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The Films of 1984

Trivia, Word Search, and a Quiz

On July 1, the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) introduced the PG-13 rating for films. This was in direct response to the release of Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom and Gremlins which many people felt were too violent for a PG rating, but not violent enough for an R rating. Others argued that if Steven Spielberg's name wasn't associated with these films, they would have received an R rating.

It was Spielberg himself who ultimately proposed a new intermediate rating midway between the PG and R ratings, which would be accompanied by an advisory. Today that advisory reads: "Parents Strongly Cautioned. Some Material May Be Inappropriate for Children Under 13".

Here's some more trivia from the world of cinema in 1984:

  • Actor Paul Dano is born this year, as well as actress Scarlett Johansson.
  • Actresses making their film debuts this year include Jennifer Connelly in the epic crime drama Once Upon a Time in America, Heather Graham in the romantic drama Mrs. Soffel, Andie MacDowell in the Tarzan adventure Greystoke, Frances McDormand in the neo-noir crime film Blood Simple, Jennifer Tilly in the comedy drama No Small Affair, and Marisa Tomei in the romantic comedy The Flamingo Kid.
  • Originally screened at Baltimore's Six Flags theme park, The Sensorium becomes the first commercial 4D film. The viewer's experience was enhanced with shaking bodysonic seats and a series of scents released in sync with the film using the Scent-A-Vision system.
  • Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956) becomes the first film to be released to home video in letterbox format in order to preserve the film's original widescreen aspect ratio. This becomes standard practice thereafter.
  • Richard Burton, star of The Robe (1953), dies just two months before the release of his final film 1984. Also dying this year is Ethel Merman, who is part of the all-star cast of It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World (1963), as well as William "The Thin Man" Powell at the age of 91.

1984 Films Word Search

The films in the following two word searches were films released in 1984. Just like all the films on this page (unless otherwise noted).

The first word search is easy: 20 film titles hidden in a small 22 × 20 letter grid. The second is more challenging: 36 film titles in a large 34 × 32 letter grid.

So load your printer with standard 8.5" × 11" paper, download, hit print and start solving. Our PDF files print out beautifully and are always free to download on our site.

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More Word Searches

These word search puzzles are on particular films from 1984. They each have 36 terms hidden in a large 34 × 32 letter grid.

Ghostbusters The Terminator Beverly Hills Cop The Muppets Take Manhattan

10 Question Quiz on 1984 Films

How well do you know what came out on the Silver Screen in 1984? Take our quiz and find out. There's no time limit and no scoring. Just have fun!

1. The concert film Stop Making Sense features a live performance by which rock band?

A. Blondie
B. Talking Heads
C. Van Halen
D. Dire Straits

2. What was the license plate on the Ghostbusters vehicle?

A. STAY PUFT
B. SLIMER
C. ECTO 1
D. PROTON

3. What is the name of the artificially intelligent defense network in The Terminator that will become self-aware in the near future and trigger a devastating nuclear war?

A. Skynet
B. Iron Dome
C. Star Wars
D. S-400 Triumph

4. Which was NOT a character in Revenge of the Nerds?

A. Poindexter
B. Wormser
C. Dink
D. Booger

5. Presumably because its title would be confusing to foreign audiences, The Pope of Greenwich Village was released in continental Europe under which alternate title?

A. King of New York
B. New Jack City
C. Gangs of New York
D. Village Dreams

6. In The Natural, a middle-aged unknown Robert Redford seemingly comes out of nowhere to become a legend in which endeavor?

A. Stock trading
B. Ballroom dancing
C. Billiards
D. Baseball

7. Who won a Best Actress Oscar for her leading role as a poor widow during the Great Depression in Places in the Heart?

A. Sally Field
B. Meryl Streep
C. Kathy Bates
D. Helen Mirren

8. Nicolas Cage tries to help his friend Matthew Modine through the psychological trauma he sustained while the two were serving in the war in Birdy. Which war was this?

A. World War II
B. Korean War
C. Vietnam War
D. Desert Storm

9. In Beverly Hills Cop, what was the name of the Detroit cop Eddie Murphy played, which Bronson Pinchot's character Serge hilariously could not pronounce?

A. John McClane
B. Axel Foley
C. Billy Rosewood
D. Fox Mulder

10. What is Patrick Swayze's Red Dawn about?

A. Soviet invasion
B. Japanese temple
C. Mars mission
D. Vampires

Want more? We have another page on the cinema of 1984

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