Beverly Hills Cop (1984)

Audacious at the time: I was 11 years old, watching an R-rated movie with Eddie Murphy using the “fuck” word a lot. Murphy and producer Jerry Bruckheimer invented the buddy cop-action-comedy genre that is now such a cliché. Or maybe it was “48 Hrs.”

d: Martin Brest | imdb.com | trailer

The Karate Kid (1984)

John Avildsen (“Rocky”) directs another underdog story — a real crowd-pleaser that honors karate and friendship. The bullied teenager (Ralph Macchio) is a little too precious, but Pat Morita’s Oscar-nominated turn as Mr. Miyagi gives the film its heart.

d: John Avildsen | imdb.com | trailer | You’re the best.

Ghostbusters (1984)

Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd and Harold Ramis play parapsychologists who save New York City from ghosts and the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man in a winning comedy and special effects blockbuster. Murray perfects his comic persona as Dr. Peter Venkman.

d: Ivan Reitman | imdb.com | trailer | the whole movie | the song

Streets of Fire (1984)

Director Walter Hill (“Warriors”) shoots post-World War II America like a film noir MTV video, a world where Willem Dafoe’s shotgun-wielding gang kidnaps rock star Diane Lane, and the brooding Michael Pare saves her in a kick-ass sledgehammer fight.

d: Walter Hill | imdb.com | trailer | Inside “Streets of Fire”
“Tonight Is What It Means to Be Young” | “I Can Dream About You”
The Independent | Roger Ebert | Salon

Footloose (1984)

Serious execution problems: There isn’t enough dancing, and the music isn’t good enough. Kevin Bacon, the new kid in a town where dancing and rock and roll are banned, needs more dirt under his fingernails. Yet there’s a good idea for a film in there somewhere.

d: Herbert Ross | imdb.com | trailer | “Holding Out for a Hero”

Angel (1984)

Donna Wilkes is a 15-year-old, straight-A student (Molly) by day and a hooker (Angel) at night in an almost-good exploitation film with several nude scenes. She is also the target of necrophiliac serial killer John Diehl, who disguises himself as a Hare Krishna.

d: Robert Vincent O’Neill | imdb.com | trailer | whole movie
trailers | Angel | Avenging Angel | Angel III: The Final Chapter