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September 11, 2026Short & citedBlog
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Kept by Bryan McAllister — short guides, clear facts, and the Canadian angle when it matters.
Screen & Stage • Film

The Goonies

The Goonies is a 1985 American adventure comedy film directed by Richard Donner from a story by Steven Spielberg and a screenplay by Chris Columbus.

Updated September 11, 20261 min readCited sources

The Goonies is a 1985 American adventure comedy film directed by Richard Donner. It follows children in Astoria, Oregon, who search for pirate treasure to save their homes.

What it is

The Goonies is a film from a story by Steven Spielberg and a screenplay by Chris Columbus. It follows a group of kids from the “Goon Docks” neighborhood who find a map to the lost fortune of the pirate One-Eyed Willy. Their hunt involves booby traps and a run-in with criminals seeking the same treasure.

Why it matters

Though its initial box office was modest, The Goonies became a cult classic and was added to the U.S. National Film Registry in 2017. In Canada, it has a strong audience thanks to frequent TV airings and home-video releases, and it remains a familiar 1980s adventure comedy through streaming and repertory screenings.

Key details

The film was released on June 7, 1985, by Warner Bros. and produced by Amblin Entertainment. Major cast includes Sean Astin, Josh Brolin, Corey Feldman, Ke Huy Quan, Kerri Green, and Martha Plimpton. It was shot largely in Oregon, with some California sound stages.

In short

  • Set in Astoria, Oregon, in the “Goon Docks” neighborhood.
  • Story centers on a treasure hunt for One-Eyed Willy’s lost fortune.
  • Selected for the National Film Registry in 2017.
  • Became a cult classic after its 1985 release.
Canadian angle

The film has long had a strong audience in Canada as a widely televised and home-video-era 1980s adventure comedy, and it remains familiar to Canadian viewers through repertory screenings and streaming availability.

Quick questions

What is The Goonies about?
It is about a group of children who follow a treasure map in hopes of saving their homes from foreclosure.
Who directed The Goonies?
Richard Donner directed the film.
When was The Goonies released?
It was released in the United States on June 7, 1985.

Sources

  1. Cineworld — https://www.cineworld.co.uk/static/en/uk/blog/the-goonies-35-facts-to-celebrate-35th-anniversary
    Supports: Story by Steven Spielberg; screenplay by Chris Columbus; directed by Richard Donner.
  2. Mental Floss — https://www.mentalfloss.com/entertainment/movies/facts-about-the-goonies
    Supports: Filming locations in Oregon and California; production details.
  3. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Goonies
    Supports: Release date, plot, cast, production credits, box office, cult status, and National Film Registry selection.
  4. IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0089218/plotsummary/
    Supports: Plot summary and setting in Astoria's Goon Docks.