Top 10 Movies of 1986 (And 50 More Turning 40!)

1986 was one of those stacked movie years and they are ALL turning 40! This is the year that gave us jet-fueled swagger, iconic teen classics, peak sci-fi, quotable comedies, and a handful of movies that got more popular the more cable and VHS did their thing.

First, the top 10 domestic highest-grossing films of 1986 (with the box office totals, because what’s a top movie post without the numbers). And can we talk about how random and glorious this top 10 is? 1986 wasn’t dominated by one genre: it bounced from Top Gun to a war-film gut punch, Platoon, to the icons of Star Trek IV, and then Rodney Dangerfield. Seriously: the fact that Platoon (heavy, intense, award-season serious) shares a list with Back to School is the perfect snapshot of the decade. The box office was basically a mixtape that could handle everything at once.

After the top 10 list, there’s a random list of 50 other 1986 movies, from animated to horror, 1986 gave something for everyone. A perfect mix to build a 1986 movie night.

Domestic Highest Grossing Movies of ’86

1) Top Gun

Domestic box office: $176,781,728 (Rank #1 of 1986).
The movie that turned fighter pilots into rock stars and basically glued Ray-Bans, motorcycles, and beach volleyball to the idea of “cool.” Top Gun wasn’t just a hit; it was a whole pop culture mood, complete with a soundtrack that felt like it played everywhere for the next decade.

2) Crocodile Dundee

Domestic box office: $174,803,506 (Rank #2 of 1986).
A fish-out-of-water crowd-pleaser that became a full-blown phenomenon. Crocodile Dundee hit that sweet spot of comedy + charm, and it’s one of those movies that instantly teleports you back to the era where a movie star’s grin could carry an entire blockbuster.

3) Platoon

Domestic box office: $138,530,565 (Rank #3 of 1986).
The heavyweight of the year . . . intense, raw, and impossible to shake. Platoon helped define how a generation talked about Vietnam on screen, and it’s the kind of movie that still feels serious and urgent even if you haven’t watched it in years.

4) The Karate Kid Part II

Domestic box office: $115,103,979 (Rank #4 of 1986).
A sequel that leaned into the heart: higher stakes, bigger emotion, and more Miyagi wisdom. If the first movie is pure underdog energy, Part II is about identity and honor, and yes, it still makes you want to stand up straighter.

5) Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home

Domestic box office: $109,713,132 (Rank #5 of 1986).
It’s the one with the whale. Sure, it’s the OG Crew with time travel, humor, and a surprisingly cozy vibe, buttttttt it’s still the one that will be remembered because of the whale.

6) Back to School

Domestic box office: $91,258,000 (Rank #6 of 1986).
Peak ’80s comedy setup: an older guy goes back to college, and chaos ensues. It’s loud, ridiculous, and exactly the kind of movie that lived on TV reruns; the kind you’d walk into the room and accidentally end up watching.

7) Aliens

Domestic box office: $85,160,248 (Rank #7 of 1986).
Not just a sequel but an upgrade. Aliens took the horror tension of the first film and added adrenaline, action, and iconic characters. It’s one of the best “bigger and better” sequels ever made, and it still rules.

8) The Golden Child

Domestic box office: $79,817,937 (Rank #8 of 1986).
A fantasy-adventure comedy that feels like a true 80s time capsule. Eddie Murphy doing action + jokes + supernatural chaos is its own genre, and this one is pure “I saw this on TV a hundred times” energy.

9) Ruthless People

Domestic box office: $71,624,879 (Rank #9 of 1986).
A dark comedy that’s sharp, twisty, and way more fun than people remember until they rewatch it. It’s one of those movies that proves the mid-80s had a real talent for “messy people behaving badly” comedies.

10) Ferris Bueller’s Day Off

Domestic box office: $70,136,369 (Rank #10 of 1986).
The definition of a comfort classic. It’s not just a teen comedy; it’s a celebration of ditching responsibility, stealing one perfect day, and treating life like a highlight reel. The quotes alone could fill a scrapbook.

Beyond the box office: 50 more movies turning 40 in 2026

The top 10 were the money-makers. This next list is the memory-makers: the titles that thrived for 40 years on VHS, late-night cable, DVD bins, recorded off of TV, and “one more before bed” rewatches. Some of these were huge in their own right, some became cult classics, and some didn’t get their flowers until well after the theater run.

(Notice the check boxes 🙂 go ahead and print the list out)

After seeing this list, it’s interesting to see what titles drew moviegoers in 1986. Rodney Dangerfield’s Back to School pulled in more domestic box office than movies like Aliens, Stand by Me, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, Pretty In Pink, Labyrinth, The Fly, An American Tail, and Highlander. That’s the fun of looking back: opening-weekend momentum doesn’t always predict what people will rewatch for decades.

How to Watch (aka: the modern version of walking into Blockbuster)

Because streaming rotates constantly (and this is pretty much for all out-of-date movies), your best strategy is:

1. VHS – yup.
2. Search your subscriptions/streaming (you might already have access).
3. Check if it’s available for digital rental (Apple TV, Prime Video, YouTube/Google TV, Vudu).
4. For the scarce titles, check your local library (DVD/Blu-ray) + apps like Hoopla and Kanopy (availability varies by library).
5. If you’re hunting for something hard-to-find, you can also search YouTube and the Internet Archive or some of the free streaming services – availability varies, but older/obscure titles sometimes pop up there.

IT’S TIME TO WATCH MOVIES!

To be clear: this isn’t every movie that came out in 1986 – not even close. Think of this as a celebration of 40 years of favorites, cult staples, and titles that people kept discovering long after the theater run.

What is the most underrated? What’s the most quotable? Which one did you absolutely forget about?

Which one are you going to go watch now?