This is a list of films produced or distributed by Universal Pictures in 1980–1989, founded in 1912 as the Universal Film Manufacturing Company. It is the main motion picture production and distribution arm of Universal Studios, a subsidiary of the NBCUniversal division of Comcast.
1980 Release Date Title Notes January 25, 1980 Guyana: Cult of the Damned North American distribution only February 8, 1980 The Last Married Couple in America March 7, 1980 Coal Miner's Daughter Nominee of the Academy Award for Best PictureWinner of the Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture – DramaInducted into the National Film Registry in 2019 March 21, 1980 Little Miss Marker April 18, 1980 North Sea Hijack British film; distribution only April 25, 1980 Where the Buffalo Roam May 9, 1980 The Nude Bomb co-production with Time-Life Films May 23, 1980 The Gong Show Movie June 13, 1980 The Island co-production with Zanuck/Brown Company June 20, 1980 The Blues Brothers Inducted into the National Film Registry in 2020 July 18, 1980 Cheech and Chong's Next Movie co-production with C&C Brown Productions August 8, 1980 Xanadu August 15, 1980 Smokey and the Bandit II co-production with Rastar September 19, 1980 Melvin and Howard Nominee of the Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy September 26, 1980 In God We Tru$t Resurrection October 3, 1980 Somewhere in Time co-production with Rastar December 5, 1980 Flash Gordon North American distribution excluding television only; produced by Dino De Laurentiis Corporation
1981 Release Date Title Notes January 1, 1981 The White Lions U.S. theatrical distribution only; produced by Alan Landsburg Productions 1981 Invaders from the Deep U.S. distribution only; produced by ITC Entertainment;movie compilation of the television series StingrayBurned at the Stake U.S. theatrical distribution only; produced by Alan Landsburg Productions January 30, 1981 The Incredible Shrinking Woman March 6, 1981 All Night Long March 13, 1981 The Funhouse distribution only; produced by Mace Neufeld Productions April 10, 1981 Nighthawks co-production with Martin Poll Productions and The Production Company April 24, 1981 Beyond the Reef North American distribution only; produced by Dino De Laurentiis CorporationCattle Annie and Little Britches North American theatrical distribution only; produced by Hemdale, Cattle Annie Films, Inc., King-Hitzig Productions and Monday Films May 1, 1981 King of the Mountain North American theatrical distribution only; produced by PolyGram Pictures May 22, 1981 The Four Seasons Bustin' Loose The Legend of the Lone Ranger North American theatrical distribution with Associated Film Distribution only; produced by ITC Entertainment and Wrather Productions June 26, 1981 The Great Muppet Caper North American theatrical distribution with Associated Film Distribution only; produced by ITC Entertainment and Henson Associates July 17, 1981 Endless Love North American distribution excluding television only; produced by PolyGram Pictures August 21, 1981 An American Werewolf in London North American distribution excluding television only; produced by PolyGram Pictures and Lycanthrope Films LimitedHonky Tonk Freeway North American theatrical distribution with Associated Film Distribution Corporation only; produced by EMI Films September 18, 1981 Continental Divide co-production with Amblin ProductionsRaggedy Man October 2, 1981 Zoot Suit Inducted into the National Film Registry in 2019 October 23, 1981 Silence of the North Canadian film; distribution only October 30, 1981 Halloween II North American distribution only; produced by Dino De Laurentiis Corporation November 13, 1981 The Pursuit of D. B. Cooper North American distribution excluding television only; produced by PolyGram PicturesDecember 4, 1981 On Golden Pond theatrical distribution only; produced by ITC Films and IPC Films; co-distributed by Associated Film Distribution Corporation in North AmericaNominee of the Academy Award for Best Picture.Winner of the Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture - Drama December 18, 1981 Ghost Story Heartbeeps
1982 Release Date Title Notes February 12, 1982 The Border co-production with Efer Productions and RKO Pictures February 19, 1982 Barbarosa North American theatrical distribution with Associated Film Distribution Corporation only; produced by ITC Films March 5, 1982 Evil Under the Sun North American theatrical distribution with Associated Film Distribution Corporation only; produced by EMI Films and Titan Productions March 12, 1982 Missing co-production with PolyGram PicturesNominee of the Academy Award for Best Picture.Nominee of the Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture - Drama. April 2, 1982 A Little Sex North American distribution only; produced by MTM EnterprisesCat People co-production with RKO Pictures May 7, 1982 Death Valley distribution only May 14, 1982 Conan the Barbarian North American distribution only; produced by Dino De Laurentiis Corporation May 21, 1982 Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid co-production with Aspen Film Society June 11, 1982 E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial co-production with Amblin EntertainmentNominee of the Academy Award for Best Picture.Winner of the Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture – Drama.Inducted into the National Film Registry in 1994 June 25, 1982 The Thing co-production with The Turman-Foster CompanyInducted into the National Film Registry in 2025 July 23, 1982 The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas co-production with RKO Pictures and Miller-Milkis-Boyett ProductionsNominee of the Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy August 13, 1982 Fast Times at Ridgemont High co-production with Refugee FilmsInducted into the National Film Registry in 2005 September 26, 1982 Moonlighting U.S. distribution under Universal Classics only October 22, 1982 Halloween III: Season of the Witch North American distribution only; produced by Dino De Laurentiis Corporation December 3, 1982 Frances North American theatrical distribution with Associated Film Distribution Corporation only; produced by EMI Films and Brooksfilms December 10, 1982 Sophie's Choice theatrical distribution only; produced by ITC Entertainment; co-distributed by Associated Film Distribution Corporation in North Americanominee of the Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture – Drama.La Traviata U.S. distribution under Universal Classics only December 17, 1982 The Dark Crystal theatrical distribution only; produced by ITC Entertainment and Henson Associates; co-distributed by Associated Film Distribution Corporation in North AmericaSix Weeks North American theatrical distribution only; produced by PolyGram Pictures
1983 Release Date Title Notes February 4, 1983 Videodrome Canadian film; distribution only; produced by Filmplan International, Canadian Film Development Corporation and Famous Players February 18, 1983 The Pirates of Penzance co-production with Edward R. Pressman ProductionsThe Sting II February 1983 Second Thoughts North American theatrical distribution with Associated Film Distribution Corporation only; produced by EMI Films and The Turman-Foster Company March 4, 1983 Tender Mercies North American theatrical distribution with Associated Film Distribution Corporation only; produced by EMI Films and Antron Media ProductionsNominee of the Academy Award for Best Picture.Nominee of the Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture – Drama. March 23, 1983 Eddie Macon's Run March 25, 1983 Bad Boys North American theatrical distribution with Associated Film Distribution Corporation only; produced by EMI Films March 31, 1983 Monty Python's The Meaning of Life British film; distribution only; produced by Celandine Films and The Monty Python Partnership May 6, 1983 Doctor Detroit co-production with Black Rhino Productions and The Brillstein Company June 3, 1983 Psycho II co-production with Oak Industries July 1, 1983 Stroker Ace North American theatrical, international home media and television distribution only; co-production with Warner Bros. July 15, 1983 Puberty Blues U.S. distribution under Universal Classics only July 22, 1983 Jaws 3-D co-production with Alan Landsburg Productions July 29, 1983 Private School co-production with Unity Pictures Corporation August 12, 1983 Smokey and the Bandit Part 3 August 19, 1983 Metalstorm: The Destruction of Jared-Syn North American distribution only; produced by Albert Band International Productions September 2, 1983 Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence North American distribution only; produced by Recorded Picture Company September 9, 1983 Nightmares September 15, 1983 Heat and Dust U.S. theatrical distribution under Universal Classics only; produced by Merchant Ivory Productions September 21, 1983 Cross Creek North American theatrical distribution with Associated Film Distribution only; produced by Thorn EMI Screen Entertainment September 30, 1983 Going Berserk co-production with Mutual ProductionsThe Lonely Lady North American distribution onlyHanna K. October 21, 1983 Rumble Fish distribution in North and Latin America, the U.K., Scandinavia, Spain and Japan only; produced by Zoetrope Studios December 9, 1983 Scarface co-production with Martin Bregman Productions December 16, 1983 D.C. Cab co-production with The Guber-Peters Company and RKO Pictures
1984 Release Date Title Notes January 27, 1984 The Lonely Guy co-production with Aspen Film Society February 17, 1984 Crackers February 1984 Slayground North American theatrical distribution with Associated Film Distribution only; produced by Thorn EMI Films March 2, 1984 Repo Man distribution only; produced by Edge City March 16, 1984 Tank co-production with Lorimar Productions April 6, 1984 Hard to Hold April 13, 1984 Iceman May 4, 1984 Sixteen Candles co-production with Channel Productions May 11, 1984 Firestarter North American distribution and international theatrical distribution only; produced by Dino De Laurentiis Corporation June 1, 1984 Streets of Fire co-production with Hill-Gordon-Silver Productions and RKO Pictures June 13, 1984 Under the Volcano North American distribution only; produced by Ithaca Enterprises June 29, 1984 Conan the Destroyer North American distribution and international theatrical distribution outside West Germany and Austria only; produced by the Dino De Laurentiis Corporation July 13, 1984 The Last Starfighter North American distribution excluding television only; produced by Lorimar Productions July 20, 1984 One Deadly Summer U.S. distribution only; produced by TF1 August 10, 1984 Cloak & Dagger September 21, 1984 All of Me North American theatrical distribution only; produced by Kings Road Productions September 28, 1984 The Wild Life October 10, 1984 Comfort and Joy North American distribution only; produced by Kings Road Productions October 26, 1984 Terror in the Aisles North American distribution only; produced by T.E.M. Programs International and Kaleidoscope Films Limited December 14, 1984 Dune North American distribution and international theatrical distribution outside Australia, New Zealand, France, West Germany, Austria and the Benelux only; produced by Dino De Laurentiis CorporationMass Appeal distribution only; produced by Operation Cork Productions, The Turman-Foster Company and Jalem Productions December 19, 1984 The River
1985