#1 of 8 #1 sci-fi movie of August 1985
1985 · Fantasy, Comedy
$38.9M worldwide · 49% of the chart's total
$23.8M US & Canada · 61% $15.1M elsewhere · 39%
Sci-Fi box office · August 1985
Sci-Fi Box Office, August 1985: Top-Grossing Releases
Weird Science (1985) is the highest-grossing sci-fi movie released in August 1985, with $38.9M worldwide, ahead of The Return of the Living Dead (1985) at $14.2M and Real Genius (1985) at $13M. 8 sci-fi films released in August 1985 report a worldwide gross, $79.9M in all, 81% of it from the US & Canada. By language, English leads with $75.7M across 7 sci-fi releases.
- August 1985 releases with a gross
- 8
- combined worldwide
- $79.9M
- Weird Science (1985), the #1
- $38.9M
- earned in the US & Canada
- 81%
#1 of 8 Top 5
What Were the Biggest Sci-Fi Hits of August 1985?
Weird Science (1985) leads with $38.9M, 49% of the total. The top 5 together took $74.4M, 93% of what all 8 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 Sci-Fi Release of August 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 August 1985.
- 1 Aug 1, 1985 US and Canada: $23.8M Rest of the world: $15.1M Worldwide: $38.9M
- 2 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 - 3 Aug 7, 1985 US and Canada: $13M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $13M
- 4 Aug 9, 1985 US and Canada: $4.1M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $4.1M
- 5 Aug 23, 1985 US and Canada: $4.1M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $4.1M
- 6
Aug 16, 1985 US and Canada: $3.6M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $3.6M - 7
Aug 23, 1985 US and Canada: $1.9M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $1.9M - 8
Aug 15, 1985 US and Canada: $7.7K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $7.7K
US & Canada vs the world
Where Did the Money Come From in August 1985?
Of the top 8, Real Genius (1985) earned the biggest share at home (100% in the US & Canada), while Weird Science (1985) made 39% of its gross abroad. Across all 8 films, $64.7M (81%) came from the US & Canada.
- 1 Weird Science (1985) $38.9M $23.8M US & Canada · 61% $15.1M elsewhere · 39%
- 2 The Return of the Living Dead (1985) $14.2M $14.2M US & Canada · 100% $3.4K elsewhere · <1%
- 3 Real Genius (1985) $13M $13M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 4 My Science Project (1985) $4.1M $4.1M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 5 Godzilla 1985 (1985) $4.1M $4.1M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 6 The Bride (1985) $3.6M $3.6M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 7 Warning Sign (1985) $1.9M $1.9M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 8 Space Rage (1985) $7.7K $7.7K US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
By release week
Which Week of August 1985 Had the Biggest Releases?
Films released in week 31 (Jul 28–Aug 3) took $38.9M, led by Weird Science (1985). Each column links to that week's chart; weeks are Sunday to Saturday.
- Week 31 Wk 31 Jul 28–Aug 3 Weird Science (1985) $38.9M Weird Science (1985)
- Week 32 Wk 32 Aug 4–10 Real Genius (1985) $17.1M Real Genius (1985)
- Week 33 Wk 33 Aug 11–17 The Return of the Living Dead (1985) $17.8M The Return of the Living Dead (1985)
- Week 34 Wk 34 Aug 18–24 Godzilla 1985 (1985) $6M Godzilla 1985 (1985)
- Week 35 Wk 35 Aug 25–31 No reported grosses – No reported grosses
Earlier years
How Does August 1985 Compare With August in Earlier Years?
Of these 10 years, August 1985 earned the most: $79.9M from 8 films, led by Weird Science (1985).
| Month | Films | Worldwide | Change | Biggest film |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| August 1976 No films | 0 | – | – | – |
| August 1977 No films | 0 | – | – | – |
| August 1978 1 film | 1 | $321 | – | Piranha (1978) $321 |
| August 1979 No films | 0 | – | – | – |
| August 1980 2 films | 2 | $39.4M | – | Xanadu (1980) $22.8M |
| August 1981 1 film · −99% | 1 | $547.6K | −99% | Heavy Metal (1981) $547.6K |
| August 1982 No films | 0 | – | – | – |
| August 1983 3 films | 3 | $16.3M | – | Strange Brew (1983) $8.6M |
| August 1984 4 films · +91% | 4 | $31.2M | +91% | Dreamscape (1984) $12.1M |
| August 1985 8 films · +156% | 8 | $79.9M | +156% | Weird Science (1985) $38.9M |
By language
Which Languages Do the Biggest Sci-Fi Movies Speak in August 1985?
English-language sci-fi films took $75.7M across 7 films, 95% of the total, ahead of Japanese-language sci-fi films ($4.1M).
Archive
Sci-Fi Box Office in 1985, Month by Month
The months of 1985 with their totals: July leads with $394.9M, led by Back to the Future (1985).
- January No grosses
- February No grosses
- March $25.3M #1 Baby: Secret of the Lost Legend (1985)
- April No grosses
- May $5.5M #1 Starchaser: The Legend of Orin (1985)
- June $113.8M #1 Cocoon (1985)
- July $394.9M #1 Back to the Future (1985)
- August $79.9M #1 Weird Science (1985)
- September $5.8M #1 Creator (1985)
- October $2M #1 Re-Animator (1985)
- November $4.9M #1 Rainbow Brite and the Star Stealer (1985)
- December $22.3M #1 Enemy Mine (1985)
FAQ
Sci-Fi Box Office August 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 8 films as the chart.
What is the highest-grossing sci-fi movie in August 1985?
Weird Science (1985) leads with $38.9M worldwide, $23.8M of it in the US & Canada. Next come The Return of the Living Dead (1985) at $14.2M and Real Genius (1985) at $13M.
How much did sci-fi movies released in August 1985 earn?
8 sci-fi films released in August 1985 report a worldwide gross, $79.9M in all, or $10M per film on average.
How many sci-fi movies released in August 1985 made $1 billion?
None. The biggest, Weird Science (1985), earned $38.9M.
How is the August 1985 sci-fi 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 August 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 August 1985 sci-fi 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.