1989 was truly a special year for the entertainment industry. From art to cinema, every field saw a distinct flair that not only renounced the year as a great one, but also marked it as a memorable end to a decade that brought collective changes in the society. As pop icon Taylor Swift recently re-recorded her iconic album bearing that title to reclaim her artistry, it seems fitting that we pay tribute to another phenomenal collection of 1989 works that are just as impressive and have left an equally indelible mark on history.
That year inarguably delivered a bunch of greats in genres ranging from action thrillers to intimate indie dramas. Each of these movies have captured the essence of what it means to be human. While Driving Miss Daisy took home the Best Picture award, there were movies that left just as much impact and remained timelessly resonant. Moviegoers were repeatedly treated with adventures that leap creative borders and push past limitations, whether it is through underdog biopics or hilarious romances.
That said, this list sums up the 20 unforgettable works from 1989 that have not only sparked discussions about delicate subjects but also advocated the true meaning of inclusiveness and progressive thinking. Without wasting another minute, let’s appreciate these iconic films that left audiences stunned.
20 Born on the Fourth of July
Perhaps no other actor would be best suited to play the troubled veteran and anti-war protestor Ron Kovic than Tom Cruise in this astronomically gut-wrenching movie Born on the Fourth of July. The film works as an adaptation of Kovic’s memoir and is brought to stunning life by director Oliver Stone. Kovic was a devoted patriot, willing to die for his country. That’s why he joined the Marine Corps.
But when a fateful accident left him paralyzed, his perspective on war changed and he began advocating the same. In scathing light, the movie throws the audience in Kovic’s shoes to experience the turmoil with many survivors of the Vietnam War. By making a bold anti-war statement, it sparked important conversations around patriotism and how an enduring one can damage a person’s life.
19 Parenthood
In Parenthood, Steve Martin plays Gill Buckman, a perfectionist father trying super hard to juggle his work life and the family chaos that occurs with having three children. Right when he’s found a poignant balance between it all, Gill’s wife gets pregnant again. With an ensemble cast including Dianne West, Martha Plimpton, Keanu Reeves, and Joaquin Phoenix, the movie is a snapshot of a hilarious and relatable family.
Under Ron Howard’s warm direction, we see and feel the universal ins and outs of parenting joys, strains, and milestones. Sometimes getting way too extra in the feels, the movie reminds that at their best, families embrace imperfection and support each other to make any storms weatherable.
18 The Cook, the Thief, His Wife & Her Lover
Fancy a bold serving of a visceral, nauseating, hysterical, and notorious crime film on your dinner date night? Well, The Cook, the Thief, His Wife & Her Lover is a shocking film that almost feels like a well-planned and artistic fever dream (if there is such a thing). It centers around Albert Spica, an abusive man and criminal who has recently bought a French restaurant in London. Arriving there to have dinner with his wife every night, he’s made a reputation of scaring and provoking other guests.
Aggravated and disgusted by her husband, Georgina begins an affair with another guest and when Spica finds out, he turns savage. Within the depraved restaurant microcosm, the film plays out like a cinematic masterpiece. And even though it is not an easy watch, all the complex and daring work Helen Mirren puts into her performance sure deserves praise.
17 Field of Dreams
When it comes to feel-good fantasies, it is hard to top the sheer magic that is Field of Dreams. In one of the most poignant and creative sports films ever, we witness an Iowa farmer named Ray Kinsella waking up one night after he hears what can only be called the most clichéd phrase in film, “If you build it, he will come.” Determined to act on the words, Ray builds a baseball diamond on a piece of land he owns, and once it's ready, the ghosts of former baseball legends start appearing in the field to play.
The movie explores the sport’s deepest roots and how we’re all playing for something greater than the bat and ball and field and score. With sweet nostalgia and an overall uplifting vibe, the movie becomes a true classic.
16 Sex, Lies, and Videotape
While many consider Sex, Lies and Videotape to be director Steven Soderberg’s excellent feature debut, the truth is that the movie also changed the entire independent film landscape by releasing at a time when subversive art was heavily censored across several countries the movie tells the story of Ann Mullany, a woman who shudders at the idea of being intimate with her partner. But when her husband’s old college friend enters her life and asks her not for sex, but to share her secrets about the same, Ann immediately finds comfort and familiarity in him. The film’s plot may seem simple, yet the implications it makes – on relationships, human desires, technology, and intimacy – are truly deep.
15 Crimes and Misdemeanors
Woody Allen penned, directed and starred in a morally complex existential gem that explores the big question – Is there a God? – and how “good people” have all the reasons to justify their evil deeds. Martin Landau plays Judah, a successful ophthalmologist cheating on his wife and willing to commit foul acts to contain this dark secret and preserve his marriage. But when the mistress threatens to tell the wife, Judah’s egoistical brother-in-law comes to save the day with a plan that could ruin everything.
Alan Alda, Mia Farrow, and the rest of the excellent ensemble ground the movie but also tackle universal subjects. As a comedy drama, Crimes and Misdemeanors does not leave you with direct and simple answers, but it sure makes you think.
14 Drugstore Cowboy
Drugstore Cowboy is directed by Gus Van Sant and even though Mala Noche was an incredible feature debut, it is this sophomore film that really put the director on the map. The cult classic follows a group of drug addict outlaws who travel across the country robbing pharmacies and dealing product. They’re led by Bob Hughes and his wife Dianne. However hypnotic their lifestyle is, Bob tires himself out emotionally and mentally and finally decides to leave the group and get clean.
But a former client and acquaintance rains on his parade by asking him for drugs. Set in Portland, Oregon in 1971, the movie’s disturbing yet sympathetic look at addiction and its roots is what makes it so groundbreaking. Moreover, Matt Dillon delivers a performance of a lifetime.
13 Batman
The most popular DC Comics character, created by Bob Kane and Bill Finger, first got its silver screen appearance in this visionary masterpiece, helmed by the one and only Tim Burton. Weird and wild in all the right ways, the film immersed us into the dark world of Gotham City, where a masked hero fought evil and kept the people safe.
Bringing the same menace as his previous roles in horror classics, Jack Nicholson plays Joker, who is bent on exploiting the city and its resources and challenging the Caped Crusader for an epic match. Burton directs Batmanwith a certain richness, shadowing Gotham City with a Great Depression-era New York-like aesthetic and adding a cartoon campiness to the whole scenario. Who knew, this gothic noir would become the recipe of a blockbuster?
12 Say Anything
Cameron Crowe’s classic ‘80s film starts as a typical and predictable teenage rom-com, but it soon transforms into a profound message about honesty and finding soulmates in the most unlikely places. Dianne is the high school valedictorian. She has lived a sheltered life, always being an obedient daughter. On the other hand, Lloyd is the very representation of a pining indie kid trying to impress his dream girl. He may not be the perfect match for her, but his devotion makes up for everything else.
Crowe’s directorial debut sure raises standards for rom-coms by being raw and charming and sweet and melancholic. From John Cusack and Ione Skye’s chemistry to the iconic boombox serenading scene, everything about Say Anything screams adorable.
11 The Abyss
Like every other year, 1989 also saw filmmakers dabbling in genres and sparking their creativity to take cinema to greater heights. Among the several legends of the year, James Cameron was one that continued pushing sci-fi boundaries by adding elements of adventure and wonder to it.
The Abyss is one of the coolest films of the year and it follows an oil rig crew, made up entirely of civilians, tasked to dive deep into the ocean in search of a lost submarine. One of the divers, played by Ed Harris, soon ends up encountering a mysterious alien species. Paired with groundbreaking visuals that will leave you agape even today and an survival-esque immersive storytelling, the film drags you underwater with these heroes that not only face the exterior unknown but also battle personal demons.
10 Steel Magnolias
Herbert Ross provides his sublime vision to this beautiful play written by Robert Harling. The movie Steel Magnolias is about the deep bonds shared by a bunch of women in Louisiana. At the center of it all is M'Lynn and her daughter Shelby, whose diabetes leads to a major health scare, which is eventually eased. The women spend most of their time gossiping at a salon, but their sisterhood emerges with absolute grace and humor.
Led by a powerhouse ensemble of stars like Shirley MacLaine, Dolly Parton, Sally Field and Julia Roberts, the film is a tearjerker but it leaves you uplifted and celebrating the role of women in each other’s lives.
9 The Little Mermaid
In 1989, Disney released a couple of wonderful films including Honey, I Shrunk the Kids, and Turner & Hooch, but they didn’t have as much impact as The Little Mermaid. Ariel’s princess story enchanted millions of viewers across the globe, both under the sea and on screen. The film pays tribute to the Danish author Hans Christian Andersen, but infuses it with that signature magic, heart, and visual wonder Disney is known for.
After falling in love with a human prince, 16-year-old mermaid Ariel is obsessed with going on land, finding the man of her dreams, and confessing her love. She strikes a deal with the overly controlling, evil sea witch Ursula, but the plan goes south. Featuring gorgeous music, colorful characters, and stunning animation, the film is still one of the greatest fairy tales ever.
8 Heathers
In its attempt to push the genre to its very unimaginable limits, Heathers emerges as a dark and edgy quintessential late ‘80s comedy drama. The film dips our heads into the intoxicating world of high school cliques through the eyes of its protagonist, Veronica Sawyer (Winona Ryder). Veronica is an outsider who finds herself fascinated by the social hierarchy of her school and soon enters the popular girls clique known as “Heathers.”
Enter Veronica's rebellious new boyfriend, J.D., and his weird obsession with getting revenge on those who wronged him, and the film goes in a hilarious direction where Veronica and JD pair up and murder a bunch of girls including Heather Chandler. Overflowing with brilliant dialogue and a killer ‘80s soundtrack, the movie is the very definition of what high school looks and feels like in our teenage brains.
7 Dead Poets Society
Set in a stuffy and conservative all-boys prep school, Dead Poets Society follows John Keating, a substitute English teacher who awakens in his students a fire to break free and chase their dreams through his unconventional teaching methods. Keating believes in the power of poetry, art, and passion, and when he extends the same belief to his students, they feel encouraged to tear up their textbooks (literally) and “suck the marrow out of life.”
While Ethan Hawke shines in his early role as the shy newcomer named Todd, Robert Sean Leonard steals the show as Neil Perry, a boy who wants to pursue stage acting but is pressured against it by his folks. Robert Williams delivers a fine performance as an influencer who transforms the students into dreamers.
6 Roger & Me
Michael Moore’s first documentary film is part comedy and part tragedy. It chronicles the events that take place in his hometown of Flint, Michigan after General Motors pulls the shutters on its factories down and lay off over 30,000 people. Moore is seen questioning the entire situation with his signature wit and provocative voice. Needless to say, being out of work has a devastating impact on the family of his friends and other Flint residents. But what is more worrisome is that the town’s crime rate suddenly elevates.
Roger & Me follows Moore’s attempts to confront General Motors’ CEO Roger Smith, get to the bottom of this shutdown, and hold him accountable for ruining thousands of lives. Equally funny and eye-opening, the film put Moore on the map as a genuinely promising director.
5 Glory
Glory tells the remarkable true story of the first African American military unit to fight for the Union during the Civil War. At the time, a young officer named Robert Gould Shaw was appointed to lead the 5th Regiment, which was made of men who were former slaves. Despite leading them into battle and fighting with absolute grit, Shaw faces prejudice and adversity on both sides, including that from fellow soldiers.
Denzel Washington deservedly won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Role as he embodied the character of a runaway slave named Silas Trip. Beyond its roaring call for justice, the movie also celebrates the heroism of unsung men as they fought for freedom during one of the nation’s most difficult eras.
4 Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
The fourth movie in this dashing franchise, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade follows our titular hero on yet another adventure. This time, Indy learns that his treasured professor father, Dr Henry Jones, has set out to retrieve the Holy Grail. But he disappears on his journey, leading his adventurer son to go looking for him. The swashbuckling quest includes several stunts, unraveling of mystical secrets, as well as a reliable dynamic between Harrison Ford and Sean Connery.
As the duo faces dangers at every corner from the Nazis jumping to capture Dr Jones, the movie unfolds with heart and humor. Moreover, director Steven Spielberg infuses the entire narrative with sly humor, making the film more irresistible than ever.
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A Dublin native and an artist confined by cerebral palsy, Christy Brown was renowned as the greatest mind of the 20th century. He pushed past his own physical limitations and dominated the literary and artistic world by learning to paint and write using only his left foot. Adapted by Jim Sheridan and Shane Connaughton from his own memoir, My Left Foot is the story of Christy Brown and he triumphed against all odds.
Embodied by Daniel Day-Lewis, the character’s biographical journey in the film begins with his working-class background and how he showcased his indomitable spirit until he could achieve his dreams. Day-Lewis definitely deserved an Academy Award for his method acting, where he dunk us all in the story with him.
2 When Harry Met Sally…
Can a man and a woman ever be just friends? As a society, we’ve progressed enough to answer the question now, but the splendor of this late ‘80s classic doesn’t diminish the fact that there’s a lingering chemistry in the trope both on-and-off screen. With major exceptions, of course.
Rob Reiner crafted this romantic comedy starring Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal as the two lead characters who start out as friends, stay friends, become lovers, and evolve through the many twists and turns life throws at them. Their chemistry throughout the film anchors the concept of intimacy and independence and the kind of fairy tale love we all crave. Even 34 years later, When Harry Met Sally… is considered an enduring classic.
1 Do the Right Thing
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One of the biggest Best Picture snubs of 1989 was this incredible film written and directed by, as well as starring Spike Lee. Do the Right Thing documents a scorching summer day in the Bedford-Stuyvesant district of Brooklyn, where Salvatore “Sal” Fragione begins his daily routine of running his pizzeria. When Buggin' Out accuses Sal of refusing to hang posters of black actors and icons in the food joint, racial tensions and complex social dynamics make themselves to the surface.
The movie sparked nationwide discussions on the subject and even reflected on the challenges faced by society. Along with the accurate ‘80s aesthetic, phenomenal acting, and tonal humor, Do the Right Thing proved the impact cinema can have on art and humans.
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