17. Stand By Me
Columbia PicturesAn altogether different movie in which the protagonists escape civilization and head into the wilderness, Stand By Me is more firmly grounded in a reality we feel familiar with - except, perhaps, the part where they look for the dead body of a missing child. Adapted from the novella The Body by Stephen King, it's a coming-of-age tale which many of us growing up in the 80s fully identified with. Stand By Me's success lies firmly in its well-rounded characters, each of whom resonated with younger audiences both now and then. As a portrait of friendship and coming to terms with some of the harsh truths life has to offer, few movies have been quite so earnest and touching. There's a level of wit and warmth injected throughout, too, while the performances from Will Wheaton, River Phoenix, Corey Feldman and Kiefer Sutherland are all spot on. Few movies capture the nostalgic thrill-seeking of adolescence with as much heart.