Among this plethora of network TV programming in the 80s, something emerged that started to capture the hearts and imaginations of audiences everywhere…the made-for-TV movie. Each one of the big three networks — ABC, CBS, and NBC — gave us a mix of drama, romance, suspense, thrills, historical events, sci-fi, disaster flicks, and horror each and every week throughout the 80s, via made for TV movies.

These weren’t big budget spectacles. Instead, they were quite grounded. They were usually intimate, socially conscious narratives that would tackle the struggles of everyday people and families while exploring complex social issues. Here’s my list of the 15 best and most memorable made-for-TV movies from the 1980s.