Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)

My very worst movie-going experience was in 1984, when my parents took me to see “Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom” and I threw up everywhere. (I’ll let you guess which scene caused that.) So I probably won’t show “Temple of Doom” to the kids anytime soon or anytime ever, but the rip-roarin’ “Raiders” adventure is a must-see.

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E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial (1982)

I’m pretty sure the first sight of E.T. freaked me out a little, but I learned to love him. So much so that I had a eventually owned an E.T. doll with a glowing heart. (I also owned a stuffed ALF. I had a thing for weird-looking aliens, I guess.) The government agents were far scarier than wrinkly little E.T. I think they may have inspired the “You’re a Government Project and Mom and Dad are Scientists” long con I pulled on my little brother years later.

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Annie (1982)

I can’t say this with 100 percent certainty, because my memory is awful spotty, but I’d be willing to wager that I wore my parents’ eardrums out warbling “Tomorrow” after I saw “Annie.” Four-year-old Nichole loved Annie, and 30-whatever-year-old Nichole was rather disappointed when Poppy wouldn’t watch it with her a few years ago. We did see the new “Annie” together. Poppy enjoyed it, but I thought it lacked heart. Also, Jamie Foxx is no Albert Finney.

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A Christmas Story (1983)

I don’t think I saw “A Christmas Story” until I was an adult, but I’ve been an adult for quiet awhile now so it feels like I’ve been watching it my whole life. I still delight in watching it every year. Common Sense Media decrees it appropriate for children ages 8 and older, and I can’t wait to show it to the kids for the first time this year so they can join Rockford and I in making “Christmas Story” references throughout the season.

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The NeverEnding Story (1984)

I found “The NeverEnding Story” mildly terrifying when I was a kid. But it was a good scared, you know?

I think Poppy and Pete need to see this ASAP so they’ll understand why I frequently sing “The never-ending stooooooOOOooory” when Rockford tells a Very Long Rockford Tale and why I always say “Hey, that dog looks like Falkor!” whenever I see one of those dogs that looks like Falkor.

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The Goonies (1985)

“The Goonies” is an essential tale of friendship, outcast empowerment and booby-twaps. The kissing scene is certain to gross Pete out, but hopefully the swashbuckling and scary criminals element will make up for that.

We’ll probably hold off on watching it for a few years due mostly to Brand’s risqué Spanish translations, but the kids will be required to watch it at least once before they go off to college. How else will they learn that Goonies never say die?

(I can’t believe this is the only Coreys movie on my list.)

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Labyrinth (1986)

My children love Muppets, so they’ll definitely love “Labyrinth,” right? OK, so these Muppets aren’t exactly Kermit and Fozzie, but “Labyrinth” also features amazing hair, a compelling storyline and a song that will get stuck in their heads for the rest of their lives. That’s a win-win-win in my book.

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The Princess Bride (1987)

Romance? Check. Pirates? Check. Revenge? Check. A giant making goofy rhymes and puns? Check. Billy Crystal? Check.

“The Princess Bride” has everything, and it was one of my favorite movies when I was a kid and also now that I’m not a kid. I watched it with Pete and Poppy earlier this year, and they did not love it. Sometimes it’s like I don’t even know those two.

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Honey, I Shrunk the Kids (1989)

I was remembering “Honey, I Shrunk the Kids” as a ’90s movie, but it actually came out in 1989. It includes a trifecta of ingredients that add up to a classic cinema experience: whimsey, humor and Moranis. My brother and my cousin got to ride the bee for a “This is how green screens work” demonstration when we went to Hollywood Studios as children, and I will always be jealous of that.

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