A Reel 40: The Year in Film 1984

Here in 2024, there is a GHOSTBUSTERS movie and a DUNE movie in theatres. Forty years ago, in 1984, there was also a GHOSTBUSTERS and DUNE running in theatres. This odd occurrence sent down to us by the Movie Gods draws attention to the glorious year of 1984; one of the most prolific and historic years in all of cinema. 

 

The worldwide box office was won by the Eddie Murphy comedy BEVERLY HILLS COP, followed closely by GHOSTBUSTERS. Right behind them would be INDIANA JONES AND THE TEMPLE OF DOOM, GREMLINS, and THE KARATE KID. Overall, U.S. box office grosses would reach $4 billion for the first time. On the awards front, Best Picture would go to the biographical drama AMADEUS.

 

In the early months of 1984, we would be seeing films destined for classic status. Kevin Bacon would dance into our hearts in FOOTLOOSE, Rob Reiner would harpoon (with love), the rock band with THIS IS SPINAL TAP, Ron Howard would take us under the sea with SPLASH, and Michael Douglas would team up with Kathleen Turner in ROMANCING THE STONE. 

 

Also in these early months we would see two Stephen King adaptations: CHILDREN OF THE CORN and FIRESTARTER. Also unspooling would be POLICE ACADEMY, GREYSTOKE: THE LEGEND OF TARZAN, LORD OF THE APES, ICEMAN, FRIDAY THE 13: THE FINAL CHAPTER, THE BOUNTY, and the Robert Redford-slugging THE NATURAL. 

 

Summer rolled in hot. Famed director Sergio Leone delivered his epic ONCE UPON A TIME IN AMERICA, the final frontier was back in STAR TREK III: THE SEARCH FOR SPOCK, Tom Hanks got wild in BACHELOR PARTY, the galaxy was saved in THE LAST STARFIGHTER, Kermit went to the Big Apple in THE MUPPETS TAKE MANHATTAN, and hearts were broken in THE NEVERENDING STORY. 

 

Also in the Summer there was STREETS OF FIRE, THE CANNONBALL RUN II, CONAN THE DESTROYER, REVENGE OF THE NERDS, RED DAWN, PURPLE RAIN, SHEENA, and the cult-classic THE ADVENTURES OF BUCKAROO BANZAI ACROSS THE 8^TH DIMENSION. 

 

In Fall and Winter, we got the military drama A SOLDIER’S STORY, James Cameron’s game-changing THE TERMINATOR, Freddy Krueger would make his debut in A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET, and Sally Field would win an Oscar for PLACES IN THE HEART. 

 

Bill Murray would take his first step into dramatic acting in THE RAZOR’S EDGE, George Burns would play the Prince of Darkness (and our Lord), in OH GOD, YOU DEVIL!, Chuck Norris would break out of a POW camp in MISSING IN ACTION, Jeff Bridges would come to our planet in STARMAN, the galaxy would be explored in 2010: THE YEAR WE MAKE CONTACT, George C. Scott would play Ebenezer in the definitive A CHRISTMAS CAROL, Goldie Hawn would get political in PROTOCOL, and Michael Keaton would play a gangster in the comedy JOHNNY DANGEROUSLY. 

 

By the end of the year, we had David Lynch’s adaptation of DUNE, and the final film from famed director David Lean: A PASSAGE TO INDIA. 

 

1984 would be the film debut of directors Joel and Ethan Coen with BLOOD SIMPLE. Also appearing on the big screen for the first time would be Johnny Depp, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Colin Firth, Val Kilmer, Lou Diamond Phillips, Tim Robbins, Tim Roth, Jennifer Tilly, Marisa Tomei, Ken Watanabe, and Michelle Yeoh. 1984 would also be the first year to see the PG-13 rating. 

 

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It is staggering to look back at 1984 and see the long list of films that are considered classics today. From kids doing karate to sci-fi to spooky temples to busting ghosts…it was a packed year from the start with many films entering pop culture for eternity. It is a stark comparison to modern times, when we would be fortunate to see a handful of films that would stand the test of time in a single year. 1984 was something special; a year worth celebrating and revisiting.