Few films have captured the spirit of an era with the emotional precision of The Gooniesthis gem of 80s youth cinema which functions today as both a time capsule and a mythology shared between generations.
Released in 1985, directed by Richard Donner and written by Chris Columbus based on a story by Steven Spielberg, the film crystallizes a unique moment in pop culture: the one where childhood adventure became, for the first time, epic territory.
The film has all the ingredients of a crazy “house of terror” attraction: clumsy but disturbing thieves, bats, cobwebs, dust-covered skeletons, an endearing monster, an underground cave worthy of a pirate story and, of course, a treasure hidden by the nicest privateers Hollywood has ever imagined. East a catalog of youthful fantasies transformed into a cinematic story.
More than just an adventure, THE Goonies It transformed children’s imagination into an emotional epic. Even today, four decades later, it continues to function as a transgenerational bridge to this territory where friendship was a compass, where danger was experienced as a game and where great exploits, although improbable, could begin at the door of the house.
Forty years later, Mikey (Sean Astin), Brand (Josh Brolin), Gordi (Jeff Cohen), Data (Jonathan Ke Quan), Big Mouth (Corey Feldman), Andy (Kerri Green) and Stef (Martha Plimpton) are not just movie characters: They are part of the founding history of contemporary pop culture.
A gang that has become a symbol, whose energy continues to fuel current fiction and the sentimental memory of several generations.
To celebrate it, THE Goonies will return to the cinema this Friday, December 12allowing its many fans – old and new – to relive the adventure on the big screen and celebrate in style the anniversary of one of the most beloved films of the eighties.
The prodigious decade
When The Goonies released in theaters in the United States on June 7, 1985 – and in Spain on July 24 – no one could have predicted that this premiere would, almost immediately, become a generational phenomenon and, over time, in a cult film for millions of adolescents.
Its principle was simple but universal: a group of young people who discover that their neighborhood – this territory which at certain ages is practically the entire world – is doomed to disappear to make way for a golf course.
During their last summer together, as they prepare for a move that threatens to tear them apart, they stumble across a treasure map belonging to an old Spanish galleon.
From there begins an unforgettable adventure. consisting of bicycles, backpacks, lanterns, catacombs, skeletons and colorful villains.
An initiatory journey where the heroes launch into the unknown to achieve a greater goal: saving their homes and maintaining their friendship against all odds. Thus, a seemingly ordinary corner of Oregon was transformed into a mythical space and an emotional map for an entire generation.
It is also worth remembering that behind the fantastical story and casual tone of youthful adventure lies a deeper cultural discourse: fear of losing the house.
A very present concern in America in the 1980s, marked by processes of urban reconfiguration, class tensions and transformations which threatened traditional communities.
These wonderful years
We could say that The Goonies contributed decisively to defining a subgenre: that of gangs of young people embarking on adventures combining innocence, humor and mystery.
After its release, Hollywood moved on to other legendary kid groups in titles like count on me (1986), An incredible band (1987) or hidden youth (1987).
They are all part of this unforgettable vintage of the 80s which, Forty years later, he continues to set the pulse of contemporary fiction.
Still from “The Goonies”.
The archetype has been tirelessly reproduced, now fueled by nostalgia for a childhood that already belongs to another era. Here they are Super 8 (2011), Ready Player One (2018) and, of course, Stranger Things (2016-2025), perhaps his most emblematic heir. In each of them beat the same pillars: unbreakable friendship, courage, loyalty and that camaraderie which is almost a moral code.
In 1985, after the success of Indiana Jones and the Temple of DoomSpielberg wanted to tackle more serious projects like The color purplehe therefore left his youth stories in the hands of other directors.
It was a providential delegation: Richard Donner, Robert Zemeckis and Barry Levinson signed three instant classics —The Goonies, back to the future And The secret of the pyramid—, works that consolidated the Amblin Entertainment label and They dominated video stores during the golden age of VHS.
Because, beyond its adventurous façade, The Goonies embodies a universal desire: experience an epic without leaving the neighborhood. All this while covering themes as recognizable as the fears of adolescence, the defense of one’s dreams and the need to preserve, as much as possible, the illusion of childhood in the face of the demands of maturity.
Luckily, it seems like this group’s chemistry is still intact. So much so that, to commemorate its 40th anniversary, the cast came together to leave their mark at the Chinese Theater in Hollywood. And in Astoria, the small coastal town where the film was shot, its mayor officially declared June 7 as the day of The Goonies.
Last summer, the city experienced an authentic celebration: outdoor screenings with live music, costume competitions, treasure hunts in its streets…
A perfect plan for those who have never stopped fantasizing about discovering One-Eyed Willy’s hiding place. This atmosphere of lighthouses, promenades and wooden houses ended up transforming the place into a place of pilgrimage for fans.
Warner Bros. confirmed that a sequel is in developmentwhich takes place four decades later and with the intention of recovering the original cast. Chris Columbus and Steven Spielberg seem determined to connect generations without losing the spirit of the film.
Donner – who died in 2021 – and Spielberg toyed with the idea of a sequel for years, although they never found the ideal storyline.
Some actors have also expressed a desire to reunite with their characters, which fuels hope that, despite the odds, the gang will return in some way.
Because we remain convinced that the qualities that made Mikey, Brand, Data or Chunk endearing – their innocence, their courage, their wit and their humor – are still alive in the collective memory.
And, to paraphrase this unforgettable troupe, there will always be treasure waiting for us, as long as we continue to say: “The Goonies never say death!” ».
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