From cult classics like Gremlins and Beetlejuice to the launches of mega franchises like The Terminator and Ghostbusters, the 1980s had no shortage of amazing movies. In the decades since their releases, fans old and new have dissected and discussed everything that makes these films great, including an element that doesn't get looked at too often: foreshadowing. Some of these predictive details are subtle, like the fact that the T-800 crushes a toy semi-truck in The Terminator, then later drives the same make and model truck to chase down Sarah Conner. Other times the foreshadowing comes in dialogue. In Scarface, Tony Montana is told early on that the biggest problem he'll face is figuring out what to do with all his money, which ends up being his downfall. Fans have even picked up on foreshadowing in the set design, noting that Sarah's bedroom in Labyrinth features a poster that mirrors the very labyrinth she'll enter.
These are the best moments of foreshadowing from movies of the 1980s.
In Beetlejuice (1988), during Beetlejuice's metamorphism into the carnival creature, the skull atop the merry-go-round hat is the skull that would later inspire Jack Skellington in The NightmareBefore Christmas (1993); complete with the bat that would become Jack's bow tie.
89 votes
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74 VOTES
The Endless Stairs Are Seen In Sarah's Bedroom In 'Labyrinth'
In Jim Henson’s Labyrinth (1986), the final “endless stairs” scene is based on M.C Escher’s ‘Relativity,’ which is displayed on Sarah’s bedroom wall throughout the movie.
Ghostbusters (1984), nice foreshadowing of the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man with some product placement next to the eggs when Dana has her first encounter.
94 votes
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71 VOTES
Cousin Eddie Has Arrived Before Anyone Notices in 'Christmas Vacation'
In National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (1989) Cousin Eddie's Winnebago is in the driveway in the overhead shot of the Griswold house when Clark gets the Christmas lights working. Nobody notices until Eddie and his family appear behind them.
71 votes
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60 VOTES
Frank Tells Tony What His Biggest Problem Will Be In 'Scarface'
In Scarface (1983), Frank Lopez tells Tony Montana (Al Pacino) his biggest problem would be “what to do with all the f*cking cash.” This is in fact exactly what leads to Tony’s downfall when he’s busted laundering money.
In Ghostbusters II (1989) Kevin Dunn appears as psychic Milton Angland on Dr Venkman’s show, World of the Psychic. He predicts that the world will end on New Year’s Eve. This is when Vigo would have possessed the body of Baby Oscar and began his Season of Evil, if the Ghostbusters had not intervened.
