Female Buddy / Crime
1980
9 to 5
9 to 5: the safety of home and authority, and why this 1980 movie still matters.
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Explore the genre
Crime movies from the 80s
Crime movies in the 1980s ranged from hard-edged gangster stories and police thrillers to neo-noir, heists, revenge movies and increasingly explosive action hybrids.
Some were dark and serious, others stylish and excessive, but together they captured a decade fascinated by cops, criminals, corruption and life on both sides of the law.
114 movies so far
Crime movies
Drama / Crime / Erotic / Mystery
1980
American Gigolo
Armani, a hit single and a loneliness you can almost wear.
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Crime / Erotic Thriller / LGBTQ-related / Detective / Thriller / Neo-noir
1980
Cruising
Undercover, unsettled and uncomfortably watchable — Steve Burns is why you should look again.
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Neo-noir / Horror / Erotic Thriller
1980
Dressed to Kill
Voyeurs, doubles and a very composed doctor.
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Slasher / Horror / Crime / Teen / Thriller / Psychological Thriller / Psychological Horror / Crime Thriller / Mystery / Suspense / Independent / Splatter / Exploitation
1980
Friday the 13th
Friday the 13th: mortality and friendship, and why this 1980 movie still matters.
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Biographical / Drama / Boxing / Historical / Historical Drama / Action / Sport / Neo-noir / Period Drama
1980
Raging Bull
Raging Bull: family and courage, and why this 1980 movie still matters.
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Action / Drama / Crime
1980
The Exterminator
The Exterminator: family and fear, and why this 1980 movie still matters.
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Crime / Mystery / Science Fiction / Political Thriller
1980
The Formula
The Formula: corporate power and exploitation, and why this 1980 movie still matters.
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Crime / Drama / Gangster
1980
The Long Good Friday
A gangster who wants a boardroom as much as a fiefdom — and pays for both.
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Crime
1980
The Long Good Friday (1980)
Harold Shand thinks he owns London. One very bad weekend is about to prove otherwise.
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Crime / Mystery
1980
The Mirror Crack'd
The Mirror Crack'd: mortality and mortality and lifespan, and why this 1980 movie still matters.
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Drama / Crime
1981
Absence of Malice
Absence of Malice: love and friendship, and why this 1981 movie still matters.
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Action / Martial Arts / Crime
1981
An Eye for an Eye
An Eye for an Eye: courage and authority, and why this 1981 movie still matters.
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Crime / Mystery / Political Thriller / Neo-noir / Drama / Suspense / Action / Independent / Police Procedural / Thriller / Psychological Drama / Psychological Thriller / Crime Drama / Crime Thriller
1981
Blow Out
A detective story where the clues are on a tape, and the investigator listens harder than anyone else.
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Neo-noir / Mystery / Erotic Thriller / Drama / Erotic / Thriller
1981
Body Heat
Heat, greed and a lawyer who forgot to say no.
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Vigilante / Rape And Revenge / Girls With Guns / Horror / Drama / Thriller / Exploitation / Neo-noir / Action / Crime / Crime Drama / Crime Thriller / Independent / Mystery / Suspense
1981
Ms. 45
Ms. 45: family and the safety of home, and why this 1981 movie still matters.
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Action / Crime / Thriller / LGBTQ-related
1981
Nighthawks
Nighthawks: the safety of home and authority, and why this 1981 movie still matters.
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Drama / Crime
1981
Prince of the City
Prince of the City: authority, and why this 1981 movie still matters.
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Action / Thriller / Drama / Crime
1981
Sharky's Machine
Sharky's Machine: the safety of home and authority, and why this 1981 movie still matters.
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Slasher / Exploitation / Horror / Psychological Horror / Psychological Thriller / Crime Thriller / Suspense / Thriller / Crime / Teen / Teen Horror / Monster
1981
The Funhouse
The Funhouse: fear and greed, and why this 1981 movie still matters.
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Crime / Heist / Neo-noir / Film Noir
1981
Thief
Thief: family and the safety of home, and why this 1981 movie still matters.
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crime
1981
Thief (1981)
Frank can open almost any safe in Chicago. Getting out of the life proves considerably harder.
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Crime / Horror
1981
Wolfen
Wolfen: fear and humanity, and why this 1981 movie still matters.
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Action / Buddy / Thriller / Comedy / Crime
1982
48 Hrs.
Two days, one cop who cuts corners, and the partner he absolutely didn't ask for.
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Tech Noir / Cyberpunk / Thriller / Neo-noir / Dystopian / Film Noir / Science Fiction / Drama / Action / Crime / Crime Drama / Crime Thriller
1982
Blade Runner
Four engineered years, a handful of memories and a detective who isn’t sure he wants to do his job.
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Action / Thriller / Rape And Revenge / Crime / Vigilante
1982
Death Wish II
Death Wish II: family and the safety of home, and why this 1982 movie still matters.
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Mystery / Comedy Thriller / LGBTQ-related / Crime
1982
Deathtrap
Deathtrap: the safety of home and fear, and why this 1982 movie still matters.
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Crime / Drama
1982
Evil Under the Sun
Evil Under the Sun: friendship and peer pressure, and why this 1982 movie still matters.
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Crime / Action / Thriller / Science Fiction
1983
Blue Thunder
A maverick pilot, a flying surveillance machine and a paranoid 1980s that still feels eerily familiar.
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Action / Martial Arts / Thriller / Crime
1983
Lone Wolf McQuade
Lone Wolf McQuade: heroism and parents protecting their children, and why this 1983 movie still matters.
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Gangster / Drama / Crime / Thriller / Crime Thriller / Crime Drama / Suspense / Police Procedural / Neo-noir / Action / Epic
1983
Scarface
A refugee's hunger for respect turns into reckless rule — and a very expensive mess.
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Horror / Teen / Slasher / Supernatural Horror / Thriller / Splatter / Suspense / Crime / Fantasy / Exploitation / Crime Thriller / Psychological Drama / Crime Drama / Psychological Thriller / Drama / Independent / Teen Horror / Supernatural / Ghost
1984
A Nightmare on Elm Street
A Nightmare on Elm Street: family and the safety of home, and why this 1984 movie still matters.
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Romance / Neo-noir / Erotic Thriller / Action / Drama
1984
Against All Odds
Against All Odds: family and greed, and why this 1984 movie still matters.
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Action / Buddy / Buddy Cop / Comedy
1984
Beverly Hills Cop
A fast-talking cop, a culture clash and a synth hook.
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Crime / Neo-noir / Film Noir / Drama / Suspense / Independent / Horror / Thriller / Action / Crime Thriller / Crime Drama
1984
Blood Simple
A small-town crime with very big, very stupid consequences — and Ray is at the centre of the mess.
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Mystery / Thriller / Horror / Erotic Thriller / Erotic / Crime Drama / Crime Thriller / Crime / Drama / Slasher / Psychological Drama / Psychological Horror / Suspense / Neo-noir / Satirical / Psychological Thriller
1984
Body Double
A film about watching — and about what watching does to the watcher.
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Action / Mystery / Spy / Crime
1984
Cloak & Dagger
Cloak & Dagger: family and freedom, and why this 1984 movie still matters.
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Crime / Parody / Comedy
1984
Johnny Dangerously
Johnny Dangerously: loss and mortality, and why this 1984 movie still matters.
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Crime
1984
Once Upon a Time in America
A long, sad fable about boys who grow up — and can’t entirely remember who they were.
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Comedy / Crime
1984
Police Academy
Misfits, pratfalls and one bloke who’d rather dodge jail than grow up.
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Musical / Neo-noir / Drama / Romance / Biographical
1984
Purple Rain
One musician, First Avenue and a mess of ambition — Purple Rain still hums.
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Action / Science Fiction / Crime
1984
Runaway
Runaway: our relationship with technology and family, and why this 1984 movie still matters.
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Heist / Crime / Drama / Comedy Drama / Action
1984
The Pope of Greenwich Village
The Pope of Greenwich Village: greed and consumerism, and why this 1984 movie still matters.
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Crime / Erotic Thriller / Action / Slasher / Neo-noir
1984
Tightrope
Tightrope: family and the safety of home, and why this 1984 movie still matters.
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Horror / Teen / LGBTQ-related / Slasher / Crime Thriller / Independent / Supernatural Horror / Thriller / Crime / Fantasy / Suspense
1985
A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy's Revenge
A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy's Revenge: the safety of home and family, and why this 1985 movie still matters.
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Neo-noir / Science Fiction / Fantasy / Science Fiction Comedy / Comedy / Christmas / Dystopian / Retrofuturism / Arthouse Science Fiction
1985
Brazil
A man who daydreams his way out of paperwork—and into trouble.
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Action / Thriller / Crime
1985
Code of Silence
Code of Silence: family and mortality and lifespan, and why this 1985 movie still matters.
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Crime / Action / Rape And Revenge / Vigilante
1985
Death Wish 3
Death Wish 3: authority and fear, and why this 1985 movie still matters.
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Comedy / Crime / Mystery
1985
Fletch
Fletch: greed and authority, and why this 1985 movie still matters.
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Comedy / Crime
1985
Police Academy 2: Their First Assignment
Police Academy 2: Their First Assignment: freedom and courage, and why this 1985 movie still matters.
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Action Comedy / Martial Arts / Crime / Police
1985
Police Story
Police Story: freedom and authority, and why this 1985 movie still matters.
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Action / Thriller / Martial Arts / Buddy Cop / Comedy / Drama / Detective
1985
The Protector
The Protector: family and parents protecting their children, and why this 1985 movie still matters.
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Crime / Thriller / Action / Drama
1985
To Live and Die in L.A.
Obsession, counterfeit identities and a freeway chase that won't behave.
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Drama / Crime / Thriller
1985
Witness
A grizzled cop, an Amish farm and a culture clash that refuses to be polite.
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Heist / Comedy / Buddy Cop
1986
Armed and Dangerous
Armed and Dangerous: parents protecting their children and loss, and why this 1986 movie still matters.
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Crime / Drama / Neo-noir
1986
At Close Range
At Close Range: family and authority, and why this 1986 movie still matters.
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Action / Thriller / Crime
1986
Cobra
Cobra: courage and authority, and why this 1986 movie still matters.
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Romantic Comedy / Crime / Comedy Thriller
1986
Legal Eagles
Legal Eagles: loss and family, and why this 1986 movie still matters.
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Neo-noir / Independent / Crime Thriller / Psychological Thriller / Crime / Horror / Thriller / Mystery / Drama / Crime Drama / Psychological Drama / Psychological Horror
1986
Manhunter
Profiling, loneliness and the thin line between hunter and hunted.
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Romance / Drama / Crime / LGBTQ-related
1986
Mona Lisa
Mona Lisa: friendship and authority, and why this 1986 movie still matters.
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Crime / Action / Thriller / Buddy Cop / Drama
1986
Murphy's Law
Murphy's Law: parents protecting their children and mortality, and why this 1986 movie still matters.
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Crime Comedy / Action / Slapstick
1986
Police Academy 3: Back in Training
Police Academy 3: Back in Training: authority, and why this 1986 movie still matters.
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Crime / Action / Thriller
1986
Raw Deal
Raw Deal: authority and family, and why this 1986 movie still matters.
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Crime / Comedy / Action / Buddy / Buddy Cop
1986
Running Scared
Running Scared: heroism and freedom, and why this 1986 movie still matters.
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Comedy / Crime
1986
Ruthless People
Ruthless People: authority and family, and why this 1986 movie still matters.
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Romantic Comedy / Comedy Drama / Crime
1986
Something Wild
Something Wild: authority and love, and why this 1986 movie still matters.
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Crime / Thriller / Mystery / Horror / Drama / Medieval
1986
The Name of the Rose
A murder mystery where books are as fragile — and dangerous — as secrets.
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Slasher / Comedy Horror / Splatter / Crime Thriller / Crime Drama / Psychological Drama / Psychological Horror / Suspense / Comedy / Psychological Thriller / Body Horror / Drama / Thriller / Crime / Satirical / Black Comedy / Horror
1986
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2
A chainsaw, a grieving ex‑ranger and a very loud 1986 satire — bloody ridiculous and oddly stubborn.
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Neo-noir / Fantasy / Mystery / Erotic Thriller / Erotic / Horror / Satanic
1987
Angel Heart
Angel Heart: family and the safety of home, and why this 1987 movie still matters.
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Action / Buddy Cop / Comedy
1987
Beverly Hills Cop II
Beverly Hills Cop II: authority and family, and why this 1987 movie still matters.
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Crime / Erotic Thriller
1987
Black Widow
Black Widow: greed and mortality and lifespan, and why this 1987 movie still matters.
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Crime / Action / Thriller / Vigilante
1987
Death Wish 4: The Crackdown
Death Wish 4: The Crackdown: freedom and family, and why this 1987 movie still matters.
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Crime / Comedy / Buddy Cop
1987
Dragnet
Dragnet: authority and exploitation, and why this 1987 movie still matters.
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Crime / Action / Western / Thriller / Drama
1987
Extreme Prejudice
Extreme Prejudice: greed and authority, and why this 1987 movie still matters.
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Romance / Drama / Crime / Coming-of-age / LGBTQ-related / Christmas
1987
Less Than Zero
Less Than Zero: family and friendship, and why this 1987 movie still matters.
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Crime / Action / Thriller / Buddy / Buddy Cop / Christmas
1987
Lethal Weapon
A buddy cop movie with a suicide note in its pocket and an unpredictable heart.
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Crime / Action / Political Thriller
1987
No Way Out
No Way Out: mortality and friendship, and why this 1987 movie still matters.
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Comedy / Crime
1987
Police Academy 4: Citizens on Patrol
Police Academy 4: Citizens on Patrol: authority and the safety of home, and why this 1987 movie still matters.
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Comedy / Action / Crime / Black Comedy / Comedy Drama / Thriller / Crime Comedy / Crime Drama / Crime Thriller
1987
Raising Arizona
A robber who wants a nursery more than a life of crime — and it’s the contradiction that keeps the laughs coming.
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Action / Buddy / Buddy Cop / Comedy / Romantic Comedy / Detective
1987
Stakeout
Stakeout: the safety of home and love, and why this 1987 movie still matters.
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Neo-noir / Horror / Drama / Mystery
1987
The Believers
The Believers: the safety of home and family, and why this 1987 movie still matters.
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Science Fiction / Action / Horror / Buddy Cop / Thriller
1987
The Hidden
The Hidden: mortality and lifespan and mortality, and why this 1987 movie still matters.
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Gangster / Historical / Action / Biographical / Drama / Crime / Historical Drama / Thriller / Crime Thriller / Crime Drama / Police Procedural / Suspense / Trial / Period Drama
1987
The Untouchables
A straight-arrow in crooked times: mentorship, morality and a very noisy stairwell.
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Comedy / Crime / Black Comedy
1987
Throw Momma from the Train
Throw Momma from the Train: family and friendship, and why this 1987 movie still matters.
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Drama / Crime
1987
Wall Street
Greed, schooled and sold — and yes, Gordon Gekko still talks like someone you half-admire.
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Heist / Crime Comedy / Black Comedy
1988
A Fish Called Wanda
Manners, mendacity and a key hidden in fish food — a very English heist with teeth.
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Action / Martial Arts / Crime
1988
Above the Law
Above the Law: freedom, and why this 1988 movie still matters.
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Buddy / Drama / Crime / Action / Hood
1988
Colors
Colors: authority and loss, and why this 1988 movie still matters.
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Comedy / Buddy / Crime
1988
Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
Dirty Rotten Scoundrels: greed and consumerism, and why this 1988 movie still matters.
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Crime / Action / Thriller / Mystery
1988
Frantic
Frantic: our relationship with technology and mortality and lifespan, and why this 1988 movie still matters.
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Crime Comedy / Buddy / Road Movie / Action Comedy
1988
Midnight Run
A cross-country manhunt that’s really about two very different men learning how to care — and how to argue for money.
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Drama / Crime
1988
Mississippi Burning
Mississippi Burning: family and the safety of home, and why this 1988 movie still matters.
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Comedy / Crime
1988
Police Academy 5: Assignment Miami Beach
Police Academy 5: Assignment Miami Beach: authority and mortality and lifespan, and why this 1988 movie still matters.
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Buddy Cop / Action
1988
Red Heat
Red Heat: authority, and why this 1988 movie still matters.
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Action / Adventure / Buddy Cop / Crime / Thriller
1988
Shoot to Kill
Shoot to Kill: family and the safety of home, and why this 1988 movie still matters.
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Action / Crime / Romance / Thriller
1988
Tequila Sunrise
Tequila Sunrise: love and the safety of home, and why this 1988 movie still matters.
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Drama / Trial / Crime
1988
The Accused
The Accused: fear, and why this 1988 movie still matters.
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Neo-noir / Buddy / Crossover Fiction / Fantasy / Live-action/animated / Comedy
1988
Who Framed Roger Rabbit
A private eye, a jittery rabbit and a very British fondness for messing about with genre.
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Neo-noir / Action / Superhero
1989
Batman
A stylish, strange take on Gotham where the man behind the cowl keeps the picture grounded.
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Action / Thriller / Suspense / Buddy Cop / Drama
1989
Black Rain
Black Rain: family and parents protecting their children, and why this 1989 movie still matters.
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Comedy / Drama / Crime
1989
Crimes and Misdemeanors
A genteel New York morality play where privilege meets decision — and conscience is the loudest character.
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Drama / Crime / Black Comedy
1989
Drugstore Cowboy
A heist movie where the loot is medicine and the real score is survival.
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Crime / Mystery / Comedy
1989
Fletch Lives
Fletch Lives: family and the safety of home, and why this 1989 movie still matters.
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Action / Comedy / Buddy Cop
1989
K-9
K-9: fear and authority, and why this 1989 movie still matters.
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Action / Thriller / Buddy / Buddy Cop
1989
Lethal Weapon 2
Diplomatic immunity, dangerous loyalty and one very unstable partner — Lethal Weapon 2 thrives on its personalities.
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Thriller / Drama / Action / Prison / Crime
1989
Lock Up
Lock Up: fear and freedom, and why this 1989 movie still matters.
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Comedy / Drama / Crime
1989
Mystery Train
Mystery Train: friendship and authority, and why this 1989 movie still matters.
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Action / Thriller / Crime
1989
Next of Kin
Next of Kin: family and authority, and why this 1989 movie still matters.
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Comedy / Crime
1989
Police Academy 6: City Under Siege
Police Academy 6: City Under Siege: authority, and why this 1989 movie still matters.
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Action / Buddy / Buddy Cop
1989
Renegades
Renegades: authority and parents protecting their children, and why this 1989 movie still matters.
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Crime / Erotic Thriller / Drama
1989
Sea of Love
Sea of Love: love and mortality, and why this 1989 movie still matters.
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Crime / Buddy / Comedy
1989
See No Evil, Hear No Evil
See No Evil, Hear No Evil: authority and friendship, and why this 1989 movie still matters.
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Action / Buddy / Crime
1989
The Killer
A hitman who wants to make amends — and a cop who can't stop watching him try.
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Comedy / Buddy Cop / Action
1989
Turner & Hooch
Turner & Hooch: authority and friendship, and why this 1989 movie still matters.
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