Top 16 Drama Movies Picks from 1980

The life of boxer Jake LaMotta, whose violence and temper that led him to the top in the ring destroyed his life outside of it. Info on Raging Bull / IMDB / YouTube

A Victorian surgeon rescues a heavily disfigured man who is mistreated while scraping a living as a side-show freak. Behind his monstrous façade, there is revealed a person of kindness, intelligence and sophistication. See more about The Elephant Man / IMDB / YouTube

A guide leads two men through an area known as the Zone to find a room that grants wishes. Check out Stalker / IMDB / YouTube

During the Victorian period, two preteen cousins are shipwrecked on a tropical island in the South Pacific and enjoy a simple life together until puberty complicates matters. Look into The Blue Lagoon / IMDB / YouTube

After the death of his employer forces him out of the only home he's ever known, a simpleminded, sheltered gardener becomes an unlikely trusted advisor to a powerful tycoon and an insider in Washington politics. Learn about Being There / IMDB / YouTube

The accidental death of the older son of an affluent family deeply strains the relationships among the bitter mother, the good-natured father and the guilt-ridden younger son. Check out Ordinary People / IMDB / YouTube

A mysterious blonde woman kills one of the patients of a psychiatrist and then goes after the high-class hooker who witnessed the murder. Explore Dressed to Kill / IMDB / YouTube

A dramatization of the ascent to Caesar and subsequent reign of Caligula, one of the most notorious leaders of ancient Rome. Look into Caligula / IMDB / YouTube

A petty thief with an utter resemblance to a samurai warlord is hired as the lord's double. When the warlord later dies the thief is forced to take up arms in his place. Look into Kagemusha: The Shadow Warrior / IMDB / YouTube

A Chicago playwright uses self-hypnosis to travel back in time and meet the actress whose vintage portrait hangs in a grand hotel. Read about Somewhere in Time / IMDB / YouTube

Los Angeles escort Julian Kay is accused of a murder which he did not commit. Look into American Gigolo / IMDB / YouTube

A police officer goes undercover in the underground S&M gay subculture of New York City to catch a serial killer who is preying on gay men. Read about Cruising / IMDB / YouTube

In 1924, Oskar Matzerath is born in the Free City of Danzig. At age three, he falls down a flight of stairs and stops growing. In 1939, World War II breaks out. Info on The Tin Drum / IMDB / YouTube

While attending a retrospective of his work, a filmmaker recalls his life and his loves: the inspirations for his films. See more about Stardust Memories / IMDB / YouTube

Four teenagers must prove their mettle as they begin their journey at the New York High School of Performing Arts. They must navigate through heartbreak, school work, adolescence and challenges. Details on Fame / IMDB / YouTube

A hardened sergeant and the four core members of his infantry unit try to survive World War II as they move from battle to battle throughout Europe. Details on The Big Red One / IMDB / YouTube