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1984 Movies

Take a nostalgic look back at the top movies of 1984, celebrating the films, directors and actors that defined the year and left a lasting legacy in the world of entertainment.

1984 Academy Awards

Ghostbusters
Written by: Dan Aykroyd, Harold Ramis
Directed by: Ivan Reitman
Starring: Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Harold Ramis, Sigourney Weaver
Country: United States of America
Outline: Three eccentric parapsychologists start a ghost-catching business in New York City, leading to unexpected adventures.
source: imdb.com
Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom
Written by: Willard Huyck, Gloria Katz
Directed by: Steven Spielberg
Starring: Harrison Ford, Kate Capshaw, Ke Huy Quan, Amrish Puri
Country: United States of America
Outline: Archaeologist Indiana Jones embarks on a perilous journey to rescue enslaved children in India.
source: imdb.com
Beverly Hills Cop
Written by: Daniel Petrie Jr.
Directed by: Martin Brest
Starring: Eddie Murphy, Judge Reinhold, John Ashton, Lisa Eilbacher
Country: United States of America
Outline: A street-smart Detroit cop investigates the murder of his best friend in Beverly Hills, California.
source: imdb.com
The Karate Kid
Written by: Robert Mark Kamen
Directed by: John G. Avildsen
Starring: Ralph Macchio, Noriyuki 'Pat' Morita, Elisabeth Shue
Country: United States of America
Outline: Daniel LaRusso moves to Southern California and befriends Mr. Miyagi, an unassuming repairman who is a martial arts master. Miyagi trains Daniel in a more compassionate form of karate, preparing him to compete against the brutal Cobra Kai.
source: rottentomatoes.com
Gremlins
Written by: Chris Columbus
Directed by: Joe Dante
Starring: Zach Galligan, Phoebe Cates, Hoyt Axton, Polly Holliday, Frances Lee McCain
Country: United States of America
Outline: A gadget salesman is looking for a special gift for his son and finds one at a store in Chinatown. The shopkeeper is reluctant to sell him the 'mogwai' but sells it to him with the warning to never expose him to bright light, water, or to feed him after midnight.
source: rottentomatoes.com
Footloose
Written by: Dean Pitchford
Directed by: Herbert Ross
Starring: Kevin Bacon, Lori Singer, Dianne Wiest, John Lithgow, Sarah Jessica Parker, Chris Penn
Country: United States of America
Outline: Ren McCormack, a teenager from Chicago, moves to the small town of Bomont, where dancing and rock music are banned. He challenges the town's restrictions, leading to a cultural clash that brings the community together.
source: en.wikipedia.org
Splash
Written by: Brian Grazer, Lowell Ganz, Babaloo Mandel
Directed by: Ron Howard
Starring: Tom Hanks, Daryl Hannah, John Candy, Eugene Levy, Dody Goodman
Country: United States of America
Outline: A man falls in love with a mysterious woman who turns out to be a mermaid, leading to comedic and romantic adventures as they navigate the challenges of their unusual relationship.
source: en.wikipedia.org
Body Double
Written by: Brian De Palma, Robert J. Avrech
Directed by: Brian De Palma
Starring: Craig Wasson, Melanie Griffith, Gregg Henry, Deborah Shelton
Country: United States of America
Outline: A struggling actor becomes obsessed with a beautiful woman he spies on through a telescope, leading him into a complex murder mystery.
source: imdb.com
Once Upon a Time in America
Written by: Sergio Leone, Harry Grey, Leonardo Benvenuti, Piero De Bernardi
Directed by: Sergio Leone
Starring: Robert De Niro, James Woods, Elizabeth McGovern, Treat Williams
Country: United States of America
Outline: A group of Jewish friends rise to prominence in New York City's world of organized crime over several decades.
source: imdb.com
Amadeus
Written by: Peter Shaffer
Directed by: Miloš Forman
Starring: F. Murray Abraham, Tom Hulce, Elizabeth Berridge, Simon Callow, Roy Dotrice, Christine Ebersole, Jeffrey Jones, Charles Kay
Country: United States of America
Outline: In 1823, composer Antonio Salieri confesses to murdering Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, recounting their rivalry in 18th-century Vienna. The film explores Salieri's professional admiration and jealous hatred for Mozart, leading him to attempt to ruin Mozart's career as vengeance against God.
source: imdb.com
Saaransh
Written by: Mahesh Bhatt, Sujit Sen, Amit Khanna
Directed by: Mahesh Bhatt
Starring: Anupam Kher, Rohini Hattangadi, Soni Razdan, Madan Jain, Nilu Phule
Country: India
Outline: An elderly Maharashtrian couple in Mumbai grapples with the loss of their only son, leading them to rent a room to a budding actress. The film delves into their emotional journey and the challenges they face in their twilight years.
source: imdb.com
Paris, Texas
Written by: L.M. Kit Carson, Sam Shepard
Directed by: Wim Wenders
Starring: Harry Dean Stanton, Nastassja Kinski, Dean Stockwell, Aurore Clément, Hunter Carson
Country: United States of America
Outline: A man emerges from the desert after a four-year disappearance, reconnecting with his young son and searching for his estranged wife. The film explores themes of redemption, family, and the American landscape.
source: imdb.com
A Cruel Romance
Written by: Eldar Ryazanov, Emil Braginskiy
Directed by: Eldar Ryazanov
Starring: Andrey Myagkov, Alisa Freindlich, Aleksandr Shirvindt, Oleg Basilashvili, Leonid Kharitonov
Country: Russian Federation
Outline: Set in 1910s Russia, the film follows the love story between a young engineer and a beautiful woman, highlighting the societal constraints and personal dilemmas they face. It offers a satirical look at the era's social norms.
source: imdb.com
This Is Spinal Tap
Written by: Christopher Guest, Michael McKean, Harry Shearer
Directed by: Rob Reiner
Starring: Christopher Guest, Michael McKean, Harry Shearer, Rob Reiner, Tony Hendra
Country: United States of America
Outline: Presented as a documentary, the film follows the fictional British heavy metal band Spinal Tap on their disastrous American tour. It satirizes the music industry and the rock and roll lifestyle.
source: imdb.com
The Terminator
Written by: James Cameron, Gale Anne Hurd
Directed by: James Cameron
Starring: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Linda Hamilton, Michael Biehn
Country: United States of America
Outline: A cyborg assassin is sent from the future to kill Sarah Connor, whose unborn son will lead humanity's resistance against a machine uprising. A soldier from the future is also sent to protect her.
source: imdb.com
The Killing Fields
Written by: Bruce Robinson
Directed by: Roland Joffé
Starring: Sam Waterston, Haing S. Ngor, John Malkovich
Country: United States of America
Outline: The story of a New York Times journalist and his Cambodian interpreter during the Khmer Rouge regime in Cambodia.
source: imdb.com
Stranger Than Paradise
Written by: Jim Jarmusch, John Lurie
Directed by: Jim Jarmusch
Starring: John Lurie, Eszter Balint, Richard Edson
Country: United States of America
Outline: A New York City layabout's life is disrupted when his Hungarian cousin visits, leading to a road trip to Florida. The film is noted for its minimalist style and deadpan comedy.
source: imdb.com
Carmen
Written by: Francesco Rosi, Tonino Guerra
Directed by: Francesco Rosi
Starring: Julia Migenes, Plácido Domingo, Ruggero Raimondi
Country: France
Outline: A film adaptation of Bizet's opera, depicting the tragic love story between soldier Don José and the fiery Carmen. The film is praised for its faithful rendition of the opera.
source: imdb.com