Kids and teens may have their adventures during their youth, but movies like The Goonies show that they also face very adult enemies and concerns in such films.
Take The Goonies. A group of teens band together to help their parents stop the foreclosure of their houses. Now if thatâs not an adulting issue, I donât know what is! Along the way, they discover a treasure map that could lead them to the answer to their problems.
Want more? Read on to find out my recommended movies like The Goonies that will supply you with heartwarming tales and daring exploits!
10 Iconic 80’s & 90’s Movies Like The Goonies!
1. Honey, I Shrunk The Kids (1989)
An inventorâs children and their neighbors accidentally activate a contraption that made them shrink down to molecular levels. As their parents search for them, they struggle to find their way back inside the house.Â
This unforgettable Rick Moranis film played with science, technology, and biological manipulation for a comedic take on an invention gone wrong. But it supplies audiences with a family-friendly approach to the parent-child bonding, hinting at how parents could also be more supportive of their childrenâs aspirations.
Complete your kooky family movie marathon with its sequels Honey, I Blew Up The Kid and Honey, We Shrunk Ourselves.
2. The NeverEnding Story (1984)
A nerdy kid borrows a mysterious book from a strange bookstore in town. He hides to read the tale of a land being consumed by nothingnessâand discovers he has the power to stop it.
Wolfgang Petersenâs first English-language film resonated with kids who suffered from being bullied, losing a mother, and being raised by a busy father. No wonder it became a cult classic! It even spawned two sequels featuring different actors.
Many of these â80s movies like The Goonies employ the adventure genre to unfold a narrative of self-empowerment. If you like that style, this oneâs for you!
3. Hook (1991)
A workaholic lawyer rediscovers his true identity when his children are kidnapped by a nemesis he didnât know he had. The enemy turns out to be Captain Hook, as he turns out to be Peter Pan.
Robin Williams is perfect as a grownup Peter Pan in this Steven Spielberg retelling of J.M. Barrieâs story. Itâs interesting to see how his character struggles with logic-based adult consciousness while trying to tap into the childlike persona he once had.
If you want to see a shrunken Julia Roberts as Tinker Bell and search for Glenn Closeâs pirate cameo, donât miss this one!
4. E.T. The Extra Terrestrial (1982)
A kid discovers an alien life form hiding in their backyard, befriends it, and forms a strong emphatic connection with him. They become friendsâuntil government authorities get wind of its presence.
As with other movies like The Goonies, Steven Spielbergâs sci-fi classic put children front and center of the narrative. It was fun times at first for the youth involvedâuntil authorities put on a full-scale medical and military involvement that could emotionally scar any kid for life.
5. Home Alone (1990)
Eight-year-old Kevin McCallister is accidentally left behind by his family on their way to their Paris Christmas vacation. His alone time is disrupted by burglars trying to break into the houseâso he protects it at all costs.
Macaulay Culkinâs stardom began in this role that outwitted adult thieves. Yet if you think about it, this fantasy comedy wonât be funny in case it happened for real. While the smart kid pulled it off, the scenario could have also had creepy results.
Audiences didnât seem to mind, though, as its success and sequels proved that such a storyline could fly!
6. Flight of the Navigator (1986)
A 12-year-old boy falls into a ravine in 1978 and wakes up in 1986 without aging. Authorities discover that he was taken into space by a ship that now needs his help to leave earth.
This â80s sci-fi favorite toyed with the idea of delaying a humanâs aging. Imagine waking up while 8 years have passed! Good thing it didnât contribute any trauma to the preteen who was, essentially, the victim of an alien abduction.
Talks of a remake have been circulating for a decade now. Until it happens, try to catch the nostalgic feel of this fun sci-fi original!
7. Jumanji (1995)
A missing kid comes out of a magically mysterious board game that trapped him for 25 years, until new kids started playing, releasing him in the process. But dangerous creatures followed.
Robin Williams plays the trapped kid whoâs now an adult. While there were touches of how such an event would indeed affect a kid (as exemplified by his former friendâs mention of seeing a psychiatrist), everything else was treated as, well, fair game.
Similar to movies like The Goonies, Jumanji tones down adult consequences to present teen-themed fun. Some say this original is better than the 2017 sequel, though.
8. Back to the Future (1985)
A 1985 teen travels back in time using his inventor friendâs time machine, only to land in 1955 during the time his parents were teens like himâas he endangers his future by interfering with their lives.
Michael J. Foxâs iconic role won the hearts of audiences indeed, who perhaps shrugged some icky facts: that his own mother finds him âhotâ while he discovers his dad is a peeping tom. Talk about dysfunctional family issues!
Still, this original spawned two equally successful sequels. Enjoy them for life, as director Robert Zemeckis doesnât want any reboot or remake of these gems!
9. Bill & Tedâs Excellent Adventure (1989)
Two slacker students make a last-ditch effort to pass their history exams by bringing key historical figures from the past into the present via a time machine phone booth, with the help of someone from the future.
Imagine uprooting the likes of Joan of Arc, Socrates, Genghis Khan, or Napoleon and bringing them to modern-day California. As the film treated important historical figures like caricatures, we forgave Keanu Reeves and Alex Winter for giving us a hilarious trip!
Enjoy its equally fun â90s sequel, Bill & Tedâs Bogus Journey, and its nostalgic 2020 sequel Bill & Ted Face The Music.
10. Gold Diggers: The Secret of Bear Mountain (1995)
A newly relocated city girl befriends the small townâs troubled girl. As their friendship strengthens, they try to find hidden gold rumored to be hidden in the mountainous areas near their town.
Beneath the fun-sounding adventure of treasure hunting, Christina Ricciâs city girl character tries to cope with being uprooted and dealing with a new life in a single-parent household. Anna Chlumskyâs outcast character is shown as a victim of child abuse by her motherâs boyfriend.
While these movies like The Goonies mix heavy issues with teen fun, they provide thought-provoking storylines widely utilized during the â80s and â90s.