The 27 greatest '80s actors

As the Cold War reached its climax, the Hollywood industry saw an influx of new, fresh talent mingle with surviving veterans of the American New Wave. But who among the 1980s’ biggest movie stars are actually the greatest of all time?

After the “New Wave” of American filmmaking slowly rolled back, studios regained creative control over writers and directors. Movies once again became a commercially driven industry, with profits a priority. In the 1980s, budgets started to inflate as audience demand for immersive, escapist fare became informed by game-changing mega-hits.

Movies of the 1980s also began to cater to younger audiences, particularly teenagers. Amid an economic boom and rapid growth of the suburban shopping mall, teenagers defined their identities and sense of self through their own purchasing power. That included the movies they chose to see at major cineplexes (many of which existed inside these sprawling malls).

With a new decade came a class of new movie stars. Here are some of the greatest actors of the 1980s, whose fame coincided with the rise of MTV and credit cards.