# 1982 - A great year for movies **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 14, 2014, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1982-a-great-year-for-movies/688467 "2014-05-14T21:25:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Robert163](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/4af34b/32.png) [@Robert163](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robert163)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2014, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1982-a-great-year-for-movies/688467/21 "2014-05-15T02:57:30Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > [1984 wasn’t too shabby](http://popwatch.ew.com/2009/07/25/was-1984-the-greatest-year-in-movies-ever/). [Nor was 1994](http://twoguysonemovie.com/editorial-1994-the-best-year-for-movies-ever/). 1984: Best: Terminator Indian Jones and The Temple Of Doom Beverly Hills Cop Second Best: Dune Once Upon A Time In America Ghostbusters The karate Kid Sixteen Candles Footloose Gremlins Red Dawn This Is Spinal Tap > **[Advanced search](https://www.imdb.com/search/title/?year=1984%2C1984&title_type=feature&sort=moviemeter%2Casc)** 1994: Best: The Shawshank Redemption Pulp Fiction Forrest Gump The Lion King (I really don’t consider animated movies, movies, but… ) Natural Born Killers Legends Of The Fall Clerks Second best: Speed Interview With The Vampire The Crow Ed Wood The Professional Stargate [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/newreply.php?do=newreply&p=17377571](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/newreply.php?do=newreply&p=17377571) ---
**Author:** ![Flywheel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Flywheel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flywheel)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2014, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1982-a-great-year-for-movies/688467/22 "2014-05-15T02:57:40Z")
[And yet…](http://i.imgur.com/fYYOTz8.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2014, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1982-a-great-year-for-movies/688467/23 "2014-05-15T03:04:16Z")
I’ll agree with 1982 being a great year for movies, especially the summer. I saw a lot of them that year. In addition to those listed by the OP, we had: \*\*The Atomic Café Annie Dead Men Don’t Wear Plaid Victor Victoria Firefox\*\* (Great effects!) \*\*Swamp Thing Poltergeist\*\* (as Ellis Dee already observed) It also saw the re-release of Disney’s **Bambi** , which I had never seen before (although I grew up on the Disney record of it) Between The Thing, Star Trek II, Tron, and Bladerunner, it was a helluva summer for science fiction (I exclude ET, because I _HATE_ ET.) ---
**Author:** ![suranyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@suranyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/suranyi)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2014, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1982-a-great-year-for-movies/688467/24 "2014-05-15T03:55:58Z")
> [@Robert163](#): > > 1984: > > Best: > > Terminator > Indian Jones and The Temple Of Doom > Beverly Hills Cop > > Second Best: > > Dune > Once Upon A Time In America > Ghostbusters > The karate Kid > Sixteen Candles > Footloose > Gremlins > Red Dawn > This Is Spinal Tap > > [Advanced search](http://www.imdb.com/search/title?year=1984,1984&title_type=feature&sort=moviemeter,asc) > > 1994: > > Best: > > The Shawshank Redemption > Pulp Fiction > Forrest Gump > The Lion King (I really don’t consider animated movies, movies, but… ) > Natural Born Killers > Legends Of The Fall > Clerks > Second best: > > Speed > Interview With The Vampire > The Crow > Ed Wood > The Professional > Stargate > > [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/newreply.php?do=newreply&p=17377571](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/newreply.php?do=newreply&p=17377571) For 1984 you missed Amadeus, one of my all-time favorite movies. ---
**Author:** ![Robert163](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/4af34b/32.png) [@Robert163](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robert163)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2014, 5:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1982-a-great-year-for-movies/688467/25 "2014-05-15T05:34:15Z")
> [@suranyi](#): > > For 1984 you missed Amadeus, one of my all-time favorite movies. yes, i seem to remember it being quite good ---
**Author:** ![nevadaexile](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/eb8c5e/32.png) [@nevadaexile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nevadaexile)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2014, 11:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1982-a-great-year-for-movies/688467/26 "2014-05-15T11:01:22Z")
> [@EllisDee](#): > > Impressive list for 1982. For my money, the 82 list beats the 39, 62 and 74 lists, in some cases handily. It seems that discerning film quality isn’t a strong suit. The 1982 list is largely filled with forgettable pap that pandered to the masses and which does’t even influence most modern film. ---
**Author:** ![nevadaexile](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/eb8c5e/32.png) [@nevadaexile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nevadaexile)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2014, 11:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1982-a-great-year-for-movies/688467/27 "2014-05-15T11:03:24Z")
> [@Robert163](#): > > most of those movies seem good, not great. do you actually think the whole list, or most o fit, is on great movie status? Many of those films are among the most highly regarded in film history. Most of the 1982 films are barely shown on modern television. ---
**Author:** ![Apocalypso](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@Apocalypso](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apocalypso)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2014, 11:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1982-a-great-year-for-movies/688467/28 "2014-05-15T11:49:42Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > Neither is Tron. You take that back or we’re going outside ---
**Author:** ![RikWriter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/49beb7/32.png) [@RikWriter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RikWriter)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2014, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1982-a-great-year-for-movies/688467/29 "2014-05-15T13:08:17Z")
> [@nevadaexile](#): > > It seems that discerning film quality isn’t a strong suit. > The 1982 list is largely filled with forgettable pap that pandered to the masses and which does’t even influence most modern film. ROFL! What a load of film-school snobbery! “Pandered to the masses”…Oh my GOD! How clichéd can you get? ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2014, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1982-a-great-year-for-movies/688467/30 "2014-05-15T13:11:08Z")
> [@Apocalypso](#): > > You take that back or we’re going outside Ok, let’s go outside. ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Captor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2014, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1982-a-great-year-for-movies/688467/31 "2014-05-15T13:40:32Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > Can’t hold a candle to 1939: > > Babes in Arms > Beau Geste > Dark Victory > Destry Rides Again > Drums Along the Mohawk > The Four Feathers > Gone with the Wind > Goodbye, Mr. Chips > Gunga Din > The Hunchback of Notre Dame > Love Affair > Mr. Smith Goes to Washington > Ninotchka > Of Mice and Men > Only Angels Have Wings > The Roaring Twenties > The Rules of the Game > Stagecoach > The Wizard of Oz > The Women > Wuthering Heights > Young Mr. Lincoln Yes, but all those films were crippled by the Hayes Code. Not what they might have been. The 1982 batch, despite their weaknesses, could at least express themselves freely. ---
**Author:** ![Ellis\_Aponte\_Jr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@Ellis\_Aponte\_Jr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellis_Aponte_Jr)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2014, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1982-a-great-year-for-movies/688467/32 "2014-05-15T15:56:10Z")
> [@Evil\_Captor](#): > > Yes, but all those films were crippled by the Hayes Code. Not what they might have been. Which makes it even more remarkable that those films are so great. _Grease 2_ was not then, and is not now, highly regarded. Look at the imdb ratings: _Grease_ 7.2, _Grease 2_ 4.1. That’s a historic level dropoff for a sequel. ---
**Author:** ![Robert163](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/4af34b/32.png) [@Robert163](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robert163)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2014, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1982-a-great-year-for-movies/688467/33 "2014-05-15T16:05:08Z")
> [@nevadaexile](#): > > Many of those films are among the most highly regarded in film history. Most of the 1982 films are barely shown on modern television. that would probably mean something to me if i cared about film history but, i prefer movies that are actually: entertaining ---
**Author:** ![racepug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f1d935/32.png) [@racepug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racepug)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2014, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1982-a-great-year-for-movies/688467/34 "2014-05-15T16:18:52Z")
> [@Robert163](#): > > Blade Runner > ET > Fast Times Ridgemont High > Conan The Barbarian > The Thing > Tron > First Blood > Star Trek II: The Wrath OF Kan > Rocky III > An Officer And A Gentleman > 48 Hours > The Man From Snowy River > The Road Warrior\* > \*released in '81 in Australia, '82 in the USA > > I can remember Road Warrior and Conan The Barbarian were showing at the same time and I wasn’t able to see both… wound up seeing Conan Blade Runner - dark; saw it fairly recently; not sure I liked it all that much (despite the fact it had Harrison Ford in it) ET - I’ve never been interested in watching that one Fast Times Ridgemont High - one of my all-time favorites (I was in high school at the time) Conan The Barbarian - I don’t believe I’ve ever seen this one The Thing - another one of my all-time favorites (did you see the prequel to it by that Danish director a few years back?) Tron - I don’t believe I’ve ever seen this one First Blood - was that the first “Rambo” film? Star Trek II: The Wrath OF Kan - liked it ('course, I was pretty much a sucker for Star Trek films back in the day. To a certain degree I still am) Rocky III - Saw it. Liked it. An Officer And A Gentleman - I think I’ve seen this one. It didn’t make much of an impression on me. 48 Hours - Eddie Murphy and Nick Nolte, isn’t that right? What ever happened to Eddie Murphy, anyway? The Man From Snowy River - I don’t believe I’ve ever seen this one. I’ve heard it’s good (maybe I’ll borrow it from the campus library one of these days if I can remember to do so) The Road Warrior\* - I _think_ I’ve seen this one but I don’t remember, for sure. As with _An Officer and A Gentleman_ it didn’t make much of an impression on me ---
**Author:** ![racepug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f1d935/32.png) [@racepug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racepug)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2014, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1982-a-great-year-for-movies/688467/35 "2014-05-15T16:31:45Z")
> [@EllisDee](#): > > You also left a few good ones off the 82 list: > > Poltergeist > Pink Floyd: The Wall > Tootsie > > And not really fitting the theme of thread (Tootsie is pushing it): > > Gandhi > Sophie’s Choice I saw _Sophie’s Choice_ for the first time a few years ago. For some reason I’ve never been much of a fan of Meryl Streep’s but she gives a powerful performance in that one. I still bite my lip when thinking about that film’s conclusion. ---
**Author:** ![racepug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f1d935/32.png) [@racepug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racepug)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2014, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1982-a-great-year-for-movies/688467/36 "2014-05-15T18:06:54Z")
> [@EllisDee](#): > > You also left a few good ones off the 82 list: > > Poltergeist > Pink Floyd: The Wall > Tootsie > > And not really fitting the theme of thread (Tootsie is pushing it): > > Gandhi > Sophie’s Choice Poltergeist freaked me out. Especially the evil clown doll under the bed. :eek: ---
**Author:** ![nevadaexile](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/eb8c5e/32.png) [@nevadaexile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nevadaexile)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2014, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1982-a-great-year-for-movies/688467/37 "2014-05-15T18:14:12Z")
> [@RikWriter](#): > > ROFL! What a load of film-school snobbery! > “Pandered to the masses”…Oh my GOD! How clichéd can you get? Guess those films are too highbrow for you. I suppose that you’ll be looking for to the latest installments of the Fast & Furious and Transformer franchises. They have things that go BOOM! in them.:smack: ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Captor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2014, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1982-a-great-year-for-movies/688467/38 "2014-05-15T18:16:54Z")
> [@Ellis\_Aponte\_Jr](#): > > Which makes it even more remarkable that those films are so great. I agree. Some great films were made during the Hayes Code era. But that does not change the fact that I think every film made during that time should have an asterisk next to its name. ---
**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2014, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1982-a-great-year-for-movies/688467/39 "2014-05-15T18:24:19Z")
> [@nevadaexile](#): > > It seems that discerning film quality isn’t a strong suit. Certainly stronger than your ability to read a room. ---
**Author:** ![Moonchild](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@Moonchild](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moonchild)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2014, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1982-a-great-year-for-movies/688467/40 "2014-05-15T19:34:07Z")
The summer 1984 was when I fell in love with movies. In hindsight, though, Ghostbusters, Gremlins & Red Dawn aren’t necessarily a cornerstone for which to base one’s newly found passion. In my time as a moviegoer, I submit\*\* 1999\*\*, which scored big time with smart, mainstream studio movies as well as groundbreaking indies: The Matrix Three Kings Election The Sixth Sense Toy Story 2 Being John Malkovich Run, Lola, Run! Notting Hill American Pie Dogma Blair Witch Project South Park: Bigger Longer & Uncut The Iron Giant The Insider Office Space Fight Club American Beauty (ironically, a mediocre Best Picture) Magnolia Boys Don’t Cry The Talented Mr. Ripley The Green Mile [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1982-a-great-year-for-movies/688467.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1982-a-great-year-for-movies/688467.md?page=3)