Batman (1989)

There’s a reason criminals fear the night. That reason is Batman. It’s hard to explain in 2026 the impact Batman had in 1989. People were going to movies just to see the trailer, and then leaving before the main feature. All the internet outrage about things now cannot come close to the venom being that was spat at Michael Keaton being cast as Batman. And, you know what, it’s perfect. He brings the tortured soul of Bruce Wayne to life. Jack Nicholson should have been nominated for his Joker, and with apologies to the late Heath Ledger, this is the Joker everyone is measured by. Kim Basinger is luminous as Vicky Vale. If there’s any complaint, there’s a third act connection only an 80s superhero movie thought it needed. It’s got a great score by Danny Elfman and songs by Prince. Put up the Bat-signal and call this one home.

Scream (1996)

Movies still have the power to become cultural events. But it’s not as strong as it used to be before our collective attention span splintered into a trillion directions. It is hard to describe the effect 1996’s Scream had when it was released to someone who hadn’t

Mannequin (1987)

If you can say one thing about 80s cinema, it was willing to take chances. 1987’s Mannequin might have been the most ludicrous concept to come to a theater, until Weekend at Bernie’s two years later. Kim Cattrall is the spirit of an ancient Egyptian who somehow gets

Sleepy Hollow (1999)

There are just director-actor combos that seem to just go together. Alfred Hitchcock had Jimmy Stewart. John Ford and John Wayne. And Tim Burton and Johnny Depp. We’ve talked about their collaborations before with Ed Wood. 1999’s Sleepy Hollow is another one of their perfect pairings. It’

Romancing the Stone (1984)

Hollywood is a copycat factory. If there’s a hit movie, you can guarantee there are going to be movies just like it in the years following its release. Raiders of the Lost Ark set the world on fire in 1981, so of course there were going to be clones.

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Scream (1996)

Mannequin (1987)

Sleepy Hollow (1999)

Romancing the Stone (1984)