The Best Year for Movies
I have been thinking about movies a lot, recently. My Intro to Communications course just finished a week of discussing the technological and cultural role of movies; I was recently interviewed by the good folks at The Text That Mattered about the influence Die Hard had on my life; and this weekend, I will be presenting a paper on viewing The Big Lebowski as a “pivotal text” of American culture. So, it piqued my interest when I saw this article stating 1993 was the “best” year for movies. But is it true? Every year has a slew of great movies, but some have more than others. 1993 certainly qualifies, as Mr. McCarthy lays out his case methodically. Culturally and technologically, 1993 films hold a strong place in recent American history. However, I immediately rejected the notion that 1993 was the best.
My first instinct was to look at the following year: 1994. After all, any year anchored by The Lion King has to be in the discussion. Other highlights included: Clear and Present Danger, The Shawshank Redemption, Stargate, Interview with the Vampire, The Madness of King George, Legends of the Fall, Four Weddings and a Funeral, The Professional, Natural Born Killers, Forrest Gump, Pulp Fiction, True Lies, and, of course, Cops and Robbersons.
Fun sports movies? Check: The Scout, Little Giants, Little Big League, Angels in the Outfield
Jim Carrey? Check: Ace Ventura, The Mask, Dumb and Dumber
The Wayans’? Check: Blankman, A Low Down Dirty Shame
Karate movies? Check: Street Fighter, Double Dragon, Timecop, 3 Ninjas Kick Back
Shaq? Check: Blue Chips
Actually, 1994 might have been the best year for sequels with City Slickers II, Beverly Hills Cop III, Naked Gun 33 1/3, D2: The Mighty Ducks, The Next Karate Kid, and Major League II.
And I haven’t even included PCU, Airheads, Cabin Boy and In the Army Now, yet. Truly a great year in film.
Another option is 1989. Highlights: Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, All Dogs Go To Heaven, Batman, Back to the Future II, Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure, Born on the Fourth of July, Dead Poets Society, Driving Miss Daisy, Field of Dreams, Ghostbusters II, Glory, Heathers, Honey, I Shrunk the Kids, The Karate Kid, Part III, Look Who’s Talking, Lethal Weapon 2, The Little Mermaid, Lonesome Dove, Major League, My Left Foot, The Punisher, National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, Rain Man, Road House, Steel Magnolias, Tango & Cash, UHF, and, of course, Uncle Buck.
But there can be only one. And the winner is… *drumroll, please*
1984.
Let’s rundown the list in chronological order:
The year starts off with instant classics Footloose and Lassiter. March brings us This Is Spinal Tap, Children of the Corn, and Police Academy. April finishes out the spring with Moscow on the Hudson and Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter. Adding May releases Sixteen Candles, The Natural, and Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom would already be enough to make 1984 a top-5 year.
The summer months are what catapult 1984 to the top, though. Once Upon a Time in America, Star Trek III, Ghostbusters, Gremlins, The Karate Kid, Bachelor Party, Conan the Destroyer, The Last Starfighter, The Muppets Take Manhattan, Revenge of the Nerds, Purple Rain, The Philadelphia Experiment, and, of course, Red Dawn, could be a year’s worth of amazing cinema by themselves.
The fall and winter don’t disappoint, though, as Amadeus, The Terminator, The Killing Fields, A Nightmare on Elm Street, Beverly Hills Cop, and Dune round out the year.
When Red Dawn is the 20th highest grossing film in a year, that’s an amazing year in cinema, right there. So, happy 30th, 1984, you’ve earned your place in the annals of movie history.
I’ve made my case, but you tell me, dear readers, what year do you think was the most significant for film?
