When it comes to the music landscape, one can say that metal ruled the ’80s, presenting a cultural turning point and an influx of talent as the genre grew and expanded. Being caught up in the “Satanic Panic” and the ire of religious groups also did not hurt to make it a talking point and a lure for the angsty teenage population. At the same time, documentaries like Heavy Metal Parking Lot and The Decline of Western Civilization Part II: The Metal Years further fed into the odd mix of fandom and hate towards the music genre and culture around it.
When it came to the 1980s, there were also a fair number of films inspired by the genre, or would go on to be inspirations unto themselves. These 8 films represent the metal genre loud and proud.
8
‘This Is Spinal Tap’ (1984)
This is Spinal Tap
5
/5
- Release Date
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March 2, 1984
- Runtime
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82 minutes
- Producers
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Karen Murphy
Presented as a mockumentary following the disastrous comeback tour of a fictional British metal band, the titular Spinal Tap, the movie has become a comedic staple of the ’80s. From candid interviews to following the band through various misadventures and PR disasters, the trio of Spinal Tap has proved enduring in pop culture, with Spinal Tap II: The End Continues releasing in 2025.
Turn It Up to Eleven
Offering an over-the-top satiricalization and clichés that became associated with metal throughout the ’70s and ’80s, Spinal Tap also acts as a love letter to the music genre itself. The movie is sprinkled with wonderfully entertaining moments of unchecked egos and an aim to lean into the sensational nature of the music to craft a specific image. This is one entry not just for metal fans, though, as the movie’s witty, quotable script has made it an endearing comedy classic for many.
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7
‘Trick or Treat’ (1986)
Trick or Treat
- Release Date
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October 24, 1986
- Runtime
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97 Minutes
- Writers
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Rhet Topham, Joel Soisson, Michael S. Murphey
Cast
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Marc Price
Eddie Weinbauer
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Lisa Orgolini
Leslie Graham
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While a slightly flawed horror outting, Trick or Treat has a few things going for it, including a rare appearance from ‘The Prince of Darkness’ himself, as Ozzy Osbourne stepped into the role of an anti-metal advocate; given it happened during a time when he and the genre were facing heavy scrutiny it is such a perfect casting. The film also touches on the persecution of metal fans under religious scrutiny that many would have faced, through a protanist bullied for his love of loud music.
Cheesy ’80s Horror Meets Metal Music
The plot of Trick or Treat is a pretty straightforward tale of revenge, as a music nerd summons his favorite singer after his death. First, by helping him out and targeting his bullies, the entity then wants more, placing the teen in a precarious situation. The movie has its cheesy charm, and its integration of metal makes it a nostalgic outing for fans of the music genre.
6
‘Antropophagus’ (1980)
The case for metal being “satanic” from outsiders is not wholly unwarranted, when bands like Venom were early into leaning into the label with some devilish lyrics. This trend would only continue among certain sub-genres of metal, and looking back, certain films embrace this sort of extremism in controversial content. Notably, Death Metal draws heavy influence from Italian giallo and extreme cinema, and it doesn’t get much more extreme than Antropophagus.
The Perfect Companion for Death Metal
Antropophagus follows a group of German tourists landing on an island only to find all its inhabitants missing. The sole survivor, a cannibalistic killer named Klaus Wortmann. The Italian film offers some ghastly visions of death and the consumption of human remains. Among its more extreme cases of violence, one infamous scene involving a fetus was enough to have censors in an uproar; it was banned in the UK for many years as part of the notorious video nasties list.
The video nasty list would only spark more interest in the films globally, and any production that got the title slapped on it could easily have been included here. The content, deemed ‘too extreme’ for a general audience, radiated with metal and punk culture, which felt equally ostracized in the mainstream culture. At the same time, these movies continue to inspire singers who aim to craft more graphically challenging visuals through lyrics.
5
‘Black Roses’ (1988)
Black Roses
- Release Date
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November 1, 1988
- Runtime
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90 minutes
- Director
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John Fasano
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John Martin
Matthew Moorhouse
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Ken Swofford
Mayor Farnsworth
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Carmine Appice
Vinny Apache
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After a popular metal band arrives in a small American town for a series of performances, the town’s youth start turning violent towards the adults. High school teacher Matthew Moorhouse suspects the lead singer, Damian, to be the cause behind the sudden change in the teens and vows to stop them before they can take their tour elsewhere.
A Flawed Yet Entertaining Love Letter to Metal Music
Another film that fed on the paranoia around metal music during the ’80s, Black Roses deserves note over others as it is entertainingly, painfully bad. Camp, cheese, and a lot of silly choices – the film certainly falls into so-bad-it’s-good territory while keeping a metal charm by integrating the culture into the film. Yet, like any ‘good bad’ movie, it also has some highlights, including some over-the-top practical effects as a singer turns into a bizarre demonic entity. This one is pure fun and fully embraces the demonic metal music trope with absurd excess.
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4
‘Conan the Barbarian’ (1982)
A movie that would shape the landscape of the fantasy genre for years to come, Conan the Barbarian acts as an origin story for the iconic fantasy hero. Following Conanan from a young Cimmerian boy whose village is massacred by the sorcerer Thulsa Doom, to his training of his body and mind to exact revenge despite the insurmountable odds against him. The movie would also act to launch Arnold Schwarzenegger into global stardom.
Fantasy and Metal Remain Common Bedfellows
While there is arguably no author more influential on the metal genre than J. R. R. Tolkien when it comes to the many fantasy-inspired bands, one can make the argument that Robert E. Howard’s grim world of Conan the Barbarian came close. Muscles, women, and brutality in a fantasy landscape make up some of the most conjured-up imagery in some of metal’s sub-genres. The film adaptation delivers all of these elements, and it would go on to inspire a slew of films of the era that would further cement the image of metal and machismo in the ’80s.
3
‘Street Trash’ (1987)
Street Trash
- Release Date
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February 22, 1987
- Runtime
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100 minutes
- Director
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J. Michael Muro
When it comes to music genres that more often explore difficult subject matter, such as punk, industrial, or metal, some bands delve into more nihilistic themes. There is a way of looking at “life has no meaning” as a means of self-empowerment, or it can also be fodder for obnoxious edgelords. Either way, there has always been a contingent of bands that embrace this ideology.
We Are All Just Piles of Goo
Street Trash is about as nihilistic as it comes, seeing life as expendable and of little value. The draw here is seeing vulnerable groups succumb to addiction to alcohol and melt into puddles of colorful goo. It does not paint a pretty picture of humanity. Still, it does so with enough dark humor through twisted body horror and impressive practical effects that the movie has cult appeal for both metalheads and horror fans. The plot? People get a bad batch of alcohol and melt. Enjoy!
Heavy Metal
- Release Date
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August 7, 1981
- Runtime
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1h 26m
- Director
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Gerald Potterton, John Bruno
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Desk Sergeant / Dan / Den / Robot (voice)
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Joe Flaherty
Hanover Fiste / Dr. Anrak (voice)
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Susan Roman
Katherine (voice)
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Don Francks
Lawyer / General (voice)
Heavy Metal Magazine found inspiration from the metal genre in its aesthetic, and offered mature content in a variety of genres. To say one inspired the other is a bit misleading, but they became congruent during the ’80s and the rise of the music genre. The film adaptation, an anthology of stories, would appeal to fans of fantasy, horror, sci-fi, and, by extension, a lot of music fans who loved the sensational imagery on album covers and the darker lyrics of metal.
An Animated Heavy Metal Anthology
1981’s Heavy Metal animated movie went full in on the music genre, utilizing a soundtrack of rock and metal featuring, most notably, Black Sabbath. The film offered up eight shorts, all loosely connected by the idea of a central mystical force pushing the sensational elements. Here, some certainly feel more metal than others, with Den and Taarna being notable stand-outs, touching on themes and visuals that coincide with metal music.
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1
‘Slumber Party Massacre 2’ (1987)
Slumber Party Massacre II
- Release Date
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October 16, 1987
- Runtime
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75 minutes
- Director
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Deborah Brock
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Crystal Bernard
Courtney Bates
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Jennifer Rhodes
Mrs. Bates
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Patrick Lowe
Matt Arbicost
A killer wielding a deadly guitar has made the Slumber Party Massacre franchise tied with the metal genre for a long time, as its quipping killer offered up a more musically inclined version of Freddy Krueger. While all the films in the franchise have some merit, the second is just such a glorious blend of dark comedy, sensational kills, and guitar riffs that it is hard not to place it at the top of the other entries.
Killer Guitar Riffs
Oddball characters, ’80s cheese, an obvious love of music, and emphasis on crafting fun guitar kills have made Slumber Party Massacre 2 a beloved cult classic of the era. It may not be as ‘metal’ as other entries on this list, but as others here get by on pandering to fans of the genre, this slasher is a fun inclusion if you are looking for films that capture the metal spirit of the ’80s.
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