Michael Douglas celebrates his 73rd birthday on Sept. 25. Happy Birthday, Mr. Douglas! For young fans, Douglas is known as Dr. Hank Pym in “Ant-Man” (2015) and “Ant-Man and the Wasp” (2018), but this Hollywood legend has starred in great films for decades.
Looking back to the 1980s, here are four essential Michael Douglas films that you can catch on Netflix and/or Amazon right now.
“The Star Chamber” (1983) – After years of watching guilty men enter their courtrooms and unfairly walking free, a group of judges form their own secret court to deliver sentences of their own. Judge Steven R. Hardin (Douglas) decides to expose this star chamber, and in the process, puts his life in danger. Hal Holbrook and Yaphet Kotto costar in this engaging thriller that effectively raises massive questions about the legal system. (Netflix – DVD only)
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ 1/2 out of ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
“Romancing the Stone” (1984) – Douglas and Kathleen Turner share plenty of chemistry in a swashbuckling adventure in Colombia that capitalizes on the tropical environment as a key character. Jack (Douglas) and Joan (Turner) attempt to find an elusive emerald, while some baddies – including a hilarious turn by Danny DeVito – are hot on their trail. A really fun movie that holds up 33 years later. (Netfilx – DVD only, Amazon Streaming)
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ 1/2 out of ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
“Fatal Attraction” (1987) – The movie that frightened every man in America. When a married man Dan (Douglas) has a one-night stand with Alex (Glenn Close), he receives infinitely more than he bargained for, when she wants more than a lone, romantic evening. Close is spellbinding, as an unhinged ex-lover, and although she uses wicked methods of revenge, she correctly calls out Dan’s terrible judgment. (Amazon Streaming)
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ out of ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
“Wall Street” (1987) – Douglas struck Oscar gold in his iconic role as the manipulative and shrewd tycoon Gordon Gekko. Gekko brings on a young protégé Bud Fox (Charlie Sheen), but the new upstart learns the hard way that business on Wall Street is not always squeaky clean. With his slicked-back hair and fast talk, Douglas’s Gekko oozes ruthlessness out of every pore and delivers one of the most quotable lines of the decade, “Greed is Good.” (Netflix – DVD only, Amazon Streaming)
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ out of ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
Image credits: imdb.com; “Wall Street” clip: Movieclips (YouTube)
