Russkies

Set during the Cold War, Russkies follows three ordinary boys living in a small coastal town in southern Florida who, like the adults around them, have grown up believing the Soviet Union is an evil empire. Their assumptions are tested when they find a Russian sailor named Mischa washed up on the beach after his ship is lost in American waters. Unsure at first whether to turn him in, the boys hide him instead, and as they get to know him they discover he is harmless and friendly. Their decision puts them at odds with their parents and the authorities, who are searching for the missing sailor, and the three friends set out to help him reach his ship. Danny's older sister Diane also becomes involved with Mischa.

The film was directed by Rick Rosenthal, its fourth feature following Halloween II, Bad Boys and Distant Thunder's predecessor slot in his filmography, from a screenplay by Alan Jay Glueckman, Michael Nankin and Sheldon Lettich. It stars Joaquin Phoenix as Danny, Peter Billingsley as Adam, Whip Hubley as Mischa, Stefan DeSalle as Jason, Summer Phoenix as Candi and Susan Walters as Diane, among a credited cast of 28. Released in November 1987, it runs 99 minutes. Its worldwide box office came to about 2 million dollars, and audience response has been modest: on TMDB it holds 5.2 out of 10 from 34 votes, while a small group of critics rated it 4.3 out of 10 from 7 reviews, leaving both measures similarly low.