With Beetlejuice 2 incoming, here’s Billy Oduory with more hilarious 80s comedies that deserve a long-overdue sequel…
The 1980s were the golden era of comedy, exploring unforgettable one-liners, incredible characters, and unconventional sources of satire to make the world happy. The decade saw a treasure trove of comedy classics come to life, but few remain as popular as Beetlejuice. Directed by Tim Burton, Beetlejuice is a fantasy drama revolving around a recently deceased couple, Adam and Barbara Maitland, who enlist the help of the mischievous bio-exorcist, Beetlejuice, from the underworld, to help them scare away the Deetz family who are the new inhabitants of their home.
Despite sounding all scary, Beetlejuice remains one of the most hilarious comedies of the ’80s and has maintained a strong fan base since its release. Fortunately, its long-awaited sequel, Beetlejuice II, featuring some of the old cast including Michael Keaton as Beetlejuice and a host of new faces including Jenna Ortega, is scheduled to be released in September of this year.
However, Beetlejuice is just one of the many ’80s comedy gems whose fans still hope for sequels. Be it the supernatural antics of The Princess Bride or the breathtaking adventures of The Goonies, these ’80s comedy classics are ripe for a sequel that could bring laughter to a new generation of viewers while celebrating their enduring legacy.
The Goonies (1985)
The Goonies (a group of four kids from the Goon Docks neighborhood of Astoria, Oregon) get together one final time as their families face eviction in the face of foreclosures caused by an ever-expanding local country club. During their meeting, the kids come across the treasure map belonging to the legendary 17th-century pirate One-Eyed Willy whose riches are hidden somewhere on the town’s beach. However, as they set out to find the treasure in the hope of saving their threatened homes, they encounter a family of criminals who are determined to beat them to it.
The Goonies rarely gets recognition for being one of the most interesting movies made in the ’80s. Its simple storyline often makes it look typical, but the movie has developed a cultic fanbase over the years and is still a fan-favorite comedy 40 years later. The Goonies also launched the careers of popular actors including Corey Feldman, Sean Austin, Josh Brolin, and Ke Huy Quan.
Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986)
Ferris Bueller’s Day Off follows the adventures of Ferris, a mischievous high school student, who decides to skip school for a day of wild adventure through Chicago with his girlfriend, Sloane, and best friend, Cameron. The teen comedy was written by John Hughes as his ‘love letter’ to Chicago and features a packed plot of teenage adventure, explained in the third person by the lead character, Ferris.
Matthew Broderick’s portrayal of Ferris is iconic, and the film’s vibrant cinematography captures the spirit of youth while bringing satire to the subject of teenage rebellion. A sequel showcasing the evolution of these characters, especially Ferris would be a welcome feast of nostalgia. Fans would also love to see what adulting did to Ferris, Cameron, and Sloane, and hopefully, how they deal with their own stubborn children.
The Princess Bride (1987)
Shaped as a grandfather reading a story to his sick grandson, The Princess Bride is a fairy tale adventure about a farmhand, Westley, who sets out on a quest to rescue his true love, Princess Buttercup, from a forced marriage to the evil Prince Humperdinck. Westley is accompanied by an array of colorful characters that join his cause along the way.
The combination of romance, swashbuckling action, and humor turn the simple story into a blend of thrill and satire, which is why The Princes Bride is one of the best comedy movies of the ’80s. A sequel about the next chapter of Westley and Buttercup’s lives, with another conventional villain for them to defeat together would be a welcome addition to the fun.
The Breakfast Club (1985)
The Breakfast Club is set in the fictional Shermer High School where five students from different social cliques (the brain, the athlete, the basket case, the princess, and the criminal) are brought together on a Saturday detention. As they initially clash due to their differences, the students gradually open up to each other, revealing their vulnerabilities and discovering unexpected connections amidst their social differences. They break stereotypes and become a team, joining hands to escape the extreme punishments dished out by their vindictive vice principal Richard Vernon who is overseeing their detention.
The Breakfast Club is a classic coming of age comedy directed by John Hughes. A sequel wasn’t expected because the students were set to go their different ways after graduating, but that was before the film became such a big hit. Almost four decades on, many fans would love a sequel where the characters come together once more and hopefully help each other deal with the problems they encounter in their respective adult lives.
Scrooged (1988)
Frank Cross (Bill Murray) is the cynical and mean executive of IBC Television Studios, planning an extravagant live Christmas Eve Carol production, but he doesn’t share in the spirit of Christmas. Before Christmas Eve, he is visited by the ghost of his predecessor and mentor who warns him to change his ways before paving the way for three more ghosts that visit Cross to show him the bleak future that awaits if he doesn’t change. Cross is then visited by three Christmas Ghosts showing him the past, present, and future of his life. The supernatural events turn his life into a rollercoaster as his past actions return to haunt him in the present.
Scrooged relied heavily on Bill Murray’s success with Ghostbusters, but it was also one of the most interesting supernatural comedies of the 80s. The intensity of the film, coupled with the Christmas theme makes it a unique adventure that many fans enjoy. A chance to revisit Bill Murray as Frank Cross in a modernized version of Scrooged would be a welcome sequel for most fans.
Trading Places (1983)
Louis Winthorpe III, the wealthy director of the Duke & Duke Commodities brokerage firm, and Billy Ray Valentine, a street hustler, are swapped into each other’s lives. Unknown to them, the swap is a social hierarchy experiment by the wealthy Duke brothers who use them as pawns to see if people’s destinies are predetermined by the environment they live in. The movie’s thought-provoking yet hilarious plot, complemented by the chemistry between Eddie Murphy (Valentine) and Dan Aykroyd (Winthorpe) turned the film into a timeless comedy masterpiece.
An Eddie Murphy and Dan Aykroyd partnership is always a welcome prospect for any classic comedy fan, but the two reprising their roles in a Trading Places sequel would be spectacular. Trading Places is, technically, part of one universe with Coming To America since Murphy’s character in the movie, Prince Akeem, gives money to a now-homeless Mortimer Duke in the 1988 movie. However, a sequel where Valentine and Winthorpe conduct their own social experiment would be a lot more interesting for the original film’s enthusiasts.
8. Three Amigos (1986)
Set in 1916, Three Amigos follows three American silent film actors Lucky Day (Steve Martin) Dusty Bottoms (Chevy Chase), and Ned Nederlander (Martin Short) who are mistaken for real-life superheroes by villagers in Santa Poco, Mexico. The villagers rely on the three actors to defeat the local El Guapo gang that terrorizes them and collects protection money. With no combat experience, the actors are forced to explore rudimentary fighting skills with the help of the villagers, but the odds are heavily stacked against them.
Three Amigos has all the makings of a classic comedy, with a nostalgic nod to silent films of the early 1900s. The film’s action-packed plot is enhanced by beautiful costumes and diversity. With a touch of comedy and action in every scene, the film’s intense theme frequently gives way to a laughter break. Its large fan base would love a chance to witness the chemistry between the three main actors, hopefully playing superheroes in a different setting.
Stripes (1981)
Stripes follows John Winger, a down-and-out cab driver, who, after losing his job, his car, and his girlfriend in one day, decides to join the army. After convincing his friend Russell Ziskey to join him, the miscreant duo becomes the center of hilarious misadventures as they experience the challenges of basic training. The movie’s unique blend of military satire and comedy earned it a devoted fan base that would love a chance to watch what happened to the slack duo after they became soldiers.
Bill Murray’s comedic brilliance combined with his chemistry with Harold Ramis who played Russell contributed to the film’s success. Despite Harold Ramis’ death in 2014, there are still unlimited opportunities for a Stripes sequel, especially if a new generation of recruits is involved. After John’s heroic showing at the movie’s graduation parade, a sequel of him turning a new generation of losers into soldiers would still be welcomed by many fans.
A Fish Called Wanda (1988)
A Fish Called Wanda is a British heist comedy about diamond thieves who doublecross each other after pulling off a successful heist. After their leader, George, who hid the stolen diamonds, is arrested, his crew members Wanda, Ken, and Otto and his barrister Archie betray him and struggle to locate the loot while doublecrossing each other in the process, as everyone tries to keep it for themselves.
Starring Jamie Lee Curtis, Kevin Kline, and John Cleese, the film explores hilarious one-liners and slapstick comedy to create a blend of action and humor that delivers an unforgettable cinematic experience. Being one of the best British comedies ever made, A Fish Called Wanda still enjoys a huge global fan base. Despite its seemingly conclusive happy ending, a sequel exploring George’s revenge on his backstabbing crew and barrister would make an irresistible viewing.
SEE ALSO: 10 Most Underrated Sci-Fi Movies of the 1980s
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Billy Oduory