Search Movie Plot Summaries & Endings Explained

Drama · Melancholic tone · Bittersweet ending

Maurice (1987)

Maurice Laroche, the owner of a struggling cinema in Europe, fiercely defends the art of film. His cinema, a relic of a bygone era, showcases vintage adult films as he fights to preserve a 35mm legacy amidst the rise of digital technology. The story explores the life of this enigmatic man and his dedication to a fading cinematic tradition.

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Comedy · Light tone · Happy ending

In the Mood (1987)

At fifteen, Sonny Wisecarver embarks on an affair with his older neighbor Francine and elopes to marry her, only for a stern judge to annul the marriage. Later, the same judge presides over another case when Sonny becomes involved with a woman in her twenties. The sensational courtroom drama propels Sonny into the national spotlight, turning him into a teenage heartthrob admired by countless young women.

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Drama · Dark tone · Bleak ending

Divine Words (1987)

Set in early‑20th‑century Galicia, this Valle‑Inclán drama follows the sacristan’s wife, who, desperate to lift her family from poverty, exploits a hydrocephalic child as a sideshow attraction. Her ruthless scheme provokes a fierce clash with her sister‑in‑law, exposing the harsh social realities of the time.

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Drama · Tense tone · Ambiguous ending

She Must Be Seeing Things (1987)

A secret affair, a masquerade, a dance of seduction. International lawyer Agatha and filmmaker Jo are lovers. While Jo tours with her films, Agatha finds and reads Jo’s diaries, exposing hidden desires. Agatha’s transgressions spark jealousy, drawing the pair into a spiraling cycle of sexual obsession and conflict.

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Thriller · Dark tone · Bittersweet ending

Sister, Sister (1987)

Charlotte and Lucy Bonnard share their foreboding Louisiana family mansion, which they have converted into a boarding house. Their routine is shattered when an enigmatic young stranger arrives, prompting the sisters to face the secrets and sins of their troubled pasts.

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Drama · Dark tone · Bleak ending

The Belly of an Architect (1987)

Art becomes sustenance for madness as the American architect Kracklite travels to Italy to oversee an exhibition dedicated to the French visionary Boullée, renowned for his oval designs. Immersed in the work, Kracklite’s relentless devotion leads his marriage to unravel and his health to decline.

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Action · Dark tone · Bittersweet ending

A Prayer for the Dying (1987)

Freedom always comes at a price. IRA assassin Martin is spotted by a Catholic priest while carrying out a killing. A tentative friendship develops between Martin, the priest, and the priest’s young niece. However, Martin’s violent past and his former employers soon threaten all of their lives.

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Drama · Dark tone · Bleak ending

Five Corners (1987)

After being released from prison, a disturbed young man returns to his Bronx neighborhood, intent on confronting the woman he once attempted to rape and the man who defended her. His twisted notions of love and vengeance drive a dark pursuit, while the lingering bonds of friendship and that goodness is its own reward linger in the background.

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Horror · Dark tone · Bleak ending

The Curse (1987)

Religious farmer Nathan Hayes fights to keep his land and family as a real‑estate developer tries to buy farms, hoping the Tennessee Valley Authority will select the town for a dam. During a violent storm, a mysterious glowing object crashes onto Hayes' property, unleashing a curse that threatens his family and the entire community.

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Comedy · Dark tone · Bleak ending

Salvation! (1987)

SEX. POWER. MONEY. It’s all in the name of God! A troubled young woman hooks up with a money-crazed televangelist and becomes a rich, heavy-metal Christian rock star.

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War · Tense tone · Bittersweet ending

The Lighthorsemen (1987)

In 1917, British forces are stuck facing entrenched Turkish and German positions in Palestine. Desperate for a breakthrough, they call on an Australian Light Horse regiment. The cavalrymen mount a daring desert charge, using mobility and surprise to shatter the deadlock and turn the tide of the campaign.

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Drama · Melancholic tone · Bittersweet ending

Family Viewing (1987)

A strange force invades daily life, revealing emotional emptiness in our video‑obsessed society. Van visits his grandmother in a run‑down nursing home, while his father turns to phone‑sex for guidance and erases family home videos, replacing them with homemade pornography. As memories fade, Van races to save his grandmother and the fading recollections of his mother before they disappear.

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Comedy · Bittersweet tone · Bittersweet ending

Selamsız’s Band (1987)

Selamsız, meaning 'no greeting,' is a struggling Anatolian town ignored by the government. When the mayor learns the prime minister will visit, residents see a chance to address their many problems. Yet they first decide they need a band to give the leader a proper welcome, hoping the music will raise morale and draw attention to their plight.

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Drama · Melancholic tone · Bittersweet ending

Kaash (1987)

Ritesh, a Bollywood actor, and his wife Pooja live comfortably until his ill‑fated film production puts them in debt. They sell their possessions, move into a modest flat, and Ritesh drowns his disappointment in alcohol. Pooja takes a job to support the family, igniting a dispute that endangers their marriage.

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Drama · Hopeful tone · Happy ending

Swayamkrushi (1987)

Swayam Krushi is family based movie in which, Chiranjeevi played a role of an illiterate cobbler sambayya. He raises his dead sister

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Adventure · Tense tone · Bittersweet ending

Pathfinder (1987)

In 1000 AD, marauding “tjuder” raid northern Scandinavia, killing a family and leaving teenage son Aigin as the sole survivor. He flees to a Sámi camp, where the hunters plan a coastal escape. Captured, Aigin is forced to guide the invaders to the remaining Sámi, but he plots revenge, intending to destroy them before they reach the settlement.

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Drama · Melancholic tone · Bittersweet ending

The Dead (1987)

A sweeping, joyous and unconventional love story unfolds after a lively holiday dinner. The celebration quickly turns tense as a husband and wife confront the thorny issues that have been straining their marriage, exposing hidden emotions and testing their bond.

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Comedy · Light tone · Bittersweet ending

Discopříběh (1987)

Jirka Horáček, a teen living with his father on a Pilsen housing estate, spends evenings at discos. One night he meets confident blonde Eva, already involved with older Cáfa, and also encounters Jitka. Though Jitka shows interest, Jirka becomes obsessed with Eva, chasing her while his reckless actions strain his impatient father's patience.

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Romance · Melancholic tone · Sad ending

Promised Land (1987)

Set on the edge of the American Dream, three recent high‑school graduates—a star athlete named Hancock, his cheerleader girlfriend Mary, and the socially awkward Senator—plot to escape their small town and chase big ambitions. Their hopeful plans quickly run into the harsh realities of life.

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Horror · Dark tone · Bittersweet ending

Lily C.A.T. (1987)

The crew of an interplanetary starship fights for survival after an alien force takes control of their craft.

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Horror · Dark tone · Bleak ending

Night Screams (1987)

On the night a football star throws a party for his friends, the celebration turns deadly when two deranged inmates escape from a nearby asylum. Desperate to evade the police, they stumble into the same gathering, turning the night into a terrifying hunt.

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Horror · Dark tone · Sad ending

Slaughterhouse (1987)

Lester Bacon faces pressure from the town lawyer, the sheriff, and a rival slaughterhouse owner who wants his land. Determined to protect his property, he orders his massive, mentally unstable son to eliminate anyone who threatens them, sparking a violent, relentless showdown.

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Mystery · Dark tone · Ambiguous ending

The Rosary Murders (1987)

God works in mysterious ways. Man works in the deadliest. A priest is put in a dilemma when the serial killer who has been murdering priests and nuns confesses to him.

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Drama · Dark tone · Ambiguous ending

Jallikkattu (1987)

Arjun, once a carefree youth, is arrested for multiple crimes. He had helped laborers by posing as an income‑tax officer, stealing the factory owners’ black money and giving it to workers, while falling in love with Radha. After his brother, sister‑in‑law and niece are killed, Arjun seeks revenge, is captured, tortured and forced to surrender. Judge Ram Prakash, believing him innocent, orders house arrest on an isolated island.

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Thriller · Tense tone · Bittersweet ending

The Fourth Protocol (1987)

Demoted for his unconventional methods, British spy John Preston finds himself embroiled in a dangerous situation when a deadly KGB plot threatens national security. He must overcome bureaucratic obstacles and work with an MI5 director to stop Valeri Petrofsky from detonating a nuclear bomb within the country. The plan involves framing the United States for the attack, raising the stakes and demanding Preston confront his past actions to prevent a catastrophic event.

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Fantasy · Whimsical tone · Bittersweet ending

House II: The Second Story (1987)

A young man inherits his family's estate and discovers a hidden world of restless spirits inhabiting the house. Along with his best friend, he begins to uncover dark secrets related to his ancestors. Their investigation inadvertently unleashes a mischievous and haunting legacy, leading to a series of comical and supernatural encounters that threaten to consume them.

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Action · Dark tone · Bittersweet ending

Hamburger Hill (1987)

In May 1969, a battle-weary squad faces a grueling challenge: capturing the heavily fortified Hamburger Hill. Amidst the intense heat and relentless enemy fire, Lieutenant Frantz and his men confront not only a formidable opponent but also simmering racial tensions and personal struggles. A medic, Doc, provides a much-needed sense of hope and stability as the squad perseveres through the brutal and controversial conflict.

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Drama · Dark tone · Sad ending

Matewan (1987)

During the 1920s in West Virginia, tensions rise in the coal mining region as workers struggle against oppressive conditions and corporate greed. A determined labor organizer, Joe Kenehan, finds himself working alongside Few Clothes Johnson, a complex figure with his own motivations, and uniting with Matewan's supportive mayor and police chief. Together, they confront the powerful coal company and fight for justice and improved working rights, leading to a dramatic clash with significant consequences for the community.

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War · Melancholic tone · Happy ending

Wartime (1987)

Set in occupied Eastern Europe during World II, the Nazis capture a Swedish scientist whose expertise could enable them to build weapons of mass destruction. A determined group of local resistance fighters plan a daring rescue, enlisting two American pilots. As Nazi patrols tighten their grip, the rebels race against time to free the scientist before the deadly project is completed.

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Western · Dark tone · Sad ending

White Apache (1987)

Based on a true story, an Irish infant survives a wagon‑train attack and is raised by Colorado Apache chief White Bear, who names him Shining Sky. He grows up with the chief’s son Black Wolf, but tragically kills his brother‑friend. Grief drives him into white society, yet he returns to his Apache roots, repeatedly confronting his rival Redeath.

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War · Tense tone · Bittersweet ending

Strike Commando (1987)

A One-Man War Machine! The sole survivor of a Vietnam mission is ordered by his commanding officer to photograph Soviets.

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Drama · Hopeful tone · Happy ending

Dirty Dancing (1987)

During a summer vacation at a Catskills resort, young Frances "Baby" Houseman finds herself drawn to Johnny Castle, a skilled dance instructor. As their connection deepens, she challenges her family's expectations and explores a passionate romance, navigating social divides and personal growth against the backdrop of music and dance.

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Romance · Hopeful tone · Happy ending

Srinivasa Kalyanam (1987)

Srinivas and his sister Lakshmi build a fresh start with the help of their supportive cousin Saroja. As years pass, Saroja unexpectedly develops romantic feelings for Srinivas, only to discover that he is already devoted to Lalitha, creating a tangled love triangle that tests loyalty and family ties.

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Adventure · Whimsical tone · Mixed ending

The Garbage Pail Kids Movie (1987)

Three Garbage Pail Kids – Windy Winston, Foul Phil, and Messy Tessie – embark on a comical quest to assist a kind shop assistant in winning the affection of a lovely fashion designer. Through a series of silly situations and musical performances, the mischievous kids bring humor and unexpected joy to everyone around them, proving that even the most unlikely heroes can make a difference.

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Comedy · Light tone · Happy ending

Born in East L.A. (1987)

A lighthearted comedy follows one man’s unexpected journey after he’s mistakenly deported from Los Angeles to Mexico. Cheech Marin portrays the carefree Angeleno as he encounters a series of comical situations while trying to prove his American citizenship and find his way back home.

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Drama · Tense tone · Happy ending

The Big Easy (1987)

In the vibrant and humid city of New Orleans, Lieutenant Remy McSwain faces a series of gang-related murders that disrupt his routine. His life takes an unexpected turn when he meets Ann Osborne, a lawyer investigating corruption within the police force. As Remy investigates, he becomes embroiled in a complex web of deceit and finds himself accused of bribery, forcing him to confront a dangerous conspiracy that jeopardizes his career and personal life.

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Action · Bittersweet ending

Miami Connection (1987)

Set against the perilous streets of Miami, a city portrayed as the world’s most dangerous jungle, the film follows a martial‑arts rock band that battles a gang of motorcycle‑riding ninjas who dominate Florida’s drug trade. In this off‑beat world, ninjas and rock stars swap ambitions, making the clash both action‑packed and flamboyantly musical.

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Horror · Dark tone · Bleak ending

American Gothic (1987)

Six friends on a weekend trip encounter engine trouble and are forced to land on a remote island. They seek refuge with Ma, Pa and their odd children, an eccentric backwoods family whose customs hint at something more sinister. What begins as simple hospitality quickly turns into a deadly game, as the guests vanish one by one and are found dead.

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Drama · Bleak tone · Bleak ending

Thaniyavarthanam (1987)

Balan, a teacher, looks after his mentally unstable uncle in a family haunted by a longstanding belief that a curse ensures each generation produces a lunatic. When the uncle dies, the surrounding community, steeped in superstition, quickly assumes Balan is destined to become the next afflicted, amplifying his personal turmoil.

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Thriller · Tense tone

Watan Ke Rakhwale (1987)

Confounding law enforcement, a covert syndicate with powerful contacts sows chaos and siphons vast sums of money. An incisive secret agent begins closing in, determined to bring the operation down. Alerted to his pursuit, the gang mounts a ruthless counter‑strike to eliminate him, leading to a tense showdown, threatening the city's stability.

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