Top 20 Movies Of 1983 (Nos. 1-5)

For this week's Ranked!, we decided to rank our favorite movies from 1983. Did we get it right? Let us know in the comments!

Here are Nos. 1-5:

5. Trading Places

Trading Places is a comedy that gets everything right: from the pitch perfect teaming of Eddie Murphy and Dan Aykroyd to a stellar secondary cast to director John Landis at the top of his game. There's so much to love about this movie that it's hard to pick out favorite moments. But the indelible image from the movie (outside of Jamie Lee Curtis's topless scene) is Eddie Murphy scooting around, trying to con anyone and everyone. 48 Hrs. might have made Eddie Murphy a movie actor, but Trading Places made him a mega star. Trading Places isn't just a classic '80s movie, it's one of the best comedies ever.--Daddy Geek Boy

Top 20 Movies Of 1983 (Nos. 6-10)

For this week's Ranked!, we decided to rank our favorite movies from 1983. Did we get it right? Let us know in the comments!

Here are Nos. 6-10:

10. The Meaning Of Life

The timeless absurdity of Monty Python was honed to a sharp point by the time The Meaning Of Life came out in 1983. The Pythons always had an innate ability to step back and see the ridiculousness of human behavior and take it to its silliest extremes, and given a decent budget they did not hold back. It's justly remembered for the greatest vomit scene in movie history ("Better get a bucket. I'm going to throw up") and the Catholic theme song "Every Sperm Is Sacred," but there are a million moments in the movie that are not only laugh-out-loud funny but useful lessons for my daily life. I always ask doctors if they have "the machine that goes 'PING!'" especially if I've just eaten the salmon mousse. I've never filled out a liver donor card, and I also think people don't wear enough hats. Most importantly, I'm often warned of the importance of a kiss before I "stamped towards the clitoris." You see, movies can be educational, too!--CroutonBoy

Top 20 Movies Of 1983 (Nos. 11-15)

For this week's Ranked!, we decided to rank our favorite movies from 1983. Did we get it right? Let us know in the comments!

Here are Nos. 11-15:

15. Octopussy

There are few who would argue that Roger Moore's later James Bond films were among the best. But a Bond film is a Bond film, and you can always depend on the world's greatest secret agent to provide gorgeous women, killer chase scenes, and over-the-top villains. Octopussy slips into the Bond canon with the comfort of a perfectly tailored tux, saving the world from nuclear terrorists and circus knife-throwers (of course!), and throwing himself safely off airplanes just before they crash. I'm James Bond, bitch! The Cold War intrigue may be a little dated and the lead actor a little creaky, but you can't deny that Octopussy gives its all for the spy movie fan.--CroutonBoy

Top 20 Movies Of 1983 (Nos. 16-20)

For this week's Ranked!, we decided to rank our favorite movies from 1983. Did we get it right? Let us know in the comments!

Here are Nos. 16-20:

20. Christine

Christine is about a murderous, jealous, '50s-music loving... car. Yes, like with a lot of horror movies, one needs a heavy dose of suspension of disbelief to enjoy this film. But if you can get past the fact that a '58 Plymouth Fury loves and will do anything for her teenage owner (even kill his tormentors), you're in for one hell of a ride.--Chris

Top 20 Albums Of 1983 (Nos. 1-5)

For this week's Ranked!, we compiled our twenty favorite albums released in 1983. Did we get it right? Let us know in the comments!

Here are numbers 1-5:

5. David Bowie, Let's Dance

It's only recently that I discovered there is a lot of loathing of this album among David Bowie fans. We have friends who regularly play Rock Band with us that cringe whenever I choose "Let's Dance" or "Modern Love." Personally, I don't get it. David Bowie's '80s work was different than some of his older stuff--say, "Ziggy Stardust" or "Space Oddity" or "Starman"--all of which are awesome--but I think the songs from Let's Dance stand up well when compared to his earlier work. Let's Dance made me a David Bowie fan and, in spite of the fact that my Bowie tastes are much broader today than they were in 1983, I'm still a big fan of the album.--Dave

Top 20 Albums Of 1983 (Nos. 6-10)

For this week's Ranked!, we compiled our twenty favorite albums released in 1983. Did we get it right? Let us know in the comments!

Here are numbers 6-10:

10. ZZ Top, Eliminator

Without question, the hottest car on the road in 1983 was made 50 years earlier. The iconic 1933 Ford Coupe that graced the cover of Eliminator and served as a chariot for hot women on MTV was easily the coolest thing on wheels and no keychain was complete without a shiny "ZZ" hanging from it. You wouldn't think three dude with Rip Van Winkle beards would become music video celebrities, but you cannot discount the awesome hat trick of "Gimme All Your Lovin'," "Sharp Dressed Man," and "Legs." Although those are the songs most people remember best, the rest of the album is all killer and no filler, packed to the brim with stunning Texas boogie like "Dirty Dog," "I Got the Six," and my personal favorite, "You Got Me Under Pressure." I'd still hop in that Ford Coupe if it pulled up in front of my house without hesitation. Wherever it's going is someplace I'd want to be.--CroutonBoy

Top 20 Albums Of 1983 (Nos. 11-15)

For this week's Ranked!, we compiled our twenty favorite albums released in 1983. Did we get it right? Let us know in the comments!

Here are numbers 11-15:

15. U2, War

I resisted U2 for a long time. I never really listened to them when they were college radio stations, and dismissed them as obnoxious posers even after The Joshua Tree made them the Biggest Band In The World. Once I got over myself and started re-examining their music, I found myself drawn to War over and over again as one of the most compelling albums of the decade. This was the album that I think really defined their politics and their sound, kicking off with "Sunday Bloody Sunday" and really never slowing down until the majestic closer "40." Both "New Year's Day" and "Two Hearts Beat As One" are iconic, with The Edge's propulsive guitar work setting the pace while Bono offers his trademark wail as a call to arms. It can be a little heavy at times--I can't always tell if "The Refugee" is brilliant or silly, although I love it either way--but I think it's their best work, standing at the pivot point when they first refined and defined their sound and before they swelled into superstars.--CroutonBoy

Top 20 Albums Of 1983 (Nos. 16-20)

For this week's Ranked!, we compiled our twenty favorite albums released in 1983. Did we get it right? Let us know in the comments!

Here are numbers 16-20:

20. Talking Heads, Speaking In Tongues

Let's skip the formalities: this is one of the most influential albums of all time. If you don't own it, your Music 101 education is woefully incomplete and full of holes. Go right that wrong this instant. You can't speak of the year in music without mentioning Speaking In Tongues. It has all the requisite quirky fun that you need and have come to expect from David Byrne and company and all the beautifully written classics that we all now know by heart.--Dufmanno