Three things which lift my heart and feed my soul are playing old video games, the key change in Cher’s “If I Could Turn Back Time” and of course watching some of the best 80s movie montages. The classic movie montage is a clever cinematic device filmmakers employ to show the audience how the hopeless lead morphs into a triumphant hero!
Yes, the director could have taken the time to weave believable sub-plots, nuanced character traits or dropped subtle hints that foreshadows the journey of our protagonist BUT THAT IS ZERO FUN!
Instead a great 80s movie was all about throwing in a two-minute music video that explodes with a magnificently camp soundtrack, in hope that the audience is too consumed with thoughts of “why are those short shorts so damn short?” to notice that nothing makes sense!
I can’t decide if it’s the lack of reason or logic which I enjoy the most, or the impressive display of impromptu synth-pop which brazenly papers over the enormous plot holes of the film. Either way, the 1980s was a time of producing not just cult classics, but some awesome film montages. Here are 10 of the best 80s movie montages:
10 – Three Men and a Baby 1987
Back when surprisingly nobody batted an eye at blended families and the thoughts of three heterosexual men raising a child! This classic 80s family movie not only gives us warm feels and layers of hilarity, but also a montage which shows the emotional development of the three leads… in great 80s outfits!
9 – Over The Top 1987
Who knew that you could make a film about… arm wrestling. Sylvester Stallone takes centre stage in trying to win full custody of his estranged son by winning a tournament of hand holding and grunting really loudly in testosterone. It’s easier to avoid asking questions about the questionable storyline and focus on the montage instead!
8 – Footloose 1984
Because nothing says beautiful, hard hitting emotion like punch dancing your feelings in an abandoned warehouse! The classic musical drama starring Kevin Bacon made lots of young men strangled by their masculinity realise that dancing is in fact cool. I mean… just look at the montage!
7 – Top Gun 1986
The Tony Scott action movie featuring Tom Cruise is an 80s cult classic that celebrates the intensity of male friendships as well as the blurred lines of homoerotic banter! The volleyball scene is an iconic moment of the film that had movie goers collectively gasp, “WTF!” as they shifted uncomfortably in their seats at the sight of so much sweat!
6 – Teen Wolf 1985
A personal favourite of mine even though the entire premise for the movie is nonsensical. But in order to see us through the interesting story of teenage boy turns into a werewolf, has sex with the most popular girl at school, becomes a basketball star AND everyone somehow seems totally fine with that… we have a beautiful movie montage to distract us from more pressing questions. Such as, “why hasn’t anyone called the police to have wolf boy taken off site and destroyed?”
5 – Teen Witch 1989
This fantasy movie about a teenage girl who climbs the social high school rankings from geek to goddess by witchcraft (I know but bear with me!) answers the question, “could one film have too many musical montages?” The answer is a resounding… NO! Apparently not. Teen Witch can be easily mistaken for an extended 80s music video full of slo-mo dance choreography, wind machines, giant perms and white guys rapping! But if I’m honest, this is what makes it ridiculous and special.
4 – Bloodsport 1988
Arguably one of the best Jean Claude Van Damme movies with a high energy training montage which will trick you into thinking that you’re definitely a ninja. The medley of silly American rising to a martial arts champion, shows that you deserve to be knocked the feck out multiple times, stretched in an archaic torture device and drink tea, just to prove to your master that you are worthy!
3 – Dirty Dancing 1987
Easily one of the most iconic 80s dance movies starring the late great Patrick Swayze. As a child watching this for the first time, it was easy for the “Penny’s in trouble!” abortion sub-plot to go WAY over my head when you have the musical montage as a diversion. Dirty Dancing is the go to movie that always seems to be replicated on a boozy night out with fearless yet clueless piss heads.
2 – The Karate Kid 1984
Bullied teenage kid meets weird old dude who teaches him karate and wins at life. And by winning I mean cheating in a tournament. The illegal move which essential is an ancient interpretive Japanese dance, mixed with the powerful soundtrack of “You’re the best… AROOOUNND!” will override your confusion with a feeling of elated giddiness.
1 – Rocky IV 1985
DRAGOOOOO!! When I think of amazing 80s montages, I look no further than the training sequence of Sylvester Stallone’s Rocky and Dolph Lundgren’s Ivan Drago. The quintessential hero versus villain with a heart thumping tune that makes you want to pick up an animate household object and violently break it with your bare fists! Does this iconic training montage further the movie plot and reveal to the audience the hidden depths of our champion? Who cares! “Hearts on FIIIIIIRE!! Strong DESIIIIIRE!”