The Netflix streaming service has a fun documentary series called The Movies That Made Us, which centers on films that had an impact on pop culture in the 1980s and ’90s. The third season of the show is scheduled to be released on October 12th, and appropriately for the release month this is going to be a horror-heavy season. Films covered this time around include Friday the 13th, Halloween, A Nightmare on Elm Street, and Aliens. To make sure viewers who aren’t into horror aren’t entirely left out, the season’s other two episodes will be looking at RoboCop and Coming to America.
Friday the 13th (1980) – Directed by Sean S. Cunningham – Horror slasher film that was spawned by the Halloween franchise. Released by Paramount Pictures in the US and Warner Brothers internationally.
Halloween (1978) – Directed by John Carpenter – Slasher film about a mental patient who escapes prison and returns to his hometown to continue terrorizing. Released by Compass International Pictures and Aquarius Releasing.
A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984) – Directed by Wes Craven – Horror that starred Heather Langenkamp, John Saxon, and Johnny Depp. The franchise later spawned 8 sequels and spin-offs. Released by New Line Cinema.
Aliens (1986) – Directed by James Cameron – Sequel the science-fiction action film from 20th Century Fox. Stars Sigourney Weaver who played Ellen Ripley who agrees to return to the alien-infested site that she escaped from years ago.
Robocop (1987) – Directed by Paul Verhoeven – The first science-fiction film about a cyborg law enforcer that kicks criminal ass. Released by Orion Pictures.
Coming to America (1988) – Directed by John Landis – The romantic comedy headlined by Eddie Murphy who plays Akeem Joffer, a fictional African crown prince who travels to the USA for love. Released by Paramount Pictures.
The films covered in the first two seasons of The Movies That Made Us were Dirty Dancing, Home Alone, Ghostbusters, Die Hard, Back to the Future, Pretty Woman, Jurassic Park, and Forrest Gump. Last December, a two episode spin-off called The Holiday Movies That Made Us was released to Netflix and covered the films Elf and The Nightmare Before Christmas.
I really like The Movies That Made Us, so I’m very glad to hear the show is going to give some love to horror classics in the new season.