1980s war movies list
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1980s war movies
In 1980s, just like in previous decade, not many mainstream war movies were produced. The creators were often looking for more entertaining themes than typical war movie - they reached for supernatural elements (f.e. The Final Countdown), fiction based on World War 2 (f.e. Eye of the Needle, Attack Force Z). The Cold War that finally became slightly more bearable again was used to make war movies, but this time instead of warning the politicians and the public they were more of the adventure style stories (like Red Dawn or Top Gun). Ten years after Vietnam War American cinema finally decided to tell the true stories about the conflict with such productions as Platoon. In 1980s also the German cinema came up with two important war movies dealing with their part in the war - Das Boot and Die Wannseekonferenz.

The Final Countdown 1980
American aircraft carrier moves back in time and is in position to stop the Pearl Harbor attack.

The Dogs of War 1980
Mercenary Jamie Shannon is hired to prepare coup d’etat in African country ruled by the ruthless dictator.

The Sea Wolves 1980
During World War II veterans of previous wars join the special operation that will save life of many Allied soldiers.

Breaker Morant 1980
During Second Boer War three officers of the Bushveldt Carbineers are accused of war crimes and put on trial, but there seems to be more to that story than meets the eye.

Das Boot 1981
The life on board of U-Boot during the patrol of U-96 on Atlantic and Mediterranean Sea is far from what Nazi propaganda tries to tell German nation.

Victory 1981
During World War 2 Germans organize the propaganda football match against team formed of Allied players that are captives in the prisoners of war camps in France.

Eye of the Needle 1981
German spy discovers the secret of Allies preparations for D-Day and is desperate to pass the information to Berlin in time.

Southern Comfort 1981
During exercise platoon of National Guard clash with Cajun people and has to fight for the survival.

Attack Force Z 1982
Small Australian commandos unit lands on a Pacific island on a mission to find survivors from plane crash.

Boldyn 1982
Legendary partisans leader has to keep his unit together, but he has problem with keeping his own mind together.

First Blood 1982
Vietnam War veteran John Rambo arrives to small town of Hope, Washington to find his comrade. Mistreated by local sheriff he flees into the woods, but it’s those who pursuit him should be affraid.

Barbed Wire 1983
Three volunteers that are about to embark on risky mission recall their past presenting what lead them to the point there are in right now.

Uncommon Valor 1983
Colonel Jason Rhodes, tired of waiting for his son to be released from POW camp in Vietnam, sets up a team of veterans to storm into the camp and release him.

Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence 1983
British prisoners on Java are under command of Colonel Lawrence, who tries his best to keep the peace between POWs and guards. Arrival of Major Celliers destroys the frail balance between the two sides.

The Winds of War 1983
Victor ’Pug’ Henry is appointed naval attaché to American embassy in Berlin in 1939. Even though US intelligence is convinced the open war in Europe is unlikely Pug sends an alarming report to Washington suggesting that Germans are fully prepared to attack.

WarGames 1983
After tests of ICBM silo crews proved that most of them would not follow the strict launch procedures the headquarters decide to replace them with the central computer terminals to remove the human factor, but it turns out the computer has a small flaw in its software.

Red Dawn 1984
Cuban and Russian forces land in small town in Colorado. While the national defence collapses the group of teenagers turn into partisans to fight the occupants and save their families.

Extortion of a Gray Day 1984
Young poet Tolek Gonczar joins the Polish resistance. His first big operation is the ambush for German train transporting the troops for eastern front.

Day Four 1984
Young Polish poet Krzysztof Kamil Baczynski is among the insurgents during Warsaw Uprising in 1944, but his life has ended on the fourth day of the fight.

I Died to Live 1984
True story of Polish resistance member arrested and tortured by Gestapo in Warsaw. Since he knew the coding methods it was vital for the organization Germans would not gain any knowledge out of him. He was prepared to die, but the resistance came up with different solution.

The Lion of Flanders 1984
French king Philip IV tries to discipline the rich Flemish cities, who enjoy their special status under his rule. But his actions lead to an open revolt.

Spies Like Us 1985
Two incompetent agents are sent on secret mission near Soviet Union borders, but their natural incompetence suddenly changes the character of the mission.

Revolution 1985
Fur trapper, who tries to keep away from politics, gets dragged into the American Revolution. To save his son he joins the army and follows the troops that are about to face the British.

Rambo: First Blood Part II 1985
Veteran commandos John Rambo is given the chance to be pardoned for his actions if he will take up a risky mission in jungles of Southeast Asia.

Code Name: Emerald 1985
In Spring 1944 the Allied invasion in Europe was just a matter of time, the German intelligence was desperate to find a source that would give them informations about time and place where the landing forces will attack.

Platoon 1986
Young recruit sent to Vietnam learns that the war isn’t the idealistic battle of good and evil - it is battle between evil and evil.

K & K deserters 1986
During World War I five soldiers desert from Austro-Hungarian army penal unit and try to get home.

The Golden Train 1986
During German invasion in 1939 Polish government try to evacuate the gold reserves to Great Britain via Romania, which would be hard enough even without constant attacks from German saboteurs.

Shaka Zulu 1986
In early 19th century Zulus under king Shaka grew into a biggest military power in southern Africa, which gathered attention of British colonists, who were afraid they will be his next target.

The Misfit Brigade 1987
Soldiers from penal unit are sent to a suicidal mission on the Eastern Front.

Empire of the Sun 1987
Teenage boy has to find a way to survive in internment camp when he is separated from his parents during the evacuation from Shanghai.

Full Metal Jacket 1987
Brutal training of US Marines is just a small step towards the thing that are awaiting them in Vietnam.

Eastern Condors 1987
Colonel Lam is given special mission behind enemy lines - his target is bunker in Vietnam filled with rockets left by the US Army after evacuation in 1975.

Bat 21 1988
When valuable electronic warfare officer is shot down over enemy area US Air Force is determined to rescue him.

The Dirty Dozen: The Fatal Mission 1988
Again 12 prisoners sentenced to death penalty are chosen to take part in suicidal mission behind enemy lines. Another sequel to classic Dirty Dozen.

Rambo III 1988
John Rambo sets for Soviet military base in Afghanistan, where his mentor Colonel Trautman is kept prisoner. Again on his own he has to face whole enemy unit.

The Beast of War 1988
During War in Afghanistan damaged Soviet tank T-55 retreats after attack on the village. Chased by the mujahideen fighters the crew gets lost in the narrow gorges and they suddenly become prey for the Afghans.

Lenin: The Train 1988
In 1917 Germans are looking for a solution to their biggest problem - fighting on two front while the civilians back home are starving. While the military options are limited they come up with a political one.

War and Remembrance 1988
Second part of the epic Herman Wouk novels - Pugh Henry and his family are spread around the world when war starts, now they have to find a way to survive.

Red Scorpion 1988
Soviet Spetsnaz commandos Lieutenant Rachenko is given mission to infiltrate anti-government rebel organization in one of the African countries. But once he gets to understand situation in the area he realizes not everything is what was described in his orders.

Blackadder Goes Forth 1989
Captain Blackadder in trenches somewhere in France will do anything to avoid another push through no man

The Officer Factory 1989
Oberleutnant Krafft is sent to officer school to pursue investigation in suspicious death of one of the instructors.



