#1 of 17 #1 horror movie of 1985
A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy's Revenge (1985)
1985 · Thriller, Horror
$30M worldwide · 16% of the chart's total
$30M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
Horror box office · 1985
Horror Box Office 1985: Highest-Grossing Horror Movies
A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy's Revenge (1985) is the highest-grossing horror movie released in 1985, with $30M worldwide, ahead of Fright Night (1985) at $24.9M and Friday the 13th: A New Beginning (1985) at $21.9M. 17 horror films released in 1985 report a worldwide gross, $185.9M in all, 100% of it from the US & Canada. That is down 39% on 1984, whose releases took $303.5M. By language, English leads with $181.8M across 15 horror releases.
- 1985 releases with a gross
- 17
- combined worldwide
- $185.9M
- A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy's Revenge (1985), the #1
- $30M
- vs 1984
- −39%
#1 of 17 Top 5
What Were the Biggest Horror Hits of 1985?
A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy's Revenge (1985) leads with $30M, 16% of the total. The top 5 together took $112.4M, 60% of what all 17 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 Horror 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 A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy's Revenge (1985)Nov 1, 1985 US and Canada: $30M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $30M
Nov 1, 1985 · English · Thriller, Horror $30M worldwide - 2 Aug 2, 1985 US and Canada: $24.9M Rest of the world: $1.6K Worldwide: $24.9M
- 3 Friday the 13th: A New Beginning (1985)Mar 22, 1985 US and Canada: $21.9M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $21.9M Mar 22, 1985 · English · Mystery, Thriller, Horror $21.9M worldwide
- 4 Jul 24, 1985 US and Canada: $21.3M Rest of the world: $392 Worldwide: $21.3M
- 5 The Return of the Living Dead (1985)Aug 16, 1985 US and Canada: $14.2M Rest of the world: $3.4K Worldwide: $14.2M Aug 16, 1985 · English · Sci-Fi, Horror, Comedy $14.2M worldwide
- 6
Apr 12, 1985 US and Canada: $13.1M Rest of the world: $715 Worldwide: $13.1M - 7
Oct 11, 1985 US and Canada: $12.4M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $12.4M - 8
Jun 21, 1985 US and Canada: $11.6M Rest of the world: $1.6K Worldwide: $11.6M - 9
Nov 15, 1985 US and Canada: $10M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $10M - 10
Nov 8, 1985 US and Canada: $7.2M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $7.2M - 11
Jul 19, 1985 US and Canada: $5M Rest of the world: $1K Worldwide: $5M - 12
Apr 19, 1985 US and Canada: $4.4M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $4.4M - 13
Aug 23, 1985 US and Canada: $4.1M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $4.1M - 14
Aug 16, 1985 US and Canada: $3.6M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $3.6M - 15
Oct 18, 1985 US and Canada: $2M Rest of the world: $1.6K Worldwide: $2M - 16
Oct 4, 1985 US and Canada: $147.1K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $147.1K - 17
Dec 21, 1985 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $254
US & Canada vs the world
Where Did the Money Come From in 1985?
Of the top 10, A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy's Revenge (1985) earned the biggest share at home (100% in the US & Canada), while The Return of the Living Dead (1985) made <1% of its gross abroad. Across all 17 films, $185.9M (100%) came from the US & Canada.
- 1 A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy's Revenge (1985) $30M $30M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 2 Fright Night (1985) $24.9M $24.9M US & Canada · 100% $1.6K elsewhere · <1%
- 3 Friday the 13th: A New Beginning (1985) $21.9M $21.9M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 4 The Black Cauldron (1985) $21.3M $21.3M US & Canada · 100% $392 elsewhere · <1%
- 5 The Return of the Living Dead (1985) $14.2M $14.2M US & Canada · 100% $3.4K elsewhere · <1%
- 6 Cat's Eye (1985) $13.1M $13.1M US & Canada · 100% $715 elsewhere · <1%
- 7 Silver Bullet (1985) $12.4M $12.4M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 8 Lifeforce (1985) $11.6M $11.6M US & Canada · 100% $1.6K elsewhere · <1%
- 9 Once Bitten (1985) $10M $10M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 10 Transylvania 6-5000 (1985) $7.2M $7.2M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
Gross bands
How Many 1985 Releases Crossed $100 Million?
None of the 17 films reached $100M. 8 films, 47% of the list, earned under $10M. Each band shows its films and its share of the $185.9M total.
86% 14%
- $1B or more 0 films, 0% of the list No films
- $500M to $1B 0 films, 0% of the list No films
- $100M to $500M 0 films, 0% of the list No films
- $10M to $100M 9 films, 53% of the list $159.4M · 86% of the gross
- Under $10M 8 films, 47% of the list $26.4M · 14% of the gross
By release month
Which Month of 1985 Earned the Most?
November releases took the most, $47.2M from 3 films, led by A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy's Revenge (1985). December was the quietest month ($254). Each column is a release month and links to that month's chart.
- January Jan No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- February Feb No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- March Mar Friday the 13th: A New Beginning (1985) $21.9M Friday the 13th: A New Beginning (1985)
- April Apr Cat's Eye (1985) $17.5M Cat's Eye (1985)
- May May No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- June Jun Lifeforce (1985) $11.6M Lifeforce (1985)
- July Jul The Black Cauldron (1985) $26.3M The Black Cauldron (1985)
- August Aug Fright Night (1985) $46.8M Fright Night (1985)
- September Sep No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- October Oct Silver Bullet (1985) $14.5M Silver Bullet (1985)
- November Nov A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy's Revenge (1985) $47.2M A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy's Revenge (1985)
- December Dec Vampire Hunter D (1985) $254 Vampire Hunter D (1985)
Last 10 years
How Does 1985 Compare With Previous Years?
Of these 10 years, 1984 earned the most: $303.5M from 13 films, led by Gremlins (1984). 1985 took $185.9M.
| Year | Films | Worldwide | Change | Biggest film |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1976 6 films | 6 | $149.4M | – | The Omen (1976) $60.9M |
| 1977 7 films · −69% | 7 | $45.7M | −69% | Exorcist II: The Heretic (1977) $30.7M |
| 1978 7 films · +526% | 7 | $286.6M | +526% | Jaws 2 (1978) $187.9M |
| 1979 12 films · −2% | 12 | $279.6M | −2% | Alien (1979) $109.1M |
| 1980 16 films · −37% | 16 | $175M | −37% | The Shining (1980) $48M |
| 1981 23 films · +20% | 23 | $209.9M | +20% | An American Werewolf in London (1981) $30.8M |
| 1982 22 films · +38% | 22 | $289M | +38% | Poltergeist (1982) $77.2M |
| 1983 15 films · −16% | 15 | $243.8M | −16% | Jaws 3-D (1983) $88M |
| 1984 13 films · +24% | 13 | $303.5M | +24% | Gremlins (1984) $165.4M |
| 1985 17 films · −39% | 17 | $185.9M | −39% | A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy's Revenge (1985) $30M |
By language
Which Languages Do the Biggest Horror Movies Speak in 1985?
English-language horror films took $181.8M across 15 films, 98% of the total, ahead of Japanese-language horror films ($4.1M).
Archive
Horror Box Office Year by Year
Every year from 1920 to 2026 with its total and its biggest film. 2018 leads with $3.7B, led by Venom (2018).
2020s 7 years · $15.4B
- 2026 so far $2.5B #1 Backrooms (2026)
- 2025 $2.7B #1 The Conjuring: Last Rites (2025)
- 2024 $2.6B #1 Beetlejuice Beetlejuice (2024)
- 2023 $2.7B #1 Meg 2: The Trench (2023)
- 2022 $2.6B #1 Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022)
- 2021 $1.6B #1 Venom: Let There Be Carnage (2021)
- 2020 $697.4M #1 The Invisible Man (2020)
2010s 10 years · $22.6B
- 2019 $3.1B #1 It: Chapter Two (2019)
- 2018 $3.7B #1 Venom (2018)
- 2017 $3.5B #1 It (2017)
- 2016 $1.9B #1 The Conjuring 2 (2016)
- 2015 $1.6B #1 Mojin: The Lost Legend (2015)
- 2014 $1.4B #1 Annabelle (2014)
- 2013 $2.2B #1 World War Z (2013)
- 2012 $2.7B #1 Prometheus (2012)
- 2011 $1.1B #1 Paranormal Activity 3 (2011)
- 2010 $1.3B #1 Resident Evil: Afterlife (2010)
2000s 10 years · $12.1B
- 2009 $1.4B #1 The Final Destination (2009)
- 2008 $661.8M #1 Saw V (2008)
- 2007 $1.6B #1 Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007)
- 2006 $1.2B #1 Saw III (2006)
- 2005 $1.7B #1 Constantine (2005)
- 2004 $1.3B #1 The Grudge (2004)
- 2003 $970.4M #1 Gothika (2003)
- 2002 $1.1B #1 Signs (2002)
- 2001 $712.3M #1 The Others (2001)
- 2000 $1.3B #1 What Lies Beneath (2000)
1990s 10 years · $5.4B
- 1999 $1.3B #1 The Blair Witch Project (1999)
- 1998 $929.6M #1 Godzilla (1998)
- 1997 $720.6M #1 Scream 2 (1997)
- 1996 $357.9M #1 Scream (1996)
- 1995 $283.3M #1 Species (1995)
- 1994 $368.5M #1 Interview with the Vampire: The Vampire Chronicles (1994)
- 1993 $165M #1 The Good Son (1993)
- 1992 $571M #1 Bram Stoker's Dracula (1992)
- 1991 $285.2M #1 Cape Fear (1991)
- 1990 $450.5M #1 Flatliners (1990)
1980s 10 years · $2.5B
- 1989 $214.3M #1 Pet Sematary (1989)
- 1988 $284.7M #1 A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master (1988)
- 1987 $325.5M #1 The Witches of Eastwick (1987)
- 1986 $262.9M #1 The Fly (1986)
- 1985 $185.9M #1 A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy's Revenge (1985)
- 1984 $303.5M #1 Gremlins (1984)
- 1983 $243.8M #1 Jaws 3-D (1983)
- 1982 $289M #1 Poltergeist (1982)
- 1981 $209.9M #1 An American Werewolf in London (1981)
- 1980 $175M #1 The Shining (1980)
1970s 10 years · $1.7B
- 1979 $279.6M #1 Alien (1979)
- 1978 $286.6M #1 Jaws 2 (1978)
- 1977 $45.7M #1 Exorcist II: The Heretic (1977)
- 1976 $149.4M #1 The Omen (1976)
- 1975 $481.8M #1 Jaws (1975)
- 1974 $32.1M #1 The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974)
- 1973 $431.3M #1 The Exorcist (1973)
- 1972 $1.6K #1 Images (1972)
- 1971 $2.7M #1 THX 1138 (1971)
- 1970 $40.6K #1 Multiple Maniacs (1970)
1960s 10 years · $33M
- 1969 $171 #1 Night of the Bloody Apes (1969)
- 1968 $242.2K #1 Night of the Living Dead (1968)
- 1967 $240.1K #1 Night of the Big Heat (1967)
- 1966 $5.6K #1 Eye of the Devil (1966)
- 1965 $34.7K #1 Repulsion (1965)
- 1964 $1.2K #1 Onibaba (1964)
- 1963 $55.4K #1 The Birds (1963)
- 1962 $4.5K #1 What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? (1962)
- 1961 $30.2K #1 The Innocents (1961)
- 1960 $32.4M #1 Psycho (1960)
1950s 7 years · $24.4M
1940s 5 years · $42.7K
1930s 6 years · $168.1K
FAQ
Horror 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 17 films as the chart.
What is the highest-grossing horror movie in 1985?
A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy's Revenge (1985) leads with $30M worldwide, $30M of it in the US & Canada. Next come Fright Night (1985) at $24.9M and Friday the 13th: A New Beginning (1985) at $21.9M.
How much did horror movies released in 1985 earn?
17 horror films released in 1985 report a worldwide gross, $185.9M in all, or $10.9M per film on average. 1984 releases took $303.5M.
How many horror movies released in 1985 made $1 billion?
None. The biggest, A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy's Revenge (1985), earned $30M.
How is the 1985 horror 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 horror 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.