The Great 80s Kiss-Off
OK, so my argument that Some Kind of Wonderful's Hardy Jenns is the Best John Hughes Villain has been universally defeated by the 80s Nation. I'm not going to take defeat lightly.
Today's argument: The kissing scene between Watts (Mary Stuart Masterson) and Keith (Eric Stoltz) in the same movie is the hottest make-out scene of any 80s flick. Right? ("And we're gonna destroy Lincoln tonight ... alllriiiiight?")
You want a list, don't you? OK...
Top 5 Make-Out Scenes in 80s Movies:
5. THE PRINCESS BRIDE (1987)
The participants: Wesley (Cary Elwes) and Buttercup (Robin Wright Penn)
The location: Outside Prince Humperdinck's castle
Music: "Happy Ending" (Mark Knopfler)
Why it's not No. 1: Any make-out scene narrated by Peter Falk isn't going to win.
4. RISKY BUSINESS (1983)
The participants: Joel (Tom Cruise) and Lana (Rebecca De Mornay)
The location: Joel's living room (and staircase ... and bedroom...)
Music: "Lana" (Tangerine Dream)
Why it's not No. 1: Joel had to pay for it. Ouch.
3. VALLEY GIRL (1983)
The participants: Randy (Nicolas Cage) and Julie (Deborah Foreman)
The location: Backseat of Fred's car.
Music: "Time To Win" (Gary Myrick & The Figures)
Why it's not No. 1: The atmosphere ... Fred chases Stacey around the car while Randy tries to convince Julie he isn't a stalker. Otherwise, it has "Let's make punk rock babies" written all over it.
2. SAY ANYTHING (1989)
The participants: Lloyd Dobler (John Cusack) and Diane (Ione Skye)
The location: In the rain
Music: "In Your Eyes" (Peter Gabriel)
Why it's not No. 1: You can see the whole "You're going to dump me and give me a pen, aren't you?" in Lloyd's face. You need a stopwatch to measure the time from kiss to kiss-off here. Ione, you wench!
1. SOME KIND OF WONDERFUL (1986)
The participants: Watts and Keith
The location: Gas station garage where Keith works
Music: "She Loves Me" (Stephen Duffy)
Why it's No. 1: Spontaneity. Longevity. Music that's -- dare I say? -- classic. Pardon
the Journey pun, but lots of lovin', touchin' and feelin'. Throw in the
whole "Whoa, I'm suddenly making out with my tomboy best friend who's really a smokin' hot drummer vixen" factor, and dinner is served.
OK, what's your opinion? Am I right or am I right? What other classic 80s scenes do you think belong on the list?
[Thanks to: Filmsite.org, IMDB.com, Somekindofwonderful.org]
Relive the music, movies and culture of the greatest decade ever with Times online editor Steve Spears. A teen during the decade, Steve is obsessed with everything from Duran Duran to Journey, John Hughes to John Cusack, and parachute pants to Reaganomics.
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I'm way late with this also, but I just bought SKOW in Wal-mart last week because I couldn't remember seeing it before. OMG - it's my new favorite movie, and that first kiss is definitely hotter than any film kiss I've ever seen; it took my breath away. I think it was a combination of the music, in which the lyrics were absolutely perfect for that moment, and the knowing that these two have been best buddies since grade school, and then "pow", they're suddenly in a lip-lock and really getting into it. The sound of shattering glass as their lips touched just added to the impact factor of this scene as well. I was also amazed at how natural they were. A lot of kisses aren't so convincing - they really appeared to have a chemistry. Combine all that with the fact that Eric Stoltz is absolutely gorgeous in this movie, and you have a real winner. MSM also gives a classic performance - she's just too cute - "I just thought I'd work on it with you..." LOL. He definitely didn't need any lessons. If Eric Stoltz had kissed me like that, they'd be picking me up off the floor.
Posted by: Ann | June 25, 2009 at 01:47 PM
Okay...so im a little late with this but I just saw the movie for the first time 5 days ago. And I will say(even though I have seen very few 80's movies). That SKOW is my new favorite movie...it beats everything I've seen and will see. I've watched it 3 times in the last 3 days and have watched the watts and keith kissing scenes over and over again. I'm obsessed. Mary Stuart Masterson completely rocked in this movie. And that garage scene kiss and the end kiss, are the best movie kisses ever. I don't think you can get much better than that.
Posted by: Ashley | February 23, 2009 at 09:54 PM
I was lucky enough to DVR SKOW a couple of weeks ago and I must have watched it 20 times since then.
My husband mocks the way I sit on the edge of my seat for "the kiss that kills" but hell - I *was* the tomboy back in highschool.
Movies like that gave me hope that my best friend (who saw me as 'one of the guys') would wake up and realize that I was a girl.
He did and we dated in HS for almost two years.
Lord love ya, John Hughes!
Posted by: Cynthia | April 21, 2008 at 01:07 PM
Wow, a Star Wars kiss. I hadn't even considered that. I know that when I saw Leia kiss Luke -- "for luck" -- back in the original flick, I finally became a man. (Well, as much as that's possible for someone who was only 10 years old.)
Posted by: Spears | May 22, 2007 at 10:27 AM
D'OH! How could I forget 'The Empire Strikes Back'? When Han, the dashing scoundrel, finally makes that eye contact with Leia, the hotest princess I know of, and follows it up with a passionate kiss.
His hand caressing her face being the only other skin-to-skin contact which lets us know that the act is still considered forbidden even between the two of them. Totally hot!
Posted by: Semi | May 22, 2007 at 10:25 AM
Definitely, Keith and Watts! One minute they're joking around and the next there's like a bolt of lightning coursing through them! Then comes the hands on the hips- grasping at denim. It shows an expected wanton desire for more. I think there was a little spit there when they pulled away. Intense!
Add to that the premise that this girl you knew all your life as a friend IS also the one you've always wanted. AND, she's HOT! (OK, 80s hot.)
But 'The Princess Bride' kiss? No. Any kiss between Aidan Quinn and Darryl Hannah in 'Reckless' would beat that.
Posted by: Semi | May 22, 2007 at 10:16 AM
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Posted by: kipybmnhq wgtinyxsd | February 06, 2007 at 02:23 AM
Also, Ricki Lake and Michael St. Gerard in Hairspray (1988), Julia Roberts and Dylan McDermott in Steel Magnolias (1989), Winona Ryder and Michael Schoeffling in Mermaids (1990), and the obvious one- Jennifer Grey and Patrick Swayze in Dirty Dancing (1987). Hope some of these selections bring back some happy 80's memories!!!!
Posted by: Kristy Campbell | January 29, 2007 at 08:30 AM
How about these- Scott Coffey and Trini Alvarado in Satisfaction (1988), Sarah Jessica Parker and Lee Montgomery in Girls Just Wanna Have Fun (1985), Kevin Bacon and Lori Singer in Footloose (1984), Jennifer Beals and Michael Nouri in Flashdance (1983), Julia Roberts and Adam Storke, Lili Taylor and Vincent D'Onofrio, Annabeth Gish and William Moses in Mystic Pizza (1988), and I love River Phoenix and Lili Taylor in Dogfight (1991), I know it's not technically the 80's, but it took a good 3-4 years into the 90's to get the 80's out of our systems!!!
Posted by: Kristy Campbell | January 29, 2007 at 05:48 AM
Klaus Maria Brandauer kissing Kim Basinger goodbye in Never Say Never Again was so disgusting that it made a great scene.
Posted by: J.C.Green | January 28, 2007 at 10:51 PM
I suggest "Date with Angel" (Michael E Knight + Emanuelle Beart). Beautiful kiss, warmth , sweet and tender.
If you see this movie now, it's like nostalgic 80's moment in front of you now
Posted by: Ivan | January 28, 2007 at 10:39 PM
Sean Astin and Kerri Green in "The Goonies". How could you forget the "braces" kiss?
Posted by: John Crowley | January 28, 2007 at 10:12 PM
What about Andrew McCarthy and Molly Ringwald in "Pretty in Pink"? The first kiss right outside her house on the curb. Man, I kinda melt whenever I see it. Sigh.
Karenan, I like the face grabbing. It's so.... urgent. And very teenager-y.
Posted by: Jeana | January 28, 2007 at 03:19 PM
I'm a little surprised nobody mentioned Tom Cruise and Kelly Mcgillis in Top Gun...
Posted by: JohnPhoenix | January 28, 2007 at 01:58 PM
I'm a little surprised nobody mentione Tom Cruise and Kelly Mcgillis in Top Gun...
Posted by: JohnPhoenix | January 28, 2007 at 01:57 PM
The kiss between Karen (Diane Franklin) and Rick (Steve Antin) in "The Last American Virgin". The kiss was memorable because it affected not two but three people's lives. Talk about gut-wrenching. Watching Gary(Lawrence Monoson) drive away from the party with "Just Once" plsying in the background as the credits roll still makes my heart drop.
Posted by: Casper | January 27, 2007 at 08:10 PM
Sorry, rully, rully off base on the "Valley Girl" scene. Randy doesn't start doing weird stalker stuff until after Julie breaks up with him, later in the movie.
And the very HOT kiss in the movie is while they're sitting in the nightclub (in real life, now known as the Viper Room, in downtown Hollywood) on their first "date". The Plimsouls are playing "A Million Miles Away", they've been talking, and kiss while sitting in a wash of red light. Totally awesome.
Otherwise I do agree with so many of the comments here! Empire Strikes Back, A Room with a View, Witness - great choices!
Posted by: Wahine | January 27, 2007 at 07:32 PM
How can you not have Han Solo and Leia's pre carbonite freeze kiss from Empire Strikes Back?????
"I love you."
"I know."
Eat your heart out, Bogey and Bergman.
Posted by: Laslo | January 27, 2007 at 05:50 PM
Oh and I also echo the Top Gun mention. Seems like if you wanted a hot kiss in the 80s, you hired Kelly McGillis or Harrison Ford!
Posted by: Elisabeth | January 27, 2007 at 05:43 PM
I second McGillis and Ford in Witness--and Ford and Fisher in Empire and raise you one Karen Allen and Harrison Ford in "Raiders of the Lost Ark." Come on, "Well, dammit, Jones, where DOESN'T it hurt?!" ranks as one of the sexist moments in the 80's ever.
Man, Harrison Ford was like some make-out god in the 80's now that I write it out like this.
Posted by: Elisabeth | January 27, 2007 at 05:36 PM
Definitely Harrison Ford and Kelly McGillis in "Witness" - that was downright erotic.
Posted by: | January 27, 2007 at 01:11 PM
i clicked on the link to this article only to see if you would... maybe, just maybe, have the same idea of the best 80s kiss as me. i simply CANNOT beilieve that you did! way to go... I am thoroughly impressed.
Posted by: carin | January 27, 2007 at 10:54 AM
TOTALLY AGREE WITH WATTS & KEITH!!!!!!
Posted by: Rese | January 27, 2007 at 09:20 AM
I'm way on board with Empire, Witness, and...
Pretty in Pink. OMD's "If You Leave" playing...and when she drops her purse.
I agree completely with Helena Bonham Carter and Julian Sands in A Room With A View. She's standing in that field all unsuspecting and he comes up and lays it on her. Her world changes forever.
Posted by: marcy | January 27, 2007 at 08:41 AM
No Empire Strikes Back? This list is bogus!
Posted by: anonymous | January 27, 2007 at 08:04 AM
The best one in absolute, for me, is the kiss between Harrison Ford and Kelly McGillis in "Witness": hot, sweet, desperate, unforgettable.
Posted by: irene | January 27, 2007 at 07:22 AM
These are not the best kisses of the 80´s, these are the best kisses of the 80´s by teenagers. You have forgotten all the REALLY good ones. Harrison Ford and Kelly Mcgillis in The witness should be in top 5, no question about it.
Posted by: PPP | January 27, 2007 at 04:57 AM
Catherine Deneauve and Susan Sarandon in THE HUNGER is right up there. Ouch!
Posted by: danield | January 27, 2007 at 02:10 AM
The real travesty is that you omit Big Top Pee Wee.
Pee Wee Herman's kiss in this movie is in the guiness book of world records as the longest hollywood screen kiss. well done, son!!
Posted by: Kev | January 27, 2007 at 12:02 AM
That is my favorite 80's kiss of all time!! I can't believe you picked it. No one ever seems to remember this movie. It seems like the "Lost Hughes" film. Thank you so much for hitting the nail on the head with this one.
Posted by: Janelle | January 26, 2007 at 10:38 PM
SKOW, definitely. Though Matt, the first kiss was probably better - I think Drew somewhere up above summed it up perfectly. That kiss DEFINED SKOW, like the boombox scene defined Say Anything. Ask anyone what they remember of SKOW, and it'll be that Stephen Duffy kiss! "The minutes that we missed, the idle lips that should've kissed are now gently together, the first kiss lasts forever..."
Posted by: pamela | January 26, 2007 at 10:04 PM
Some Kind of Wonderful....oh my how I do love this movie. I have to agree with you that the scene in the garage was amazing, and powerful, and all out sexy as all get out. However I felt that at the end of the movie when he left Lea Thompson on the road and chased after Mary Stuart Masterson and caught her in the street and then planted "the kiss" on her was amazing as well. I truly do agree with this list.
Posted by: matt | January 26, 2007 at 08:53 PM
Harrison Ford and Kelly McGillis' pent-up passionate kiss in the rain in "Witness"; William Hurt and Kathleen Turner in "Body Heat". Also, I agree on "Empire", too.
Posted by: Allison | January 26, 2007 at 08:51 PM
What about Brazil? When Sam and the woman of his dreams finally kiss, it's really something else. The build up to the kiss is incredibly charged. Then the build up pays off with an outragously enthusiastic kiss. It's romantic and funny at the same time.
Posted by: Matt | January 26, 2007 at 08:17 PM
Oh how I LOVE to get lost in the 80s! :)
My two choices for favorite 80s kisses in two categories, as follows:
For sweet and touching: Kenneth Branagh as King Henry V and Emma Thompson as Princess Katherine in "Henry V".
For passion: The seedy but oh-so hot scene in the back of the limo between Kevin Costner and Sean Young in "No Way Out" (though Rob Lowe and Demi Moore make a good account of themselves in "About Last Night" also).
Otherwise, the 16 Candles comments are certainly true...and now I have another movie to see that I have to watch again: "Some Kind of Wonderful".
Posted by: BobG | January 26, 2007 at 08:14 PM
I can't believe that nobody mentioned Somewhere in Time (1980).
When Christopher Reeve(Richard Collier) kisses Jane Seymour(Elise McKenna) it is truly electric. Maybe this movie is not mainstream(teen) enough, but it rates as "the kiss" for
me.
Posted by: Madmike007 | January 26, 2007 at 08:12 PM
My Beautiful Laundrette: Gordon Warnecke and Daniel Day-Lewis!
Also, second (for the 10th time) the nomination of the closing kiss of Sixteen Candles- just a beautifully shot and magical ending.
Posted by: lo | January 26, 2007 at 08:00 PM
What about: The Goonies?! The moment Andy (Kerri Green) kisses Mikey (Sean Astin) in the darkened cave giving him his first and very surprising kiss? The trump card being that she has no idea who she really kissed until the end of the film when she realizes that her intended-Brand by Josh Brolin-doesn't have braces!
Posted by: jenn | January 26, 2007 at 06:58 PM
Oops - that should say (Risky Business and Valley Girl) as the movies I haven't seen.
Posted by: Petra | January 26, 2007 at 05:54 PM
Sadly, I was 4 in 1980 so some of these movies, I haven't seen (Risky Business) but any time I think of a movie kiss, I think of The Princess Bride (partly becasue of the last two or three lines of the story) so I was glad to see it in the top 5. And for all of you saying you wanted to kiss Jake Ryan, have you seen Cary Elwes!?! If any man who looked like him said "As you wish..." to me, I would probably be putty in his hands.
Posted by: Petra | January 26, 2007 at 05:52 PM
I agree that Say Anything should be #1, but definitely missing from the top 5:
Leia kissing an about-to-be-frozen Han Solo in EMPIRE STRIKES BACK. Not set in the '80's, but released in 1980. Followed by "I love you", "I know", makes it that much more memorable.
And second, Crash Davis and Annie Savoy finally hooking up in BULL DURHAM. Costner unhooking Sarandon's garter in such a way as to make her stop kissing and proclaim, "Oh My . . .", come on people, that's impressive.
Posted by: T-shirt | January 26, 2007 at 05:14 PM
Best kiss of the 80's was in Breathless between Richard Gere and Valerie Kaprisky. The kiss he gave her when he climbed down the macrame plant hanger, pulled her up to him on the diving board and planted one on her was the best kiss of all time and is by far the best kiss of the 80's!
Posted by: deedee | January 26, 2007 at 04:56 PM
Watts and Keith #1 all the way! I absolutely LOVE that scene - the song, the way she feels about him, the hands on the hips? I'm so glad someone else feels the same way about that scene!!!! Well done.
Posted by: shortbread71 | January 26, 2007 at 04:56 PM
I admit, I didn't read the entire thread, but Samantha Morton and Christian Slater in "Pump Up The Volume" was a 2-tissue scene.
Posted by: Alanix | January 26, 2007 at 04:36 PM
I wholeheartedly agree that SKOW should be #1. It's more than 20 years later and I still look forward to seeing Watts convince Keith he needs "The kiss that kills". Could watch it over and over. Of course say Anything should be on this list..just like SKOW I could watch this over and over. The kiss in the rain is great and the car scene at the beach...need I say more? Lloyd is such a nice guy...and that IS a compliment.
I will agree with my fellow posters...Where IS 16 Candles? Didn't everyone want Jake Ryan? I know I did!
Posted by: Lisa | January 26, 2007 at 03:12 PM
EMPIRE kiss hands down. It is one of the very few perfect moments in movies.
Posted by: Kizza Kizza | January 26, 2007 at 03:06 PM
Steve, you are a man after my own heart! LOVE this movie! I've watched it over and over. Thank you for finally giving it the accolades it deserves. Eric Stoltz and Mary Stuart Masterson rock!
Posted by: Mandi | January 26, 2007 at 02:49 PM
We're talking about KISSES here, so...
It's true...the Some Kind of Wonderful kiss was one I VERY well remember. There was HEAT! SPARKS everywhere- I loved her reaction!
Say Anything...one of the best of the 80s movies. Cusack rules! Greatest scene ever (that Cusack didn't initially want to do) with the boom box over his head- historically one of the all-time best 'love' scenes EVER- and no one even kisses...That scene was WAY hotter than any of their kiss scenes, except maybe the one in the car...and the great Peter Gabriel music..where he's shaking!!!
BUT...to leave out 16 CANDLES is a CRIME!
No way did valley girl (one of my VERY fav 80s movies!) have a lot of heat in the kissing.
In 16 Candles, Jake shows up in the red Porche, takes the wide-eyed 'plain' Samantha he sees as really special back to HIS HOUSE... candle-lit birthday cake between them as they sit on top of the dining room table (HOT!)...
the whole "make a wish" dialogue, THEN....the music ("If You Were Here...") ....then they lean in to kiss...I was barely breathing! It was the culmination of the ENTIRE film...a film which had ALL great parts, too...not just a few good scenes.
Maybe you had to be a girl to really 'get' that...but if only EVERY guy had followed Jake's movie example, high school would have been SO much more fun!!!!
Every guy can learn something about how to get the girl in this movie, even today.
Totally classic & still relevant!!! THAT'S what makes a REALLY great movie....
THE KISS just happened to be the icing on the cake. And I bet the icing ended up on them & all over the table after they yelled 'cut!!' heheeee.
Posted by: *i | January 26, 2007 at 02:21 PM
Peter Gallagher (Michael) and Valerie Quennessen (Lina) in Summer Lovers in the water in Santorini should be on the list
ALSO
16 Candles - Jake and Samantha - on the table with the birthday cake and "If you were here" playing in the background
Posted by: | January 26, 2007 at 01:47 PM
Emilio Estevez suprise kissing Andie McDowell in St Elmo's Fire. Might not be the steamiest kiss in the world, but for all teenager losers with a crush back then it shows that you can be a Kirby and get to kiss the hot chick!
Posted by: Stevie G | January 26, 2007 at 01:40 PM