The ’80s were a colorful time, from big hair to bold clothes. And we’re not just talking about the rock bands. From music to movies, it was a great time to be alive.
The best FAST service for ’80s film buffs who want to relive the golden times is Pluto TV. While several FAST providers have plenty to offer for a taste of the ’80s, Pluto TV has the best and most diverse selection.
Keep reading to learn about our top FAST service for ’80s film fanatics.
Then, jump into the comments and tell us which ad-supported streaming service you like best for their ’80s collection.
What are FAST Services?
FAST services are streaming apps that let users access their extensive collection of movies and TV shows for the price of viewing a few ads — no money needed.
While many people may use FAST services to watch older TV while saving money on subscription services, ’80s film buffs have a different reason. We spout the many awesomenesses of FAST services in another article. But this one will focus on which FAST service best suits ’80s movie lovers.
It took a lot of leg work and some mind-numbing research to compare the different streaming services to find the one that offered the best collection of ’80s movies.
We considered eight of the best FAST services — Tubi, Freevee, Pluto TV, The Roku Channel, Plex, Sling Freestream, Xumo Play, and Samsung TV Plus.
The winner of the eight contenders for the best collection of ’80s movies is Pluto TV, an OTT (over-the-top) AVOD (advertiser-supported video on demand) service!
Hulu won out as the paid streaming service with the most diverse ’80s collection.
What is Pluto TV?
The Paramount network owns Pluto TV, which offers viewers thousands of hours of movies and TV shows for free. You can access dozens of iconic series, such as Star Trek, Cheers, and Frasier.
Or the massive library of Paramount Studios movies.
Pluto TV operates worldwide, from the United States to Brazil, parts of Europe, and some of Latin America.
It works on most devices, from web browsers to streaming devices, iOS and Android smartphones and tablets, and smart TVs. You can even use your favorite gaming console to catch a flick.
Choose movies or shows from organized categories such as Sports, Kids, Comedy, Movies, Entertainment, Featured, and Tech+Geek (among many others).
It also has some popular cable networks and news stations, including MTV, NBC, CNN, CBS News, the PGA Tour, NFL Channel, and Fox Sports.
Pluto also offers many older shows found on other FAST streaming services, including Roseanne, The First 48, and Gordon Ramsey’s Hell’s Kitchen.
Why Pluto TV is the Best FAST Service for ’80s Films
During my research phase, I spent considerable time debating which FAST service I liked best for my ’80s film fix.
Every FAST streaming service has a well-rounded collection of older movies, so you’ll see some great ’80s shows with each one.
The competition was stiff for first place, and it came down to the decision between Tubi TV and Pluto TV. Tubi had an impressive selection of older movies — some really great ones.
But Pluto TV has the ’80s Rewind category that provided dozens of cult classics that sealed the deal.
I promise I decided before I fell in love with Pluto for having three of my favorite non-80s movies – Addams Family Values, Shaft, and First Wives Club.
What ’80s Films Can You Find on Pluto TV?
The ’80s was a turning point in film production, unleashing cutting-edge technology, awesome music, and some of the best wardrobes of the decades.
Hands down, it has some of the best movies that remain cult classics today. But you can also find some hidden gems that most people have forgotten.
We saw filmmakers pushing the boundaries with storytelling and young actors making a name for themselves with cheesy roles. Scriptwriters also started the trend of movies and shows aimed at an underserved audience — teens and young adults.
The Brat Pack was the start of an era, and things only blew up from there, but you won’t find The Breakfast Club or Sixteen Candles on Pluto.
However, you can find some of my top teen ’80s films, including Pack member Anthony Michael Hall’s Johnny Be Good.
Ferris Bueller’s Day Off starred Brat Pack-adjacent Matt Broderick as Ferris, a high schooler who tries to enjoy a successful skip day.
The female-produced Pretty in Pink features my ’80s girl crush, Molly Ringwald, and Pack-adjacent Jon Cryer (Extended Family, Two and a Half Men).
The female-directed Just One of the Guys, starring lesser-known Joyce Hyser, is a hilarious story about a chick who pretends to be a guy to try getting a job at a newspaper to prove sexism.
Actor John Travolta started taking off in the ’80s (although I love him more now). You can find some of his earlier works on Pluto, like Urban Cowboy (major jerk!) and Look Who’s Talking (unexpectedly sweet).
I first fell in love with Mark Harmon (Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs from NCIS) in the ’80s underrated classic Summer School.
Hilarious comedian Eddie Murphy also started rising in popularity. If you’re not a softie who gets easily offended, check out his comedic genius, RAW. Trigger warning!
You can also catch his masterpiece, Coming to America, or watch my absolute favorite, Harlem Nights, featuring a massive lineup of greatness, including Eddie Murphy (he wrote it!), Della Reese, Richard Pryor, and Arsenio Hall.
The ’80s also gave birth to some of the greatest gore films still revamped today, like The Return of the Living Dead, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Child’s Play (Chucky), Hellraiser, and Day of the Dead.
You can also find comedic horror spooks like Monster Squad, Teen Wolf 2, Invaders from Mars, Killer Klowns from Outer Space, and Elvira, Mistress of Darkness.
Some of my favorite actors got their start with these types of goofs, including Jim Carrey (Once Bitten), Genna Davis (Earth Girls are Easy), Nicolas Cage (Vampire’s Kiss),
We also saw a strong focus on action films. Sylvester Stallone hit the scene with works like First Blood and Rambo.
The Terminator kindergarten cop and former Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger made a name with underrated classics like Raw Deal.
Martial artists like Jean-Claude Van Damme and Chuck Norris captured audiences through brutal fight shows like Bloodsport, Kickboxer, and The Delta Force.
Finally, classics like Indiana Jones, Cheech and Chong, PeeWee Herman, Masters of the Universe, Hulk, and Top Gun are available.
’80s Series on Pluto TV
If you enjoy late-night talk shows like The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, check out who started it all with The Johnny Carson Show.
You can also stream classic shows like Matlock (Andy Griffith). Who else is excited about the Kathy Bates reboot? I adore her.
Before Madea (Tyler Perry) entertained us as a take-no-crap cranky old lady, we had the snarky witticism of Thelma “Mama” Harper (Vicki Lawrence) in Mama’s Family.
In the Heat of the Night was a mildly successful police procedural featuring Carroll O’Connor, Alan Autry, and David Hart as members of a Sparta, Mississippi, Police Department.
Three’s Company found a cult following from the late ’70s to the early ’80s, soaring the careers of three roommate actors. Two of the three have passed, John Ritter and Suzanne Somers, leaving only Joyce DeWitt.
Married…with Children entertained the working class with its comedic sitcom storyline of a blue-collar shoe salesman (Ed O’Neill) and his middle-class family.
Cheers, starring Tan Danson, Rhea Perlman, Woody Harrelson, Kirstie Alley, and Kelsey Grammer, had a decade-long run as a short barrom workplace dramedy series.
Dynasty lasted throughout the ’80s as a story about the Carringtons and the Colbys. In 2017, the two feuding oil-baron Colorado families received a five-season remake.
The Jeffersons was a decades-long sitcom starring Sherman Hemsley and Isabel Sandford as wealthy black dry cleaner owners George and Louise Jefferson as they transition to a boujee luxury apartment with their son.
The Love Boat also found a decade of success from the ’70s to ’80s. Fans loved the mix of comedy and romance of the crew and clientele of the Pacific Princess cruise ship. A failed remake occurred pre-Y2K but only lasted two seasons.
Laverne & Shirley was unique in that it featured two female leads, Penny Marshall and Cindy Williams, and their antics as two single roommates navigating societal changes during the ’50s and ’60s.
Pluto also has the original ’80s MacGyver seven-season series with Richard Dean Anderson if you want to see where the legend started. Most current TV fanatics remember the recent MacGyver series starring Lucas Till.
Family Ties introduced viewers to teen heartthrob Michael J. Fox as Alex Keaton, the teenage son of ex-hippie parents Steven (Michael Gross) and Elyse (Meredith Baxter).
He also played the brother to Mallory (Justine Bateman) and Jennifer (Tina Yothers).
Pluto TV is The Best FAST Service for ’80s Film Buffs
The great thing about FAST services like Pluto TV, Tubi, Freevee, The Roku Channel, and others is that they have a lot of classic shows.
It hurts this Xennial’s feelings to refer to ’80s movies and series as oldies, but the truth is unavoidable.
Regardless of your generation, we can all agree that the ’80s rocked — from rock music to tubular motion picture works.
If you need proof that it was a great time, just look at all the series rebooted from the works of the ’80s and ’90s.
Head to the comments and let me know your favorite ’80s piece. Is it a movie or a series? What makes it so memorable to you? Don’t forget to subscribe to our newsletter for more TVF news in your inbox.