Like Brolin, Plimpton is child of Hollywood (her parents are actors Keith Carradine and Shelley Plimpon) who used The Goonies as a launching pad for a very busy career. He was nominated for an Oscar in 2009 for his performance as Dan White in Milk he continues to keep busy in leads and secondary roles, and was last seen in Inherent Vice and (uncredited) Avengers: Age of Ultron. More supporting work followed ( Mimic, Hollow Man, Melinda and Melinda) before he broke through as a leading man in the Coen Brothers’ 2007 Oscar winner No Country for Old Men. Russell’s wonderful 1996 comedy/drama Flirting With Disaster. Goonies was his film debut he followed it up with a few low-profile film and TV roles before making a big impression in a key supporting role in David O. Brolin (son of ‘80s heartthrob James Brolin), though his was also a bit of a slow start. The biggest success story to come out of the Goon Docks is that of Mr. (And Corey Feldman used to voice Donatello! It’s all connected!) He’s kept quite busy in the years since, with an assortment of television, voice, and film roles he currently voices Raphael on Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. He spent the next few years doing higher-profile secondary roles, before landing the major gig of Sam in the original Lord of the Rings trilogy. It took him a while to capitalize on the film, however, with roles in almost-hits like Memphis Belle and Toy Soldiers he finally found his movie-star footing in the title role of the beloved Rudy. Though Goonies is an ensemble piece, if anyone was the lead, it was Astin (son of Patty Duke and Adams Family star John Astin), who gave the character of awkward dreamer Mikey a real shot of charm and charisma.

This far on, the most interesting element of the film may well be its cast - a fascinating assemblage of young actors (many of them the offspring of actor parents) who have gone on to become everything from superstars to footnotes. But however you line up on it, there’s no question that The Goonies was an iconic summer adventure movie that retains quite a bit of cultural capital. Thirty years ago yesterday, moviegoers got their first look at what was either a) LIKE THE GREATEST MOVIE OF THE ‘80S, PERIOD, or b) two hours of preteens running around and screaming.

The goonies cast now