“Firefox” Directed by Clint Eastwood Released June 18, 1982 Where to Watch “Annie” Directed by John Huston Released June 18, 1982 (wide release) Where to Watch The decisions to release a Clint Eastwood cold war thriller and a children’s musical adaptation of a comic strip were made long before “E.T…

“E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial” Directed by Steven Spielberg Released June 11, 1982 Where to Watch Steven Spielberg was already known as one of the most famous filmmakers ever. His second feature film, “Jaws,” was such an enormous box office hit in 1975 that it manifested the term “summer blockbuster.” …

“Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan” Released June 4, 1982 Directed by Nicholas Meyer Where to Watch “Poltergeist” Released June 4, 1982 Directed by Toby Hooper Where to Watch It doesn’t happen often, but once in a while, a pair of movies are released simultaneously with a collective theme…

“Rocky III” Released May 28, 1982 Directed by Sylvester Stallone Where to Watch From uncredited roles in various films to his breakthrough role in 1976’s original “Rocky,” Sylvester Stallone’s career in the 1970s mirrors the rags-to-riches story arc of his most famous creation. …

“The Road Warrior” Released May 21, 1982 Directed by George Miller Where to Watch Making the first sequel to a film that equals the original is hard enough, surpassing it in rarefied air. And yet Australian director George Miller accomplishes this remarkable filmmaking feat with “Mad Max 2: The Road…

Cinemas didn’t need a worldwide pandemic to experience an existential crisis, but it sure didn’t help. As movie theaters experience seismic shifts to the standard business model, I keep watching these short original features on the Criterion Channel and wonder if the future of the cinemas lies within this series. …

"Conan the Barbarian" Released May 14, 1982 Directed by John Milius Where to Watch Minutes into "Conan the Barbarian," we are introduced to a time "when the oceans drank Atlantis," a sword is forged, and the title character's old man is telling the child Conan that the only thing he…

“Paradise” Released May 7, 1982 Directed by Stuart Gillard Where to Watch Harvey Dent tells us in “The Dark Knight” that “It’s always darkest before the dawn.” “The Dark Knight” was the biggest hit in one of the great movie summers — 2008 — and I can’t help but think…

“Partners” Released April 30, 1982 Directed by James Burrows Where to Watch While “Jaws” popularized the idea of a summer hit in 1975 and “Star Wars” boosted it into the stratosphere in 1977, our conception of the modern summer blockbuster season began in 1982. …