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Best of 1984

Best Movies of 1984, Ranked

1,558 films on the site were released in 1984, and 114 have enough critic or audience ratings to be ranked. Stop Making Sense tops the list, ahead of Threads and This Is Spinal Tap. The biggest hit was Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom with $333.1M worldwide.

films released in 1984
1,558
ranked by rating
114
worldwide, top 10 hits
$1.6B
award wins
23
  1. Stop Making Sense (1984) movie poster #1 Stop Making Sense 94 Metascore
  2. Threads (1984) movie poster #2 Threads 92 Metascore
  3. This Is Spinal Tap (1984) movie poster #3 This Is Spinal Tap 92 Metascore
#1 of 1984

What Is the Best Movie of 1984?

Stop Making Sense is the best-rated film of 1984, with a rank value of 90/100 from critics and audiences, ahead of Threads (85/100). Ranked by a blend of Metascore and IMDb/Letterboxd user ratings (Echo Scores start with 2017 releases).

Ranked

Top 25 Movies of 1984, Ranked

Threads and This Is Spinal Tap follow Stop Making Sense. Drama is the most common genre in the top 25 (14 films). Ranked by a blend of Metascore and IMDb/Letterboxd user ratings (Echo Scores start with 2017 releases).

Best of the 1980s
  1. Threads (1984) movie poster
    2. Threads 92 Metascore (Metascore 92 out of 100)

    1984 · Sci-Fi, Drama · 1h 52m

    Dir. Mick Jackson No Echo Score: ranked 85/100 on critics & audiences

  2. This Is Spinal Tap (1984) movie poster
    3. This Is Spinal Tap 92 Metascore (Metascore 92 out of 100)

    1984 · Comedy, Music · 1h 22m

    No Echo Score: ranked 84/100 on critics & audiences

  3. The Terminator (1984) movie poster
    4. The Terminator 84 Metascore (Metascore 84 out of 100)

    1984 · Action, Sci-Fi · 1h 47m

    Dir. James Cameron No Echo Score: ranked 83/100 on critics & audiences

  4. L'Argent (1984) movie poster
    5. L'Argent 95 Metascore (Metascore 95 out of 100 (6 critic reviews))

    1984 · Drama, Crime · 1h 25m

    Dir. Robert Bresson No Echo Score: ranked 82/100 on critics & audiences

  5. Paris, Texas (1984) movie poster
    6. Paris, Texas 81 Metascore (Metascore 81 out of 100 (13 critic reviews))

    1984 · Drama · 2h 25m

    Dir. Wim Wenders No Echo Score: ranked 80/100 on critics & audiences

  6. Once Upon a Time in America (1984) movie poster
    7. Once Upon a Time in America 75 Metascore (Metascore 75 out of 100 (20 critic reviews))

    1984 · Drama, Crime · 3h 49m

    Dir. Sergio Leone No Echo Score: ranked 80/100 on critics & audiences

  7. Tenebrae (1984) movie poster
    8. Tenebrae 83 Metascore (Metascore 83 out of 100)

    1984 · Mystery, Thriller · 1h 41m

    Dir. Dario Argento No Echo Score: ranked 79/100 on critics & audiences

  8. Stranger Than Paradise (1984) movie poster
    9. Stranger Than Paradise 86 Metascore (Metascore 86 out of 100)

    1984 · Drama, Comedy · 1h 29m

    No Echo Score: ranked 77/100 on critics & audiences

  9. Broadway Danny Rose (1984) movie poster
    10. Broadway Danny Rose 82 Metascore (Metascore 82 out of 100 (17 critic reviews))

    1984 · Comedy · 1h 24m

    No Echo Score: ranked 77/100 on critics & audiences

  10. A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984) movie poster
    11. A Nightmare on Elm Street 76 Metascore (Metascore 76 out of 100 (12 critic reviews))

    1984 · Horror · 1h 31m

    Dir. Wes Craven No Echo Score: ranked 76/100 on critics & audiences

  11. Ghostbusters (1984) movie poster
    12. Ghostbusters 71 Metascore (Metascore 71 out of 100 (8 critic reviews))

    1984 · Sci-Fi, Fantasy · 1h 45m

    Dir. Ivan Reitman No Echo Score: ranked 76/100 on critics & audiences

  12. El Norte (1984) movie poster
    13. El Norte 75 Metascore (Metascore 75 out of 100 (10 critic reviews))

    1984 · Adventure, Drama · 2h 21m

    Dir. Gregory Nava No Echo Score: ranked 76/100 on critics & audiences

  13. The Gods Must Be Crazy (1984) movie poster
    14. The Gods Must Be Crazy 73 Metascore (Metascore 73 out of 100)

    1984 · Comedy · 1h 49m

    Dir. Jamie Uys No Echo Score: ranked 75/100 on critics & audiences

  14. Repo Man (1984) movie poster
    15. Repo Man 82 Metascore (Metascore 82 out of 100)

    1984 · Action, Sci-Fi · 1h 32m

    No Echo Score: ranked 74/100 on critics & audiences

  15. Birdy (1984) movie poster
    16. Birdy 71 Metascore (Metascore 71 out of 100 (9 critic reviews))

    1984 · Drama, War · 2h

    Dir. Alan Parker No Echo Score: ranked 72/100 on critics & audiences

  16. Places in the Heart (1984) movie poster
    17. Places in the Heart 70 Metascore (Metascore 70 out of 100)

    1984 · Drama · 1h 51m

    Dir. Robert Benton No Echo Score: ranked 72/100 on critics & audiences

  17. Gremlins (1984) movie poster
    18. Gremlins 70 Metascore (Metascore 70 out of 100 (13 critic reviews))

    1984 · Fantasy, Horror · 1h 46m

    Dir. Joe Dante No Echo Score: ranked 72/100 on critics & audiences

  18. Suburbia (1984) movie poster
    19. Suburbia 73 Metascore (Metascore 73 out of 100)

    1984 · Drama, Thriller · 1h 34m

    Dir. Penelope Spheeris No Echo Score: ranked 71/100 on critics & audiences

  19. Yentl (1984) movie poster
    20. Yentl 68 Metascore (Metascore 68 out of 100)

    1984 · Drama, Romance · 2h 13m

    No Echo Score: ranked 71/100 on critics & audiences

  20. Starman (1984) movie poster
    21. Starman 70 Metascore (Metascore 70 out of 100)

    1984 · Adventure, Sci-Fi · 1h 55m

    Dir. John Carpenter No Echo Score: ranked 70/100 on critics & audiences

  21. Beverly Hills Cop (1984) movie poster
    22. Beverly Hills Cop 66 Metascore (Metascore 66 out of 100 (12 critic reviews))

    1984 · Action, Drama · 1h 45m

    Dir. Martin Brest No Echo Score: ranked 70/100 on critics & audiences

  22. Under the Volcano (1984) movie poster
    23. Under the Volcano 70 Metascore (Metascore 70 out of 100)

    1984 · Drama · 1h 52m

    No Echo Score: ranked 69/100 on critics & audiences

  23. Songwriter (1984) movie poster
    23. Songwriter 76 Metascore (Metascore 76 out of 100)

    1984 · Drama, Music · 1h 34m

    Dir. Alan Rudolph No Echo Score: ranked 69/100 on critics & audiences

  24. The Last Starfighter (1984) movie poster
    25. The Last Starfighter 67 Metascore (Metascore 67 out of 100)

    1984 · Action, Adventure · 1h 41m

    No Echo Score: ranked 69/100 on critics & audiences

Box office

What Were the Highest-Grossing Movies of 1984?

Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom earned $333.1M worldwide, ahead of Beverly Hills Cop ($316.4M). The top 10 took $1.6B together; 178 films released in 1984 have a box office record here. Grosses that look like data errors are left out.

Full 1984 box office
  1. Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984) movie poster #1 $333.1M worldwide Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom $179.9M domestic · Action
  2. Beverly Hills Cop (1984) movie poster #2 $316.4M worldwide Beverly Hills Cop $234.8M domestic · Action
  3. Ghostbusters (1984) movie poster #3 $296.6M worldwide Ghostbusters $243.6M domestic · Sci-Fi
  4. Gremlins (1984) movie poster #4 $165.4M worldwide Gremlins $153.6M domestic · Fantasy
  5. The Karate Kid (1984) movie poster #5 $91.1M worldwide The Karate Kid $91.1M domestic · Action
  6. Romancing the Stone (1984) movie poster #6 $86.6M worldwide Romancing the Stone $76.6M domestic · Action
  7. Police Academy (1984) movie poster #7 $81.2M worldwide Police Academy $81.2M domestic · Comedy
  8. Footloose (1984) movie poster #8 $80M worldwide Footloose $80M domestic · Drama
  9. The Terminator (1984) movie poster #9 $78.4M worldwide The Terminator $38.4M domestic · Action
  10. Star Trek III: The Search for Spock (1984) movie poster #10 $76.6M worldwide Star Trek III: The Search for Spock $76.5M domestic · Action
Awards

Which 1984 Movies Won the Most Awards?

Places in the Heart leads with 3 wins from 12 nominations, then Gremlins with 3 wins. In all, 41 films released in 1984 have award nominations on the site, with 23 wins between them.

1985 awards season
  1. Places in the Heart (1984) movie poster
    Places in the Heart 3 / 12
    1984 · Drama · 3 wins from 12 nominations
  2. Gremlins (1984) movie poster
    Gremlins 3 / 7
    1984 · Fantasy, Horror · 3 wins from 7 nominations
  3. Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984) movie poster
    Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom 2 / 12
    1984 · Action, Adventure · 2 wins from 12 nominations
  4. Once Upon a Time in America (1984) movie poster
    Once Upon a Time in America 2 / 7
    1984 · Drama, Crime · 2 wins from 7 nominations
  5. The Terminator (1984) movie poster
    The Terminator 2 / 6
    1984 · Action, Sci-Fi · 2 wins from 6 nominations
  6. Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes (1984) movie poster
    Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes 1 / 11
    1984 · Adventure, Drama · 1 win from 11 nominations
  7. Yentl (1984) movie poster
    Yentl 1 / 10
    1984 · Drama, Romance · 1 win from 10 nominations
  8. Ghostbusters (1984) movie poster
    Ghostbusters 1 / 7
    1984 · Sci-Fi, Fantasy · 1 win from 7 nominations
By genre

What Is the Best 1984 Movie in Each Genre?

The highest-ranked 1984 film of 12 genres, from Music (Stop Making Sense) to Thriller (Suburbia). Each film appears once, under its first genre that is still free.

Release months

When Were 1984's Movies Released?

October was the busiest month of 1984 with 136 releases; its best-rated film is Stop Making Sense. January shows 322 because films whose exact release day is unknown are stored on January 1.

  • January Best: Broadway Danny Rose
    322
  • February Best: Tenebrae
    90
  • March Best: This Is Spinal Tap
    120
  • April Best: Suburbia
    109
  • May Best: Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom
    114
  • June Best: Once Upon a Time in America
    112
  • July Best: Stranger Than Paradise
    87
  • August Best: The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension
    105
  • September Best: Threads
    123
  • October Best: Stop Making Sense
    136
  • November Best: Paris, Texas
    119
  • December Best: Birdy
    121
Languages

Which Languages Were 1984's Movies In?

44% of 1984's films with a known language are in English (681). Spanish comes next with 92 films, out of 53 languages in all.

Every year

Best Movies by Year

A best-of page for each of 55 years, from 1900 to 2026 (so far). Before 1980 there is one page per decade, for its first year (1900, 1910, 1920, 1930, 1940, 1950, 1960, 1970); from 1980 every year has its own.

2020s
2010s
2000s
1990s
1980s
1900–1970
FAQ

Best Movies of 1984: Questions & Answers

Quick answers about 1984's best-rated films, biggest hits and awards, from the lists above.

What is the best movie of 1984?

Stop Making Sense is the best-rated film of 1984 on What's After the Movie, with a rank value of 90/100 from critics and audiences. Threads is second and This Is Spinal Tap third. Ranked by a blend of Metascore and IMDb/Letterboxd user ratings (Echo Scores start with 2017 releases).

About Stop Making Sense

What was the highest-grossing movie of 1984?

Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom earned $333.1M worldwide, the most of any 1984 release on the site. Beverly Hills Cop follows with $316.4M.

1984 box office

Which 1984 film won the most awards?

Places in the Heart has the best award record of the 1984 releases on the site: 3 wins from 12 nominations.

1985 awards season

How many movies were released in 1984?

The site lists 1,558 films released in 1984. 114 of them are ranked, and October had the most releases with a known day (136).

How are the best movies of 1984 ranked?

Ranked by a blend of Metascore and IMDb/Letterboxd user ratings (Echo Scores start with 2017 releases). Only feature films count (60 minutes or longer, no concert recordings), and a film needs enough ratings, box office or award attention to be ranked.