ⓘ Details

Movie TitleThe Goonies

Release DateJune 7, 1985

TaglineTake the Oath. Join the Adventure.

Runtime114 minutes

DirectorRichard Donner

Screenplay Written ByChris Columbus

Based OnStory by Steven Spielberg

Is It a Remake?No. The Goonies is an original adventure-comedy from a Steven Spielberg story.

BudgetApproximately $19 million

Box OfficeApprox. $64.3 million domestic / Approx. $125 million worldwide

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👥 Main Cast

Sean AstinMikey Walsh

Josh BrolinBrand Walsh

Jeff CohenChunk

Corey FeldmanMouth

Kerri GreenAndy

Martha PlimptonStef

Ke Huy QuanData

John MatuszakSloth Fratelli

Robert DaviJake Fratelli

Joe PantolianoFrancis Fratelli

Anne RamseyMama Fratelli

Mary Ellen TrainorMrs. Walsh

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🏆 Awards

⭐ Saturn Award Winner — Best Supporting Actress, Anne Ramsey

⭐ Saturn Award Nominee — Best Fantasy Film

⭐ Young Artist Award Winner — Best Starring Performance by a Young Actor, Sean Astin

⭐ Young Artist Award Nominee — Best Family Motion Picture, Adventure

⭐ Young Artist Award Nominee — Supporting Young Actor, Jeff Cohen

⭐ Young Artist Award Nominee — Supporting Young Actor, Corey Feldman

⭐ Young Artist Award Nominee — Supporting Young Actress, Martha Plimpton

⭐ National Film Registry — Selected for preservation by the Library of Congress in 2017

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📖 Short Plot Summary

A group of kids from Astoria’s “Goon Docks” neighborhood are facing the loss of their homes when they discover an old treasure map in Mikey Walsh’s attic. Hoping to save their families from foreclosure, the Goonies follow the map into a maze of underground tunnels, booby traps, pirate legends, and danger — all while being chased by the criminal Fratelli family.

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❝ Key Quotes

“Hey, you guys!” — Sloth

“Goonies never say die!” — Mikey

“First you gotta do the truffle shuffle.” — Mouth

“Data, where are you going?” / “I’m setting booty traps.” — Stef and Data

“This is our time. Our last chance to see if there really is any rich stuff.” — Mikey

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💡 Trivia

Director

The Goonies was directed and produced by Richard Donner.
The screenplay was written by Chris Columbus from a story by Steven Spielberg.
Spielberg also served as executive producer and presents the film onscreen.
AFI notes that Warner Bros. specifically stressed the film was not a sequel to Gremlins, even though Columbus had written Gremlins shortly before developing The Goonies.

Cast / Casting

The film marked the feature-film debut of Sean Astin, Josh Brolin, Jeff Cohen, and Kerri Green.
Ke Huy Quan, fresh off Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, plays gadget-loving Data.
John Matuszak plays Sloth Fratelli under heavy prosthetic makeup.
Anne Ramsey won a Saturn Award for playing Mama Fratelli.

Soundtrack / Score

The score was composed by Dave Grusin.
The soundtrack album includes Cyndi Lauper’s “The Goonies ’R’ Good Enough.”
The original soundtrack was released by Epic Records in 1985.
The soundtrack also features artists including Goon Squad, The Bangles, Teena Marie, REO Speedwagon, Luther Vandross, and Joseph Williams.

Location

The story is set in Astoria, Oregon, specifically the “Goon Docks” neighborhood.
AFI lists filming locations including Astoria, Cannon Beach, Bodega Bay, Burbank, and Los Angeles.
AFI notes that shooting was moved to Astoria, Oregon after production had begun.
The pirate cavern and ship sets were constructed at The Burbank Studios in Burbank, California.

Behind-The-Scenes

Principal photography began October 22, 1984.
AFI notes that sets and models for the pirate cavern and ship were built at The Burbank Studios.
The film opened in Los Angeles and New York on June 7, 1985.
The film’s opening weekend gross was reported at approximately $9.1 million at 1,705 theaters.

Nostalgia

The Goonies became a defining 1980s kid-adventure movie, mixing treasure maps, bikes, bullies, secret tunnels, and pirate fantasy.
“Hey, you guys!” and “Goonies never say die!” remain two of the film’s most quoted lines.
The movie’s Astoria setting has become a major part of its fan appeal and real-world tourism legacy.
The film was selected for preservation in the National Film Registry in 2017 for being culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.

Easter Eggs

The “One-Eyed Willy” treasure-hunt structure gives the movie its pirate-adventure spine while keeping the story rooted in a modern neighborhood crisis.
Data’s “booty traps” line plays as both a kid-friendly malapropism and a running joke about his homemade inventions.
Cyndi Lauper appears on television in the film performing material connected to the soundtrack.
The final pirate ship reveal was reportedly kept hidden from the young cast until filming, helping capture their genuine reaction.

Misc.

The Goonies is rated PG and runs 114 minutes.
The film was produced by Warner Bros. and Amblin Entertainment.
Box Office Mojo lists the domestic lifetime gross at approximately $64.3 million.
Your 3 Guys and a Flick ratings page lists the episode as Episode 255, with Don rating it 5.00, Ken rating it 4.00, Jon rating it 4.75, and an overall rating of 4.58.

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