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Movies That Turned 30 in 2019 

Jason Bancroft
Updated July 27, 2020 6.5k votes 309 voters 8.3k views 102 items

List Rules Vote up the movies that came out in 1989 that you still enjoy today.

Take a trip down memory lane with this list of movies that turned 30 in 2019. Featuring dramas, cult classics, well-made comedies, and some of the greatest movies of all time, the best 1989 films will remind you how well older movies have aged (or not) throughout the decades. What is your favorite movie turning 30 years old in 2019?  

When ranking the movies that came out 30 years ago, you can expect to see movies that are classics, like When Harry Met Sally..., Back to the Future Part II, and The Little Mermaid, at the top. Other memorable 1989 movies include Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure, Weekend at Bernie's, Heathers, Honey I Shrunk the Kids, and Tim Burton's Batman.

While Driving Miss Daisy won Best Picture at the 62nd Academy Awards, the 1989 Oscars celebrated other great films such as Dead Poets Society, Field of Dreams, Born on the Fourth of July, and My Left Foot.

Vote up the best films released in 1989, and celebrate these movies that turned 30 with another rewatch.

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list ordered by
1
Field of Dreams is listed (or ranked) 1 on the list Movies That Turned 30 in 2019
Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, Kevin Costner

Released: 1989

Directed by: Phil Alden Robinson

Field of Dreams is a 1989 American fantasy-drama film directed by Phil Alden Robinson, who also wrote the screenplay, adapting W. P. Kinsella's novel Shoeless Joe. It stars Kevin Costner, Amy ...more
2
National Lampoon's Chris... is listed (or ranked) 2 on the list Movies That Turned 30 in 2019
Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Chevy Chase, Juliette Lewis

Released: 1989

Directed by: Jeremiah S. Chechik

National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation is a 1989 Christmas comedy film directed by Jeremiah S. Chechik. It is the third installment in National Lampoon's Vacation film series, and was written by ...more
3
Back to the Future Part ... is listed (or ranked) 3 on the list Movies That Turned 30 in 2019
Clint Eastwood, Michael J. Fox, Elisabeth Shue

Released: 1989

Directed by: Robert Zemeckis

Back to the Future Part II is a 1989 American comic science fiction film and the second installment of the Back to the Future trilogy. It was directed by Robert Zemeckis, who directed all three ...more
4
Indiana Jones and the La... is listed (or ranked) 4 on the list Movies That Turned 30 in 2019
Harrison Ford, Sean Connery, River Phoenix

Released: 1989

Directed by: Steven Spielberg

Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade is a 1989 American adventure film directed by Steven Spielberg, from a story co-written by executive producer George Lucas. It is the third installment in the ...more
5
Honey, I Shrunk the Kids... is listed (or ranked) 5 on the list Movies That Turned 30 in 2019
Keri Russell, Allison Mack, Rick Moranis

Released: 1989

Directed by: Joe Johnston

Honey, I Shrunk the Kids is a 1989 soft science fiction-family film. The directorial debut of Joe Johnston and produced by Walt Disney Pictures, it tells the story of an inventor who ...more
6
The Little Mermaid is listed (or ranked) 6 on the list Movies That Turned 30 in 2019
Jodi Benson, Christopher Daniel Barnes, Pat Carroll

Released: 1989

Directed by: Ron Clements, John Musker

The Little Mermaid is a 1989 American animated musical fantasy film produced by Walt Disney Feature Animation and released by Walt Disney Pictures. Based on the Danish fairy tale by Hans ...more
7
Batman is listed (or ranked) 7 on the list Movies That Turned 30 in 2019
Jack Nicholson, Kim Basinger, Michael Keaton

Released: 1989

Directed by: Tim Burton

Batman is a 1989 American superhero film directed by Tim Burton, based on the DC Comics character. The Dark Knight of Gotham City (Michael Keaton) begins his war on crime with his first major ...more
8
Uncle Buck is listed (or ranked) 8 on the list Movies That Turned 30 in 2019
Macaulay Culkin, John Candy, Patricia Arquette

Released: 1989

Directed by: John Hughes

Uncle Buck is a 1989 American comedy film directed by John Hughes and starring John Candy and Amy Madigan, with Jean Louisa Kelly, Gaby Hoffmann, Macaulay Culkin, Jay Underwood, and Laurie ...more
9
Dead Poets Society is listed (or ranked) 9 on the list Movies That Turned 30 in 2019
Robin Williams, Ethan Hawke, Lara Flynn Boyle

Released: 1989

Directed by: Peter Weir

Dead Poets Society is a 1989 American drama film written by Tom Schulman, directed by Peter Weir and starring Robin Williams. Set at the conservative and aristocratic Welton Academy in the ...more
10
Lethal Weapon 2 is listed (or ranked) 10 on the list Movies That Turned 30 in 2019
Mel Gibson, Joe Pesci, Danny Glover

Released: 1989

Directed by: Richard Donner

Lethal Weapon 2 is a 1989 American buddy cop action film directed by Richard Donner, and starring Mel Gibson, Danny Glover, Joe Pesci, Patsy Kensit, Derrick O'Connor and Joss Ackland. It is a ...more
11
All Dogs Go to Heaven is listed (or ranked) 11 on the list Movies That Turned 30 in 2019
Loni Anderson, Dom DeLuise, Vic Tayback

Released: 1989

Directed by: Don Bluth, Gary Goldman, Dan Kuenster

All Dogs Go to Heaven is a 1989 American–Irish animated musical adventure comedy film directed and produced by Don Bluth and released by United Artists and Goldcrest Films. The film tells the ...more
12
Ghostbusters II is listed (or ranked) 12 on the list Movies That Turned 30 in 2019
Bill Murray, Sigourney Weaver, Dan Aykroyd

Released: 1989

Directed by: Ivan Reitman

Ghostbusters II is a 1989 American science fiction fantasy comedy film produced and directed by Ivan Reitman. It is the sequel to the 1984 film Ghostbusters and follows the further adventures of ...more
13
Bill & Ted's Excelle... is listed (or ranked) 13 on the list Movies That Turned 30 in 2019
Keanu Reeves, George Carlin, Jane Wiedlin

Released: 1989

Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure is a 1989 American science fiction comedy buddy film and the first film in the Bill & Ted franchise in which two slackers travel through time to assemble ...more
14
Road House is listed (or ranked) 14 on the list Movies That Turned 30 in 2019
Sam Elliott, Terry Funk, Kelly Lynch

Released: 1989

Directed by: Rowdy Herrington

Road House is a 1989 action film directed by Rowdy Herrington and starring Patrick Swayze as a bouncer at a newly refurbished roadside bar who protects a small town in Missouri from a ...more
15
Look Who's Talking is listed (or ranked) 15 on the list Movies That Turned 30 in 2019
John Travolta, Bruce Willis, Joan Rivers

Released: 1989

Directed by: Amy Heckerling

Look Who's Talking is a 1989 romantic comedy film written and directed by Amy Heckerling and starring John Travolta and Kirstie Alley. Bruce Willis plays the voice of Mollie's son, Mikey. The ...more
16
Major League is listed (or ranked) 16 on the list Movies That Turned 30 in 2019
Charlie Sheen, Tom Berenger, Rene Russo

Released: 1989

Directed by: David S. Ward

Major League is a 1989 American sports comedy film written and directed by David S. Ward, starring Tom Berenger, Charlie Sheen, Dennis Haysbert, Wesley Snipes, James Gammon, Bob Uecker and ...more
17
Pet Sematary is listed (or ranked) 17 on the list Movies That Turned 30 in 2019
Stephen King, Fred Gwynne, Denise Crosby

Released: 1989

Directed by: Mary Lambert

Pet Sematary is a 1989 American horror film adaptation of Stephen King's novel of the same name. Directed by Mary Lambert and written by King. Andrew Hubatsek was cast for Zelda's role. Author ...more
18
Weekend at Bernie's is listed (or ranked) 18 on the list Movies That Turned 30 in 2019
Andrew McCarthy, Jonathan Silverman, Skeet Ulrich

Released: 1989

Directed by: Ted Kotcheff

Weekend at Bernie's is a dark comedy film written by Robert Klane and directed by Ted Kotcheff. The film stars Andrew McCarthy and Jonathan Silverman as young insurance corporation employees who ...more
19
Turner & Hooch is listed (or ranked) 19 on the list Movies That Turned 30 in 2019
Tom Hanks, Craig T. Nelson, Mare Winningham

Released: 1989

Directed by: Roger Spottiswoode

Turner & Hooch is a 1989 American comedy-thriller film starring Tom Hanks and Beasley the Dog as the eponymous characters, Turner and Hooch respectively. The film also co-stars Mare ...more
20
Steel Magnolias is listed (or ranked) 20 on the list Movies That Turned 30 in 2019
Sally Field, Dolly Parton, Shirley MacLaine

Released: 1989

Directed by: Herbert Ross

Steel Magnolias is a 1989 American comedy-drama film directed by Herbert Ross, based on the 1987 play by Robert Harling. A young beautician (Daryl Hannah), newly arrived in a small Louisiana ...more
21
Glory is listed (or ranked) 21 on the list Movies That Turned 30 in 2019
Morgan Freeman, Denzel Washington, Matthew Broderick

Released: 1989

Directed by: Edward Zwick

Glory is a 1989 American drama film directed by Edward Zwick and starring Matthew Broderick, Denzel Washington, Cary Elwes and Morgan Freeman. The screenplay was written by Kevin Jarre, based on ...more
22
Parenthood is listed (or ranked) 22 on the list Movies That Turned 30 in 2019
Keanu Reeves, Steve Martin, Bryce Dallas Howard

Released: 1989

Directed by: Ron Howard

Parenthood is a 1989 comedy-drama film with an ensemble cast that includes Steve Martin, Tom Hulce, Rick Moranis, Martha Plimpton, Joaquin Phoenix, Keanu Reeves, Jason Robards, Mary Steenburgen, ...more
23
When Harry Met Sally... ... is listed (or ranked) 23 on the list Movies That Turned 30 in 2019
Meg Ryan, Billy Crystal, Carrie Fisher

Released: 1989

Directed by: Rob Reiner

When Harry Met Sally… is a 1989 American romantic comedy film written by Nora Ephron and directed by Rob Reiner. It stars Billy Crystal as Harry and Meg Ryan as Sally. The story follows the ...more
24
The 'Burbs is listed (or ranked) 24 on the list Movies That Turned 30 in 2019
Tom Hanks, Carrie Fisher, Corey Feldman

Released: 1989

Directed by: Joe Dante

The 'Burbs is a 1989 American comedy film directed by Joe Dante starring Tom Hanks, Bruce Dern, Carrie Fisher, Rick Ducommun, Corey Feldman, Wendy Schaal, and Henry Gibson. The film was written ...more
25
Heathers is listed (or ranked) 25 on the list Movies That Turned 30 in 2019
Winona Ryder, Shannen Doherty, Christian Slater

Released: 1988

Directed by: Michael Lehmann

Heathers is a 1988 comedy, drama film written by Daniel Waters and directed by Michael Lehmann.