Welcome to an exciting year-long project here at The Nerdy. 1986 was an exciting year for films giving us a lot of films that would go on to be beloved favorites and cult classics. It was also the start to a major shift in cultural and societal norms, and some of those still reverberate to this day.
We’re going to pick and choose which movies we hit, but right now the list stands at nearly four dozen.
Yes, we’re insane, but 1986 was that great of a year for film.
The articles will come out – in most cases – on the same day the films hit theaters in 1986 so that it is their true 40th anniversary. All films are also watched again for the purposes of these reviews and are not being done from memory. In some cases, it truly will be the first time we’ve seen them.
This time around, it’s October 10, 1986, and we’re off to see The Color of Money, Deadly Friend, Jumpin’ Jack Flash, Peggy Sue Got Married, That’s Life, and True Stories.
The Color of Money
If you thought a legacy sequel was a new thing, let me introduce you to The Color of Money.
“Fast Eddie” Felson (Paul Newman) has transitioned from pool hustler to successful liquor salesman. Then, one day, he crosses paths with Vincent Lauria (Tom Cruise) and his girlfriend, Carmen (Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio). He sees a lot of potential in the two as hustlers, but they both need lessons on how to do it properly. Eddie makes a deal to train them for a cut of what they make, but it soon goes off the rails when Eddie gets pulled back into the game.
In 1986, making a sequel to The Hustler (1961) was a wild concept. Access to older films wasn’t what it is today, so not many people under a certain age knew the original. Thankfully, the film fills in enough information that you have no issue following along.
The film is engaging, and, as always, Newman is just insanely easy to watch. Enjoyable from beginning to end.
Where to watch: Available to stream.
Deadly Friend
What if Short Circuit turned into a horror movie?
Paul Conway (Matthew Laborteaux) moves to town with his mom (Anne Twomey) and his robot BB. He quickly befriends Tom (Michael Sharrett) and Samantha (Kristy Swanson), the latter of which he ends up falling for. After BB is destroyed, Elvira (Anne Ramsey), a crusty old neighbor, accidentally kills Samantha with her alcoholic father. So, of course, Sam decides to use BB’s brain chip to bring Samantha back to life. If you suspect everything goes wrong, you’re right.
Wes Craven directed the film, and he seemed a bit lost about what to do with the material. At times the film feels like a sweet coming-of-age story, and then the basketball-to-the-head scene happens (no, I’m not explaining that) and all bets are off.
The film is, frankly, a mess of ideas, and none of them develop well. The only standout is Swanson’s performance, which is really good work on her part. The rest of it is just a garbled, confused mess.
Where to watch: Available to stream.
Jumpin’ Jack Flash
Penny Marshall’s feature directorial debut certainly wasn’t smooth, but I chalk that up to the script.
Teresa “Terry” Doolittle (Whoopi Goldberg) is liked by her coworkers in the bank’s computer department, but management doesn’t like her as much. After receiving a warning about having personal chats on the bank systems, she is contacted by a British spy who needs help getting out of a country. Unfortunately, people within his own government are compromised and don’t want him to return. Terry gets thrust into a world of espionage and must quickly learn how to handle herself.
Goldberg’s performance shines, but the script is just lifeless. You never find yourself caring about what’s happening. It feels as though everything was run through a committee and it just ends up as a shell of a film.
Where to watch: Available to stream.
Peggy Sue Got Married
Oddly enough, this was originally going to be Penny Marshall’s directorial debut, but it didn’t work out, and she ended up on Jumpin’ Jack Flash.
Peggy Sue Bodell (Kathleen Turner) attends her 25th high school reunion, despite her troubled marriage with her high school sweetheart, Charlie (Nicolas Cage). At the reunion, she passes out and finds herself back in high school, reliving it all. She uses the time to correct some of her past behavior and rediscover her love for her husband before finally returning to the present. Whether she actually traveled in time is left up to the viewer, but it strongly hints that she did.
The film is charming, if a little hokey at times. Turner’s performance shines, but I would question Cage’s choice of voice for the role. It grates on your nerves quickly.
A fun film of exploring the earlier part of your life and seeing just how it may impact your present.
Where to watch: Available to stream.
That’s Life
Blake Edwards was pretty clearly marching through the 1980s, making whatever movie he wanted and not caring if it was anything anyone else wanted to see.
Gillian Fairchild (Julie Andrews) faces a health scare that may end her singing career, but she keeps it to herself. Meanwhile, her husband, Harvey (Jack Lemmon) is turning 60 and facing his own mortality and health issues. Neither seems ready to talk to the other about what is troubling them, which leads to poor choices for one and loneliness for the other.
This film felt like it had something to say, but it didn’t make it clear how to best convey it. And it’s slightly difficult to feel any sympathy for Harvey when he is being an absolute scum bucket about his issues. Apparently the cure-all for his issues was to cheat on his wife? Lovely.
Some very fine actors stuck with a very weak script.
Where to watch: Available to stream.
True Stories
If you have a fondness for quirky characters, this is the film for you.
Set in Virgil, Texas, during the celebrations for Texas’ 150th anniversary of independence, a narrator (David Byrne) wanders through the town interacting with an assortment of oddball characters. Louis (John Goodman) wants to find love; Earl (Spalding Gray) never speaks directly to his wife; Miss Rollings (Swoosie Kuntz) is so rich she never leaves her bed; and more. We see a slice of life of each as the Narrator floats between them.
The film is just… pleasant. Almost soothing. At times, it feels as though Twin Peaks had a child with Prairie Home Companion. Nothing is so odd as to be off-putting, but odd enough to make you cock your head a bit.
Just a nice little movie to let you kick back and relax.
Where to watch: Available to stream.
1986 Movie Reviews will continue on Oct. 17, 2026, with Ratboy.
