The 1980s were a great decade for science fiction movies in general, and this included some great sci-fi comedies. With Blade Runner, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial and two classic Star Wars movies, the 1980s was filled with classic sci-fi movies that changed the genre forever. This change was reflected in some great comedies too, many of which spoofed the genre’s many tropes.
Movies like Back to the Future and Ghostbusters showed that sci-fi could be hilarious while still telling fascinating stories. Some of the best sci-fi comedies of the decade would still be just as compelling with their humor ripped out, and this is often what separates a good comedy from a great one. Many of the decade’s funniest sci-fi movies started long-running franchises, while others have a distinctly 1980s feel that gives them a nostalgic quality.
- Back To The Future (1985)
- Ghostbusters (1984)
- Brazil (1985)
- Spaceballs (1987)
- Back To The Future Part II (1989)
- Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure (1989)
- Repo Man (1984)
- Honey, I Shrunk The Kids (1989)
- Short Circuit (1986)
- Weird Science (1985)
It’s a solid list, I might throw in The Man With Two Brains (1983), Time Bandits (1981), The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension (1984), Cocoon (1985) and Killer Klowns From Outer Space (1988) for consideration.
Definitely swap out BTTF2 for Buckaroo Banzai.
I don’t know who’d consider Brazil a comedy
Its definitely satirical. Usually with satire, the point being made is more important than the comedy but its still quite farcical. Lots of the humour is dark and dystopian, but that doesn’t make it not a comedy.
It’s a dark/black comedy.
I could quibble with the order for sure, being a die-hard spaceballs fan, and I might swap out bttf2 for something else since it really can’t compare to most of the list as it is. But I ain’t mad at that.
bleh. sorry, this list is garbage.
Some decent stuff on there, but no real genius?
bah
What would you suggest instead?
I feel like many of these don’t qualify as science fiction. Space balls, much like Star Wars, is fantasy in space, not sci fi.
They’re science fantasy, a sub-genre hybrid of sci-fi and fantasy.
If you’re going to get pedantic about what is science fiction and what’s not sci-fi, you need to first use consistent language and second decide how you interpret “sci-fi”. As an Ackerman purist, I’d call all of these sci-fi because they’re films and science fiction only consists of books.
I’d also contend you need to be very clear about your definition of science fiction. What, for example, do you think Sturgeon’s Killdozer! is? Is Dune also just fantasy? What about Book of the New Sun? How about dystopian fiction like Fahrenheit 451 or Hunger Games? There’s no space or aliens!
