Top 5 Movies of 1984 based on the Box Office

1984 was a fantastic year for movies. Although these are not my 5 favorite films from the year, they are the 5 best-performing films at the box office.

1. Ghostbusters: Ghostbusters is a 1984 comedy film about a team of paranormal investigators who start a ghost-catching business in New York City. The film was directed by Ivan Reitman and stars Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, and Harold Ramis as the Ghostbusters. The story follows the Ghostbusters as they confront and capture ghosts that are causing havoc in the city. The film is known for its comedic elements and memorable characters, as well as its iconic theme song by Ray Parker Jr. Ghostbusters was a major commercial success and has since become a classic. It spawned a sequel and several spin-offs, including a reboot and a sequel to the original films.

2. Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom: a 1984 action-adventure film directed by Steven Spielberg. It is the second film in the Indiana Jones franchise and stars Harrison Ford as Indiana Jones, a heroic archaeologist who embarks on a perilous journey to recover a sacred stone from an ancient temple in India. Along the way, he encounters a series of dangerous challenges and confronts a powerful villain. The film features exciting action sequences and impressive special effects, and is known for its thrilling chase scenes and dramatic fight scenes. Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom was a commercial success and is considered a classic of the action-adventure genre. It spawned three more sequels and cemented the Indiana Jones franchise as a popular and enduring action-adventure series.

3. Gremlins: Gremlins is a 1984 horror-comedy film about a group of mischievous creatures that wreak havoc on a small town. The film was directed by Joe Dante and stars Zach Galligan and Phoebe Cates. The story follows a young man named Billy who receives a strange pet for Christmas, only to have it multiply into a group of gremlins. The gremlins cause chaos and destruction in the town, and Billy must find a way to stop them. Along the way, he learns the importance of following the rules and the dangers of not respecting the power of nature. The film features a mix of horror and comedy elements, with the gremlins causing horror and the characters' reactions to them providing comedic relief. Gremlins was a commercial success and has become a classic of the horror-comedy genre. It spawned a sequel, Gremlins 2: The New Batch, which was released in 1990. The film has a cult following and has influenced many other films and media in the horror-comedy genre. Gremlins is remembered for its creative and humorous take on the horror genre, as well as its memorable characters and iconic scenes.

4. The Karate Kid: The Karate Kid is a 1984 coming-of-age film about a young boy named Daniel who moves to a new town and learns martial arts from an elderly handyman. The film was directed by John G. Avildsen and stars Ralph Macchio as Daniel and Pat Morita as Mr. Miyagi, the handyman who becomes Daniel's mentor. The story follows Daniel as he faces challenges and learns the value of hard work and perseverance while training with Mr. Miyagi. The film also explores themes of bullying and the importance of standing up for oneself. The Karate Kid was a commercial success and spawned several sequels and a reboot. It is considered a classic of the coming-of-age genre and is remembered for its memorable characters and inspiring message. The film's iconic "wax on, wax off" scene, in which Mr. Miyagi teaches Daniel karate through seemingly mundane tasks, has become particularly memorable and has been referenced in pop culture numerous times.

5. Beverly Hills Cop: Beverly Hills Cop is a 1984 action-comedy film starring Eddie Murphy as Axel Foley, a Detroit police detective who travels to Beverly Hills, California to solve the murder of his best friend. The film was directed by Martin Brest and also stars Judge Reinhold and John Ashton. The story follows Axel as he investigates the murder and confronts a powerful crime boss in Beverly Hills. The film features a mix of action and comedy, with Murphy's character using his quick wit and street smarts to outmaneuver his enemies. Beverly Hills Cop was a major commercial success and was praised for its action scenes and Murphy's performance. It spawned two sequels and is considered a classic of the action-comedy genre

Note: These rankings are based on box office performance and do not necessarily reflect the quality of the films.