The 80s movies are awesome. The decade produced absolute classics, like Die Hard, Ferris Bueller, The Goonies and ET to name just a few. So, what better way to celebrate these classics than with an 80s movie party night?
In this guide you’ll get ideas for decorations, costumes, food, drinks, activities, party favors, and venues to create an atmosphere straight out of your favorite 80s flicks. Read on to learn how to immerse your guests in 80s movie magic from start to finish.
Choose a Killer 80s Movie Theme
You can just have a standard 80s movie them night, but a super-specific theme can really bring the movie party magic to life. Here are some excellent 80s cinema themes and how to nail their unique vibes:
80s High School – Classics like The Breakfast Club, Fast Times at Ridgemont High, and Ferris Bueller’s Day Off immortalized high school in the 80s. Deck out your space with varsity jackets, lockers, school supplies, and prom photos.
80s Sci-Fi – Flicks like E.T., Back to the Future, Blade Runner, and Alien envisioned wild futures filled with aliens, robots, and time travel. Incorporate metallic props, glowing alien decor, and futuristic sound effects.
John Hughes Comedies – Pay homage to the quirky laughs behind Sixteen Candles, Weird Science, and Pretty in Pink. Decor should feature DIY details and lots of pink accents.
Slasher Horror – Terrify guests with themes from A Nightmare on Elm Street, Friday the 13th, and Halloween. Bloody decor, creepy music, and frightening props will set the mood.
80s Fantasy – Recreate the magic of gems like The Princess Bride, The NeverEnding Story, and Labyrinth. Incorporate fairies, mazes, puppets, and storybook elements.
80s Action – Get adrenaline pumping with tough guys like Robocop, Rambo, Die Hard, and Top Gun. Explosions, muscles, and military props are a must.
John Hughes Rom-Coms – For a romantic bash, take inspiration from rom-coms like Pretty in Pink, Say Anything, and Sixteen Candles.
If 90s movies are more your thing, you can read my article about having a 90s movie party here.
Transform Your Space with 80s Style
Once you’ve chosen a super-rad movie theme, it’s time to recreate the era through 80s decorations:
Neon Everything – Go crazy with neon signs, streamers, tape, tinsel, and accent lighting. Nothing said 80s like neon.
Bold Brights – The 80s loved primary colors, so use vibrant tablecloths, balloons, and wild patterns. Don’t be afraid to clash!
Movie Posters – Line your walls with original or reproduced movie posters from iconic 80s hits.
Arcade Games – What’s an 80s party without PacMan, Space Invaders, or Donkey Kong? Rent or borrow vintage arcade games, or purchase a mini console with games already loaded.
Prolific Props – Pepper your space with quintessential 80s items like roller skates, boomboxes, cassette tapes, graffiti walls, and breakdance mats.
Groovy Furniture – Search thrift shops for gnarly furniture pieces like beanbag chairs, hanging egg chairs, and retro bar carts.
Bodacious Lighting – Use blacklights, strobe lights, and neon signs to light up your space with 80s vibes. Go heavy on the neon and colorful lighting.
Killer Decorations – Buy affordable 80s decor items like plastic telephones, vintage tin lunchboxes, boombox models, and retro patterned pillows.
Dress Up Like 80s Movie Characters
No 80s movie party is complete without some fabulous era-appropriate ensembles. If you’re having a more general 80s theme instead of one of the specific ones listed above, encourage your guests to dress up as classic characters from decade defining flicks, such as:
Marty McFly – Rock Marty’s red puffer vest, plaid shirt, jeans, white Nikes, shades, and a hoverboard.
Princess Leia – Channel Leia’s iconic metallic gold bikini from Return of the Jedi. Pair it with the famous hair buns.
Indiana Jones – Grab Indy’s signature brown fedora, leather jacket, and whip for a classic adventurer look.
Tom Cruise – Show up in Ray Bans, a white tank top, underwear and a pilot’s helmet to become Top Gun’s Maverick.
Ghostbusters – Don beige jumpsuits with “Ghostbusters” patches, proton packs, and traps to bust out your best ghost hunting gear.
Molly Ringwald – Ladies can channel any of Molly Ringwald’s characters from Pretty in Pink or Sixteen Candles with lace, pink, and 80s makeup.
The Goonies – Check out the threads the kids wore in the movie and recreate them for the night.
The Princess Bride – Get all fantastical with outfits from this postmodern fairy tale.
Rock Out with Quintessential 80s Movie Soundtracks
What’s an 80s movie party without some tunes? Be sure to crank up the volume on this classic 80s movie soundtrack playlist:
Fuel Guests with 80s Movie Snacks
Keep your guests fueled with nibbles inspired by classic 80s movies:
Pizza – Obviously, you need ‘za! Make it Ninja Turtles inspired for extra fun.
Nachos – Pile high beef, beans, cheese, and more.
Jello Shots – These wiggly snacks were huge in the 80s. Make boozy neon versions for adults!
Snack Bar – Let guests graze on 80s candies like Pop Rocks, Nerds, Sweet Tarts, and Ding Dongs throughout the night.
Sodas – Serve the usual classics whose popularity has endured for decades.
Movie Theater Candy – Recreate the movie theater snack bar with Raisinets, Reese’s Pieces, and Twizzlers.
Neon Treats – Incorporate edible neon into cake pops, krispie treats, candy apples, and jello snacks.
Kabobs – Skewer mini sausages, cheese, pineapple, olives, and other bite-sized appetizers.
Sandwich Bites – Make posh little tea sandwiches with mini croissants.
Themed Movie Eats – Feature snacks straight from movies, like E.T.’s Reese’s Pieces, Ghostbusters’ marshmallows, and Ferris Bueller’s deep dish pizza.
Rainbow Drink Bar – Offer a DIY drink station with colorful soda options, fruity punch, and flavored liqueurs for spikeable options.
Amp Up the Fun with 80s Movie Activities
Keep your radical party bumping all night long with activities inspired by iconic 80s movies:
80s Movie Trivia – Test guests’ knowledge of classic 80s movies. Give out prizes like movie-themed candy or swag.
Name That Tune – See who can guess the most iconic 80s movie theme songs and soundtracks when played over speakers.
Montage Lip Syncing – Recruit guests to lip sync and act out a training montage like Rocky or The Karate Kid.
Dance Off – Recreate the epic dance scenes from movies like Footloose and Dirty Dancing. Have judges pick the best imitation.
Quote Off – See who can do the best quote impersonations from beloved 80s comedy and drama characters.
80s Makeovers – Break out blue eyeshadow, hairspray, and neon accessories for fabulous 80s makeovers. Share photos online.
Radical Photo Booth – Set up a DIY photo booth for guests to snap pics with bangin’ 80s props. Print instant photos as souvenirs.
Movie Scene Reenactments – Assign teams different iconic movie scenes and have them act it out for everyone else to guess.
Prop Betting – Make friendly prop bets on fun movie-related outcomes, like who can eat Reese’s Pieces the fastest or identify the most obscure movie references.
Get more 80s party game ideas from my awesome 80s party game list.
Give Out Excellent 80s Movie Favors
Send guests home with bodacious party favors to remember a tubular time:
Movie Candy – Fill bags with themed candy like Reese’s Pieces (E.T.), Raisinets (movie theater), and Twizzlers (for general snacking).
Neon Sunglasses – Cheap neon shades make for fun favors while also adding to the 80s spirit.
Framed Photos – Print out pictures from the rad photo booth and put in inexpensive neon frames.
Temporary Tattoos – Look for custom-made temporary tats featuring 80s movie references.
Glow Sticks – These neon glowing bracelets and necklaces peaked in the 80s.
Fanny Packs – For practical guests, give out these uber-80s accessories.
Boombox Keychains – Keychains featuring mini boombox designs double as great memorabilia.
Summing Up
There you have it, now you’re fully equipped to have a most awesome 80s movie party. With radical decor, costumes, snacks, activities, and favors, you’ll transport guests right back to an era of big hair, neon, and glorious cinematic cheese. Be kind, rewind those VHS tapes, and party on most excellently!
