The Best Movies of 1984

Originally by Ranker Community

Updated March 29, 2021 14.3k votes 894 voters 23.8k views163 items

List RulesOnly movies released in theaters in 1984.

A list of the best movies of 1984, from instant classics like The Karate Kid to adventure films like Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom. The '80s were a decade where Hollywood thrived. In were new stars and big blockbusters, and 1984 was no exception. Some the best movies of this year are some of the best teen, coming of age, adventure, comedies, and dramas in history. The films on here are very memorable and had audiences on the edges of their seats, and still pack a punch so many years after they were first released. You shouldn't be too surprised by the movies listed on this list of the top 1984 films.

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The Terminator
Arnold Schwarzenegger, Bill Paxton
The Terminator is a 1984 American science fiction/horror action film directed by James... more
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Ghostbusters
Bill Murray, Sigourney Weaver
Ghostbusters is a 1984 American sci-fi-fantasy comedy film, directed and produced by Ivan... more
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The Karate Kid
Elisabeth Shue, Ralph Macchio
The Karate Kid is a 1984 American martial arts romantic drama film directed by John G.... more
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#54 of 675 The Best Movies Roger Ebert Gave Four Stars#122 of 152 Movies That Should Never Be Remade
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Beverly Hills Cop
Eddie Murphy, Damon Wayans
Beverly Hills Cop is a 1984 American action comedy film directed by Martin Brest and starring... more
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Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom
Harrison Ford, Steven Spielberg
Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom is a 1984 American adventure film directed by Steven... more
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Romancing the Stone
Kathleen Turner, Danny DeVito
Romancing the Stone is a 1984 American action-adventure romantic comedy. Directed by Robert... more
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#8 of 196 The Best Adventure Movies#5 of 43 The Best Adventure Movies That Take Place in the Jungle
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A Nightmare on Elm Street
Johnny Depp, Robert Englund
A Nightmare on Elm Street is a 1984 American supernatural slasher horror film written and... more
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Gremlins
Steven Spielberg, Corey Feldman
Gremlins is a 1984 American horror comedy film directed by Joe Dante, released by Warner Bros.... more
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Sixteen Candles
John Cusack, Molly Ringwald
Sixteen Candles is a 1984 American coming-of-age comedy film starring Molly Ringwald, Michael... more
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The NeverEnding Story
Gerald McRaney, Limahl
The NeverEnding Story is a 1984 West German epic fantasy film based on the novel of the same... more
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Police Academy
Kim Cattrall, Steve Guttenberg
Police Academy is a 1984 comedy film directed by Hugh Wilson, and starring Steve Guttenberg,... more
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Splash
Tom Hanks, John Candy
Splash is a 1984 American fantasy romantic comedy film directed by Ron Howard, written by... more
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Once Upon a Time in America
Jennifer Connelly, Robert De Niro
Once Upon a Time in America is a 1984 Italian epic drama film co-written and directed by... more
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Revenge of the Nerds
John Goodman, James Cromwell
Revenge of the Nerds is a 1984 American comedy film about social life on a college campus. The... more
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Red Dawn
Charlie Sheen, Patrick Swayze
Red Dawn is a 1984 American film directed by John Milius and co-written by Milius and Kevin... more
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The Natural
Kim Basinger, Robert Redford
The Natural is a 1984 sports drama. It is a film adaptation of Bernard Malamud's 1952 baseball... more
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Amadeus
Jeffrey Jones, Cynthia Nixon
Amadeus is a 1984 American period biographical drama film directed by Miloš Forman and adapted... more
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Starman
Jeff Bridges, John Carpenter
Starman is a 1984 American romantic science fiction film, directed by John Carpenter, that... more
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Footloose
Sarah Jessica Parker, Kevin Bacon
Footloose is a 1984 American musical-drama directed by Herbert Ross. It tells the story of Ren... more
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Conan the Destroyer
Arnold Schwarzenegger, Wilt Chamberlain
Conan the Destroyer is a 1984 American sword and sorcery/adventure film directed by Richard... more
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The Last Starfighter
Wil Wheaton, Robert Preston
The Last Starfighter is a 1984 American space opera film directed by Nick Castle. The film... more
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Star Trek III: The Search for Spock
William Shatner, Christopher Lloyd
Star Trek III: The Search for Spock is a 1984 American science fiction film released by... more
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#104 of 175 The Best Science Fiction Action Movies#59 of 73 The Greatest Movies To Watch Outside
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This Is Spinal Tap
Billy Crystal, Fran Drescher
This Is Spinal Tap is an American 1984 rock music mockumentary written, scored by, and... more
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The Muppets Take Manhattan
Joan Rivers, Brooke Shields
The Muppets Take Manhattan is a 1984 American musical comedy film directed by Frank Oz. It is... more
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Blood Simple
Holly Hunter, Frances McDormand
Blood Simple is a 1984 neo-noir film written, produced and directed by Joel and Ethan Coen. It... more
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