In the age of remakes, reboots, and countless rather unnecessary sequels, it’s not uncommon in for cinema buffs to look back on the 1990s and 1980s as golden decades for film. The eras did coin some of the most beloved, iconic movies ever made, so this belief is definitely justified.
With 2020 now upon us, nostalgia is stronger than ever, and reliving the good old days by watching classic films from that era is a popular pass time. Let’s take a look at some beloved films you won’t believe are actually thirty years old now.
Home Alone (1990)
Home Alone has become an undisputed cult classic since its theatrical release in 1990. Written by John Hughes and directed by Chris Columbus, the unique Christmas comedy quickly became one of the most well-known holiday films of all-time. It’s almost thirty at the time of this writing, but it’ll be seeing a birthday before 2020 draws to a close.
It would go on two spawn three follow-up films, and even now - nearly thirty years later - fans just can’t get enough of trouble-making Kevin McCallister.
Misery (1990)
Misery was released in theatres in November of 1990, and featured Kathy Bates in one of her most outstanding roles: the main antagonist, Annie Wilkes. The psychological thriller was, of course, based on Stephen King’s classic novel that was published a few years earlier, in 1987.
Since its release, Misery has become one of the most well-known and respected Stephen King adaptations and garnered significant success. The film has not lost its thrilling horror with age and is still regarded as one of the most sinister horror movies to come out of the ’90s.
Edward Scissorhands (1990)
It is said that the inspiration for Edward Scissorhands came from a time in director Tim Burton’s childhood when he lived in suburban Burbank, California. As a teenager, he would go on to draw a picture of a mysterious, solemn man who had blades for fingers, and years later, this teenage angst would spawn one of the most iconic films of the decade
Edward Scissorhands is considered to be one of Burton’s most personal and gritty films and remains a cult classic today, thirty years after its theatrical release.
Jacob’s Ladder (1990)
The original Jacob’s Ladder was released in November of 1990 and was later remade almost thirty years later, in 2019. While the original film is fairly well-respected and widely regarded as a mind-bending example of psychological horror, the remake received no such success, stamped with a pitiful 5% score on Rotten Tomatoes.
Jacob’s Ladder (1990) is considered an underrated gem in the horror community, and the film has served as nightmare fuel for fans of the genre for almost thirty years.
Pet Sematary (1989)
Pet Sematary is another film on this list that just recently got the remake treatment thirty years after its release. The 1989 original movie adaptation of Stephen King’s 1983 horror novel was directed by Mary Lambert, featuring a screenplay written by King himself. The iconic horror author regards Pet Sematary as one of his most disturbing books, and the 1989 film adaptation certainly stays true to that.
The 2019 remake is a different story, and was met with significant criticism. But the original remains a classic, over thirty years after its release.
Ghost (1990)
Ghost was a unique film back in its day, artfully weaved with elements of fantasy, drama, and horror all while sticking to a strong, intriguing story. The film had an all-star cast, featuring Whoopi Goldberg, Demi Moore, and the late Patrick Swayze. It was released in July of 1990 and has been regarded as a classic virtually ever since.
Ghost revolved around two star-crossed lovers, the perils of death, and a quirky medium. It is still widely regarded as a timeless film to this day.
National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989)
It’s safe to say that National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation holds a spot on most people’s holiday film line-ups every year, and the lovably crass comedy turns thirty-one years old this year. Christmas Vacation is unabashedly a farce comedy, and it’s definitely not the most family-friendly holiday movie, but people love it and have loved it for years.
Christmas Vacation is part of the National Lampoon film series, and is often regarded as the most popular in said series. In fact, the film was so successful that it even spawned a direct-to-TV sequel titled National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation: Cousin Eddie’s Island Adventure.
The Little Mermaid (1989)
The Little Mermaid is of course yet another Disney animated film that will soon be subjected to the live-action treatment, but the original remains a solid classic in many people’s books. It was beautifully animated, as many Disney films from that era were, and starred the voice talents of Jodi Benson and Pat Carroll, among several others.
The Little Mermaid followed the story of the naive, wide-eyed young mermaid, Ariel, in her quest to fulfil her dream of living life on the land. The movie was a big part of many Disney fans’ childhoods, so the nostalgia-factor for the remake will be undoubtedly strong.
Kiki’s Delivery Service (1989)
Kiki’s Delivery Service was the fifth film released by Studio Ghibli and would go on to be the highest-grossing film in Japan in 1989. It would go on to win fifteen awards in categories such as Best Anime, Best Female Character, and Best Director. Studio Ghibli films are often considered timeless, with their breathtaking, smooth animation and memorable characters, but Kiki’s Delivery Service is definitely one of that particularly stands out.
Today, it’s hard to believe that this film is now just a little over thirty years old, as it remains to an utterly unforgettable addition to Studio Ghibli’s roster.
All Dogs Go To Heaven (1989)
Don Bluth resigned from Disney after a significant animation career in 1979 and would go on to create his own animated films that served to compete with Disney’s in the Renaissance Era. He created his own production company, Don Bluth Productions, and his first film was The Secret Of NIMH, which was released in 1982.
All Dogs Go To Heaven turns thirty-one this year and is considered a timeless classic. The film’s animation is significantly praised to this day, especially since it was released when Don Bluth Productions had already made a name for themselves. All Dogs Go To Heaven has left a legacy with generations of fans.
