In 1986, as was typical for most years of the decade, audiences had access to an extensive range of movies catering to every cinematic preference. The ’80s stood out due to this diversity, showcasing a broad array from various genres.
Most cherished movies being completely ridiculous
and others
undeniable masterpieces
That’s where the movies from 1986 stand, snugly positioned at the overlap of excellence and eccentricity in the Venn diagram.
A murderous houseplant, a high school underachiever, and two inhalant-abusing sociopaths star in what are considered the must-see movies of the year. Alongside these, classics and cult favorites populate the list, showcasing an array of standout films from this period.
the most acclaimed directors in Hollywood’s history
These ten key movies characterized 1986, each presenting uniquely distinct elements for audiences with various preferences.
‘Top Gun’ (1986)
Directed by Tony Scott
Though it may have recently been eclipsed by
its blockbuster legacy sequel
, the original
Top Gun
Is still a highly quote-worthy action film that delivers heaps of stylish 1980s excitement.
Tom Cruise
offers the type of magnetic and carefree performance that can launch movie stars’ careers, and this quality resonates throughout numerous action roles he has taken on afterward. Playing the arrogant aviator Maverick, Cruise stabilizes what would otherwise be an overly sentimental, absurdly patriotic storyline under the direction.
Tony Scott
he powers it all with his characteristic high-octane vigor.
In addition to Cruise, the film has plenty of other solid performances from rising stars, including
Anthony Edwards
like the doomed Goose and particularly so
Val Kilmer
as the antagonistic Iceman
. From the airborne action to the most homoerotic game of volleyball ever played,
Top Gun
is 80s escapism that got audiences high on jet fumes, which led to it becoming
the top-earning movie of the year
.
‘”Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” (1986)’
Directed by John Hughes
John Hughes
set the standard for teen comedies in the 1980s, and
Ferris Bueller’s Day Off
is among his funniest works featuring his most endearing protagonists. A comedy that shatters the fourth wall, ensuring it will definitely entertain.
get audiences rocking to an 80s vibe
, Hughes fills his Chicago travelogue with unforgettable characters and high-octane escapades, yet the main factor behind its triumph is the leading role delivered by
Matthew Broderick
who comes across as casually appealing without ever becoming annoyingly irritating.
As Ferris, an incredibly witty teenager with a flawless system for playing hooky, Broderick creates a hero who almost everyone can relate to and root for.
Every child from the 1980s and 1990s aspired to imitate
He receives excellent support from the radiant Mia Sara who plays his girlfriend, Sloan.
Alan Ruck
as Ferris’ best friend
And the human bundle of neuroses, Cameron. The imprint left by Hughes on 1980s film was characterized by his memorable lines and endearing characters, and
Ferris Bueller’s Day Off
has both in spades.
‘The Color of Money’ (1986)
Directed by Martin Scorsese
Sequels of legacy might be quite popular nowadays.
currently in an industry wary of innovation, but when
Martin Scorsese
stepped up to direct the long-awaited sequel to the iconic pool hustler film
The Hustler
It was an innovative gamble.
The Color of Money
is named after the follow-up book penned by the initial writer
Walter Tevis
, yet significantly diverges from the book and narrates its distinct tale with an emphasis on
Paul Newman’s
Quick Eddie Felson tries to teach a cocky young cheat, portrayed by
Tom Cruise delivered one of his least recognized outstanding performances.
.
The movie effectively sidesteps numerous traps common in contemporarylegacy sequels by strongly
choosing not to cite or reuse components or figures from the initial film
, and it improves because of this. Scorsese has regarded the movie as one of his least autobiographical works and among his few true professional assignments, yet his keen eye for visuals and robust understanding of characters significantly benefit the film, enhancing it considerably.
Newman receiving a well-deserved Oscar for his acting role
.
‘The Fly’ (1986)
Directed by David Cronenberg
Thanks to the advancements in makeup effects, the 80s was a fertile time for a variety of
remakes and reimaginings of classic horror monsters
. Embracing the clichés of the mad scientist trope from B-movies
The Fly
, featuring Vincent Price, serving as inspiration,
David Croneberg’s
The reboot of body horror took the genre to unprecedented heights of fear and revulsion, ultimately leading to this effect.
the finest genuine scary movie from 1986
.
Jeff Goldblum
gives an award-worthy performance as the eccentric scientist Seth Brundle, whose experiments with teleportation go horribly awry when a common housefly hitches a ride with him. Instead of the original film’s instantaneous mutation, Brundle’s transformation is a slow and painful process, made sickeningly real thanks to the
Academy Award-winning makeup effects by Chris Walas
Those effects, coupled with the devastating performances of Goldblum and
Geena Davis
provided audiences in 1986 with ample reason to feel terrified.
“Little Shop of Horrors” (1986)
Directed by Frank Oz
Another great remake
,
Frank Oz’s
horror comedy musical
Little Shop of Horrors
,
was originally inspired by the successful off-Broadway musical, yet it also incorporates elements from the source material.
Roger Corman
The movie that served as the foundation for the musical distinguishes itself as a distinct entity from its predecessors. It emerges as a hilariously entertaining film in its own right.
with impressive special effects
and a soundtrack that’s catchy as hell.
Rick Moranis
plays ultimate nebbish Seymour, who works in a run-down flower shop on skid row, and pines after his coworker Audrey, played by
Ellen Greene
,
taking on the same part she played in the initial theatrical performance
When Seymour discovers an extraterrestrial plant, it grants him wealth and recognition; however, it also inflicts agony because it requires human blood for sustenance. The film features impressive puppet work along with innovative editing techniques employed to bring the speaking and singing plant, named Audrey II, to life.
a standout performance by Steve Martin as an evil dentist
,
Little Shop of Horrors
is a toe-tapping good time.
‘Stand By Me’ (1986)
Directed by Rob Reiner
Stephen King adaptations
were legion throughout the 80s, with a dozen different films adapted from the author’s work. One of the absolute best that still ranks highly among all King adaptations is
Rob Reiner’s
heartfelt
Stand by Me
, based on the non-horror novella
The Body
.
Set in the late 50s, the film follows a group of four boys who go on a journey through the Oregon wilderness to see a dead body. The journey opens wounds and tests the bonds of their friendship, all wrapped up in a blanket of mid-century nostalgia. The four young leads (
Wil Wheaton
,
River Phoenix
,
Corey Feldman
and
Jerry O’Connell
) are all tremendous, with
Phoenix being essential
, and King himself once called the film the best adaptation of his writing.
‘Hannah and Her Sisters’ (1986)
Directed by Woody Allen
Woody Allen
is a filmmaker with a complicated legacy
. Separating art from the artist is a choice that individual viewers need to make for themselves, and no examination of a single film should be considered as denying or condoning any allegations that have been made against a filmmaker. Table set,
Hannah and Her Sisters
is still a sharply written and deeply felt examination of family dynamics with wonderful performances.
Set across three Thanksgivings, the film follows the titular characters as they navigate their own personal lives and how they intersect with each other’s. Hannah, played by
Mia Farrow
is married to Elliot, portrayed by
Michael Caine
in an Oscar-winning performance
, who is involved in an extramarital relationship with her sister Lee, portrayed by
Barbara Hershey
.
At the same time, the character of third sister Holly is portrayed by
Dianne Wiest
In yet another Academy Award-winning role, she portrays a struggling actress and previous substance abuser who depends on support from Hannah and gradually forms a connection with her ex-husband. Despite Allen’s contentious status,
Hannah and Her Sisters
is undeniably compelling filmmaking
.
‘Aliens’ (1986)
Directed by James Cameron
Creating a follow-up to one of the most
powerful and highly praised science fiction horror movies
Of all time would have been an enormous task for any director. Fortunately,
James
Cameron
turned out to be the ideal director for this project. Fresh from
the success of
The Terminator
, Cameron adopted the minimal storyline provided to him by the franchise producers.
David Giler
and
Walter Hill
Ripley battles additional aliens alongside marines, transforming it into an adrenaline-fueled adventure with the heartfelt essence of a mother-daughter relationship at its center.
Sigourney Weaver
expands her final girl character into the most badass mother in all of science fiction as she takes on both xenomorph-slaying duties and becoming the maternal protector of young Newt, the only survivor of an alien massacre.
Weaver earned a surprising (though well-deserved) Oscar nomination for her performance
, and she receives loyal support from the vibrant ensemble playing the roles of the Colonial Marines, featuring a convincingly nervous performance.
Bill Paxton
.
Aliens
‘
The expansion and elevation of its franchise have set it as the template for most blockbuster sequels that followed.
‘Platoon’ (1986)
Directed by Oliver Stone
From an intergalactic conflict to reality,
Oliver Stone’s
Vietnam War drama film Platoon
documents the journey of an inexperienced soldier as he confronts the brutal realities of war.
Drawing from Stone’s personal experiences as a soldier in Vietnam, this work was created.
The film presents its narrative fearlessly, employing shock and awe tactics effectively. It triumphs due to Stone’s raw realism and the compelling acting from the entire cast.
Charlie Sheen
, whose eerie portrayal resonates with that of his father Martin’s appearance in
Apocalypse Now
anchors the film and is supported by an outstanding ensemble of young actors portraying his squadmates. Standing out among the rest of the performers, however, are the pivotal roles of Sheen’s two superiors: the empathetic Sergeant Elias, portrayed by
Willem Dafoe
, and
the extremely vicious SSgt. Barnes
, played by
Tom Berenger
. Although the Vietnamese characters stay recognizable yet impersonal, largely due to the nature of the narrative, the movie still manages to be
As poignant an anti-war declaration as Hollywood has ever generated.
.
‘Blue Velvet’ (1986)
Directed by David Lynch
Many of the late
David Lynch’s
Works may appear daunting to those unfamiliar with them, yet they prove highly rewarding due to their raw innovation and somber emotional undercurrents. Compared to Lynch’s usual criteria,
the neo-noir
Blue Velvet
This film stands out as one of the director’s easier entries for audiences to engage with, yet it retains their distinctive haunting ambiance and mysterious characterization.
Kyle MacLachlan
portrays suburbanite college student Jeffrey, who discovers a human ear and this leads him to lounge singer Dorothy, portrayed by
Isabella Rossellini
in a role that
Should have earned her an Academy Award nomination.
Jeffrey gets captivated by Dorothy, which inadvertently draws him into the sphere of influence of the violent psychopath Frank, portrayed by
Dennis Hopper
who has Dorothy ensnared beneath his malevolent control.
Blue Velvet
is easily
the most bleak among the yuppy-nightmare cycle movies that gained popularity in the 1980s
And its voyage into a criminal abyss will unsettle any viewer, yet ideally leaving them eager to delve deeper into more ominous and Lynch-esque creations.