This year marks the 40th anniversary of a cult Hollywood classic from the 1980s. The Goonies hit the big screen in 1985, bringing fun and laughter to our movie screens. The movie, which followed a ragtag group of teenagers with a lust for life and an inquisitive nature, captured the hearts of many.
The plot was based on a tale partly contributed to by Hollywood legend, Steven Spielberg, with the film itself directed by Richard Donner. The Goonies was an all-action family-friendly hit, with a group of friends embarking on a treasure-hunting adventure like no other. The film is a fusion of themes and messages, including friendship, fantasy and the coming-of-age of teenagers.
Explaining The Goonies for newbies
This friendship group were brought up in the ‘Goon Docks’ neighbourhood of Astoria in the US state of Oregon – hence the nickname of their motley crew. The storyline sees the pals stumble upon a dusty, old map that appeared to be marking the whereabouts of some kind of loot. With their family homes facing foreclosure due to their families’ financial difficulties, Mikey, Mouth, Data and co. set out in search of a pirate named ‘One-Eyed Willy’.
En route, the pals encounter all kinds of pitfalls, including creepy, dark tunnels, dangerous traps and the equally dangerous Fratelli family. One thing that endures throughout the movie is the kinship between the Goonies. Although they each have their own quirks and personalities, the group are united by friendship and heart-warming hope.
The Goonies wasn’t only a hit among the zeitgeist of the mid-to-late 1980s. It has since become a rite of passage for the next generation of movie-lovers. Parents who grew up watching and loving the movie have since introduced the characters and themes to their own offspring. It has become a genuine piece of Hollywood nostalgia, with a long-awaited sequel now officially in the works.
One of the more surprising reasons that The Goonies has enjoyed genuine staying power in popular culture has been its relevance in the online casino industry. Slot developers like Blueprint Gaming have taken the movie to their collective hearts and crafted immersive slot experiences, including everyone’s favourite characters, catchphrases and iconography from the film. Themed bonus games like the Fratelli Hideout Bonus and One-Eyed Willy’s Treasure Bonus help to keep everything on point. Such is the popularity of this movie as a slot theme that a brand-new version has been recently released. The Goonies Megaways: Quest for Treasure is one of the most talked about new slot games in the industry, including online bingo rooms that also offer slot games.
Where are the big names of The Goonies now?
Several of The Goonies’ cast have gone on to enjoy successful careers in entertainment, including:
• Sean Astin AKA MikeyAstin shot back into the limelight with his performance in The Lord of the Rings trilogy, cast as Samwise Gamgee. Astin has also played a popular role in the Netflix hit, Stranger Things.
• Corey Feldman AKA MouthFeldman was something of a heartthrob in the 1980s. He appeared in Stand By Me and The Lost Boys. Although he’s well-known for his acting, he’s also dabbled as a musician too.
• Jeff Cohen AKA ChunkCohen never returned into the world of acting. Instead, he opted to pursue a legal career, working as an attorney in the entertainment industry.
• Ke Huy Quan AKA DataQuan also disappeared for many years after his Goonies appearance. However, he made a triumphant return in Everything Everywhere All at Once, winning an Oscar for his role.
