10 Best Movies of 1987 Essay

Comedy icon Mel Brooks takes on science fiction, what more do I have to say. This comical trek through the stars pokes fun the entire genre, but it has its sights set firmly on Star Wars. Following the adventures of Capt. Lone Star (Bill Pullman) and his faithful sidekick Barf (John Candy), this movie has everything that you would expect from a Mel Brooks movie. Not only is this one of my favorite Mel Brooks movies, it’s one of my favorite movies of all time.

Do you really need me to give you a rundown of arguably one of the largest cult classics since Rocky Horror? “As you wish”. This fantasy adventure, narrated by Peter Faulk, is one of the most quoted movies of the 80s. Not only did it launch the careers of Cary Elwes and Robin Wright, it also gave us one of the most memorable introductions in movie history: “Hello. My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die”.

Featuring one of the most accurate portrayals of boot camp that I’ve ever seen in a movie, this Vietnam era military flick follows Matthew Modine (a.k.a. Pvt. Joker) during his time at Parris Island, and then in Vietnam. This movie also features memorable performances by R Lee Emery (Drill Sgt. Hartman), and Law and Order: Criminal Intent star Vincent D’Onofrio

the first of two Schwarzenegger movies on this list, this movie features Arnold as Ben Richards, the so-called Butcher of Bakersfield. Set in a future where executions are carried out in game show fashion (in front of a live studio audience no less). In fact, they even have real life game show host Richard Dawson (The Family Feud) playing host Damon Killian. Another instant Schwarzenegger classic, the movie also stars Predator co-star, and fellow future Governor Jessie Ventura.

Launching one of the most popular Sci-Fi franchises of all time, Predator tells the story of a commando team sent on a rescue mission in South America. Sounds easy for action movie heavy weights like Arnold Schwarzenegger, Carl Weathers, and Jessie “The Body” Venture, the only catch is an alien killing machine stalking their every move. Just think, if it wasn’t for this film, we never would have had Alien Vs. Predator.

The coming of age story of Francis “Baby” Houseman and bad boy dance instructor Johnny Castle reunites Jennifer Grey and Patrick Swayze (who stared together in 1984’s Red Dawn), and taught us that “Nobody puts Baby in a corner”.

As hard as it is to believe now, 25 years later, Dirty Dancing wasn’t the huge blockbuster most people seem to remember it as. In fact the film commonly known as “The Godfather for girls”, wasn’t even in the top 10 for highest grossing films that year. However it was on a different front that Dirty Dancing would earn its place in film history, as Dirty Dancing was the first Home Video to sell over 1 Million copies, effectively putting the nail in the coffin for Beta (kids, ask your parents).

Treasury Agent Eliot Ness comes to Chicago during the height of prohibition to take on mob boss Al Capone. That in and of itself sounds like the premise of a great movie, however when you consider that it’s based on the real life events of Agent Ness (yes, he was a real person), it becomes even more awesome.

Add in Sean Connery and Robert De Niro, and you have a certified classic. This film also gave us one of the best lines in movie history: “He pulls a knife, you pull a gun. He sends one of yours to the hospital; you send one of his to the morgue”.

The movie that launched one of the most popular franchises in movie history, and gave us, quite possibly, the greatest one-liner in history (“I’m too old for this shit”), Lethal Weapon set the standard for the “buddy cop” pic. It was one of the highest grossing films of 1987, bringing in over $120 Million at the Box Office, that would be almost $250 Million today.

Before vampires became sparkly emo kids with whiny girlfriends and over moussed hair, they used to be pretty bad ass. Staring Keifer Sutherland, Jason Patrick, Jami Gertz, and of course, the Coreys (Feldman and Haim), The Lost Boys is another cult classic that is a must own for anyone who grew up in the 80s.

The movie that scared the living hell out of married men everywhere. Glenn Close and Michael Douglas star in this cautionary tale about a one night stand that turns into a living hell for married man Dan Gallagher, when his fling Alex Forrest simply “won’t be ignored”.