Changes in habits and the introduction of new technologies have led—or perhaps forced—the big screen to change its strategy. Today, theaters bet on multi-million-dollar franchises, sequels with deep nostalgic value, reboots and remakes… but it all starts somewhere, and 1982 was particularly powerful in terms of releases. Would you like to know what movies you could watch 40 years ago? The list we share below is not necessarily a recommendation, and qualifies more as a "chronological curiosity", so to speak…
The Sword and the Sorcerer
The fantasy genre had some notable entries in 1982, and one of them was The Sword and the Sorcerer, the starting point for Albert Pyun himself (you know, Cyborg, Nemesis, and a lot of kickboxing). A mercenary with royal blood, a sword that fires missiles, a princess as a reward, and special effects interesting for the time made this film the best “indie” of the year.
Conan the Barbarian
What more can we add? The film that finally put Arnold Schwarzenegger on the Hollywood map, backed by a nearly perfect James Earl Jones, and an impeccable score by Basil Poledouris. The press was quite harsh at first (in fact, Arnold was nominated for a Razzie as worst actor), criticizing the film’s “violent content.” Maybe they wanted to see Conan as a pastry chef or something like that…
Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior
Okay, I’m technically bending the rules a bit here: The original release of Mad Max 2 was in 1981, but it was so close to Christmas that the rest of the world saw it the following year. They say sequels are never good, however, Mad Max 2 took that phrase and used it as toilet paper. Not for nothing does Fury Road recycle a good part of The Road Warrior, but since George Miller is responsible for both, well…
Rocky III
Few things are as effective for cinema (and especially American cinema) as a story of fall and resurgence, and Rocky III delivered exactly that. Rocky Balboa loses the title, his mentor, and above all, his self-confidence, only to return to the top with the help of his great rival. The press said before and after the release that this third installment was unnecessary, but the box office proved otherwise. Also, who can forget “Eye of the Tiger”?
Poltergeist
“They’re heeeeeere,” said little Carol Anne… and according to my mother, I spent a week suffering nightmares. But Poltergeist had other controversial details besides terrorizing children, for example, the use of real skeletons in the pool scene. In fact, some believe a curse fell on the cast: Dominique Dunne (Dana) was murdered by her ex-boyfriend a few months later, and Heather O'Rourke (Carol Anne) died at just 12 years old…
Star Trek II
All new Star Trek is so bad it hurts to watch, and after so long, all I can say is "someone hug me until Khan Noonien Singh abandons me on a dead moon". Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan is by far the best Star Trek movie, classic and in general, with a great clash of titans, moments of high tension, combat, cunning, and the loss of a dear friend… who is revived in the sequel, of course.
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
The absolute conqueror of 1982. Adjusted for inflation, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial would be on par with No Way Home today, just using its original gross as a reference. A boy, an alien, an unbreakable bond, and Spielberg’s hand directing it all. With such success, a sequel for E.T. seemed inevitable, and even received a title, E.T. II: Nocturnal Fears. In the end, it was Steven himself who gave it the thumbs down…
Firefox
The super-evil Soviets create a state-of-the-art fighter jet that could change the global balance of power. The super-good Americans and British send the best of them all, Clint Eastwood, on a secret mission to steal the prototype. Firefox is a hybrid between a spy movie and a precursor to Top Gun that lands a stone’s throw from science fiction, and somehow manages to land more or less on its feet… or rather, land.
Blade Runner
“I’ve seen things you people wouldn’t believe. Attack ships on fire off the shoulder of Orion. I watched C-beams glitter in the dark near the Tannhäuser Gate. All those moments will be lost in time, like tears in rain. Time to die.” Do you need anything more?
The Thing
The “anti-E.T.” of 1982, full of horror, darkness, and paranoia. It is said that ten percent of The Thing’s budget was consumed on special effects, combining chemicals, food, lots of rubber, and medical equipment. Both critics and audiences tore it apart, to the point that it shook Carpenter’s career, and its rejection became a subject of study. Today? It is an absolute classic.
Tron
“Make way losers, it’s the CGI era!” said Tron while throwing a frisbee, buuut… it was nominated for an Oscar for Best Sound and Costume Design (lost to E.T. and Gandhi), not for Visual Effects. Why? The Academy thought they “cheated” by using computers. Little did they know! Beyond its limitations, Tron stands out not only for its aesthetic but also for its technological optimism. They say there will eventually be a third movie… could it be true?
The Beastmaster
Inevitably, The Beastmaster was compared to Conan and The Sword and the Sorcerer to no end, and if we limit ourselves to its theatrical performance, it didn’t do too well. However, the film managed to explode on TV and cable (thanks to its many reruns), and Marc Singer carried its two sequels on his shoulders. Plus, Tanya Roberts helps quite a bit, for more than obvious reasons…
Rambo: First Blood
Most action movies don’t take too long to “introduce the hero,” but this adaptation of First Blood partially breaks the mold by giving us a victim. John Rambo is a stranger in his own land, devastated by the aftermath of an absurd war, and mistreated by authoritarian and miserable people. The rest of the franchise is Saturday-afternoon entertainment, but the first one always deserves an extra look.
48 Hrs.
Some movies invent a genre, and others take it to a completely different level. After the release of 48 Hrs., the concept of buddy cop was never the same. Nick Nolte already had more than ten years of career, but Eddie Murphy was just getting his feet wet in cinema: Opposites that worked perfectly. Without 48 Hrs., there probably wouldn’t be Lethal Weapon, nor Dragnet, Red Heat, Alien Nation, Tango & Cash, Rising Sun, Bad Boys, Rush Hour… (better stop here)
The Dark Crystal
“Warning: Podling drainage is punished by galactic law.” Jokes aside, that scene drilled into my head like a drill when I was little. Despite the dark tone that led to weak box office, The Dark Crystal remains one of the most successful animatronic movies in history. Did you know Netflix released a prequel series, Age of Resistance? Also, did you know Netflix canceled it even though audiences adored every second? Thanks for nothing, Netflix.
