The best movies of 1984 not only captured the spirit of the time but also resonate with audiences today. Representing a diverse range of genres, styles, and ideologies, the best films of 1984 helped define the decade.
Distinguished by powerful storytelling and unforgettable performances, the movies of 1984 convey their themes, devoting attention to well-rounded characters and engaging narrative arcs. These movies not only provide entertainment but also offer insights into the cultural and social issues prevalent at the time, making them essential viewing.
Outstanding examples of the best movies from the year include Ghostbusters, a perfect blend of comedy and supernatural action that still captivates audiences to this day. James Cameron's sci-fi masterpiece, The Terminator, introduced us to a relentless cyborg assassin and sparked a wildly successful franchise, while Beverly Hills Cop showcased Eddie Murphy's comedic genius, blending action and humor seamlessly. These are just a few examples of the exceptional films released in 1984, each contributing to an unforgettable year in cinema.
Echoing through the decades, the impact of these 1984 films endures. These masterful creations demonstrate the timeless allure of captivating stories, rich characters, and thoughtfully crafted themes. Considering their ingenuity, emotional impact, and cultural significance, these films embody the enduring appeal of the movies that defined the 80s.
Most divisive: Dune
Over 1.3K Ranker voters have come together to rank this list of The Best Movies Of 1984, Ranked
- 1In the heart of the sci-fi action thriller The Terminator, a cyborg assassin known as The Terminator (Arnold Schwarzenegger) is sent back in time from 2029 to 1984. His mission? To execute Sarah Connor (Linda Hamilton), whose unborn son is destined to lead humanity in a war against machines. Kyle Reese (Michael Biehn), a soldier from the same post-apocalyptic future, is also hurled back in time with an assignment to protect Sarah. It's a race against time, technology, and destiny itself. This James Cameron-directed film won several awards for its groundbreaking special effects and gripping narrative.
- Released: 1984
- Directed by: James Cameron
- 2After the members of a team of scientists (Harold Ramis, Dan Aykroyd, Bill Murray) lose their cushy positions at a university in New York City, they decide to become "ghostbusters" to wage a high-tech battle with the supernatural for money. They stumble upon a gateway to another dimension, a doorway that will release evil upon the city. The Ghostbusters must now save New York from complete destruction.
- Released: 1984
- Directed by: Ivan Reitman
- 3Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984) is a high-stakes action-adventure film, directed by Steven Spielberg. The title character, Indiana Jones (Harrison Ford), finds himself in India, where he's asked to find a mystical stone. Accompanied by Willie Scott (Kate Capshaw) and Short Round (Jonathan Ke Quan), Jones stumbles upon a secret cult committing enslavement and human sacrifices in the catacombs of an ancient palace. Amidst danger and dark magic, our hero confronts his adversaries head-on in a bid to stop their sinister plans. This movie won an Academy Award for Best Visual Effects.
- Released: 1984
- Directed by: Steven Spielberg
- 4In the action-comedy film Beverly Hills Cop, street-smart Detroit cop Axel Foley (Eddie Murphy) lands in the swanky streets of Beverly Hills. His mission? To solve his best friend's murder. Not your average law enforcer, Foley's unorthodox methods and brash approach ruffle feathers within the local police department, notably with by-the-book detective Billy Rosewood (Judge Reinhold). As Foley navigates this foreign territory, he uncovers a network of criminality that runs deeper than expected. Winning a People's Choice Award for Favorite Motion Picture, Beverly Hills Cop combines suspense with humor in a unique blend that keeps viewers on their toes.
- Released: 1984
- Directed by: Martin Brest
- 5Daniel (Ralph Macchio) moves to Southern California with his mother, Lucille (Randee Heller), but quickly finds himself the target of a group of bullies who study karate at the Cobra Kai dojo. Fortunately, Daniel befriends Mr. Miyagi (Noriyuki "Pat" Morita), an unassuming repairman who just happens to be a martial arts master himself. Miyagi takes Daniel under his wing, training him in a more compassionate form of karate and preparing him to compete against the brutal Cobra Kai.
- Released: 1984
- Directed by: John G. Avildsen
- 6In the movie Gremlins, a young man named Billy Peltzer (Zach Galligan) receives an unusual pet, a Mogwai called Gizmo (voiced by Howie Mandel), as a Christmas gift. This seemingly harmless creature comes with three important rules: no bright lights, no water, and never feed it after midnight. When these rules are inadvertently broken, the small town of Kingston Falls is overrun by destructive creatures known as Gremlins. Directed by Joe Dante and produced by Steven Spielberg, this 1984 film blends comedy, horror, and fantasy elements to create an unforgettable cinematic experience.
- Released: 1984
- Directed by: Joe Dante
- 7In Wes Craven's classic slasher film, several Midwestern teenagers fall prey to Freddy Krueger (Robert Englund), a disfigured midnight mangler who preys on the teenagers in their dreams -- which, in turn, kills them in reality. After investigating the phenomenon, Nancy (Heather Langenkamp) begins to suspect that a dark secret kept by her and her friends' parents may be the key to unraveling the mystery, but can Nancy and her boyfriend Glen (Johnny Depp) solve the puzzle before it's too late?
- Released: 1984
- Directed by: Wes Craven
- 8A dowdy romantic-adventure writer is hurled into a real-life adventure in the Colombian jungle in order to save her sister, who will be killed if a treasure map is not delivered to her captors. She is helped out by a brash mercenary, and together they search for the priceless gem located in the map.
- Released: 1984
- Directed by: Robert Zemeckis
- 9With the occasion all but overshadowed by her sister's upcoming wedding, angst-ridden Samantha (Molly Ringwald) faces her 16th birthday with typical adolescent dread. Samantha pines for studly older boy Jake (Michael Schoeffling), but worries that her chastity will be a turnoff for the popular senior. Meanwhile, Samantha must constantly rebuff the affections of nerdy Ted (Anthony Michael Hall), the only boy in the school, unfortunately, who seems to take an interest in her.
- Released: 1984
- Directed by: John Hughes
- 10Police Academy is a comedic romp, all about the misadventures of a group of unlikely and eccentric recruits looking to prove themselves in the world of law enforcement. The film stars Carey Mahoney (Steve Guttenberg), a repeat offender given a choice between jail or the police academy. He's joined by characters like the sound-effects wiz Larvell Jones (Michael Winslow) and gun-obsessed Eugene Tackleberry (David Graf). As they navigate through their training, these rookies turn the academy upside down with their unconventional methods and hilarious antics. Despite its light-hearted nature, Police Academy offers subtle social commentary on authority and conformity.
- Released: 1984
- Directed by: Hugh Wilson
- 11Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (Tom Hulce) is a remarkably talented young Viennese composer who unwittingly finds a fierce rival in the disciplined and determined Antonio Salieri (F. Murray Abraham). Resenting Mozart for both his hedonistic lifestyle and his undeniable talent, the highly religious Salieri is gradually consumed by his jealousy and becomes obsessed with Mozart's downfall, leading to a devious scheme that has dire consequences for both men.
- Released: 1984
- Directed by: Milos Forman
- 12On his way to school, Bastian (Barret Oliver) ducks into a bookstore to avoid bullies. Sneaking away with a book called "The Neverending Story," Bastian begins reading it in the school attic. The novel is about Fantasia, a fantasy land threatened by "The Nothing," a darkness that destroys everything it touches. The kingdom needs the help of a human child to survive. When Bastian reads a description of himself in the book, he begins to wonder if Fantasia is real and needs him to survive.
- Released: 1984
- Directed by: Wolfgang Petersen
- 13Revenge of the Nerds, a comedy classic from 1984, centers on a group of socially awkward students at Adams College. The protagonists, led by Lewis Skolnick (Robert Carradine) and Gilbert Lowe (Anthony Edwards), form their fraternity, Lambda Lambda Lambda. When they are targeted by Alpha Beta, a jock-centric fraternity headed by Stan Gable (Ted McGinley), they decide to fight back. In this hilarious tale of underdogs rising against oppression, brains battle brawn in an epic struggle for respect and acceptance.
- Released: 1984
- Directed by: Jeff Kanew
- 14This is Spinal Tap, a 1984 mockumentary, chronicles the fictitious British rock band Spinal Tap. The film stars Michael McKean (David St. Hubbins), Christopher Guest (Nigel Tufnel), and Harry Shearer (Derek Smalls) as members of the band. Directed by Rob Reiner (Marty DiBergi), the film cleverly parodies the wild lifestyle and musical pretensions of hard rock and heavy metal bands. It's known for its satirical insight into the music industry, presenting hilarious scenarios like a Stonehenge stage prop disastrously undersized. This cult classic won the Best Comedy Film award at Brussels International Festival of Fantasy Film in 1985.
- Released: 1984
- Directed by: Rob Reiner
- 15In the heart-thumping movie Footloose, city teen Ren McCormack, portrayed by Kevin Bacon, finds himself in a tight spot in a small Midwestern town where dancing and rock music have been banned. Reverend Shaw Moore (John Lithgow), the town's spiritual guide and law enforcer, stands as his primary obstacle. Threading the needle of rebellion, Ren challenges the ban to revitalize the spirit of the youth, notably Ariel Moore (Lori Singer), the Reverend's rebellious daughter. This musical drama, peppered with foot-tapping numbers and teenage angst, is a rhythmic dance of defiance against unjust norms.
- Released: 1984
- Directed by: Herbert Ross
- 16In the heartwarming film Splash, Tom Hanks stars as Allen Bauer, a man on a quest for love. After a chance encounter with a mermaid named Madison (Daryl Hannah), his life takes an unexpected turn. Directed by Ron Howard, this 1984 romantic comedy delves into the complexities of human-mermaid relationships, offering viewers a unique blend of humor, fantasy, and romance. The film also features John Candy as Freddie Bauer, Allen's lovable yet slightly irresponsible brother. Despite its fantastical elements, Splash remains grounded in realism, presenting an unusual love story that is both enchanting and memorable. Notably, it earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Screenplay.
- Released: 1984
- Directed by: Ron Howard
- 17Answering a NASA message intended for aliens, a space being tries to contact mankind, but an American missile grounds his ship. Scrambling, the so-called Starman (Jeff Bridges) inhabits the body of a late Wisconsinite and kidnaps the dead man's widow, Jenny Hayden (Karen Allen). Determined to reunite with a vessel from his home planet at a predetermined site, Starman and Jenny travel to Arizona. Pursued by military officials trying to kill him, Starman forges a lasting bond with Jenny.
- Released: 1984
- Directed by: John Carpenter
- 18In the film Red Dawn, an unexpected invasion by foreign soldiers transforms a peaceful American town into a war zone. High school student Jed Eckert (Patrick Swayze) finds himself leading his brother, Matt (Charlie Sheen), and a group of fellow students in a resistance movement. As they struggle to protect their home and reclaim their freedom, these young warriors showcase courage beyond their years. Directed by John Milius, this 1984 action-packed drama reflects on the resilience of youth amidst adversity, without straying into overtly violent or graphic territory.
- Released: 1984
- Directed by: John Milius
- 19In 1968, the elderly David "Noodles" Aaronson (Robert De Niro) returns to New York, where he had a career in the criminal underground in the '20s and '30s. Most of his old friends, like longtime partner Max (James Woods), are long gone, yet he feels his past is unresolved. Told in flashbacks, the film follows Noodles from a tough kid in a Jewish slum in New York's Lower East Side, through his rise to bootlegger and then Mafia boss -- a journey marked by violence, betrayal and remorse.
- Released: 1984
- Directed by: Sergio Leone
- 20In the cinematic sports drama, The Natural, Robert Redford delivers a captivating performance as Roy Hobbs, an aging baseball rookie with extraordinary talent. The film chronicles his late-blooming career, fraught with challenges and personal setbacks. Glenn Close stands out as Iris Gaines, Roy's long-lost love who re-enters his life at a crucial juncture. Directed by Barry Levinson, this 1984 classic earned four Academy Award nominations, including Best Supporting Actress for Close. Hobbs's quest for redemption and glory in America's favorite pastime forms the heart of this engaging narrative.
- Released: 1984
- Directed by: Barry Levinson
- 21Adm. James T. Kirk (William Shatner) has defeated his archenemy but at great cost. His friend Spock has apparently been killed, the USS Enterprise is being scrapped, and starship physician Dr. Leonard "Bones" McCoy (DeForest Kelley) has taken ill. McCoy's odd behavior is evidence he's harboring Spock's katra, or animating spirit, and Kirk seeks to take the Enterprise back to the Genesis Planet and find his friend. Rebuffed, Kirk takes dramatic action that results in war with deadly Klingons.
- Released: 1984
- Directed by: Leonard Nimoy
- 22After finally achieving the high score on Starfighter, his favorite arcade game, everyday teenager Alex Rogan (Lance Guest) meets the game's designer, Centauri (Robert Preston) -- who reveals that he created Starfighter as a training ground for developing and recruiting actual pilots to help fight a war in space. Whisked away from the banality of his trailer park life to a distant alien planet, Alex struggles to use his video game-playing skills to pilot a real ship, with real lives at stake.
- Released: 1984
- Directed by: Nick Castle
- 23In The Muppets Take Manhattan, Kermit (Jim Henson), Miss Piggy (Frank Oz), and the rest of the Muppet gang embark on a quest to take Broadway by storm. Armed with their college musical, Manhattan Melodies, they hit the big city with dreams of stardom. However, when their plans fall apart, it's up to Kermit to bring back his friends and put on the show of a lifetime. A delightful mix of comedy and musical, this film won an Academy Award for Best Original Song Score, adding another feather in the cap of this lovable troupe.
- Released: 1984
- Directed by: Frank Oz
- 24"Blood Simple" was the first feature film from Joel and Ethan Coen. This is the newly restored and re-edited director's cut of the film, introduced by Mortimer Young. The stylish crime thriller premiered at film festivals in 1984. "Blood Simple" begins deep in the heart of Texas, where a jealous saloon owner hires a cheap divorce detective to kill the saloon owner's younger wife and her bartender lover. But the detective gets a better idea: he follows the two lovers, and...
- Released: 1984
- Directed by: Joel Coen
- 25New York Times reporter Sydney Schanberg (Sam Waterston) is on assignment covering the Cambodian Civil War, with the help of local interpreter Dith Pran (Haing S. Ngor) and American photojournalist Al Rockoff (John Malkovich). When the U.S. Army pulls out amid escalating violence, Schanberg makes exit arrangements for Pran and his family. Pran, however, tells Schanberg he intends to stay in Cambodia to help cover the unfolding story -- a decision he may regret as the Khmer Rouge rebels move in.
- Released: 1984
- Directed by: Roland Joffé
- 26Popular and dashing American singer Nick Rivers (Val Kilmer) travels to East Germany to perform in a music festival. When he loses his heart to the gorgeous Hillary Flammond (Lucy Gutteridge), he finds himself caught up in an underground resistance movement. Rivers joins forces with Agent Cedric (Omar Sharif) and Flammond to attempt the rescue of her father, Dr. Paul (Michael Gough), from the Germans, who have captured the scientist in hopes of coercing him into building a new naval mine.
- Released: 1984
- Directed by: Jim Abrahams, David Zucker, Jerry Zucker
- 27In his second cinematic adventure, the mighty warrior Conan (Arnold Schwarzenegger) is tricked into working for the scheming Queen Taramis (Sarah Douglas). Along with finding a mystical horn, Conan and his allies, which include the fierce fighter, Zula (Grace Jones), and the wisecracking sorcerer, Akiro (Mako), must protect the beautiful young Princess Jehnna (Olivia d'Abo). With deception and danger at every turn, Conan has to use all of his power to defeat the evil foes that stand in his way.
- Released: 1984
- Directed by: Richard Fleischer
- 28When a happily married family man, who would never consider an affair, meets a beautiful woman in red, he is totally infatuated and desperate to make her acquaintance. However, as he tries out various schemes to sneak out to meet her, he realizes that adultery is not quite as easy as it looks.
- Released: 1984
- Directed by: Gene Wilder
- 29While on her deathbed, the rich Edwina Cutwater (Lily Tomlin) has her lawyer Roger Cobb (Steve Martin) add the odd stipulation to her will that her soul will be inherited by the young Terry Hoskins (Victoria Tennant). The plan backfires when Edwina dies. She ends up inhabiting Roger's body and controlling only its right side. Edwina and Roger are forced to work together to find a way to get her soul out his body and into the body she originally intended.
- Released: 1984
- Directed by: Carl Reiner
- 30A man loses his identity while living under a repressive regime. In a story based on George Orwell's classic novel, Winston Smith (John Hurt) is a government employee whose job involves the rewriting of history in a manner that casts his fictional country's leaders in a charitable light. His trysts with Julia (Suzanna Hamilton) provide his only measure of enjoyment, but lawmakers frown on the relationship -- and in this closely monitored society, there is no escape from Big Brother.
- Released: 1984
- Directed by: Michael Radford
- 31After losing an acting role and his girlfriend, Jake Scully (Craig Wasson) finally catches a break: he gets offered a gig house-sitting in the Hollywood Hills. While peering through the beautiful home's telescope one night, he spies a gorgeous blonde (Deborah Shelton) dancing in her window. But when he witnesses the girl's murder, it leads Scully through the netherworld of the adult entertainment industry on a search for answers -- with porn actress Holly Body (Melanie Griffith) as his guide.
- Released: 1984
- Directed by: Brian De Palma
- 32After a rare comet sighting, teen sisters Regina (Catherine Mary Stewart) and Samantha (Kelli Maroney) find that they're among the only survivors of a zombie attack. The girls partner with another survivor, Hector (Robert Beltran), but as they try to avoid the zombies, they're sought by scientists who want to experiment on their bodies in the hope of finding an antidote. Dodging both the doctors and the undead, they keep moving in the hope that they can continue to stay alive.
- Released: 1984
- Directed by: Thom Eberhardt
- 33Captain Bligh (Anthony Hopkins) struggles to restore discipline among the crew of the HMS Bounty after the ship has an extended furlough in Tahiti. After the captain doles out floggings and other physical punishments, the crew mutinies, led by Bligh's former close friend, Fletcher Christian (Mel Gibson). Unable to return to their tropical paradise, the mutineers find themselves stranded, while Bligh and his faithful crew members embark on a dangerous journey to the Dutch East Indies.
- Released: 1984
- Directed by: Roger Donaldson
- 34Buckaroo Banzai is caught with his trusted allies, the Hong Kong Cavaliers, in a battle to the death between evil red aliens and good black aliens from Planet 10. Led by demonic dictator John Whorfin, who has taken over the body of Italian scientist Dr. Emilio Lizardo, the aliens try to get the Overthruster back from Buckaroo Banzai. But the good black aliens are willing to destroy Earth rather than let these renegades return to their planet.
- Released: 1984
- Directed by: W.D. Richter
- 35A carefree lakeside vacation is interrupted by the re-emergence of killer Jason Voorhees (Ted White). After he escapes from a morgue, leaving bodies in his wake, Jason travels to Camp Crystal Lake where a group of friends is staying. The teens meet some locals: Tommy (Corey Feldman) and Trish (Kimberly Beck), as well as secretive hiker Rob (Erich Anderson). As the group of teenagers engages in drunken debauchery, their numbers begin to dwindle, and pieces of the past resurface.
- Released: 1984
- Directed by: Joseph Zito
- 36In Purple Rain, a rock musical drama, the Kid (Prince), an aspiring and troubled Minneapolis musician, navigates the tumultuous waters of love, rivalry, and self-discovery. The film showcases his struggle against fellow musician Morris Day (Morris Day) and his romantic entanglement with Apollonia (Apollonia Kotero), a beautiful singer. This vibrant cinematic journey is punctuated by Prince's electrifying performances, earning the film an Academy Award for Best Original Song Score. It's a tale steeped in passion, competition, and the relentless pursuit of musical greatness.
- Released: 1984
- Directed by: Albert Magnoli
- 37Set on the desert planet Arrakis, Paul Atreides (Kyle MacLachlan) is thrust into a vast political and ecological intrigue. As the native Freman tribes and rivaling great houses fight for control over the planet's invaluable resource, spice, Paul must embrace his destiny amidst visions of an uncertain future.
- Released: 1984
- Directed by: David Lynch
- 38After being fired from his job, Los Angeles slacker and punk rocker Otto (Emilio Estevez) lands a gig working for an eccentric repossession agent named Bud (Harry Dean Stanton). At first, Otto is reluctant to work as a repo man, but he grows to love the fast-paced job. After learning of a Chevy Malibu that has been given a $20,000 price tag, Otto embarks on a quest to find the car with the beautiful Leila (Olivia Barash), who claims the trunk's contents are otherworldly.
- Released: 1984
- Directed by: Alex Cox
- 39Brave explorers are headed for the far reaches of the galaxy in the continuation of the story that began with "2001: A Space Odyssey." Their destination is Jupiter, where the Russian and American astronauts will conduct their investigation. Drs. Heywood Floyd (Roy Scheider), Walter Curnow (John Lithgow) and R. Chandra (Bob Balaban), along with shipmates Tanya (Helen Mirren) and Dave (Keir Dullea), aim to uncover what led to disaster for the deceased astronauts who preceded them.
- Released: 1984
- Directed by: Peter Hyams
- 40As physician Burt Stanton (Peter Horton) and his girlfriend, Vicky (Linda Hamilton), drive across the Midwest to his new job, their trip comes to a sudden halt when they encounter the body of a murdered boy in the road. In trying to contact the authorities, Burt and Vicky wander into a small town populated only by children, followers of sinister young preacher Isaac Chroner (John Franklin). Soon the couple is fleeing the youthful fanatics, who want to sacrifice them to their demonic deity.
- Released: 1984
- Directed by: Fritz Kiersch
- 41A black Army investigator (Howard E. Rollins Jr.) travels to a remote military base in the heart of the Louisiana backwoods to look into the mysterious murder of a black sergeant toward the tail end of World War II. Once he arrives, the investigator discovers an Army regiment and an entire community that, despite the beginnings of integration, is still torn apart by race and segregation. He soon learns that on this base, trust is sparse and secrets are a currency all their own.
- Released: 1984
- Directed by: Norman Jewison
- 42Based on the renowned E.M. Forster novel, this expansive period drama centers on the changing dynamic between British colonials and native locals in India during the 1920s. When an outing to explore scenic caves ends in English tourist Adela Quested (Judy Davis) accusing Indian doctor Aziz Ahmed (Victor Banerjee) of rape, the incident results in a major court case, one that reinforces tensions between the British Empire and the growing movement towards Indian independence.
- Released: 1984
- Directed by: David Lean
- 43On the eve of his wedding to his longtime girlfriend, Debbie (Tawny Kitaen), unassuming nice guy Rick (Tom Hanks) is dragged out for a night of debauchery by his friends. The gang includes cocky Jay (Adrian Zmed), self-appointed ringleader of the party, and depressed, recently divorced Brad (Bradford Bancroft). Along the way, they run into Debbie's wealthy, disapproving father (George Grizzard) and her ex-boyfriend, Cole (Robert Prescott), who attempt to stop the wedding in an unexpected way.
- Released: 1984
- Directed by: Neal Israel
- 44As youths, Andy McGee (David Keith) and his future wife, Vicky (Heather Locklear), participated in secret experiments, allowing themselves to be subjected to mysterious medical tests. Years later, the couple's daughter, Charlie (Drew Barrymore), begins to exhibit the ability of setting fires solely with her mind. This volatile talent makes the youngster extremely dangerous and soon she becomes a target for the enigmatic agency known as "The Shop."
- Released: 1984
- Directed by: Mark L. Lester
- 45Johnny Kelly (Michael Keaton) lives a double life: at home, he's the good apple, looking after his ailing mother (Maureen Stapleton) and sexually obsessed brother, Tommy (Griffin Dunne). But his not-so-secret life is as Johnny Dangerously, an up-and-coming criminal being groomed by local gangster Jocko Dundee (Peter Boyle). Johnny's crime money puts Tommy through law school, but, when his brother becomes district attorney, Johnny must protect him from the murderous Danny Vermin (Joe Piscopo).
- Released: 1984
- Directed by: Amy Heckerling
- 46When a sheik (Jamie Farr) decides to sponsor a cross-country race in hope of winning, racer J.J. McLure (Burt Reynolds) enters the competition along with his friend Victor (Dom DeLuise). They aspire to claim the $1 million prize and pick up two women on the way. Meanwhile, the sheik helps Jamie Blake (Dean Martin) and Morris Fenderbaum (Sammy Davis Jr.) with an angry mob boss. But when the sheik is kidnapped, the contestants must come together to help him.
- Released: 1984
- Directed by: Hal Needham
- 47Colonel James Braddock (Chuck Norris) survives a brutal stint in a Vietnamese POW camp, but he believes that even after the war ends enemy forces are still secretly holding American men captive. Eventually, he is tapped by the president to go overseas and search for U.S. soldiers who went missing years ago. Once in Saigon, Braddock learns that his suspicions are correct, so he teams up with reckless fellow veteran Tuck (M. Emmet Walsh) and stages a violent rescue mission in the jungle.
- Released: 1984
- Directed by: Joseph Zito
- 48Having been cut from his professional football team, down-and-out athlete Terry Brogan (Jeff Bridges) is in desperate need of money. Crooked nightclub owner and bookie Jake Wise (James Woods) offers Terry a hefty sum to go to Mexico and find his girlfriend, Jessie Wyler (Rachel Ward). Terry cannot turn the offer down. When Terry locates Jessie, the two fall in love. Terry reports that he failed to find her; but Jake sends someone else. Terry and Jessie's love must endure unexpected twists.
- Released: 1984
- Directed by: Taylor Hackford
- 49A New Orleans police detective (Clint Eastwood) finds he has some of the same traits as a serial killer of prostitutes.
- Released: 1984
- Directed by: Richard Tuggle
- 50Raven Shaddock (Willem Dafoe), along with his gang of merciless biker friends, kidnaps rock singer Ellen Aim (Diane Lane). Ellen's former lover, soldier-for-hire Tom Cody (Michael Paré), happens to be passing through town on a visit. In an attempt to save his star act, Ellen's manager, Billy Fish (Rick Moranis), hires Tom to rescue Ellen. Billy and Tom, along with former soldier McCoy (Amy Madigan), battle through dangerous cityscapes, determined to get Ellen back.
- Released: 1984
- Directed by: Walter Hill
- 51In 1935 rural Texas, recently widowed Edna Spaulding (Sally Field) struggles to survive with two small children, a farm to run and very little money in the bank -- not to mention a deadly tornado and the unwelcome presence of the Ku Klux Klan. Edna is aided by her beautician sister, Margaret (Lindsay Crouse) ; a blind boarder, Mr. Will (John Malkovich) ; and a would-be thief, Moze (Danny Glover), who decides to stick around to teach Edna how to plant and harvest cotton.
- Released: 1984
- Directed by: Robert Benton
- 52A Russian musician defects to the United States and settles in New York with the help of a Bloomingdale's employee.
- Released: 1984
- Directed by: Paul Mazursky
- 53Selfish teen Alex Gardner (Dennis Quaid) is coerced into joining a government project in which psychics like him are trained to enter others' dreams. He starts learning to use his abilities to do good, but before long, a new official, Bob Blair (Christopher Plummer), seizes control of the project. A writer (George Wendt) helps Alex uncover Blair's true motives, which involve assassination via dreams. Soon, only Alex and a beautiful scientist (Kate Capshaw) stand in the way of something terrible.
- Released: 1984
- Directed by: Joseph Ruben
- 54In 1943, a top-secret experiment aboard a Navy destroyer backfires and two sailors are propelled to 1984.
- Released: 1984
- Directed by: Stewart Raffill
- 55The lives of various characters intersect at Harlem's renowned Cotton Club. Handsome horn player Dix Dwyer (Richard Gere) falls for Vera Cicero (Diane Lane), the stunning girlfriend of famous gangster Dutch Schultz (James Remar). Meanwhile Dix's brother, Vincent (Nicolas Cage), falls in with Schultz's crew, while Owney Madden (Bob Hoskins), the jazz venue's proprietor, has his own mob ties. Although Dix goes on to become a Hollywood actor, his life doesn't get any less complicated or dangerous.
- Released: 1984
- Directed by: Francis Ford Coppola
- 56Kara (Helen Slater) of Argo City poses as Clark Kent's cousin, Linda Lee, to recover the Omegahedron from a witch (Faye Dunaway).
- Released: 1984
- Directed by: Jeannot Szwarc
- 57Danny Rose (Woody Allen), a hopeless New York talent agent, is a tireless workhorse for his eccentric, unimpressive acts. When Rose signs has-been lounge singer Lou Canova (Nick Apollo Forte), he knows he has to go to great lengths to keep his new client, which means escorting Canova's mistress, Tina (Mia Farrow), to the singer's shows. The only problem is that her ex-boyfriend is a jealous gangster who thinks Rose is her new man and wants revenge.
- Released: 1984
- Directed by: Woody Allen
- 58A disheveled man who wanders out of the desert, Travis Henderson (Harry Dean Stanton) seems to have no idea who he is. When a stranger manages to contact his brother, Walt (Dean Stockwell), Travis is awkwardly reunited with his sibling. Travis has been missing for years, and his presence unsettles Walt and his family, which also includes Travis's own son, Hunter (Hunter Carson). Soon Travis must confront his wife, Jane (Nastassja Kinski), and try to put his life back together.
- Released: 1984
- Directed by: Wim Wenders
- 59Christopher Lambert, Andie MacDowell, Ralph RichardsonClassic tale of the wild man raised by apes in the African jungle after his explorer parents are shipwrecked and then die while he is still a baby. Rediscovered by adventurers when he has grown to manhood, he is returned to the strange and unfamiliar world of the British aristocracy and discovers that, despite a doting grandfather and a female admirer, civilization can be a cruel place.
- Released: 1984
- Directed by: Hugh Hudson
- 60Photographer George Cooper (John Heard) is documenting the lives of subterranean homeless people, a population that has mysteriously dwindled. After receiving information from a reporter, George becomes aware of a conspiracy theory about cannibalistic monsters lurking in the sewers. He teams up with the reporter, a policeman (Christopher Curry) and a priest (Daniel Stern) to fight two battles: one against the cannibals and the other against a corrupt government official.
- Released: 1984
- Directed by: Douglas Cheek
- 61Cloak & Dagger is a 1984 spy adventure film directed by Richard Franklin starring Henry Thomas, Dabney Coleman and Michael Murphy. It is a remake of the 1949 film The Window. It was originally released in a double feature with The Last Starfighter on July 13, 1984 and then released separately on August 10, 1984.
- Released: 1984
- Directed by: Richard Franklin
- 62Brooklyn teenager Jeffrey Willis (Matt Dillon), thoroughly unhappy with his modest homestead, embraces the other-world aspects of his summer job at the posh Flamingo Club. He spurns his father (Héctor Elizondo) in favor of the patronage of smooth-talking Phil Brody (Richard Crenna) and is seduced by the ample bikini charms of club member Carla Samson (Janet Jones). But thanks to a couple of late-summer hard lessons, the teen eventually realizes that family should always come first.
- Released: 1984
- Directed by: Garry Marshall
- 63Nick De Angelo (Rob Lowe) is an American hustler working in a Las Vegas casino. When he falls in love with wealthy Lady Victoria Wingate (Amanda Pays), he follows her to England, where he must con his way into Oxford University in an attempt to win her hand and her heart. His misadventures multiply when he joins the rowing team. Nick quickly discovers Victoria is already in love with another Oxford rower, Colin (Julian Sands), and also learns the importance of being part of the team.
- Released: 1984
- Directed by: Robert Boris
- 64Electric Dreams is a 1984 British-American science fiction romantic comedy-drama film set in San Francisco, California, that depicts a love triangle between a man, a woman and a personal computer. It stars Lenny Von Dohlen, Virginia Madsen, and the voice of Bud Cort and was directed by Steve Barron. It was the first film released by the Virgin Films production company. The film's credits dedicate it to the memory of UNIVAC I.
- Released: 1984
- Directed by: Steve Barron
- 65Based on the novel by John Irving, this unusual comedic drama follows the exploits of the eccentric hotel-operating Berry family. While there are many strange dynamics between the various members of the Berry clan, arguably the most unconventional is the almost incestuous relationship that young, handsome John (Rob Lowe) has with his pretty sister, Franny (Jodie Foster). As the patriarch, Win (Beau Bridges), tries to keep his family together, unexpected events occur, changing them all forever.
- Released: 1984
- Directed by: Tony Richardson
- 66Two friends who work for the same Brazilian company, Matthew (Michael Caine) and Victor (Joseph Bologna) decide to take a vacation together without their wives, since both men are having marital difficulties. Each brings his teenage daughter along, and there is trouble when Matthew begins an affair with Victor's daughter, Jennifer (Michelle Johnson). As Victor catches wind of the fling, Matthew tries to keep his involvement a secret, leading to plenty of uncomfortable situations.
- Released: 1983
- Directed by: Stanley Donen
- 67Far in the future, after an apocalyptic conflict has devastated much of the world's ecosystem, the few surviving humans live in scattered semi-hospitable environments within what has become a "toxic jungle." Young Nausicaä lives in the arid Valley of the Wind and can communicate with the massive insects that populate the dangerous jungle. Under the guidance of the pensive veteran warrior, Lord Yupa, Nausicaä works to bring peace back to the ravaged planet.
- Released: 1984
- Directed by: Hayao Miyazaki
- 68High school teacher Alex Jurel (Nick Nolte) has gone from idealistic to pessimistic. His classroom methods come under scrutiny when a former pupil sues him for not ensuring student literacy, and the arrival of Lisa Hammond (JoBeth Williams), the lawyer assigned to the case, only makes things worse -- she's one of Alex's former star pupils. When Alex tries to help his other students, he just gets into more trouble with timid principal Horn (William Schallert) and the school board.
- Released: 1984
- Directed by: Arthur Hiller
- 69The Zambouli tribe raise a young white orphan whom their shaman believes to have been sent as part of a mystical prophecy, teaching her the ways of telepathic communication with animals. The girl grows up to be Sheena, Queen of the Jungle (Tanya Roberts), and she is soon called upon to save the Zambouli from annihilation by Prince Otwani (Trevor Thomas), who wants the precious metal under the natives' land. She is aided by a reporter named Vic Casey (Ted Wass) who falls for her charms.
- Released: 1984
- Directed by: John Guillermin
- 70Silent Night, Deadly Night is a 1984 American slasher film produced by Ira R Barmak, written by Michael Hickey, directed by Charles E. Sellier, Jr. and starring Robert Brian Wilson, Lilyan Chauvin, Gilmer McCormick, Toni Nero, Linnea Quigley, Britt Leach and Leo Geter. The film focuses on a young boy who, after witnessing his parents' brutal murder at the hands of a man clad in a Santa suit on Christmas, grows up tumultuously in a Catholic orphanage and slowly emerges into a spree killer himself. The film caused an uproar when released in 1984 during the holiday season, and has developed a cult following.
- Released: 1984
- Directed by: Charles Sellier
- 71Bobby (John Laughlin) owns a gadget store by day and takes surveillance jobs by night. A businessman hires him to spy on Joanna (Kathleen Turner), a fashion designer suspected of committing white-collar crimes. But Bobby finds that Joanna's transgressions aren't business-related; instead, she spends her evenings as a prostitute specializing in fetishes. Intrigued, Bobby begins to woo her, but their relationship is complicated by Shayne (Anthony Perkins), a deviant priest who's stalking Joanna.
- Released: 1984
- Directed by: Ken Russell
- 72Albert Brodsky (Ryan O'Neal) and his wife, Lucy (Shelley Long), are both highly successful in their fields. While Albert has a thriving career as a filmmaker, Lucy is a well-received writer, but their occupations keep them away from each other and their young daughter, Casey (Drew Barrymore). When Casey has had enough of her parents' strained relationship, she decides to sue them for divorce. After Casey's cause gets media attention, the family is forced to reassess their life together.
- Released: 1984
- Directed by: Charles Shyer
- 73Cousins Paulie (Eric Roberts) and Charlie (Mickey Rourke) plan to rob a merchant in the New York City neighborhood that's home to the restaurant where they work. When their scheme results in the death of a police officer and draws the ire of the Mafia-linked businessman who was ripped off, Charlie's girlfriend (Daryl Hannah) bolts, and mob henchmen exact a brutal price from Paulie. With the mob threatening to kill them, the thieves must think fast if they intend to survive.
- Released: 1984
- Directed by: Stuart Rosenberg
- 74In order to graduate from college, four students must give in to their blackmailing dean's demand that they enter a raft race. Bob McGraw (Tim Matheson), Max (Dan Monahan), Gonzer (Stephen Furst) and Irwin (Sandy Helberg) must compete against a team from Ivy University as well as a hardened team from a nearby military school. Sparks fly between Bob and a new teammate, while the captain of the military team plots revenge against the foursome, and the Ivy team schemes its way to the top.
- Released: 1984
- Directed by: Robert Butler
- 75A Washington waitress (Goldie Hawn) saves the Emir of Ohtar's (Richard Romanus) life, launching her diplomatic career and a scandal.
- Released: 1984
- Directed by: Herbert Ross
- 76A teen (Christopher Collet) protects his divorced mother (Teri Garr) from her boyfriend (Peter Weller), a drug dealer in a black four-wheeler.
- Released: 1984
- Directed by: Michael Apted
- 77Director Jonathan Demme captures the frantic energy and artsy groove of Talking Heads in this concert movie shot at the Hollywood Pantages Theatre in 1983. The band's frontman, David Byrne, first appears on an empty stage, armed with only an acoustic guitar, and is gradually joined by bassist Tina Weymouth, drummer Chris Frantz, keyboardist Jerry Harrison and a cadre of backup singers as they perform the band's hits, culminating in an iconic performance featuring Byrne in an enormous suit.
- Released: 1984
- Directed by: Jonathan Demme
- 78"The Brother" (Joe Morton) is an alien and escaped slave on the run from his home planet. After he lands in New York City, he tries to adapt to life on the streets of Harlem. Although the Brother is mute, he does have great abilities at fixing machines, and he gets a job. As the Brother tries to blend in with his new culture, he finds an apartment and gradually makes friends. Meanwhile, he is pursued by two agents from his home world who are intent on returning there with him.
- Released: 1984
- Directed by: John Sayles
- 79Trying to get out of her contract with her obnoxious manager, Freddie (Ron Leibman), country singer Jake Farris (Dolly Parton) bets that she can turn the next person she sees into a Nashville-style crooner. Unfortunately, the next person she sees is cocky New York City cabbie Nick (Sylvester Stallone), who can't sing a note. Undaunted, she brings her new protégé to her tiny Tennessee hometown to train him in all things country, while her ex-boyfriend (Tim Thomerson) tries to win her back.
- Released: 1984
- Directed by: Bob Clark
- 80Geoffrey Firmin (Albert Finney) is a heavy-drinking British diplomat living in a Mexican town. As the local Day of the Dead celebration gets underway, Geoffrey drowns himself in the bottle, having cut himself off from his family, friends and job. When Geoffrey goes missing, his wife Yvonne (Jacqueline Bisset) convinces his half-brother Hugh (Anthony Andrews) to conduct a last-ditch search for the drunk, hoping that Hugh might be able to rescue her self-destructing husband.
- Released: 1984
- Directed by: John Huston
- 81Flashpoint is a film starring Kris Kristofferson and Treat Williams. Rip Torn, Jean Smart, Kurtwood Smith, and Tess Harper also co-star. The movie was directed by William Tannen and based on a novel by George La Fountaine. This was the first theatrical film produced by Home Box Office. It is one of at least five American films to present a dramatization portraying the Kennedy assassination as a conspiracy.
- Released: 1984
- Directed by: William Tannen
- 82Hot Dog…The Movie is a comedy ski film released in January 1984. The film went on to gross over $17 million and became one of the iconic comedies of the 1980s.
- Released: 1984
- Directed by: Peter Markle
- 83When television reporter Rob (Dudley Moore) feels stuck in his marriage to Micki (Ann Reinking), he falls for Maude (Amy Irving) during an interview. Maude tells Rob that she is pregnant, and he prepares to divorce Micki and start a new life with Maude. But Rob has a problem: Micki is pregnant too. Now a bigamist, Rob must balance his career, his two separate wives and his new responsibilities as a father while hiding the two women from each other.
- Released: 1984
- Directed by: Blake Edwards
- 84In their last weeks before deployment to World War II as Marines, teenage friends Henry Nash (Sean Penn) and Nicky (Nicolas Cage) try to make the best of the time they have left in their small California town. When Nash spots Caddie Winger (Elizabeth McGovern), a new girl in town he mistakenly believes to be wealthy, he sets about winning her over. But the good times are ruined when Nicky finds himself trying to solve a serious predicament, and implicating Nash and Caddie in the process.
- Released: 1984
- Directed by: Richard Benjamin
- 85New York City layabout Willie (John Lurie) and his dopey sidekick, Eddie (Richard Edson), get by on TV dinners and beer financed by haphazard card-sharking. Willie gets an unwelcome visit from his Hungarian teen cousin, Eva (Eszter Balint), but, just as he warms to her, she ditches him for her aunt in Cleveland. Impulsively, Willie and Eddie take a road trip to pick up Eva, after which they head out to find fortune and paradise in Florida -- or at least alleviation from their constant boredom.
- Released: 1984
- Directed by: Jim Jarmusch
- 86On an Arctic expedition, Stanley Shephard (Timothy Hutton) discovers "Charlie" (John Lone), a Neanderthal man frozen in ice. With a team of scientists, Shephard revives Charlie and learns that he has been cryogenically suspended for 40,000 years. Stanley grows close to Charlie as he observes the man and learns about his prehistoric culture -- but when the media catches on to the discovery, Stanley must protect Charlie from fellow scientists who want to use his corpse for scientific research.
- Released: 1984
- Directed by: Fred Schepisi
- 87Aging swingers pay a beach bum (Grant Cramer) and his sidekick to lure fit young women to their hot-tub party.
- Released: 1984
- Directed by: Mark Griffiths
- 88A San Francisco cat burglar (Steven Bauer) steals a married woman's (Barbara Williams) diaries and seduces her with what he knows.
- Released: 1984
- Directed by: Douglas Day Stewart
- 89In this parody adaptation of the Alexandre Dumas novel, a boisterous but unappreciated rock band is kicked out of a quaint French town, only to cross paths with a mystical gypsy, who unfolds the strange tale of two brothers (Cheech Marin, Thomas Chong) from the Corsican family who, although separated at birth, could feel each other's physical pleasures and pains. When the oddly powered pair reunite, their misguided misadventures spark the beginning of the French Revolution.
- Released: 1984
- Directed by: Tommy Chong
- 90Kelly (Lucinda Dickey) is a classically trained jazz dancer who's tired of warding off her amorous teacher and hungry for a new outlet. When she befriends street dancers Ozone (Adolfo "Shabba-Doo" Quinones) and Turbo (Michael "Boogaloo Shrimp" Chambers), she's blown away by their unique and original moves. She soon volunteers to help them defeat a rival group of street dancers, learning break-dancing skills along the way and sharing some moves of her own.
- Released: 1984
- Directed by: Joel Silberg
- 91Camp Sasquatch will be bought out and closed unless owner Coach Giddy (Richard Mulligan) wins the boxing competition scheduled for the end of the summer. Tough city punk Flash (John Mengatti), who's performing his community service time at the camp, is the coach's best hope. Flash reluctantly offers to help and so must use his raw sparring talents to get a motley group of adolescent misfits into fighting shape, while also trying to win the heart of pretty Cheryl (Tammy Taylor).
- Released: 1984
- Directed by: Ken Wiederhorn
- 92A high-school wrestler (Christopher Penn) parties with his buddy (Eric Stoltz) at a swinging-singles apartment complex.
- Released: 1984
- Directed by: Art Linson
