The Apple (1980)
The Apple was a pretty big flop when it was released, like most of the movies on this list. But it has gained cult status over the years for its weirdly camp nature and over-the-top performances. Plus the music isn’t half bad. It also took place in 1994, so it is fun to see an alternate 1994 future that is less depressing than our actual 1994.
Sweet Canadians enter an American music contest and end up in the seedy underbelly of the entertainment industry.
Earth Girls are Easy (1988)
It seems odd that a musical movie about furry bright colored aliens would star Geena Davis, Jeff Goldblum, Jim Carey, and Damon Wayans, but then, the 1980s were a wild time! If singing and dancing aliens, bikinis, and general weirdness is your cup of tea, then this movie is definitely for you. It was actually quite popular with my little group of friends at the time.
Voyage of the Rock Aliens (1984)
When travelling through the cosmos, we all know aliens have only one thing on their minds: rock and roll. The leader of the Rock Aliens falls for Pia Zadora, but her boyfriend and his Pack of nasties don’t like it. Michael Berryman plays Chainsaw. It is a film that will make you ask, “what did I just watch?”
Grease 2 (1982)
Not nearly as popular as its prequel, Grease 2 introduced much of the world to Michelle Pfeiffer. That is its primary claim to fame other than the songs “Reproduction” and “Let’s Do It For Our Country” which neighborhood kids all seemed to know because it was probably the most they actually knew about sex at the time. It seemed like it was always on cable.
The Legend of the Stardust Brothers (1985)
You have to see this crazy little Japanese film to believe it. A pop duo is created by a music mogul as a pop sensation.
Popeye (1980)
Robin Williams as Popeye, Paul. L. Smith as Bluto, and Shelley Duval as Olive Oyl, the role she was born to play. To bad audiences did not turn out in droves for it. I did, however, watch it on cable every time it was on. The cartoonishness worked really well in it since it had a long cartoon history to draw from that was recognizable by audiences. It worked because it was familiar.
Billy the Kid and the Green Baize Vampire (1985)
When Billy Kid, a wiseass kid, plays snooker against the Green Baize Vampire under an auspicious bet: the loser can never play snooker again. As you can tell, the stakes are extremely high.