Field of Dreams (1989)

Field of Dreams (1989)

[9]

This delicate fantasy about regret and second chances casts a powerful spell that brings many grown men to tears before the credits roll.  To that effect, Field of Dreams is a beautiful indictment of the unspoken, unrequited nature of father-son relationships — the main ingredient in any male weepy. It helps that Kevin Costner is the lead.  He has an ‘everyman’ quality that allows everyone in the audience to identify with him.  And he’s surrounded by a stellar supporting cast that includes Amy Madigan, James Earl Jones, Ray Liotta, and Burt Lancaster.

Willow (1988)

Willow (1988)

[9] George Lucas produces and Ron Howard directs this fantasy adventure about an unlikely band of heroes who protect a  prophetic baby against an evil queen who seeks to destroy them all. Willow is its producer's baby and has a lot in…
Back to the Future (1985)

Back to the Future (1985)

[10] High schooler Marty McFly (Michael J. Fox) is accidentally sent thirty years into the past where he unwittingly threatens his own existence by interfering with his parents' introduction to one another. With the help of crack-pot scientist Doc Brown, (Christopher Lloyd),…
Ghostbusters (1984)

Ghostbusters (1984)

[9] When New York City becomes increasingly afflicted with ghost-sightings and demonic possessions, it's up to a rag-tag team of self-proclaimed 'Ghostbusters' to save the world from the imminent arrival of a destructive, ancient god. Ghostbusters succeeds as both a comedy and…
E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial (1982)

E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial (1982)

[10] In Steven Spielberg's blockbuster classic, a young boy named Elliot (Henry Thomas) takes care of a stranded alien, helping him send a message into space for the mother ship to return and rescue him.  E.T. is about loneliness and friendship. While…
The Dark Crystal (1982)

The Dark Crystal (1982)

[10] Jen and Kira, the last of their kind, must restore a missing shard to a magical crystal in order to unite two warring races and bring peace to their fractured world.  The story may be too dark and dreary for young…
The Secret of N.I.M.H. (1982)

The Secret of N.I.M.H. (1982)

[9] To save her sick child and move her home from the path of the farmer's plow, a timid field mouse seeks out a colony of hyper-intelligent rats who are the product of medical experimentation. The Secret of N.I.M.H., based on Robert…
Superman: The Movie (1978)

Superman: The Movie (1978)

[9]

This was the first blockbuster superhero movie (for better and for worse) and I doubt there will ever be a better film adaptation for the Man of Steel. Under Richard Donner’s (The Omen, Lethal Weapon) direction and good taste, Superman is a winning blend of action, drama, charm, and yes, camp. The first forty minutes are emotionally powerful, more than any other comic book adaptation I’ve ever seen. I get choked up every time I watch this movie, whether it’s seeing Marlon Brando (as Jor-El) say goodbye to his son before sending him away from their doomed home world, watching the Kent family deal with the death of Jonathan Kent, or the gorgeous wheat field scene where Clark tells Ma Kent it’s time for him to go.

The Ghost and Mrs. Muir (1947)

The Ghost and Mrs. Muir (1947)

[9] A young, lonely widow gains her independence by moving into a seaside cottage where she begins a supernatural relationship with the ghost of a crusty sea captain. As the two begin to fall in love, a flesh-and-blood suitor rivals for her…
The Wizard of Oz (1939)

The Wizard of Oz (1939)

[10] Those ruby slippers have lost no luster in the 80-plus years since the original release of The Wizard of Oz, a film that pretty much defines 'timeless classic'. In the L. Frank Baum story, a spoiled farm girl named Dorothy (Judy…