The Films of 1984

40 Years of Iconic Characters 📼

It’s 2024 [pause for existential crisis] and the following 25 iconic films are turning 40. I’ll also be turning 40, but let’s not worry about that right now…

1. FOOTLOOSE

• Release Date: February 17, 1984)

• Director: Herbert Ross

• Writer: Dean Pitchford

• Actors: Kevin Bacon, Lori Singer, John Lithgow

• Synopsis: FOOTLOOSE follows a teenager who moves to a small town where dancing is prohibited due to a tragic accident. He challenges the ban and, with the help of his friends, seeks to bring joy back to the community through dance.

2. REPO MAN

• Release Date: March 2, 1984

• Director/Writer: Alex Cox

• Actors: Emilio Estevez, Harry Dean Stanton

• Synopsis: A punk-infused dark comedy that follows a young man who becomes a repossession agent and stumbles upon a mysterious and otherworldly car with valuable cargo.

3. THIS IS SPINAL TAP

• Release Date: March 2, 1984

• Director: Rob Reiner

• Writers/Actors: Christopher Guest, Michael McKean, Harry Shearer

• Synopsis: A mockumentary that satirizes the rock and roll industry, following the fictional band Spinal Tap on their disastrous and humorous tour.

4. SPLASH

• Release Date: March 9, 1984

• Director: Ron Howard

• Writers: Lowell Ganz, Babaloo Mandel, Bruce Jay Friedman, Brian Grazer

• Actors: Tom Hanks, Daryl Hannah, John Candy

• Synopsis: A romantic fantasy comedy about a man who falls in love with a mermaid and must navigate the challenges of a unique relationship.

5. POLICE ACADEMY

• Release Date: March 23, 1984

• Director: Hugh Wilson

• Writers: Neal Israel, Pat Proft

• Actors: Steve Guttenberg, Kim Cattrall, Bubba Smith

• Synopsis: A comedy that follows a group of misfit recruits as they undergo training to become police officers. The film humorously explores the challenges and antics of the trainees.

6. ROMANCING THE STONE

• Release Date: March 30, 1984

• Director: Robert Zemeckis

• Writer: Diane Thomas

• Actors: Michael Douglas, Kathleen Turner, Danny DeVito

• Synopsis: A romantic adventure comedy that follows a romance novelist who embarks on a perilous journey through the Colombian jungle with a soldier of fortune to rescue her kidnapped sister.

7. FRIDAY THE 13TH: THE FINAL CHAPTER

• Release Date: April 13, 1984

• Director: Joseph Zito

• Writers: Victor Miller, Ron Kurz

• Actors: Corey Feldman, Crispin Glover, Kimberly Beck

• Synopsis: The fourth and not-so-final chapter in the FRIDAY THE 13th franchise follows the aftermath of the previous films, with Jason Voorhees seemingly defeated. However, the relentless killer returns from the grave to target a new grew of unsuspecting victims.

8. SIXTEEN CANDLES

• Release Date: May 4, 1984

• Director/Writer: John Hughes

• Actors: Molly Ringwald, Anthony Michael Hall, Michael Schoeffling

• Synopsis: Sixteen Candles is a coming-of-age comedy about a teenage girl, Samantha, whose sixteenth birthday is overshadowed by her sister's wedding. The film explores themes of teenage angst, love, and self-discovery.

9. INDIANA JONES AND THE TEMPLE OF DOOM

• Release Date: May 23, 1984

• Director: Steven Spielberg

• Writers: Willard Huyck, Gloria Katz, George Lucas

• Actors: Harrison Ford, Kate Capshaw, Jonathan Ke Quan

• Synopsis: TEMPLE OF DOOM sees the adventurous archaeologist Indiana Jones embarking on a perilous journey to recover a mystical stone and save enslaved children from a cult in India.

10. STAR TREK III: THE SEARCH FOR SPOCK

• Release Date: June 1, 1984

• Director/Writer: Leonard Nimoy

• Actors: William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, DeForest Kelley

• Synopsis: THE SEARCH FOR SPOCK continues the story of the Starship Enterprise crew as they undertake a mission to recover the body of Spock and bring him back to life.

11. GREMLINS

• Release Date: June 8, 1984

• Director: Joe Dante

• Writer: Chris Columbus

• Actors: Zach Galligan, Phoebe Cates, Hoyt Axton

• Synopsis: GREMLINS follows the chaos that ensues when a young man receives a mysterious creature called a Mogwai as a pet. However, the rules for caring for the Mogwai are accidentally broken, creating mischievous and destructive Gremlins.

12. GHOSTBUSTERS

• Release Date: June 8, 1984

• Director: Ivan Reitman

• Writer: Dan Aykroyd, Harold Ramis

• Actors: Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Harold Ramis, Sigourney Weaver

• Synopsis: GHOSTBUSTERS follows a group of eccentric parapsychologists who start a paranormal extermination business in New York City. When a supernatural threat emerges, they must save the city from a ghostly apocalypse.

13. TOP SECRET!

• Release Date: June 8, 1984

• Directors/Writers: Jim Abrahams, David Zucker, Jerry Zucker

• Actors: Val Kilmer, Lucy Gutteridge, Peter Cushing

• Synopsis: A parody of spy and war films, following an American rock and roll singer who becomes involved in a resistance mission during a cultural festival in East Germany.

14. THE KARATE KID

• Release Date: June 22, 1984

• Director: John G. Avildsen

• Writer: Robert Mark Kamen

• Actors: Ralph Macchio, Pat Morita, Elisabeth Shue

• Synopsis: THE KARATE KID tells the story of a teenager who learns martial arts from a wise janitor, Mr. Miyagi, to defend himself against bullies. The film explores themes of mentorship, friendship, and perseverance.

15. THE LAST STARFIGHTER

• Release Date: July 13, 1984

• Director/Writer: Nick Castle

• Actors: Lance Guest, Robert Preston, Catherine Mary Stewart

• Synopsis: A science fiction adventure about a teenager who discovers that his skills in an arcade game make him the perfect candidate to join an interstellar defense force.

16. THE NEVERENDING STORY

• Release Date: July 20, 1984

• Director: Wolfgang Petersen

• Writers: Wolfgang Petersen, Herman Weigel

• Actors: Barret Oliver, Noah Hathaway, Tami Stronach

• Synopsis: A fantasy film that follows a young boy who reads a magical book and becomes part of the epic tale of a young warrior, Atreyu, and the land of Fantasia.

17. REVENGE OF THE NERDS

• Release Date: July 20, 1984

• Director: Jeff Kanew

• Writers: Tim Metcalfe, Miguel Tejada-Flores

• Actors: Robert Carradine, Anthony Edwards, Ted McGinley

• Synopsis: A comedy about a group of socially marginalized students who form a fraternity, seek to gain respect, and overcome harassment from a rival fraternity.

18. PURPLE RAIN

• Release Date: July 27, 1984

• Director: Albert Magnoli

• Writers: Albert Magnoli, William Blinn

• Actors: Prince, Apollonia Kotero, Morris Day

• Synopsis: A musical drama starring Prince as "The Kid," a talented musician dealing with personal and professional struggles. The film features electrifying musical performances and explores themes of love and redemption.

19. THE ADVENTURES OF BUCKAROO BANZAI ACROSS THE 8TH DIMENSION

• Release Date: August 15, 1984

• Director: W.D. Richter

• Writers: Earl Mac Rauch

• Actors: Peter Weller, John Lithgow, Ellen Barkin

• Synopsis: A sci-fi adventure comedy about a multi-talented hero, Buckaroo Banzai, who must save the world from extraterrestrial threats while navigating a complex web of conspiracies.

20. AMADEUS

• Release Date: September 6, 1984

• Director: Milos Forman

• Writer: Peter Shaffer

• Actors: F. Murray Abraham, Tom Hulce, Elizabeth Berridge

• Synopsis: The life of composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, as told through the eyes of his rival Antonio Salieri.

21. BODY DOUBLE

• Release Date: October 26, 1984

• Director/Writer: Brian De Palma

• Actors: Craig Wasson, Melanie Griffith, Gregg Henry

• Synopsis: A psychological thriller that follows an actor entangled in a murder mystery while house-sitting in a luxurious apartment. The film explores themes of voyeurism and suspense.

22. THE TERMINATOR

• Release Date: October 26, 1984

• Director/Writer: James Cameron

• Actors: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Linda Hamilton, Michael Biehn

• Synopsis: A sci-fi thriller about a cyborg assassin sent from the future to kill the mother of the future leader of a human resistance movement. A soldier is also sent back in time to protect her, leading to a high-stakes battle.

23. A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET

• Release Date: November 9, 1984

• Director/Writer: Wes Craven

• Actors: Heather Langenkamp, Robert Englund, Johnny Depp

• Synopsis: ELM STREET introduces Freddy Krueger, a vengeful spirit haunting the dreams of teenagers. The film explores the blurred lines between dreams and reality, leading to a terrifying battle for survival.

24. BEVERLY HILLS COP

• Release Date: December 5, 1984

• Director: Martin Brest

• Writers: Daniel Petrie Jr., Danilo Bach

• Actors: Eddie Murphy, Judge Reinhold, John Ashton

• Synopsis: BEVERLY HILLS COP follows Detroit detective Axel Foley as he travels to Beverly Hills to solve the murder of his friend. The film combines action and comedy, showcasing Eddie Murphy's comedic talent.

25. DUNE

• Release Date: December 14, 1984

• Director: David Lynch

• Writers: David Lynch, Frank Herbert

• Cast: Kyle MacLachlan, Virginia Madsen, Sting

• Synopsis: In a distant future, a young noble battles to control a desert planet that is the only source of "melange," a valuable spice that acts as a psychedelic drug.