Directors in the 1980s sought to expand on the film genres that were popular in the previous decade, one of which was adventure films, and what came as a result were bigger, and even weirder stories. The ’80s saw the fusing of multiple genres in one film with adventure stories including bits of action, comedy, and science-fiction. The blending of multiple genres allowed for more imaginative adventures to be told and weirder elements to be explored.

Such films include Yellowbeard, The Ice Pirates, and Enemy Mine. The fun to be had with the oddity of these ’80s adventure films comes in the form of dated special effects or original concepts that wouldn’t be taken seriously by modern audiences. As technology has advanced and the adventure genre has acquired some widely acclaimed films, audiences can feel nostalgic for the ’80s films that possess a weird charm unique to the decade.

10 Yellowbeard (1983)

Directed by Mel Damski

Despite having a stacked cast full of comedic actors like Cheech & Chong, Marty Feldman, and Monty Python’s Graham Chapman as the titular pirate, Yellowbeard still failed to impress critics and audiences and has since fallen into obscurity. The film follows the infamous pirate Yellowbeard who escapes from prison and sets out to look for buried treasure. Yellowbeard faces numerous obstacles as his rivals have their eyes set on the same treasure.

The supporting characters are eccentric and entertaining, but don’t differ much from others seen in more acclaimed adventure films about pirates. Instead, what’s most beloved about Yellowbeard is its comedy. The humor in the film, which is a mix of American and British humor, doesn’t always land, but Yellowbeard is filled to the brim with it, ensuring that even if audiences aren’t wowed by the film’s story or action, they still walk away having had a good laugh.

9 The Ice Pirates (1984)

Directed by Stewart Raffill

While the production and budget complications for The Ice Pirates were certainly frustrating for the film’s creative team, they helped create an entertaining offbeat sci-fi adventure film. Set in the distant future where there is a high level of water scarcity, The Ice Pirates sees its main characters, pirates Jason (Robert Urich) and Roscoe (Michael D. Roberts), aid Princess Karina (Mary Crosby) in finding her father who has gone missing searching for water. Actors like Anjelica Huston, Ron Perlman, and John Carradine act in supporting roles.

The Ice Pirates wasn’t a massive hit at the box office by any means, but it did manage to make more than its $9 million budget. Though The Ice Pirates currently sits with a 17% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes, with many negatively reviewing the film for its mindless absurdity, the film can still be enjoyed for its parody elements. Whether or not it was intentional, The Ice Pirates is seen by many as a poor Star Wars rip-off and falls under the “so-bad-it’s-good” category of films.

8 Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins (1985)

Directed by Guy Hamilton

Based on The Destroyer book series, which spans over 150 novels, Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins was intended to be the start of the next adventure film franchise. In the film, Sam Makin is a New York cop recruited by a secret United States organization known as CURE. Sam’s death is faked, and he’s given a new identity: Remo Williams, the main character from The Destroyer series. Remo, played by Fred Ward, is assigned to investigate a corrupt program within the U.S. Army.

Ward doesn’t quite live up to the magnetic performances of other ’80s adventure heroes, but he still gives a compelling performance and has great chemistry with his on-screen mentor, martial arts master Chiun (Joel Grey). Remo Williams combines espionage with martial arts and has a great mix of action and comedy. The film underperformed and earned negative reviews, axing the possibility of a full-blown franchise. Still, Remo Williams is full of impressive set pieces and action sequences that balance out its more outlandish aspects and make the film worth watching.

7 Legend (1985)

Directed by Ridley Scott

Ridley Scott began the ’80s with Blade Runner, which many now recognize as one of the best sci-fi films of all time. Scott’s next release was Legend, an epic fantasy adventure tale that failed to earn the same acclaim. Legend stars a young Tom Cruise as Jack, a forest-dwelling boy determined to save Princess Lili (Mia Sara) and the world from Darkness (Tim Curry). The Brothers Grimm fairy tales and Disney animation were two major inspirations for Scott.

The whimsical influences are apparent in Legend‘s visuals and story, but the latter element is severely lacking. The biggest issue many critics have had with Legend over the years is its cheap narrative. Still, Legend can, and should, be enjoyed for its enchanting fictional world. The weak story doesn’t diminish the film’s ability to entertain. Audiences who are willing to give in to Legend‘s missteps are treated with an odd, imaginative adventure unlike anything else in Ridley Scott’s filmography.

6 Enemy Mine (1985)

Directed by Wolfgang Petersen

Many sci-fi adventure films about conflicts between humans and aliens are loud and action-packed. However, Enemy Mine differs and focuses on the connection between two individuals from each side. In Enemy Mine, humans are at war with the Dracs, a reptilian race. When one human, Will (Dennis Quaid), gets stranded on an alien planet with a Drac nicknamed Jerry (Louis Gossett Jr.), the two must work together to survive. Quaid and Gossett are incredibly well-matched on screen as their characters overcome their hatred of one another.

Many critical reviews of Enemy Mine agree that Will and Jerry’s relationship is the film’s greatest strength, made even more apparent when other characters come in and disrupt the film’s flow. Enemy Mine hasn’t made the biggest impact after failing to perform well at the box office, but the imaginative film, with all of its cheesy elements, is one that audiences can look back on with a nostalgic eye and enjoy.

5 Clash Of The Titans (1981)

Directed by Desmond Davis

In Clash of the Titans, Perseus (Harry Hamlin), the son of Zeus, goes on a heroic adventure to save Princess Andromeda (Judi Bowker), who he hopes to marry. On his journey, Perseus comes across various mythological creatures who stand in his way. This is where Clash of the Titans gets a bit strange, as it incorporates stop-motion animation in its live-action scenes. Famous animator Ray Harryhausen was in charge of bringing the creatures to life, including Medusa and the Kraken.

Harryhausen previously worked on Jason and the Argonauts, another fantasy adventure film based on Greek mythology, and brought a similar eye-catching appeal to the mythological figures in Clash of the Titans. Despite the technological advancements made in recent years, these elements of the film remain just as impressive. Clash of the Titans received a 3D remake in 2010, and a sequel to that film in 2012, with bigger action sequences, but neither of the later films could replicate the original’s ’80s charm.

4 The Adventures Of Buckaroo Banzai Across The 8th Dimension (1984)

Directed by W. D. Richter

The wackiness of The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension left many critics indifferent about the sci-fi adventure film. RoboCop‘s Peter Weller stars in Buckaroo Banzai as the titular physicist, neurosurgeon, and rock star tasked with saving the world from an alien invasion. Buckaroo Banzai combines many genres and invites audiences to have fun in its well-built fictional world.

Actors like John Lithgow and Jeff Goldblum, in addition to Weller, play their roles with a sincerity that fans of a heroic parody film can appreciate. The zany nature of the ’80s sci-fi film is fitting for the decade it was released and has charmed audiences over the years, earning Buckaroo Banzai a passionate cult following. Buckaroo Banzai has received a book and comic series based on the film’s characters and has been referenced in numerous pieces of sci-fi media, including Steven Spielberg’s Ready Player One.

3 The Last Starfighter (1984)

Directed by Nick Castle

The Last Starfighter follows teenager Alex Rogan (Lance Guest) whose highest score in his favorite arcade game allows him to be recruited by an alien defense force. Alex is seen as a character audiences can easily relate to as he was living an ordinary life before being sent to space. Working for the defense force, Alex must put his video game knowledge to the test in a real battle against aliens.

The Last Starfighter is seen as one of the better films to follow in the footsteps of Star Wars, and though its creative concept is not original, it is executed well. Additionally, the film’s impressive visual effects have earned it high praise from critics. In addition to Tron, The Last Starfighter is one of the earliest examples of a film using extensive amounts of CGI. Used in the film’s space setting and various battle scenes, The Last Starfighter‘s use of CGI immerses audiences into its vast, action-packed fictional world.

2 Highlander (1986)

Directed by Russell Mulcahy

Highlander is known for its MTV-style filmmaking and rock-inspired soundtrack, featuring the music of Queen, but failed to impress critics when it was first released. The film has since gained a cult following that anticipates the upcoming Highlander reboot starring Henry Cavill. The fan base surrounding the original Highlander led to many sequels that got weirder with every new addition and weren’t all that necessary.

Highlander follows a 16th-century immortal swordsman, Connor MacLeod (Christopher Lambert), determined to defeat other swordsmen like him and prevent a warrior known as the Kurgan from winning “The Prize.” Highlander is unique in that it subverts audiences’ expectations and brings the fantastical fight for the Prize to New York City in 1985. The large, captivating action sequences and brisk pace make up for many of Highlander‘s narrative and acting faults and have caught the attention of fans of ’80s action-adventure films over the years.

1 Time Bandits (1981)

Directed by Terry Gilliam

Known for his imaginative films filled with dark humor, Terry Gilliam’s Time Bandits has just the ideal amount of quirks to delight fans of his work. Time Bandits combines history with fantastical adventures and tells the story of Kevin (Craig Warnock), a young boy who joins a group of bandits that travel through time taking various pieces of treasure from each historical era. The on-screen world is one of a kind and is brought to life with inviting set pieces and special effects.

Time Bandits works as a children’s film but appeals to all ages as it explores themes of escapism and imagination. Time Bandits examines aspects of ordered society, and the need to escape it, through the eyes of a child, Kevin, with the same idea being explored in two of Gilliam’s following films, Brazil and The Adventures of Baron Munchausen. All three of the films are parts of Gilliam’s “Trilogy of Imagination.”