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1988 was the year of comedies. Holy shit were there a ton of great comedies in this year. I will also say that there were other great films during this year. It was extremely hard to bring this list down to my favorite ten. Like always these are my favorite ten film of the year. If you have a problem, make your own list because I know you won’t agree with it but that is the fun of making list to compare and argue.
Die Hard
“Yipee-ki-yay, motherfucker.” Is it a Christmas movie or now? No matter. Die hard is one of the greatest action films of all time. Starring Bruce Willis and Alan Rickman, Willis plays NYC detective John McClane who flies to L.A. to try and win back his estranged wife on Christmas Eve. The building his wife works in is taken over by terrorist lead by Hans Gruber. This film has it all from action, great dialogue and a great story. It has one of the best villains ever appearing on screen. Alan Rickman went hard and made Hans legendary.
Who Framed Roger Rabbit
One movie that easily breaks into my top five of all-time favorite movies is Who Framed Roger Rabbit. This film is epic in my eyes and the film which started a new and exciting era for Disney. The film was a monster hit for Disney which sparked the Silver Age of American animation and the Disney Renaissance. The film is the perfect blend of comedy and mystery. It helps that you have one of the most beautiful characters ever drawn in Jessica Rabbit. You also can’t hate on a film that brought Mickey and the Disney crew and Bugs and the Warner Bros crew together.
The Land Before Time
The Land Before Time is one of the best-animated films around. It is a story of friends overcoming obstacles who try to make it to the Great Valley. This film might have one of the saddest scenes in film history. The death of Littlefoot’s mother gets me every time. I cry every time that scene comes up. One of the best films of the year and one of the best of storytelling and the meaning of friendship.
Beetlejuice
Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice……aww you won’t catch me saying his name the third time. Michael Keaton is straight up hilarious and entertaining as the title character. The scene where he kicks over the tree is hilarious. The story revolves around a deceased couple who want to rid their house of humans decide to hire a “bio-exorcist.” Things don’t go as planned but the film is truly entertaining and weird. One of Tim Burton’s finest films.
They Live
“I have come here to chew bubblegum and kick ass. And I’m all out of bubblegum.” This film is awesome! Starring the great Roddy Piper, this film will make you think a little. Piper’s character finds a pair of glasses that makes him see aliens and subliminal messages. The fight with Keith David’s character was insane. This is one of John Carpenter’s best and underrated films. You have to watch it because it will make you think and it has many themes.
A Fish Called Wanda
A Fish Called Wanda is honestly one of the funniest movies I have ever seen, and I thoroughly enjoyed Kevin Kline’s hilarious performance. Kevin Kline was masterful in his role as Otto and definitely deserved his Academy Award. Honestly, this is one of the best comedies I have seen in a long time, and I hope everyone in the entire world takes the time to watch this funny ass film. The story is entertaining, Jamie Lee Curtis is beautiful and does her thing. This is a must watch.
Coming to America
“Oh say can you see, I’m coming to America.” Coming to America is that film where my friends from other races will reference that they seen as a badge of honor. That is why this film is on the list. Coming to America is that film that is hilarious in so many ways. A story created by Eddie Murphy and starring Murphy in various roles along with Arsenio Hall, you get a story about a prince who comes to the US to find his love. The film has so many people and I bet you can name them all. This is a must-watch film.
Akira
There have been plenty of anime series that have influenced the Western world. There is only one that stands at the top of the mountain. The king of all anime and the one where you must kiss the ring. The granddaddy and godfather of them all. The one, the only, the legendary Akira. One of the greatest films ever made. I didn’t say the greatest anime film ever made; it is one of the greatest films ever made. Akira has been cited as a freakin masterpiece in the field of so many areas. Awesome anime? Check. Amazing story? Check. Interesting character? Check. It checks all the boxes, and even after all these years, it is still great to watch. The Akira slide is still one of the most epic and iconic slides in anime history.
The Accused
The Accused is a terrific film held up by Jodie Foster’s performance. The Accused is loosely based on the 1983 gang rape of Cheryl Araujo and the film is intense along with being sad and frustrated. You should feel anger towards all the men who didn’t do anything and the people who watched. The situation was wrong on many levels, yet the film did a good job setting up the story to make you think Sarah is not the victim. Foster was spectacular in this role, and I think this role was better than her Silence of the Lambs performance.
Elvira: Mistress of the Dark
You damn right this movie is on the list. Elvira was honestly one of my first, “Damn! This woman has some major assets going on.” I remember watching this film as a kid and thought it was wild. The film is crazy and all over the place like its star Elvira. The buxom horror hostess dips from LA and moves to Massachusetts to claim an inheritance and finds a spellbook. This is one of those funny Halloween movies that you can watch.
