The 1980s were a successful decade for the 80s cult classic movies like The Blade Runner are still ed and praised, others appear to be largely overlooked by today's public.

Perhaps they were overshadowed by bigger names when they first came out, or they simply faded into obscurity over the years. Like many subsequent underrated 90s thrillers, plenty of great representatives of this genre from the 1980s deserve a second look. Audiences, especially those who are attracted to the dark allure of psychologically disturbing and emotionally intriguing stories, deserve the opportunity to rediscover these hidden treasures.

10 Still of the Night (1982)

Director: Robert Benton

Some of the 80s' most underrated thrillers came from unlikely sources, like Robert Benton's Still of the Night. Having previously worked with Streep on Kramer vs. Kramer, director Robert Benton, took a completely different approach with the psychological thriller. A beautifully shot homage to Alfred Hitchcock, the movie boasts an outstanding cast, including Meryl Streep and Roy Scheider. The story follows Sam Rice, a psychiatrist who finds himself entangled in an investigation for murder after one of his patients is mysteriously killed.

The doctor becomes increasingly drawn to Brooke, the beautiful and enigmatic mistress of the victim, whose suspicious connection to the crime casts doubts on her innocence. As the doctor delves deeper into the story, he ends up caught between paranoia and fascination with her, even as he knows she could prove deadly dangerous. The movie pays tribute to the most iconic scenes in Hitchcock's films, such as Vertigo, Psycho, and North by Northwest, and stands well alongside those thriller classics.

9 Dead Calm (1989)

Director: Phillip Noyce

ver made, Dead Calm stars Nicole Kidman and Sam Neill as Rae and John, an unfortunate couple who have just lost their son in a terrible car accident. Following the tragedy, John suggests they go on a vacation together on their yacht, where they can be isolated from the rest of the world and free to grieve. What appeared to be a bittersweet story of healing, however, takes a terrifying turn when they encounter and save a stranger, Billy Zane's Hughie, who claims his boat was sinking.

Surrounded by water and alienated by society, Rae and John find themselves in a psychological nightmare while trying to uncover the true motivations behind the unstable Hughie. The film keeps the audience attached to the screen through a combination of anxiety and suspense, helped by the excellent performance of Zane. This overlooked 1980s thriller is a must-watch, melding deeply felt tragedy with an intense character study.

8 Blow Out (1981)

Director: Brian De Palma

A movie inspired by the cinematographic masterpiece of Michelangelo Antonioni, Blowup should never be forgotten. Unfortunately, when Blow Out came out in 1981, it did not receive a lot of attention from the public, even while attracting the attention of critics with its tense story and compelling use of the film post-production as the source of drama. Directed by Brian De Palma, this overlooked 80s thriller has gathered more fans in recent years.

Jack Terry, played by John Travolta, works as an audio technician for low-budget horror and slasher movies. However, one evening while attempting to record some sounds to use for his latest job, he accidentally audiotapes the evidence of what could be a murder. As curiosity overwhelms him, Jack delves deeper into a dangerous game where he could lose more than he expected. De Palma's ability to gradually build suspense as the mystery untangles infuses this story with a sense of dread and intrigue typical of the best examples of the genre.

7 House of Games (1987)

Director: David Mamet

House of Games is a neo-noir thriller that marked the directorial debut of David Mamet in 1987. The movie is a tense story of deception and scams that delves deep into a brutal world of psychological manipulation and lies. Lindsay Crouse plays Dr. Margaret Ford, a successful and well-respected psychiatrist who grows increasingly fascinated with the world of con artists.

As the story progresses, Dr. Ford comes face to face with Joe Mantegna's Mike, a charismatic gambler and con man who introduces her to the nuances and subtleties of the world she is attempting to understand. Mamet's exploration of themes of trust, betrayal, and deception are perfectly woven into each scene, while the constant element of doubt and surprise keeps the viewers interested throughout the whole movie. House of Games is an overlooked gem from the 1980s that is worth rediscovering.

6 The Morning After (1986)

Director: Sidney Lumet

Featuring Jane Fonda, Jeff Bridges, and Raul Julia, The Morning After is a psychological thriller directed by Sidney Lumet that carries a pained human undercurrent to the genre. The movie received generally positive reviews but is often overlooked despite a strong cast and heavy storyline. The story follows Alex, played by Jane Fonda, an actress on a downward career spiral who struggles with severe alcohol dependence.

The strong performances in The Morning After help make an interesting thriller an even more captivating watch.

The woman wakes up on Thanksgiving with a terrible hangover and the corpse of a murdered photographer murdered by her side. Unable to , Alex is paralyzed by the fear of her involvement in the horrible crime, and finds herself the suspect of a murder she cannot recall committing. Jane Fonda delivered countless amazing performances in her career, with the legendary actress bringing a genuinely tragic element to the thriller. The strong performances in The Morning After help make an interesting thriller an even more captivating watch.

5 After Hours (1985)

Director: Martin Scorsese

An often overlooked example of the artistic genius of Martin Scorsese, this black comedy is a forgotten treasure. The important name of the director is perhaps why After Hours is often overlooked among other masterpieces of Scorsese such as Taxi Driver or Goodfellas. Described as a yuppie nightmare cycle, the movie was released in 1985 and starred Griffin Dunne and Rosanna Arquette.

The story follows Paul Hackett, an office worker who, on a quest to visit a girl who lives in Soho, loses his only 20 dollar bill in a cab and is therefore forced by fate to walk through the city of New York during the night. What was supposed to be a romantic evening for the main character turns into an unexpected nightmare of absurd situations and unfortunate events. The city has never been as scary (or as strangely enticing) as in After Hours.

4 The Stunt Man (1980)

Director: Richard Rush

The Stunt Man is a satirical psychological thriller directed by Richard Rush and based on the 1970 novel of the same name. The movie follows Cameron, played by Steve Railsback, a fugitive and Vietnam War veteran who accidentally crashes the set of a World War I film and hides as a stunt double. Peter O'Toole's Eli Cross, the highly eccentric and megalomaniac director of the film, takes the runaway under his wing.

However, through Cameron's perspective, the audience gradually begins to doubt the good intentions of O'Toole's character. A movie about another movie is always an interesting concept. The story chillingly blurs the lines between reality and fiction as a psychological game between the two protagonists begins. Peter O'Toole delivers an Oscar-worthy and chilling performance as the manipulative and controlling artist whose nature evades and deceives.

3 Eye of the Needle (1981)

Director: Richard Marquand

Eye of the Needle is a British spy film based on the 1978 novel of the same name written by Ken Follet. The movie was directed by Richard Marquand, who later earned further recognition for his work with Return of the Jedi. A dark take on the spy genre, Eye of the Needle is a memorably dark film. The plot of the film centers around Henry Fabler, played by Donald Sutherland, a Nazi agent who works in Britain during the Second World War.

Trapped on an island off the coast of Scotland, Fabler hides in plain sight while securing one of the only people on the island. Through his piercing gaze and with an unsettling authenticity, Donald Sutherland delivered a haunting performance in this overlooked thriller. While the emotionless demeanor depicted by the actor sends chills down the spine of the audience, the character's evolving relationship with Lucy is also a surprisingly engaging draw of the film. A story of betrayal and subterfuge, the film is a stone-cold classic that should not be ignored.

2 Christine (1983)

Director: John Carpenter

Christine is a chilling story inspired by the brilliantly twisted pen of Stephen King about a car that begins to murder the people around it. In 1983, horror maestro John Carpenter successfully adapted the book into an underrated supernatural/horror thriller. The geniality of the film resides in the mere absurdity of the plot, centered around an "evil" car. In true King fashion, the main character of the story is a high school outcast who is relentlessly bullied by his peers named Artie.

When Arnie finds a mysterious car named "Christine", a Plymouth Fury, he immediately falls in love with it and purchases it, despite the reasonable doubts of his best friend. As the young man attempts to restore Christine, the car appears to assume a personality of its own. The terrifying part, however, is the increasingly alarming influence Christine seems to be exerting on the owner. Perhaps the movie faded away amid the many masterpieces based on the stories of King in that era, but Carpenter's work is an overlooked 80s thriller that is greater than the sum of its parts.

1 No Way Out (1987)

Director: Roger Donaldson

One of the career highlights of Kevin Costner, No Way Out is a political thriller directed by Roger Donaldson that deserves more appreciation. The movie astutely borrows tropes and elements of suspense from Alfred Hitchcock to deliver a story filled with plot twists that culminate in some truly shocking turns. Tom Farrel, played by Costner, is a young and ambitious navy officer who ends up investigating a politically charged murder in which he becomes the prime suspect.

The victim was the beautiful mistress of his boss, Secretary of Defense David Brice, masterfully portrayed by Gene Hackman, Making matters more complicated is that the mistress was also having an affair with Tom. The mystery plays out like a well-oiled machine, resulting in a tight and taut thriller. As if the movie was not already entrancing enough, the captivating performance of Costner is an additional bonus, elevating it against the other underrated thrillers of the 1980s.