Did You Know These 10 Things About ‘The Goonies’?

Released in 1985, ‘The Goonies’ quickly became a beloved adventure film for audiences everywhere. Directed by Richard Donner and produced by Steven Spielberg, the movie tells the story of a group of kids who find an old pirate map and go on a thrilling treasure hunt before their homes are torn down. Its blend of funny moments, heartwarming scenes, and exciting action perfectly captured the magic of being a kid on an adventure.

Even after all these years, ‘The Goonies’ is still one of my all-time favorite movies – it really captured my imagination as a kid, and I know so many others feel the same way! It’s a film about friendship, being brave, and letting your imagination run wild, and it’s still inspiring people today. I recently discovered some cool behind-the-scenes facts, and here are ten of them!

Steven Spielberg Came Up With the Story

Although Richard Donner directed the film, the original idea came from Steven Spielberg.

The idea for ‘The Goonies’ started with a simple image: a group of children searching for pirate treasure. That initial concept eventually grew into the full adventure we see in the movie.

The Cast Was Full of Future Stars

The young cast included Sean Astin, Josh Brolin, Corey Feldman, and Ke Huy Quan.

Several of the actors achieved fame in Hollywood, notably Sean Astin, who went on to star in ‘The Lord of the Rings’, and Ke Huy Quan, who won an Academy Award for ‘Everything Everywhere All at Once’.

The Pirate Ship Was Completely Real

The production team built a full-scale pirate ship named Inferno for the movie.

Honestly, one of the coolest things about this movie was how the director kept the big reveal a secret from the young cast until they actually filmed their reactions. It really paid off – their surprise felt completely real and added so much to the scene. It was a brilliant move to preserve that genuine emotion.

The Ending Originally Included an Octopus

In an early version of the film, the kids fought off a giant octopus near the end.

The scene didn’t make it into the movie as released in theaters, but Data makes a quick reference to it, saying, “The octopus was very scary!”

Sloth Was Played by a Former NFL Player

John Matuszak, who previously played football for the Oakland Raiders, famously portrayed the endearing character Sloth.

It took hours each day to apply the special makeup that transformed him, but his sensitive portrayal made Sloth a truly unforgettable character in the movie.

The Movie Was Filmed Almost Entirely in Oregon

The movie was primarily filmed in Astoria, Oregon, taking advantage of the area’s actual caves and beaches for those scenes.

As a huge movie fan, it’s amazing to see how Astoria really embraces “The Goonies”! They hold “Goonies Day” every year, and it’s incredible how many people travel from all over the globe to celebrate with them.

The Famous “Truffle Shuffle” Was Improvised

During auditions for the movie, Jeff Cohen, known for playing Chunk, spontaneously created his now-famous “Truffle Shuffle” dance when the director, Richard Donner, asked him to do something amusing.

It became one of the film’s most iconic moments.

The Treasure Map Was Hand-Drawn and Tea-Stained

The filmmakers made the treasure map look old – like it was hundreds of years old – by carefully staining and burning it with tea and fire.

Sean Astin unknowingly brought the actual filming map home with him and didn’t discover it was the original prop until many years later.

Cyndi Lauper Wrote the Theme Song

Pop icon Cyndi Lauper performed the movie’s official song, “The Goonies ’R’ Good Enough.”

Spielberg even appeared in the music video, along with several WWF wrestlers of the era.

It Became a Cult Classic Over Time

While ‘The Goonies’ did well in theaters, it became truly beloved over time thanks to VHS tapes and repeated showings on television.

Its blend of adventure, nostalgia, and heart has kept it alive for nearly four decades.

2025-10-16 19:15