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'80s Horror Movies on Netflix

The Best '80s Horror Movies on Netflix, From Hellraiser to Ghostbusters

Aug 2 2018

We're living in the peak of '80s nostalgia — you don't need to look further than the critical success of shows like GLOW and Stranger Things. It's also one of the best times for horror cinema, with popular movies like A Quiet Place and Hereditary. For fans of both '80s nostalgia and horror, there's a sweet spot: '80s horror movies. Cultish, creepy, and a little campy, quite a few of them live on Netflix right now. Keep reading to find out the scary movies that you can stream instantly, from satanic thrillers like Children of the Corn to family-friendly horror comedies like Little Monsters.

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1. Stephen King's Children of the Corn (1984)

Ah yes, this is the inspiration for every creepy Halloween haunted corn maze that has terrorized your dreams. Many moons ago, director Fritz Kiersch adapted Stephen King's short story into one of the creepiest movies of all time. The story is about a group of young children who participate in a religious cult around a bloodthirsty deity.

Watch it now.

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2. Ghostbusters (1984)

Bill Murray stars as a curmudgeonly parapsychologist named Peter Venkman who starts a ghoul terminating business with his buddies. There are a few spooks and demons throughout the horror comedy, but it'll more likely evoke a dry chuckle than give you incurable nightmares.

Watch it now.

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3. Batteries Not Included (1987)

The squeaky clean PG rating of this '80s classic belies its creepy and sad plot about an older couple that battles eviction until mini robot aliens come to their rescue. Occurrences of alien invasions, arson, and vandal definitely make this movie borderline the horror genre.

Watch it now.

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4. Hellraiser (1987)

Clive Barker is one of the most notable names in the world of scary entertainment, from books to movies. In his feature debut, the horror master tells the tale of an undead man who requests his ex-mistress to get him human sacrifices to recreate his body.

Watch it now.

Image Source: Everett Collection

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5. The Lost Boys (1987)

What's the '80s without a teen horror flick? In The Lost Boys, two young brothers move to California and end up fighting a vampire biker gang after one of them drinks tainted blood.

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6. Mad Ron's Prevues From Hell (1987)

This '80s project is basically a compilation of of 47 gruesome movie trailers presented by a chained cannibal projectionist named Mad Ron. Enough said.

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7. Heathers (1988)

Winona Ryder plays the protagonist Veronica, whose edgy new boyfriend is a lot more sinister than he lets on. You won't find gratuitous gore or jump scares in Heathers, but high school hierarchies and serial murderers will give you your creepy '80s entertainment fix.

Watch it now.

Image Source: Everett Collection

8. Ghostbusters 2 (1989)

Venkman and the gang are back for a Ghostbusters sequel. This time, Venkman's ex has a possessed baby on her hands, prompting the Ghostbusters to reconvene.

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9. Hellbound: Hellraiser II (1989)

Hellraiser launched into a nine-part franchise, and you can watch the sequel right on Netflix. In the body horror film Hellbound: Hellraiser II, a psychiatric patient becomes victim to incessant nightmares about her father's skinned corpse and her uncle's reanimated body.

Watch it now.

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10. Little Monsters (1989)

In this dark comedy, a preteen boy (Fred Savage) befriends a prank-pulling monster named Maurice (Howie Mandel). The PG-rated movie is a slightly creepy coming-of-age tale with a sweet core.

Watch it now.

Image Source: Everett Collection

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