10 classic movies you can watch now on Netflix that you won't believe are turning 40 — from 'Footloose' to 'A Nightmare on Elm Street'

Ayomikun Adekaiyero

2024-04-06T10:18:02Z

Eddie Murphy in "Beverly Hills Cop," Molly Ringwald in "Sixteen Candles" and Robert Englund in "A Nightmare on Elm Street." Paramount Pictures / Universal Pictures / New Line Cinema

There are currently 23 movies on Netflix that turn 40 this year.
Netflix put the movies in a special category called the "Milestone Movies: The Anniversary Collection."
Here are 10 must-watch classics from the collection.

"Footloose," "Sixteen Candles," and "A Nightmare on Elm Street" are among the films turning 40 this year.

To celebrate, Netflix has created a collection of films released in 1984, which can be found by searching "Milestone Movies: The Anniversary Collection" on the site.

The collection features box office hits such as "Footloose" and "Beverly Hills Cop." The latter film, starring Eddie Murphy, made $234 million, according to Box Office Mojo, and Netflix plans to release a sequel later this year. "Amadeus," which swept eight Oscars in 1985, is also available in the collection.

Here are 10 classic movies to put on your watchlist.

1. 'Footloose' — premiered on February 17, 1984

Kevin Bacon in "Footloose." CBS Photo Archive / CBS via Getty Images

Description: When Chicago teen Ren McCormack (Kevin Bacon) moves to Bomont, he transforms the small town by overturning the ban on dancing and rock music.

Rotten Tomatoes critic score: 55%

'Repo Man' — premiered on March 2, 1984

Emilio Estevez andHarry Dean Stanton in "Repo Man." Universal Pictures

Description: This cult film follows Otto Maddox (Emilio Estevez), a young punk rocker living in LA who gets a job at a car repossession agency. When sent to get a Chevrolet Malibu, he comes across something extraterrestrial.

Rotten Tomatoes critic score: 98%

'Sixteen Candles' — premiered on May 4, 1984

Description: Directed by John Hughes, "Sixteen Candles" follows Sam Baker (Molly Ringwald) as she has a disastrous sixteenth birthday.

Rotten Tomatoes critic score: 81%

'Firestarter' — premiered on May 11, 1984

Description: In the original "Firestarter" movie, Drew Barrymore plays a girl with pyrokinetic abilities on the run from a secret government agency.

Rotten Tomatoes critic score: 38%

'Top Secret!' — premiered on June 22, 1984

Val Kilmer and Lucy Gutteridge in "Top Secret!" Paramount Pictures

Description: Val Kilmer channels Elvis Presley in this Cold War spy parody movie about a rock 'n' roll singer. While performing in East Germany, the singer gets wrapped up in a plot to reunite East and West Germany.

Rotten Tomatoes critic score: 76%

'Conan the Destroyer' — premiered on June 29, 1984

conan the destroyer barbarian — Arnold Schwarzenegger in "Conan the Destroyer." Universal Pictures

Description: Arnold Schwarzenegger reprises his role as Conan the Barbarian in "Conan the Destroyer." This time, Conan is on a quest to escort Princess Jehnna (Olivia D'abo) to an island fortress.

Rotten Tomatoes critic score: 26%

'Amadeus' — premiered on September 19, 1984

F. Murray Abraham in "Amadeus." Orion Pictures

Description: "Amadeus," which won eight Oscars in 1985, is a fictional story about Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and his rivalry with another composer, Antonio Salieri.

Rotten Tomatoes critic score: 89%

'A Nightmare on Elm Street' — premiered on November 16, 1984

freddy krueger nightmare on elm street — Robert Englund in "A Nightmare on Elm Street." New Line Cinema

Description: In this supernatural slasher movie, a group of teens must fight for their lives against Freddy Kreuger, an undead serial killer who can murder people in their dreams.

Rotten Tomatoes critic score: 95%

'Falling in Love' — premiered on November 21, 1984

Robert De Niro and Meryl Streep filming "Falling In Love" in New York City. Sonia Moskowitz / IMAGES / Getty Images

Description: Robert De Niro and Meryl Streep star together in this romantic drama about two married strangers who form a connection after multiple meet-cutes.

Rotten Tomatoes critic score: 54%

'Beverly Hills Cop' — premiered on December 5, 1984

Eddie Murphy in "Beverly Hills Cop." Paramount Pictures

Description: Eddie Murphy leads this cop comedy about a reckless Detroit detective who travels to Beverly Hills, California, to solve his friend's murder.

Rotten Tomatoes critic score: 83%

Netflix