Universal Pictures (USA): 245

Sam Raimi directed and co-wrote Darkman (1990), an American superhero film. The movie is based on one of Raimi’s short stories, paying tribute to Universal’s classic horror films from the 1930s. Dr. Peyton Westlake is a scientist who is working on a revolutionary synthetic skin formula to help burn victims. However, he struggles with a major flaw that causes the skin to disintegrate after exactly 99 minutes. His girlfriend, Julie Hastings, is an attorney who uncovers the ‘Belisarius Memorandum’, a damaging document that proves developer Louis ...

Tremors (1990), an American monster comedy horror film directed by Ron Underwood, follows handymen Val McKee and Earl Bassett as they work in the isolated settlement of Perfection, Nevada. Growing tired of their jobs, the duo decides to leave for Bixby, the nearest town. As they depart, they stumble upon the lifeless body of resident Edgar Deems perched atop an electrical tower with his rifle in hand. The town’s doctor Jim Wallace determines that Edgar suffered from dehydration and was too afraid to climb down. Soon after, shepherd Fred and his flock are found dead by an unseen creature. Val and Earl discover ...

Parenthood (1989) is a hilarious and touching family dramedy, helmed by director Ron Howard who collaborated with screenwriters Lowell Ganz and Babaloo Mandel on the story. Gil Buckman, a salesman from St. Louis, is struggling to juggle his job and his family. He faces a tough situation when he discovers that his oldest son Kevin needs therapy for emotional problems, and that his younger children Taylor and Justin also have their own issues. As he begins to blame himself and question his parenting abilities, Gil’s ...

The Dream Team (1989), an American comedy thriller directed by Howard Zieff, follows the story of psychologist Dr. Jeff Weitzman in his work at a New Jersey sanitarium. His patients include Billy, Henry, Jack, and Albert. Among them, Billy stands out as the group’s de facto leader despite his dangerous tendencies and constant lying. Henry struggles with OCD and has convinced himself that he is one of the doctors at the hospital, often seen carrying a clipboard and wearing a lab coat and stethoscope. Jack used to work in advertising but now believes he is Jesus Christ. Lastly, Albert communicates solely through ...

Always (1989), an American romantic fantasy film directed and produced by Steven Spielberg, is a remake of the 1943 romantic drama A Guy Named Joe. Set during World War II, it follows Pete Sandich, an aerial firefighter whose girlfriend Dorinda Durston doubles as an air traffic controller for the firefighters. Pete’s risky behavior in the air troubles both Dorinda and his best friend Al Yackey, who is also a firefighter pilot. After another dangerous flight that Pete brushes off as usual, Al suggests he take a safer job training firefighting pilots in Flat Rock, Colorado. Despite his initial refusal, ...

The Last Temptation of Christ (1988), an epic religious drama film directed by Martin Scorsese and written by Paul Schrader with contributions from Scorsese and Jay Cocks, is based on Nikos Kazantzakis’ controversial 1955 novel of the same name. The film depicts Jesus of Nazareth, a carpenter living in the Roman client state of Judea, struggling with conflicting desires and his understanding of God’s plan for him. ...

Cry Freedom (1987), an epic apartheid drama film directed and produced by Richard Attenborough, takes place in late-1970s South Africa during the time of apartheid. After seeing news coverage of a slum being demolished in East London, journalist Donald Woods seeks out more information and meets with anti-apartheid activist Steve Biko. Biko is a member of the Black Consciousness Movement and has been banned from leaving his designated ‘banning area’ in King William’s Town by the South African government. While Woods disagrees with Biko’s political views, he is invited to witness the conditions in ...

Director Tom Mankiewicz made his debut with Dragnet (1987), an American buddy cop comedy. The film follows the story of LAPD Sergeant Joe Friday’s nephew and namesake, who shares his late uncle’s old-fashioned beliefs. He is paired with Pep Streebek, a street-smart and confident newcomer. Their contrasting personalities clash initially, as Friday disapproves of Streebek’s attitude, appearance, and attire. Despite this, they develop a bond while investigating a strange string of thefts. One of the stolen items is Bait, a pornographic magazine owned by Jerry Caesar. Reverend Jonathan Whirley has been ...

Directed and produced by William Dear, Harry and the Hendersons (1987) is a classic American fantasy comedy. After a camping trip in the nearby Cascade mountains, George Henderson drives his family back home to suburban Seattle when an unexpected encounter occurs. While traveling in their station wagon, they accidentally hit a Bigfoot. Excited by the potential for fame and fortune, the family brings the creature along by strapping it to the roof of their car. However, their plans are interrupted when a hunter discovers their damaged license plate, leading him to suspect foul play. That same night, George goes to check ...

The Money Pit (1986) is an American comedy film directed by Richard Benjamin and starring Tom Hanks and Shelley Long. It follows the story of Walter Fielding, an attorney, and his girlfriend Anna Crowley as they attempt to renovate their newly purchased house. The film is a remake of the 1948 Cary Grant comedy, Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House. Walter’s father, also named Walter, has married a woman named Florinda and fled the country after stealing millions from their musician clients. The couple finds themselves ...

Psycho III (1986) is an American slasher film, and the latest installment in the Psycho franchise. It continues the story one month after the events of Psycho II, where Norman Bates still operates the Bates Motel and keeps Emma Spool’s corpse in his home. At this time, Norman is also struggling with the disappearance of Spool, who claimed to be his real mother before her death. With their growing concern for her whereabouts, Norman’s former boss Ralph Statler and local authorities begin investigating. Meanwhile, Duane Duke, a desperate musician short on cash, is offered a position as assistant manager at the motel. In addition, journalist ...

Weird Science (1985) is an American science fantasy teen comedy film by John Hughes. It follows the story of Gary Wallace and Wyatt Donnelly, two outcast students at Shermer High School (the same school featured in The Breakfast Club). Gary and Wyatt are constantly humiliated by popular jocks Ian and Max for their lack of social status. They both have crushes on cheerleaders Deb and Hilly, who are dating Ian and Max. Unhappy with their current situation, Gary convinces his uptight friend Wyatt to come up with a plan to improve their popularity and win over their crushes. With Wyatt’s parents away for the weekend, ...

Firestarter (1984), an American science fiction thriller horror film, is based on Stephen King’s novel of the same name. Andy McGee and Vicky Tomlinson participated in an experiment during their college years, where they were given a dose of LOT-6, a low-grade hallucinogen. While others suffered from severe side effects, Vicky and Andy gained telepathic powers; she can read minds and he can control others’ thoughts and actions. However, this ability sometimes causes nosebleeds due to its strength. Currently married, the couple has an eight-year-old daughter named Charlene ‘Charlie’ McGee who ...

Directed by Mark Rydell, The River (1984) is an American drama film about the Garvey family – Tom and Mae, their children, and their struggle to make ends meet on their East Tennessee farm. Along with their neighbors, they have been facing challenges due to a weak economy and declining land values. The main issue for the Garveys is that their farmland is constantly prone to floods due to its proximity to a river. This situation is being exploited by powerful figures in the community such as Senator Neiswinder and the local bank. Adding to this misfortune is Joe Wade – a former resident who now owns the local mill and ...

Private School (1983) is a high school flick from director Noel Black. Chris, a student at Cherryvale Academy for Girls in Northern California, shares a steamy romance novel with her bunkmate Betsy. Nearby, students from Freemount Academy for Men, including Jim and his less than tidy friend Bubba, sneak onto the girls’ campus. Jordan, who happens to be showering at the time, calls on Chris and Betsy for backup when she catches the boys trying to spy on her. In an attempt to scare them off, the trio accidentally causes the boys to fall off the building. As retaliation for being interrupted, Chris and Betsy take ...

Scarface (1983) is an American crime drama film, directed by Brian De Palma, written by Oliver Stone, and starring Al Pacino. The movie is a newer version of the 1932 film with the same title, which was based on a novel published in 1930 by Armitage Trail. In 1980, Tony Montana, a Cuban refugee and former convict, arrives in Miami during the Mariel boatlift. He’s sent to a refugee camp alongside his closest friend Manny Ribera, as well as their companions Angel and ...

Psycho II (1983), a psychological slasher film directed by Richard Franklin and written by Tom Holland, follows the story of Norman Bates after he is released from a mental institution 22 years after his infamous killing spree. Despite Lila Crane’s protests, Norman is deemed mentally sound and moves back to his old home near the Bates Motel, where he starts working at a nearby diner. After Mary, a waitress, becomes homeless and Norman offers her a place to stay at his home. Despite warnings from Dr. Bill Raymond, who advises against it, Norman hires Mary. However, ...

Halloween III: Season of the Witch (1982) is an American science fiction horror film and the third in the Halloween series. Unlike its predecessors, this installment was written and directed by Tommy Lee Wallace, but the familiar faces of John Carpenter and Debra Hill remain as producers. Set in Northern California on October 23rd, we witness shop owner Harry Grimbridge being pursued by unknown men while holding a jack-o-lantern mask. He seeks refuge at Walter Jones’ shop, where he eventually passes out. ...

E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982) is an American science fiction film produced and directed by Steven Spielberg and written by Melissa Mathison. Aliens from another planet visit Earth at night to collect plant samples in a California forest. Separating from the group, one alien becomes captivated by the distant city lights. Upon the arrival of U.S. government vehicles, the startled creature is chased, causing his companions to make a hasty escape, leaving him stranded on Earth. In a nearby neighborhood in the San Fernando Valley, ten-year-old Elliott Taylor becomes ...

Nighthawks (1981) is an American neo-noir action crime thriller film directed by Bruce Malmuth. An undercover NYPD Detective Sergeant Deke DaSilva of the Street Crimes Unit thwarts three armed attackers, with the help of his partner, Detective Sergeant Matthew Fox. DaSilva chases and subdues one of the assailants in a subway station before heading to London where a department store bombing takes place. Upon returning to New York City, DaSilva and Fox execute a high-risk warrant in the Bronx, uncovering corrupt police officers among drug dealers. After successfully making arrests, DaSilva expresses his love for his ...