I think I speak for many when I say I’m addicted to Netflix. I get dragged down the Netflix hole on a daily basis, and I have absolutely no problem with that. Opening that Netflix tab is like opening a portal to another dimension, and you reluctantly crawl out of that hole when it’s 5AM and you NEED to get at least a couple hours of sleep before work.
Despite all of this, I can’t deny that I’ve had moments where all I did was scroll through Netflix, trying to figure out what to watch next. It’s basically a “I have nothing to wear” situation, but worse. You have everything to watch. So. Many. Things. An almost unlimited amount of things.
Since Season 3 of Stranger Things came out, I’ve been itching to watch more content from the 80’s — I’ve come to realise that there’s an insane amount of pop culture references from that period, and I’ve been determined to understand them all. If you’re like me and you’ve been struggling to find something to watch, we have a specially curated watchlist of shows inspired by the 1980s, brought to you by Netflix.
*Cue ominous synth music*
Stranger Things
It’s no secret that we’re fans of Stranger Things, and if you’re not a fan yet, you really should be. Set in the fictional town of Hawkins, each season reels us deeper into the lives of the town’s residents and how they deal with their unwelcome visitors. With Season 3 in particular paying homage to 80’s pop culture, Stranger Things will take you back to the days of printed shirts, neon signs and Orange Julius. You could even cop some merchandise to look like your favourite characters — check out our Stranger Things merchandise round-up here!
For more on Season 3, check out the trailer below.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XcnHOQ-cHa0]
See You Yesterday
A nod to sci-fi classic Back To The Future, Spike Lee’s See You Yesterday (that’s right, SPIKE LEE!) is just the right combination of witty, serious and #woke. Follow best friends C.J. and Sebastian on their attempts to go back in time to save C.J.’s older brother, who was shot by police in a case of gun violence. The film asserts the very real issues with prejudice and race in the United States, with the help of grounded, young characters. Although the story takes place in 2019, the film as a whole pays homage to the 80’s with vibrant colours, special effects and reggae and soca music.
Watch the trailer below to get a peek at See You Yesterday.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XFxNOYrTwBU]
Rim of the World
In yet another sci-fi film, follow four misfit campers as they band together in the hopes of saving the world during an alien invasion — without the help of adults or electronics! Using four teens with vastly different backgrounds and personalities, Rim of the World is a coming-of-age film that displays how these kids all become heroes in their own ways. Interweaved with classic, recognisable 80’s sci-fi movie references, this is a family flick all will appreciate.
Watch the action-packed trailer below.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G6uYahTa1j8]
The Dirt
Based on 80’s American glam rock band Mötley Crüe’s best-selling autobiography of the same name, this biopic displays the rollercoaster ride that comes with being rockstars. Although all four original band members are co-producers, The Dirt still touches on the real grime of superstardom and the consequences that come with it. There’s an odd charm that comes with the film, despite the harrowing moments.
For a little more on the film, check out the trailer below.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3U2iJhpntDo]
When They See Us
This four-part miniseries depicts the true story of the teenagers labelled the Central Park Five, who were wrongly convicted of a rape they did not commit — one of the most widely publicised crimes of the 1980s. The story revolves around Antron McCray, Kevin Richardson, Yusef Salaam, Raymond Santana and Korey Wise. Beginning in the Spring of 1989, when the teens were first questioned about the incident, the series spans over 25 years, highlighting their eventual exoneration and settlement with the city of New York. When They See Us showcases an apt depiction of how language can often be the decider of a person’s fate.
Take a look at the trailer below.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XYWeR2toTus]
Stranger Things, See You Yesterday, Rim of the World, The Dirt and When They See Us are all currently available on Netflix.
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