One Of Joaquin Phoenix’s First Roles Was In A Movie I Haven’t Seen Since 1987, But It’s Streaming For Free

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With Joaquin Phoenix’s new film, Eddington, just hitting streaming, it got me thinking back to one of his earliest roles – a fun, crazy ‘80s movie called Russkies. I’ve mentioned it a lot over the years because it really stuck with me as a kid, but honestly, I hadn’t seen it since it was in theaters. And you know what? It holds up. It’s just as delightfully wild as I remembered!

The Plot Is Wonderfully Absurd

The movie centers around three boys – Phoenix (then known as Leaf Phoenix), Peter Billingsley (famous for A Christmas Story), and Stefan DeSalle – who find a Soviet sailor who’s washed ashore near their Key West home. It’s a thriller set during the Cold War, a common theme for movies made in the 1980s.

Whip Hubley, recently known for his role in Top Gun, plays a sailor who needs to get back to his ship. He asks a group of kids for help hiding him – and that’s the basic plot! Like many ‘80s movies, the adults in this story aren’t very helpful. It’s actually these kids who end up being the only ones capable of assisting the Soviet sailor, and they have to navigate problems with both their parents and the U.S. military, just like kids often did in ‘80s films.

There Are Some Really Classic Moments

It’s easy to get lost in all the familiar ’80s tropes, but like a good movie from that decade, this one has some truly memorable moments. There’s a fun montage of characters teaching a Russian visitor about American culture – think video games, baseball, and McDonald’s! The final confrontation, between the parents and a Soviet submarine crew, is hilariously over-the-top, and there’s even a jetpack thrown in for good measure.

Beyond the main stars, the movie features strong supporting performances. Carole King, the famous singer and songwriter, plays Phoenix’s mother, and Joaquin Phoenix’s real-life sister, Summer Phoenix, portrays his sister on screen. Fans of the Halloween movies might recognize Nancy Stephens, who played Nurse Marion Chambers, making a brief appearance as a nurse in Russkies. And, staying true to the 1980s, the film includes a delightfully cheesy theme song.

The great thing is you can watch it for free on YouTube! It does have ads, but you can skip them with a YouTube Premium subscription, and I definitely think that’s worth considering. All in all, it’s

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2025-11-17 19:08