MTV in the 80s wasn’t just a music channel it changed how we experienced music, turning songs into stories and artists into icons. Whether you’ve been watching since the early days or just discovered these videos through internet rabbit holes and retro playlists, one thing’s clear: 80s music videos still hold up as some of the greatest of all time. 

This is the MTV 80s Music Video Hall of Fame: the ultimate throwback to the era when music videos weren’t just promos, they were masterpieces that changed how we experienced music overall. We’re counting down the top 10 most iconic videos of the decade and giving out some very unofficial (but very important) awards for the rest. 

Think of it as your backstage pass to the golden age of music television.

Whether you’re here for nostalgia, trivia bragging rights, or just love learning about music, you’re in the right place. Let’s go!

These ten videos helped define the decade and MTV itself. They broke barriers, set trends, and turned songs into full-on cultural phenomena. Let's count 'em down. 

What makes it an iconic 80s MTV music video: Moody, minimalist, and dripping with emotion, this video feels like stepping into Prince’s psyche. He directed it himself, blending surreal imagery with stripped-down performance. There’s a claw-foot bathtub, mirror-filled rooms, and a captivating performance that only Prince could deliver. As bold as it was beautiful, it proved Prince didn’t just break rules, he rewrote them.

What makes it an iconic 80s MTV music video: Cyndi Lauper brought punky charm and feminist flair to MTV with this vibrant, joyous video. Shot on a shoestring budget and featuring her real-life mom and wrestler Captain Lou Albano, it turned the idea of a music video into a block party for all ages. It was silly, colorful, and completely infectious—and it gave a new kind of role model to girls everywhere: bold, unapologetic, and fully in charge of her own fun.

What makes it an iconic 80s MTV music video: This was the video that finally got MTV to put a Black artist into heavy rotation and once they did, there was no turning back. Michael Jackson walks a moody city street where every step lights up beneath him, creating one of the most iconic visual effects in music video history. Add in a noir-style mystery plot and MJ’s trademark dance moves, and you’ve got a video that feels incredibly cool and unforgettable.

What makes it an iconic 80s MTV music video: Two genres. Two studios. One literal wall between them. This iconic collab didn’t just bridge rock and hip-hop, it smashed the barrier completely. With Steven Tyler busting through the wall and Run-D.M.C. trading verses on the other side, the video became a metaphor for breaking down racial and musical divisions. It brought hip-hop to a wider audience and gave Aerosmith a second wind. Equal parts electrifying and historic, this was MTV at its most powerful.

What makes it an iconic 80s MTV music video: With its neon-outlined, blocky CGI characters, this video was a glimpse into the future. Sure, the animation looks dated now, but in 1985, it was cutting-edge. The song’s snarky lyrics about MTV fame were matched by visuals of blue-collar cartoon dudes watching rock stars on TV. And let’s not forget the opening line, “I want my MTV,” sung by Sting, which became an iconic catchphrase for the network. This was self-aware, satirical, and kinda brilliant.

What makes it an iconic 80s MTV music video: No stranger to pushing buttons, Madonna lit a firestorm with this provocative and visually stunning video. Featuring stigmata, burning crosses, a Black saint coming to life, and Madonna dancing in front of a gospel choir, it tackled themes of race, religion, and justice. The Vatican condemned it, Pepsi pulled their sponsorship, and everyone had something to say, which only made it more powerful. It was the ultimate mix of pop culture, art, and controversy, cementing Madonna’s reputation a pop icon.

What makes it an iconic 80s MTV music video: Peter Gabriel didn’t just make a music video—he made a surreal, stop-motion fever dream. Packed with claymation, pixilation, dancing raw chickens, and mind-bending visuals, "Sledgehammer" pushed the boundaries of what was technically possible in a music video. Gabriel reportedly spent 16 hours under a sheet of glass while animators worked around him frame by frame. The result? Nine MTV VMAs and a place in video history as one of the most imaginative and ambitious visuals of the decade.

What makes it an iconic 80s MTV music video: A-ha didn’t just deliver a catchy synth-pop hit—they gave us a music video masterpiece that fused comic book fantasy with real-life romance. Using a then-groundbreaking animation technique called rotoscoping, the band pulled viewers into a hand-drawn world that felt like nothing else on MTV at the time. It took 16 weeks to create and ended up winning six MTV Video Music Awards. The visuals are still iconic, and that moment when Morten Harket reaches out from the page? Pure 80s magic.

What makes it an iconic 80s MTV music video: This wasn’t just a music video, it was a 14-minute cinematic event that changed the music world forever. Directed by John Landis, "Thriller" brought horror movie vibes to the small screen, complete with a werewolf transformation and zombie dance scene. It blurred the line between music and film, setting a new benchmark for production value and storytelling. More than that, it broke racial barriers on MTV and catapulted Michael Jackson to global superstardom. If there’s one video that defines the music video era, it’s this one.

Sure, the top 10 get the spotlight but let’s not forget the videos that carved out their own weird, wild, and wonderful corners of MTV history. These are the deep cuts, the cult favorites, and the genre-defining moments that deserved a little extra love. So we’re handing out some very unofficial awards to the rest of the videos that made the 80s unforgettable.