The 80s was a decade that, if not producing the best films of any decade, certainly produced some of the most significant in terms of pop culture influence. Many years on and many of the franchises that were born in the neon-soaked decade are still going strong, with reboots and sequels, not to mentiondozens of TV series and movies that bear deep influences from those films.
1984 was no exception to the memorable excellence of the decade. Providingabsurd action moviesandiconic science fiction, the year is rife with quotable classics that have earned devoted fandoms and inspired legions of creators since. Of all the memorable movies out in 1984,these ten are the most essential of the year.
10’Gremlins' (1984)
Directed by Joe Dante
An alternative Christmas favorite,Joe Dante’scozy little horror filmGremlinsmixed Capra-esque fantasy with creature feature mayhem to such success that the decade saw plenty of cheap knock-offs made in response. After the success ofPiranhaandThe Howling,Dante was selected by producerSteven Spielbergto directChris Columbus’spec script and his mix of B-movie thrills and cartoon logic made the movie a major hit.
Set in a small American town, the movie introduced the fictional race of creatures known as the Mogwai, of which the beloved big-eared Gizmo is a member. Given as a Christmas present to Billy (Zach Galligan), Gizmo comes with a strict set of rules, which, naturally, aren’t followed and result in the titular mischievous monsters being brought to life. With puppetry by Oscar-winnerChris Walas, the monster movie has maximum fun with concept, though not quite to the level ofits underrated sequel.
9’Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom' (1984)
Directed by Steven Spielberg
Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doomshares a unique connection withGremlins, and not just through Spielberg, who returned to direct thisprequel toRaiders of the Lost Ark. Both the Indiana Jones film and Dante’s horror-comedy featured such violent content, while retaining PG ratings, that it caused a stir among parents who had taken their children to see the films. The uproar led to the eventual creation of the PG-13 rating.
Outside of its place in MPAA history,Temple of Doomis an uneven follow-up,focusing on a much darker storylineand featuring some problematic depictions of Indian culture. It also featuresa notoriously shrill performance byKate Capshawthat was roundly derided by most fans and critics in comparison toKaren Allenin the previous film. Still, there is a lot to enjoy in the film, with several memorable set pieces, and one of the best child performances ever fromKe Huy Quanas the inimitable Short Round.
Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom
8’A Nightmare on Elm Street' (1984)
Directed by Wes Craven
The 80s was the heyday of the slasher genre.From Jason Voorhees to Michael Myers and countless other killers, every year of the decade brought with it a new masked murderer ready to slaughter some teens. Enter horror maestroWes Craven, who brought a whole new approach to the genre with a killer who stalks his victims in their dreams. While Freddy Krueger would come to be known for his one-liners and darkly comedic personality,his first film is an intense horror experience.
A Nightmare on Elm Streetfollows a group of unsuspecting teens who all begin to have the same recurring dreams of a boiler room dwelling burn victim in a striped sweater and bladed glove.Filled with inventive kills and surreal imagery, Craven’s bold new addition to the horror pantheon has rightfully put Freddy on the Mt. Rushmore of slashers. Aside froma poorly executed ending, the film is one of the most memorable and visually dynamic slashers to come out of the 80s.
A Nightmare on Elm Street
7’Romancing the Stone' (1984)
Directed by Robert Zemeckis
Of all thefilms inspired by Indiana Jones,Romancing the Stoneis the best, even besting that franchise at its own game in the same year. ThoughDiane Thomas’script, about a romance novelist who gets caught up in a real adventure that could be pulled straight from one of her novels, was written before the release ofRaiders of the Lost Ark, it was that film’s success that got the script into production.
The film was also a much needed breakthrough forRobert Zemeckis, who had directed back-to-back flops and took it on to prove he could deliver a successful film. That paid off asRomancing the Stonewas a huge hit, and led Zemeckis directly intoBack to the Future. While Thomas would come under contract with Steven Spielberg, her career was tragically cut short after she was killed in a car accident, leaving behinda short career but impactful legacy.
Romancing the Stone
6’The Karate Kid' (1984)
Directed by John G. Avildsen
With multiple sequels, a reboot, TV series andan upcoming legacy sequel,The Karate Kidhas well and truly surpassed its humble origins.Ralph Macciostars as Daniel LaRusso, a New Jersey teen transplanted to California, where he has to contend with bullies from the Cobra Kai dojo. He then comes under the tutelage of his Japanese apartment handyman Mr. Miyagi, played byPat Morita, to learn the ancient art of karate.
The film conforms to many of the underdog sports cliches that were prevalent at the time, butJohn G. Avildsen, whopreviously directedRocky, pulls all the right strings in the right order to avoid letting the film sink into cheap emotional manipulation, and the chemistry between Macchio and Morita makes the film incredibly fun to watch.Morita would receive a well-deserved Oscar nominationfor his perfromance and the film would become a sleeper hit, kicking off a franchise that has endured over forty years.
The Karate Kid
5’Amadeus' (1984)
Directed by Milos Forman
A movie about geniusand its rivalry with mediocrity,Amadeusmanages to be an essential period pieceand biopic (though one that plays very loose with the facts) while also being wickedly entertaining. Telling the story of Mozart (Tom Hulce) through rival composer Salieri (F. Murray Abraham) while on his death bed, the film charts the lesser composer’s rising contempt when he recognizes Mozart’s seemingly God-given talents.
Milos Formanmounts a handsome production, featuring Oscar-winning costume and set design, while both Hulce and Abraham were nominated for their dichotomous performances, with Abraham ultimately being awarded. While these kinds of biopics were Hollywood’s bread and butter for many years, and were often a sure thing for awards recognition,Amadeushas aged remarkably well in comparison to its contemporaries and remains imminently rewatchable.
4’The Terminator' (1984)
Directed by James Cameron
While it may have been eclipsed by itsessential 1991 sequel,James Cameron’soriginal action classicThe Terminatorstill offers some lean, mean thrills. Despite the franchises grander sci-fi expansion, the original film is a gritty thriller that hasmore in common with slasher moviesthan epic science fiction. Inspired by a nightmare he had while in production onPirahna 2: The Spawning, Cameron crafted a story involving a time-traveling cybernetic killer stalking a unsuspecting waitress that blends genres to great effect.
The role of the T-800 may beArnold Schwarzenegger’smost iconic, butthe body-builder turned actor wasn’t initially considered for the villainous role, with Cameron instead offering him the part of the heroic Kyle Reese. Thankfully, Schwarzenegger convinced Cameron of his potential as the android assassin and movie history was made.The Terminatorbecame a calling card for both the director and star, and, both together and separately, the two would go on to makesome of the most iconic films of the next decade.
The Terminator
3’Beverly Hills Cop' (1984)
Directed by Martin Brest
Breaking through as a generational talent onSaturday Night Live,Eddie Murphydominated the 80s with hits like48 Hrs.andTrading Places, buthis greatest success and best filmof the decade was the blockbuster action comedyBeverly Hills Cop. Originally written as a more straight-faced action film, the movie at one point hadSylvester Stalloneattached to star. When the action star dropped out, Murphy was slotted in and the movie was rewritten to tailor it to his unique comedic sensibilities.
The star power of mid-80s Murphy alone was enough to power a film to worldwide success, but there’s more than just his megawatt personality to recommend the movie.Martin Brestexcels at pacing out the comedy amid the lighter action, and the supporting cast brings tons of additional humor and charm, especially in the cop duo played byJudge ReinholdandJohn Ashton. The film’s successled to three sequels, but none have managed to recapture the original’s magic.
Beverly Hills Cop
2’Ghostbusters' (1984)
Directed by Ivan Reitman
Featuring the combined comedic talents ofBill Murray,Dan Aykroyd,Harold Ramis, andIvan Reitman(not to mention support fromSigourney Weaver,Ernie HudsonandRick Moranis), it would’ve been a massive embarassment ifGhostbustershad failed as a comedy. Luckily, the film was a box office hit and happens to befunny from start to finish. Originally written by Aykroyd as a vehicle for himself andJohn Belushi,the film was originally an oversized sci-fi extravaganza that would’ve been impossibly expensive at the time.
After Belushi’s untimely death, Ramis and Reitman came on board and helped Aykroyd retool the concept with a contemporary setting and turned it into a going-into-business story. With Murray taking on the lead role, the moviemixed the supernatural with the mundane and became a comedy classic and cultural icon. Dozens of films (includingGhostbustersown sequels) have tried to recapture the high-concept comedy’s perfect balance of tone, but few have succeeded as effortlessly.
Ghostbusters
1’This is Spinal Tap' (1984)
Directed by Rob Reiner
There may have been mockumentaries made both before and after, but none are as hilarious as the bitingheavy metal satireThis is Spinal Tap. Originating in a sketch for the pilot of an unproduced TV series,Christopher Guest,Michael McKeanand Harry Shearer, developed with directorRob Reiner,the concept of a comedic documentary following an English rock band that would take the piss out of real rock docs such asThe Last Waltz.
Working from basic outlines,the film’s dialogue was almost all improvised, and Reiner shot the film with handheld cameras to mimic an authentic documentary and capture the most genuine cast reactions. Shooting over 100 hours of footage, the film required three editors to cut it down to a reasonable length, but the results speak for themselves in one of the most quotable movies of all time that dials the comedy up to eleven, has inspired dozens of mockumentaries and will even soon get itsown official reunion sequel.
