Episode 1
Raised on Television
1h6.0 / 10
VCRs, remote controls, family sitcoms, adult dramas, and prime-time soaps all changed TV enjoyment.
Episode credits
Guest stars Jessica Savitch
TV series
The Eighties
2016TV-141 season7.6 / 10
The third installment from executive producers Tom Hanks, Gary Goetzman and Mark Herzog, following in the footsteps of critically-acclaimed series THE SIXTIES and THE SEVENTIES, tackles 10 years shaped by exceptionalism and excess. Like its predecessors, THE EIGHTIES intersperses rare archival newsreel footage, interviews, and comments by historians, journalists, politicians, celebrities and others, painting a perspective-rich picture of a vibrant decade. Episodes examine the age of Reagan, the AIDS crisis, the end of the Cold War, Wall Street corruption, the evolving TV and music scene, and everything in between.
Streaming, rental and purchase options
Where to watch in United States
Checked Sep 2, 2026
The Eighties is available to stream on HBO Max, HBO Max (Via Amazon Prime), and The Roku Channel in United States. You can also buy it from Amazon, Apple TV, and Fandango at Home. Use the direct links below to open the provider.
Synopsis
The third installment from executive producers Tom Hanks, Gary Goetzman and Mark Herzog, following in the footsteps of critically-acclaimed series THE SIXTIES and THE SEVENTIES, tackles 10 years shaped by exceptionalism and excess. Like its predecessors, THE EIGHTIES intersperses rare archival newsreel footage, interviews, and comments by historians, journalists, politicians, celebrities and others, painting a perspective-rich picture of a vibrant decade. Episodes examine the age of Reagan, the AIDS crisis, the end of the Cold War, Wall Street corruption, the evolving TV and music scene, and everything in between.
Season 1 episodes
Choose an episode, then use the watch options above for the show.
Where to watch The Eighties
Episode 2
The Reagan Revolution
1h
Exploring the two-term presidency of Ronald Reagan; highlighting his triumphs and controversies.
Episode credits
Guest stars Ronald Reagan, Donald Regan
Episode 3
Tear Down This Wall
1h
The ever-present Cold War between the United States and Russia finally comes to an end thanks to a chain of events that had once been unthinkable.
Episode credits
Guest stars Jessica Savitch
Episode 4
Greed Is Good
1h
Junk bonds, bailouts and Wall Street corruption set the tone for a decade of greed and excess.
Where to watch The Eighties
Episode 5
Video Killed the Radio Star
1h
Music videos and the digital revolution dominated the music industry, as CDs replaced records; the charts were dominated by artists like Madonna, Michael Jackson, Bruce Springsteen, Bon Jovi and Prince.
Episode credits
Guest stars Fritz Hollings, Lori Majewski
Episode 6
The Tech Boom
1h
A look at the innovations and inventions of the Digital Revolution, including the personal computer and the Internet, which have defined life as we know it today.
Where to watch The Eighties
Episode 7
The Fight Against AIDS
1hfinale
The rise of a mysterious and deadly illness developed into a pandemic, affecting primarily the gay community and killing millions of people to date called acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS).
Where to watch The EightiesEpisode information updated Sep 14, 2026
More about The Eighties
Cast
H.W. BrandsSelf
Ronald ReaganSelf (archive footage)
Donald ReganSelf (archive footage)
Jessica SavitchSelf (archive footage)
Fritz HollingsSelf (archive footage)
Lori MajewskiSelf - Author, Mad WorldProduction details
- Status
- Ended
- Series type
- Miniseries
- Episodes
- 7
- Original language
- English
Networks & production
CNNUnited States
Themes
1980snostalgia
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