How deep of a cultural imprint was left by the standout films of 1986? How many were genuinely worth the candle, or are remembered with genuine affection or excitement?

The answer is that ‘86 was a phenomenal year. It saw the release of 30 films that really and truly rang the bell, and that ain’t hay. In my book ‘86 is at par with 1971 and 1999.

A little while ago I kicked this topic around with Sydney-based movie hound Nathan Laird, who is quite the whipsmart gabber. It’s loading as we speak — maybe it’ll post by midnight. Or by 9 am tomorrow…who knows?

HE’s top 30 films of 1986, and not necessarily in this order:

(1) Oliver Stone‘s Platoon, (2) James Cameron‘s Aliens, (3) Oliver Stone‘s Salvador, (4) David Lynch‘s Blue Velvet, (5) Jonathan Demme‘s Something Wild, (6) Michael Mann‘s Manhunter, (7) Neil Jordan‘s Mona Lisa, (8) Woody Allen‘s Hannah and Her Sisters, (9) David Cronenberg’s The Fly, (10) Jim Jarmusch‘s Down By Law, (11) Mike Nichols‘ Heartburn, (12) James Ivory‘s A Room with a View, (13) Jean-Jacques Beineix‘s Betty Blue, (14) Roland Joffe‘s The Mission, (15) Claude Berri‘s Manon of the Spring, (16) Tony Scott‘s Top Gun, (17) Spike Lee‘s She’s Gotta Have It, (18) Fons Rademakers‘ The Assault, (19) David Zucker‘s Ruthless People, (20) Paul Mazursky‘s Down and Out in Beverly Hills, (21) John Hughes‘ Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, (22) Adrien Lyne‘s 9 1/2 Weeks, (23) Hal Ashby‘s 8 Million Ways to Die, (24) Randa Haines‘ Children of a Lesser God, (25) Martin Scorsese‘s The Color of Money, (26) David Anspaugh‘s Hoosiers, (27) Tim Hunter’s River’s Edge, (28) Jamie Foley’s At Close Range, (29) Sidney Lumet‘s The Morning After, (30) Bruce Beresford‘s Crimes of the Heart.