Search Movie Plot Summaries & Endings Explained

Drama · Tense tone · Mixed ending

Stripped to Kill (1987)

Detective Sheehan discovers a serial killer targeting strippers in Los Angeles. To stop him, she agrees to become the bait, allowing her partner to have her pose as a dancer and lure the murderer. Using her own body as the only weapon, Sheehan infiltrates the underground club scene, confronting the maniac before he strikes again.

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Crime · Light tone · Happy ending

Burglar (1987)

A clever comedy that follows Bernice “Bernie” Rhodenbarr, a skilled burglar who also runs a modest bookstore. When a routine heist goes awry and a dead body is discovered in the house she’s robbed, Bernie becomes the prime suspect. With help from her friend Carl Hefler, a dog groomer, she must use her thieving expertise to clear her name of murder while avoiding arrest for the burglary.

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Drama · Dark tone · Bittersweet ending

Street Smart (1987)

A struggling reporter crafts a sensational exposé on street prostitution, hoping to boost his career. The fabricated story proves successful, but the consequences are far-reaching and dangerous. He becomes deeply involved with the ruthless pimp who inspired his article, a complex and dangerous relationship that puts his life at risk as he attempts to conceal the truth behind his story.

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Thriller · Tense tone · Bittersweet ending

The Stepford Children (1987)

Steven and Laura Harding move with their teenage children, David and Mary, to the seemingly tranquil town of Stepford. Steven joins the men’s club, which has already turned wives into obedient robot‑like beings. Now the club is targeting unruly teens, converting them into compliant, homework‑loving, big‑band‑dancing droids. Laura, David and Mary discover the plot and must outwit Steven’s scheme before they too are robotized.

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Animation · Hopeful tone · Happy ending

Royal Space Force - The Wings of Honneamise (1987)

On Earth, war looms between the Kingdom of Honneamise and the rival Republic with advanced technology. Amid tension, a pioneering team launches the world’s first spaceflight program. Astronaut candidate Shirotsugh Lhadatt embarks on an odyssey, growing from a youth into a decisive leader willing to risk everything to advance humanity and avert catastrophe.

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Animation · Whimsical tone · Happy ending

Doraemon: Nobita and the Knights on Dinosaurs (1987)

Nobita and Doraemon set out to discover whether a real dinosaur still exists. Their search leads them to a mysterious underwater cave that opens onto an underground realm inhabited by dinosaur‑like people. The friends are thrilled by the incredible civilization, but before they can stay, their memories are erased and they are sent back to the surface.

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Comedy · Light tone · Happy ending

Pretty Smart (1987)

After a taste of knowledge, the girls at Ogilvy Academy believe they’re Pretty Smart. In this teen‑drama, a young woman is sent to an elite Mediterranean finishing school, where she rebels against a cruel, perverse headmaster. Discovering his secret scheme of covertly photographing the students naked and selling the images, she unites the other girls and seeks revenge.

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Action · Dark tone · Ambiguous ending

Heat (1987)

A hardened ex-soldier working as a security expert in Las Vegas finds himself embroiled in a dangerous conflict with the city’s criminal underworld. He takes on specialized protection assignments, known as "Chaperone" jobs, hoping to accumulate enough money to start a new life in Venice. However, his past catches up with him, forcing him into a high-stakes battle for survival.

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Drama · Bittersweet tone · Bittersweet ending

Tin Men (1987)

Two rival aluminum siding salesmen, B.B. and Doug, find themselves embroiled in a fierce competition for sales and dominance. Their relentless one-upmanship takes a dramatic turn after a seemingly insignificant car accident. As their rivalry intensifies, personal vendettas surface, leading to increasingly hostile actions and a provocative betrayal that jeopardizes the other man’s reputation and livelihood.

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Mystery · Tense tone · Ambiguous ending

Witchboard (1987)

During a Halloween party, a Ouija board inadvertently summons Malfeitor, a dangerous spirit from beyond. Brandon, attempting to contact a friendly spirit named David, instead unleashes a malevolent force that begins to terrorize him and his friends. Malfeitor manipulates the living world, creating a terrifying and chaotic situation as the group struggles to contain the supernatural threat.

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Mystery · Tense tone · Ambiguous ending

Evil Dead II (1987)

After unleashing a demonic presence with a mysterious tape recorder, Ash Wilson faces a fresh wave of gruesome torment. Malevolent spirits converge on his isolated cabin, forcing him to confront increasingly terrifying horrors. Battling the undead and struggling to maintain his sanity, Ash must use his wit and resourcefulness to survive the onslaught and escape the escalating nightmare.

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Adventure · Whimsical tone · Happy ending

Raising Arizona (1987)

A police officer and a former convict, deeply in love, yearn to start a family but find themselves unable to conceive. Driven by this desire, they impulsively kidnap one of a set of quintuplets from a wealthy furniture salesman. Pursued by the boy’s resentful father and a group of intimidating bikers, the couple struggles to navigate the unpredictable realities of parenthood while desperately trying to evade capture. The situation spirals into increasingly absurd and chaotic circumstances.

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Action · Bittersweet tone · Ambiguous ending

Sworn Brothers (1987)

Cheung and Lau are two men who grew up together as brothers. However, they end up as enemies who hunt each other down after following different paths in life.

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Western · Tense tone · Happy ending

Timestalkers (1987)

History professor Scott McKenzie uncovers a photograph that contains an impossible element from the Old West. The anomaly draws the attention of Georgia, a striking traveler from the future, who enlists his help. Together they jump through eras, racing to stop a rogue futurist from wiping Georgia from existence and altering the timeline.

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Drama · Light tone · Happy ending

Rags to Riches (1987)

Feature-length TV movie (titled “Rags and Riches” on the opening card) that launched the short‑lived 1987‑88 series. A wealthy, notoriously cut‑throat businessman decides to soften his public image by adopting children. He quickly ends up with six teenage girls, and soon discovers that managing a bustling household and the emotional needs of his new family presents far more difficulty than he anticipated.

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Action · Tense tone · Happy ending

Velaikkaran (1987)

Ragupathy moves from his rural home to the city, secures employment at an upscale five‑star hotel owned by a man who is romantically involved with his mother. As threats to his life emerge, he takes decisive steps to safeguard himself and confront the danger.

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Drama · Dark tone · Bittersweet ending

Yeelen (1987)

A young man with magical powers journeys to his uncle to request help in fighting his sorcerer father.

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Mystery · Dark tone · Bleak ending

Angel Heart (1987)

A private investigator named Harry Angel is hired to locate a singer named Johnny Favorite, setting off a disturbing and dangerous search. As he delves deeper into the case, he encounters a series of gruesome murders and unsettling connections to voodoo and dark rituals. The investigation reveals that his mysterious employer, Louis Cyphre, is intricately involved in Favorite's disappearance and holds secrets that threaten to consume Harry. The truth he uncovers is far more sinister than he could have imagined.

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Horror · Dark tone · Bleak ending

Twisted Nightmare (1987)

A group of former summer‑camp kids win a nostalgic trip back to the woods where they grew up, only to find themselves vanishing one by one. As panic spreads, the remaining teens suspect the killings are linked to the mysterious death of a handicapped child at the camp years earlier, turning their reunion into a deadly nightmare.

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Comedy · Whimsical tone · Bittersweet ending

The Big Bang (1987)

In 1995, Italy wipes out Libya, destroying Israel; Africa bombs Germany, which then attacks France; Luxembourg conquers England; Sweden, Monte Carlo and Switzerland immolate themselves; the Russians move to liquidate the United States, prompting America to unleash its nuclear fleet, leaving only two continents on the brink of World IV.

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Action · Tense tone · Bittersweet ending

Lethal Weapon (1987)

A seasoned police detective, Roger Murtaugh, finds himself partnered with the reckless and intense Martin Riggs. Together, they investigate a series of murders connected to the criminal underworld of drugs and prostitution. Their contrasting personalities and methods create friction and danger as they pursue the truth, leading to thrilling action and unexpected camaraderie.

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Drama · Dark tone · Happy ending

Hibiscus Town (1987)

Based on a novel by the same name written by Gu Hua, a melodrama about the life and travails of a young woman who lives through the turmoil of the Cultural Revolution.

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War · Tense tone · Bittersweet ending

The Dirty Dozen: The Deadly Mission (1987)

Facing a Nazi plan to unleash a lethal nerve‑gas attack on Washington, D.C., Major Wright volunteers a group of twelve condemned men for a seemingly impossible operation. The convicts are sent deep into occupied France to infiltrate and demolish the secret factory where the poison is produced, knowing the mission is a one‑way trip.

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Drama · Tense tone · Happy ending

The Quick and the Dead (1987)

A mysterious stranger arrives in 1876 Wyoming, threatening to erase a woman’s memory of her marriage while reminding a man of his heroic past. In a land where the gun is the only law, newly settled Duncan and Suzanna McKaskel are besieged by outlaws. Their only hope is rugged frontiersman Con Vallian, whose skill with a pistol may decide their fate.

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Tense tone · Happy ending

Chinna Thambi Periya Thambi (1987)

Prabhu and Sathyaraj are brothers who each fall for their uncle’s niece, Nadia. After her arranged marriage to a rich man falls through, she returns to the village, stays with her uncles, and eventually chooses Prabhu. Sathyaraj saves Sudha Chandran and they marry. The film ends with both brothers happily wed.

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Comedy · Tense tone · Mixed ending

Number One with a Bullet (1987)

When it comes to crime, these cops break more than the rules. In this 1987 American police detective film directed by Jack Smight, two detectives are assigned to solve a murder. Their investigation uncovers a web of corruption and criminal activity that ultimately points back to their own police department.

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Action · Dark tone · Bittersweet ending

A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors (1987)

A group of troubled teens at a halfway house find themselves targeted by Freddy Krueger, who haunts their dreams with terrifying force. To survive, they must learn to control their dreams and confront their deepest fears. One of the teens discovers a connection to Freddy and may hold the key to stopping him, but defeating the dream demon proves to be a dangerous and harrowing journey.

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Drama · Hopeful tone · Happy ending

Some Kind of Wonderful (1987)

Keith, a high school student struggling with his place, finds himself caught between his loyal best friend Watts and the captivating Amanda Jones. As he navigates the complexities of first love, he experiences the bittersweet moments of adolescence, learning about friendship, longing, and the challenges of finding where he truly belongs. The film portrays the tender and often awkward realities of teenage life and the pursuit of connection.

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Drama · Hopeful tone · Happy ending

Working Girls (1987)

Louise Smith portrays Molly, a photographer documenting a day in the life at a Manhattan brothel. The film offers a nuanced look at the realities of sex work, exploring the interactions between the women and their clients. It examines the challenges they face, the relationships they forge, and the difficult choices they make as they navigate a world of blurred boundaries and complex personal lives.

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Comedy · Light tone · Happy ending

Morgan Stewart’s Coming Home (1987)

After being expelled from ten prep schools, eccentric 17‑year‑old Morgan Stewart (Cryer)—who played Ducky in “Pretty in Pink”—returns home to the Washington elite. When a sleazy campaign manager endangers his father’s senatorial bid, Morgan dives into the crisis, creating wild schemes that upend his conservative family’s world and leave the political scene forever changed.

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Comedy · Light tone · Happy ending

Morgan Stewart’s Coming Home (1987)

He played Ducky in ‘Pretty in Pink’. Now the eccentric 17‑year‑old Morgan Stewart (Cryer), a spoiled heir expelled from ten prep schools, returns home after his parents ignore him. When a corrupt campaign manager endangers his father’s Senate run, Morgan intervenes, causing chaotic hijinks that upend Washington politics.

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Drama · Tense tone · Bittersweet ending

Mirch Masala (1987)

In early‑1940s rural British India, a courageous woman confronts the tyrannical village subedar. Backed by the guard of the local spice factory, her defiance sparks other women to join the struggle, uniting to challenge the entrenched oppression.

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Drama · Light tone · Happy ending

Northanger Abbey (1987)

A naive and imaginative young woman, full of romantic and melodramatic ideas, travels to stay with the affluent Tilney family. While navigating her adventures and the looming mysteries of their estate, Catherine Morland gradually realizes that, in her society, marriage is driven more by wealth and social standing than by genuine love.

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Crime · Dark tone · Bittersweet ending

Sukeban Deka: The Movie (1987)

Following the TV series, 18‑year‑old Yoko Godai drops her Saki Asamiya identity to study for college exams. She intervenes when Kazuo Hagiwara, fleeing hitmen, asks for help and learns he attends Sanko Academy on the isolated Hell’s Castle island. The school is controlled by presumed‑dead revolutionary Hattori, who brainwashes students into terrorists to launch a fascist coup in Japan.

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Family · Whimsical tone · Happy ending

Mônica e a Sereia do Rio (1987)

Monica steps into a magical realm where she meets a friendly little fairy who reveals a secret: in this world everyone is free to follow their true passions. Inspired, Monica proclaims her love of storytelling and joyfully begins crafting enchanting tales that delight everyone she meets.

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Drama · Bittersweet tone · Bittersweet ending

84 Charing Cross Road (1987)

A heartfelt love affair sparks in a tiny London shop at 84 Charing Cross Road. A witty script‑reader in New York spots an ad in the Saturday Review of Literature for a mail‑order bookstore in London. She begins a lively correspondence with Frank Doel, the courteous bookseller at Marks & Co., and their shared love of literature grows into a deep trans‑Atlantic friendship.

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Action · Tense tone · Sad ending

City on Fire (1987)

Ko Chow, an undercover cop, is pulled in every direction. Inspector Lau orders him to infiltrate a ruthless jewel‑thieving gang, while his girlfriend threatens to leave Hong Kong unless he marries her. Unaware colleagues hunt him, and Chow wrestles with guilt over betraying the gang members who have become friends, considering quitting the force.

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Fantasy · Whimsical tone · Happy ending

Mannequin (1987)

A struggling artist finds an unexpected job as a window dresser at a department store. He develops feelings for one of his creations, a beautiful mannequin named Emmy. Complications arise when a scheming manager and an unexpected touch of ancient Egyptian magic bring Emmy to life, testing the boundaries of their blossoming romance and challenging what is real.

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Action · Hopeful tone · Happy ending

Over the Top (1987)

A truck driver seeks to reconnect with his estranged son by entering a high-stakes arm wrestling tournament in Las Vegas. He leaves his life on the open road to compete against the reigning champion, facing both formidable opponents and personal demons along the way. The competition tests his strength and resolve as he strives to build a relationship with his son and prove himself worthy.

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Comedy · Light tone · Happy ending

Personal Services (1987)

Based on Cynthia Payne’s real life, the film follows down‑on‑her‑luck waitress Christine Painter, who, with prostitute Shirley and a cross‑dressing wing commander, turns her suburban home into a brothel for older men. Clients soon include judges, generals and MPs; after a police raid, the trial is overseen by a judge familiar with her work.

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