Ranker FilmList RulesVote up your favorite gang films that were released in the 1980s
This list of the best ‘80s hood movies includes some influential films and at least one masterpiece. These 1980s hood films reflect the urban experience and each offers something unique, but they were all also overshadowed when the sub-genre exploded in the early 1990s. Still, several important hood movies were released in the '80s, depicting street life, drugs, gangs, music, violence, and a host of other topics.
No discussion of top ‘80s hood movies would be complete without Spike Lee’s Do the Right Thing. This 1989 hit influenced all subsequent hood movies, and it is even more relevant more than 25 years later. Another important ‘80s hood film is Stand and Deliver, starring Edward James Olmos as an inner-city teacher attempting to reach his students through calculus. While those '80s movies about the hood are serious dramas, this list of 1980s hood movies also includes Coming to America, the seminal comedy about an African prince looking for love in Queens, New York.
Here you’ll also find hip-hop-influenced films like Breakin’ and Krush Groove. So what are your favorite ‘80s hood movies? Help us rank this list however you want by voting up your favorites. Don’t forget to check out the list of the best ‘90s hood movies to see how the genre progressed, then check out our list of funny hood movies.
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289Stand and Deliver
Andy Garcia, Edward James OlmosReleased: 1988
Directed by: Ramón Menéndez
Stand and Deliver is a 1988 American drama film based on the true story of high school math... more2
3720Coming to America
Eddie Murphy, Samuel L. JacksonReleased: 1988
Directed by: John Landis
Coming to America is a 1988 American comedy film directed by John Landis, and based on a story... more3
2514Lean on Me
Morgan Freeman, Tony ToddReleased: 1989
Directed by: John G. Avildsen
Lean on Me is a 1989 dramatized biographical film written by Michael Schiffer, directed by... more4
100Boyz n the Hood
Ice Cube, Angela BassettReleased: 1991
Directed by: John Singleton
Boyz n the Hood is a 1991 American hood drama film directed by John Singleton. Three young men... more5
2423Beat Street
Rae Dawn Chong, Mary AliceReleased: 1984
Directed by: Stan Lathan
Beat Street is an American 1984 drama film featuring New York City hip hop culture of the... more6
1918Bad Boys
Sean Penn, Ally SheedyReleased: 1983
Directed by: Rick Rosenthal
Bad Boys is a 1983 drama film written by Richard Di Lello and directed by Rick Rosenthal.... more7
1414Do the Right Thing
Samuel L. Jackson, Martin LawrenceReleased: 1989
Directed by: Spike Lee
Do the Right Thing is a 1989 American comedy-drama hood film produced, written, and directed... more8
90South Central
Glenn Plummer, Carl LumblyReleased: 1992
Directed by: Stephen Milburn Anderson
South Central is a 1992 American crime drama film, written and directed by Stephen Milburn... more9
2226Krush Groove
Chris Rock, LL Cool JReleased: 1985
Directed by: Michael Schultz
Krush Groove is a 1985 Warner Bros. film that was written by Ralph Farquhar and directed by... more10
2125Colors
Sean Penn, Robert DuvallReleased: 1988
Directed by: Dennis Hopper
Colors is a 1988 American police procedural action film starring Sean Penn and Robert Duvall,... more11
1112Babylon
Mel Smith, Maggie SteedReleased: 1981
Directed by: Franco Rosso
Babylon is a 1980 British film co-written by Martin Stellman and Franco Rosso, who also... more12
1628I'm Gonna Git You Sucka
Chris Rock, Jim BrownReleased: 1988
Directed by: Keenen Ivory Wayans
I'm Gonna Git You Sucka is a 1988 parody film of blaxploitation movies written, directed by,... more13
1122Breakin'
Jean-Claude Van Damme, Ice-TReleased: 1984
Directed by: Joel Silberg
Breakin', released as Breakdance: The Movie or Break Street '84 in some countries, is a 1984... more
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