Alright, you’ve scrolled past the same old listicles about The Godfather and Schindler’s List like we all do when we’re too lazy to make a decision. So let’s talk about some underrated throwback gems that have slipped through the cracks of pop culture history. These aren’t the movies you brag about watching at dinner parties, but they’ll make you question the very fabric of your existence, or at the very least, give you a chuckle.

1. The Last Dragon (1985)

First off, let me just say: this movie is an assault on the senses. If you’ve ever wondered what a Bruce Lee musical looks like, The Last Dragon is here to answer that question. The plot? It’s about a kid named Leroy Green, aka Bruce Leroy, who’s on a quest to find the "Glow" (no, not the Netflix show) and unlock his inner Bruce Lee power. Along the way, he fights evil gangsters, goes on a quest for his inner zen, and dances around in spandex like it's 1985. The acting? Not great. The soundtrack? Pure 80s gold. Does it deserve a cult following? Yes, but only if you’re into things that are so bad they’re good.

2. The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension (1984)

This movie is like if Star Wars, Indiana Jones, and The Matrix had a baby that was raised by a single weird uncle who fed it only LSD and comic books. Peter Weller (yes, RoboCop) stars as Buckaroo Banzai, a neurosurgeon, rock star, and interdimensional crime fighter. This movie has everything—alien invasions, a bizarre cast of characters, and some seriously nonsensical dialogue that somehow works. It’s a fever dream wrapped in a leather jacket, and it’ll either leave you thinking, “What did I just watch?” or “That was the greatest thing ever.” Either way, you’ll never forget it.

3. Night of the Comet (1984)

If you’ve ever dreamed about being one of the last survivors of a post-apocalyptic world and you’re not picky about your apocalypse, then Night of the Comet is the movie for you. Two valley girls, a comet, and an entire city of zombies—what could possibly go wrong? This movie combines two of the greatest things of the 80s: mall culture and the end of the world. It’s like Dawn of the Dead but with more leg warmers and less existential dread. It’s one of those movies that’s just cheesy enough to be fun, and just weird enough to keep you guessing how anyone thought it was a good idea.

4. The Monster Squad (1987)

Let’s get this out of the way: The Monster Squad is Goonies meets Universal Monsters. Yeah, I said it. It’s basically a ragtag group of kids who take on Dracula, Frankenstein, the Mummy, and all the other classic monsters because—reasons. It’s like someone said, “Hey, what if we threw a bunch of kids in a basement, gave them some weapons, and let them go toe-to-toe with creatures that are supposed to be scary?” Turns out, it’s absolutely delightful, and it’s got all the 80s magic you can handle. You’ve got the monsters, you’ve got the cheesy one-liners, and you’ve got the weird sense that the film’s actual moral is “let kids fight monsters.” How did this one fly under the radar?

5. Mannequin (1987)

Look, I don’t know how to explain this movie. A man falls in love with a mannequin who comes to life, and somehow it’s both weird and oddly heartwarming. It’s like Lifelike Romance 101, but with zero real-life consequences. Andrew McCarthy, who we all know from being the loveable slacker in the 80s, stars as a window dresser at a department store (because of course) who falls for a mannequin. I mean, what’s not to love about a movie that was based on the belief that romantic comedies should defy all logic? Bonus points for featuring Kim Cattrall in what may be her most iconic role ever.

6. Earth Girls Are Easy (1988)

If you’ve ever thought, “I wonder what would happen if The Fly had a baby with a musical,” then Earth Girls Are Easy is the film for you. It’s got Jeff Goldblum, Geena Davis, and Jim Carrey as a trio of colorful aliens who crash-land in California and try to fit in with human society. The fashion? Outrageous. The plot? Confusing but entertaining. The humor? Insane. This movie is, quite literally, a fever dream of neon, weird jokes, and Goldblum doing his best to be both charming and creepy. Honestly, it’s a mess, but it’s a beautiful mess.

7. Chopping Mall (1986)

Let’s wrap this up with a movie that you might find in the bargain bin of your local VHS store. Chopping Mall is about a group of teenagers who get trapped inside a mall overnight with security robots that have gone haywire. Sounds like a late-night nightmare, right? It’s got everything: blood, robots, teenagers making questionable life choices, and a sense of humor that is far more self-aware than you’d expect from a movie with a premise like that. If you’ve ever wanted to watch people get hunted down by malfunctioning robots in a mall, this is the movie for you. And if you haven’t, well, I guess it’s time you gave it a shot anyway.

So there you have it—underrated throwback movies that are just begging for you to watch them. Are they all masterpieces? Absolutely not. But they’ll entertain the hell out of you, and that’s all that matters when you're scrolling through Netflix for the hundredth time, trying to avoid yet another true crime docuseries. Grab some popcorn, turn off your brain for a bit, and enjoy the absurdity of it all. Trust me, you won’t regret it… unless you’re trying to explain these films to your friends later.