1987

Academy winnerThe Last Emperor poster

The Last Emperor

Composite 74.82

vs
Should have wonFull Metal Jacket poster

Full Metal Jacket

Composite 81.34

The Academy's ballot

Your #1 was Full Metal Jacket (#1).

The full slate

#1
Full Metal Jacket poster

Full Metal Jacket (1987)

⭐ Top-rated🏛️ All-time great

Composite 81.34

Dir. Stanley Kubrick · Matthew Modine · Adam Baldwin · Vincent D'Onofrio · R. Lee Ermey

IMDb 8.2 (851,847 votes) · TMDB 8.118

A pragmatic U.S. Marine observes the dehumanizing effects the U.S.-Vietnam War has on his fellow recruits from their brutal boot camp training to the bloody street fighting in Hue.

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#2
The Princess Bride poster

The Princess Bride (1987)

⭐ Top-rated

Composite 78.47

Dir. Rob Reiner · Cary Elwes · Robin Wright · Mandy Patinkin · Chris Sarandon

IMDb 8.0 (486,853 votes) · TMDB 7.701

In this enchantingly cracked fairy tale, the beautiful Princess Buttercup and the dashing Westley must overcome staggering odds to find happiness amid six-fingered swordsmen, murderous princes, Sicilians and rodents of unusual size. But even death can't stop these true lovebirds from triumphing.

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#3
The Untouchables poster

The Untouchables (1987)

⭐ Top-rated

Composite 77.11

Dir. Brian De Palma · Kevin Costner · Sean Connery · Robert De Niro · Charles Martin Smith

IMDb 7.8 (353,962 votes) · TMDB 7.757

Elliot Ness, an ambitious prohibition agent, is determined to take down Al Capone. In order to achieve this goal, he forms a group given the nickname “The Untouchables”.

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#4
Predator poster

Predator (1987)

⭐ Top-rated💰 Box office #10

Composite 76.73

Dir. John McTiernan · Arnold Schwarzenegger · Carl Weathers · Kevin Peter Hall · Elpidia Carrillo

IMDb 7.8 (502,197 votes) · TMDB 7.561

A team of elite commandos on a secret mission in a Central American jungle come to find themselves hunted by an extraterrestrial warrior.

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#5
Wings of Desire poster

Wings of Desire (1987)

⭐ Top-rated

Composite 75.88

Dir. Wim Wenders · Bruno Ganz · Solveig Dommartin · Otto Sander · Curt Bois

IMDb 7.9 (84,153 votes) · TMDB 7.8

Two angels, Damiel and Cassiel, glide through the streets of Berlin, observing the bustling population, providing invisible rays of hope to the distressed but never interacting with them. When Damiel falls in love with lonely trapeze artist Marion, the angel longs to experience life in the physical world, and finds — with some words of wisdom from actor Peter Falk — that it might be possible for him to take human form.

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#6
Nayakan poster

Nayakan (1987)

⭐ Top-rated

Composite 75.63

Dir. Mani Ratnam · Kamal Haasan · Saranya Ponvannan · Karthika · Janagaraj

IMDb 8.6 (27,934 votes) · TMDB 7.851

Velu Naicker, who witnesses the brutal murder of his father, kills a corrupt policeman and escapes to Mumbai, only to become a gangster.

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#7
The Last Emperor poster

The Last Emperor (1987)

🏆 Winner⭐ Top-rated

Composite 74.82

Dir. Bernardo Bertolucci · John Lone · Joan Chen · Peter O'Toole · Ruocheng Ying

IMDb 7.7 (119,959 votes) · TMDB 7.6

A dramatic history of Pu Yi, the last of the Emperors of China, from his lofty birth and brief reign in the Forbidden City, the object of worship by half a billion people; through his abdication, his decline and dissolute lifestyle; his exploitation by the invading Japanese, and finally to his obscure existence as just another peasant worker in the People's Republic.

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#8
Empire of the Sun poster

Empire of the Sun (1987)

⭐ Top-rated

Composite 74.81

Dir. Steven Spielberg · Christian Bale · John Malkovich · Miranda Richardson · Nigel Havers

IMDb 7.7 (143,520 votes) · TMDB 7.509

Jamie Graham, a privileged English boy, is living in Shanghai when the Japanese invade and force all foreigners into prison camps. Jamie is captured with an American sailor, who looks out for him while they are in the camp together. Even though he is separated from his parents and in a hostile environment, Jamie maintains his dignity and youthful spirit, providing a beacon of hope for the others held captive with him.

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#9
Evil Dead II poster

Evil Dead II (1987)

⭐ Top-rated

Composite 74.7

Dir. Sam Raimi · Bruce Campbell · Sarah Berry · Dan Hicks · Kassie DePaiva

IMDb 7.6 (196,913 votes) · TMDB 7.548

Ash Williams and his girlfriend Linda find a log cabin in the woods with a voice recording from an archeologist who had recorded himself reciting ancient chants from "The Book of the Dead." As they play the recording an evil power is unleashed taking over Linda's body.

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#10
RoboCop poster

RoboCop (1987)

⭐ Top-rated

Composite 74.52

Dir. Paul Verhoeven · Peter Weller · Nancy Allen · Dan O'Herlihy · Ronny Cox

IMDb 7.6 (309,514 votes) · TMDB 7.361

In a violent, near-apocalyptic Detroit, evil corporation Omni Consumer Products wins a contract from the city government to privatize the police force. To test their crime-eradicating cyborgs, the company leads street cop Alex Murphy into an armed confrontation with crime lord Boddicker so they can use his body to support their untested RoboCop prototype. But when RoboCop learns of the company's nefarious plans, he turns on his masters.

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#11
Lethal Weapon poster

Lethal Weapon (1987)

⭐ Top-rated💰 Box office #8

Composite 74.3

Dir. Richard Donner · Mel Gibson · Danny Glover · Gary Busey · Mitchell Ryan

IMDb 7.6 (296,534 votes) · TMDB 7.299

A veteran cop and an unstable detective become partners who must put their differences aside in order to bring down a heroin-smuggling ring run by ex-Special Forces.

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#12
Planes, Trains & Automobiles poster

Planes, Trains & Automobiles (1987)

⭐ Top-rated

Composite 73.73

Dir. John Hughes · Steve Martin · John Candy · Laila Robins · Michael McKean

IMDb 7.6 (180,748 votes) · TMDB 7.256

An irritable marketing executive, Neal Page, is heading home to Chicago for Thanksgiving when a number of delays force him to travel with a well meaning but overbearing shower curtain ring salesman, Del Griffith.

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#13
Au Revoir Les Enfants poster

Au Revoir Les Enfants (1987)

⭐ Top-rated

Composite 73.39

Dir. Louis Malle · Gaspard Manesse · Raphael Fejtö · Francine Racette · Stanislas Carré de Malberg

IMDb 8.0 (38,611 votes) · TMDB 7.5

Au revoir les enfants tells a heartbreaking story of friendship and devastating loss concerning two boys living in Nazi-occupied France. At a provincial Catholic boarding school, the precocious youths enjoy true camaraderie—until a secret is revealed. Based on events from writer-director Malle’s own childhood, the film is a subtle, precisely observed tale of courage, cowardice, and tragic awakening.

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#14
Good Morning, Vietnam poster

Good Morning, Vietnam (1987)

⭐ Top-rated💰 Box office #6

Composite 71.96

Dir. Barry Levinson · Robin Williams · Forest Whitaker · Tom T. Tran · Chintara Sukapatana

IMDb 7.3 (165,861 votes) · TMDB 7.307

A disk jockey goes to Vietnam to work for the Armed Forces Radio Service. While he becomes popular among the troops, his superiors disapprove of his humor.

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#15
Wall Street poster

Wall Street (1987)

⭐ Top-rated

Composite 71.69

Dir. Oliver Stone · Michael Douglas · Charlie Sheen · Martin Sheen · Daryl Hannah

IMDb 7.3 (175,025 votes) · TMDB 7.2

A young and impatient stockbroker is willing to do anything to get to the top, including trading on illegal inside information taken through a ruthless and greedy corporate raider, whom takes the youth under his wing.

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#16
Dirty Dancing poster

Dirty Dancing (1987)

💰 Box office #4

Composite 71.13

Dir. Emile Ardolino · Jennifer Grey · Patrick Swayze · Cynthia Rhodes · Neal Jones

IMDb 7.1 (280,969 votes) · TMDB 7.327

Expecting the usual tedium that accompanies a summer in the Catskills with her family, 17-year-old Frances 'Baby' Houseman is surprised to find herself stepping into the shoes of a professional hoofer—and unexpectedly falling in love.

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#17
Moonstruck poster

Moonstruck (1987)

🎬 Nominee💰 Box office #7

Composite 69.31

Dir. Norman Jewison · Cher · Nicolas Cage · Vincent Gardenia · Olympia Dukakis

IMDb 7.2 (78,198 votes) · TMDB 6.9

37-year-old Italian-American widow Loretta Castorini believes she is unlucky in love, and so accepts a marriage proposal from her boyfriend Johnny, even though she doesn't love him. When she meets his estranged younger brother Ronny, an emotional and passionate man, she finds herself drawn to him. She tries to resist, but Ronny, who blames his brother for the loss of his hand, has no scruples about aggressively pursuing her while Johnny is out of the country. As Loretta falls for Ronny, she learns that she's not the only one in her family with a secret romance.

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#18
Broadcast News poster

Broadcast News (1987)

🎬 Nominee

Composite 68.16

Dir. James L. Brooks · Holly Hunter · William Hurt · Albert Brooks · Robert Prosky

IMDb 7.3 (36,855 votes) · TMDB 6.779

A high-strung news producer finds herself in a love triangle between a talented but self-doubting reporter and a charming news anchor who embodies the growing trivialization of news that she is determined to fight against.

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#19
Fatal Attraction poster

Fatal Attraction (1987)

🎬 Nominee💰 Box office #1

Composite 67.86

Dir. Adrian Lyne · Michael Douglas · Glenn Close · Anne Archer · Ellen Hamilton Latzen

IMDb 6.9 (111,806 votes) · TMDB 6.844

A married man's one-night stand comes back to haunt him when that lover begins to stalk him and his family.

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#20
Hope and Glory poster

Hope and Glory (1987)

🎬 Nominee

Composite 66.87

Dir. John Boorman · Sebastian Rice-Edwards · Geraldine Muir · Sarah Miles · David Hayman

IMDb 7.3 (15,908 votes) · TMDB 6.907

A middle-aged man recalls his childhood growing up in and around London during World War II.

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#21
The Living Daylights poster

The Living Daylights (1987)

💰 Box office #5

Composite 65.82

Dir. John Glen · Timothy Dalton · Maryam D'Abo · Joe Don Baker · Art Malik

IMDb 6.7 (114,968 votes) · TMDB 6.54

After a defecting Russian general reveals a plot to assassinate foreign spies, James Bond is assigned a secret mission to dispatch the new head of the KGB to prevent an escalation of tensions between the Soviet Union and the West.

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#22
Beverly Hills Cop II poster

Beverly Hills Cop II (1987)

💰 Box office #2

Composite 65.32

Dir. Tony Scott · Eddie Murphy · Judge Reinhold · John Ashton · Jürgen Prochnow

IMDb 6.6 (147,361 votes) · TMDB 6.529

Axel Foley returns to the land of sunshine and palm trees to investigate the near-fatal shooting of police Captain Andrew Bogomil. With the help of Sgt. Taggart and Det. Rosewood, they soon uncover that the shooting is associated with a series of "alphabet" robberies masterminded by a heartless weapons kingpin—and the chase is on.

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#23
The Secret of My Success poster

The Secret of My Success (1987)

💰 Box office #9

Composite 64.03

Dir. Herbert Ross · Michael J. Fox · Helen Slater · Richard Jordan · Margaret Whitton

IMDb 6.5 (39,176 votes) · TMDB 6.5

Brantley Foster, a well-educated kid from Kansas, has always dreamed of making it big in New York City, but once there, he learns that jobs - and girls - are hard to get. When he visits his uncle, Howard Prescott, who runs a multi-million-dollar company, he is given a job in the mail room.

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#24
3 Men and a Baby poster

3 Men and a Baby (1987)

💰 Box office #3

Composite 61.35

Dir. Leonard Nimoy · Tom Selleck · Steve Guttenberg · Ted Danson · Margaret Colin

IMDb 6.1 (61,726 votes) · TMDB 6.189

Three bachelors find themselves forced to take care of a baby left by one of the guy's girlfriends.

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How scoring works: films are ranked by a composite of a weighted (Bayesian) IMDb rating — the same method as the IMDb Top 250, so a high score from few voters can't outrank a strong score from many — blended with TMDB. Box office is a tiebreaker and a badge, never part of the score. Raw IMDb ratings and vote counts are shown on each card.