These Rentals Would Have Been Iconic in the '80s

The 1980s were a magical time for movie lovers. Video rental stores were social hubs—fluorescent-lit treasure troves filled with cardboard cutouts, handwritten “Be Kind, Rewind” signs, and the thrill of picking the perfect VHS for the weekend. But imagine if some of today’s most talked-about films had been released during that era. With their themes, aesthetics, and sheer entertainment value, these modern hits would have become instant classics on the rental shelf.

Here are some films that, had they existed in the '80s, would’ve been absolute rental legends.

Stranger Things Would Have Been a VHS Miniseries Icon in the '80s

Before Netflix queues and binge-watching, the thrill of discovering a new story came wrapped in plastic clamshell cases, stacked in rows at the local video rental store. If Stranger Things had existed in the 1980s, it wouldn't have been streamed on demand—it would have been a multi-volume VHS sensation that rewired the definition of home entertainment.

While technically a modern TV series, Stranger Things is a love letter to the '80s. From its synth-heavy soundtrack and analog aesthetics to its Spielberg-meets-King storytelling style, the show embodies everything audiences loved about the era. It’s no stretch to imagine it as a cherished miniseries on VHS—one that would have captivated kids, teens, and nostalgic adults alike.

The Miniseries Format: A Perfect Fit

In the 1980s, long-form storytelling often came in the form of multi-part miniseries, like It (1990), V: The Final Battle, or Roots. These series were frequently broken up into two or three tapes per season, and Stranger Things would have fit this mold perfectly. Viewers would have anxiously rented Volume 1, watched it twice over the weekend, then begged their parents for a ride back to grab Volume 2.

The show’s chapter-style episodes, retro-inspired fonts, and cliffhanger endings mirror the classic miniseries format. Had it launched in 1985, Stranger Things might have come in a glossy box set with character bios on the back and a fold-out episode guide inside.

Passed Between Friends—Until the Tape Wore Out

Part of what made the VHS era special was the communal aspect. People didn’t just watch films—they shared them, traded them, and talked about them for weeks. Stranger Things, with its mix of horror, sci-fi, and emotional heart, would have been that kind of series.

Tapes would have been loaned between friends, rewound lovingly (or not), and occasionally watched through tracking lines because the tape had been played a few too many times. The Demogorgon, Eleven’s powers, and the Upside Down would have been the stuff of schoolyard legend.

The Nostalgia Comes Full Circle

Ironically, Stranger Things is already an echo of the '80s—it pays homage to E.T., The Goonies, Stand By Me, and A Nightmare on Elm Street, among others. If released during the VHS era, it wouldn't just have referenced pop culture—it would have become a part of it.

The show taps into themes that defined the best rentals of the decade: friendship, mystery, the supernatural, and the fight between good and evil—all wrapped in a cozy suburban Americana setting. It wouldn’t just have been iconic in the '80s—it might have been considered the miniseries of the decade.

Scott Pilgrim vs. The World Would Have Been a Cult VHS Classic in the '80s

In the golden age of video stores, certain movies didn’t need blockbuster status to become legends. All it took was a bold cover, a weird concept, and word-of-mouth buzz. If Scott Pilgrim vs. The World had debuted in the 1980s, it would have checked every one of those boxes—cementing itself as a punk-fueled, joystick-jamming, must-rent cult hit.

Released in 2010, Scott Pilgrim is a genre-bending blend of comic book energy, video game rules, and romantic awkwardness. But its DNA is pure ‘80s: fast cuts, outlandish villains, deadpan comedy, and an underdog hero trying to win the girl. Had it arrived during the height of the VHS boom, it would’ve been one of those offbeat titles that everyone in school talked about but only the coolest kids had actually seen.

Ferris Bueller Meets The Last Starfighter—with a Punk-Rock Twist

Imagine this: a bright, illustrated VHS cover showing Scott mid-air, bass guitar slung like a sword, surrounded by pixelated hearts, anime stars, and villains mid-explosion. You’d rent that in a heartbeat.

Scott Pilgrim would have fit perfectly between Ferris Bueller’s Day Off and The Last Starfighter—equal parts angsty teen comedy and surreal fantasy action. It’s a film that doesn’t just reference video games and rock bands—it lives in that world, unapologetically. In the '80s, this would have been revolutionary, maybe even misunderstood at first. But over time, it would become that treasured, semi-secret VHS that people refused to return to the store.

A Genre Mashup Built for Repeat Viewings

With its rapid-fire editing, visual effects, and blink-and-you’ll-miss-it gags, Scott Pilgrim is the kind of film made to be rewatched. In the VHS era, that meant physically wearing out the tape. Kids would’ve hit pause to catch pixel overlays and freeze-framed Easter eggs. The battles with Ramona’s evil exes would be studied like boss fights in Mega Man.

Its soundtrack—a mix of garage rock, indie pop, and lo-fi punk—would have made Scott Pilgrim a dual threat: a must-watch and a must-listen. Back then, the accompanying cassette tape soundtrack would’ve been tucked into school lockers and Walkmans across the country.

The Cult Classic It Was Always Meant to Be

Scott Pilgrim didn’t find immediate success in theaters, but it quickly gained a devoted fanbase, just like many of the '80s films that found second lives on video. Its off-kilter charm, stylized violence, and romantic weirdness are exactly what made movies like Repo Man, Heathers, and The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai so beloved by those who sought out something different.

In another era, Scott Pilgrim vs. The World would’ve been that strange, irresistible gem sitting slightly off-center on a Blockbuster shelf—rented by the curious, obsessed over by the faithful, and quoted endlessly by the few who “got it.”

Knives Out Would Have Been a Must-Rent Mystery Hit in the '80s

Long before true crime podcasts and prestige detective shows, the 1980s gave rise to a wave of whodunit-style mysteries that were both family-friendly and irresistibly fun. In that era, video store shelves were stocked with classic murder mysteries, from Clue to Murder, She Wrote compilations. Had Knives Out been released during the VHS boom, it would have slotted perfectly into the lineup—becoming an instant Friday night staple for mystery lovers of all ages.

Rian Johnson’s 2019 film doesn’t just pay homage to classic detective tales; it practically time-travels with its throwback pacing, exaggerated characters, and Agatha Christie energy. It’s smart, stylish, and loaded with just the right amount of camp—all of which would have made it a go-to rental during the mystery movie revival of the '80s.

A Whodunit Made for Rewinding

In a decade defined by dramatic zoom-ins, cozy crime-solving, and unexpected twists, Knives Out would have been right at home. Its vibrant cast of characters—each with motives, secrets, and alibis—mirrors the chaotic charm of Clue, a 1985 cult classic that thrived in the rental era.

The film’s layered story would have inspired repeat viewings, with viewers rewinding their tapes to catch subtle clues, second glances, and cleverly planted red herrings. Like any great mystery from the '80s, it balances humor and suspense in a way that keeps the entire family engaged, without losing its bite.

A Star-Studded Cast That Would Have Ruled the '80s

Knives Out boasts a cast that would’ve been A-list even by '80s standards. Imagine Daniel Craig’s Southern-fried detective Benoit Blanc alongside classic sleuths like Columbo or Jessica Fletcher. Add Chris Evans, Jamie Lee Curtis, and Michael Shannon, and you’ve got a video store poster that sells itself.

Back then, ensemble casts were a big rental draw—especially when they brought big personalities and clashing egos. Knives Out would have delivered exactly that, wrapped in velvet chairs, dysfunctional family drama, and sharp one-liners.

A Timeless Formula, Repackaged for the VHS Era

Mystery lovers in the '80s didn’t need explosions or car chases to be entertained. They wanted clever writing, locked-room suspense, and that delicious moment when the detective gathers everyone for the big reveal. Knives Out nails all of this—and in an era of analog storytelling, it would’ve stood out as both retro and refreshing.

The VHS cover likely would’ve featured a rich, illustrated drawing of the Thrombey mansion with silhouetted suspects and a giant knife forming the “O” in Out. It would sit between The Name of the Rose and Deathtrap—not just rented, but remembered.

Dune (2021) Is the Epic ’80s Sci-Fi Blockbuster We Never Got—Until Now

The 1980s were the golden era of cinematic science fiction. Think The Empire Strikes Back, Blade Runner, and The Last Starfighter—films that were gritty yet grand, philosophical yet packed with visual spectacle. Though Dune did technically arrive in that decade with David Lynch’s 1984 version, it was a curious cult entry: ambitious but muddled, adored by some, baffling to many. In contrast, Denis Villeneuve’s Dune (2021) feels like the version the ‘80s should have had all along.

With its sweeping desert vistas, minimalist synth score, messianic overtones, and galaxy-spanning political intrigue, Villeneuve’s adaptation would have been a cornerstone of every serious sci-fi fan’s VHS collection—stacked right between Blade Runner and The Empire Strikes Back on the shelf.

A Sci-Fi Epic Made for the VHS Shelf

In the 1980s, sci-fi wasn’t just popular—it was prestige. These films blended philosophical themes with groundbreaking visuals. Dune (2021) embodies that tradition perfectly. Its pacing, while meditative by today’s blockbuster standards, mirrors the slow-burn tension of ‘80s genre storytelling. It’s not about instant payoff, but immersive world-building.

Had it been released in 1983, Dune would have likely come in a deluxe two-tape set—complete with a foldout Arrakis map and character bios inside the clamshell case. Fans would have debated Paul Atreides’ destiny in comic shops and Starlog forums, while rewinding key moments to study the sandworms’ colossal scale frame-by-frame.

Aesthetic Parallels to Blade Runner and Star Wars

As noted by cinephiles and retrospectives alike, Villeneuve’s Dune shares a tonal lineage with Blade Runner (1982), Ridley Scott’s neon-drenched noir epic. Both films prioritize atmosphere, architecture, and myth. Dune’s use of harsh lighting, shadowy interiors, and analog-looking tech (like thumpers and stillsuits) fits squarely into the ‘80s sci-fi visual language.

Its serious tone and myth-heavy story would have appealed to the same audiences who took The Empire Strikes Back as the thinking person’s space opera. Villeneuve’s Paul is a brooding figure—a classic ‘80s hero archetype: tortured, stoic, and fated for greatness.

The Synth Score That Never Was—Until Now

Hans Zimmer’s haunting, synth-tinged score for Dune calls back to the work of Vangelis (Blade Runner) and Tangerine Dream (Legend, Firestarter). It’s a modern soundtrack that sounds like it was composed with analog synths and tape loops—precisely the kind of mood-setting soundscape that would’ve played in the background of countless dorm rooms and Dungeons & Dragons campaigns in the '80s.

It’s easy to imagine the Dune soundtrack released on cassette, with airbrushed sandworm artwork on the sleeve—an underground hit among sci-fi nerds and prog rock fans alike.

The Version the ’80s Deserved

Villeneuve’s Dune may have arrived decades after the original adaptation, but it plays like a love letter to everything that made '80s sci-fi great: deep world-building, operatic scale, unflinching seriousness, and visual storytelling that dares to go long and wide. It’s the kind of film that would’ve been traded between friends on worn-out VHS tapes, praised in zines, and revered in midnight movie circles.

It may be a product of the 2020s, but make no mistake—Dune (2021) is the ‘80s epic we never got, but always deserved.

The Nice Guys: The ‘80s Buddy Cop Classic That Time Forgot

In a video store full of shootouts, wisecracks, and mismatched partners, The Nice Guys would’ve been king. Released in 2016 but soaked in the aesthetic and spirit of the 1980s, this buddy-cop comedy from Shane Black feels like it arrived 30 years too late. With its pulpy LA setting, electric chemistry between its leads, and explosive action-comedy rhythm, The Nice Guys is a lost VHS legend waiting to be rediscovered.

The Formula That Defined a Decade

The 1980s were the golden era of buddy-cop movies. From Lethal Weapon to 48 Hrs. to Beverly Hills Cop, the formula was simple but wildly effective: two opposites thrown together, bickering their way through bullets and bad guys with equal parts action and attitude. The Nice Guys doesn’t just borrow from that formula—it revels in it.

Russell Crowe’s gruff enforcer Jackson Healy and Ryan Gosling’s neurotic PI Holland March are straight out of the '80s playbook. One punches first, the other panics; one’s in it for justice, the other for the check. Their banter—fast, clever, and constantly teetering between ridiculous and brilliant—is what would’ve made The Nice Guys a repeat rental among teens and action junkies alike.

Vintage Vibes, VHS-Worthy Style

Set in smoggy, neon-streaked 1970s Los Angeles, the film’s production design evokes the very era that shaped the next decade of action cinema. There’s no sleek tech or modern flash—just beat-up sedans, polyester suits, and crowded alleyways. And that’s exactly what makes it feel so VHS-ready. If The Nice Guys had hit shelves in 1987, it would’ve come in a sun-faded cardboard sleeve, with a quote on the front: “The most fun you’ll have watching two guys get beat up!”

Back then, fans of Midnight Run and Tango & Cash would’ve eaten this up. It’s a movie that knows how to pace a chase, land a punchline, and still keep a real detective story humming underneath the laughs.

A Director Who Knows His Decade

Shane Black, the film’s writer-director, isn’t just influenced by the ‘80s—he helped shape them. As the screenwriter of Lethal Weapon, The Last Boy Scout, and The Long Kiss Goodnight, Black practically invented the smart-aleck-action genre. The Nice Guys is a spiritual cousin to those hits, updated with more polish but still gloriously rough around the edges.

It’s no wonder the film feels so at home among the greats. With its mix of noir, slapstick, and car crashes, it channels everything that made '80s action comedies legendary while still feeling fresh.

The Weekend Rental Hit That Could’ve Been

In an alternate timeline, The Nice Guys didn’t release in 2016—it dropped in 1986, landed in theaters for a few months, then quietly exploded in popularity on VHS. It became the kind of movie passed around on worn-out tapes, quoted at lunch tables, and adored for being just the right amount of ridiculous.

Even now, it’s a cult classic in the making—underappreciated in its time, but destined to be discovered and loved by future fans of retro action comedy.

Mad Max: Fury Road Would Have Been the Most Talked-About VHS in the '80s

In a decade defined by muscle cars, leather-clad antiheroes, and explosive practical effects, Mad Max: Fury Road would’ve detonated like a thunderous V8 engine through every video rental aisle in America. Though released in 2015, George Miller’s roaring return to the Wasteland feels like it was forged in the same fire as The Road Warrior—just with more horsepower, more fire, and a whole lot more chrome.

If Fury Road had landed in the 1980s, it wouldn’t just have been a hit—it would have been a phenomenon. The kind of film you rented on Friday, rewatched on Saturday, and couldn’t stop talking about at school on Monday.

A Legacy Rebuilt with Nitrous and Nostalgia

The original Mad Max trilogy helped shape the gritty, DIY spirit of '80s action cinema. With its raw aesthetic, insane car stunts, and dystopian storytelling, The Road Warrior (1981) became a blueprint for dozens of knockoffs and inspirations—from Escape from New York to Fist of the North Star.

Fury Road honors that chaotic legacy but supercharges it with 21st-century fury. Its near-wordless storytelling, relentless pace, and massive metal carnage feel like the exaggerated evolution of what made the originals unforgettable. In a decade obsessed with action that looked and felt real, Fury Road would’ve been a holy grail of practical effects—studied, rewound, and paused frame-by-frame on grainy VHS tape.

Visual Mayhem That Defines the Era

What made action films of the ‘80s stand out was their commitment to showing you everything. No CGI shortcuts. Explosions meant pyrotechnics. Crashes meant real vehicles wrecked on location. Fury Road channels this same commitment on a massive scale. Over 80% of the film's stunts and effects were practical, not computer-generated.

In the analog age, this would have been jaw-dropping. Fans of Commando, Predator, and Cobra would’ve salivated over Fury Road’s sandstorm chase or the pole-swinging War Boys. It would’ve lived forever in slow-motion montages on VHS mixtapes and bootleg “Best of ‘80s Action” compilations.

A Heroine for a New Era—Even Back Then

While Max Rockatansky still grunts and grinds through the apocalypse, it’s Imperator Furiosa—played by Charlize Theron—who would have shaken the ‘80s action formula. She’s more Ripley than Rambo, and her defiance of the genre’s usual roles would’ve made her a legend alongside Sarah Connor and Ellen Ripley. In an era where action heroines were rare but beloved, Furiosa would’ve been iconic.

The VHS Everyone Fought to Rent First

Imagine the tape itself: a fire-orange slipcase, chrome foil lettering, and a warning label for “nonstop action.” You’d find it shelved between The Terminator and RoboCop, and if you didn’t get to the store early on Friday night, it was already gone. Kids would’ve traded it at school. Parents would’ve raised eyebrows. It would’ve been one of those few movies that crossed every age group’s radar.

Loud, wild, and unforgettable—Fury Road is the spiritual apex of everything that made '80s action great, only louder, faster, and dustier.

Jojo Rabbit: The Bold, Bizarre WWII Satire That Would’ve Become a Cult Classic on VHS

In the 1980s, video stores weren’t just about explosions and car chases—they were also havens for the weird, the whimsical, and the wonderfully hard to classify. Films like The Princess Bride, Harold and Maude, and Dead Poets Society found long-lasting life not through box office domination, but through word-of-mouth recommendations, cult followings, and the well-worn aisles of the local rental shop.

Jojo Rabbit (2019), Taika Waititi’s daring WWII satire, would’ve fit this mold perfectly. With its blend of absurd humor, childlike fantasy, and gut-punch emotional depth, it’s the kind of movie that would’ve been quietly recommended by the “cool” clerk behind the counter, then passed around among friends as a hidden gem.

Whimsy Meets War in a Way the ’80s Loved

The 1980s were a time of tonal experimentation in film. Movies could be sad and funny at once, hopeful and tragic, strange yet relatable. Jojo Rabbit’s offbeat mix of satire and sincerity would’ve slotted right into this era. It walks the same tightrope that The Princess Bride and Dead Poets Society mastered—whimsical enough to charm, grounded enough to resonate.

Jojo, the Nazi youth with an imaginary friend version of Adolf Hitler, is an instantly unforgettable protagonist—part Wes Anderson, part Stand by Me. His journey from blind nationalism to empathy mirrors the coming-of-age arcs that made ‘80s films so resonant, but with a darker, more daring twist.

A Cult Rental Favorite in the Making

Back in the day, cult favorites didn’t need massive advertising campaigns. They thrived in quiet corners of the video store, their covers just strange enough to provoke curiosity. Jojo Rabbit would’ve had that same pull. Its VHS cover might show a smiling boy in uniform with bold red text—viewers would expect a quirky war comedy, only to be floored by its emotional third act.

Like Heathers or My Life as a Dog, Jojo Rabbit would’ve sparked conversations among teens and college students. It’s the kind of movie you’d bring to a sleepover or film club, then sit in stunned silence after the credits rolled.

Taika Waititi’s ’80s Spirit

Taika Waititi’s filmmaking style—full of heart, humor, and defiant optimism—channels the indie spirit of 1980s auteurs. Jojo Rabbit is as visually playful as it is emotionally layered. Its use of pop songs (like German-language covers of Bowie and The Beatles) evokes the era's love of anachronistic soundtracks, similar to what Dead Poets Society did with poetry or Ferris Bueller with teen rebellion.

Had it debuted in the ’80s, Waititi himself would’ve become a beloved cult director in the mold of Terry Gilliam or Rob Reiner—quirky, creative, and unafraid to make audiences laugh and cry in the same scene.

The VHS Tape You’d Never Forget

Jojo Rabbit would’ve been one of those under-the-radar finds you never stopped thinking about. You’d recommend it to people who “like weird stuff” or who “need a good cry.” It would’ve sat comfortably between The Breakfast Club and Time Bandits on the shelf—just waiting for the next curious soul to take it home.

It’s the kind of film the ’80s were made for: bold, original, funny, and unforgettable.

The Rental Appeal: Why These Films Would Have Ruled the ’80s Video Store

Long before streaming queues and recommendation algorithms, movie magic lived in a neighborhood video store. It was a world of cardboard sleeves, rewind stickers, and cinematic serendipity. You judged a film by its cover, and the hottest titles had a waiting list three weekends long. In that context, the following films—though made decades later—feel tailor-made for the golden age of VHS.

From Stranger Things to Jojo Rabbit, these modern releases channel the same gutsy, genre-blending spirit that defined ’80s cinema. They’re bold. They’re weird. They’re unforgettable. And had they been released in that era, they’d have become rental legends—tapes worn out from constant use, covers faded from love, not neglect.

The Alchemy of an ’80s Rental Classic

What made a VHS hit in the 1980s wasn’t just star power—it was personality. You wanted something that stood out, whether it made you laugh, cry, or leap out of your seat. The biggest hits in the video store were often the ones that didn’t fit neatly into a box. Was The Princess Bride a fantasy? A romance? A comedy? Yes—and that’s what made it last.

Today’s retro-rooted hits like Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, The Nice Guys, or Mad Max: Fury Road have that same genre-bending, risk-taking DNA. They might not have dominated box offices in the '80s, but they would’ve lived forever in rec rooms and sleepovers—passed between friends, recommended by older siblings, and memorized line by line.

Stylized, Heartfelt, and a Little Weird

Many of these films succeed because they’re unafraid to be distinctive. Jojo Rabbit balances satire and sincerity. Knives Out updates the whodunit with whip-smart dialogue and eccentric characters. Dune (2021) dares to be a brooding space epic with operatic scope. These qualities would’ve stood out on cluttered video store shelves, where strange was often synonymous with unforgettable.

Visual style was another key to rental success. Just as Blade Runner and The NeverEnding Story became cult icons through their imagery, today’s stylized films—like Fury Road or Stranger Things—would’ve commanded attention, even on a grainy CRT screen.

The Social Currency of a Rented Tape

Renting a movie in the '80s wasn’t just about watching something new—it was about having something to share. People talked about what they watched at school, at work, or on Monday morning over cereal. Movies were social currency, and the most popular rentals carried a kind of mythos.

Had they debuted in that era, these modern films would’ve earned legendary status—not necessarily because they were the biggest, but because they were the most talked about. You had to be in on the secret.

Modern Movies, Timeless Impact

These modern films, though crafted in the 21st century, seem to understand the emotional logic of the VHS era. They tell stories that stick, they create moments you can quote, and they reward repeat viewing. If you found one of these on the shelf—wedged between Big Trouble in Little China and The Goonies—you wouldn’t hesitate to hit play.

In a world without streaming, grabbing one of these titles on tape would’ve felt like striking gold.

Sources:

Inspired by cultural analysis and nostalgia retrospectives from:

• Collider, “Modern Movies and Shows That Feel Like They Were Made in the 1980s”

• Vox, “Why Stranger Things Feels Like a Time Machine to the '80s”

• Mental Floss, “What It Was Like to Go to a Video Store in the 1980s”

• Collider, “Why ‘Scott Pilgrim vs. The World’ Was Ahead of Its Time”

• Mental Floss, “How Cult Classics Found New Life on VHS”

• Vox, “A Love Letter to Video Stores and the Movies That Lived There”

• Collider, “Knives Out Is a Whodunit in the Tradition of Clue”

• Mental Floss, “The Cult Legacy of Clue and Other ’80s Murder Mysteries”

• Vox, “How Video Stores Helped Cult Films Thrive in the ’80s and ’90s”

• Collider, “How Denis Villeneuve’s Dune Honors Classic ’80s Sci-Fi”

• Vox, “Why Dune Feels Like a Lost Sci-Fi Masterpiece From Another Era”

• Mental Floss, “The 1980s Sci-Fi Films That Changed Pop Culture Forever”

• Collider, “How Shane Black’s The Nice Guys Revives the Buddy Cop Formula”

• Vox, “The Nice Guys Is the Best ’80s Movie Not Made in the ’80s”

• Mental Floss, “Why Buddy Cop Movies Were Unstoppable in the 1980s”

• Collider, “Why Mad Max: Fury Road Feels Like the Greatest ’80s Action Movie Never Made”

• Vox, “Mad Max: Fury Road and the Return of Practical Effects”

• Mental Floss, “The Original Mad Max Trilogy and Its Impact on 1980s Action Cinema”

• Collider, “Jojo Rabbit and the Art of Blending Humor With Heartbreak”

• Vox, “How Jojo Rabbit Balances Whimsy and Trauma Without Flinching”

• Mental Floss, “The 1980s Cult Films That Found Second Life on VHS”

• Vox, “How Video Stores Helped Cult Films Thrive in the ’80s and ’90s”

• Mental Floss, “Why ’80s Movie Fans Still Romanticize the Video Store Era”

• Collider, “The Lost Art of Movie Rentals and the Cult Films That Defined Them”