5 Ultimate 1980's Summer Movies

 As Americans reach mid July,  it brings back memories of nostalgia of growing up in the summer. A lot of memories of the 1980's include watching movies during long summer nights,  at sleepover parties and movies during down-pouring thunderstorms. 

Here's Nerdthusiast's 5 ultimate movies that reflect the summer time during the 1980's:

5.) National Lampoon's Vacation (1983)

In 1983 director Harold Ramis introduced us to the Griswold family. We got to witness their cross country family trip as they tried to get to Wally World. Watching this movie as a kid, I understood the pain and embarrassment  Rusty and Audrey Griswold felt being stuck in the car with their parents. I felt as if Chevy Chase was insane but now as a Dad, I can relate to Clark Griswold more than I would like to admit. 

“Why aren't we flying? Because getting there is half the fun.” - Clark Griswold

  

4.) Weekend At Bernies (1989)

Movie-goers were introduced to this wacky story set on Labor Day Weekend. Nothing says 1980's like New York yuppies, Hampton beach houses and a story that would only make sense in 1989. On paper it's hard to imagine this film could have been a success but Andrew McCarthy and Jonathan Silverman just made this crazy story somehow relatable. It has been a summer classic ever since. Somehow we even got a sequel to this madness. 

“- Richard Parker: Now all of this could be yours, Lar, if you set your goals and work hard.
- Larry Wilson: My old man worked hard. All they did was give him more work.”

3.) Say Anything (1989)

High School graduation parties, boomboxes and kickboxing, what more do you need from a 1980's film. Lloyd Dobler introduces the viewer to his summer adventures with girlfriend Diane Court. The film is known for the classic trench coat and boombox scene but The Gas N Sip scene might be the most  underrated scene in the film. Many of us can relate to summer nights of hanging out with the boys in the 711 parking lot. 

"I don't want to sell anything, buy anything, or process anything as a career. I don't want to sell anything bought or processed, or buy anything sold or processed, or process anything sold, bought, or processed, or repair anything sold, bought, or processed. You know, as a career, I don't want to do that."-Lloyd Dobler 

2.)CaddyShack (1980)

Chevy Chase, Bill Murray, Rodney Dangerfield and directed by Harold Ramis, seriously does it get any better than this? I never belonged to a country club, but I always imagined this is what occurred. Seems pretty accurate to me. Danny Noonan spends his summer trying to get in good with a judge to earn a scholarship by sweating his ass off all summer on a Golf Course as a caddy. Any of us that have had a summer job can relate to the struggle of working in the heat for pocket change. 

"I'm going to give you a little advice. There's a force in the universe that makes things happen. And all you have to do is get in touch with it, stop thinking, let things happen, and be the ball." -Ty Webb

1.) One Crazy Summer (1986) 

Love, cartoons and summer in Nantucket ... Oh and John Cusak . Viewers meet Hoops McCann as he appears in this crazy story about a basketball player who wants to be a cartoonist. Add in a motorcycle gang, some dude that tries to win radio giveaways, Demi Moore and we got a winner. I love the fact that movies like this would not be made today. This is such a wacky 1980's movie and when I think of summer time, this movie always comes to mind. 

"Every year he tries to win that competition, and every year he loses a little more of his mind."-Ack Raymond

By: Anthony "Eatahoagie" Cicali

Nerdthusiast Poker Podcast Host 

Follow me on Twitter: @Eatahoagie