Amazing Stories (1985-1987) - Steven Spielberg, Creator | Amblin (2024)

1. Ghost Train
A grandfather is haunted by visions of the past when his son builds a country home on the site of a previous train wreck. Directed by Steven Spielberg. Teleplay by Frank Deese, from a story by Steven Spielberg. (Original airdate: September 29, 1985)

2. The Main Attraction
An arrogant high school jock suddenly becomes attractive in ways he never dreamed of when he is struck unexpectedly by a meteorite. Directed by Matthew Robbins. Teleplay by Brad Bird and Mick Garris, from a story by Steven Spielberg. (Original airdate: October 6, 1985)

3. Alamo Jobe
Young "Alamo Jobe" finds himself in the right place at the wrong time when he tries to deliver a message during the Battle of the Alamo and ends up in 1980s San Antonio. Directed by Michael Moore. Teleplay by Joshua Brand & John Falsey, from a story by Steven Spielberg. (Original airdate: October 20, 1985)

4. Mummy Daddy
An actor unearths terror when he neglects to remove his mummy costume from a movie shoot before rushing to his wife's side in a hospital delivery room. Directed by William Dear. Teleplay by Earl Pomerantz, from a story by Steven Spielberg. (Original airdate: October 27, 1985)

5. The Mission
A thrilling one-hour episode of "Amazing Stories" in which a routine World War II mission quickly becomes a life-or-death situation for a young bomber with a damaged landing gear. Stars Kevin Costner, Casey Siemaszko and Kiefer Sutherland. Directed by Steven Spielberg. Teleplay by Menno Meyjes, from a story by Steven Spielberg. (Original airdate: November 3, 1985)

6. The Amazing Falsworth
An amazing nightclub mindreader unwittingly taps into the visions of a murderer somewhere in the audience. Stars Gregory Hines. Directed by Peter Hyams. Teleplay by Mick Garris, from a story by Steven Spielberg. (Original airdate: November 5, 1985)

7. Fine Tuning
Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery when an extraterrestrial transmission reveals aliens imitating characters from 1950s TV shows. Stars Milton Berle. Directed by Bob Balaban. Teleplay by Earl Pomerantz, from a story by Steven Spielberg. (Original airdate: November 10, 1985)

8. Mr. Magic
A once-great illusionist finds one more trick up his sleeve with the help of a magical, mysterious deck of cards. Stars Sid Caesar. Directed by Donald Petrie. Teleplay by Joshua Brand & John Falsey. (Original airdate: November 17, 1985)

9. Guilt Trip
There's romance on the high seas when an overworked emotion, Guilt, decides to take a vacation cruise and falls hard for Love. Stars Dom DeLuise and Loni Anderson. Directed by Burt Reynolds. Teleplay by Gail Parent & Kevin Parent. (Original airdate: December 1, 1985)

10. Remote Control Man
Reality TV takes on new meaning for a man who discovers a remote that brings TV characters to life. Directed by Bob Clark. Teleplay by Douglas Lloyd McIntosh, from a story by Steven Spielberg. (Original airdate: December 8, 1985)

11. Santa '85
Christmas cheer is in noticeably short supply when Santa is arrested while delivering presents, and it's up to one little boy to bust him out. Directed by Phil Joanou. Teleplay by Joshua Brand & John Falsey, from a story by Steven Spielberg. (Original airdate: December 15, 1985)

12. Vanessa in the Garden
An impressionist painter devastated by the loss of his wife discovers a unique way of having her live on in his art. Stars Harvey Keitel and Sondra Locke. Directed by Clint Eastwood. Teleplay by Steven Spielberg. (Original airdate: December 29, 1985)

13. The Sitter
Two mischievous boys manage to scare away every sitter in town, only to meet their match in Jennifer Mowbray, who uses voodoo to gain the upper hand. Directed by Joan Dear. Teleplay by Mick Garris, from a story by Joshua Brand & John Falsey. (Original airdate: January 5, 1986)

14. No Day at the Beach
During an amphibious assault in World War II Italy, a simple-minded and throughly teased GI, Arnold Skamp, unexpectedly finds a chance to prove himself a hero. Stars Charlie Sheen. Directed Lesli Linka Glatter. Teleplay by Mick Garris, from a story by Steven Spielberg. (Original airdate: January 12, 1986)

15. One for the Road
A group of Depression-era barflies scheme to strike it rich by tricking the local drunk into signing an insurance policy, hoping he's just a few glasses away from drinking him to death. Stars James Cromwell and Joe Pantoliano ("The Goonies," "Empire of the Sun"). Directed by Thomas Carter. Teleplay by Jim Bissell. (Original airdate: January 19, 1986)

16. Gather Ye Acorns
A mysterious troll tells a young dreamer never to throw anything away. But after fifty year of living the life of a pack rat in a veritable junkyard, the man wonders if he really has anything to show for his life. Stars Mark Hamill. Directed by Norman Reynolds. Teleplay by Stu Krieger, from a teleplay by Steven Spielberg. (Original airdate: February 2, 1986)

17. Boo!
Two ghosts are dying to get rid of the porno star and her husband who have moved into their house. Directed by Joe Dante. Teleplay by Lowell Ganz & Babaloo Mandel. (Original airdate: February 16, 1986)

18. Dorothy and Ben
Revived after forty years in a coma, Ben Dumfy discovers he can communicate telepathically with another comatose patient, a young girl on the brink of death. Directed by Thomas Carter. Teleplay by Michael de Guzman, from a story by Steven Spielberg. (Original airdate: March 2, 1986)

19. Mirror, Mirror
After claiming that his monstrous creations don't bother him, popular horror novelist Jordan Manmouth is haunted by a mysterious hooded figure in his mirror. Stars Sam Waterston. Directed by Martin Scorsese. Teleplay by Joseph Minion, from a story by Steven Spielberg. (Original airdate: March 9, 1986)

20. Secret Cinema
A young woman named Jane becomes convinced that the people closest to her, including her own mother are involved in a conspiracy to film her life using secret cameras. Directed by Paul Bartel. Teleplay by Paul Bartel. (Original airdate: April 6, 1986)

21. Hell Toupee
After buying a new toupee, an otherwise mild-mannered attorney is inexplicably compelled to murder other lawyers. Directed by Irvin Kershner. Teleplay by Gail Parent & Kevin Parent. (Original airdate: April 13, 1986)

22. The Doll
A lonely bachelor who finds that the handmade doll he bought for his niece is no ordinary toy. Stars John Lithgow in an Emmy-winning performance. Directed by Phil Joanou. Teleplay by Richard Matheson. (Original airdate: May 4, 1986)

23. One for the Books
An old janitor finds that he can pick up more than garbage when he realizes he can gain knowledge from the books around him. Directed by Lesli Linka Glatter. Teleplay by Richard Matheson, from his short story. (Original airdate: May 11, 1986)

24. Grandpa's Ghost
A devoted young man tries to help his grandmother come to terms with her husband's death—even though Grandpa keeps appearing when his grandson's not around. Stars Andrew McCarthy. Directed by Timothy Hutton. Teleplay by Michael de Guzman, from a story by Timothy Hutton. (Original airdate: May 25, 1986)

1. The Wedding Ring
A gold ring with magical powers transforms a weary waitress into a sexy seductress with murder on her mind. Stars Rhea Perlman and Danny DeVito. Directed by Danny DeVito. Teleplay by Stu Krieger ("The Land Before Time"), from a story by Steven Spielberg. (Original airdate: September 22, 1986)

2. Miscalculation
A nerdy college kid tries, unsuccessfully, every trick in the book to meet girls, until he discovers a potion that makes gorgeous magazine pin-ups spring to life. Stars John Cryer. Directed by Tom Holland. Teleplay by Michael McDowell. (Original airdate: September 29, 1986)

3. Magic Saturday
A boy uses a magic spell to switch bodies with his ailing grandfather so the old man can experience a Saturday afternoon as a boy once more. Stars M. Emmet Walsh. Directed by Robert Markowitz. Teleplay by Richard Christian Matheson. (Original airdate: October 6, 1986)

4. Welcome to My Nightmare
A horror movie fan becomes trapped in a scene from Alfred Hitchcock's classic thriller "Psycho." Stars David Hollander, Robyn Lively and Christina Applegate. Directed by Tom Holland. Teleplay by Tom Holland. (Original airdate: October 13, 1986)

5. You Gotta Believe Me
A man desperately tries to alter fate when he experiences a horrifying dream of a jet crash. Stars Charles Durning. Directed by Kevin Reynolds ("Fandango"). Teleplay by Stu Krieger ("The Land Before Time") from a story by Steven Spielberg. (Original airdate: October 20, 1986)

6. The Greibble
Alone in her house, a woman encounters a strange furry creature with an appetite for inanimate objects. Stars Haley Mills. Creature effects by Rob Bottin. Directed by Joe Dante. Teleplay by Mick Garris, from a story by Steven Spielberg. (Original airdate: November 3, 1986)

7. Life on Death Row
Hours before his scheduled execution, a death-row inmate is given the power to heal. Stars Patrick Swayze and Hector Elizondo. Directed by Mick Garris. Teleplay by Rockne S. O'Bannon, from a story by Mick Garris. (Original airdate: November 10, 1986)

8. Go to the Head of the Class
A teenage horror buff is so smitten with a sexy classmate that he helps her use black magic as revenge on their bullying, loathsome English teacher. Stars Christopher Lloyd. Directed by Robert Zemeckis. Teleplay by Mick Garris & Tom McLouglin and Bob Gale, from a story by Mick Garris. (Original airdate: November 21, 1986)

9. Thanksgiving
A girl's miserable life is brightened when she starts communicating with a race of beings who live far below at the bottom of. a well. Stars Kyra Sedgwick and David Carradine. Directed by Todd Holland. Teleplay by Pierre R. Debs and Robert C. Fox. (Original airdate: November 24, 1986)

10. The Pumpkin Connection
Livid at losing the Yarborough County pumpkin growing contest for the 22nd year in a row, rich and miserly Elma Dinnock, seeks a cheat to win from a mysterious botanist. Stars Polly Holliday ("Gremlins") and June Lockhart. Directed by Norman Reynolds ("Raiders of the Lost Ark"). Teleplay by Peter Z. Orton. (Original airdate: December 1, 1986)

11. What If...?
Ignored by self-absorbed parents, a five-year-old boy is touched by metic that gives his life a new dimension. Directed by Joan Darling. Teleplay by Anne Spielberg. (Original airdate: December 8, 1986)

12. The Eternal Mind
A dying scientist uploads his mind into a computer, with unforeseen circumstances. Stars Jeffrey Jones. Directed by Michael Riva ("The Goonies"). Teleplay by Julie R. Moskowitz & Gary Stephens. (Original airdate: December 29, 1986)

13. Lane Change
Fleeing from a bad relationship, a woman picks up a hitchhiker and begins to see glimpses of her past in her windshield. Stars Kathy Baker and Priscilla Pointer Directed by Ken Kwapis. Teleplay by Ali Marie Matheson. (Original airdate: December 29, 1986) (Original airdate: January 12, 1987)

14. Blue Man Down
A police officer who blames himself for his partner's death is rejuvenated by his new partner. Stars Max Gail and Kate O'Neil. Directed by Paul Michael Glaser. Teleplay by Jacob Epstein & Daniel Lindley, from a story by Steven Spielberg. (Original airdate: January 19, 1987)

15. The 21-Inch Sun
A struggling TV sitcom writer becomes a huge success, thanks to his scriptwriting spider plant. Stars Robert Townsend. Directed by Nick Castle. Teleplay by Bruce Kirschbaum. (Original airdate: February 2, 1987)

16. Family Dog
Brad Bird's classic animated special is a lighthearted look at family life through the eyes of a meek dog. Voiced by Stan Freberg, Annie Potts and Mercedes McCambridge. Spun-off into a primetime animated series. Directed and teleplay by Brad Bird. (Original airdate: February 16, 1987)

17. Gershwin's Trunk
A composer contacts the spirit of George Gershwin in an effort to deliver a hit musical. Stars Bob Balaban, Carrie Fisher and Lainie Kazan. Directed by Paul Bartel. Teleplay by John Meyer & Paul Bartel. (Original airdate: March 13, 1987)

18. Such Interesting Neighbors
A family suspects the bizarre occurrences on its block are linked to unusual neighbors. Stars new-wave sensation Adam Ant. Directed by Graham Baker. Teleplay by Mick Garris & Tom McLoughlin, from a story by Jack Finney. (Original airdate: March 20, 1987)

19. Without Diana
An eight-year-old girl whose disappearance devastated her parents 40 years prior mystically reappears at their door and teachers her father a spiritual lesson. Directed by Leslie Linka Glatter. Teleplay by Mick Garris. (Original airdate: March 27, 1987)

20. Moving Day
A teenager learns that his parents are actually visitors from another planet. Stars Stephen Geoffreys and Mary Ellen Trainor ("The Goonies"). Directed by Robert Stevens. Teleplay by Frank Kerr. (Original airdate: April 3, 1987)

21. Miss Stardust
A beauty contest promotor encounters a pushy space being who demands that his contestants be permitted to compete. Stars Dick Shawn and Weird Al Yankovic. Directed by Tobe Hooper. Teleplay by Thomas Szollosi & Richard Christian Matheson, from a story by Richard Matheson. (Original airdate: April 10, 1987)