The 40 most popular 1980s soap TV shows, ranked. Click any show for ratings, reviews, trailers, and where to watch.


EastEnders
1985 · UK
The everyday lives of working-class residents of Albert Square, a traditional Victorian square of terrace houses surrounding a park in the East End of London's Walford borough.


Home and Away
1988 · AU
Home and Away is set in the fictional town of Summer Bay, a coastal town in New South Wales, and follows the personal and professional lives of the people living in the area. The show initially focused on the Fletcher family, Pippa and Tom Fletcher and their five foster children Frank Morgan, Carly Morris, Steven Matheson, Lynn Davenport and Sally Keating, who would go on to become one of the show's longest-running characters. The show also originally and currently focuses on the Stewart family. Home and Away had proved popular when it premiered in 1988 and had risen to become a hit in Australia, and after only a few weeks, the show tackled its first major and disturbing storyline, the rape of Carly Morris; it was one of the first shows to feature such storylines during the early timeslot. H&A has tackled many adult-themed and controversial storylines; something rarely found in its restricted timeslot.


Casualty
1986 · UK
Drama series about the staff and patients at Holby City Hospital's emergency department, charting the ups and downs in their personal and professional lives.


Falcon Crest
1981 · US
Falcon Crest is an American primetime television soap opera which aired on the CBS network for nine seasons, from December 4, 1981 to May 17, 1990. A total of 227 episodes were produced. The series revolves around the feuding factions of the wealthy Gioberti/Channing family in the Californian wine industry. Jane Wyman starred as Angela Channing, the tyrannical matriarch of the Falcon Crest Winery, alongside Robert Foxworth as Chase Gioberti, Angela's nephew who returns to Falcon Crest following the death of his father. The series was set in the fictitious Tuscany Valley northeast of San Francisco.


Dynasty
1981 · US
The saga of a wealthy Denver family in the oil business: Blake Carrington, the patriarch; Krystle, his former secretary and wife; his children: Adam, lost in childhood after a kidnapping; Fallon, pampered and spoiled; Steven, openly gay; and Amanda, hidden from him by his ex-wife, the conniving Alexis. Most of the show features the conflict between 2 large corporations, Blake's Denver Carrington and Alexis' ColbyCo.


Brookside
1982 · UK
The ground-breaking soap set in a housing estate on the outskirts of Liverpool.


Neighbours
1985 · AU
Neighbours is an Australian television soap opera. The show's storylines concern the domestic and professional lives of the people who live and work in Erinsborough, a fictional suburb of Melbourne, Victoria. The series primarily centres around the residents of Ramsay Street, a short cul-de-sac, and its neighbouring areas, the Lassiters complex, which includes a bar, hotel, cafe, news office and park. Neighbours began with three families created by Watson – the Ramsays, the Robinsons and the Clarkes. Watson said that he wanted to show three families who are friends living in a small street. The Robinsons and the Ramsays had a long history and were involved in an ongoing rivalry.


E Street
1989 · AU
An Australian television soap opera, set in a tough fictional inner-city district called Westside. The stories revolve around the local community there. Created by Forrest Redlich and produced by Network Ten from 24 January 1989 to 13 May 1993.


A Country Practice
1981 · AU
A Country Practice was an Australian television drama series. At its inception, one of the longest-running of its kind, produced by James Davern of JNP Productions, who had wrote the pilot episode and entered a script contest for the network in 1979, coming third and winning a merit award. It ran on the Seven Network for 1,058 episodes from 18 November 1981 to 22 November 1993. It was produced in ATN-7's production facility at Epping, Sydney. After its lengthy run on the seven network it was picked up by network ten with a mainly new cast from April to November 1994 for 30 episodes, although the ten series was not as successful as its predecessor . The Channel Seven series was also filmed on location in Pitt Town, while, the Channel Ten series was filmed on location in Emerald, Victoria.


Hotel
1982 · US
Hotel is an American prime time drama series which aired on ABC from September 21, 1983 to May 5, 1988 in the timeslot following Dynasty. Based on Arthur Hailey's 1965 novel of the same name, the series was produced by Aaron Spelling and set in the elegant and fictitious St. Gregory Hotel in San Francisco. Establishing shots of the hotel were filmed in front of The Fairmont San Francisco atop the Nob Hill neighborhood. Episodes followed the activities of passing guests, as well as the personal and professional lives of the hotel staff.


Os Imigrantes
1981 · BR
In Europe, at the end of the 19th century, social policies sent thousands of immigrants out of their countries. A Spaniard, a Portuguese, and an Italian seek new opportunities in the new country, without imagining the difficulties along the way.


Capitol
1982 · US
Capitol is an American soap opera which aired on CBS from March 29, 1982 to March 20, 1987 for 1,270 episodes. As its name suggests, the storyline usually revolves around the political intrigues of people whose lives intertwined in Washington, D.C.


The Bold and the Beautiful
1987 · US
Continuing drama combining romance and intrigue set against the glittering backdrop of Beverly Hills and the American fashion industry.


Tieta
1989 · BR
Inspired on Jorge Amado's romance "Tieta do Agreste", the plot is set on the fictional city of Santana do Agreste, at Brazil's northwest, and has as main theme Tieta's life turnarounds. Twenty-five years after being chased out of town by her father Zé Esteves, she returns to her home town seeking revenge against everyone who mistreated her and laugh at her face in the past.


Power Play
1984 · BR
Eloá and Osmar's marriage is thrown into crisis when a mysterious man crosses their path. With a thirst for prestige and power, Eloá will face the consequences of her ambition.


La fiera
1983 · MX
Natalie, a poor but beautiful girl from a humble neighborhood, falls in love with and wins the heart of Victor Afonso—her childhood friend and the son of the city's wealthiest family. Natalie lives with a cruel old woman who forces her to beg to support her, yet also foresees through fortune-telling cards that "The Beast"—as Natalie is known—will one day find happiness and wealth. Believing this fortune is linked to "The Greek," a wealthy man in love with Natalie, the old woman sells her to him—unaware that Natalie and Victor Afonso had secretly married before he left the country for his studies. When the young man's parents discover the truth, they annul the marriage, indifferent to the fact that "The Beast" is pregnant with his child. Supported by her friend—a cabaret performer known as "La Costeña"—and by The Greek himself, Natalie turns her life around and gives birth to twins; however, she has no idea that The Greek intends to exact a price for all his generosity.


Dance with Me
1981 · BR
Quinzinho and João Victor are identical twins separated at birth, unaware of each other's existence. The brothers eventually draw closer, guided by their instincts.


Roque Santeiro
1985 · BR
In the tiny poor town of Asa Branca, in the middle of Brazilian Northeast, Roque Santeiro is worshiped as a saint. He was supposedly killed by a bandit, 18 years ago, trying to save the local church. After his disappearance, local leaderships such as landowner Sinhozinho Malta and mayor Florindo, took profit on that to control the humble population. They even make up a widow, Porcina, who should have married Roque secretly before his death. What they don't expect is that Roque is alive, and he's back to, allegedly, "save his people". Now Malta, Florindo, Porcina, and others must hold him down and explain the "truth" to their commoners, in a desperate attempt to save their own bottoms. Meanwhile, mysterious facts surround Asa Branca, such as a Werewolf, a film crew who are trying to shoot a movie about Roque's story, and violent murderers.


Top Model
1989 · BR
Maria Eduarda "Duda" Pinheiro is a successful top model. After being hired to model Covery brand clothes, she meets the Kundera brothers, Alex and Gaspar, owners of the company. Gaspar, a former beatnik, is over 40 but still practices surfing, lives in a beach-side house and raises five children: Elvis (named after Elvis Presley), Ringo (Starr), Jane (Fonda), Olívia (Newton-John) and (John) Lennon, all from different mothers who left them with him. Anastácia "Naná" Passos, Duda's friend and mentor, loves him platonically, and rivalizes with Mariza Borges over him. Alex by contrast is a yuppie. He and their mother Morgana have a love-hate relationship and rivalry with his brother over Morgana's attention and the company. Alex begins to love Duda, however she falls in love with Lucas, a graffiti artist who is on the run from the São Paulo police due to his involvement in a crime there. He is also searching for his real father, and thinks it's either Alex or Gaspar.


Plumas & Paetês
1980 · BR
After an accident, Marcela arrives in São Paulo and decides to assume a new identity. Torn between love, she plunges into a world that is not her own.


Vale Tudo
1988 · BR
Fátima Accioly is a young, callous woman who wants to be rich and successful at any price. After selling her family's house in the country, she heads to Rio and gets to know dress man César who is unscrupulous himself. Meanwhile, her mother Raquel stays behind without home and money, but finally tries to find her daughter in the big city. Both women come in contact with the rich Roitman family which changes their lives forever.


Coração Alado
1980 · BR
No overview available


Topacio
1984 · VE
It depicts the life of Topázio, a blind woman who falls in love with Jorge Luis, the son of the owners of a large estate; little did they know, however, that they had been switched at birth, as Topázio had been presumed dead. Topázio had a close friend, Sirilo, who suffered from mental health issues.


Mandala
1987 · BR
Jocasta, an 18-year-old sociology student and daughter of communist activist Túlio Silveira, is actively involved in the country's political landscape. She is in love with Laio—her polar opposite—a disengaged, esoteric young man who lives off his wealthy father's allowance. A mystic, Laio makes no move without consulting his guru and friend Argemiro, whom he turns to upon learning of Jocasta's pregnancy. The cowrie shell reading reveals that his son is destined to kill him and enter into a romantic relationship with his mother. Terrified, Laio disappears with the child immediately after birth, aided by Argemiro—who loves Laio and loathes Jocasta. Twenty-five years later, Jocasta is a successful yet restless woman searching for her missing son. She is estranged from Laio, who has spent recent years expanding his father's fortune through involvement in underground gambling. On a highway, he encounters Oedipus, unaware that the young man is his son.


Partido Alto
1984 · BR
The lives of people living in contrasting environments in the South Zone and the suburbs of Rio de Janeiro intertwine, with a focus on female characters, samba, and organized crime.


Sétimo Sentido
1982 · BR
No overview available


O Outro
1987 · BR
Despite a striking physical resemblance, Paulo and Denizard live completely opposite lives in Copacabana. After an accident, their lives and those of their families take different paths.


Sassaricando
1987 · BR
After becoming a widower, businessman Aparício Varela takes over as president of Tecelagem Abdala and decides to win back the great love of his life, Rebeca.


Little Missy
1986 · BR
In 1886, in the small town of Araruna, Little Missy rejects the actions of her father—the slave-owning Colonel Ferreira—alongside Rodolfo, an active abolitionist republican with whom she falls in love.


Mi segunda madre
1989 · MX
The story tells the story of Diana (Maria Sortè), a highly successful fashion designer married to an unreliable and lying man, Giacomo, and of Gianluca (Enrique Novi), a widower with a 10-year-old girl, Arianna. Diana, after discovering that Giacomo has another wife and two children, Davide and Chicco, abandons him, and leaves for a cruise with her friend Gloria. On the ship he meets Gianluca in the company of Viviana, who is actually staying with him for money. The meeting between Gianluca and Diana is one of those that are not forgotten and, what seemed only physical attraction, turns into true love. Diana is introduced by Gianluca to her daughter and immediately wins her sympathy.


Howards' Way
1985 · UK
The BBC's answer to Dynasty, Howards' Way was launched in 1985 with an enormous 1 million pound budget. The main characters in the show were 'best boat designer in the world' Tom Howard, his boutique running wife Jan Howard, 'I'll have a drink' Jack Rolfe and a nasty man called Ken Masters. It starred Maurice Colbourne.


Meus Filhos, Minha Vida
1984 · BR
No overview available


Guerra dos Sexos
1983 · BR
Cousins Charlô and Otávio once had a romance, but today they detest each other. However, fate plays a trick on them: they will receive a large inheritance, on the condition that they live together.


Mad Love
1983 · BR
The young and rich Patricia, daughter of Ambassador André Dumont's first marriage, is in love with and reciprocated by Luiz Carlos, a poor boy, son of the family's maid, Isolda. Whoever doesn't like to see her with the maid's son is her stepmother, Renata Dumont, André's wife. Renata is an ambitious woman who hides her humble origins and a secret from the past that unites her with Isolda. Career, she married the diplomat André, from a traditional family, with whom she had a son, Lipe.


Roda de Fogo
1986 · BR
Renato Villar is an ambitious businessman. After discovering a brain tumor, his life takes a turn, and he decides to settle his debts and live his true love.


Carmem
1987 · BR
No overview available


Bebê a Bordo
1988 · BR
In an action-packed plot set in São Paulo, Ana gives birth to a child in Tonico's car, but abandons the baby to escape the police after becoming involved in a robbery.


Hipertensão
1986 · BR
The routine of the quiet town of Rio Belo changes with the arrival of Carina, a traveling actress determined to discover who her father is. At the same time, a mysterious crime involving the powerful Donana shakes the town.


El extraño retorno de Diana Salazar
1988 · MX
El extraño retorno de Diana Salazar is a 1988 Mexican telenovela starring Lucía Méndez and Jorge Martinez. It is an unusual example of a telenovela which addresses supernatural topics.


Brega & Chique
1987 · BR
The plot revolves around a love triangle between Rosemere, Rafaela, and Herbet Alvaray. They are unaware of the same man's presence in their lives and, due to fate, become friends.
1980s television saw the serialized primetime drama take hold and cable begin to fragment the audience that networks had held uncontested for thirty years.
Soap opera is television's most enduring form — continuing serials built on relationships, reversals, and an audience that returns for decades. Its storytelling grammar quietly underpins most modern serialized drama.