Grew up in the 80's

First film you remember seeing in the theatre?

I only grew up in half of the eighties, but I felt I needed to join this group as I still remember a lot of films I saw as a child.  In fact, the first film I remember seeing in the theatre (quite possibly the first film I saw) was the original Transformers Movie.  I was four, but I was so excited to see it and so utterly enthralled that I can still picture the opening sequence... after not seeing the film for over twenty years.  I guess that should have been an indication that I'd be a film junky.

Anyone else have any memorable firsts, from the eighties or otherwise?

Re:First film you remember seeing in the theatre?

In 1980 (I was about 5), I saw Nine to Five in a drive-in.  I think that's the first movie I saw in a theater (of sorts).  The next one I remember actually going to a theater to see was Raiders of the Lost Ark in 1981.  I didn't understand Nine to Five at the time, but I was totally excited about Raiders of the Lost Ark!

Re:First film you remember seeing in the theatre?

I was born in 1981.  For a while I was thinking the first movie I might have seen in the theater was Harry and the Hendersons.  But now reviewing the lists of movies I've seen, I think maybe it was Sesame Street Presents: Follow that Bird, since that came out earlier and I'm pretty sure I saw that in the theater.  I must have been only 4 years old!

One of my favorite early memories of going to the theater though was Who Framed Roger Rabbit.  It's still one of my absolute favorites.  In fact I just showed it to my girlfriend this past weekend.  She had never seen it before!

Re:First film you remember seeing in the theatre?

first movie i remember: the boy with the green hair (1946) (hmm, seems to be missing from the movies list) at Moffett Field Naval Base. For a four-year-old, booorrring!!

Re:First film you remember seeing in the theatre?

I was born the year Star Wars came out.  There I said it <sigh>

My parents were weekly connoisseurs (sp?) of the drive-in.  The first film that I can remember seeing in its entirety was E.T. (1982). Though I have flashes of Porky's (1981) and The Empire Strikes Back (1980).

If we are talking about the actual movie theater, I think my first actual movie theater movie was Return of the Jedi (1983) on my 6th birthday (noticing a pattern, anyone...now you know why I'm constantly talking about these movies.  As if there were no other films besides the original trilogy...).  If I saw any others in an actual "cineplex" or "movie house" before that one, I can't remember them.

And I can remember seeing a whole bunch after that...I guess my memory only starts at about 6.  Ah well.

Re:First film you remember seeing in the theatre?

Risselada:

But now reviewing the lists of movies I've seen, I think maybe it was Sesame Street Presents: Follow that Bird, since that came out earlier and I'm pretty sure I saw that in the theater.  I must have been only 4 years old!

Whoa, good call!  This brings into question: which one did I see first... Transformers or Follow that Bird?  I remember seeing "Follow that Bird" in the theatre as well, and it looks like it came out a year before Transformers.  I may have to amend my original post.

Re:First film you remember seeing in the theatre?

seely:

Risselada:

But now reviewing the lists of movies I've seen, I think maybe it was Sesame Street Presents: Follow that Bird, since that came out earlier and I'm pretty sure I saw that in the theater.  I must have been only 4 years old!

Whoa, good call!  This brings into question: which one did I see first... Transformers or Follow that Bird?  I remember seeing "Follow that Bird" in the theatre as well, and it looks like it came out a year before Transformers.  I may have to amend my original post.

I wonder how successful that movie was.  I just remember it was quite an event for me.  I must have seen lots of Sesame Street on TV as a wee tyke, but seeing it in the theater made it seem so much more huge and alive!  I think I also remember being shocked that all the muppets from different shows were interacting on the same screen.  Kind of the same way I was shocked when all the different cartoon characters from different studios interacted in Roger Rabbit.

Re:First film you remember seeing in the theatre?

I think it was fairly successful in a commercial sense.  I remember having a "Follow that Bird" book, as well as having the movie on VHS at some point.  I'm sure the film didn't break any box-office records, but I'm sure it didn't cost that much to make and created a big merchandising opportunity for Sesame Street.  Definately a classic!

Risselada:

I wonder how successful that movie was.  I just remember it was quite an event for me.  I must have seen lots of Sesame Street on TV as a wee tyke, but seeing it in the theater made it seem so much more huge and alive!  I think I also remember being shocked that all the muppets from different shows were interacting on the same screen.  Kind of the same way I was shocked when all the different cartoon characters from different studios interacted in Roger Rabbit.

Re:First film you remember seeing in the theatre?

Who Framed Roger Rabbit is a pretty early film memory for me as well. I also remember seeing the original Care Bears film in the theatre.

seely:

I only grew up in half of the eighties, but I felt I needed to join this group as I still remember a lot of films I saw as a child.  In fact, the first film I remember seeing in the theatre (quite possibly the first film I saw) was the original Transformers Movie.  I was four, but I was so excited to see it and so utterly enthralled that I can still picture the opening sequence... after not seeing the film for over twenty years.  I guess that should have been an indication that I'd be a film junky.

Anyone else have any memorable firsts, from the eighties or otherwise?

Re:First film you remember seeing in the theatre?

filmgal81:

Who Framed Roger Rabbit is a pretty early film memory for me as well. I also remember seeing the original Care Bears film in the theatre.

I saw Care Bears in my list of flims that I'm sure I saw when I was young, but I can't remember if I saw it in the theatre or just rented it on video.  But those first couple movies were some of my first movie memories.