Ask any movie fan, critic, aficionado and lover about the best year for movies and you’ll get a string of divisive answers, but ask them about the best decade for films and there’s only one era worth mentioning – the ‘80s.
Sure, the first Star Wars and Star Trek movies came out in 1977 and 1979, but the best sequels – The Empire Strikes Back (1980) and Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan (1982) arrived in the ‘80s. The 1980s also introduced some of the best cinema 7 franchises, several of which are still producing sequels, including Friday the 13th (1980), Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981), First Blood (1982), Ghostbusters (1984), Beverly Hills Cop (1984), The Terminator (1984), Gremlins (1984), The Karate Kid (1984), Back to the Future (1985), Lethal Weapon (1987), Predator (1987), Die Hard (1988)… the list goes on and 44 years later, the same phenomenon is making a resurgence, as popular and iconic 80s’ franchises are getting remakes, reboots and even sequels.
Here are some of the most prominent 80s franchises making a return, almost five decades later. Mind you, we are referring to new movies or shows that are coming out, so 80s fixtures that have already had a recent sequel (Top Gun: Maverick) or revival (Cobra Kai) don’t count. Kinda.
Also, some of these are premiering soon, while others have been announced, though premiere dates have not been revealed.
1) Original – Alien (1979)
Sequel – Alien: Romulus (2024)
Prequel – Alien (FX, 2025)
Okay, so we’re stretching it here since the original Alien was released in 1979 but if you think about it, the sequel is just as good, if not superior, and Aliens was released in 1986. Since then, there have been two more sequels, followed by a crossover with the Predator franchise that produced two Aliens vs. Predator films, followed by a two-film prequel series by original director Ridley Scott.
And in 2024, a new movie, Alien: Romulus, is on the horizon, starring Cailee Spaeny (Civil War), David Jonsson (Murder is Easy), Archie Renaux (Shadow and Bone), Isabela Merced (Madame Web), Spike Fearn (Back to Black), and Aileen Wu. Directed by Evil Dead director Fede Álvarez, this new entry is one you won’t want to miss, and a new trailer was recently released, giving viewers a glimpse at more terrifying action.
Concurrently, a streaming series on FX, written and directed by Noah Hawley (Fargo, Legion), is also in development, with two seasons on the way. The series, starring Sydney Chandler (Don’t Worry Darling), Alex Lawther (The End of the F***ing World) and Adarsh Gourav (The White Tiger), is set three decades before the events of the 1979 original and serve as a prequel.
2) Original – He-Man and the Masters of the Universe (1983)
Live-Action – Masters of the Universe (Amazon, 2026)
One of the most popular morning cartoons back in the day, the adventures of He-Man has been retold and rebooted several times over on TV, in comics and videos games, and more recent, there was the 2024 Netflix animated sequel to the original, Masters of the Universe: Revolution. While there was a live-action film in 1987, starring Dolph Lundgren (Rocky IV), a reboot film has been in development hell for an extended period of time, with Netflix the last partner slated to make one, before abandoning the project in 2023..
But justice prevails and He-Man will see a second live-action film after Amazon took over the project, with a film expected to arrive in 2016, starring Nicholas Galitzine (Red, White, & Royal Blue) as Prince Adam aka He-Man, from Bumblebee director Travis Knight.
3) Original –Ghostbusters (1984)
Revival – Ghostbusters (Netflix, Announced)
If there’s one thing Ghostbuster knows, it’s that nothing truly ever dies and can live on forever. The franchise recently scored two sequels to the original duology…. Ah, we did say current films don’t count, except that there’s still something strange in the neighbourhood… so who ya’ gonna call in 2024? Ghostbusters!
After busting an ice age in Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire, the crew are suiting up for an animated series, which will have a similar vibe to the 80’s cartoons. The animated series is in production and will land on Netflix.
4) Original – The Terminator (1984)
Revival – Terminator Zero (Netflix, 2024)
In the words of The Terminator (Arnold Schwarzenegger), “I’ll be back.” and without fail, the killing machine from the future is making his return. While Terminator: Dark Fate (2019) saw the famed actor’s last appearance, the rise of the consumer machines has ensured that the franchise lives on.
An animated series, Terminator Zero, will premiere on Netflix in August 2024, following scientist Malcolm Lee working on a new AI system designed to compete with Skynet’s impending attack on humanity, as a soldier is sent back in time to change the fate of humanity, and the duo are hunted by an unrelenting assassin from the future.
Written by The Batman (2022) writer Mattson Tomlin and voiced by Timothy Olyphant (Justified) and Rosario Dawson (Ahsoka), the revival is hopefully enough to bring the franchise a step closer to its former popularity.
5) Original – Beverly Hills Cop (1984)
Sequel – Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F (2024)
We know. The folks working at Netflix must have grown up in the 80s, and are revisiting franchises to bring back! Up next is Eddie Murphy (Shrek) as the wise-cracking cop, Axel Foley in Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F, which is coming out on 3 July, and centres around Axel returning to Beverly Hills after his daughter’s life is threatened.
With the imminent release of this long-awaited sequel, there’s also talk of a potential Berverly Hill Cop 5.
6) Original – The Karate Kid (1984)
Sequel – Cobra Kai Season 6 (2024 – 2025), Karate Kid (2025)
We said no mention of Cobra Kai, but while the popular series and sequel to the original trilogy is concluding (Cobra Kai VI is set to premiere on Netflix, with fifteen episodes released in three parts of five episodes each), there’s also the new Karate Kid movie arriving in 2025, which serves as a sequel to the 2010 movie starring Jackie Chan.
The interesting thing is that Chan’s film was originally conceived as a reboot to the franchise until last year, when it was retroactively decided that it was a sequel after all, and Jonathan Entwistle will direct a new sequel that would bring original star Ralph Macchio, who plays protagonist Daniel La Russo, alongside Jackie Chan as Mr. Han.
Joined by screenwriter Rob Lieber, it also stars Sadie Stanley (Kim Possible), Ming-Na Wen (The Mandalorian), Aramis Knight (Ender’s Game), Wyatt Oleff (It) and Jennifer-Lyn Christie.
7) Original – Highlander (1986)
Reboot – Highlander (Announced)
Highlander might not have gotten the reception it intended when it was original released, but it, together with the sequel, became cult classics, and the fantasy franchise will be taking one more swing with a reboot starring Henry Cavill (Man of Steel, The Witcher), and directed by Chad Stahelski (John Wick).
Filming is expected to begin in 2024, with more casting announcements to follow.
8) Original – Predator (1987)
Sequel – Badlands (Announced)
The Predator franchise is roaring back to life after the success of 2022’s prequel, Prey, from director Dan Trachtenberg. A new standalone film, Badlands, is in the works, starring Elle Fanning (Maleficent).
With this on the horizon, as well as a sequel to Prey also in development, it looks like the Predator is set to make another killing in Hollywood.
9) Original – Beetlejuice (1988)
Sequel – Beetlejuice Beetlejuice (2024)
Say his name three times, and he’ll appear. Cult classic Beetlejuice was a hit when it was released in the 80s, and in September 2024, Beetlejuice is back in a sequel to cause more chaos. The film brings back original 80s film actors Michael Keaton, and Winona Ryder, and it looks like they haven’t aged a day.
Will there be a third Beetlejuice film to complete the ritual? Regardless, it’ll be a spooky fun time.
10) Original – The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! (1988)
Reboot – The Naked Gun (2025)
Popular 80’s comedy franchise Naked Gun is making a comeback in 2025, with an upcoming film directed by Akiva Schaffer (Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping), starring Liam Neeson (Taken), Kevin Durand (Abigail) and Liza Koshy (Players), among other celebrities. There’s been widespread interest in the reboot, and it looks like we won’t have to wait that long to see the shenanigans that Neeson gets involved with this time.
Bonus! Original – Top Gun (1986)
Sequel – Top Gun 3 (Announced)
Top Gun took 80s’ audiences into the Danger Zone with an action-packed film that catapulted a young Tom Cruise into international stardom, and its 2022 sequel managed to take flight once more, with Tom Cruise returning to the pilot’s seat, alongside newcomer Miles Teller (Fantastic Four).
The sequel grossed over US$1,493 billion, which practically guaranteed that another sequel will be made and Top Gun 3 is currently in development, so fans of the franchise can look forward to even more high-octane stunts.
Trinity is a geek who enjoys watching anime, superhero and Sci-Fi movies and TV shows. She enjoys gaming (however has terrible gacha luck) and creates cool homebrew campaigns in her free time. She’s always up for a new adventure — with a cosy jacket and a good book in hand.
Natalie
