#1 of 192 #1 movie of 1985
1985 · Adventure, Sci-Fi
$385.1M worldwide · 10% of the chart's total
$214.6M US & Canada · 56% $170.5M elsewhere · 44%
Box office · 1985
1985 Box Office: The Highest-Grossing Movies of 1985
Back to the Future (1985) is the highest-grossing 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. 192 films released in 1985 report a worldwide gross, $3.7B 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 $3.6B. By genre, Drama leads with $1.5B across 88 releases.
- 1985 releases with a gross
- 192
- combined worldwide
- $3.7B
- films crossed $100M
- 4
- vs 1984
- +4%
#1 of 192 Top 5
What Were the Biggest Hits of 1985?
Back to the Future (1985) leads with $385.1M, 10% of the total. The top 5 together took $1.3B, 35% of what all 192 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 Release of 1985, Ranked by Worldwide Gross
Ranks 1 to 50 of 192. 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
Jun 21, 1985 US and Canada: $76.1M Rest of the world: $9.2M Worldwide: $85.3M - 8
Feb 8, 1985 US and Canada: $68.7M Rest of the world: $466 Worldwide: $68.7M - 9
Jun 7, 1985 US and Canada: $63.7M Rest of the world: $827.7K Worldwide: $64.5M - 10
Dec 6, 1985 US and Canada: $60.1M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $60.1M - 11
May 31, 1985 US and Canada: $50.6M Rest of the world: $9M Worldwide: $59.6M - 12
Oct 4, 1985 US and Canada: $35.1M Rest of the world: $22.4M Worldwide: $57.5M - 13
Mar 29, 1985 US and Canada: $55.6M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $55.6M - 14
Feb 15, 1985 US and Canada: $45.9M Rest of the world: $5.7M Worldwide: $51.5M - 15
May 24, 1985 US and Canada: $50.3M Rest of the world: $9.8K Worldwide: $50.3M - 16
National Lampoon's European Vacation (1985)Jul 26, 1985 US and Canada: $49.4M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $49.4M
Jul 26, 1985 · English · Adventure, Comedy $49.4M worldwide - 17
Mar 8, 1985 US and Canada: $48.2M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $48.2M - 18
May 22, 1985 US and Canada: $40.8M Rest of the world: $5M Worldwide: $45.8M - 19
Nov 22, 1985 US and Canada: $42.2M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $42.2M - 20
Jun 28, 1985 US and Canada: $41.4M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $41.4M - 21
Aug 9, 1985 US and Canada: $41M Rest of the world: $1.3K Worldwide: $41M - 22
Oct 4, 1985 US and Canada: $40.5M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $40.5M - 23
Aug 1, 1985 US and Canada: $23.8M Rest of the world: $15.1M Worldwide: $38.9M - 24
Jun 28, 1985 US and Canada: $37.8M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $37.8M - 25
Jul 10, 1985 US and Canada: $36.2M Rest of the world: $1.2K Worldwide: $36.2M - 26
Feb 1, 1985 US and Canada: $34.7M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $34.7M - 27
Aug 23, 1985 US and Canada: $33.1M Rest of the world: $695 Worldwide: $33.1M - 28
Feb 1, 1985 US and Canada: $27.2M Rest of the world: $5.8M Worldwide: $33M - 29
Jul 10, 1985 US and Canada: $32.2M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $32.2M - 30
Dec 25, 1985 US and Canada: $30.9M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $30.9M - 31
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 - 32
Apr 12, 1985 US and Canada: $27.4M Rest of the world: $1K Worldwide: $27.4M - 33
Jun 14, 1985 US and Canada: $26.7M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $26.7M - 34
Mar 22, 1985 US and Canada: $25.8M Rest of the world: $993 Worldwide: $25.8M - 35
Sep 27, 1985 US and Canada: $25.6M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $25.6M - 36
Aug 2, 1985 US and Canada: $24.9M Rest of the world: $1.6K Worldwide: $24.9M - 37
Aug 9, 1985 US and Canada: $24.7M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $24.7M - 38
Jun 22, 1985 US and Canada: $24.5M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $24.5M - 39
Mar 29, 1985 US and Canada: $22.9M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $22.9M - 40
Mar 22, 1985 US and Canada: $21.9M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $21.9M - 41
Jul 24, 1985 US and Canada: $21.3M Rest of the world: $392 Worldwide: $21.3M - 42
Mar 22, 1985 US and Canada: $20.5M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $20.5M - 43
May 3, 1985 US and Canada: $20.3M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $20.3M - 44
Aug 16, 1985 US and Canada: $19.9M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $19.9M - 45
Dec 4, 1985 US and Canada: $19.7M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $19.7M - 46
Aug 16, 1985 US and Canada: $18.7M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $18.7M - 47
Apr 12, 1985 US and Canada: $18.4M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $18.4M - 48
Mar 1, 1985 US and Canada: $18.1M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $18.1M - 49
Sep 27, 1985 US and Canada: $17.5M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $17.5M - 50
Nov 1, 1985 US and Canada: $17.3M Rest of the world: $4.7K Worldwide: $17.3M
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 192 films, $3B (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 Cocoon (1985) $85.3M $76.1M US & Canada · 89% $9.2M elsewhere · 11%
- 8 Witness (1985) $68.7M $68.7M US & Canada · 100% $466 elsewhere · <1%
- 9 The Goonies (1985) $64.5M $63.7M US & Canada · 99% $827.7K elsewhere · 1%
- 10 Spies Like Us (1985) $60.1M $60.1M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
Gross bands
How Many 1985 Releases Crossed $100 Million?
4 of 192 films crossed $100M and took $1.2B between them, 33% of the total. 110 films, 57% of the list, earned under $10M.
33% 59% 8%
- $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 · 33% of the gross
- $10M to $100M 78 films, 41% of the list $2.2B · 59% of the gross
- Under $10M 110 films, 57% of the list $311.1M · 8% of the gross
By release month
Which Month of 1985 Earned the Most?
December releases took the most, $593.5M from 17 films, led by Out of Africa (1985). January was the quietest month ($19.6M). Each column is a release month and links to that month's chart.
- January Jan Tuff Turf (1985) $19.6M Tuff Turf (1985)
- February Feb Witness (1985) $262.6M 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) $100.4M Desperately Seeking Susan (1985)
- May May Rambo: First Blood Part II (1985) $527.8M Rambo: First Blood Part II (1985)
- June Jun Cocoon (1985) $343.5M Cocoon (1985)
- July Jul Back to the Future (1985) $578.7M Back to the Future (1985)
- August Aug Pee-wee's Big Adventure (1985) $280.6M Pee-wee's Big Adventure (1985)
- September Sep Agnes of God (1985) $82.8M Agnes of God (1985)
- October Oct Commando (1985) $158.7M Commando (1985)
- November Nov Rocky IV (1985) $502.6M Rocky IV (1985)
- December Dec Out of Africa (1985) $593.5M Out of Africa (1985)
Last 10 years
How Does 1985 Compare With Previous Years?
Of these 10 years, 1985 earned the most: $3.7B from 192 films, led by Back to the Future (1985).
| Year | Films | Worldwide | Change | Biggest film |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1976 49 films | 49 | $784.1M | – | Rocky (1976) $117.3M |
| 1977 72 films · +184% | 72 | $2.2B | +184% | Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977) $775.4M |
| 1978 84 films · −12% | 84 | $2B | −12% | Grease (1978) $396.3M |
| 1979 99 films · +10% | 99 | $2.2B | +10% | Moonraker (1979) $210.3M |
| 1980 130 films · +16% | 130 | $2.5B | +16% | Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980) $550M |
| 1981 136 films · −15% | 136 | $2.1B | −15% | Superman II (1981) $216.4M |
| 1982 154 films · +18% | 154 | $2.5B | +18% | Tootsie (1982) $177.2M |
| 1983 147 films · +12% | 147 | $2.8B | +12% | Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983) $482.5M |
| 1984 178 films · +27% | 178 | $3.6B | +27% | Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984) $333.1M |
| 1985 192 films · +4% | 192 | $3.7B | +4% | Back to the Future (1985) $385.1M |
Genres & languages
Which Genres and Languages Earned the Most in 1985?
Drama took $1.5B across 88 films, 41% of the total, ahead of Comedy ($1.5B) and Adventure ($1.4B). A film counts once for each of its genres. English-language films took $3.5B across 166 films, 94% of the total, ahead of Japanese-language films ($17.6M) and French-language films ($1.8M).
1985 Box Office by Genre
-
Drama $1.5B88 films · #1 Rocky IV (1985) -
Comedy $1.5B72 films · #1 Back to the Future (1985) -
Adventure $1.4B36 films · #1 Back to the Future (1985) -
Action $931.7M46 films · #1 Rambo: First Blood Part II (1985) -
Thriller $908.2M45 films · #1 Rambo: First Blood Part II (1985) -
Romance $739.4M36 films · #1 Out of Africa (1985) -
Sci-Fi $654.3M26 films · #1 Back to the Future (1985) -
War $351.1M7 films · #1 Rambo: First Blood Part II (1985) -
Sport $342.5M5 films · #1 Rocky IV (1985) -
Fantasy $295.4M24 films · #1 Pee-wee's Big Adventure (1985)
1985 Box Office by Language
- English $3.5B166 films · #1 Back to the Future (1985)
-
Japanese $17.6M7 films · #1 Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (1985) -
French $1.8M4 films · #1 Rendez-vous (1985) -
Spanish $666.4K2 films · #1 Waiting for the Hearse (1985) -
Cantonese $113.2K1 film · #1 Police Story (1985) -
Chinese $35.3K1 film · #1 Taipei Story (1985) -
Serbo-Croatian $34.8K1 film · #1 When Father Was Away on Business (1985) -
Italian $4K1 film · #1 The Mass Is Ended (1985) -
German $2.6K2 films · #1 Colonel Redl (1985)
Archive
Box Office Year by Year
Every year from 1918 to 2026 with its total and its biggest film. 2019 leads with $37.1B, led by Avengers: Endgame (2019).
2020s 7 years · $134B
2010s 10 years · $325.6B
- 2019 $37.1B #1 Avengers: Endgame (2019)
- 2018 $37.1B #1 Avengers: Infinity War (2018)
- 2017 $36.6B #1 Star Wars: Episode VIII - The Last Jedi (2017)
- 2016 $34.2B #1 Captain America: Civil War (2016)
- 2015 $34B #1 Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens (2015)
- 2014 $30.1B #1 Transformers: Age Of Extinction (2014)
- 2013 $31.3B #1 Frozen (2013)
- 2012 $30.6B #1 The Avengers (2012)
- 2011 $28.1B #1 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (2011)
- 2010 $26.5B #1 Toy Story 3 (2010)
2000s 10 years · $201.4B
- 2009 $27.2B #1 Avatar (2009)
- 2008 $23.9B #1 The Dark Knight (2008)
- 2007 $24.1B #1 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007)
- 2006 $21.2B #1 Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest (2006)
- 2005 $20.2B #1 Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith (2005)
- 2004 $19.7B #1 Shrek 2 (2004)
- 2003 $19.2B #1 The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)
- 2002 $15.8B #1 Spider-Man (2002)
- 2001 $16B #1 Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (2001)
- 2000 $14B #1 Mission: Impossible II (2000)
1990s 10 years · $91.9B
- 1999 $13.7B #1 Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999)
- 1998 $11.3B #1 Armageddon (1998)
- 1997 $12.7B #1 Titanic (1997)
- 1996 $9.9B #1 Independence Day (1996)
- 1995 $9.5B #1 Toy Story (1995)
- 1994 $8.5B #1 The Lion King (1994)
- 1993 $7.1B #1 Mrs. Doubtfire (1993)
- 1992 $6.3B #1 The Bodyguard (1992)
- 1991 $6.2B #1 Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)
- 1990 $6.7B #1 Ghost (1990)
1980s 10 years · $36B
- 1989 $6.1B #1 Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989)
- 1988 $4.9B #1 Rain Man (1988)
- 1987 $4B #1 Fatal Attraction (1987)
- 1986 $3.7B #1 Top Gun (1986)
- 1985 $3.7B #1 Back to the Future (1985)
- 1984 $3.6B #1 Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984)
- 1983 $2.8B #1 Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983)
- 1982 $2.5B #1 Tootsie (1982)
- 1981 $2.1B #1 Superman II (1981)
- 1980 $2.5B #1 Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
1970s 10 years · $11.1B
- 1979 $2.2B #1 Moonraker (1979)
- 1978 $2B #1 Grease (1978)
- 1977 $2.2B #1 Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977)
- 1976 $784.1M #1 Rocky (1976)
- 1975 $1.1B #1 Jaws (1975)
- 1974 $803.9M #1 Blazing Saddles (1974)
- 1973 $989.4M #1 The Exorcist (1973)
- 1972 $371.4M #1 The Godfather (1972)
- 1971 $206M #1 The French Connection (1971)
- 1970 $450M #1 The Aristocats (1970)
1960s 10 years · $1.8B
- 1969 $247.4M #1 Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969)
- 1968 $144M #1 Funny Girl (1968)
- 1967 $441.4M #1 The Jungle Book (1967)
- 1966 $29.9M #1 Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (1966)
- 1965 $387.9M #1 The Sound of Music (1965)
- 1964 $240.7M #1 Mary Poppins (1964)
- 1963 $138.3M #1 Cleopatra (1963)
- 1962 $52M #1 Lawrence of Arabia (1962)
- 1961 $12.9M #1 The Taste of Violence (1961)
- 1960 $94.9M #1 Swiss Family Robinson (1960)
1950s 10 years · $801.3M
- 1959 $127.1M #1 Ben-Hur (1959)
- 1958 $13.9M #1 Vertigo (1958)
- 1957 $32.7M #1 The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957)
- 1956 $162.1M #1 The Ten Commandments (1956)
- 1955 $96.9M #1 Lady and the Tramp (1955)
- 1954 $74.4M #1 Rear Window (1954)
- 1953 $153.5M #1 Peter Pan (1953)
- 1952 $38.8M #1 The Greatest Show on Earth (1952)
- 1951 $4.8M #1 Ace in the Hole (1951)
- 1950 $97.2M #1 Cinderella (1950)
1940s 10 years · $936.9M
- 1949 $1.8M #1 The Third Man (1949)
- 1948 $6.2M #1 The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (1948)
- 1947 $12.1M #1 It's a Wonderful Life (1947)
- 1946 $92.2M #1 Song of the South (1946)
- 1945 $22.1M #1 The Bells of St. Mary’s (1945)
- 1944 $132K #1 Henry V (1944)
- 1943 $6.2M #1 Casablanca (1943)
- 1942 $268.3M #1 Bambi (1942)
- 1941 $1.9M #1 Citizen Kane (1941)
- 1940 $525.9M #1 Gone with the Wind (1940)
1930s 10 years · $214M
- 1939 $26.7M #1 The Wizard of Oz (1939)
- 1938 $185.2M #1 Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1938)
- 1937 $32.8K #1 Stage Door (1937)
- 1936 $1.5M #1 Born to Dance (1936)
- 1935 $105.9K #1 The 39 Steps (1935)
- 1934 $47.3K #1 It Happened One Night (1934)
- 1933 $164.8K #1 Duck Soup (1933)
- 1932 $51.1K #1 The Old Dark House (1932)
- 1931 $135.8K #1 Drácula (1931)
- 1930 $6.1K #1 The Blue Angel (1930)
1920s 9 years · $10M
- 1929 $89.2K #1 Pandora’s Box (1929)
- 1928 $41.6K #1 The Air Circus (1928)
- 1927 $245K #1 Sunrise (1927)
- 1926 $67.1K #1 Battleship Potemkin (1926)
- 1925 $87.5K #1 The Gold Rush (1925)
- 1924 $198.9K #1 The Epic of Everest (1924)
- 1923 $13.2K #1 A Woman of Paris: A Drama of Fate (1923)
- 1921 $9.2M #1 The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse (1921)
- 1920 $9.3K #1 The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1920)
1910s 2 years · $9.8K
FAQ
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 192 films as the chart.
What is the highest-grossing 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 movies released in 1985 earn?
192 films released in 1985 report a worldwide gross, $3.7B in all, or $19.3M per film on average. 1984 releases took $3.6B.
How many 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 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 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.