The 9 Best Movies of 1987

 

In 1987, Rakim was the undisputed greatest rapper alive, an African American comic ruled Hollywood and every Predator movie was a masterpiece. Decades later, "the R" is retired and it's been awhile since Eddie Murphy was a sure thing at the box office. But at least they're both still rich. Check out the best movies that hit theaters that year. 

9. Fatal Attraction

Depressingly relatable and deeply chilling, Fatal Attraction remains the ultimate cautionary tale for guys entering relationships. Never mind cheating husbands, this tale of romance-gone-wrong is a horror movie for single men as well. When a film's title becomes a common term in the cultural lexicon, you know it touched a nerve.

8. Raw

To this day, comic legend Eddie Murphy's movie, Raw, is still the highest-grossing stand-up comedy concert film of all time. And Raw's opening sketch features a star-studded cast, including: Samuel L. Jackson, Tatyana Ali and Kim Wayans. If that weren't enough, the movie itself is directed by independent filmmaking legend Robert Townsend. Raw is just one more piece of evidence that, with or without a stellar support team, Eddie Murphy ruled Hollywood in the 80s.

7. The Monster Squad

Universal's been trying desperately to launch a "monster-verse" in the vein of the MCU since 2015. But though it failed to turn a profit at the box office, Tri-Star and the filmmakers behind The Monster Squad pulled together a highly-entertaining "Dark Avengers" flick 35 years ago. Count Dracula, Frankenstein's monster, the Wolf Man, the Mummy and the Creature from the Black Lagoon terrorize a small town in what's essentially "Ghostbusters with kids" and a much better The Goonies -- but with monsters instead of criminals. The only real misstep in this cult classic is the head-scratching decision to dress one of the pre-teen squad members, Eugene, in a f&%@ing condeferate soldier cap.

6. RoboCop

When Detroit Police Officer Alex Murphy is killed in the line of duty, mega-corporation OCP use his remains, including his brain, for their new project. Now designated RoboCop and programmed to act in the interests of OCP, Murphy's brain retains memories from Murphy's life and compel him to continue to serve justice above all else -- including corporate directives. A remake was released in 2014 but that Robo-peacekeeper wasn't half the man -- or the machine -- that the one in 1987's Robocop is.

5. Overboard

What would you do if your boss talked down to you, refused to pay you and threw all of your tools -- and you -- into the ocean? Well, if you're Dean Proffitt, you'd exploit her sudden retrograde amnesia by convincing her that the two of you are married with children so you that can work the shit outta your new housewife.

4. La Bamba

La Bamba is a biopic of teen singing sensation Ritchie Valens, who died during the same plane crash that also took the lives of fellow 1950s rockers Buddy Holly and the Big Bopper, but Ritchie's big brother, Bob, kinda steals the show. Bob also steals Ritchie's gorgeous girlfriend, Rosie, portrayed by the late, Elizabeth Pena, who died in late 2014.

Ritchie, who was 17 when he was killed, had two #1 songs 13 years before Selena was born.

The movie focuses on Valens' career; his relationship with girlfriend Donna Ludwig, who inspired his first hit song, "Donna"; and his sibling rivalry with Bob -- the result of their mother Connie's obvious favoritism toward Ritchie.

3. Some Kind of Wonderful

Keith only has eyes for the prettiest girl in school, Amanda, which only makes life harder for his best friend, Watts, since she only -- and secretly -- has eyes for him. Keith's problem is that although both he and Amanda are from the wrong side of the tracks, she's a member of the in-crowd and he most definitely is not. So when Amanda agrees to go out with Keith in order to spite her boyfriend, Hardy (the most popular guy in school), he, Amanda's rich friends AND Watts try to convince the would-be couple to stick with their own kind.

If this all sounds familiar, it should. Some Kind of Wonderful is the gender-swapped -- and better -- version of Pretty in Pink. And both movies were written by John Hughes and directed by Howard Deutch. Wildly successful filmmaker John Hughes wrote and/or directed 13 1980s classics. But 1986's Pretty in Pink never sat right with him -- and who could blame him? It does kinda suck. Specifically, Hughes was bothered by the altered ending, in which the girl from the wrong side of the tracks, Andy, chooses spoiled rich guy Blane over her best friend Duckie. So the Hughes gave himself a do-over. He essentially switched the genders of the main cast (with all new actors, of course), restored the original ending and gave the story a new title. 

And honestly, the entire film is a vast improvement over its predecessor..

2. Like Father Like Son

Jack Hammond unwittingly drinks a mystical potion (because his son's friend hid it in a bottle of Tabasco sauce) that causes him to switch bodies with his son, Chris. So until they can get their hands on the antidote, uptight Jack has to fill in for his teenaged son at his high school while Chris screws up his father's job at the hospital where he works as a surgeon. The two can't relate to each other and don't get along very well so Jack gets the role reversal that he'd have to pay for in therapy without spending a dime and finds out what it's really like to be his son. I know what you're thinking -- but unlike Freaky Friday and Vice Versa, Like Father Like Son is actually funny.

1. Predator

You can't tell me that the idea of a hostile alien -- that you can't even see -- that can take out heavily armed, seasoned black ops killers with ease isn't scary. The marines actually managed to shoot down quite a few xenomorphs in Aliens. Not so much in Predator.