The Big Picture The 1988 Movie Draft
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Mar 26, 2026 
Chris Ryan, writer and pod contributor who loves film lists, and Bill Simmons, sports and pop-culture writer with big movie memories, draft favorites from 1988. They debate blockbuster picks like Die Hard and Big. They revisit VHS culture, star power, and which films defined late‑80s moviegoing. Nostalgia, controversy, and surprising wildcards fuel lively tradeoffs and friendly trash talk.
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1988 Was A Creative Peak Without A Single Giant Hit
- 1988 felt like a transitional film year with high creative output but no single massive box-office phenomenon.
- The year featured many heavyweight directors and original films, creating variety rather than one dominant blockbuster run.
Die Hard Defined A Young Fan's Movie Identity
- Chris Ryan remembers Die Hard as his identity-defining movie in 1988 and a theatrical experience he loved.
- He saw it in theaters and idolized John McClane as the coolest character he'd encountered at the time.
Studios Relied On Volume And Long Tails Not One Tentpole
- 1988's box-office pattern showed many midrange earners and long tails rather than one runaway hit.
- Studios aimed for steady weekly attendance with diverse releases rather than relying on single phenomenon tentpoles.