20 awesome ’80s movies you should totally see before you die

15. The Princess Bride (1987)

Swordfights, pirates, a fire swamp, lifelong vendettas, a giant, a diabolical king, bungling villains and, most of all, true love are what makes director Rob Reiner’s movie The Princess Bride a masterpiece.

Robin Wright (House of Cards), Mandy Patinkin (Homeland), Cary Elwes (Kiss the Girls), Andre the Giant, Billy Crystal (When Harry Met Sally), Carol Kane (Taxi), Peter Falk (Columbo), Fred Savage (The Wonder Years), Christopher Guest (This Is Spinal Tap) and Chris Sarandon (Fright Night) make a truly original cast of characters. Along with writer William Goldman, Reiner embraces fairytale tropes while simultaneously reworking them into something new.

Everything about The Princess Bride is … charming. By far, the film’s dialogue is its most enduring legacy. Good movies are lucky to produce one quote that endures from generation to generation, and The Princess Bride contains too many to count. From “Have fun stormin’ da castle,” to “Hello! My name is Inigo Montoya! You killed my father! Prepare to die!,” every utterance is like dipping a spoon into a bottomless hot fudge sundae.

It’s hard to find live-action family fare that doesn’t involve superheroes, manages to appeal to everyone no matter their age or gender, and isn’t overly sentimental. The Princess Bride wasn’t a smash hit upon its release, but over time, it’s continued to build a loyal and ever-expanding following.