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.

The Octopus (1984) poster

The Octopus (1984)

Choujuu Sentai Liveman (1988) poster

Choujuu Sentai Liveman (1988)

Astro Boy (1980) poster

Astro Boy (1980)

Dungeons & Dragons (1983) poster

Dungeons & Dragons (1983)

Super Dimension Century Orguss (1983) poster

Super Dimension Century Orguss (1983)

Check It Out! (1985) poster

Check It Out! (1985)

Fem myror är fler än fyra elefanter (1984) poster

Fem myror är fler än fyra elefanter (1984)

Super Dave (1987) poster

Super Dave (1987)

Dragon Quest: Legend of the Hero Abel (1989) poster

Dragon Quest: Legend of the Hero Abel (1989)

Ulysses 31 (1981) poster

Ulysses 31 (1981)

Hooperman (1987) poster

Hooperman (1987)

The Henderson Kids (1985) poster

The Henderson Kids (1985)

Jem (1985) poster

Jem (1985)

Space Emperor God Sigma (1981) poster

Space Emperor God Sigma (1981)

Tranzor Z (1985) poster

Tranzor Z (1985)

The Chronicles of Narnia (1988) poster

The Chronicles of Narnia (1988)

Siebenstein (1988) poster

Siebenstein (1988)

Once Upon a Time... Life (1987) poster

Once Upon a Time... Life (1987)

The Grand Canal (1987) poster

The Grand Canal (1987)

Lingo (1989) poster

Lingo (1989)

CCTV Spring Festival Gala (1983) poster

CCTV Spring Festival Gala (1983)

The Paradise Club (1989) poster

The Paradise Club (1989)

Cosmos: A Personal Voyage (1980) poster

Cosmos: A Personal Voyage (1980)

Fight! Kickers (1986) poster

Fight! Kickers (1986)

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