The Best Award-Winning Films of the 1980s

955 films released between 1980 and 1989 were recognised at the Oscars, the Golden Globes, Cannes or the Berlinale. Here are the 100 that won the most, ranked by total wins.

The most awarded is Gandhi (1982), with 13 wins, followed by The Last Emperor (13) and Amadeus (12). Among the 100 shown here, 62 won at least one Oscar, 78 won a Golden Globe, 15 won a prize at Cannes and 12 won a prize at the Berlinale. They were released between 1980 and 1989.

Can't choose? Roll a random film from any decade.

Last updated August 12, 2026

Most awarded films of the 1980s

Gandhi (1982) poster, 8 Oscar wins and 5 Golden Globe wins

13 wins

889%

Gandhi

1982 · 3h 12m

Drama · History

The Last Emperor (1987) poster, 9 Oscar wins and 4 Golden Globe wins

13 wins

7.786%

The Last Emperor

1987 · 2h 43m

Drama · History

Amadeus (1984) poster, 8 Oscar wins and 4 Golden Globe wins

12 wins

8.490%

Amadeus

1984 · 2h 40m

Drama · History · Music

Out of Africa (1985) poster, 7 Oscar wins and 3 Golden Globe wins

10 wins

7.262%

Out of Africa

1985 · 2h 41m

History · Romance · Drama

Terms of Endearment (1983) poster, 5 Oscar wins and 4 Golden Globe wins

9 wins

7.481%

Terms of Endearment

1983 · 2h 12m

Drama · Comedy

Ordinary People (1980) poster, 5 Golden Globe wins and 4 Oscar wins

9 wins

7.790%

Ordinary People

1980 · 2h 4m

Drama

Rain Man (1988) poster, 4 Oscar wins and 2 Golden Globe wins

8 wins

888%

Rain Man

1988 · 2h 14m

Drama

Driving Miss Daisy (1989) poster, 4 Oscar wins and 3 Golden Globe wins

8 wins

7.385%

Driving Miss Daisy

1989 · 1h 39m

Drama

Platoon (1986) poster, 4 Oscar wins and 3 Golden Globe wins

8 wins

8.189%

Platoon

1986 · 2h

Drama · War · Action

Cheers (1982) poster, 6 Golden Globe wins

6 wins

8—

Cheers

TV Series

1982–1993 · 11 seasons

Comedy

Murder, She Wrote (1984) poster, 6 Golden Globe wins

6 wins

7.3—

Murder, She Wrote

TV Series

1984–1996 · 12 seasons

Mystery · Crime · Drama

On Golden Pond (1981) poster, 3 Oscar wins and 3 Golden Globe wins

6 wins

7.691%

On Golden Pond

1981 · 1h 49m

Drama · Romance

E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982) poster, 4 Oscar wins and 2 Golden Globe wins

6 wins

7.999%

E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial

1982 · 1h 55m

Drama · Family · Fantasy · Sci-Fi

Born on the Fourth of July (1989) poster, 4 Golden Globe wins and 2 Oscar wins

6 wins

7.284%

Born on the Fourth of July

1989 · 2h 25m

Drama · War

Moonstruck (1987) poster, 3 Oscar wins and 2 Golden Globe wins

6 wins

7.290%

Moonstruck

1987 · 1h 42m

Comedy · Drama · Romance

Chariots of Fire (1981) poster, 4 Oscar wins and 1 Golden Globe win

6 wins

7.184%

Chariots of Fire

1981 · 2h 3m

Drama · History

Arthur (1981) poster, 4 Golden Globe wins and 2 Oscar wins

6 wins

6.986%

Arthur

1981 · 1h 37m

Comedy · Drama · Romance

L.A. Law (1986) poster, 5 Golden Globe wins

5 wins

7.1—

L.A. Law

TV Series

1986–1994 · 8 seasons

Drama · War & Politics

Dynasty (1981) poster, 5 Golden Globe wins

5 wins

6.4—

Dynasty

TV Series

1981–1989 · 9 seasons

Soap · Drama

A Passage to India (1984) poster, 3 Golden Globe wins and 2 Oscar wins

5 wins

7.377%

A Passage to India

1984 · 2h 43m

Drama · Adventure · History

The Mission (1986) poster, 2 Golden Globe wins and 2 Cannes wins

5 wins

7.463%

The Mission

1986 · 2h 5m

Adventure · Drama · Action · History

Prizzi's Honor (1985) poster, 4 Golden Globe wins and 1 Oscar win

5 wins

6.785%

Prizzi's Honor

1985 · 2h 4m

Romance · Comedy · Crime

Working Girl (1988) poster, 4 Golden Globe wins and 1 Oscar win

5 wins

6.883%

Working Girl

1988 · 1h 54m

Comedy · Romance

Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) poster, 5 Oscar wins

5 wins

8.494%

Raiders of the Lost Ark

1981 · 1h 55m

Adventure · Action

Fanny and Alexander (1982) poster, 4 Oscar wins and 1 Golden Globe win

5 wins

8.1100%

Fanny and Alexander

1982 · 3h 8m

Fantasy · Drama · Mystery

The Golden Girls (1985) poster, 4 Golden Globe wins

4 wins

8.2—

The Golden Girls

TV Series

1985–1992 · 7 seasons

Comedy

Reds (1981) poster, 3 Oscar wins and 1 Golden Globe win

4 wins

7.390%

Reds

1981 · 3h 15m

Drama · History · Romance

Tootsie (1982) poster, 3 Golden Globe wins and 1 Oscar win

4 wins

7.491%

Tootsie

1982 · 1h 56m

Comedy · Romance

An Officer and a Gentleman (1982) poster, 2 Oscar wins and 2 Golden Globe wins

4 wins

7.179%

An Officer and a Gentleman

1982 · 2h 4m

Drama · Romance

Hannah and Her Sisters (1986) poster, 3 Oscar wins and 1 Golden Globe win

4 wins

7.892%

Hannah and Her Sisters

1986 · 1h 47m

Comedy · Drama

The Killing Fields (1984) poster, 3 Oscar wins and 1 Golden Globe win

4 wins

7.891%

The Killing Fields

1984 · 2h 22m

Drama · History · War

A Room with a View (1986) poster, 3 Oscar wins and 1 Golden Globe win

4 wins

7.2100%

A Room with a View

1986 · 1h 57m

Drama · Romance

Places in the Heart (1984) poster, 2 Oscar wins and 1 Golden Globe win

4 wins

7.490%

Places in the Heart

1984 · 1h 51m

Drama

Glory (1989) poster, 3 Oscar wins and 1 Golden Globe win

4 wins

7.895%

Glory

1989 · 2h 2m

Drama · History · War

The Right Stuff (1983) poster, 4 Oscar wins

4 wins

7.896%

The Right Stuff

1983 · 3h 13m

Drama · History · Adventure

Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988) poster, 4 Oscar wins

4 wins

7.796%

Who Framed Roger Rabbit

Animation

1988 · 1h 44m

Fantasy · Comedy · Crime

The Little Mermaid (1989) poster, 2 Oscar wins and 2 Golden Globe wins

4 wins

7.692%

The Little Mermaid

Animation

1989 · 1h 23m

Family · Fantasy

The Thorn Birds (1983) poster, 4 Golden Globe wins

4 wins

7.9—

The Thorn Birds

TV Series

1983 · 1 season

Drama

Bird (1988) poster, 2 Cannes wins and 1 Oscar win

4 wins

7.181%

Bird

1988 · 2h 41m

Drama · Music

Murphy Brown (1988) poster, 3 Golden Globe wins

3 wins

6.9—

Murphy Brown

TV Series

1988–1998 · 10 seasons

Comedy

Raging Bull (1980) poster, 2 Oscar wins and 1 Golden Globe win

3 wins

8.192%

Raging Bull

1980 · 2h 9m

Drama · History

Seinfeld (1989) poster, 3 Golden Globe wins

3 wins

8.9—

Seinfeld

TV Series

1989–1998 · 9 seasons

Comedy

Roseanne (1988) poster, 3 Golden Globe wins

3 wins

7.1—

Roseanne

TV Series

1988–2018 · 10 seasons

Comedy

Hill Street Blues (1981) poster, 3 Golden Globe wins

3 wins

8.297%

Hill Street Blues

TV Series

1981–1987 · 7 seasons

Drama · Crime

Missing (1982) poster, 2 Cannes wins and 1 Oscar win

3 wins

7.794%

Missing

1982 · 2h 3m

Drama · Mystery · Thriller

Coal Miner's Daughter (1980) poster, 2 Golden Globe wins and 1 Oscar win

3 wins

7.584%

Coal Miner's Daughter

1980 · 2h 5m

Music · Drama · History

Tender Mercies (1983) poster, 2 Oscar wins and 1 Golden Globe win

3 wins

7.383%

Tender Mercies

1983 · 1h 32m

Drama · Music · Romance

Yentl (1983) poster, 2 Golden Globe wins and 1 Oscar win

3 wins

6.669%

Yentl

1983 · 2h 12m

Music · Drama · Romance

Fame (1980) poster, 2 Oscar wins and 1 Golden Globe win

3 wins

6.681%

Fame

1980 · 2h 13m

Drama · Music

Moonlighting (1985) poster, 3 Golden Globe wins

3 wins

7.689%

Moonlighting

TV Series

1985–1989 · 5 seasons

Comedy · Drama · Mystery · Crime

Children of a Lesser God (1986) poster, 1 Oscar win and 1 Golden Globe win

3 wins

7.281%

Children of a Lesser God

1986 · 1h 59m

Drama · Romance

Flashdance (1983) poster, 2 Golden Globe wins and 1 Oscar win

3 wins

6.237%

Flashdance

1983 · 1h 35m

Drama · Romance

Dangerous Liaisons (1988) poster, 3 Oscar wins

3 wins

7.591%

Dangerous Liaisons

1988 · 1h 59m

Drama · Romance

Melvin and Howard (1980) poster, 2 Oscar wins and 1 Golden Globe win

3 wins

6.891%

Melvin and Howard

1980 · 1h 35m

Comedy · Drama

3 wins

7.1—

Fame

TV Series

1982–1987 · 6 seasons

Drama

The Cosby Show (1984) poster, 3 Golden Globe wins

3 wins

7.4—

The Cosby Show

TV Series

1984–1992 · 8 seasons

Comedy · Family

War and Remembrance (1988) poster, 3 Golden Globe wins

3 wins

8.3—

War and Remembrance

TV Series

1988–1989 · 1 season

Drama · War & Politics

Pelle the Conqueror (1987) poster, 1 Oscar win and 1 Golden Globe win

3 wins

7.784%

Pelle the Conqueror

1987 · 2h 37m

Drama

Promise (1986) poster, 3 Golden Globe wins

3 wins

7.6—

Promise

1986 · 1h 50m

TV Movie · Drama · Family

The Official Story (1985) poster, 1 Oscar win and 1 Golden Globe win

3 wins

7.7100%

The Official Story

1985 · 1h 52m

Drama · History

Cinema Paradiso (1988) poster, 1 Oscar win and 1 Golden Globe win

3 wins

8.590%

Cinema Paradiso

1988 · 2h 4m

Drama · Romance

Shōgun (1980) poster, 3 Golden Globe wins

3 wins

8.1—

Shōgun

TV Series

1980 · 1 season

Action & Adventure · Drama · War & Politics

2 wins

7.392%

Witness

1985 · 1h 52m

Crime · Drama · Thriller

Magnum, P.I. (1980) poster, 2 Golden Globe wins

2 wins

7.5—

Magnum, P.I.

TV Series

1980–1988 · 8 seasons

Crime · Drama · Mystery

Mississippi Burning (1988) poster, 1 Oscar win and 1 Berlinale win

2 wins

7.879%

Mississippi Burning

1988 · 2h 8m

Drama · Crime · Mystery · Thriller

Victor/Victoria (1982) poster, 1 Oscar win and 1 Golden Globe win

2 wins

7.685%

Victor/Victoria

1982 · 2h 14m

Music · Comedy · Romance

The Dresser (1983) poster, 1 Golden Globe win and 1 Berlinale win

2 wins

7.4100%

The Dresser

1983 · 1h 58m

Drama

Kiss of the Spider Woman (1985) poster, 1 Oscar win and 1 Cannes win

2 wins

7.388%

Kiss of the Spider Woman

1985 · 2h

Drama

2 wins

8.493%

Aliens

1986 · 2h 17m

Action · Thriller · Sci-Fi

Gorillas in the Mist (1988) poster, 2 Golden Globe wins

2 wins

784%

Gorillas in the Mist

1988 · 2h 9m

Drama · History

My Left Foot: The Story of Christy Brown (1989) poster, 2 Oscar wins

2 wins

7.898%

My Left Foot: The Story of Christy Brown

1989 · 1h 43m

Drama

Sophie's Choice (1982) poster, 1 Oscar win and 1 Golden Globe win

2 wins

7.575%

Sophie's Choice

1982 · 2h 31m

Drama · Romance · War

Educating Rita (1983) poster, 2 Golden Globe wins

2 wins

7.281%

Educating Rita

1983 · 1h 46m

Drama · Comedy

Miami Vice (1984) poster, 2 Golden Globe wins

2 wins

7.6—

Miami Vice

TV Series

1984–1989 · 5 seasons

Crime · Drama

Mona Lisa (1986) poster, 1 Golden Globe win and 1 Cannes win

2 wins

7.398%

Mona Lisa

1986 · 1h 45m

Crime · Drama · Romance · Thriller

Quantum Leap (1989) poster, 2 Golden Globe wins

2 wins

8.2—

Quantum Leap

TV Series

1989–1993 · 5 seasons

Sci-Fi & Fantasy · Action & Adventure · Drama

thirtysomething (1987) poster, 2 Golden Globe wins

2 wins

7.5—

thirtysomething

TV Series

1987–1991 · 4 seasons

Drama

The Untouchables (1987) poster, 1 Oscar win and 1 Golden Globe win

2 wins

7.883%

The Untouchables

1987 · 1h 59m

Crime · History · Thriller

Top Gun (1986) poster, 1 Oscar win and 1 Golden Globe win

2 wins

757%

Top Gun

1986 · 1h 50m

Action · Drama · Romance

sex, lies, and videotape (1989) poster, 2 Cannes wins

2 wins

7.296%

sex, lies, and videotape

1989 · 1h 41m

Drama

A Streetcar Named Desire (1984) poster, 2 Golden Globe wins

2 wins

6.860%

A Streetcar Named Desire

1984 · 1h 59m

Drama · TV Movie

Dirty Dancing (1987) poster, 1 Oscar win and 1 Golden Globe win

2 wins

7.173%

Dirty Dancing

1987 · 1h 40m

Drama · Music · Romance

Mask (1985) poster, 1 Oscar win and 1 Cannes win

2 wins

7.293%

Mask

1985 · 2h

Drama

Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980) poster, 2 Oscar wins

2 wins

8.793%

Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back

1980 · 2h 4m

Adventure · Action · Sci-Fi

Anastasia: The Mystery of Anna (1986) poster, 2 Golden Globe wins

2 wins

6.6—

Anastasia: The Mystery of Anna

TV Series

1986 · 1 season

Drama · Mystery

Lonesome Dove (1989) poster, 2 Golden Globe wins

2 wins

8.698%

Lonesome Dove

TV Series

1989 · 1 season

Drama · Western

Music Box (1989) poster, 2 Berlinale wins

2 wins

7.475%

Music Box

1989 · 2h 4m

Drama · Thriller · Mystery

Something About Amelia (1984) poster, 2 Golden Globe wins

2 wins

6.8—

Something About Amelia

1984 · 1h 40m

Drama · TV Movie

White Nights (1985) poster, 1 Oscar win and 1 Golden Globe win

2 wins

6.746%

White Nights

1985 · 2h 16m

Drama · Thriller

A World Apart (1988) poster, 2 Cannes wins

2 wins

791%

A World Apart

1988 · 1h 53m

Drama

Brideshead Revisited (1981) poster, 2 Golden Globe wins

2 wins

8.5—

Brideshead Revisited

TV Series

1981 · 1 season

Drama

2 wins

6.782%

Cocoon

1985 · 1h 57m

Comedy · Sci-Fi · Mystery · Drama

Escape from Sobibor (1987) poster, 2 Golden Globe wins

2 wins

7.4—

Escape from Sobibor

1987 · 2h 49m

Drama · Thriller · War · TV Movie

History of the World in Three Minutes Flat (1980) poster, 2 Berlinale wins

2 wins

5.7—

History of the World in Three Minutes Flat

Animated short

1980 · 4m

Luxo Jr. (1986) poster, 2 Berlinale wins

2 wins

7.2—

Luxo Jr.

Animated short

1986 · 2m

Comedy

Mephisto (1981) poster, 1 Oscar win and 1 Cannes win

2 wins

7.776%

Mephisto

1981 · 2h 25m

Drama

Romancing the Stone (1984) poster, 2 Golden Globe wins

2 wins

6.986%

Romancing the Stone

1984 · 1h 46m

Romance · Comedy · Action · Adventure

The Lunch Date (1989) poster, 1 Oscar win and 1 Cannes win

2 wins

7.4—

The Lunch Date

Short

1989 · 12m

Comedy · Drama

A Leap in the Dark (1980) poster, 2 Cannes wins

2 wins

6.8—

A Leap in the Dark

1980 · 1h 54m

Drama

Ascendancy (1983) poster, 2 Berlinale wins

2 wins

6.1—

Ascendancy

1983 · 1h 32m

Drama · War · History