Netflix adds Beetlejuice and more 80s classics for nostalgia seekers

With the incalculable wealth of content to choose from on Netflix and the algorithms it uses, new additions can easily pass under the radar of even the most eagle-eyed viewers.

Still, some will have noticed that a vast array of classic films from the 1980s have recently been added to the streaming service. With nostalgia being such a recurring trend in popular culture over the last few years, Netflix has attempted to tap into this by offering some of the greatest movies from more than thirty years ago. Here are the best 80s flicks now available on Netflix.

Beetlejuice

Beetlejuice is one of the most notable new additions to the Netflix library, as the picture starring Michael Keaton as the mischievous poltergeist is often considered to be one of esteemed director Tim Burton’s greatest achievements. The 1988 horror-comedy is one of the best-loved movies of the time period and it was also among the first successful cross-media franchises in the cinema industry – perhaps one of the first single-title IPs to branch out.

Indeed, Beetlejuice’s triumph at the box office led to an animated TV series, a musical and a number of video games. The ominous Beetlejuice was released for the Nintendo Entertainment System in 1991, while the character still lives on to this day.

Back To The Future

After experiencing those nostalgic feelings watching Beetlejuice, Netflix viewers are bound to be hungry for more. Their next stop could be a Robert Zemeckis classic: Back to the Future. The iconic time-travelling adventure was the highest-grossing film of 1985, with a worldwide box office take of $381 million. It was nominated for numerous Academy Awards and won the Oscar for Best Sound Effects Editing.

The popularity of the original Michael J. Fox escapade led to two sequels, which are also available to watch on Netflix at the time of writing. The quality remains strong throughout the entire franchise, making it a good option for a lazy day of movie bingeing.

Raiders of the Lost Ark

Raiders of the Lost Ark is the first and, arguably, the strongest in the long-running Indiana Jones franchise. The 1981 film was a box office sensation that brought in $389.9 million worldwide. Adjusted for inflation, this makes it one of the most successful films of all time. The non-stop rollercoaster ride of thrills, fights and hidden passages is a winning formula for any cinema-goer. The other titles in the series are available on Netflix as well – but the most recent offering, The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, should be avoided at all costs.

These are some of the best 1980s options on Netflix, but the list doesn’t end there. After watching these, viewers could opt for James Cameron’s Aliens or John Hughes’s The Breakfast Club for an even bigger dose of nostalgia.

The editorial unit