1988 Movies Ranked

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11. They Live

D: John Carpenter

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There’s a healthy questioning of reality, and then there’s a movie that panders to the delusions of the type of schizophrenics who cause mass shootings…and liberals.  I can’t exactly get behind a movie whose “hero” slaughters any member of a race he sees as an oppressor.  This movie has almost all the disturbing implications of The Matrix without any of the style or fun.  No wonder Slavoj Zizek likes this movie.  Also, depicting movie critics who didn’t like your previous movies as evil aliens isn’t exactly professional writing.  The one thing this movie has going for it is the iconic fight scene between Rowdy Roddy Piper and Keith David.

10. The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!

D: David Zucker

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One of the better spoof movies.  Based on a tragically short-lived TV show.

9. Bulletproof

D: Steve Carver

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It’s a pretty bad 80’s action movie, but it’s enjoyable because of Gary Busey, who goes around calling people “butthorns” before shooting them.

8. Oliver & Company

D: George Scribner

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A rather well-done interpretation with a surprisingly realistic villain.  I must say that I love that guy's car.

7. I’m Gonna Git You Sucka

D: Keenen Ivory Wayans

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This parody of Blaxploitation movies is one of the best spoof movies ever.  Made during a time when the Wayan Brothers where still funny.

6. Beetlejuice

D: Tim Burton

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A funny twist on the Haunted House story from the ghosts’ point of view.

5. Who Framed Roger Rabbit

D: Robert Zemeckis, Richard Williams

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I love how seamlessly the 2-D animation is mixed with live-action footage.  Using CGI characters for this is just too easy.

4. Scrooged
D: Richard Donner
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An original retelling of The Christmas Carol that's also one of the great comedies of the 80's.

3. Akira

D: Katsuhiro Otomo

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One of the few animes I’ve seen where the animation of characters’ expressions and body language is on the par with that of a Western Cartoon.  Very atmospheric and has good violence, but the ending may be a bit too messed up.

2. The Land Before Time

D: Don Bluth

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Dark, emotional and scary.  Don Bluth at his best.

1. Die Hard

D: John McTiernan

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The 80’s action movie that transcended its genre.  A great hero vs. a great villain.

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