Fun
Frisky
Nostalgic
Intense
Adventurous
Choked Up
Curious
Romantic
Weird
Red Oaks, the newest original series from Amazon, premieres on Prime Video this Friday. Starring the up-and-coming Welsh actor Craig Roberts, Red Oaks turns back the clock to the summer of 1985 when NYU student David Meyers (Roberts) starts a new job at the titular posh country club. Perfectly nailing the suburban aesthetic of the mid ’80s from the polo shirts to the crimped hair, Red Oaks is a nostalgic treat for anyone who remembers 1985 — or those of us too young to look back at that summer with any fond recognition.
While 1985 was a turning point for the ’80s (and for the characters on Red Oaks), it was also a pretty great year for movies. The summer blockbusters that year were especially kick-ass, with machine gun-toting mercenaries and randy old folks topping the box office. Here’s a look back at that summer’s biggest hits, which we bet the characters on Red Oaks would have gone to see between the golf lessons and comically existential dilemmas.
'Rambo: First Blood Part II'
Sylvester Stallone returns as everyone’s favorite Vietnam vet John Rambo, who gets a get-out-of-jail card for one hefty price: a trip back to Vietnam to save some American POWs. (Sly pulled double-duty in ’85 as the globetrotting American badass – Rocky IV also saw him going head-to-head against Soviet oppression.) [Where to stream Rambo: First Blood Part II]
'A View to a Kill'
Roger Moore returned to play famed British spy James Bond for the last time, going head-to-head against a pair of deadly foes portrayed by Christopher Walken and Grace Jones. (Here’s to hoping that someone on Red Oaks gets the Duran Duran theme song stuck in their head.) [Where to stream A View to a Kill]
'Fletch'
It was a big summer for Chevy Chase, who starred in two box-office hits — the first being Fletch, in which Chase played the titular Los Angeles Times reporter who dons a variety of identities to get his story. [Where to stream Fletch]
'The Goonies'
A band of misfit kids join forces to save their dilapidated town from being razed to make room for a country club. Not only are they up against ruthless developers, they also must fight off a family of outlaws who will stop at nothing to beat the kids in their search for long lost pirate treasure. [Where to stream The Goonies]
'Cocoon'
There were a lot of horny teens in the ’80s, but that doesn’t mean that senior citizens didn’t show off their amorous sides. When a trio of old men break into a pool next to their old folks home, they don’t realize that their sudden youthful vigor is the result of the pool being used for storage by some alien beings who are living on Earth incognito. [Where to stream Cocoon]
'Back to the Future'
The first of Robert Zemeckis’ time-travel trilogy hit theaters (and was partially set) in 1985 and starred TV star Michael J. Fox as the ingenious Marty McFly who is sent back to 1955 in a souped-up Delorian. Marty must brave vintage high school bullies and his own horny mom in order to repair his time machine and go back to the present-day.
'Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome'
Just like this summer, people were mad for George Miller’s then-newest installment of his post-apocalyptic action-adventure franchise (starring the original Max Rockatansky, Mel Gibson). The third film in the series finds Max working alongside Aunty Entity, the ruthless leader of Bartertown played by pop star Tina Turner. [Where to stream Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome]
'National Lampoon's European Vacation'
Amy Heckerling directed this second film in the Vacation series, this time finding the Griswolds heading across the pond for a mishap-laden trek on the continent after winning an all-expenses-paid trip to Europe. Their travels take them to the expected locations like London, Paris, and Rome, where the classically dim American family manages to wreak havoc.
'Weird Science'
John Hughes wrote and directed this quintessential teen sex comedy about a pair of nerds whose brilliance is only outdone by their horniness. Together they conjure up a virtual woman who is brought to life (with the help of extra power stolen from the government, naturally) and exudes cool, sexiness, and superhuman power. [Where to stream Weird Science]
'Pee-wee's Big Adventure'
Paul Reubens’ alter-ego Pee-wee Herman made his big-screen debut at the end of the summer, making Pee-wee a household name (and launching the directorial career of Tim Burton). But before he invited kids into his playhouse on Saturday mornings, Pee-wee traveled across the country in pursuit of his stolen bicycle. [Where to stream Pee-wee’s Big Adventure]
