Top 5: Movies from 1986

It's my birthday! I'm turning 25 today, so to celebrate I'm counting down what I consider to be the best movies from the year I was born, 1986. It was a good year. Pixar was founded, Oprah's show premiered, Europe released The Final Countdown, Nintendo released Legend of Zelda and Now That's What I Call Music was only at number 7. A lot of great movies were released in '86 - Stand By Me (which I have never had the chance to watch), Top Gun, Labarynth - and those aren't even the ones on my list! Check out my top 5 movies of the year below.

5. Howard the Duck

I've never seen this movie, but the fact that it exists and was produced by Lucasfilm makes it worthy of my list. How a film about a cigar-smoking duck from space ever made it to the big screen is beyond me. The whole concept just cracks me up.




4. An American Tail 

I've mentioned this movie before because it's iconic among kids I grew up with. It's about a Russian mouse that immigrates to the US and gets separated from his parents. The song Somewhere Out There actually won a Grammy. If you've ever seen the show Community the characters, who are college students,  sing the song to their lab mouse - and it's awesomely hilarious because all college students know that song. (Watch it on YouTube here.)


3. Little Shop of Horrors

 Who doesn't love musicals about backstreet dentists and carnivorous plants?  Not to mention Steve Martin, Rick Moranis, and amazingly campy sets. It's hilarious, has a 91% on Rotten Tomatoes, and was nominated for best original song but lost to "Take My Breath Away" in Top Gun. So close.




2. Pretty in Pink 

 This is an iconic John Hughes movie from his repitoire of 80s teen flicks. I judge all teen movies against those by Hughes, and there are very few that come anywhere near his level. I love this one because of the supporting characters, Jon Cryer and Annie Potts. Who doesn't want a guy around like Duckie, or a boss like Iona? I always thought her prom dress looked stupid, though.



1. Ferris Bueller's Day Off

This is one of my favorite movies, hands-down.  I love how Ferris talks to the screen, how much people love him, and all the lengths they go to just to have a great day skipping school. That's a lot of dedication. And it's not just about kids skipping school - somehow John Hughes always captured exactly how high school relationships worked without making them look chintzy. Plus there is the museum montage, the fantastic parade scene, Jennifer Grey flirting with young Charlie Sheen, the car driving out of the garage - I could go on and on. Like When Harry Met Sally,  if you don't like this movie we can't be friends.