15 Icons of the 1980s Who Are Still Thriving, Thank You Very Much

15 Icons of the 1980s Who Are Still Thriving, Thank You Very Much

      These stars from the 1980s continue to shine in the 2020s.

      Despite the passage of time, they remain vibrant, with many being featured more frequently on streaming platforms than in cinemas. This reflects the changing landscape of entertainment.

      Let’s celebrate these icons of the 1980s.

      **Winona Ryder**

      Image credit: 20th Century Fox

      Winona Ryder has recently reprised one of her most famous roles in the successful *Beetlejuice* sequel. This follows her original portrayal that helped establish her as the enigmatic princess of 1980s cinema, a title she earned with *Heathers*, later transitioning into adult roles like her performance in *Bram Stoker’s Dracula*.

      Other notable performances include her roles in *Edward Scissorhands* (1990), directed by *Beetlejuice*'s Tim Burton, as well as *Little Women* and *The Age of Innocence*. More recently, she starred in the immensely popular series *Stranger Things*, which concluded earlier this year.

      **Harrison Ford**

      Image credit: Paramount Pictures

      Harrison Ford has starred in numerous blockbuster films while maintaining an air of understated coolness. He began the 1980s with *The Empire Strikes Back*, *Raiders of the Lost Ark*, and *Blade Runner*, subsequently gaining praise for his roles in *Witness* and the romantic comedy *Working Girl*, showcasing his versatility as a leading man.

      In 2023, he appeared in the fifth and final installment of the Indiana Jones series, *Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny*, as well as starring in the *Yellowstone* spinoff *1923*. He also joined the Marvel franchise in *Captain America: Brave New World* last year.

      Currently, he stars in the Apple TV+ series *Shrinking*.

      That's him pictured with Kate Capshaw in the overlooked *Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom*, which ranks highly among the best films in the series.

      **Kevin Costner**

      Image credit: Universal Pictures

      Kevin Costner had a brief moment in *The Big Chill*, but swiftly became one of the biggest stars of the 1980s with an astounding list of films including *The Untouchables*, *No Way Out*, *Bull Durham*, and *Field of Dreams*.

      He continued to dominate in the following decade with roles in *The Bodyguard* and Oliver Stone’s *JFK*, even securing both Best Picture and Best Director awards for *Dances With Wolves* in 1990.

      After a well-publicized departure from *Yellowstone*, television's biggest hit, he focused on directing *Horizon: An American Saga*.

      **Jamie Lee Curtis**

      Image credit: Paramount Pictures

      Curtis achieved a late-career peak when she received her first Oscar in 2023 for *Everything Everywhere All at Once*, and she shows no signs of slowing down. She delivered a standout performance in *The Bear* and enjoyed the recent sequel *Freaky Friday*.

      Born into Hollywood, Curtis spent years earning her stripes in scream-queen roles, starting with her debut in *Halloween* in 1978. She became a major star of the 1980s with notable films like *Trading Places*, *Perfect*, and *A Fish Called Wanda*.

      She also landed a significant hit alongside Arnold Schwarzenegger in the 1994 blockbuster *True Lies*.

      **Arnold Schwarzenegger**

      Image credit: Orion Pictures

      Schwarzenegger was a bodybuilding champion and successful entrepreneur before making his film debut, breaking through with *Conan the Barbarian* and becoming a superstar with *The Terminator* — a film that was not the top box-office hit of 1984 but became a massive success on VHS the following year. He solidified his status as one of the biggest stars of the 1980s with films like *Commando*, *The Running Man*, and *Predator*.

      His '90s success included roles in *Terminator 2: Judgment Day* and *True Lies*, contributing to even more widespread fame. In the 2000s, he became governor of California and earned considerable acclaim.

      Reports suggest he will soon reprise his role as an older, perhaps wider, Conan.

      **Sylvester Stallone**

      Image credit: Warner Bros.

      Stallone has often been underestimated but never stopped fighting: let's remember he didn’t just star in *Rocky* — he wrote it, creating one of the most beloved screen underdogs.

      He dominated the 1980s box office with both the *Rocky* and *Rambo* franchises, taking charge of his career while also exploring painting on the side. He was memorable in *Cobra* and ultimately partnered with his Austrian rival for the Planet Hollywood franchise, revitalizing his *Rocky* character in the *Creed* films.

      The star of the *Expendables* series currently

15 Icons of the 1980s Who Are Still Thriving, Thank You Very Much 15 Icons of the 1980s Who Are Still Thriving, Thank You Very Much 15 Icons of the 1980s Who Are Still Thriving, Thank You Very Much 15 Icons of the 1980s Who Are Still Thriving, Thank You Very Much 15 Icons of the 1980s Who Are Still Thriving, Thank You Very Much 15 Icons of the 1980s Who Are Still Thriving, Thank You Very Much 15 Icons of the 1980s Who Are Still Thriving, Thank You Very Much 15 Icons of the 1980s Who Are Still Thriving, Thank You Very Much 15 Icons of the 1980s Who Are Still Thriving, Thank You Very Much 15 Icons of the 1980s Who Are Still Thriving, Thank You Very Much 15 Icons of the 1980s Who Are Still Thriving, Thank You Very Much 15 Icons of the 1980s Who Are Still Thriving, Thank You Very Much 15 Icons of the 1980s Who Are Still Thriving, Thank You Very Much 15 Icons of the 1980s Who Are Still Thriving, Thank You Very Much 15 Icons of the 1980s Who Are Still Thriving, Thank You Very Much

Other articles

Anya Taylor-Joy comes aboard The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum. Anya Taylor-Joy comes aboard The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum. Anya Taylor-Joy, known for her role in Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, is making her way to Middle-earth. Variety has reported that she has joined the cast of The Lord of the Rings: The… directed by Andy Serkis. Super7 has released the Toho Ultimates! figure of Godzilla Minus One. Super7 has released the Toho Ultimates! figure of Godzilla Minus One. Super7 has unveiled its Toho ULTIMATES! Godzilla figure, which draws inspiration from the King of the Monsters' look in the 2023 hit film Godzilla: Minus One. This collectible figure stands at 8 inches… Netflix has released the trailer for the Korean supernatural fantasy series The East Palace. Netflix has released the trailer for the Korean supernatural fantasy series The East Palace. Netflix has unveiled a trailer for its Korean supernatural fantasy series, The East Palace. The show focuses on Gu-cheon, a man capable of traversing the spirit world, and Saeng-gang, a court lady who possesses the… Ranking the Indiana Jones Films from Least to Most Favorable Ranking the Indiana Jones Films from Least to Most Favorable In celebration of the 45th anniversary of Raiders of the Lost Ark, we have ranked all five Indiana Jones films from least to most favorable. 15 Icons from the 1980s Who Are Still Thriving, Thank You Very Much 15 Icons from the 1980s Who Are Still Thriving, Thank You Very Much These stars from the 1980s are still prominent in the 2020s. Trailer for the revenge thriller The Penance. Trailer for the revenge thriller The Penance. Miracle Media has unveiled a trailer for the UK premiere of director Nikolas Pelekai’s action thriller, The Penance. The story centers on former mercenaries Trav (Travis Gomez) and Stephano (Stephano Rodr…

15 Icons of the 1980s Who Are Still Thriving, Thank You Very Much

These 1980s stars continue to shine in the 2020s.