It seems like an 80’s phenomenon, but I’ve noticed a few movies that all have the same pattern:

--Main character is cocky and directionless.
--Best friend dies.
--Main character suddenly gets serious about life and motivated to make something of himself

My picks:

--Top Gun
--An Officer & a Gentleman
--Cocktail

Any others?

to live and die in la, but chance doesn't really "make something of himself" he kind of just becomes even more crazy, like he has a death wish

The Outsiders

Enter the Ninja

Rudy

I guess he's not cocky at the start, but definitely directionless.

Rocky IV, though not much of a cocky case
Just about any action movie involving a hothead rogue cop and an older officer not too far from retirement save for the Lethal Weapon movies.

Transfomers the movie maybe?

Benji the Hunted (when the eagle gets one of the cougar kittens Benji starts resorting to lethal tactics and murders a wolf.)

Beverly hills cop

Not restricted to the 80's. Two nights ago I was watching The Sting, which has the very same 'best friend dies' set up.

Well in the case of the Sting, it's the set-up, not the conclusion.

While whether or not it is the best friend is debatable, I'll throw out The Untouchables.

Bloodsport

The Jackal

I can't believe that no one has said Star Wars... (even though it is 1977)

who's best friend died in star wars?

Biggs. Luke's best friend.

Biggs? who the hell is biggs? Jason Biggs? I thought his aunt and uncle died.

I think they are thinking of Uncle Owen and Aunt Beru. Biggs dies at the very end, hardly a motivation for Luke to succeed.

Uncle Owen and Beru were the reason Luke stayed because they wouldn't let him run away with a crazy old hermit, not because he wasnt motivated.


I think that seeing Obi-Wan die made Luke want to save the world(s).

Maybe Obi-Wan vs. Darth Maul in TPM?

Tombstone-Wyatt's brothers were technically his best friends and one of them dies and the other one is injured.

How about the first Back to the Future, in the first version of the timeline?

Rocky III

Rocky's goofin' around, making money off all these sham bouts. Clubber kicks his ass because Rocky wasn't serious about training. Mick dies. Rocky gets the "Eye of the Tiger."