The Films of 1986
Trivia, Word Search, and a Quiz
This is a busy year for actor Clint Eastwood. First, his son Scott — a future actor in his own right — is born in March. Then a month later he is elected Mayor of Carmel-by-the-Sea, California. Finally, Heartbreak Ridge is released in December. Eastwood not only produced and directed this war film, he starred in it as well.
Here's some more trivia from the world of cinema in 1986:
- Kat Dennings is born on June 13, as are sisters Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen. These twins will later make their feature film debut in It Takes Two (1995) at the age of nine. Also born this year is actress Lindsay Lohan.
- Stars making their film debuts include Angela Bassett in the action thriller F/X, Catherine Keener in the romantic comedy-drama About Last Night, Joaquin Phoenix in the sci-fi adventure film SpaceCamp, Keanu Reeves in the sports drama Youngblood, and Wesley Snipes in the sports comedy Wildcats.
- In his State of the Union speech, President Ronald Reagan quotes from a film he himself was mentioned in: "As they said in the film Back to the Future [1985], 'Where we're going, we don't need roads.'"
- Spike Lee's low-budget feature debut She's Gotta Have It was a major contribution to the independent film movement of the mid-1980s.
- Cary Grant, star of North by Northwest (1959), and Donna Reed, star of It's a Wonderful Life (1946), both die this year. Also dying are actors Ted Knight and Desi Arnaz.
1986 Films Word Search
The films in the following two word searches were films released in 1986. 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.
More Word Searches
These word search puzzles are on particular films from 1986. They each have 36 terms hidden in a large 34 × 32 letter grid.
Top Gun Pretty in Pink Three Amigos! Crocodile Dundee
10 Question Quiz on 1986 Films
How well do you know what came out on the Silver Screen in 1986? Take our quiz and find out. There's no time limit and no scoring. Just have fun!
1. In Peggy Sue Got Married, Kathleen Turner remembers her grandfather saying "It's your grandma's ___ that's kept this family together." (Fill in the blank)
2. In Top Gun, we learn that the fighter pilot cast have nicknames (or call signs) like Chipper, Merlin, Charlie, Wolfman, Cougar, Slider, Jester, Stinger, Hollywood, Sundown, and Viper. Which of the following is NOT one of the call signs?
3. What large weapon does Australian actor Paul Hogan carry around with him as he walks about New York city in Crocodile Dundee?
4. Which First Lady referenced Ferris Bueller's Day Off when she gave her commencement address at Wellesley College years after the film's release. She said:
"Find the joy in life, because as Ferris Bueller said on his day off, 'Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.'"
5. The genesis of John Hughes' Pretty in Pink is apparently rooted in a song with the same title. Which group performs this song?
6. Which actor stars in the fantasy action-comedy film Big Trouble in Little China with Kim Cattrall?
7. What is Soul Man, starring C. Thomas Howell and Rae Dawn Chong, about?
8. What did Bill Paxton's character say when the Aliens kill most of his fellow Marines during a mission?
Hint: this quote is so famous a film that came out in 2018 adopted it as its title
9. Which actor and actress teamed up to make Heartburn?
10. Which singer plays the Goblin King in Jim Henson's musical fantasy Labyrinth?
Want more? We have another page on the cinema of 1986
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