Horror / Teen / Slasher
1989
A Nightmare on Elm Street 5: The Dream Child
A Nightmare on Elm Street 5: The Dream Child: family and parents protecting their children, and why this 1989 movie still matters.
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The year was
1989
1989 closed the decade without slowing down. Blockbusters, sequels, comedies, action movies and acclaimed dramas arrived side by side as Hollywood prepared to move into the nineties.
Batman, Back to the Future Part II, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, Dead Poets Society, Lethal Weapon 2 and When Harry Met Sally were joined by everything from martial arts favourites to horror sequels and independent breakthroughs.
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Essential movies from 1989
63 movies so far
Movies from 1989
Science Fiction / Teen / Comedy / Time-travel / Dystopian
1989
Back to the Future Part II
Hoverboards, alternate 1985s and one man trying to stop his whole family from unravelling—again.
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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 / Martial Arts / Drama
1989
Best of the Best
Best of the Best: mortality and lifespan and family, and why this 1989 movie still matters.
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Comedy / Science Fiction / Science Fiction Comedy / Buddy / Teen / Time-travel
1989
Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure
A daft time‑travel comedy where being mates saves the world — and yes, Ted matters more than you remember.
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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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War / Drama / Biographical
1989
Born on the Fourth of July
A patriot’s faith, broken and rebuilt — Ron Kovic keeps the film honest.
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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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Action / Science Fiction / Post-apocalyptic / Cyberpunk
1989
Cyborg
Cyborg: mortality and heroism, and why this 1989 movie still matters.
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Thriller
1989
Dead Calm
Dead Calm: parents protecting their children and heroism, and why this 1989 movie still matters.
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Coming-of-age / Drama / Teen
1989
Dead Poets Society
A teacher who insists you stand up to be seen — and a classroom that still rattles our idea of growing up.
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Action / Horror / Science Fiction / Monster / Science Fiction Horror / Suspense / Thriller / Adventure / Natural Horror / Drama
1989
DeepStar Six
DeepStar Six: fear and parents protecting their children, and why this 1989 movie still matters.
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Hood / Comedy / Independent / Drama
1989
Do the Right Thing
A day on one Brooklyn block that still asks the same uncomfortable question: what does 'doing the right thing' actually look like?
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Buddy / Comedy / Drama
1989
Driving Miss Daisy
Driving Miss Daisy: mortality and lifespan and the safety of home, and why this 1989 movie still matters.
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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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Fantasy / Drama / Sport / Ghost
1989
Field of Dreams
A whisper in a cornfield, a man who listens, and a small miracle of a movie about fathers and second chances.
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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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Horror / Slasher
1989
Friday the 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan
Friday the 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan: freedom and loss, and why this 1989 movie still matters.
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Fantasy / Science Fiction Comedy / Comedy Horror / Monster / Science Fiction / Comedy / Ghost
1989
Ghostbusters II
A sequel that doubles down on goo, grumpiness and grown-up responsibilities — and still depends on Venkman to keep it human.
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War / Drama / White Savior / Epic / Historical
1989
Glory
Glory: fear and heroism, and why this 1989 movie still matters.
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Horror / Slasher
1989
Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers
Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers: authority and parents protecting their children, and why this 1989 movie still matters.
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Heist / Comedy Drama / Comedy / Hood / Romance
1989
Harlem Nights
Harlem Nights: friendship and greed, and why this 1989 movie still matters.
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Biographical / Period Drama / War / Action / Historical Drama / Epic / Drama / Medieval
1989
Henry V
A king who can rouse a nation — and a film that makes you count the cost.
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Science Fiction Comedy / Science Fiction / Comedy
1989
Honey, I Shrunk the Kids
A shrinking accident, a towering backyard and one very distracted inventor.
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Action Comedy / Adventure / Treasure Hunt
1989
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade: freedom and parents protecting their children, 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 / Rape And Revenge / Martial Arts
1989
Kickboxer
Kickboxer: heroism and courage, and why this 1989 movie still matters.
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Biographical / Teen / Coming-of-age / Drama
1989
Lean on Me
Lean on Me: family and the safety of home, 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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Action / Spy
1989
Licence to Kill
Licence to Kill: greed and freedom, and why this 1989 movie still matters.
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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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Romantic Comedy
1989
Look Who's Talking
Look Who's Talking: family and parents protecting their children, and why this 1989 movie still matters.
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Comedy
1989
Major League
Major League: power 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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Buddy / Comedy / Christmas
1989
National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation
One man's quest for the perfect Christmas turns suburban order into glorious, very tangled chaos.
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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 Drama / Comedy
1989
Parenthood
Parenthood: family and parents protecting their children, and why this 1989 movie still matters.
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Horror / Zombie
1989
Pet Sematary
Grief, temptation and a very bad burial decision.
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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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Horror / Fantasy
1989
Puppet Master
Puppet Master: mortality and humanity, 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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Action / Thriller / Martial Arts / Drama
1989
Road House
Stoic bouncer, small-town chaos and very particular rules about where to throw a punch.
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Romantic Comedy / Teen / Coming-of-age / Drama
1989
Say Anything...
Lloyd Dobler: underachieving, hopelessly sincere and still the film's heartbeat.
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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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Drama
1989
Sex, Lies, and Videotape
A quiet man with a camera upends a household — and asks us what counts as intimacy.
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Comedy Horror / Black Comedy / Horror
1989
Shocker
Shocker: our relationship with technology and family, and why this 1989 movie still matters.
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Action / Science Fiction / Adventure
1989
Star Trek V: The Final Frontier
Star Trek V: The Final Frontier: humanity and power, and why this 1989 movie still matters.
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Comedy Drama / Horror / Adventure / Mystery
1989
The 'Burbs
Suburban suspicion, small-time vigilantes — and one man who would rather spy than sunbathe.
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Science Fiction / Adventure / Drama / Mystery
1989
The Abyss
Deep-sea scares, a tense countdown and a foreman who keeps everyone breathing.
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Comedy
1989
The Dream Team
The Dream Team: parents protecting their children and family, and why this 1989 movie still matters.
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Romance / Musical / Drama
1989
The Fabulous Baker Boys
The Fabulous Baker Boys: family and love, and why this 1989 movie still matters.
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Horror / Thriller / Monster / Science Fiction / Body Horror
1989
The Fly II
The Fly II: family and humanity, 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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Romance / Musical / Fantasy / Children's / Melodrama / Cinematic Fairy Tale
1989
The Little Mermaid
The Little Mermaid: humanity and love, and why this 1989 movie still matters.
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Comedy Horror
1989
The Toxic Avenger Part II
The Toxic Avenger Part II: family and the safety of home, and why this 1989 movie still matters.
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Comedy Drama / Comedy / Drama
1989
The War of the Roses
The War of the Roses: family and the safety of home, and why this 1989 movie still matters.
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Comedy / Action
1989
Three Fugitives
Three Fugitives: family and parents protecting their children, and why this 1989 movie still matters.
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Comedy / Adventure
1989
Troop Beverly Hills
Troop Beverly Hills: family and mortality and lifespan, and why this 1989 movie still matters.
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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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Comedy Drama / Comedy / Drama
1989
Uncle Buck
A slob of an uncle, a grumpy teen and a very messy lesson in family responsibility.
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Buddy / Black Comedy
1989
Weekend at Bernie's
A corpse, two clueless juniors and a weekend full of pretending — and Larry Wilson is the motor that makes the joke run.
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Romantic Comedy / Christmas / Comedy
1989
When Harry Met Sally
Cynicism, chemistry and a very public argument about friendship — still funny, still persuasive.
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