#1 of 166 #1 English-language movie of 1985
1985 · Adventure, Sci-Fi
$385.1M worldwide · 11% of the chart's total
$214.6M US & Canada · 56% $170.5M elsewhere · 44%
English box office · 1985
English Box Office 1985: Highest-Grossing English Movies
Back to the Future (1985) is the highest-grossing English-language movie released in 1985, with $385.1M worldwide, ahead of Rocky IV (1985) at $300.5M and Rambo: First Blood Part II (1985) at $300.4M. 166 English-language films released in 1985 report a worldwide gross, $3.5B in all, 80% of it from the US & Canada. 4 films crossed $100 million; none reached $1 billion. That is up 4% on 1984, whose releases took $3.4B. By genre, Drama leads with $1.5B across 76 English releases.
- 1985 releases with a gross
- 166
- combined worldwide
- $3.5B
- films crossed $100M
- 4
- vs 1984
- +4%
#1 of 166 Top 5
What Were the Biggest English Hits of 1985?
Back to the Future (1985) leads with $385.1M, 11% of the total. The top 5 together took $1.3B, 37% of what all 166 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 English Release of 1985, Ranked by Worldwide Gross
Ranks 1 to 50 of 166. 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 Jul 3, 1985 US and Canada: $214.6M Rest of the world: $170.5M Worldwide: $385.1M
- 2 Nov 27, 1985 US and Canada: $127.9M Rest of the world: $172.6M Worldwide: $300.5M
- 3 May 22, 1985 US and Canada: $150.4M Rest of the world: $150M Worldwide: $300.4M
- 4 Dec 20, 1985 US and Canada: $87.1M Rest of the world: $140.4M Worldwide: $227.5M
- 5 Dec 18, 1985 US and Canada: $98.5M Rest of the world: $239 Worldwide: $98.5M
- 6
Dec 11, 1985 US and Canada: $76M Rest of the world: $20.8M Worldwide: $96.8M - 7
Feb 8, 1985 US and Canada: $68.7M Rest of the world: $466 Worldwide: $68.7M - 8
Jun 7, 1985 US and Canada: $63.7M Rest of the world: $827.7K Worldwide: $64.5M - 9
Dec 6, 1985 US and Canada: $60.1M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $60.1M - 10
May 31, 1985 US and Canada: $50.6M Rest of the world: $9M Worldwide: $59.6M - 11
Mar 29, 1985 US and Canada: $55.6M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $55.6M - 12
Feb 15, 1985 US and Canada: $45.9M Rest of the world: $5.7M Worldwide: $51.5M - 13
May 24, 1985 US and Canada: $50.3M Rest of the world: $9.8K Worldwide: $50.3M - 14
Jul 26, 1985 US and Canada: $49.4M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $49.4M - 15
Mar 8, 1985 US and Canada: $48.2M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $48.2M - 16
May 22, 1985 US and Canada: $40.8M Rest of the world: $5M Worldwide: $45.8M - 17
Nov 22, 1985 US and Canada: $42.2M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $42.2M - 18
Jun 28, 1985 US and Canada: $41.4M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $41.4M - 19
Aug 9, 1985 US and Canada: $41M Rest of the world: $1.3K Worldwide: $41M - 20
Oct 4, 1985 US and Canada: $40.5M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $40.5M - 21
Aug 1, 1985 US and Canada: $23.8M Rest of the world: $15.1M Worldwide: $38.9M - 22
Jun 28, 1985 US and Canada: $37.8M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $37.8M - 23
Jul 10, 1985 US and Canada: $36.2M Rest of the world: $1.2K Worldwide: $36.2M - 24
Feb 1, 1985 US and Canada: $34.7M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $34.7M - 25
Aug 23, 1985 US and Canada: $33.1M Rest of the world: $695 Worldwide: $33.1M - 26
Feb 1, 1985 US and Canada: $27.2M Rest of the world: $5.8M Worldwide: $33M - 27
Jul 10, 1985 US and Canada: $32.2M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $32.2M - 28
Dec 25, 1985 US and Canada: $30.9M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $30.9M - 29
Nov 1, 1985 US and Canada: $30M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $30M - 30
Apr 12, 1985 US and Canada: $27.4M Rest of the world: $1K Worldwide: $27.4M - 31
Jun 14, 1985 US and Canada: $26.7M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $26.7M - 32
Mar 22, 1985 US and Canada: $25.8M Rest of the world: $993 Worldwide: $25.8M - 33
Sep 27, 1985 US and Canada: $25.6M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $25.6M - 34
Aug 2, 1985 US and Canada: $24.9M Rest of the world: $1.6K Worldwide: $24.9M - 35
Aug 9, 1985 US and Canada: $24.7M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $24.7M - 36
Jun 22, 1985 US and Canada: $24.5M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $24.5M - 37
Mar 29, 1985 US and Canada: $22.9M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $22.9M - 38
Mar 22, 1985 US and Canada: $21.9M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $21.9M - 39
Jul 24, 1985 US and Canada: $21.3M Rest of the world: $392 Worldwide: $21.3M - 40
Mar 22, 1985 US and Canada: $20.5M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $20.5M - 41
May 3, 1985 US and Canada: $20.3M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $20.3M - 42
Aug 16, 1985 US and Canada: $19.9M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $19.9M - 43
Dec 4, 1985 US and Canada: $19.7M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $19.7M - 44
Aug 16, 1985 US and Canada: $18.7M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $18.7M - 45
Apr 12, 1985 US and Canada: $18.4M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $18.4M - 46
Mar 1, 1985 US and Canada: $18.1M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $18.1M - 47
Sep 27, 1985 US and Canada: $17.5M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $17.5M - 48
Nov 1, 1985 US and Canada: $17.3M Rest of the world: $4.7K Worldwide: $17.3M - 49
Feb 8, 1985 US and Canada: $17.1M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $17.1M - 50
Jul 26, 1985 US and Canada: $17M Rest of the world: $4.4K Worldwide: $17M
US & Canada vs the world
Where Did the Money Come From in 1985?
Of the top 10, Spies Like Us (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 166 films, $2.8B (80%) came from the US & Canada.
- 1 Back to the Future (1985) $385.1M $214.6M US & Canada · 56% $170.5M elsewhere · 44%
- 2 Rocky IV (1985) $300.5M $127.9M US & Canada · 43% $172.6M elsewhere · 57%
- 3 Rambo: First Blood Part II (1985) $300.4M $150.4M US & Canada · 50% $150M elsewhere · 50%
- 4 Out of Africa (1985) $227.5M $87.1M US & Canada · 38% $140.4M elsewhere · 62%
- 5 The Color Purple (1985) $98.5M $98.5M US & Canada · 100% $239 elsewhere · <1%
- 6 The Jewel of the Nile (1985) $96.8M $76M US & Canada · 79% $20.8M elsewhere · 21%
- 7 Witness (1985) $68.7M $68.7M US & Canada · 100% $466 elsewhere · <1%
- 8 The Goonies (1985) $64.5M $63.7M US & Canada · 99% $827.7K elsewhere · 1%
- 9 Spies Like Us (1985) $60.1M $60.1M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 10 Fletch (1985) $59.6M $50.6M US & Canada · 85% $9M elsewhere · 15%
Gross bands
How Many 1985 Releases Crossed $100 Million?
4 of 166 films crossed $100M and took $1.2B between them, 35% of the total. 87 films, 52% of the list, earned under $10M.
35% 58%
- $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 4 films, 2% of the list $1.2B · 35% of the gross
- $10M to $100M 75 films, 45% of the list $2B · 58% of the gross
- Under $10M 87 films, 52% of the list $262.3M · 7% of the gross
By release month
Which Month of 1985 Earned the Most?
July releases took the most, $578.6M from 14 films, led by Back to the Future (1985). January was the quietest month ($19.5M). Each column is a release month and links to that month's chart.
- January Jan Tuff Turf (1985) $19.5M Tuff Turf (1985)
- February Feb Witness (1985) $253.9M Witness (1985)
- March Mar Police Academy 2: Their First Assignment (1985) $262.4M Police Academy 2: Their First Assignment (1985)
- April Apr Desperately Seeking Susan (1985) $100.3M Desperately Seeking Susan (1985)
- May May Rambo: First Blood Part II (1985) $526.2M Rambo: First Blood Part II (1985)
- June Jun The Goonies (1985) $249.1M The Goonies (1985)
- July Jul Back to the Future (1985) $578.6M Back to the Future (1985)
- August Aug Pee-wee's Big Adventure (1985) $262.5M Pee-wee's Big Adventure (1985)
- September Sep Agnes of God (1985) $82.8M Agnes of God (1985)
- October Oct Jagged Edge (1985) $92.1M Jagged Edge (1985)
- November Nov Rocky IV (1985) $501.8M Rocky IV (1985)
- December Dec Out of Africa (1985) $578.3M Out of Africa (1985)
Last 10 years
How Does 1985 Compare With Previous Years?
Of these 10 years, 1985 earned the most: $3.5B from 166 films, led by Back to the Future (1985).
| Year | Films | Worldwide | Change | Biggest film |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1976 33 films | 33 | $624.6M | – | A Star Is Born (1976) $80M |
| 1977 53 films · +235% | 53 | $2.1B | +235% | Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977) $775.4M |
| 1978 67 films · −29% | 67 | $1.5B | −29% | Grease (1978) $396.3M |
| 1979 79 films · +31% | 79 | $2B | +31% | Moonraker (1979) $210.3M |
| 1980 101 films · +18% | 101 | $2.3B | +18% | Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980) $550M |
| 1981 114 films · −10% | 114 | $2.1B | −10% | Superman II (1981) $216.4M |
| 1982 125 films · +7% | 125 | $2.2B | +7% | Tootsie (1982) $177.2M |
| 1983 129 films · +18% | 129 | $2.6B | +18% | Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983) $482.5M |
| 1984 151 films · +29% | 151 | $3.4B | +29% | Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984) $333.1M |
| 1985 166 films · +4% | 166 | $3.5B | +4% | Back to the Future (1985) $385.1M |
By genre
Which English Genres Earned the Most in 1985?
Drama took $1.5B across 76 films, 42% of the total, ahead of Comedy ($1.5B) and Adventure ($1.4B). A film counts once for each of its genres.
1985 English Box Office by Genre
-
Drama $1.5B76 films · #1 Rocky IV (1985) -
Comedy $1.5B66 films · #1 Back to the Future (1985) -
Adventure $1.4B33 films · #1 Back to the Future (1985) -
Action $865.7M42 films · #1 Rambo: First Blood Part II (1985) -
Thriller $846.2M42 films · #1 Rambo: First Blood Part II (1985) -
Romance $729.7M34 films · #1 Out of Africa (1985) -
Sci-Fi $545.9M22 films · #1 Back to the Future (1985) -
War $346.8M5 films · #1 Rambo: First Blood Part II (1985) -
Sport $342.5M5 films · #1 Rocky IV (1985) -
Fantasy $276.4M20 films · #1 Pee-wee's Big Adventure (1985)
Archive
English Box Office Year by Year
Every year from 1919 to 2026 with its total and its biggest film. 2019 leads with $28.7B, led by Avengers: Endgame (2019).
2020s 7 years · $105.1B
2010s 10 years · $261B
- 2019 $28.7B #1 Avengers: Endgame (2019)
- 2018 $28.3B #1 Avengers: Infinity War (2018)
- 2017 $27.9B #1 Star Wars: Episode VIII - The Last Jedi (2017)
- 2016 $27.3B #1 Captain America: Civil War (2016)
- 2015 $27.1B #1 Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens (2015)
- 2014 $24.6B #1 Transformers: Age Of Extinction (2014)
- 2013 $26B #1 Frozen (2013)
- 2012 $26B #1 The Avengers (2012)
- 2011 $24.2B #1 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (2011)
- 2010 $21B #1 Toy Story 3 (2010)
2000s 10 years · $170.2B
- 2009 $23B #1 Avatar (2009)
- 2008 $20B #1 The Dark Knight (2008)
- 2007 $20.4B #1 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007)
- 2006 $17.7B #1 Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest (2006)
- 2005 $16.6B #1 Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith (2005)
- 2004 $15.9B #1 Shrek 2 (2004)
- 2003 $17.1B #1 The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)
- 2002 $13.9B #1 Spider-Man (2002)
- 2001 $13.4B #1 Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (2001)
- 2000 $12.2B #1 Mission: Impossible II (2000)
1990s 10 years · $84.5B
- 1999 $12.9B #1 Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999)
- 1998 $10B #1 Armageddon (1998)
- 1997 $11.8B #1 Titanic (1997)
- 1996 $9.2B #1 Independence Day (1996)
- 1995 $8.9B #1 Toy Story (1995)
- 1994 $7.3B #1 The Lion King (1994)
- 1993 $6.3B #1 Mrs. Doubtfire (1993)
- 1992 $5.5B #1 The Bodyguard (1992)
- 1991 $5.9B #1 Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)
- 1990 $6.5B #1 Ghost (1990)
1980s 10 years · $33.4B
- 1989 $6B #1 Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989)
- 1988 $4.3B #1 Rain Man (1988)
- 1987 $3.7B #1 Fatal Attraction (1987)
- 1986 $3.3B #1 Top Gun (1986)
- 1985 $3.5B #1 Back to the Future (1985)
- 1984 $3.4B #1 Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984)
- 1983 $2.6B #1 Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983)
- 1982 $2.2B #1 Tootsie (1982)
- 1981 $2.1B #1 Superman II (1981)
- 1980 $2.3B #1 Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
1970s 10 years · $9.6B
- 1979 $2B #1 Moonraker (1979)
- 1978 $1.5B #1 Grease (1978)
- 1977 $2.1B #1 Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977)
- 1976 $624.6M #1 A Star Is Born (1976)
- 1975 $955.1M #1 Jaws (1975)
- 1974 $694.9M #1 Blazing Saddles (1974)
- 1973 $928.9M #1 The Exorcist (1973)
- 1972 $369.2M #1 The Godfather (1972)
- 1971 $182.9M #1 The French Connection (1971)
- 1970 $346.9M #1 The Aristocats (1970)
1960s 10 years · $1.4B
- 1969 $244.6M #1 Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969)
- 1968 $147.2M #1 Funny Girl (1968)
- 1967 $342.7M #1 The Jungle Book (1967)
- 1966 $28.1M #1 Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (1966)
- 1965 $227.4M #1 Doctor Zhivago (1965)
- 1964 $241M #1 Mary Poppins (1964)
- 1963 $75.1M #1 It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World (1963)
- 1962 $49.6M #1 Lawrence of Arabia (1962)
- 1961 $952.7K #1 Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961)
- 1960 $42.4M #1 Swiss Family Robinson (1960)
1950s 10 years · $770.2M
- 1959 $126.4M #1 Ben-Hur (1959)
- 1958 $5.1M #1 Touch of Evil (1958)
- 1957 $31.3M #1 The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957)
- 1956 $149.5M #1 The Ten Commandments (1956)
- 1955 $95.8M #1 Lady and the Tramp (1955)
- 1954 $70.6M #1 Rear Window (1954)
- 1953 $150.9M #1 Peter Pan (1953)
- 1952 $38.6M #1 The Greatest Show on Earth (1952)
- 1951 $4.4M #1 Ace in the Hole (1951)
- 1950 $97.5M #1 Cinderella (1950)
1940s 10 years · $662.1M
- 1949 $1.7M #1 The Third Man (1949)
- 1948 $707.7K #1 The Fallen Idol (1948)
- 1947 $1.4M #1 The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (1947)
- 1946 $96.2M #1 Song of the South (1946)
- 1945 $22M #1 The Bells of St. Mary’s (1945)
- 1944 $117.4K #1 Henry V (1944)
- 1943 $6M #1 Casablanca (1943)
- 1942 $2M #1 Reunion in France (1942)
- 1941 $4.2M #1 Charley’s Aunt (1941)
- 1940 $527.8M #1 Gone with the Wind (1940)
1930s 10 years · $217.4M
- 1939 $26.3M #1 The Wizard of Oz (1939)
- 1938 $185.2M #1 Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1938)
- 1937 $27.1K #1 Stage Door (1937)
- 1936 $4.6M #1 After the Thin Man (1936)
- 1935 $602.9K #1 Sylvia Scarlett (1935)
- 1934 $37.5K #1 It Happened One Night (1934)
- 1933 $588.1K #1 Baby Face (1933)
- 1932 $40K #1 The Old Dark House (1932)
- 1931 $299 #1 Transgression (1931)
- 1930 $1.2K #1 Madam Satan (1930)
1920s 4 years · $718.5K
1910s 1 year · $160
FAQ
English 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 166 films as the chart.
What is the highest-grossing English-language movie in 1985?
Back to the Future (1985) leads with $385.1M worldwide, $214.6M of it in the US & Canada. Next come Rocky IV (1985) at $300.5M and Rambo: First Blood Part II (1985) at $300.4M.
How much did English-language movies released in 1985 earn?
166 English-language films released in 1985 report a worldwide gross, $3.5B in all, or $21.1M per film on average. 1984 releases took $3.4B.
How many English-language movies released in 1985 made $1 billion?
None. 4 films crossed $100 million, led by Back to the Future (1985) with $385.1M.
How is the 1985 English 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, and so are films whose stored language is most likely wrong.
How often is the 1985 English 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.