Best Music Movies of the 1980s

1. 1
   Michael Jackson's Thriller 1983

   Directed by John Landis
   8.1

   8.3 · 808 votes
2. 2
   Amadeus 1984

   Directed by Miloš Forman
   8.0

   8.0 · 5K votes
3. 3
   Stop Making Sense 1984

   Directed by Jonathan Demme · Streaming on JustWatch TV Free, JustWatch TV Plus
   8.0

   8.4 · 401 votes
4. 4
   Pink Floyd: The Wall 1982

   Directed by Alan Parker
   7.9

   8.0 · 1.7K votes
5. 5
   Queen: Live at Wembley Stadium 1986

   Directed by Gavin Taylor · Streaming on Kanopy, Fandango at Home Free, Tubi TV
   7.7

   8.5 · 178 votes
6. 6
   Koyaanisqatsi 1983

   Directed by Godfrey Reggio · Streaming on Pluto TV, YouTube Free, Tubi TV
   7.7

   7.9 · 808 votes
7. 7
   The Blues Brothers 1980

   Directed by John Landis · Streaming on Netflix, YouTube TV
   7.7

   7.7 · 4.7K votes
8. 8
   This Is Spinal Tap 1984

   Directed by Rob Reiner · Streaming on HBO Max, Kanopy, Hoopla
   7.3

   7.4 · 1.7K votes
9. 9
   Dirty Dancing 1987

   Directed by Emile Ardolino · Streaming on YouTube TV, Pluto TV, Sling TV Orange and Blue
   7.3

   7.3 · 6.7K votes
10. 10
    Crossroads 1986

    Directed by Walter Hill · Streaming on The Roku Channel, YouTube Free, Tubi TV
    7.2

    7.4 · 503 votes
11. 11
    La Bamba 1987

    Directed by Luis Valdez · Streaming on Netflix, Tubi TV, Sony Pictures Core
    7.2

    7.3 · 845 votes
12. 12
    Victor/Victoria 1982

    Directed by Blake Edwards · Streaming on YouTube Free
    7.1

    7.3 · 468 votes
13. 13
    Mickey's Safety Club: Street Safe, Street Smart 1989

    Directed by Gino Ricotta
    7.1

    9.2 · 39 votes
14. 14
    Moonwalker 1988

    Directed by Colin Chilvers
    7.0

    7.1 · 697 votes
15. 15
    Coal Miner's Daughter 1980

    Directed by Michael Apted · Streaming on YouTube Free
    7.0

    7.2 · 293 votes
16. 16
    Bugs Bunny's 3rd Movie: 1001 Rabbit Tales 1982

    Directed by Chuck Jones
    6.9

    7.2 · 201 votes
17. 17
    Possibly in Michigan 1983

    Directed by Cecelia Condit
    6.8

    7.6 · 81 votes
18. 18
    Captain EO 1986

    Directed by Francis Ford Coppola
    6.8

    7.9 · 56 votes
19. 19
    Live Aid 1985

    Directed by Vincent Scarza
    6.7

    7.8 · 56 votes
20. 20
    We Will Rock You 1982

    Directed by Saul Swimmer
    6.7

    8.1 · 42 votes
21. 21
    Sugar Pie Lady 1983

    Directed by Atıf Yılmaz
    6.7

    7.5 · 76 votes
22. 22
    The Decline of Western Civilization 1981

    Directed by Penelope Spheeris · Streaming on Amazon Prime Video, fuboTV, Philo
    6.7

    7.2 · 120 votes
23. 23
    Gauche the Cellist 1982

    Directed by Isao Takahata
    6.7

    7.3 · 88 votes
24. 24
    Making Michael Jackson's Thriller 1983

    Directed by Jerry Kramer
    6.7

    8.6 · 28 votes
25. 25
    Style Wars 1984

    Directed by Tony Silver · Streaming on Philo, The Roku Channel, Kanopy
    6.7

    7.5 · 65 votes
26. 26
    Depeche Mode: 101 1989

    Directed by D. A. Pennebaker · Streaming on Qello Concerts by Stingray
    6.7

    8.0 · 40 votes
27. 27
    Leningrad Cowboys Go America 1989

    Directed by Aki Kaurismäki · Streaming on Criterion Channel
    6.7

    6.9 · 220 votes
28. 28
    Bird 1988

    Directed by Clint Eastwood
    6.7

    6.8 · 362 votes
29. 29
    Arabesque 1989

    Directed by Ertem Eğilmez
    6.7

    7.3 · 80 votes
30. 30
    A Man from the Boulevard des Capucines 1987

    Directed by Alla Surikova
    6.7

    7.1 · 108 votes
31. 31
    Prince: Sign 'o' the Times 1987

    Directed by Prince · Streaming on Amazon Prime Video, The Roku Channel, The CW
    6.7

    7.5 · 60 votes
32. 32
    'Round Midnight 1986

    Directed by Bertrand Tavernier · Streaming on Hoopla
    6.6

    7.1 · 108 votes
33. 33
    ¡Sufre, mamón! 1987

    Directed by Manuel Summers
    6.6

    7.2 · 81 votes
34. 34
    The Chipmunk Adventure 1987

    Directed by Janice Karman
    6.6

    7.0 · 129 votes
35. 35
    Purple Rain 1984

    Directed by Albert Magnoli
    6.6

    6.7 · 443 votes
36. 36
    Metallica: Cliff 'Em All 1987

    Directed by Doug Freel
    6.6

    7.7 · 43 votes
37. 37
    Distant Voices, Still Lives 1988

    Directed by Terence Davies · Streaming on The Roku Channel, BFI Player
    6.6

    6.9 · 138 votes
38. 38
    American Pop 1981

    Directed by Ralph Bakshi · Streaming on fuboTV
    6.6

    6.9 · 131 votes
39. 39
    U2: Rattle and Hum 1988

    Directed by Phil Joanou
    6.6

    7.1 · 81 votes
40. 40
    David Bowie: Serious Moonlight 1984

    Directed by David Mallet
    6.6

    8.6 · 21 votes
41. 41
    Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars 1983

    Directed by D. A. Pennebaker · Streaming on Qello Concerts by Stingray
    6.5

    7.3 · 56 votes
42. 42
    Beaches 1988

    Directed by Garry Marshall · Streaming on Amazon Prime Video
    6.5

    6.7 · 291 votes
43. 43
    Yentl 1983

    Directed by Barbra Streisand · Streaming on MGM+, Philo, The Roku Channel
    6.5

    6.7 · 271 votes
44. 44
    Tender Mercies 1983

    Directed by Bruce Beresford · Streaming on Amazon Prime Video, The Roku Channel, The CW
    6.5

    6.8 · 163 votes
45. 45
    A Muppet Family Christmas 1987

    Directed by Peter Harris
    6.5

    6.9 · 117 votes
46. 46
    The Cat Came Back 1988

    Directed by Cordell Barker · Streaming on Kanopy, Filmzie
    6.5

    7.1 · 75 votes
47. 47
    Os Saltimbancos Trapalhões 1981

    Directed by J.B. Tanko
    6.5

    7.1 · 73 votes
48. 48
    Godzilla Fantasia 1984

    Directed by Ishirō Honda
    6.5

    9.7 · 13 votes
49. 49
    Le Bal 1983

    Directed by Ettore Scola
    6.5

    7.0 · 80 votes
50. 50
    Imagine: John Lennon 1988

    Directed by Andrew Solt · Streaming on Howdy
    6.5

    7.0 · 91 votes

Smart score = (votes × rating + 82 × 6.03) ÷ (votes + 82): the TMDB rating, pulled toward the catalog average as if every film had 82 extra average votes.

1. 1
   Prince and the Revolution: Live 1985

   Directed by Paul Becher
   6.5

   8.6 · 18 votes
2. 2
   We Are the World: The Story Behind the Song 1985

   Directed by Tom Trbovich · Streaming on The Roku Channel, Hoopla, Night Flight Plus
   6.4

   8.4 · 16 votes
3. 3
   Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever 1983

   Directed by Don Mischer
   6.4

   8.7 · 12 votes
4. 4
   Polly 1989

   Directed by Debbie Allen
   6.4

   8.2 · 16 votes
5. 5
   Sagara Sangamam 1983

   Directed by K. Viswanath · Streaming on Sun Nxt, Eros Now Select
   6.4

   7.8 · 25 votes
6. 6
   David Bowie: Glass Spider 1988

   Directed by David Mallet
   6.4

   8.4 · 13 votes
7. 7
   Queen: Live in Rio 1985

   Directed by Aloysio Legey · Streaming on Fandango at Home Free, Tubi TV
   6.4

   8.4 · 13 votes
8. 8
   Treasure Island: Part I – Captain Flint's Map 1987

   Directed by Davyd Cherkaskyi · Streaming on Pluto TV, Plex, Plex Channel
   6.4

   7.8 · 24 votes
9. 9
   Hacen muchas gracias de nada 1980

   Directed by Les Luthiers
   6.4

   7.8 · 19 votes
10. 10
    Home of the Brave: A Film by Laurie Anderson 1986

    Directed by Laurie Anderson
    6.3

    8.2 · 12 votes