Top Movies 1982

From Godfrey Reggio, starring Edward Asner, Pat Benatar, Jerry Brown, Johnny Carson
Rated Not Rated

Koyaanisqatsi (1982), directed by Godfrey Reggio, is a non-narrative film that explores the modern world’s disconnect from nature and its consequences. Filmed in several locations across the United States, the film presents a visual exploration of the imbalance between technology and nature. It features time-lapse and slow-motion footage of cities and natural landscapes, as well as traditional music and a Philip Glass soundtrack. The film demonstrates the reliance on technology and its effects on the environment, while meditating on the consequences of a society where people exist in isolation from nature. It is a visually stunning meditation on the modern world and its effects on the environment.

From John Carpenter, starring Kurt Russell, Wilford Brimley, Keith David, Richard Masur
Rated R

The Thing is a science-fiction horror film directed by John Carpenter. Set in the Antarctic, the story follows a group of researchers who discover an alien life form that has the ability to assimilate and copy other organisms. When the alien life form begins to replicate the researchers, paranoia and mistrust take hold, and the group must fight for their survival. With elements of paranoia, horror and suspense, The Thing is considered a classic horror film, and its influence on modern horror films is undeniable.

From Ridley Scott, starring Harrison Ford, Rutger Hauer, Sean Young, Edward James Olmos
Rated R

Blade Runner is a 1982 dystopian neo-noir science fiction film directed by Ridley Scott. The film is set in a futuristic Los Angeles in 2019, and follows the story of Rick Deckard (Harrison Ford), a blade runner, who is tasked with finding and retiring a group of escaped replicants, artificial humans of the Nexus-6 model. Along the way, he falls in love with the replicant Rachael (Sean Young), and uncovers a larger conspiracy that forces him to question what it means to be human. In the end, Deckard and Rachael escape the city and head into an uncertain future. Blade Runner is widely considered to be one of the most influential and important science fiction films of all time, for its production design, cinematography, score, and its exploration of complex themes such as the nature of humanity, identity and mortality.

From Richard Attenborough, starring Ben Kingsley, John Gielgud, Rohini Hattangadi, Roshan Seth
Rated PG

Gandhi (1982) is a biographical epic film directed by Richard Attenborough and starring Ben Kingsley as Mahatma Gandhi. The film chronicles Gandhi's life from his time as a lawyer in South Africa to his eventual assassination in 1948. Through the film, viewers are able to witness Gandhi's transformation from a civil rights leader advocating peaceful protests to a champion of Indian independence. Along the way, Gandhi faces numerous challenges, including British colonialism, religious prejudice, and his own inner struggles. Gandhi's message of non-violence inspires not just his fellow Indians, but people around the world. The film culminates in his assassination at the hands of a Hindu nationalist. Despite this, Gandhi's legacy and philosophy live on today.

From Ingmar Bergman, starring Bertil Guve, Pernilla Allwin, Kristina Adolphson, Börje Ahlstedt
Rated R

Fanny and Alexander is a Swedish period drama film directed by Ingmar Bergman and set in Uppsala, Sweden in the early 1900s. The story follows two siblings, Fanny and Alexander Ekdahl, who live a comfortable life with their loving parents until their father dies and their mother remarries a harsh and authoritarian bishop. The children are subjected to his strict rules and are eventually sent away to live with their grandmother. They eventually escape and return home, where they learn to stand up for themselves against their oppressive stepfather. The film is a story of resilience and family, and highlights the importance of standing up for one’s beliefs and values.

From Alan Parker, starring Bob Geldof, Christine Hargreaves, James Laurenson, Eleanor David
Rated R

Pink Floyd: The Wall is a 1982 surrealistic psychological drama film directed by Alan Parker and based on the 1979 Pink Floyd album of the same name. It follows the story of Pink, an English rock star struggling with feelings of isolation and alienation, who progressively builds a metaphorical wall around himself. Pink's mental journey is depicted through a mix of live action, animation,and music. The film earned critical acclaim and was a commercial success, eventually grossing over $21 million worldwide. Pink Floyd The Wall also won the BAFTA Award for Best Original Screenplay and was nominated for the Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy. The film is widely regarded as a cult classic and has been influential in many areas of popular culture.

From Steven Spielberg, starring Henry Thomas, Drew Barrymore, Peter Coyote, Dee Wallace
Rated PG

E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial is a 1982 American science fiction film directed by Steven Spielberg. The plot follows a group of suburban children who help an alien stranded on Earth find his way back home. Elliott (Henry Thomas), his brother Michael (Robert MacNaughton), and their sister Gertie (Drew Barrymore) discover the alien, whom they name "E.T.", in their suburban California neighborhood and decide to keep him hidden from their mother (Dee Wallace). Elliott and his friends help E.T. build a device to contact his home planet while trying to avoid being discovered by the government. Along the way, they learn valuable lessons about friendship, loyalty, and the importance of family. The film was a major critical and commercial success, becoming the highest-grossing film of all time and winning four Academy Awards, including Best Original Score. Its iconic imagery and sentimental themes have made it a timeless classic.

From Martin Scorsese, starring Robert De Niro, Jerry Lewis, Diahnne Abbott, Sandra Bernhard
Rated PG

The King of Comedy is a black comedy film released in 1982, directed by Martin Scorsese and starring Robert De Niro, Jerry Lewis, and Sandra Bernhard. The film follows Rupert Pupkin, an aspiring stand-up comedian, and his obsession with becoming famous. Rupert's attempts at making it in show business leads him to stalking his idol, a famous late night talk show host, Jerry Langford. After Rupert's increasingly desperate and dangerous attempts at getting a spot on Langford's show, the two confront each other in a climactic scene that takes an unexpected turn. The King of Comedy is both a dark comedy and a cautionary tale about the lengths people will go to in pursuit of fame.

From Costa-Gavras, starring Jack Lemmon, Sissy Spacek, Melanie Mayron, John Shea
Rated PG

Missing is a political drama directed by Costa-Gavras about an American journalist, Charlie Horman (John Shea), who goes missing in Chile after the 1973 military coup. His father, Ed Horman (Jack Lemmon), travels to Chile to investigate his son's disappearance, and discovers that he has been taken prisoner by the junta. With the help of a sympathetic diplomat (Sissy Spacek) and a local journalist (Fernando Rey), Ed discovers that his son has been executed by the junta and his remains have been disposed of. The film follows Ed's desperate attempts to uncover the truth about his son's fate, and his eventual realization that the government will never admit its responsibility for the disappearance. The film is a shocking indictment of the human rights abuses perpetrated by the military junta in Chile, and a testament to the power of the human spirit in the face of tyranny and injustice.

From Sidney Lumet, starring Paul Newman, Charlotte Rampling, Jack Warden, James Mason
Rated R

The Verdict is a 1982 American courtroom drama film directed by Sidney Lumet, based on the novel by Barry Reed. It stars Paul Newman as Frank Galvin, a once-respected lawyer who, after a series of professional and personal setbacks, takes on a medical malpractice case that appears to be an easy win. As the case progresses, however, Galvin begins to uncover a web of lies and deceit that puts him on a path to justice and redemption. He must battle against a powerful defense attorney, an uncooperative judge, and a hospital that is willing to do anything to keep its secrets buried. In the end, Galvin's determination and courage help him to win the case and restore his sense of morality and justice.

From Nicholas Meyer, starring William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, DeForest Kelley, James Doohan
Rated PG

Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan is a 1982 American science fiction film directed by Nicholas Meyer and based on the television series Star Trek. The plot follows the crew of the USS Enterprise, led by Captain James T. Kirk (William Shatner), as they attempt to protect a powerful terraforming device from their old enemy Khan Noonien Singh (Ricardo Montalbán). As the crew battle Khan, they also find themselves in a race against time to save the planet Vulcan from an ancient weapon. The film features a memorable performance by Montalbán as the villainous Khan, and also stars Leonard Nimoy as Spock, DeForest Kelley as Dr. Leonard McCoy, James Doohan as Montgomery Scott, Walter Koenig as Pavel Chekov, and George Takei as Hikaru Sulu. The film was a critical and commercial success, and is considered to be one of the best films in the Star Trek franchise.

From Ted Kotcheff, starring Sylvester Stallone, Brian Dennehy, Richard Crenna, Bill McKinney
Rated R

First Blood is a 1982 action-thriller directed by Ted Kotcheff and starring Sylvester Stallone as John Rambo, a returned Vietnam veteran. After being wrongfully arrested and brutalized by a small-town sheriff, Rambo goes on a violent rampage in the surrounding countryside. When his former commanding officer Colonel Trautman (Richard Crenna) arrives to try and talk him down, Rambo proves unstoppable. He is soon joined by other police officers, the National Guard and even helicopters in an attempt to capture him. However, Rambo's superior military training and survival skills prove too much for them to handle. In the end, Rambo is forced to confront the sheriff in a gripping climax. First Blood is an action-packed and thought-provoking exploration of a returned veteran's struggle to adjust to life after war, as well as an exploration of the sometimes harsh reality of the justice system. It was a major box-office success and spawned multiple sequels.

From Blake Edwards, starring Julie Andrews, James Garner, Robert Preston, Lesley Ann Warren
Rated PG

Victor/Victoria is a musical comedy film from 1982 directed by Blake Edwards. It follows the story of a struggling female singer, Victoria Grant (Julie Andrews), who is desperate for work in 1930s Paris. When all other options fail, she is offered a chance to become a female impersonator. She assumes the alter ego of "Count Victor Grazinski", and goes on to become a huge hit as a female impersonator. With the help of King Marchand (James Garner), a suave conman, and Toddy (Robert Preston), an outrageous drag queen, Victoria begins to find success in her new role. However, she soon finds that her newfound fame comes with complications and unexpected problems, particularly when she enlists the help of an aristocrat, Andre Cassell (Leslie Ann Warren), to become her love interest. Along the way, she discovers that she is more capable and confident than she ever thought possible.

From Alan J. Pakula, starring Meryl Streep, Kevin Kline, Peter MacNicol, Rita Karin
Rated R

Sophie's Choice tells the story of Sophie Zawistowska (Meryl Streep), a Polish immigrant living in Brooklyn in 1947. She is haunted by her past and struggles to make sense of her life in the United States while trying to take care of her two young children. When she meets an aspiring writer named Nathan (Kevin Kline), the two begin to fall in love, although Sophie is hesitant to tell him the truth about her past. Eventually, Sophie reveals the terrible secret that she was forced to make during World War II: she had to choose which of her two children would be sent to Auschwitz. The film follows Sophie as she struggles to come to terms with her decision and how it has affected her life. Sophie's Choice is an emotionally powerful exploration of the human capacity for suffering and resilience.

From Sydney Pollack, starring Dustin Hoffman, Jessica Lange, Teri Garr, Dabney Coleman
Rated PG

From Tobe Hooper, starring JoBeth Williams, Heather O'Rourke, Craig T. Nelson, Beatrice Straight
Rated PG

From Barry Levinson, starring Steve Guttenberg, Mickey Rourke, Kevin Bacon, Daniel Stern
Rated R

From Peter Weir, starring Mel Gibson, Sigourney Weaver, Linda Hunt, Bembol Roco
Rated PG

From Amy Heckerling, starring Sean Penn, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Judge Reinhold, Robert Romanus
Rated R

From Directors: Jim Henson, Frank Oz, starring Jim Henson, Kathryn Mullen, Frank Oz, Dave Goelz
Rated PG

From George Roy Hill, starring Robin Williams, Mary Beth Hurt, Glenn Close, John Lithgow
Rated R

From Sidney Lumet, starring Michael Caine, Christopher Reeve, Dyan Cannon, Irene Worth
Rated PG

From Taylor Hackford, starring Richard Gere, Debra Winger, David Keith, Robert Loggia
Rated R

From Wayne Wang, starring Wood Moy, Marc Hayashi, Laureen Chew, Peter Wang
Rated Not Rated

From Walter Hill, starring Nick Nolte, Eddie Murphy, Annette O'Toole, Frank McRae
Rated R