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1986: World Premieres
1986: U.S. Releases
1986: Still Left to See

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The Movies of 1986: World Premieres
 By Title // By Grade // By VOR // Last update: December 9, 2025

Full Listing of Films Screened
= Full Review   /   = Capsule   /   = Feature or Blog Post   /   = Grain of Salt

9½ Weeks Dir. Adrian Lyne. Kim Basinger, Mickey Rourke, Margaret Whitton C

Aliens Dir. James Cameron. Sigourney Weaver, Michael Biehn, Paul Reiser A
American Anthem Dir. Albert Magnoli. Mitch Gaylord, Janet Jones D+
And the Pursuit of Happiness Dir. Louis Malle. Documentary A–

Back to School Dir. Alan Metter. Rodney Dangerfield, Keith Gordon C–
Betty Blue Dir. Jean-Jacques Beineix. Jean-Hugues Anglade, Béatrice Dalle B
Big Trouble in Little China Dir. John Carpenter. Kurt Russell, Dennis Dun C–
Blue Velvet Dir. David Lynch. Kyle MacLachlan, Laura Dern, Isabella Rossellini A–
The Bombing of Osage Avenue Dir. Louis Massiah. Documentary B

Cactus Dir. Paul Cox. Isabelle Huppert, Robert Menzies, Norman Kaye B
Caravaggio Dir. Derek Jarman. Nigel Terry, Sean Bean, Tilda Swinton B+
Children of a Lesser God Dir. Randa Haines. William Hurt, Marlee Matlin C
The Clan of the Cave Bear Dir. Michael Chapman. Daryl Hannah C–
The Color of Money Dir. Martin Scorsese. Paul Newman, Tom Cruise B
Crimes of the Heart Dir. Bruce Beresford. Diane Keaton, Sissy Spacek D–

The Decline of the American Empire Dir. Denys Arcand. Rémy Girard C

Esther Dir. Amos Gitai. Shmuel Wolf, Simone Benyamini, Zare Vartinyan B–
Extremities Dir. Robert M. Young. Farrah Fawcett, James Russo C+

Ferris Bueller's Day Off Dir. John Hughes. Matthew Broderick, Alan Ruck C
The Fly Dir. David Cronenberg. Jeff Goldblum, Geena Davis, John Getz A–

Genesis Dir. Mrinal Sen. Naseeruddin Shah, Om Puri, Shabana Azmi B+
The Green Ray Dir. Éric Rohmer. Marie Rivière, Vincent Gauthier, Rosette A

Hannah and Her Sisters Dir. Woody Allen. Mia Farrow, Barbara Hershey A
Heartburn Dir. Mike Nichols. Meryl Streep, Jack Nicholson B–
Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer Dir. John McNaughton. Michael Rooker B+
Home of the Brave Dir. Laurie Anderson. Concert documentary B+
Hoosiers Dir. David Anspaugh. Gene Hackman, Barbara Hershey, Dennis Hopper D+

Little Shop of Horrors Dir. Frank Oz. Rick Moranis, Ellen Greene B–
Love Me Forever or Never Dir. Arnaldo Jabor. Fernanda Torres C+
Lucas Dir. David Seltzer. Corey Haim, Kerri Green, Charlie Sheen B

The Making of 'Fanny & Alexander' Dir. Ingmar Bergman. Documentary B+
Manhunter Dir. Michael Mann. William Petersen, Tom Noonan, Dennis Farina B
Matador Dir. Pedro Almodóvar. Nacho Martínez, Assumpta Serna B+
Mauvais sang Dir. Leos Carax. Denis Lavant, Juliette Binoche, Michel Piccoli B
Max, mon amour Dir. Nagisa Ōshima. Anthony Higgins, Charlotte Rampling C–
Ménage (Tenue de soirée) Dir. Bertrand Blier. Michel Blanc, Gérard Depardieu B
Miss Mary Dir. María Luisa Bemberg. Julie Christie, Donald McIntire C
The Mission Dir. Roland Joffé. Jeremy Irons, Robert De Niro, Ray McAnally C
Mona Lisa Dir. Neil Jordan. Bob Hoskins, Cathy Tyson, Robbie Coltrane B
The Money Pit Dir. Richard Benjamin. Tom Hanks, Shelley Long B
The Morning After Dir. Sidney Lumet. Jane Fonda, Jeff Bridges, Raúl Juliá C

The Name of the Rose Dir. Jean-Jacques Annaud. Sean Connery, Christian Slater C+
Noir et blanc Dir. Claire Devers. François Frappat, Jacques Martial B+

Ópera do Malandro Dir. Ruy Guerra. Edson Celulari, Elba Ramalho, Fábio Sabag C–
Otello Dir. Franco Zeffirelli. Plácido Domingo, Justino Díaz, Katia Racciarelli C

Parting Glances Dir. Bill Sherwood. Richard Ganoung, John Bolger B
Peggy Sue Got Married Dir. Francis Ford Coppola. Kathleen Turner D
Platoon Dir. Oliver Stone. Charlie Sheen, Tom Berenger, Willem Dafoe B+
Poltergeist II: The Other Side Dir. Brian Gibson. Craig T. Nelson C+
Power Dir. Sidney Lumet. Richard Gere, Julie Christie, Gene Hackman D+
Pretty in Pink Dir. Howard Deutch. Molly Ringwald, Andrew McCarthy B+
Psycho III Dir. Anthony Perkins. Anthony Perkins, Diana Scarwid, Jeff Fahey B

A Room with a View Dir. James Ivory. Helena Bonham Carter, Julian Sands A–
Rosa Luxemburg Dir. Margarethe von Trotta. Barbara Sukowa, Otto Sander C
'Round Midnight Dir. Bertrand Tavernier. Dexter Gordon, François Cluzet B+

The Sacrifice Dir. Andrei Tarkovsky. Erland Josephson, Allan Edwall B+
Salvador Dir. Oliver Stone. James Woods, James Belushi, Elpidia Carrillo B
Scene of the Crime Dir. André Téchiné. Nicolas Giraudi, Catherine Deneuve B
Shadows in Paradise Dir. Aki Kaurismäki. Matti Pellonpää, Sakari Kuosmanen B
Sherman's March Dir. Ross McElwee. Documentary about elusive search for love A
She's Gotta Have It Dir. Spike Lee. Tracy Camilla Johns, Tommy Redmond Hicks B
Sleepwalk Dir. Sara Driver. Suzanne Fletcher, Ann Magnuson, Stephen Chen C+
Something Wild Dir. Jonathan Demme. Jeff Daniels, Melanie Griffith B+
SpaceCamp Dir. Harry Winer. Kate Capshaw, Lea Thompson, Tate Donovan C
Stand by Me Dir. Rob Reiner. Wil Wheaton, River Phoenix, Corey Feldman B–

Thérèse Dir. Alain Cavalier. Catherine Mouchet, Hélène Alexandridis A–
Top Gun Dir. Tony Scott. Tom Cruise, Kelly McGillis, Anthony Edwards C
Top Gun Dir. Tony Scott. Tom Cruise, Kelly McGillis, Anthony Edwards C
Two Friends Dir. Jane Campion. Emma Coles, Kris Bidenko, Kris McQuade B+

Working Girls Dir. Lizzie Borden. Louise Smith, Marusia Zach, Amanda Goodwin B+