While network TV ruled the airwaves, the rise of cable in the 1980s quietly changed the game. Channels like MTV and Nickelodeon didn’t just air shows — they created identities.

Now, setting a film or TV series in the ‘50s counts as historical. On the other hand, it has become increasingly common to set films and shows in the 1980s.

"The Day After," a 1983 made-for-TV movie that aired on ABC days before Thanksgiving, provided a shocking depiction of what a nuclear blast could look like in Middle America. But getting the film ...