the cinema and was blown away by the models and realism of the world in the garden. Having watched this recently, the giant bugs weren't as real as they looked when I was 9, but I guess times have changed. But I remember being awe struck by the giant Coke cans etc. One of my favourite cinema experiences.

No.3. The Karate Kid (84)

No.3. The Karate Kid (84)

I couldn't chose between this and Ghostbusters (84). The Karate Kid is just one of those films that got me, I even joined a karate club soon after seeing it. Although, I didn't last long, in fact I went once! The knuckle press-ups on a dance floor put me off.

No.3. Ghostbusters (84)

No.3. Ghostbusters (84)

And then there's Ghostbusters, such a classic that it will be watched for ever more. Funny, scary, weird, and ghost busting, what else could you want from a children's movie.

No.2. Raiders of the Lost Ark (81)

No.2. Raiders of the Lost Ark (81)

I loved all of the Indiana Jones series, well the ones in the 80s anyway! Raiders stands out as the best of the 3, mainly as it's the first. The Steven Spielberg, George Lucas and Harrison Ford combination is maybe the greatest formula for a children's adventure film. I loved the traps and obstacles that faced Indiana and how this was done without CGI, building the sets and planning the special effects must have been so much fun. One of those films that I have to watch if it's on TV, love it!

No.1, The Goonies (84)

No.1, The Goonies (84)

My favourite children's movie of all time! And probably in my top 20 of all time films. I can watch this over and over! Pirate ships, braces, treasure, One-eyed Willy, maps, scary beasts that are actually friendly, adolescent issues, mistaken kisses, gadgets, Truffle Shuffle, walking the plank, beating "The Man", the list goes on and go! It speaks for itself, a children's classic and a film that epitomises the 80s.

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