With the proliferation of streaming websites, viewers can now see movies just about whenever they want. Many of the new subscription streaming services are expanding their offerings of more “mainstream” films, including original films. And while some are still only showing the latest blockbusters, there are some streaming sites, like Vivamax , that are dedicated to bringing viewers the classics to the latest in Filipino movies.
In the late 80s and early 90s, the Philippines was still fairly new to the film industry, so the country’s moviegoers weren’t used to seeing local films on the big screen. Thanks to movie theaters like the good ol’ Pinoy movies were able to find their way to the big screen, and many became popular classics today.
In the 80’s, the so-called Golden Age of Philippine Cinema came to an end with the rise of the now defunct cinemas like the Clover or Avenue. However, some of the best movies of that decade have managed to stay in our memories, and many of them are still worth watching and re-watching.

Watch 80s Classic movies that bring back memories of the 80s

Sa totoo lang! (1985)
Comedy, Drama8.9
Some of the country’s finest actors join the fun in this witty, totally hilarious look into the sex lives of lower-middle-class women who are old and single, separated, widowed, grass-widowed, fooling around, and everything else.
Director: Maryo J. de los Reyes | Stars: Gina Pareño, Carmi Martin, Gloria Diaz, Leroy Salvador
Votes: 47

Bala ko ang hahatol (1985)
Action
Director: Bebong Osorio | Stars: Robin Padilla, George Estregan Jr., Charito Solis, Rey ‘PJ’ Abellana

Balweg, the Rebel Priest (1986)
R-18 | 122 min | Action, Drama, War1.8
In the war which ensued with the arrival of the military forces, Father Balweg was forced out of his parish and into the mountains, where he later became one of the most charismatic of …
Directors: Tikoy Aguiluz, Butch Perez | Stars: Phillip Salvador, Rio Locsin, Johnny Delgado, Tetchie Agbayani
Votes: 41

Palimos ng pag-ibig (1986)
PG-13 | 126 min | Drama, Romance7.3
An infertile woman who wants to give her husband a child asks a stranger to be a babymaker.
Director: Eddie Garcia | Stars: Vilma Santos, Dina Bonnevie, Edu Manzano, Laurice Guillen
Votes: 11

Ninja Kids and the Samurai Sword (1986)
G | 100 min | Action, Adventure, Comedy6.8
Group of kids explore an underground cavern and find a mystical land where they battle Lotus, an evil sorceress.
Director: Pablo Santiago | Stars: J.C. Bonnin, Francis Magalona, Ramon Christopher, Keno
Votes: 199

Magdusa ka! (1986)
Drama7.3
An embittered mother sends her daughter away when the girl reestablishes a relationship with her estranged father.
Director: Eddie Garcia | Stars: Dina Bonnevie, Christopher De Leon, Nida Blanca, Dindo Fernando
Votes: 8

Nakagapos na puso (1986)
127 min | Drama6.8
A heart blindly in love demands no less than unconditional love.
Director: Leroy Salvador | Stars: Lorna Tolentino, Edu Manzano, Tonton Gutierrez, Sandy Andolong
Votes: 10

Sana’y wala nang wakas (1986)
Drama, Music8.0
Is there a price for stardom? Does it cost–a treasured friendship? A beautiful romance? A loving father? Success tests the friendship of three friends who succeed as a singing trio until one of them becomes a soloist.
Director: Leroy Salvador | Stars: Sharon Cuneta, Cherie Gil, Dina Bonnevie, Dindo Fernando
Votes: 54

Captain Barbell (1986)
SPG | Action, Adventure, Comedy7.8
Teng Teng is an orphan who works by collecting junk from the streets. One day, as a reward for his good deeds, he is given the magic barbell (dumbbell) which empowers him to be Captain Barbell, who fights evil forces in the land.
Director: Leroy Salvador | Stars: Edu Manzano, Herbert Bautista, Sharon Cuneta, Dina Bonnevie
Votes: 67

Kailan tama ang mali (1986)
PG-13 | 103 min | Drama8.9
To maintain her lavish lifestyle, a socialite and former beauty queen agrees to become the mistress of a corrupt provincial governor.
Director: Celso Ad. Castillo | Stars: Pilar Pilapil, Elizabeth Oropesa, Rio Locsin, Chat Silayan
Votes: 42

Gabi na, kumander (1986)
Action, Drama, War6.0
The story of two brothers with opposite beliefs who suddenly find themselves in a fight for what each one believes is right.
Director: Pepe Marcos | Stars: Phillip Salvador, Dindo Fernando, Eddie Garcia, Bembol Roco
Votes: 14

Kamagong (1986)
Action, Sport7.9
Arnis, the ancient Filipino martial art, took center stage in this coming of age drama wherein a young boy perfected his skills and his idol rediscovered what it takes to be a man.
Director: Carlo J. Caparas | Stars: Lito Lapid, J.C. Bonnin, Eddie Garcia, Ruel Vernal
Votes: 38

Send in the Clowns (1986)
100 min | Comedy, Drama, Musical2.6
Tired of getting fired from different odd jobs, Roberto “Robin” (Tito Sotto), Ricardo “Ricky” (Vic Sotto) and Rodrigo “Roy” (Joey de Leon) decided to make use of their ability to make people laugh by working as clowns in a carnival.
Director: Mike Relon Makiling | Stars: Tito Sotto, Vic Sotto, Joey de Leon, Rose Ann Gonzales
Votes: 40

Bukas… uulan ng bala (1986)
Action
THIS IS Nth VERSIONOF THE TYPICAL ACTION-MOVIE FORMULA: HERO’S PARENTS ARE MURDERED, SISTER IS RAPED, HERO TAKES THE LAW INTO HIS HANDS AND RELENTLESSLY PURSUES THE CRIMINALS.
Director: Eddie Nicart | Stars: Dante Varona, Paquito Diaz, Liz Alindogan, Raul Aragon

American Ninja 2: The Confrontation (1987)
R | 90 min | Action, Comedy, Drama4.9 39 Metascore
On a remote Caribbean island, Army Ranger Joe Armstrong investigates the disappearance of several marines, which leads him to The Lion, a super-criminal who has kidnapped a local scientist and mass-produced an army of mutant Ninja warriors.
Director: Sam Firstenberg | Stars: Michael Dudikoff, Steve James, Larry Poindexter, Gary Conway
Votes: 8,648 | Gross: $4.00M

Saan nagtatago ang pag-ibig? (1987)
PG-13 | Drama7.7
The story is about a mentally retarded young man, Val. His older brother used him to marry his pregnant girlfriend. Inspite of his condition, Val learned to love and take care of his wife. …
Director: Eddie Garcia | Stars: Vilma Santos, Gloria Romero, Alicia Vergel, Alicia Alonzo
Votes: 12

Jack & Jill (1987)
G | 123 min | Comedy6.6
The gender-bending brother/sister tandem of the 1950s (then portrayed by Lolita Rodriguez and Dolphy) returns in the 1980s, this time portrayed by Sharon Cuneta and Herbert Bautista and …
Director: Leroy Salvador | Stars: Sharon Cuneta, Herbert Bautista, Edu Manzano, Panchito
Votes: 26

Kung aagawin mo ang lahat sa akin (1987)
Drama6.8
A bitter rivalry between two sisters is rooted in parental favoritism.
Director: Eddie Garcia | Stars: Sharon Cuneta, Jackie Lou Blanco, Laurice Guillen, Dante Rivero
Votes: 8

Pasan ko ang daigdig (1987)
128 min | Drama, Musical, Romance7.0
Lupe, a poor woman, wishes to terminate her long-suffering and poverty, and improve not only her own life but that of her crippled mother, through her singing. With the help of her three …
Director: Lino Brocka | Stars: Sharon Cuneta, Tonton Gutierrez, Loretta Marquez, Mark Gil
Votes: 36

Walang karugtong ang nakaraan (1987)
Drama
A cardiologist widower notices a strong resemblance between his daughter’s tutor and his late wife. Because he has never gotten over losing her, he courts his daughter’s tutor, marries her …
Director: Leroy Salvador | Stars: Christopher De Leon, Sharon Cuneta, Carmi Martin, Chanda Romero

Alabok sa ulap (1987)
Director: Leroy Salvador | Stars: Dina Bonnevie, Edu Manzano, Tonton Gutierrez, Dindo Fernando

Puto (1987)
G | 94 min | Comedy, Fantasy7.0
Ivanhoe’s classmates call him Puto because he sells rice cakes. He remains kind even if others bully him; so, three dwarfs grant him his wishes. From a nobody, he becomes a varsity player and soon experiences being a cool kid.
Director: Leroy Salvador | Stars: Herbert Bautista, Marita Zobel, Luis Miguel, Janno Gibbs
Votes: 18

Maging akin ka lamang (1987)
Drama, Romance8.6
Rich, beautiful Rosita would do anything to win the love of the man with whom she is obsessed, but neither her beauty nor all the money in the world gives her what she wants.
Director: Lino Brocka | Stars: Christopher De Leon, Lorna Tolentino, Dina Bonnevie, Jay Ilagan
Votes: 54

Working Girls 2 (1987)
90 min | Comedy7.0
In this sequel, which assumes a more political bent, are blue-collar workers, salesladies, and common laborers.
Director: Ishmael Bernal | Stars: Dina Bonnevie, Gloria Diaz, Melanie Marquez, Dang Cecilio
Votes: 9

Anak ng lupa (1987)
Drama
The drama takes on a social issue: the plight of the peasantry.
Director: Manuel ‘Fyke’ Cinco | Stars: Ramon ‘Bong’ Revilla Jr., Pinky Amador, Michael De Mesa, Rosemarie Gil

Mga agila ng arkong bato (1987)
Action, Drama8.6
Four law offenders were recruited, trained and then organized into a vigilante group to take down a crime syndicate.
Director: Willy Milan | Stars: Rey Malonzo, Ronnie Ricketts, Tom Olivar, Jess Lapid Jr.
Votes: 40

Oscar Ramos: Hitman (1987)
Action, Drama
A FARMER, UNJUSTLY PUT BEHIND BARS. ESCAPES AND BECOMES A REBEL HIT MAN.
Director: Efren C. Piñon | Stars: Ramon Revilla, Vic Vargas, Carlos Padilla Jr., Marianne de la Riva

Macho Dancer (1988)
TV-MA | 136 min | Drama6.3
Abandoned by his American lover, a handsome teenager from the mountains journeys to Manila in an effort to support his family. With a popular call boy as his mentor, Paul enters the …
Director: Lino Brocka | Stars: Jaclyn Jose, Daniel Fernando, Princess Punzalan, Allan Paule
Votes: 417

Gor II (1988)
PG-13 | 89 min | Action, Fantasy, Sci-Fi2.3
An Earthman returns to the planet Gor, and fights against tyranny.
Director: John ‘Bud’ Cardos | Stars: Urbano Barberini, Rebecca Ferratti, Jack Palance, Donna Denton
Votes: 1,826

Misis mo, misis ko (1988)
PG-13 | Drama, Romance8.5
Two married couples–Dina and Edu, and Jackie Lou and Ricky–became close friends. The amorous merry-go-round comes full circle when hurt is felt at what she and he think is betrayal.
Director: Carlos Siguion-Reyna | Stars: Dina Bonnevie, Edu Manzano, Jackie Lou Blanco, Ricky Davao
Votes: 34

3 mukha ng pag-ibig (1988)
Drama, Romance6.1
Directors: Emmanuel H. Borlaza, Lino Brocka, Leroy Salvador | Stars: Sharon Cuneta, Tonton Gutierrez, Leroy Salvador, Gina Pareño
Votes: 9

Buy One, Take One (1988)
Comedy, Romance6.7
Susan Roces and Sharon Cuneta play sisters who sell fish at a public market and play instruments in their town’s brass band that has been consigned to playing funeral music.
Director: Pablo Santiago | Stars: Sharon Cuneta, Richard Gomez, Susan Roces, Bernard Bonnin
Votes: 10

Jack & Jill sa Amerika (1988)
Comedy5.6
Director: Leroy Salvador | Stars: Sharon Cuneta, Herbert Bautista, Tonton Gutierrez, Palito
Votes: 20

Hati tayo sa magdamag (1988)
Drama
AN AMBITIOUS YOUNG MAN LEAVES HIS probinsyana GIRLFRIEND WHEN HIS SOPHISTICATED EMPLOYER SHOWS INTEREST IN HIM.
Director: Lupita Aquino-Kashiwahara | Stars: Edu Manzano, Tetchie Agbayani, Jaclyn Jose, Francis Magalona

Pik pak boom (1988)
110 min | Comedy, Romance6.7
THIS OMNIBUS FILM CONSISTS OF THREE TEEN-ORIENTED STORIES FOR VIVA FILMS’ YOUNG STARS.
Director: Leroy Salvador | Stars: Herbert Bautista, Lea Salonga, Lilet, Richard Reynoso
Votes: 11

The Untouchable Family (1988)
PG-13 | Action, Comedy, Crime9.1
Director: Tony Y. Reyes | Stars: Caridad Sanchez, Edgar Mortiz, Redford White, Ronnel Victor
Votes: 38

Boy Negro (1988)
95 min | Action, Drama6.2
The true-to-life story of Arsenio Cayanan, an Amerasian whose difficulties as a youth led him to a life of crime.
Director: Pepe Marcos | Stars: Phillip Salvador, Dang Cecilio, Leopoldo Salcedo, Paquito Diaz
Votes: 13

Jacky Tyan (1988)
Comedy
THE MOVIE US BILLED AS A MODERN-DAY FAIRY TALE FOR ALL AGES, YOUNG AND OLD.
Director: Bert R. Mendoza | Stars: Herbert Bautista, Cris Villanueva, Ana Margarita Gonzales, Beverly Vergel

Kumander Bawang (1988)
105 min | Action, Adventure, Comedy7.7
HERBERT BAUTISTA IS A YOUNG aswang-buster SUPERHERO IN THIS FARCE, THAT COMBINES COMEDY, HORROR, FOLKLORE,
Director: Ramje | Stars: Herbert Bautista, Mat Ranillo III, Matet De Leon, Mia Pratts
Votes: 65

Paano tatakasan ang bukas? (1988)
115 min | Drama
EMOTIONALLY VOID, A DANCER-CALL GIRL LEADS A DECADENT LIFE UNTIL SEE MEETS ‘GILBERT’ THE MAN THE WOMEN ‘DESIREE’ WHOM SHE THOUGHT COULD TRANSFORM HER. BUT SHE IS UNABLE TO ESCAPE FROM HER PAST.
Director: Emmanuel H. Borlaza | Stars: Dina Bonnevie, Gabby Concepcion, Jay Ilagan, Dawn Zulueta

Ex-Army (1988)
PG-13 | Drama
“ONCE A SOLDIER ALWAYS A SOLDIER” THIS IS THE STORY OF ANOTHER MAN IN UNIFORM TURNED FUGITIVE.
Director: Tony Y. Reyes | Stars: Lito Lapid, Marianne de la Riva, Tetchie Agbayani, Paquito Diaz

Dongalo Massacre (1988)
106 min | Action, Drama
IN THIS TRUE-TO-LIFE STORY, A YOUNG SOLDER IS TRAUMATIZED WHEN HE INADVERTENTLY KILLS INNOCENT CIVILIANS WHILE RAIDING A REBEL’S CAMP.
Director: Nilo Saez | Stars: Ramon ‘Bong’ Revilla Jr., Vic Vargas, Michael De Mesa, Ronnie Ricketts

She-Man, Mistress of the Universe (1988)
PG-13 | Action, Adventure, Comedy6.3
A spoof of the Filipino fantasy icon Ang Panday and He-Man and the Masters of the Universe.
Director: Tony Y. Reyes | Stars: Joey de Leon, Panchito, Timmy Cruz, Ruffa Gutierrez
Votes: 28

Afuang: Bounty Hunter (1988)
PG-13 | 102 min | Action7.0
MULTI-DECORATED LAWMAN, PATROLMAN FIRST CLASS ABNER AFUANG IS DISMISSED FROM SERVICE WHEN HE STANDS UP FOR HIS CONVICTION.
Director: Mike Relon Makiling | Stars: Phillip Salvador, Eddie Garcia, Mark Gil, Marianne de la Riva
Votes: 10

Iyo ang batas akin ang katarungan (1988)
Action
A YOUNG MAN REALIZED THAT NOT EVERYTHING LEGAL IS MORALLY JUST.
Director: Leonardo L. Garcia | Stars: Ramon ‘Bong’ Revilla Jr., Eddie Garcia, Paquito Diaz, Cristina Gonzales

I Love You Three Times a Day (1988)
Comedy, Drama
A high-school English teacher’s students always play tricks on him because of his carabao English. He meets and falls in love with a fellow teacher without realizing that she’s already …
Director: Mike Relon Makiling | Stars: Jimmy Santos, Carmi Martin, Nova Villa, Jigo Garcia

Smith & Wesson (1988)
Action, Comedy2.0
FIRST THERE WAS STARSKY AND HUTCH. THEN THERE WAS TUBBS AND CROCKET. NOW, THERE’S SMITH and WESSON. – THIS IS A COMEDY-ACTION FILM, WITH MORE OF THE FORMER.
Director: Tony Y. Reyes | Stars: Joey de Leon, Vic Sotto, Beverly Vergel, Angela Luz
Votes: 38

Akyat bahay gang (1988)
Action, Drama
A GANG OF HOUSE BURGLARS FOLLOW AN UNUSUAL MODUS OPERANDI AS THEY SNEAK INTO HOUSES AND BUILDINGS,
Director: Efren C. Piñon | Stars: Lito Lapid, Jean Saburit, Angela Perez, Paquito Diaz

Huwag mong itanong kung bakit (1988)
Drama
THE LOVE BETWEEN TWO SISTERS SURVIVES THEIR LUST FOR POWER.
Director: Eddie Garcia | Stars: Dina Bonnevie, Edu Manzano, Ricky Davao, Cherie Gil