Take a Day Off to navigate this NeverEnding Labyrinth of Excellent Adventures. 

Depending on your schedule, the end of year break is a time when you can finally get in a good movie marathon or two without feeling guilty about everything else you’re not doing.

Why not get comfortable and enjoy an old classic or three from the 80s?

Sit back and allow these vintage reels to transport you back to the glory days of perms, neon headbands and stonewash jeans.

Netflix 

Image courtesy: Netflix on the Google Play store

The NeverEnding Story

This movie was definitely one of the better-known early adopters of the ‘one word, two capital letters’ that we’ve all come to know and love in the 2000s.

Can anyone say “trend setter”?

For those who saw it as kids, the story of Bastian and his fantasy world friends stayed with many of us for a long time, in particular the scene in the swamp with the hero Atreyu and… well, no spoilers.

Be warned that watching it as an adult may be a bit less of an overwhelming experience (frankly, the whole movie is pretty strange), but it will definitely take you back.  

ET The Extra Terrestrial

Go on. Say it.

“ET phone home!”

Elliot and his siblings encounter a strange but adorable alien and have to do whatever it takes to help him get back to his own planet.

The epic story of intergalactic best friends resonated with people across the world when it was released in 1983.

It reportedly overtook Star Wars (these days known as Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope) as the highest grossing movie of all time, a record ET held until Jurassic Park hit cinemas in 1993.

Ferris Bueller’s Day Off

Matthew Broderick managed to encourage an entire generation to skip school in his memorably madcap adventure around the city of Chicago.

While school-skipping is certainly not advised, re-watching this movie is.

If you do have a hankering to revisit this film, you can tell your friends Ferris and his mates officially classify as culture, citing the fact that the movie was selected for preservation by the National Film Registry in the US on the basis that it is culturally and historically significant.  

Back to the Future

We had to include this!

Who didn’t wish for a time-travelling car after watching the adventures of Marty McFly?

Michael J. Fox was the poster boy of the 1980s and it is easy to see why.

Now why don’t you make like a tree, and go have a lovely time reliving this classic?

Presto 

Image courtesy: Presto on the Google Play store

The Presto streaming service isn't long for this world, currently slated to shut down on January 31, 2017. That being said, you still have a bit of time to squeeze in a movie night or two!

Labyrinth

David Bowie at his David-Bowiest and the cutest ever red and white striped baby onesie feature in this fantasy classic from Jim Henson.

Believe it or not, this film about a girl going head to head with the Goblin King was not well received when it was released in the mid-eighties.

This was possibly because people were used to Muppets being amusing and cute, not taking their own heads off and frightening nice young girls (not to mention the kids in the audience).

Over time, Labyrinth has become a much-loved cult hit thanks to Jim Henson’s amazing creativity, Cheryl (Gates) McFadden’s wonderful choreography, and of course, Bowie’s unforgettable wig and tights.

Ghostbusters

Who ya gonna call?

Few people dispute the authentic charm of the original Ghostbusters movie.

The one-liners delivered by Bill Murray, Dan Ackroyd and their pals are priceless, as is Sigourney Weaver when she channels the ghoulish ‘Zuul’.

Slimer and the Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man are all part of the fun, making this movie about ghosts taking over New York City worth revisiting time and time again.

Stand By Me

The original coming of age flick (well, one of them), many people are surprised that Stand By Me is based on a story by horror writer Stephen King. 

There are so many memorable moments from Stand By Me, which starred a very young River Phoenix, Corey Feldman, Kiefer Sutherland, Jerry O’Connell and John Cusack.

Stan 

Image courtesy: Stan on the Google Play store

Flight of the Navigator

Another popular alien adventure flick from the 80s, Flight of the Navigator mixed space and time travel.

After going missing for eight years but not ageing, scientists are baffled by the case of 12 year old David Freeman.

As it turns out, he is The Navigator and is needed to help an alien complete its mission.

Fortunately the alien is totally cool and even lets David listen to The Beach Boys while they’re flying around in his space ship, so he has that going for him at least.  

Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure

The plot involves two goofy mates, (Bill S, Preston ESQ. and Ted Theodore Logan) and stars none other than Keanu Reeves in one of his first movie roles.

Unbeknownst to Bill and Ted, they have to stay friends in the present in order to save the universe in the future.

Staying friends means passing History, otherwise Ted’s Dad will send him to military school.

The only solution is a time machine… of course.

Watch this and then follow it up with Bogus Journey, the most excellent sequel.  

Degrassi High School’s Out

If you grew up in the eighties and nineties, you would have no doubt caught Degrassi High and Degrassi Junior High on the ABC after school.

The Canadian high school drama covered issues ranging from eating disorders, to shoplifting, to those of lesser importants like performing in a band called Zit Remedy.

Chances are you have forgotten there ever was a Degrassi movie, but if you really want to feel nostalgic this should be on your viewing list for the summer (although it’s worth noting it wouldn’t suit child viewers).

When the family gets together it can be difficult to choose a film everyone will like, however these favourites have stood the test of time.

Ever wondered what kind of an impact all this video streaming might have on your cap? Check out how much data video streaming uses so that you can have a better idea of what to expect.