2022 marks the 40th anniversary of one of the most fearless years in film, the year that was 1982. It was a year of significant achievements in the box office, the sci-fi genre, pop culture, and cinema as a whole.
As great as the year turned out to be, things started slow in the late winter and early spring months. Notable releases in the first few months of the year included the schlocky yet now-respected SWAMP THING, the revenge-sequel DEATH WISH II, the Christopher Reeve and Michael Caine-led mystery DEATHTRAP, the teen sex-comedy PORKYS, and the Julie Andrews-led VICTOR/VICTORIA.
The winter chill began to thaw in a hurry when May rolled in. John Milius introduced Arnold Schwarzenegger to the world with his magnificent sword-and-sorcery epic CONAN THE BARBARIAN. Other hits during this month included ANNIE, ROCKY III, and the comedy/mystery DEAD MEN DON’T WEAR PLAID.
And then came the month of June. Steven Spielberg owned the month; acting as a guiding hand in the horror classic POLTERGEIST and directing his massive hit E.T. THE EXTRA-TERRESTRIAL. E.T. was a smash; breaking hearts and taking the crown of the highest-grossing film of all time…a mark that it would hold for 11 years. But the month was just getting warmed up, as it also delivered the best STAR TREK film of all time with STAR TREK II: THE WRATH OF KHAN, along with the Ridley Scott sci-fi classic and game-changing BLADE RUNNER, and the John Carpenter sci-fi- horror thriller THE THING.
As the summer rolled on we were treated to the animated THE SECRET OF NIMH, Disney’s TRON, and the Oscar-darling AN OFFICER AND A GENTLEMAN. The hot months wrapped up with FAST TIMES AT RIDGEMONT HIGH, PINK FLOYD’S THE WALL, and the sword-and-sorcery flick THE BEASTMASTER.
In the glorious fall, Sylvester Stallone put aside the boxing gloves and introduced the world to a new iconic character named John Rambo in FIRST BLOOD. Hot on Rambo’s heels was HALLOWEEN III: SEASON OF THE WITCH, the horror anthology CREEPSHOW, and the animated THE LAST UNICORN.
Comedy had a strong showing in December with 48 HRS, THE TOY, and AIRPLANE II: THE SEQUEL. Jim Henson made a muppet-driven classic with THE DARK CRYSTAL, TOOTSIE would earn 10 Oscar nominations, Meryl Streep would win Best Actress for her part in SOPHIE’S CHOICE, and the late great Jason Miller would adapt his play THAT CHAMPIONSHIP SEASON to the screen.
December would also feature the eventual Best Picture winner, GANDHI. The late great Richard Attenborough would direct this biopic that would earn 11 Oscar nominations and win eight. It would mark the big-screen debuts of lead actor Ben Kingsley, along with budding legend Daniel Day-Lewis.
Also making their debuts in 1982 would be Michelle Pfeiffer, Eddie Murphy, Kirstie Alley, Antonio Banderas, Nic Cage, Glenn Close, Geena Davis, Angelina Jolie, Eric Stoltz, Forest Whitaker, and Gary Oldman. Also in 1982 we would say a final farewell and adieu to John Belushi, Henry Fonda, Ingrid Bergman, and Grace Kelly.
Other notable releases in 1982 included GREASE 2, FIREFOX, THE BEST LITTLE WHOREHOUSE IN TEXAS, THE WORLD ACCORDING TO GARP, AMITYVILLE II: THE POSESSION, MEGAFORCE, ONE FROM THE HEART, THE SWORD AND THE SORCERER, DINER, A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S SEX COMEDY, NIGHT SHIFT, THE PIRATE MOVIE, FRIDAY THE 13TH PART III, and THE TRAIL OF THE PINK PANTHER. This would also be the year that the famed THX sound system would be developed for theatres.
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1982 was the year that began to change cinema. Films like E.T., BLADE RUNNER, and THE THING re-established the sci-fi genre as a legit form of film after nearly a decade of cheap STAR WARS knockoffs. THE WRATH OF KHAN set a standard for STAR TREK felt to this day, and for any sequel. Comedies like PORKYS and RIDGEMONT HIGH kickstarted the teen sex-comedy for the next decade, and long after the credits rolled on CONAN…we knew that its new muscled star would be back. As much as 1982 changed things, it is astounding to think of the sheer amount of great films that were in theatres at the same time competing against each other. Even before 2020 began to change movie theatres and the way films are distributed, big-screen releases for the last 20 years have been spaced out thanks to overthinking and attempts to make the most money. That was one of many things that 1982 had no fear over.
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Next week, Reel Speak’s ranking of the Top 10 Films of 1982.
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