The classic ’80s comedy on Netflix is warm and perfect for nostalgia

by Chris Snelgrove
| Published 1 hour ago

These days, children’s films are often a mixed bag because they’re sloppily written, lazily acted, and barely directed. But would you believe that one of the best children’s films ever made comes from a dream team of three famous Hollywood directors who completely redefined the genre? This movie is Foolsand you can now stream this ’80s classic on Netflix.

plot Fools It begins with a group of neighborhood children gathering for the last time before their parents’ homes are foreclosed. But when the kids discover an ancient treasure map, they embark on a crazy adventure to save their homes and, more importantly, their friendship. But when they encounter real criminals, these kids (the titular Goonies) end up racing against time and fighting for their lives.

Hollywood dream team

Fools It comes from a true Hollywood dream team: it was directed by Richard Donner, who is best known for directing Superman and Lethal weapon. It is written by Chris Columbus, who is famous for directing Alone at home And the first two Harry Potter films. The original story of Fools It came from legendary director Steven Spielberg (the mastermind behind Jaws, Jurassic Parkand much more), which was produced by Amblin Entertainment.

The talent in front of the camera was no less impressive, as were the actors Fools Includes Joe Pantoliano (aka souvenir and Matrix) as a bumbling member of a fearsome crime family. The film also stars ’80s sensation Corey Feldman (known as… stand by me and Lost Boys) as the quick-witted Goonie whose sharp tongue gets him into trouble as much as it gets him out. And in a truly inspired casting decision, John Matuszak, former NFL athlete and two-time Super Bowl winner, plays Sloth, the most charming cinematic outsider to ever grace the big screen.

Interestingly, Fools It features many young stars who have become big names in the industry, including Josh Brolin (who later played… Thanos In the MCU) as Goonie’s older brother who gets swept up in his brothers’ crazy adventures. And Sean Astin (who played fan-favorite character Samwise Gamgee in The Lord of the Rings) plays Brolin’s younger brother, the plucky leader of the Goonies who never lets asthma get him down. And Ke Huy Quan (formerly known as Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doomnow known as Everything everywhere at once) plays Data, the gadget-obsessed brains of the operation.

Mark an X immediately

when Fools It was the kind of success that would make One-Eyed Willie proud; Against a budget of $19 million, this film earned $68 million. This was enough profit for Steven Spielberg and Richard Donner to consider producing a sequel, but they were never able to find a successful story. However, in January 2025, Deadline reported that a sequel was in the works, which should be interesting since many of the original cast members (mostly Sean Astin, Josh Brolin, and Ki-Hui Kwan) are now bankable stars in their own right.

When it came out, the critics decided so Fools It was a cinematic treasure chest full of scintillating delights. It has 77 percent on Rotten tomatoesCritics praised the warm emotion of the script, which is full of charming surprises. They also praised the film for its multi-generational appeal, and I have to agree: Fools It’s basically at the top of the list when it comes to movies that nostalgic parents can enjoy with their kids.

A new family tradition

in my family, Fools It became something of a generational tradition: I watched it over and over again on VHS with my parents, and loved seeing the young heroes engaged in the many dangerous adventures. And the sight of kids chasing and chasing hardened criminals is definitely what my son enjoyed about this Spielberg adventure when we watched it together for the first time. As for me, I eventually learned to love this movie the same way my parents did: as a surprisingly moving meditation on friendship and the necessity of turning every day into a new adventure.

Would you agree to that? Fools Is it the best kids movie ever made, or is this the nostalgia movie you’d rather feed to your sloths than watch it all the way through? No need to consult a treasure map; All you have to do is stream this movie Netflix To find out if this movie is more trick than treat. But I’m confident it will hook you and leave you repeating the four-word phrase that defined an entire generation: “Fools never say die!”