15 Cheesy '80s Horror Movies To Watch With Your Friends

Summary

• Watching cheesy horror films with friends is a blast as everyone laughs over the films’ ridiculous plots.
• The 1980s was an important decade for horror films where the best, and cheesiest, examples of slasher films and iconic killers were introduced.
• Many of the cheesiest horror films from the ’80s are purposefully comical and pay homage to the greatest creative figures and tropes in horror.

There’s comfort found in watching a hair-raising horror movie with others, but a similar community can be just as appreciated for comedy horror films that are beyond ridiculous. Many horror films lack scares but excel in outlandish plots, wild and over-the-top acts of violence, and, especially when it pertains to the ’80s, aged special effects. Horror films have yet to wane in popularity, but the genre saw a peak in the ’80s.

The decade introduced iconic horror characters and saw a rise in the popularity of slasher films. These elements are found in the defining and acclaimed horror films such as The Shining and A Nightmare on Elm Street, as well as the cheesiest films the decade has to offer. As enjoyable as it is to watch films like Chopping Mall and Student Bodies alone, gathering with friends to laugh and have a good time is even better.

15 TerrorVision (1986)

An Alien Lands On Earth

The over-the-top nature of Ted Nicolaou’s TerrorVision makes for a cheesy horror film that should only be enjoyed with others. Many things in TerrorVision don’t fully work — the timing of the jokes being one of them. However, pointing out the flaws in the film with a group of friends and following along on the Putterman’s wild journey with a mutant creature is what makes TerrorVision worthwhile. TerrorVision is a “so-bad-it’s-good” horror movie that has an unconventional way of scaring audiences. There aren’t many moments in TerrorVision that prompt viewers to jump out of their seats, but rather the scariness in the film comes from the hideous and detailed design of the main monster and its means of killing.

14 Return Of The Killer Tomatoes (1988)

An Army Of Humans Is Created From Tomatoes

Though no film in the Killer Tomatoes series compares to the first, its sequel, Return of the Killer Tomatoes, comes close. Set 10 years after the events of the first film, tomatoes are now banned, but Professor Gangreen is looking to cause more harm with the food by placing them in toxic waste and putting them in a chamber that transforms them into people. In line with other films in the series, Return of the Killer Tomatoes never tries to be serious, made clear by the film’s overall premise. The film also includes scenes where the music of Michael Jackson transforms Gangreen’s tomatoes into clones of the famous singer and a moment where characters in the film break the fourth wall and promote various products.

13 April Fool’s Day (1986)

A Comical Spin On The Pranking Holiday

With films like Thanksgiving and Black Christmas, it’s not uncommon for horror films to take place on other holidays. One of the more underrated examples of this subgenre is April Fool’s Day. The black comedy slasher film sees a group of friends vacationing during the titular holiday weekend. Most of the laughs don’t come until the end, but April Fool’s Day is entertaining the whole way through. During their trip, chaos ensues and the characters are made to fight for their lives against a mysterious killer. The ending of April Fool’s Day, while dividing many critics, is surprising and could only work in a film like this.

12 Student Bodies (1981)

High School Students Are Killed By A Stalker

Parodying many of the classic tropes found in the horror genre, Student Bodies is delightfully cheesy and imperfect. Student Bodies chronicles the number of deaths of high school students acted out by a killer and stalker known as “the Breather.” Many negative reviews of Student Bodies point out the repetitive nature of the jokes and how the film slows down towards the end. While the critiques are valid, what makes Student Bodies fun is seeing the different horror films that are referenced. As one of the first films to satirize the popular slasher subgenre of the decade, iconic moments in films like When a Stranger Calls, Prom Night, and Carrie are comically reworked in Student Bodies.

11 Galaxy Of Terror (1981)

A Bolder Alien Imitator

Following the success of Alien, many duplicates were made. Horror films that aimed for similar success shared similar creatures and themes at the center of their films. Of these films, Galaxy of Terror is one of the better Alien rip-offs. Galaxy of Terror takes the general premise of Alien and makes it weirder and darker. The film also has notable names attached to its crew, including James Cameron, who worked as a Production Designer and Second Unit Director, and Robert Englund. The former would go on to direct Alien‘s sequel, Aliens, pulling tonal elements present in Galaxy of Terror. Despite being full of B-movie tropes, Galaxy of Terror has had an unappreciated influence on the genre — and it’s also a lot of fun.

10 Ghoulies II (1987)

The Mischievous Monsters Take Over A Carnival

As the second installment in the Ghoulies film series, Ghoulies II has a stronger focus on the titular creatures. Unrelated to the events in its predecessor, Ghoulies II places the creatures at a carnival where they cause trouble for attendees looking for a good time in a funhouse. The Ghoulies draw many comparisons to the characters in Gremlins and Munchies, and like their counterparts, there is an odd charm to the Ghoulies that makes it difficult to look away. The Ghoulies are also endlessly mischievous, resulting in a thrilling film that keeps audiences engaged the whole time.

9 Night of the Comet (1984)

Zombies Emerge From A Rare Comet

The fight for survival against zombies is at the center of plenty of horror films, but Night of the Comet comes out on top as having one of the cheesiest zombie origin stories. In the film, a rare comet is passing through the sky. The cosmic effects of the comet turn everyone into either red dust or zombies, but for various reasons, Night of the Comet‘s main characters are sheltered throughout the night and survive such a dreadful fate. The laughs in Night of the Comet come from watching inept teenagers quickly learn how to fight off the brain-hungry creatures.

8 The Monster Squad (1987)

Classic Monsters Fight Their Fans

Although The Monster Squad is aimed at a younger audience, there’s material everyone can enjoy. The Monster Squad places various classic monster figures in a battle with a young group of kids who are trying to prevent them from taking over the world. The Monster Squad has its flaws, but it’s fun to see iconic monster characters fight young kids. Monsters like Count Dracula, the Wolf Man, and the Mummy are just some of the Universal Monsters that appear in the film. With a comparable adventurous tone to The Little Rascals and The Goonies, The Monster Squad strikes a chord with audiences and brings up joyful feelings of nostalgia.

7 Killer Klowns From Outer Space (1988)

As one of the more critically praised cheesy horror films of the decade, Killer Klowns from Outer Space is wonderfully entertaining. Killer Klowns from Outer Space follows the events that occur after murderous aliens take over a small town. The Klowns in the film are equal parts terrifying and humorous. It’s proven the Klowns are not to be messed with, but they also participate in typical clown gags. In addition to the characterization of extraterrestrials, Killer Klowns from Outer Space has strong visuals, as seen in its sets and special effects. Since the ’80s, Killer Klowns from Outer Space has become a cult classic, and it’s for a good reason.

6 The Stuff (1985)

A Popular Treat Turns People Into Zombies

Larry Cohen felt as though The Stuff wasn’t as successful as it could’ve been because it was heavily marketed as a horror film, rather than a satirical comedy. With that in mind, The Stuff doesn’t have goosebump-inducing scares, but its premise can be unsettling. The Stuff gets its name from the sweet and addictive substance in the film that has the American population hooked. However, the mysterious, cream-like treat isn’t what it appears to be as it takes over people’s bodies and turns them into zombies. The Stuff has a lot to say about consumerism and greedy corporations, but the bizarre and humorous elements take away from any serious messaging.

5 The Blob (1988)

A Deadly Organism Feeds Off Of Human Bodies

A remake of the 1958 film of the same name, The Blob has a unique villain. The Blob is a jelly-like creature in the film that envelopes and slowly devours its target, growing in size with every new victim. Because the Blob differs from the human or supernatural killers seen in other horror films, it comes off as both silly and terrifying. The latter effect on audiences is achieved by gooey sound and visual effects as the Blob makes it kill. The ’80s remake changes the Blob’s origins. Instead of being an alien-like creature from space, the ’80s Blob was created as a biological weapon. This adds an element of social commentary to the film that doesn’t stand out due to the ridiculous design of the creature wreaking havoc in town.

4 Chopping Mall (1986)

Teenagers Are Trapped In A Mall With Deadly Robots

Capturing the mall culture of the decade, Chopping Mall serves up a thrilling and cheesy hour and a half. In Chopping Mall, a group of friends sneaks into a closed mall, and they’re having fun with no one else around until they get attacked by security robots. Meant to take down thieves using their lasers, the robots are on a deadly mission to kill the trespassers. The matters of death, though gruesome, are comical in their execution — and no death is caused by a chopping as the film’s title would imply. Audiences are likely to sit on the edge of their seats as the friends get attacked one by one, but even in the most tense scenes, laughter is encouraged.

3 Creepshow (1982)

An Anthology Film From The Minds Of Romero And King

The talents of horror icons George A. Romero and Stephen King come together in Creepshow. Inspired by Tales from the Crypt and other horror comics from the ’50s, Creepshow is an anthology film that consists of five short stories. Like the best horror comedies do, Creepshow has a balance of scenes that frighten and scenes that evoke laughter. These scenes include a comically gruesome Father’s Day cake and an overpowering cockroach infestation. The popularity of Creepshow made room for two sequel films, only one involving another collaboration between Romero and King.

2 Re-Animator (1985)

Dead People Are Brought Back To Life

H. P. Lovecraft’s stories often inspired Stuart Gordon’s films. One of these films is Re-Animator, in which a medical student, Herbert West, creates a reagent that allows dead people to come back to life. Re-Animator has a decent amount of gore, but any scares in the film are balanced with dark humor. Re-Animator is also a lot more realized than many comedy horror films and has remained positively reviewed by critics in the years following its release. Still, there is a cheesiness to the idea of bringing dead people back to life and Re-Animator doesn’t shy away from making audiences laugh.

1 Night Of The Creeps (1986)

An Homage To Horror That The Genre’s Fans Can Enjoy

Fred Dekker’s Night of the Creeps is a mixed bag of the best the horror genre has to offer, ensuring it accommodates a wide range of movie fans. Night of the Creeps sees a group of people infected by alien-like slugs. Though the film didn’t do well when it was first released, it has since grown a cult following. Part of Night of the Creeps‘ appeal is the various references to classic creatives and films in horror. Each character is named after a famous horror filmmaker, including John Carpenter, Tobe Hooper, and Wes Craven. Night of the Creeps set out to be an entertaining and thrilling B movie and it succeeds.