The 30 Best Science Fiction Movies Of The '80s Ranked

Peter Weller would become better known to audiences for another '80s sci-fi film that shows up much closer to the top of this list, but a few years before he played a cyborg lawman, he was a time traveling adventurer from suburban New Jersey. In "The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension," he plays the eponymous hero, leader of a superhero rock band in a story that lives up to the wackiness of its title.

Buckaroo Banzai is a renaissance man: a brilliant scientist, a skilled brain surgeon, a maverick test pilot, and yes, a rock star too. But thanks to his mentor, Dr. Tohichi Hikita (Robert Into), he's about to become a crime-fighting, dimension-jumping hero. Hikita has built a device that allows his souped-up Ford F350 to jaunt into other dimensions, but on his first joyride, he gets the attention of a psychotic madman, who plots to take over the Garden State with an army from the 8th dimension. With the help of his band — the Hong Kong Cavaliers — it's up to Banzai to stop the evil invaders and save New Jersey.

Perhaps released in the wrong era, "The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension" never did find much success. However, it was given good reviews for its tongue-in-cheek tone, wild sci-fi adventure, and strong cast. In addition to Weller, the roster of stars includes Jeff Goldblum, John Lithgow, Carl Lumbly, Clancy Brown, Christopher Lloyd, and Ellen Barkin.