Search Movie Plot Summaries & Endings Explained

Thriller · Tense tone · Ambiguous ending

The Nest (1987)

When a biological experiment creates meat‑eating mutant roaches, they escape onto a remote New England island. The insects, having never tasted flesh, turn the tranquil fishing village into a nightmare, hunting the residents and brutally butchering anyone they encounter.

Read the plot summary

Drama · Dark tone · Bittersweet ending

Flowers in the Attic (1987)

Following the sudden death of their father, four young siblings are forced to live with their cruel and manipulative grandmother. Confined to a secret room in the attic, they discover a dark family history and a sinister plot that threatens their very existence. As they struggle to uncover the truth and find a way to escape, the children must confront the secrets that bind them together and the dangers that lurk within their own family.

Read the plot summary

Fantasy · Light tone · Happy ending

Teen Wolf Too (1987)

Todd Howard's college life takes an unexpected turn when he discovers he's inherited a werewolf curse. As he transforms into a werewolf, his insecurities fade and he experiences newfound popularity. However, the changes come at a cost, forcing him to confront the challenges of balancing his werewolf identity with his life as a student and the potential loss of his human self.

Read the plot summary

Adventure · Light tone · Happy ending

Yogi’s Great Escape (1987)

After spring hibernation, Yogi and Boo‑Boo find three orphaned bear cubs on their doorstep and take them in. When Jellystone Park runs out of money, the commissioner orders Ranger Smith to close the park and move the bears to a zoo. Yogi builds a “Supercar” with a picnic‑basket seat for the cubs and leads an escape to find a new home.

Read the plot summary

Romance · Bittersweet tone · Bittersweet ending

Pushpaka Vimana (1987)

An unemployed dreamer, yearning for a lavish life, discovers a wealthy drunk collapsed in a sewer. He seizes the opportunity, locks the man away and assumes his identity, diving into the comforts and complications of high society. As he navigates the perks and pitfalls, he discovers that the glittering lifestyle brings its own challenges.

Read the plot summary

Animation · Light tone · Happy ending

The Jetsons Meet the Flintstones (1987)

Elroy Jetson invents a time machine that takes him back to prehistoric times, where he meets the Flintstone family.

Read the plot summary

Action · Dark tone · Happy ending

The Running Man (1987)

In a bleak, dystopian future, a former police officer is wrongly convicted of a crime and forced to compete in a deadly televised game show. As one of the "Runners," he must fight against a series of professional killers in a desperate bid for freedom, all while being broadcast to a captivated nation. The brutal competition offers a chance at redemption, but survival is far from guaranteed.

Read the plot summary

Drama · Tense tone · Bittersweet ending

Prison on Fire (1987)

Lo Ka Yiu, a young advertising designer convicted of manslaughter, finds himself at odds with corrupt prison wardens and Triad‑linked inmates. Veteran inmate Chung Tin Ching, who becomes Yiu’s mentor, repeatedly battles the gang’s adversaries, culminating in a decisive confrontation with the head of security.

Read the plot summary

Action · Tense tone · Ambiguous ending

Bellman and True (1987)

Hiller, a computer expert, is bribed by a gang of bank robbers to hack the security system of a newly built bank. After providing the plans, the thieves trace him to London, kidnap his son and force Hiller to decode the alarm and take part in the $14 million heist.

Read the plot summary

Drama · Dark tone · Bleak ending

Beatrice (1987)

Set in medieval France, Béatrice anxiously awaits her father's return from English captivity, only to discover that the man she reveres from afar becomes a cruel oppressor who subjects her and her family to abuse and humiliation, leaving her to confront the harsh reality of betrayal.

Read the plot summary

Romance · Dark tone · Bleak ending

White Mischief (1987)

In 1940 Kenya, a fading millionaire and his young wife join a circle of British expatriates as war looms. The group indulges in partner swapping, drugs, parties and horse racing. The wife starts an affair with a bon vivant; her husband confronts them and they agree to separate. When the bon vivant is murdered, evidence points to the husband.

Read the plot summary

Romance · Hopeful tone · Happy ending

Guru Dakshina (1987)

Jayanta, born into poverty, is raised by a village musician who tutors him and his widowed sister‑in‑law. His remarkable voice wins him acclaim and a move to Kolkata, where he rises to fame and wealth. There he becomes involved with Rupa, the daughter of a powerful but unscrupulous businessman, a relationship that draws him into danger.

Read the plot summary

Romance · Hopeful tone · Happy ending

Hello Again (1987)

Her life hasn’t been the same since her death. A suburban housewife chokes to death and is brought back to life by a spell cast by her wacky sister.

Read the plot summary

Romance · Hopeful tone · Happy ending

Made in Heaven (1987)

On a day when 12,000 babies are born across the United States, two souls discover love before they even reach Earth. Deceased drifter Mike arrives in Heaven and is captivated by newborn Annie, whose purpose is to begin her earthly assignment. When Annie is sent down, Mike decides to follow her, embarking on a new journey driven by devotion.

Read the plot summary

Drama · Hopeful tone · Bittersweet ending

Russkies (1987)

In the American heartland, three teenagers discover a Soviet sailor who has washed ashore in Florida. They find themselves unexpectedly helping him, navigating cultural differences and forging a surprising friendship. As they work together, they confront personal challenges and learn valuable lessons about understanding and acceptance.

Read the plot summary

Drama · Tense tone · Happy ending

Hiding Out (1987)

To escape dangerous mobsters seeking revenge, charismatic stockbroker Max Hauser takes on the identity of Andrew and attempts to blend in as a high school student. He struggles to balance his fabricated life with the challenges of adolescence, forming new relationships while battling a growing sense of rebellion. As he tries to maintain his disguise, he must confront the constant threat of exposure and the question of how long he can keep his secret.

Read the plot summary

Action · Dark tone · Bittersweet ending

Death Wish 4: The Crackdown (1987)

Charles Bronson returns as Paul Kersey in this action-thriller. When the daughter of his new romantic interest becomes involved with crack cocaine, Kersey’s quest for vengeance intensifies. He relentlessly pursues the powerful and ruthless drug kingpin responsible, embarking on a violent campaign against the criminal element plaguing the city. Kersey’s brutal actions leave a devastating impact on the urban landscape as he seeks retribution.

Read the plot summary

Drama · Dark tone · Bittersweet ending

Less Than Zero (1987)

Returning from college, Clay finds his former girlfriend, Blair, struggling with a devastating cocaine addiction. He attempts to help her, but becomes entangled in the dangerous world of drug dependency and its consequences. The situation is further complicated by Blair’s troubled relationship with her friend Julian, their shared history, and the menacing influence of a local drug dealer named Rip. Clay must confront uncomfortable truths about his friends and their choices as he tries to navigate this difficult situation.

Read the plot summary

Biography · Dark tone · Bittersweet ending

Cry Freedom (1987)

During the turbulent era of apartheid in South Africa, journalist Donald Woods develops a close relationship with the charismatic activist Steve Biko. Following Biko's death in police custody, Woods becomes increasingly outspoken and is placed under house arrest. Faced with escalating persecution and fearing for his family's safety, he makes the difficult decision to flee the country, determined to expose the truth about the systemic injustice and fight for freedom and equality.

Read the plot summary

Action · Tense tone · Bittersweet ending

Steel Dawn (1987)

In a post-war world struggling to recover, a skilled warrior finds himself unexpectedly tasked with protecting a resilient widow. She fights to safeguard the precious water resources essential for survival in a harsh and dangerous desert environment. Their journey is fraught with peril as they navigate a landscape scarred by conflict and face those who would exploit the fragile hope for a new beginning.

Read the plot summary

Action · Dark tone · Bittersweet ending

Deadly Prey (1987)

After earning a reputation as Vietnam’s top operative, Michael Danton is abducted from his home by a ruthless band of mercenaries led by Colonel John Hogan. They drop him into their secret training camp, using him as live ammunition for new recruits. Labeled the “most perfect killer,” Danton must once again prove his lethal skill while fighting for his life.

Read the plot summary

Adventure · Whimsical tone · Ambiguous ending

It Couldn’t Happen Here (1987)

Chris Lowe and Neil Tennant of the Pet Shop Boys travel across England, confronting a landscape that shifts between the nostalgic memories of their youth and the stark reality of Thatcher’s late‑1980s Britain. Along the way they encounter familiar, sometimes ominous, faces, and the film is set to some of the duo’s best‑known tracks.

Read the plot summary

Drama · Dark tone · Sad ending

Assa (1987)

Set against a bleak Crimean winter in the mid‑1980s, the film follows a young musician, Bananan, who becomes infatuated with Alika, the alluring young mistress of a powerful mobster, Krymov. At the same time, a parallel storyline recounts an 18th‑century assassination plot, linking past intrigue with present desire.

Read the plot summary

Drama · Dark tone · Bittersweet ending

The Man Who Broke 1,000 Chains (1987)

Even the toughest prison cannot crush a determined spirit. This true account follows Robert Elliot Burns, sentenced to a brutal Georgia chain gang, as he engineers two bold escape attempts, showcasing his relentless drive for freedom and the lengths he will go to reclaim his liberty.

Read the plot summary

Drama · Dark tone · Sad ending

The Jester (1987)

Set four years after Portugal’s 1974 Carnation Revolution and the loss of its African colonies, the film follows a struggling theatre director who turns to the illegal gun trade to raise money for his new play, highlighting the moral compromises forced by the country’s turbulent transition.

Read the plot summary

Comedy · Dark tone · Bittersweet ending

Fatal Beauty (1987)

With an earthquake looming over Los Angeles, Detective Rita Rizzoli—renowned for her disguises and undercover skill—faces a critical case when a potent new cocaine strain called “Fatal Beauty” emerges. A major drug ring is distributing it, and Rita, alongside her partner and a former cartel bodyguard, must employ every costume and tactic she knows to track down the dealers and stop the deadly operation.

Read the plot summary

Sci-Fi · Tense tone · Ambiguous ending

The Hidden (1987)

The tiger population drastically declined during the last century, falling from 100,000 to a mere 4,000. Surprisingly, a significant number of tigers—estimated between 5,000 and 10,000—are secretly living in North America, residing in private backyards, zoos, and theme parks. This documentary explores the unexpected impact these captive tigers have on the dwindling wild tiger population, exposing a troubling consequence that threatens the survival of both.

Read the plot summary

Comedy · Light tone · Happy ending

Rebel High (1987)

A 1987 social satire set amid the chaos of modern western city high schools, where spring break feels like a cease‑fire. Based on Evan Keliher’s novel, the film portrays the mayhem and absurdity of teenage life in an over‑the‑top educational landscape. Produced in Canada with largely unknown, often uncredited actors, it offers a tongue‑in‑cheek critique of contemporary school culture.

Read the plot summary

Comedy · Dark tone · Bittersweet ending

Doom Asylum (1987)

With a snicker and a smirk, a deranged former lawyer haunts the long‑abandoned asylum, using autopsy equipment to slaughter any teenagers who dare trespass. The production was filmed on location inside an actual, deserted mental institution.

Read the plot summary

Romance · Dark tone · Bleak ending

The Cry of the Owl (1987)

After separating from his Parisian wife, architect‑artist Robert retreats to Vichy. He finds uneasy solace in lingering unnoticed in the shadows of Juliette and Patrick’s home, silently observing Juliette as she cooks. Mistaking him for a prowler, she confronts him, but then surprisingly invites him inside.

Read the plot summary

Comedy · Light tone · Happy ending

Rented Lips (1987)

Light, camera, and a very different kind of action. A seasoned documentary maker, known for the 15‑year‑old film “Aluminum: Our Shiny Friend,” finally lands his dream project about Indian farming—on the condition that he also directs a porn movie. He reshapes the adult film into a musical titled “Halloween in the Barracks,” while juggling a volatile star, a fundamentalist preacher and countless other hurdles.

Read the plot summary

Romance · Melancholic tone · Bittersweet ending

Ijaazat (1987)

An estranged couple accidentally meet in a railway station’s waiting room and revisit their past.

Read the plot summary

Crime · Dark tone · Ambiguous ending

Eat the Rich (1987)

Alex, a disgruntled waiter at a pretentious upscale restaurant, hits hard times and faces the scorn of the elite. He and his allies launch a violent rampage against the upper class. Simultaneously, the scheming General Karprov and Spider try to enlist the hapless anarchists to sabotage the campaign of an aspiring prime minister.

Read the plot summary

Drama · Tense tone · Sad ending

No Man's Land (1987)

An inexperienced police officer infiltrates a car theft ring led by the charismatic Ted. Posing as one of the thieves, he is drawn into their dangerous world, experiencing the thrill of the criminal lifestyle. However, his mission becomes complicated when he develops feelings for Ted’s sister, forcing him to confront conflicting loyalties and desires as he navigates the blurred lines between law enforcement and a life of crime.

Read the plot summary

Drama · Tense tone · Bleak ending

Suspect (1987)

A man's life unravels when his stepdaughter accuses him of a crime, plunging him into a whirlwind of suspicion. Determined to prove his innocence and salvage his reputation, he confronts painful memories and a complex past. He races against time to uncover the truth and clear his name, battling accusations that threaten to destroy everything he holds dear.

Read the plot summary

Horror · Dark tone · Ambiguous ending

Prince of Darkness (1987)

A priest unearths a mysterious, otherworldly substance within the basement of a church. Soon, a group of scholars and scientists investigating the find become victims of a terrifying demonic force. As the substance spreads, it corrupts their minds, transforming them into violent killers. One student is possessed and becomes the embodiment of Satan, threatening widespread chaos and destruction.

Read the plot summary

Horror · Dark tone · Ambiguous ending

The Video Dead (1987)

An old television on a quiet, tree‑lined street suddenly picks up a mysterious single channel that loops the same horror movie nonstop. The relentless broadcast unleashes the dead, raising zombies from their graves to roam the neighborhood and hunt anyone who watches.

Read the plot summary

Crime · Dark tone · Bittersweet ending

Nayakan (1987)

Are you a good man or a bad man? Velu Naicker, who witnesses the brutal murder of his father, kills a corrupt policeman and escapes to Mumbai, only to become a gangster.

Read the plot summary

Mystery · Light tone · Happy ending

Scooby-Doo! Meets the Boo Brothers (1987)

After Uncle Beauregard dies, Shaggy, Scooby and Scrappy travel to his Southern plantation to claim the inheritance. The estate is haunted by a Confederate soldier’s ghost, forcing them to solve riddles while being chased by the spook. They quickly call on the Boo Brothers, a trio of ghost‑exterminators, to catch the phantom and secure the loot.

Read the plot summary

Drama · Tense tone · Ambiguous ending

Deadly Illusion (1987)

The story revolves around a private investigator who is hired to eliminate a man’s wife, but instead he warns her of the plot. As the investigation deepens, he discovers that the supposed killer and the alleged victim are both impostors, leaving everyone wondering why the bodies keep piling up in this twisted thriller.

Read the plot summary