#1 of 9 #1 drama movie of December 1985
1985 · Biography, Drama
$227.5M worldwide · 57% of the chart's total
$87.1M US & Canada · 38% $140.4M elsewhere · 62%
Drama box office · December 1985
Drama Box Office, December 1985: Top-Grossing Releases
Out of Africa (1985) is the highest-grossing drama movie released in December 1985, with $227.5M worldwide, ahead of The Color Purple (1985) at $98.5M and Murphy’s Romance (1985) at $30.9M. 9 drama films released in December 1985 report a worldwide gross, $398.8M in all, 65% of it from the US & Canada. One film crossed $100 million; none reached $1 billion. That is down 1% on November 1985, whose releases took $403.5M. By language, English leads with $383.7M across 6 drama releases.
- December 1985 releases with a gross
- 9
- combined worldwide
- $398.8M
- film crossed $100M
- 1
- vs November 1985
- −1%
#1 of 9 Top 5
What Were the Biggest Drama Hits of December 1985?
Out of Africa (1985) leads with $227.5M, 57% of the total. The top 5 together took $383.4M, 96% of what all 9 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 -
Number 5
US & Canada (domestic) Rest of the world
The chart
Every Drama 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 20, 1985 US and Canada: $87.1M Rest of the world: $140.4M Worldwide: $227.5M
- 2 Dec 18, 1985 US and Canada: $98.5M Rest of the world: $239 Worldwide: $98.5M
- 3 Dec 25, 1985 US and Canada: $30.9M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $30.9M
- 4 Dec 9, 1985 US and Canada: $14.2M Rest of the world: $1.1K Worldwide: $14.2M
- 5 Dec 20, 1985 US and Canada: $12.3M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $12.3M
- 6
Dec 18, 1985 US and Canada: $9.9M Rest of the world: $23.5K Worldwide: $10M - 7
Dec 20, 1985 US and Canada: $4.3M Rest of the world: $41.1K Worldwide: $4.3M - 8
Dec 6, 1985 US and Canada: $836.2K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $836.2K - 9
Dec 25, 1985 US and Canada: $358.6K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $358.6K
US & Canada vs the world
Where Did the Money Come From in December 1985?
Of the top 9, Murphy’s Romance (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 9 films, $258.3M (65%) came from the US & Canada.
- 1 Out of Africa (1985) $227.5M $87.1M US & Canada · 38% $140.4M elsewhere · 62%
- 2 The Color Purple (1985) $98.5M $98.5M US & Canada · 100% $239 elsewhere · <1%
- 3 Murphy’s Romance (1985) $30.9M $30.9M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 4 A Chorus Line (1985) $14.2M $14.2M US & Canada · 100% $1.1K elsewhere · <1%
- 5 Enemy Mine (1985) $12.3M $12.3M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 6 Brazil (1985) $10M $9.9M US & Canada · 100% $23.5K elsewhere · <1%
- 7 Ran (1985) $4.3M $4.3M US & Canada · 99% $41.1K elsewhere · <1%
- 8 Fool for Love (1985) $836.2K $836.2K US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 9 Revolution (1985) $358.6K $358.6K US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
By release week
Which Week of December 1985 Had the Biggest Releases?
Films released in week 51 (Dec 15–21) took $352.6M, led by Out of Africa (1985). Each column links to that week's chart; weeks are Sunday to Saturday.
- Week 49 Wk 49 Dec 1–7 Fool for Love (1985) $836.2K Fool for Love (1985)
- Week 50 Wk 50 Dec 8–14 A Chorus Line (1985) $14.2M A Chorus Line (1985)
- Week 51 Wk 51 Dec 15–21 Out of Africa (1985) $352.6M Out of Africa (1985)
- Week 52 Wk 52 Dec 22–28 Murphy’s Romance (1985) $31.2M Murphy’s Romance (1985)
- 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: $427.4M from 9 films, led by Beverly Hills Cop (1984). December 1985 took $398.8M.
| Month | Films | Worldwide | Change | Biggest film |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 1976 2 films | 2 | $197.3M | – | Rocky (1976) $117.3M |
| December 1977 3 films · +20% | 3 | $237.3M | +20% | Saturday Night Fever (1977) $237.1M |
| December 1978 5 films · −65% | 5 | $82.5M | −65% | The Deer Hunter (1978) $49.1M |
| December 1979 7 films · +235% | 7 | $276.6M | +235% | Kramer vs. Kramer (1979) $106.3M |
| December 1980 3 films · −83% | 3 | $47.2M | −83% | The Jazz Singer (1980) $27.1M |
| December 1981 11 films · +566% | 11 | $314.5M | +566% | On Golden Pond (1981) $119.3M |
| December 1982 10 films · +26% | 10 | $394.9M | +26% | Tootsie (1982) $177.2M |
| December 1983 9 films · −58% | 9 | $167.6M | −58% | Scarface (1983) $66.4M |
| December 1984 9 films · +155% | 9 | $427.4M | +155% | Beverly Hills Cop (1984) $316.4M |
| December 1985 9 films · −7% | 9 | $398.8M | −7% | Out of Africa (1985) $227.5M |
By language
Which Languages Do the Biggest Drama Movies Speak in December 1985?
English-language drama films took $383.7M across 6 films, 96% of the total, ahead of Japanese-language drama films ($4.3M).
Archive
Drama Box Office in 1985, Month by Month
The months of 1985 with their totals: November leads with $403.5M, led by Rocky IV (1985).
- January $14M #1 Tuff Turf (1985)
- February $231.8M #1 Witness (1985)
- March $111.9M #1 Mask (1985)
- April $58.8M #1 Desperately Seeking Susan (1985)
- May $37M #1 Code of Silence (1985)
- June $101.9M #1 St. Elmo's Fire (1985)
- July $20.1M #1 Kiss of the Spider Woman (1985)
- August $34.6M #1 Year of the Dragon (1985)
- September $36.5M #1 Agnes of God (1985)
- October $61.9M #1 Jagged Edge (1985)
- November $403.5M #1 Rocky IV (1985)
- December $398.8M #1 Out of Africa (1985)
FAQ
Drama 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 9 films as the chart.
What is the highest-grossing drama movie in December 1985?
Out of Africa (1985) leads with $227.5M worldwide, $87.1M of it in the US & Canada. Next come The Color Purple (1985) at $98.5M and Murphy’s Romance (1985) at $30.9M.
How much did drama movies released in December 1985 earn?
9 drama films released in December 1985 report a worldwide gross, $398.8M in all, or $44.3M per film on average. November 1985 releases took $403.5M.
How many drama movies released in December 1985 made $1 billion?
None. 1 film crossed $100 million, led by Out of Africa (1985) with $227.5M.
How is the December 1985 drama 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 drama 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.