If you’re an ‘80s kid, you know things were a bit different back then. It was a time when kids were free to roam the streets, and when they got home, they could watch the craziest stuff on television without their parents freaking out. Like horror movies.
In my case, that meant watching some iconic scary movies on cable, often hosted by the inimitable Joe Bob Briggs. And in the spirit of that legendary horror host, I’ve brought you some vintage spooky movies that you can stream completely for free on Tubi. If you’re ready for a night of entertainment that won’t break the bank, check out these classic horror films on Tubi that ‘80s kids will love!
10
Sleepaway Camp
Release Year
1983
Runtime
1 hour 28 minutes
Sleepaway Camp is the definitive slasher to show horror fiends who think they’ve seen everything. On paper, this is a Friday the 13th-esque tale about a mysterious killer stalking the titular sleepaway camp. But the revelation of who the killer is and the wild secret they have been hiding will likely be burned into your brain forever, creating an ending that will (like the best scary movies) stick with you.
The kills in this movie are both vicious and visceral, and the dialogue effortlessly captures both the humor and the cruelty of teenage life. Felissa Rose gives a standout performance as our leading lady, and her character is often the perfect audience surrogate for the surreal events happening around her. Fair warning: some of those surreal events include a baseball game where the fashion choices are every bit as haunting as the film’s gruesome kills.
9
Slumber Party Massacre II
Release Year
1987
Runtime
1 hour 17 minutes
Slumber Party Massacre II is the rare horror film that is unambiguously better than the original movie. The core story remains the same, focusing on some comely coeds who are being stalked by a killer with a drill. However, the original “Driller Killer” is now a greaser rockabilly dude with a murder weapon that doubles as a guitar! And for me, this rewrite of the impossibly lame bad guy from the first movie gives this sequel a surreal charm you just can’t look away from.
As an added bonus, the sequel moves at a faster pace. The kills are more inventive, and there’s an interesting plot thread about whether or not these brutal murders are simply in the main character’s head. Oh, and did I mention the musical numbers? That’s right: our unhinged villain is laying out tunes when he’s not busy laying out bodies, and these killer tunes are worth streaming (and screaming!) for.
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8
Chopping Mall
Release Year
1986
Runtime
1 hour 35 minutes
Chopping Mall might be the most ‘80s horror movie ever made. That’s because it takes place in a setting that modern kids would find pretty inscrutable: an indoor mall. And the bad guys aren’t guys at all. Instead, they are creepy robots who look a bit like angry cousins of the Daleks from Doctor Who. You know, the kind of monsters that haven’t really been that scary since the height of Beatlemania.
If the villains aren’t that scary, though, what makes Chopping Mall worth watching? Mostly, it’s pure, kitschy charm. The young cast (including horror icon Barbara Crampton) is extremely likable, and you’ll quickly find yourself rooting for them as they fight for survival against an inhuman and utterly implacable foe. The kills are plenty of fun, and as an added bonus, the robot fights are cathartic fun for any ‘80s kid who, like me, worries about AI as a threat to humanity.
7
Killer Klowns From Outer Space
Release Year
1988
Runtime
1 hour 28 minutes
Describing Killer Klowns From Outer Space is like describing a fever dream. The plot involves alien clowns who threaten a tiny town with hilarious-but-haunting hijinks. The only thing that can stop them is a handful of intrepid teens armed only with full hearts and an empty ice cream truck. The whole situation is made worse by a cop whose actor (John Vernon) is best known for playing the nefarious dean in Animal House.
The characters and off-kilter plot are quite appealing, but the real strength of this film is the threat of the titular Killer Klowns. With eye-popping makeup and gross-out practical effects, the Chiodo Brothers made these one-film villains from outer space some of the most memorable in all of horror history. And their kills (which include everything from cotton candy guns to deadly shadow puppets) help make each scene crazier than the one before!
6
Hellraiser
Release Year
1987
Runtime
1 hour 34 minutes
Hellraiser begat a horror franchise that (hot take incoming) started losing the plot after the second movie. But the original is a scary movie masterpiece from Clive Barker with a plot about a woman willing to do anything to bring her undead lover fully back to life. She’ll go to any lengths and sacrifice anyone, but that might not be enough to satisfy the extradimensional demon who put all of this grisly plot into motion.
This legendary horror film features standout performances from Andrew Robinson (best known as Garak from Star Trek: Deep Space Nine) and Doug Bradley as Pinhead, the spikey-faced leader of the film’s pain-obsessed demons. Between his performance and his appearance, Pinhead became just as memorable as fellow monsters like Jason Voorhees and Freddy Krueger. And beyond the performances, heroes and villains alike get great lines in this surprisingly quotable horror classic.
5
Critters
Release Year
1986
Runtime
1 hour 26 minutes
At first glance, Critters looks like a Gremlins knock-off because it’s about a band of creatures as mischievous as they are deadly. However, while Gremlins focused on chaos in suburbia, Critters brings its own band of over-the-top violence to the Midwest. Kansas isn’t a flyover state to these aliens, especially when they crash near a farm and begin preying on the locals while trying to evade some erstwhile alien bounty hunters.
Critters has a lot going for it: the Critter design is cool, the kills are creative, and the plot is a fun, seamless blend of sci-fi, horror, and comedy. Mostly, though, I recommend this film because it’s what I call a great “vibe movie.” When you need a quick pick-me-up or just want to chill out, there’s nothing quite like virtually hanging out at this farm while local residents get picked off by toothy monsters who can (Metroid-style) turn themselves into little balls when they need to move fast.
4
Creepshow 2
Release Year
1987
Runtime
1 hour 32 minutes
Creepshow 2 is a horror anthology with three distinct stories plus a wraparound tale. That makes it something of a spooky buffet, where audiences who want different things from their scary cinema can get a little bit of everything. The film has a great performance from George Kennedy, though true horror hounds will likely get a bigger kick out of special effects maestro Tom Savini starring in the film as The Creep, a kind of Cryptkeeper-type figure.
Speaking of true horror, this sequel is another team-up between Night of the Living Dead creator George Romero and literary legend Stephen King. Romero wrote the screenplay and deftly adapted King’s short stories, and the author makes a brief appearance in the film. While some debate whether Creepshow 2 lives up to the reputation of the iconic original, I’m a firm believer that the sequel can stand on its own.
Additionally, if you like this anthology format, be sure to check out the Creepshow series over on Shudder!
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3
C.H.U.D.
Release Year
1984
Runtime
1 hour 36 minutes
C.H.U.D. is an acronym for the villains in this movie: cannibalistic humanoid underground dwellers. And that basically sums up the plot, which involves a New York cop and a photographer teaming up to fight off a group of vicious underground mutants. In the best possible way, this film serves as the ultimate horror portrayal of a classic urban fear—that an army of dangerous creatures lurks beneath the sewers, ready to pounce on the hapless humans below.
If you’re a Home Alone fan (and who isn’t?), the most surreal thing about the film is who plays two of the beefier roles. The erstwhile photographer is played by John Heard, who would later play Kevin McAllister’s dad in Home Alone. Meanwhile, the reverend who runs a local homeless shelter is played by Daniel Stern, one-half of the Wet Bandits, also from the Home Alone movies. As it turns out, not even dealing with ravenous underground mutants was enough preparation to take on one precocious little eight-year-old a few years later.
2
Little Shop of Horrors
Release Year
1986
Runtime
1 hour 34 minutes
Little Shop of Horrors is the rare schlock classic that hides some real heart beneath the plot about a man and his man-eating plant. Understandably, audiences mostly remember this movie for its bevy of guest stars (including Bill Murray, John Candy, and Steve Martin) and the unforgettable scenes of a plant that can’t stop feeding on humans. But beyond these elements and some surprisingly catchy songs, there is a very heartfelt and genuine romantic story between the lovebirds played by Rick Moranis and Ellen Greene.
Moranis plays a nerd who needs to come out of his shell, but feeding victims to his cannibal plant is two large steps in the wrong direction. Greene, meanwhile, needs to find the courage to leave an abusive relationship and embrace real stability. You’ll soon find yourself rooting for these characters even as you ponder whether this love can, like the ravenous Audrey II, keep growing.
1
Terror Train
Release Year
1980
Runtime
1 hour 37 minutes
Sometimes, creating a memorable new slasher is as easy as picking a memorable new setting. Terror Train takes place on a train in which a killer surgically slices up some pre-med students. But he keeps donning different masks, keeping both audiences and would-be victims (including Halloween legend Jamie Lee Curtis) on their toes.
While the kills are fun, and the cameo from magician David Copperfield is memorable, the ultimate appeal of Terror Train is the train itself. It provides a novel setting while also isolating our characters, allowing them to be picked off, one by one. The plot itself also moves forward with the speed of a locomotive, proving that a story can’t go off the rails if it never leaves the track!
Strange horror films were a staple of every ’80s kid’s diet. To get a balanced breakfast, lunch, and dinner, be sure to check out all of these scary movie classics on Tubi!
