One afternoon this week, after watching the glorious 80s inspired intergalactic silliness of Thor: Love and Thunder, I found myself driving down the motorway singing my lungs out to Guns and Roses – it’s been a few decades since I’ve felt the inclination to do this!

It was just over a month ago many of us rediscovered the rich emotive voice of Kate Bush, and realised how at home Kenny Loggins Danger Zone still is in 2022.

While Top Gun, Stranger Things and now Thor Love and Thunder may make it seem a flux of 80s’ nostalgia is upon us, the 80s have been back with us for some time; those who can have long been wearing high waisted jeans and fluro nail polish.

The prevalence of 80s on our TV, movie screens and Spotify play lists is nothing to fear. It’s not a sign original ideas no longer exist. The 80s is simply a beloved decade and it’s inevitable it will inspire and inform filmmakers and storytellers.

It’s mostly coincidence three recent screen events each nod to the 80s, the pandemic brought their release dates closer together.

We’ve always looked to the past. In pop culture, decades often have a retro twin.

In music, the 70s took inspiration from the rock’n’roll era of the 50s, the 80s was obsessed with the 60s and 90s looked back to the 70s for inspiration. When we hit the noughties, 80s electropop made a resurgence, and the 80s have continued to inspire this century.

There’s no denying laziness prevails at times when TV and film studios constantly look to the past to resurrect box office or audience numbers. The sometimes winning power of familiarity and a sense of fondness drive these decisions, but that shouldn’t be the only thing considered.

A revival also needs a modern take with a fresh point of view, or something new to say to. Top Gun isn’t a global hit just because it’s the sequel to a film released 36 years ago; it’s also because it’s thrilling, well-crafted entertainment staring one of the biggest movie stars in the world.

Stranger Things works because it’s inspired by 80s blockbusters but it’s not trying to be a 80s blockbuster; it may bring back fond memories for viewers who remember the 80s but it is also a whole new experience for everyone watching.

It doesn’t always work, remember the 2016 Ghostbusters with an all-female cast?

Other remake misadventures include, to name a few: Dynasty, Fame, Conan the Barbarian, Arthur, Annie, RoboCop, and MacGyver.

Which all acts in stark contrast to one of the joys of the year.

The New Zealand International Film Festival released its programme at the beginning of the week, and it reassures us that there is plenty of originality, ambition and artistic vision out there. So if you need a break from the 80s onslaught then head to NZIFF.co.nz