Splash (1984)

This charming romantic comedy touched a chord with audiences around the world and propelled its stars Tom Hanks and Daryl Hannah, along with director Ron Howard, to Hollywood's front rank. Hannah plays the innocent mermaid who docks on dry land to locate the boy (now the grown-up Hanks) she saved from drowning many years ago. Hanks and Hannah make a pair of charismatic leads, although John Candy (another player on the road to stardom) gets most of the best gags. Howard piles on the good-natured fun and manages to keep soppiness largely at bay. The film was followed four years later by a dismal TV-movie sequel.