#1 of 4 #1 biography movie of 1985
1985 · Biography, Drama
$227.5M worldwide · 89% of the chart's total
$87.1M US & Canada · 38% $140.4M elsewhere · 62%
Biography box office · 1985
Biography Box Office 1985: Highest-Grossing Biography Movies
Out of Africa (1985) is the highest-grossing biography movie released in 1985, with $227.5M worldwide, ahead of The Falcon and the Snowman (1985) at $17.1M and Sweet Dreams (1985) at $9.1M. 4 biography films released in 1985 report a worldwide gross, $254.3M in all, 45% of it from the US & Canada. One film crossed $100 million; none reached $1 billion.
- 1985 releases with a gross
- 4
- combined worldwide
- $254.3M
- film crossed $100M
- 1
- earned in the US & Canada
- 45%
#1 of 4 Top 4
What Were the Biggest Biography Hits of 1985?
Out of Africa (1985) leads with $227.5M, 89% of the total. The top 4 together took $254.3M, 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 Biography Release of 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 1985.
- 1 Dec 20, 1985 US and Canada: $87.1M Rest of the world: $140.4M Worldwide: $227.5M
- 2 The Falcon and the Snowman (1985)Feb 8, 1985 US and Canada: $17.1M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $17.1M
Feb 8, 1985 · English · Biography, Drama, Thriller $17.1M worldwide - 3 Oct 11, 1985 US and Canada: $9.1M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $9.1M
- 4 Sep 20, 1985 US and Canada: $437.5K Rest of the world: $132.4K Worldwide: $570K
US & Canada vs the world
Where Did the Money Come From in 1985?
Of the top 4, The Falcon and the Snowman (1985) earned the biggest share at home (100% in the US & Canada), while Out of Africa (1985) made 62% of its gross abroad. Across all 4 films, $113.7M (45%) came from the US & Canada.
- 1 Out of Africa (1985) $227.5M $87.1M US & Canada · 38% $140.4M elsewhere · 62%
- 2 The Falcon and the Snowman (1985) $17.1M $17.1M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 3 Sweet Dreams (1985) $9.1M $9.1M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 4 Mishima: A Life in Four Chapters (1985) $570K $437.5K US & Canada · 77% $132.4K elsewhere · 23%
By release month
Which Month of 1985 Earned the Most?
December releases took the most, $227.5M from 1 film, led by Out of Africa (1985). September was the quietest month ($570K). Each column is a release month and links to that month's chart.
- January Jan No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- February Feb The Falcon and the Snowman (1985) $17.1M The Falcon and the Snowman (1985)
- March Mar No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- April Apr No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- May May No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- June Jun No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- July Jul No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- August Aug No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- September Sep Mishima: A Life in Four Chapters (1985) $570K Mishima: A Life in Four Chapters (1985)
- October Oct Sweet Dreams (1985) $9.1M Sweet Dreams (1985)
- November Nov No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- December Dec Out of Africa (1985) $227.5M Out of Africa (1985)
Last 10 years
How Does 1985 Compare With Previous Years?
Of these 10 years, 1985 earned the most: $254.3M from 4 films, led by Out of Africa (1985).
| Year | Films | Worldwide | Change | Biggest film |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1976 1 film | 1 | $70.6M | – | All the President's Men (1976) $70.6M |
| 1977 No films | 0 | – | – | – |
| 1978 2 films | 2 | $49.4M | – | Midnight Express (1978) $35M |
| 1979 1 film · −13% | 1 | $43M | −13% | Escape from Alcatraz (1979) $43M |
| 1980 5 films · +215% | 5 | $135.5M | +215% | Coal Miner's Daughter (1980) $67.2M |
| 1981 4 films · −55% | 4 | $61.5M | −55% | Reds (1981) $40.4M |
| 1982 2 films · +19% | 2 | $73.3M | +19% | Chariots of Fire (1982) $59.3M |
| 1983 6 films · +77% | 6 | $129.6M | +77% | Gandhi (1983) $52.8M |
| 1984 1 film · −98% | 1 | $2.9M | −98% | Phar Lap (1984) $2.9M |
| 1985 4 films · +8735% | 4 | $254.3M | +8735% | Out of Africa (1985) $227.5M |
Archive
Biography Box Office Year by Year
Every year from 1929 to 2026 with its total and its biggest film. 2018 leads with $2.3B, led by Bohemian Rhapsody (2018).
2020s 7 years · $4.7B
2010s 10 years · $13.3B
- 2019 $1.3B #1 Ford v Ferrari (2019)
- 2018 $2.3B #1 Bohemian Rhapsody (2018)
- 2017 $1.6B #1 The Greatest Showman (2017)
- 2016 $1.6B #1 Dangal (2016)
- 2015 $1.6B #1 Everest (2015)
- 2014 $1.7B #1 American Sniper (2014)
- 2013 $2.1B #1 The Wolf of Wall Street (2013)
- 2012 $511.3M #1 Lincoln (2012)
- 2011 $319.8M #1 The Iron Lady (2011)
- 2010 $341.2M #1 The Social Network (2010)
2000s 10 years · $5.9B
- 2009 $1B #1 The Blind Side (2009)
- 2008 $330.9M #1 The Other Boleyn Girl (2008)
- 2007 $638.4M #1 Charlie Wilson's War (2007)
- 2006 $775.2M #1 The Pursuit of Happyness (2006)
- 2005 $671M #1 Walk the Line (2005)
- 2004 $683.8M #1 The Aviator (2004)
- 2003 $165.3M #1 Monster (2003)
- 2002 $674.3M #1 Catch Me If You Can (2002)
- 2001 $541.6M #1 A Beautiful Mind (2001)
- 2000 $385.6M #1 Erin Brockovich (2000)
1990s 10 years · $2.7B
- 1999 $347.4M #1 The Hurricane (1999)
- 1998 $301.1M #1 Patch Adams (1998)
- 1997 $214.7M #1 Seven Years in Tibet (1997)
- 1996 $219.4M #1 Evita (1996)
- 1995 $385.1M #1 Braveheart (1995)
- 1994 $52.6M #1 Wyatt Earp (1994)
- 1993 $652.9M #1 Schindler's List (1993)
- 1992 $106.3M #1 Malcolm X (1992)
- 1991 $291.7M #1 JFK (1991)
- 1990 $102.9M #1 Goodfellas (1990)
1980s 10 years · $1.2B
- 1989 $212.2M #1 Born on the Fourth of July (1989)
- 1988 $172.8M #1 Good Morning, Vietnam (1988)
- 1987 $105.8M #1 La Bamba (1987)
- 1986 $3.5M #1 Sid and Nancy (1986)
- 1985 $254.3M #1 Out of Africa (1985)
- 1984 $2.9M #1 Phar Lap (1984)
- 1983 $129.6M #1 Gandhi (1983)
- 1982 $73.3M #1 Chariots of Fire (1982)
- 1981 $61.5M #1 Reds (1981)
- 1980 $135.5M #1 Coal Miner's Daughter (1980)
1970s 8 years · $358M
1960s 7 years · $271.4M
1950s 2 years · $21.4M
1940s 1 year · $3K
1930s 1 year · $4.9K
1920s 1 year · $22.7K
FAQ
Biography Box Office 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 biography movie in 1985?
Out of Africa (1985) leads with $227.5M worldwide, $87.1M of it in the US & Canada. Next come The Falcon and the Snowman (1985) at $17.1M and Sweet Dreams (1985) at $9.1M.
How much did biography movies released in 1985 earn?
4 biography films released in 1985 report a worldwide gross, $254.3M in all, or $63.6M per film on average.
How many biography movies released in 1985 made $1 billion?
None. 1 film crossed $100 million, led by Out of Africa (1985) with $227.5M.
How is the 1985 biography 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 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 1985 biography 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.