1988 was an interesting time for many reasons. It was the first year table tennis was an Olympic sport, and Walmart opened its first Supercenter. If you are looking for a way to transport yourself back, try watching these movies for their 35th anniversary. Here is a list of the best movies from 1988.
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10 Shoot to Kill
Buena Vista Pictures
Shoot to Kill was a successful film that used the tried and true formula of the buddy cop action movie. The film focuses on the relationship between an FBI agent, played by Sidney Potier, and a rugged country guy, played by Tom Berenger. The two team up to track down a sadistic killer who has evaded the law and is trying to escape into Canada through the wilderness.
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These two polar opposite people have to work together to save the day in the end. They start off as enemies and eventually become friends. It is a solid action flick that isn’t daring with the formula but is satisfying and features great stunt work. The two heroes don’t just have to contend with the bad guys but also have to fight against the cruel oppression of nature. The movie does a good job of balancing the humor with the action, and the ’80s score is a treat to listen to.
9 Good Morning, Vietnam
This film about the Vietnam War is one of Robin Williams’ best. It is set in 1965, and Williams plays a disk jockey who has arrived in Saigon to improve the morale of the stationed troops. The movie examines the contrast between the sanitization of the programming the soldiers receive versus the horrors of war they experience. Williams’ character comes to deliver some truth-telling entertainment that quickly becomes controversial.
Good Morning, Vietnam is directed by Barry Levinson, whose direction helps elevate Williams’ comedy performance. Williams delivers a comedic performance that feels believable and intelligent. The film does a good job of selling the premise and making it feel realistic, which is a good thing because the film was based on the experiences of radio personality Adrian Joesph Cronauer. This film ranks on this list for its insecure comedy and its enjoyable examination of the Vietnam War.
8 Die Hard
20th Century Studios
Die Hard was also released in 1988. Bruce Willis stars as John McClane, a normal police officer who is thrust into being a hero to save New York from a group of terrorists who have taken hostages. It is an action thriller with great stunts and lots of suspense. McClane’s character is down on his luck and is hoping Christmas Eve is the time he can get back together with his wife. McClane subverts the trope of the invincible action hero by being someone with minimal training and having to use his environment rather than overwhelming skill or strength. He also notably receives major injuries that make the film more gritty.
Die Hard was released to immense popularity, and since the film is set on Christmas Eve, it has even been added to many people’s Christmas movie lists. It was officially declared a Christmas movie by a member of the San Diego board of supervisors. The movie even ends with “Let it Snow” playing as a closing number.
7 Rambo III
Tri-Star Pictures
Rambo III was the conclusion to the popular trilogy of Rambo movies. Compared to the other entries in the series, it is a bit sillier than the rest, but that gives it its own charm. It also features a plotline where John Rambo, played by Sylvester Stallone, goes to help Afghanistan’s rebels. This film is controversial when looking back at it through the lens of a post-911 world.
The film carries on its series tradition of presenting an ultra-violent spectacle that excites your blood. When Rambo III was released, it was the most expensive film ever made, costing $60 million. It was also hard to get made, with the entire film crew getting fired at one point over creative differences. The budget shows in the number of expensive action scenes it has, with Rambo utilizing many new tools and even piloting a tank. The climax of the film is epic, with a barrage of missiles and a huge vehicle collision.
6 Young Guns
20th Century Fox
This entry on that list is a western action movie that features Charlie Sheen, Dermot Mulroney, Casey Siemaszko, Emilio Estevez, Kiefer Sutherland, and Lou Diamond Phillips. Directed by Christopher Cain, Young Guns tells the story of the infamous Billy the Kid, who was a notorious outlaw during the 19th century. Emilio Estevez plays Billy the Kid and gives a standout performance.
Aside from good performances, it also features fun action and tense scenes. The film has a few oddities that give it its charm. It is not particularly historically accurate and features a techno soundtrack that is not typical of westerns. It tackles themes of glorifying revenge but also indulges in the fantasy and violence of said revenge. Billy the Kid is a natural-born killer and is also completely insane. His whole group is out for reckless adventure, and the movie has a fantasy-like mysticism about it, making it a classic watch.
5 Rain Man
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios, Inc
Rain Man makes a list for its great dialogue and poignant scenes. This film tells the story of Charlie Babbit (Tom Cruise) and his high-level autistic brother (Dustin Hoffman). The movie features beautiful cinematography and an excellent score. Tom Cruise was a rising star at the time and was able to go toe-to-toe with Dustin Hoffman’s acting.
Berry Levinson directs a film that is keen on getting details. The camera zooms in on subtle details, and the editing is top-notch. Cruise’s character plays a smooth-talking car salesman, and his brother is a savant who inherits money from their father. Cruise intends to trick his brother out of this money before having a change of heart later in the film. The film is heartwarming and humorous at the same time, and Hoffman nails his performance, which would later earn him an Oscar.
4 Child’s Play
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
This movie took the horror genre to a new level and became a watershed film for creepy monster movies. Child’s Play is the story of a killer doll named Chucky, who became a cultural icon. The film embraces gory violence and contains a subtle layer of dark comedy that ensures it doesn’t take its silly premise too seriously. It follows the path of slashers like Friday the 13th and A Nightmare on Elm Street, but doesn’t feel too derivative.
The character design of the killer doll is a major selling point of the movie. It feels just creepy enough to be scary, despite its small size. Chucky’s facial expressions change in scary ways that send chills down the viewer’s spine. The movie is self-aware and takes shots at the Care Bears and other child merchandising in popular culture.
3 Big
Big is the comedy story of one 12-year-old’s wish that turns him into a 30-year-old man in New York City. The adult child, played by Tom Hanks, gets a job at a toy company and takes his new adult body out for a joyride. Despite his unfortunate circumstances, his childlike personality allows him to quickly rise to the ranks in his company and get a girlfriend. However, he quickly starts to miss the life of being a kid as the pressures of being an adult start to pile up.
This film is good fun for the whole family, and Tom Hanks gives an appropriately childlike performance. Despite being a 30-year-old, he captures the mannerisms of an awkward kid that makes you believe he is a transformed 12-year-old. The movie tackles themes of growing up too fast and examines what adulthood and childhood really mean in the grand scheme of things.
2 Beetlejuice
Warner Bros.
From the creative mind of Tim Burton came Beetlejuice, a film about a crazy spirit played by Michael Keaton, who torments an innocent family who committed the criminal act of buying a home that was already haunted by spirits. The cast of the film features Michael Keaton, Alec Baldwin, Geena Davis, Catherine O’Hara, and Winona Ryder. The visual style of Beetlejuice is very unique and holds up well today. The film is filled to the brim with off-the-wall visuals and laugh-a-minute comedy.
1 Who Framed Roger Rabbit?
Buena Vista Pictures Distribution
Who Framed Roger Rabbit? was a watermark film with its ability to have on-screen actors interact with animated characters. This film is a tale of humans and “toons” trying to live together after an adultery scandal turns into a murder case. A private detective played by Bob Hoskins has to team up with the cartoon rabbit known as Roger Rabbit to solve the case.
This film earned the top spot in the rankings for its uniqueness, special effects, and its compelling story. There is plenty of comedy, action, and drama to make a good story worth watching. It is a tribute to LA film-noir that features one of the best performances of Bob Hoskins’ career. The blend of live-action and animation in the movie still holds up to this day, even after all these years of CGI and technological advancement.
