#1 of 4 #1 action movie of December 1985
1985 · Action, Adventure
$96.8M worldwide · 85% of the chart's total
$76M US & Canada · 79% $20.8M elsewhere · 21%
Action box office · December 1985
Action Box Office, December 1985: Top-Grossing Releases
The Jewel of the Nile (1985) is the highest-grossing action movie released in December 1985, with $96.8M worldwide, ahead of Enemy Mine (1985) at $12.3M and Ran (1985) at $4.3M. 4 action films released in December 1985 report a worldwide gross, $113.5M in all, 82% of it from the US & Canada. That is up 95% on November 1985, whose releases took $58.3M.
- December 1985 releases with a gross
- 4
- combined worldwide
- $113.5M
- The Jewel of the Nile (1985), the #1
- $96.8M
- vs November 1985
- +95%
#1 of 4 Top 4
What Were the Biggest Action Hits of December 1985?
The Jewel of the Nile (1985) leads with $96.8M, 85% of the total. The top 4 together took $113.5M, almost all of what the 4 films earned. Each bar splits a film's gross into the US & Canada and the rest of the world.
- Number 1
-
Number 2 -
Number 3 -
Number 4
US & Canada (domestic) Rest of the world
The chart
Every Action Release of December 1985, Ranked by Worldwide Gross
Lifetime worldwide grosses in US dollars, not adjusted for inflation; domestic means the US & Canada. Films are grouped by their release date in December 1985.
- 1 Dec 11, 1985 US and Canada: $76M Rest of the world: $20.8M Worldwide: $96.8M
- 2 Dec 20, 1985 US and Canada: $12.3M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $12.3M
- 3 Dec 20, 1985 US and Canada: $4.3M Rest of the world: $41.1K Worldwide: $4.3M
- 4 Dec 14, 1985 US and Canada: $113.2K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $113.2K
US & Canada vs the world
Where Did the Money Come From in December 1985?
Of the top 4, Enemy Mine (1985) earned the biggest share at home (100% in the US & Canada), while The Jewel of the Nile (1985) made 21% of its gross abroad. Across all 4 films, $92.7M (82%) came from the US & Canada.
- 1 The Jewel of the Nile (1985) $96.8M $76M US & Canada · 79% $20.8M elsewhere · 21%
- 2 Enemy Mine (1985) $12.3M $12.3M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 3 Ran (1985) $4.3M $4.3M US & Canada · 99% $41.1K elsewhere · <1%
- 4 Police Story (1985) $113.2K $113.2K US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
By release week
Which Week of December 1985 Had the Biggest Releases?
Films released in week 50 (Dec 8–14) took $96.9M, led by The Jewel of the Nile (1985). Each column links to that week's chart; weeks are Sunday to Saturday.
- Week 49 Wk 49 Dec 1–7 No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- Week 50 Wk 50 Dec 8–14 The Jewel of the Nile (1985) $96.9M The Jewel of the Nile (1985)
- Week 51 Wk 51 Dec 15–21 Enemy Mine (1985) $16.6M Enemy Mine (1985)
- Week 52 Wk 52 Dec 22–28 No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- Week 53 Wk 53 Dec 29–31 No reported grosses – No reported grosses
Earlier years
How Does December 1985 Compare With December in Earlier Years?
Of these 10 years, December 1984 earned the most: $410.1M from 5 films, led by Beverly Hills Cop (1984). December 1985 took $113.5M.
| Month | Films | Worldwide | Change | Biggest film |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 1976 2 films | 2 | $97.3M | – | Silver Streak (1976) $51.1M |
| December 1977 1 film · −73% | 1 | $26.4M | −73% | The Gauntlet (1977) $26.4M |
| December 1978 4 films · +1406% | 4 | $397.9M | +1406% | Superman (1978) $300.5M |
| December 1979 2 films · −68% | 2 | $128.3M | −68% | 1941 (1979) $92.5M |
| December 1980 3 films · −24% | 3 | $97.9M | −24% | Any Which Way You Can (1980) $70.7M |
| December 1981 3 films · −57% | 3 | $42.5M | −57% | Sharky's Machine (1981) $35.6M |
| December 1982 1 film · +85% | 1 | $78.9M | +85% | 48 Hrs. (1982) $78.9M |
| December 1983 6 films · +131% | 6 | $182.2M | +131% | Sudden Impact (1983) $67.6M |
| December 1984 5 films · +125% | 5 | $410.1M | +125% | Beverly Hills Cop (1984) $316.4M |
| December 1985 4 films · −72% | 4 | $113.5M | −72% | The Jewel of the Nile (1985) $96.8M |
Archive
Action Box Office in 1985, Month by Month
The months of 1985 with their totals: May leads with $393.7M, led by Rambo: First Blood Part II (1985).
- January $15M #1 Tuff Turf (1985)
- February $11.2M #1 Into the Night (1985)
- March $59M #1 The Last Dragon (1985)
- April $8.5M #1 Stick (1985)
- May $393.7M #1 Rambo: First Blood Part II (1985)
- June $44.9M #1 The Emerald Forest (1985)
- July $99.8M #1 Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome (1985)
- August $37.5M #1 Year of the Dragon (1985)
- September $18.5M #1 Invasion U.S.A. (1985)
- October $72M #1 Commando (1985)
- November $58.3M #1 To Live and Die in L.A. (1985)
- December $113.5M #1 The Jewel of the Nile (1985)
FAQ
Action Box Office December 1985: Questions & Answers
The chart's numbers in short: the #1 film, the total, the billion-dollar hits and the US & Canada share, answered from the same 4 films as the chart.
What is the highest-grossing action movie in December 1985?
The Jewel of the Nile (1985) leads with $96.8M worldwide, $76M of it in the US & Canada. Next come Enemy Mine (1985) at $12.3M and Ran (1985) at $4.3M.
How much did action movies released in December 1985 earn?
4 action films released in December 1985 report a worldwide gross, $113.5M in all, or $28.4M per film on average. November 1985 releases took $58.3M.
How many action movies released in December 1985 made $1 billion?
None. The biggest, The Jewel of the Nile (1985), earned $96.8M.
How is the December 1985 action box office chart ranked and where do the numbers come from?
Films are ranked by lifetime worldwide gross in US dollars, not adjusted for inflation, and grouped by their release date in December 1985. The figures are the reported box office grosses in our database. A gross that looks misattributed, such as one figure shared by two unrelated films or a blockbuster total on an obscure title, is left out rather than shown as a fact.
How often is the December 1985 action box office chart updated?
Grosses change while films are in theaters and whenever a new figure is reported; this chart reads the latest numbers in our database, so an older film can still move after a re-release.