1984 was a truly extraordinary year for cinema. Several hits released in theaters that year became cultural phenomena. Additionally, there have also been critically acclaimed films that have become influential and are still remembered today.
How about we remember this iconic year? That said, we decided to list the best 1984 films available on streaming platforms in Brazil.
The best films of 1984 to watch online
The first film in the “Terminator” series is one of the major films released in 1984 that left a mark on pop culture. With a modest budget, the film was a resounding financial success.
In addition to being critically acclaimed, the film was selected for preservation in the National Film Registry (NFR). The NFR is a program of the United States Library of Congress that preserves culturally important films.
Directed by James Cameron, the film stars Arnold Schwarzenegger as the Terminator, a cybernetic assassin from the future. Sent into the past, the Terminator’s mission is to kill Sarah Connor (Linda Hamilton), whose unborn son will one day be the leader of the human resistance against the artificial intelligence Skynet. The cast also includes Michael Biehn.
In 1984, another film that stood out in pop culture was “Ghostbusters.” The film received critical acclaim and was one of the highest-grossing films of the year, as well as being one of the films included in the NFR’s preservation catalog.
The film follows a group of parapsychologists who start a ghost-busting business after being fired from university.
Directed by Ivan Reitman, the film stars Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd and Harold Ramis. Starring Ernie Hudson, Sigourney Weaver, Rick Moranis, Annie Potts and William Atherton.
But a film that relies on the preservation of the NFR, “A Nightmare on Elm Street” is another cultural phenomenon. The film received critical acclaim and was a huge success at the box office. The work spawned a franchise with several sequels for film, a TV series and other media.
The slasher is directed by Wes Craven and features names like Heather Langenkamp, John Saxon, Ronee Blakley, and Johnny Depp in his film debut. Robert Englund plays the iconic villain Freddy Krueger.
The plot follows a group of teenagers who begin to have nightmares about the terrifying Freddy Krueger, a killer who kills them in their dreams. However, if Freddy kills you in your dreams, you die in real life.
Film by German director Wim Wenders, “Paris, Texas” received widespread acclaim from specialized critics. At the Cannes Film Festival the work won the Palme d’Or, the FIPRESCI Prize and the Ecumenical Jury Prize.
The road movie follows Travis (Harry Dean Stanton), a man who mysteriously reappears in the Texas desert after being missing for years. He is found by his brother Walt (Dean Stockwell), who takes him to his house.
Travis’ son, Hunter (Hunter Carson), has been living with Walt and his wife Anne (Aurore Clément) since the disappearance of his father and the absence of his biological mother, Jane (Nastassja Kinski). When Travis and Hunter begin to identify with each other, they embark on a journey together to search for the missing Jane.
The latest film by one of the greatest directors of Italian cinema Sergio Leone. “Once Upon a Time in America” is widely acclaimed by critics and cinephiles as a cinematic masterpiece.
The gangster epic follows the friendship and breakup between Noodles (Robert De Niro) and Max (James Woods), who grew up together in a Jewish neighborhood in New York.
As they lead a group of criminals, the film follows the friends’ journey from childhood to their rise to become infamous gangsters.
A success with audiences and critics, “Gremlins” mixes comedy and horror in a Christmas setting. The film was directed by Joe Dante (“Piranha,” “Little Warriors”) and got an even more chaotic sequence in 1990.
The plot follows Billy (Zach Galligan), who receives a unique Christmas present. He receives a strange and adorable pet from his father.
However, to take care of this adorable creature, you need to follow some rules exactly. When these rules are not followed, the animal spawns other chaotic and destructive creatures.
The film that brought Eddie Murphy to worldwide stardom, “The Beverly Hills Cop” was one of the highest-grossing films of 1984. Well received by critics, the film received nominations for awards such as the Oscar (Best Original Screenplay) and the Golden Globe (best film – musical or comedy). The film won two sequels.
The film follows Axel Foley (Murphy), a smart cop with unconventional creative methods from Detroit who travels to Beverly Hills. His goal is to investigate alone the murder of his best friend.
Although it did not perform well at the box office, “Starman” received generally positive reviews from the specialized media. Additionally, Jeff Bridges received an Oscar nomination for Best Actor.
The film is directed by the beloved John Carpenter (“Escape From New York”). Bridges plays a peaceful alien who arrives alone on Earth in response to an invitation sent by a NASA probe.
However, the inhabitants of Earth greet him with hostility. The alien ends up taking the form of the deceased husband of a woman (Karen Allen) who helps him try to return to his planet.
One of the most critically acclaimed animations in history is “Nausicaä do Vale do Vento”. The Japanese animated feature film was released before the foundation of the prestigious Studio Ghibli, which later acquired the rights to this work.
Directed and written by Hayao Miyazaki, the film is based on the manga of the same name, also written by Miyazaki. The animation is set in a post-apocalyptic world where the planet is covered in a toxic forest full of giant insects.
Nausicaä, the princess of the Valley of the Wind, has a special connection with nature and insects. The courageous princess tries to save nature and her country from the attack of a warlike kingdom.
One of the most important films of our cinema, “Cabra Marcado para Morrer”, is a documentary directed by Eduardo Coutinho. Critically acclaimed, the film came in fourth place in the “List of the 100 best Brazilian films according to HUGS”.
The documentary has a notable production history. In 1964, Eduardo Coutinho began filming a documentary on the life of João Pedro Teixeira, an assassinated peasant leader.
The original project was a fictional recreation with Teixeira’s widow playing herself, but was interrupted by the military coup. In 1981, Coutinho revived the project in the form of a documentary, showing the life of Elizabeth Teixeira and other farmers involved starting in 1964.
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Rose James is a Gossipify movie and series reviewer known for her in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the latest releases. With a background in film studies, she provides engaging and informative reviews, and keeps readers up to date with industry trends and emerging talents.
