Both reviled and revered, the 1980s saw the birth of a new kind of American movie: kid-focused, special effects-packed spectacles that drew the disdain of critics and the devotion of an entire generation. This season at TIFF Bell Lightbox, leave those battered VHS copies at home and come relive these ‘80s classics on the big screen.
Events in Back to the 80s
RobertZemeckis
Teenager Marty McFly accidentally time travels back into the 1950s to become a romantic distraction to his then-teenaged mother – which presents a problem if he ever wants to be born!
JimHenson, Frank Oz
Muppet creator Jim Henson collaborates with Frank Oz to direct this Tolkien-esque fairy tale about a distant planet ruled by the lizard-like tyrants, whose reign can only ended by the recovery of the legendary Dark Crystal.
RichardDonner
A team of intrepid young adventurers hunt for a long-lost stash of pirate treasure hidden in the secret caves beneath their hometown.
JoeDante
A kid-friendly horror film about a swarm of little monsters who destroy a picture-perfect, Norman Rockwell-esque small town.
PeterYates
When a distant planet is attacked by an army of alien invaders, a brave prince and his small band of companions set out to recover a mythical weapon that will end a galactic tyrant’s reign of terror.
NickCastle
The first film to employ all-computer generated special effects, this pioneering sci-fi adventure is about a video game whiz who discovers his favorite arcade game is actually a recruitment tool for an extraterrestrial race who need help to defeat an evil space warlord.
FredDekker
A team of misfit kids try to prevent a monster apocalypse from engulfing their hometown.
RobReiner
A storybook comedy about a beautiful princess, a not-so-evil pirate and a swash-buckling Spaniard who seek revenge on an evil prince with the help of a friendly giant and two decrepit miracle workers.
TerryGilliam
Terry Gilliam’s most light-hearted and playful film about a young boy who travels through a space-time rift located in his closet. The film’s all-star cast includes John Cleese and Sean Connery.
Notes
Both reviled and revered, the 1980s saw the birth of a new kind of American movie: kid-focused, special effects-packed spectacles that drew the disdain of critics and the devotion of an entire generation. This season at TIFF Bell Lightbox, leave those battered VHS copies at home and come relive these ‘80s classics on the big screen.