Best TV Shows of the 1980s

Sort by:

The 1980s expanded television's creative possibilities through innovative shows that blended genres and pushed content boundaries. Programs like Miami Vice, Hill Street Blues, and The Twilight Zone demonstrated television's potential for cinematic storytelling and sophisticated themes.

ChuckleVision (1987) poster

ChuckleVision (1987)

Musashi no Ken (1985) poster

Musashi no Ken (1985)

Dispatches (1987) poster

Dispatches (1987)

Mock & Sweet (1986) poster

Mock & Sweet (1986)

Magical Princess Minky Momo (1982) poster

Magical Princess Minky Momo (1982)

Lethal Three (1987) poster

Lethal Three (1987)

New Heavenly Sword and Dragon Sabre (1986) poster

New Heavenly Sword and Dragon Sabre (1986)

Pac-Man (1982) poster

Pac-Man (1982)

Rod, Jane and Freddy (1981) poster

Rod, Jane and Freddy (1981)

The Really Wild Show (1986) poster

The Really Wild Show (1986)

Space Stars (1981) poster

Space Stars (1981)

Ninja Olympiad (1988) poster

Ninja Olympiad (1988)

What's Happening Now!! (1985) poster

What's Happening Now!! (1985)

Chespirito (1980) poster

Chespirito (1980)

Under the Sun (1989) poster

Under the Sun (1989)

The Legend of the Condor Heroes (1983) poster

The Legend of the Condor Heroes (1983)

Denver, the Last Dinosaur (1988) poster

Denver, the Last Dinosaur (1988)

Teresa (1989) poster

Teresa (1989)

桃太郎伝説 (1989) poster

桃太郎伝説 (1989)

The Colbys (1985) poster

The Colbys (1985)

T and T (1988) poster

T and T (1988)

Alfred J. Kwak (1989) poster

Alfred J. Kwak (1989)

Heathcliff (1980) poster

Heathcliff (1980)

ZDF-Mittagsmagazin (1989) poster

ZDF-Mittagsmagazin (1989)

This decade's experimentation with television formats and storytelling techniques established foundations that would support the medium's later artistic achievements.