Best 1986

Mir was a Soviet and later Russian space station that operated in low Earth orbit from 1986 until its controlled atmospheric reentry in 2001. It was the first modular space station assembled in orbit, allowing for the expansion of its laboratories and living quarters over time. Mir facilitated numer...

Marvelous Marvin Hagler defended his undisputed WBA, WBC, and IBF middleweight championship against John Mugabi on March 10, 1986 at the Las Vegas Hilton. The bout, billed as the "War," was scheduled for fifteen rounds and concluded when referee Richard Steele stopped the fight in the eleventh round...

The Brothers Quay’s *Street of Crocodiles* is a haunting 1986 stop-motion film exploring themes of decay and distorted childhood. Constructed entirely from puppets and meticulously crafted sets, it presents a surreal narrative characterized by unsettling imagery and rhythmic animation. The film's no...

The Faisal Mosque is a prominent modern mosque located in Islamabad, Pakistan. Completed in 1986, its distinctive design—a double-domed structure resembling Mount Safdar—makes it a significant landmark of Islamic architecture. It serves as the main place of worship for Muslims in Pakistan and is fre...

Your Funeral... My Trial is the third studio album by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, released in 1986 on Mute Records. Originally issued as two EPs before being compiled as a single LP, it marked a further refinement of the band's dark blues-inflected post-punk sound following their first two releases...

Robin Williams: A Night at the Met is a 1986 HBO stand-up comedy special filmed at the Metropolitan Opera House in New York City. Williams moves rapidly among character voices, physical comedy, topical observations, and improvised-seeming transitions, reflecting the performance style associated with...

"EVOL" is the third studio album by the American noise rock band Sonic Youth, released in 1986 on the SST Records label. The album represents a significant sonic shift for the band, moving away from pure dissonance toward more structured, melodic songwriting while retaining their signature alternate...

Rita Dove’s *Thomas and Beulah* offers a poignant portrait of two rural Americans through intimate verse. The collection details the early lives of Thomas and Beulah Bledsoe, exploring their courtship, marriage, and challenges in the South during the early 20th century. Dove's skillful use of langua...

In a world filled with planes and airships, Sheeta is a young girl who has been kidnapped by government agents who seek her mysterious crystal amulet. While trapped aboard an airship, she finds herself without hope—that is, until the ship is raided by pirates. Taking advantage of the ensuing confusi...

"Brotherhood" is the fourth studio album by the English rock and electronic band New Order, released in September 1986 by Factory Records. The album is notable for showcasing two distinct sides of the band's sound, with its first half focusing on guitar-driven alternative rock and the second half ex...

"Tinderbox" is the sixth studio album by English rock band Siouxsie and the Banshees, released in 1986. The album is notable for its polished, guitar-driven gothic rock sound, heavily influenced by the addition of guitarist John Valentine Carruthers. It achieved mainstream chart success, driven heav...

Mike Tyson vs Trevor Berbick was a heavyweight championship fight held on November 22, 1986, at the Hilton Hotels & Casinos in Las Vegas, Nevada. Tyson defeated Berbick by second-round TKO to win the WBC heavyweight title. At 20 years and 4 months old, Tyson became the youngest heavyweight champion...

Marvin Hagler vs John Mugabi was an undisputed middleweight championship fight held on March 10, 1986, at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. Hagler defended his WBA, WBC, and IBF titles against Mugabi, a hard-hitting Ugandan challenger who entered the bout with a perfect 26-0 record and 26 knockouts. The...

Run-DMC’s *Raising Hell* (1986) represents a pivotal moment in hip hop history. This album achieved unprecedented commercial success becoming the first rap record to attain multi-platinum status and significantly broadening the genre's appeal. The project’s crossover impact introduced hard-hitting E...

Francis Bacon's Two Studies for a Self-Portrait (1986), made three years before his death, exemplifies the raw, compressed figurative style that defined his final decade of work.

The second studio album by English alternative rock band Love and Rockets, released in 1986 and featuring the alternative radio hit 'Kundalini Express.'

“Song X” is a 1986 jazz album by Pat Metheny and Ornette Coleman. It’s notable for its pioneering blend of Metheny's guitar style with Coleman’s free-jazz approach to collective improvisation. The recording features extended compositions built around modal harmonies, representing an important moment...

Andy Warhol's Camouflage Last Supper (1986) overlays military camouflage pattern onto Leonardo da Vinci's Last Supper, one of his final major series before his death in 1987.

The Final is a 1986 compilation album by the English pop duo Wham!, released to coincide with their highly publicized break-up and featuring their biggest 1980s singles.

A long-running UK punk and hardcore zine that began in the 1980s, providing consistent coverage of the British and international DIY punk underground across many issues.

The 1986 soundtrack to the action film Top Gun achieved immense global success, driven by smash hits like Berlin's Take My Breath Away and Kenny Loggins's Danger Zone.

The State Grand Mosque of Kuwait is a major Islamic religious venue located in Kuwait City. Completed in 1986, the structure is the largest mosque in the country and was designed to accommodate tens of thousands of worshippers. It serves as the official state mosque and is architecturally distinguis...

Released in 1986, this album by the Australian rock band AC/DC serves as the soundtrack to Stephen King's film Maximum Overdrive and features several of their biggest hits.

Licensed to Ill is the debut studio album by the Beastie Boys, released in November 1986 on Def Jam Recordings. Produced by Rick Rubin, it fuses hip-hop with hard rock samples and became the first rap album to reach number one on the Billboard 200 chart. The singles '(You Gotta) Fight for Your Right...

The 1986 debut studio album by English indie rock band the Woodentops, noted for its acoustic-driven, energetic sound and released on Rough Trade Records.

Jackal is a 1986 Konami arcade game offering action-packed shoot-em-up gameplay. Players pilot a heavily armed jeep across Japanese battlefields attempting to liberate captured soldiers. The title’s notable challenge and distinctive vehicle design appeal to fans of retro military action games and th...

The Hacker Manifesto is Loyd Blankenship's 1986 essay in Phrack, written as The Mentor, and became a defining statement of hacker identity.

Slap Fight is a vertically scrolling shoot 'em up arcade game developed by Toaplan and released in 1986. Distributed in North America under the title Alcon, the game distinguishes itself with a progressive weapon upgrade system. Players collect colored power-up icons to selectively enhance their shi...

“J Mood” by Wynton Marsalis is a 2006 album featuring the trumpeter’s explorations of classic blues and swing repertoire, showcasing his instrumental prowess alongside arrangements rooted in early 20th-century American jazz traditions.