Hey You Guys: 5 Movies Inspired By The Goonies

 

The 40th Anniversary of The Goonies is this week. This 80's classic had kid's of all ages and generations pondering if there is treasure somewhere they could search for. Yearning for some type of adventure, and an opportunity to shout this classic line. Even today's kid's who have been introduced to the film, love it for the cheesiness and the wild stuff the kid's get into in search of a treasure. Since the film is legendary and provided inspiration to generations, I'm bringing you 5 movies inspired by it somehow. Let's get to it.

5. Small Soldiers

Let me go on record and say, we were robbed of a Small Soldiers franchise. A cartoon, a comic book, a sequel or something. There was so much potential for the story of soldiers vs gorgans to be told more in depth. Now that that's out the way. This 1998 film on the surface doesn't seem like it has much in common with The Goonies. Directed by Joe Dante, who directed the Gremlins films, The 'Burbs, and The Explorers amongst other films. Set in a small middle America town, the film features a group of pre-teens saving the town and potentially the world, from the chaos of some destructive action figures. An adventure in itself that was made for 90's kids much like The Goonies was for 80's kids.

4. Finding 'OHanna

Finding 'OHana has The Goonies embedded in it's DNA. It's truly a love letter to the film, released in early 2021 on Netflix it's The Goonies for a new generation. Set in Hawaii, the film follows a brother and sister duo and two friends on a treasure hunt. After hearing a legendary tale of the island, and a trusty diary by their side they set out on a adventure. Sounds familiar? the film also has Ke Huy Quan who played Data in the '85 film with a supporting role. What's paying tribute more than that?

3. Gold Diggers: Secret Of Bear Mountain

This 1995 film starring Anna Chlumsky and Christina Ricci set out to prove girls can be adventurers too. Set in 1980, in a small town in Washington State the film follows a new resident in town played by Christina Ricci, who befriends the local "troubled" girl played by Anna Chlumsky. Both going through their own growing pains of being pre-teens and not fully being accepted by other's in town. They set out to visit Bear Mountain for gold, following the foot steps of a mythical female miner named Molly Morgan.

2. The Monster Squad

Small Soldiers the kid's saved the town from homicidal toys, 1987's The Monster Squad saves the town from classic horror monsters. Released two years after The Goonies, this film absolutely was riding the wave of kid's getting into an adventure. Here a group of pre-teens who essentially are a film club idolizing the classic Universal Monsters. Get's a chance to face off against them, when they cross over into our world. 

1. Holes

While technically the film is based on the novel, both the book and film tone has some Goonies seasoning peppered in. Released in 2003 and starring Shia LaBeouf, Sigourney Weaver, and Jon Voight. The film follows a group of youth's assigned to a juvenile detention camp, who spend their days aimlessly digging holes. Until through a little bit of trouble, small bit of research on the camp's history , and a little bit of sleuth work. The youth's realize they are digging so deep to aid some particular folks in search of a treasure. Definitely Goonies for the Millennials in the early 2000's.