The Top 10 Dance Movies of the ’80s | From Fame to Footloose

If the 1980s taught us anything, it's this:

When life gets complicated, the solution is often to settle things with a dance number.

Need to escape your small town? Dance.

Need to impress your friends? Dance.

Need to win a competition, overcome adversity or discover your true self? Definitely dance.

This week on the Stuck in the ’80s podcast, we're revisiting a fan-favorite episode from the summer of 2021 as Steve, Jen with One N and Gayle in DC count down their picks for the Top 10 dance movies of the 1980s.

It turns out our beloved decade wasn't just a great era for music videos. It was also a golden age for dance films, producing some of the most memorable movie moments ever committed to film.

The discussion begins with classics like Fame, the movie that helped launch a decade-long fascination with performers chasing their dreams through hard work, talent and impressive choreography. The gang also revisits Footloose, the ultimate story of rebellion through dance and one of the defining cultural touchstones of the MTV era.

Along the way, the conversation celebrates films such as Girls Just Want to Have Fun, which remains one of the most charming and underrated dance movies of the decade, along with Tap, a film that showcased extraordinary talent while helping preserve one of America's great dance traditions.

Of course, narrowing an entire decade's worth of dance movies down to just ten selections isn't easy. The hosts debate rankings, defend favorites and revisit the scenes, performances and soundtracks that made these films so unforgettable.

The episode also highlights how dance movies occupied a unique place in 1980s culture. Long before TikTok trends and viral choreography, these films inspired audiences to hit the dance floor, sign up for lessons or simply spend hours practicing moves in front of the bedroom mirror.

Like many Stuck in the ’80s movie episodes, the discussion combines nostalgia, pop-culture history and plenty of friendly disagreement. Everyone has a favorite dance movie. The fun comes from arguing about where it belongs on the list.

Whether you were inspired by Kevin Bacon, Sarah Jessica Parker or the students at New York City's High School of Performing Arts, there's a good chance one of these films helped define your relationship with music and dance.

If you love movie soundtracks, iconic dance scenes and revisiting the films that taught us to cut loose, this episode belongs in your playlist.

The Stuck in the ’80s Podcast has spent nearly 20 years celebrating the music, movies, television and pop culture of the greatest decade ever. Support the show on Patreon for bonus episodes, exclusive livestream hangouts, behind-the-scenes content and merch for longtime listeners.

One thing we've learned from hosting events aboard The 80s Cruise is that '80s fans never need much encouragement to get up and dance. Whether it's a late-night concert, a theme-party dance floor or an impromptu singalong in the ship's atrium, the music never really stops. Use promo code STUCK when booking your cabin and come experience a week where the soundtrack of your youth is played live every single day. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.