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Not just the movies Hollywood remembers, but also the ones it forgot, and why every movie still matters.
The 80s Movie Podcast is your ultimate throwback ride through the most iconic decade in film. From explosive blockbusters and cult classics to hidden gems you forgot you loved, each episode dives deep into the stories, stars, soundtracks, and behind-the-scenes magic that defined the era.
Expect bold opinions, nostalgic deep dives, and plenty of laughs as we revisit the movies that shaped a generation, whether it’s high school hijinks, sci-fi adventures, action-packed showdowns, or unforgettable coming-of-age moments. If it had big hair, bigger explosions, and a killer synth score, it’s fair game.
Whether you lived the 80s or just wish you had, this podcast brings the decade back to life, one reel at a time. Press play and let’s rewind.
Episodes
Feb 2, 2021
Feb 2, 2021
50 min
On this episode of The FilmJerk Podcast, we complete our three-part miniseries on the 80s movie production and distribution company, Empire Pictures, discussing dozens of films they announced at one time but never ended making.
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Jan 27, 2021
Jan 27, 2021
44 min
On this episode, we continue our mini-series on the movies of Empire Pictures, concentrating on the films they released theatrically in 1988 and 1989, all the movies they would release directly to video, a summation of the decline of Empire Pictures, and what happened to Empire Pictures head Charles Band after he left the company.
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Jan 19, 2021
Jan 19, 2021
53 min
In this episode, we take a look back at Empire Pictures, one of the more successful independent film distributors of the 1980s, responsible for two classic adaptations of H.P. Lovecraft stories, Re-Animator and From Beyond, the Gremlins ripoff Ghoulies (that wasn't actually a ripoff of Gremlins), and some of the most titillating movie titles to ever exist.
Read the rest of this entry »Jan 10, 2021
Jan 10, 2021
24 min
milio Estevez’s Wisdom is one of those 1980s films that feels like it was built from ambition first and restraint second. In this episode of The 80s Movie Podcast, we revisit Estevez’s 1986 directorial debut, a romantic crime drama that follows a young man who turns to bank robbery after finding himself shut out of traditional opportunities. What begins as a political-tinged outlaw story gradually shifts into something far stranger and more unstable as it pushes toward its divisive conclusion.
We look at how Wisdom blends elements of road movie, crime thriller, and social commentary while trying to frame its central characters as modern-day folk heroes. Along the way, we discuss its cast including Emilio Estevez, Demi Moore, Tom Skerritt, and Veronica Cartwright, as well as its early collaboration with composer Danny Elfman, whose score gives the film a restless, uneasy energy. The film’s shifting tone and uneven structure make it a fascinating snapshot of a young filmmaker testing the limits of what he could get on screen.
Over time, Wisdom has become less of a forgotten misfire and more of a curiosity piece from the mid-1980s, often revisited for its ambition as much as its execution. Join us as we unpack a film that tries to balance rebellion, romance, and consequence, and why its legacy continues to spark debate among viewers who encounter it today.
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Jan 4, 2021
Jan 4, 2021
32 min
This week's episode takes a look back at the spectacular train wreck that was Joel Schumacher's 1985 hit film. St. Elmo's Fire.
Read the rest of this entry »Dec 20, 2020
Dec 20, 2020
28 min
On this episode, we take a look back at the 1988 Oliver Stone drama Talk Radio, the first time the writer and director would direct a screenplay from material created by someone else. That someone else was Eric Bogosian, the writer and star of the off-Broadway play the movie would be adapting.
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Dec 15, 2020
Dec 15, 2020
45 min
With David Puttnam’s departure behind it, Columbia Pictures entered a period of reassessment that forced the studio to confront what had worked, what had failed, and what could no longer continue. In the final installment of this series on The 80s Movie Podcast, we explore how the studio responded once the experiment was officially over and attention shifted toward rebuilding stability.
We revisit the lingering impact of the previous slate, the financial and critical reactions surrounding key releases, and the internal decision-making that followed Puttnam’s exit. This period reflects a studio trying to redefine its identity after a high-risk attempt to reposition itself around more filmmaker-driven projects, and the challenges of returning to a more commercially predictable model.
This concluding chapter connects the full arc of the series, from ambitious restructuring to institutional correction, showing how Columbia ultimately moved forward after one of the most closely watched leadership experiments in 1980s Hollywood.
Start: David Puttnam at Columbia Pictures, Part 1: The British Outsider Who Tried to Rewire Hollywood
Part 2: David Puttnam at Columbia Pictures, Part 2: The Films Taking Shape Inside a Changing Studio
Part 3: David Puttnam After Columbia Pictures, Part 3: The 1988 Slate and the Studio Under Strain
Dec 13, 2020
Dec 13, 2020
49 min
By 1988, David Puttnam had already departed Columbia Pictures, but the studio was still working through the consequences and momentum of the slate developed during his tenure. In Part 3 of this series on The 80s Movie Podcast, we examine the films released during this transitional period and how they reflect a studio adjusting course while still carrying forward projects set in motion under earlier leadership.
This era includes titles such as Punchline, The Beast, Things Change, Rocket Gibraltar, Vibes, and The Adventures of Baron Munchausen. Together, they reveal a studio navigating uneven commercial performance, shifting creative priorities, and growing pressure from corporate leadership to stabilize its identity in a rapidly changing marketplace.
Rather than a continuation of a single vision, this phase shows a studio in motion, reacting, recalibrating, and testing what direction comes next. The final chapter, Part 4, explores how those pressures ultimately resolved into a broader reassessment of Columbia’s strategy and leadership direction.
Start: David Puttnam at Columbia Pictures, Part 1: The Outsider Who Tried to Rewire Hollywood
Part 2: David Puttnam at Columbia Pictures, Part 2: The Films Taking Shape Inside a Changing Studio
Final Part: Columbia Pictures After David Puttnam, Part 4: Fallout, Reassessment, and the End of an Experiment
Dec 7, 2020
Dec 7, 2020
56 min
During David Puttnam’s tenure at Columbia Pictures, the studio entered a period of active transition, with a slate of films moving through development and production under his leadership. In Part 2 of this series on The 80s Movie Podcast, we examine the projects taking shape while Puttnam was still running the studio, and how his approach influenced what Columbia was greenlighting during this period.
This chapter covers a wide-ranging slate that includes Hope and Glory, School Daze, The Last Emperor, Vice Versa, Someone to Watch Over Me, and other films in various stages of production. The mix reflects Puttnam’s interest in filmmaker-driven projects and more selective development, set against the practical realities of managing a major Hollywood studio with commercial expectations.
As these films begin moving toward release, tensions between vision, budget, and market expectations become more visible, setting up the pressures that will define the final phase of his leadership. Part 3 continues as these projects reach theaters and the consequences of this period start to become clear.
Start the series: David Puttnam at Columbia Pictures, Part 1: The British Outsider Who Tried to Rewire Hollywood
Continue to Part 3: David Puttnam After Columbia Pictures, Part 3: The 1988 Slate and the Studio Under Strain
Final Part: Columbia Pictures After David Puttnam, Part 4: Fallout, Reassessment, and the End of an Experiment
Nov 30, 2020
Nov 30, 2020
32 min
In this episode of The 80s Movie Podcast, host Edward Havens begins a new miniseries on David Puttnam’s tenure at Columbia Pictures by introducing the man and the mission behind his arrival in Hollywood. Before the internal conflicts and corporate backlash took hold, Puttnam entered the studio system with a clear vision for reshaping how a major studio could operate in the mid-1980s.
Along the way, we trace his journey from respected independent producer to Columbia Pictures chairman. In addition, we explore the philosophy he brought with him, which prioritized filmmaker-driven projects over high-volume studio output. This approach quickly set him apart from the prevailing Hollywood model, which favored franchises, predictable returns, and broad commercial strategy.
At the same time, we establish the foundation for the broader series that follows. Furthermore, we set up the growing tension between creative ambition and corporate expectation that would soon define his time at Columbia. This episode opens the door to one of the most closely watched studio experiments of the 1980s, with Part 2 of David Puttnam at Columbia Pictures moving deeper into the mounting pressure and shifting studio slate.
Continue the series in Part 2: David Puttnam at Columbia Pictures, Part 2: The Films Taking Shape Inside a Changing Studio
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