Most Popular Movies 1985
This chart shows the 1985 movie releases that have attracted the most interest on The Numbers web site over the past 24 hours. A share of 100 corresponds to 1 percent of the total views for all 1985 releases.
See also: Domestic Release Schedule for 1985 - Top 1985 Worldwide
| ← 1984 | Most Popular Overall | 1986 → |
1
| After Hours |
| Director: Martin Scorsese |
| Lead Roles: Griffin Dunne as Paul Hackett |
| Initial Theatrical Release: September 13, 1985 (Wide) by Warner Bros. |
| Keywords: Relationships Gone Wrong, Black Comedy, Crime, Film Noir, Cult Movie, One Night, Framed, Set in New York City, Set in New York, Suicide, Artists, Fugitive / On the Run, Punk Rock |
| Classification: Original Screenplay, Black Comedy, Live Action, Contemporary Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $10,609,321 |
|
International BO: $15,098 |
2
| Day of the Dead |
| Director: George A. Romero |
| Lead Roles: Lori Cardille as Dr. Sarah Bowman, Joseph Pilato as Captain Henry Rhodes, Terry Alexander as John "Flyboy", Jarlath Conroy as Bill McDermott, Richard Liberty as Dr. Matthew "Frankenstein" Logan |
| Initial Theatrical Release: June 30, 1985 (Limited) by United Film Distribution Co. |
| Keywords: Supernatural, Psychological Horror, Post Apocalypse, Zombies, Cult Movie, Human Experimentation, Mad Scientist, Depression, Suicide |
| Classification: Original Screenplay, Horror, Live Action, Contemporary Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $5,804,262 |
|
International BO: $28,200,000 |
3
| Commando |
| Director: Mark L. Lester |
| Lead Roles: Arnold Schwarzenegger as Col. John Matrix |
| Initial Theatrical Release: October 4, 1985 (Wide) by 20th Century Fox |
| Keywords: Rescue, Action Adventure, Death of a Mentor, Kidnap, Blackmail, Coup d’Etat, Military Coup, Set in South America |
| Classification: Original Screenplay, Action, Live Action, Contemporary Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $35,073,978 |
|
International BO: $4,935 |
4
| Def-Con 4 |
| Lead Roles: Lenore Zann as J.J., Maury Chaykin as Vinny, Kate Lynch as Jordan, Kevin King as Gideon, John Walsch as Walker, Tim Choate as Howe |
| Initial Theatrical Release: March 15, 1985 (Wide) by New World |
| Keywords: Post Apocalypse |
| Classification: Original Screenplay, Action, Live Action, Science Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $210,904 |
5
| Back to the Future |
| Director: Robert Zemeckis |
| Lead Roles: Michael J. Fox as Marty McFly |
| Initial Theatrical Release: July 3, 1985 (Wide) by Universal |
| Keywords: Time Travel, Action Adventure, Death of a Mentor, Dysfunctional Family, Bullies, Romance, Relationships Gone Wrong, Voyeurism, Terrorism |
| Classification: Original Screenplay, Adventure, Live Action, Science Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $215,136,452 |
|
International BO: $173,250,370 |
6
| La historia oficial |
| Initial Theatrical Release: November 8, 1985 (Wide) by Almi, released as The Official Story |
| Classification: Original Screenplay, Drama, Live Action, Historical Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $29,426 |
|
International BO: $22,011 |
7
| Friday the 13th Part V: A New Beginning |
| Initial Theatrical Release: March 22, 1985 (Wide) by Paramount Pictures |
| Keywords: Slasher Horror |
| Classification: Original Screenplay, Horror, Live Action, Contemporary Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $21,930,418 |
8
| Brazil |
| Director: Terry Gilliam |
| Lead Roles: Jonathan Pryce as Sam Lowry |
| Initial Theatrical Release: May 31, 1985 (Wide) (Australia) |
| Keywords: Visual Effects, Film Noir, Dystopia, Government Bureaucracy, Intentionally Anachronistic, Dream Sequence, Surprise Twist, Directing Yourself, Director Cameo |
| Classification: Original Screenplay, Black Comedy, Live Action, Fantasy |
|
Domestic BO: $9,929,135 |
|
International BO: $5,349 |
9
| Clue |
| Director: Jonathan Lynn |
| Lead Roles: Eileen Brennan as Mrs. Peacock, Tim Curry as Wadsworth the Butler, Madeline Kahn as Mrs. White, Christopher Lloyd as Professor Plum, Michael McKean as Mr. Green, Martin Mull as Col. Mustard, Lesley Ann Warren as Miss Scarlet |
| Initial Theatrical Release: December 13, 1985 (Wide) by Paramount Pictures |
| Keywords: Cold War, Government Corruption, Surprise Twist, Prostitution, LGBTQ+, Therapists / Therapy, Blackmail, Revenge, Unnamed Character, Secret Identity, Faked Death, Spoof, Non-Chronological, Dinner Party, Crime Comedy, Cult Movie |
| Classification: Based on Game, Comedy, Live Action, Contemporary Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $13,377,261 |
10
| Teen Wolf |
| Director: Rod Daniel |
| Lead Roles: Michael J. Fox as Scott Howard |
| Initial Theatrical Release: August 23, 1985 (Wide) by Atlantic |
| Keywords: Monster, Werewolf, Basketball, Coming of Age, High School Hell, Bullies, Romance, Genre Mashup |
| Classification: Original Screenplay, Comedy, Live Action, Contemporary Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $33,086,611 |
11
| The Color Purple |
| Director: Steven Spielberg |
| Lead Roles: Margaret Avery as Shug Avery |
| Initial Theatrical Release: December 18, 1985 (Wide) by Warner Bros. |
| Keywords: African Americans, Historical Drama, Coming of Age, 1986 Oscars Best Picture Nominee |
| Classification: Based on Fiction Book/Short Story, Drama, Live Action, Historical Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $94,029,472 |
12
| Invasion U.S.A. |
| Director: Joseph Zito |
| Lead Roles: Chuck Norris as Matt Hunter |
| Initial Theatrical Release: September 27, 1985 (Wide) by Cannon |
| Keywords: Action Thriller, Cold War, Commies, Terrorism, Set in Florida |
| Classification: Original Screenplay, Action, Live Action, Contemporary Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $17,536,256 |
13
| Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome |
| Director: George Miller |
| Lead Roles: Mel Gibson as Mad Max |
| Initial Theatrical Release: July 10, 1985 (Wide) by Warner Bros. |
| Keywords: Post Apocalypse, Action Adventure, Down Syndrome, Australia, Near Future, Dystopia |
| Classification: Original Screenplay, Action, Live Action, Science Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $36,230,219 |
14
| Ladyhawke |
| Director: Richard Donner |
| Lead Roles: Matthew Broderick as Phillipe Gaston, the Mouse, Rutger Hauer as Captain Etienne Navarre, Michelle Pfeiffer as Isabeau Dante |
| Initial Theatrical Release: April 12, 1985 (Wide) by Warner Bros. |
| Keywords: Sword & Sorcerer, Action Adventure, Medieval, Human Animal Transformation, Fugitive / On the Run, Romance, Curses |
| Classification: Original Screenplay, Action, Live Action, Fantasy |
|
Domestic BO: $18,400,000 |
15
| Blood Simple |
| Director: Joel Coen |
| Initial Theatrical Release: January 18, 1985 (Limited) by USA Films |
| Keywords: Film Noir, Relationships Gone Wrong, Voiceover/Narration, Surprise Twist, Hitmen, Private Investigator |
| Classification: Original Screenplay, Thriller/Suspense, Live Action, Contemporary Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $1,690,913 |
|
International BO: $1,039,964 |
16
| Red Sonja |
| Director: Richard Fleischer |
| Lead Roles: Arnold Schwarzenegger as Kalidor, Brigitte Nielsen as Red Sonja |
| Initial Theatrical Release: June 28, 1985 (Wide) by MGM |
| Keywords: Sword & Sorcerer, Action Adventure, Sex Crimes, LGBTQ+, Young Child Dealing with the Death of a Parent, Death of a Sibling, Revenge |
| Classification: Based on Fiction Book/Short Story, Action, Live Action, Fantasy |
|
Domestic BO: $6,905,861 |
|
International BO: $2,779 |
17
| Volunteers |
| Director: Nicholas Meyer |
| Lead Roles: Tom Hanks as Lawrence Bourne III, Rita Wilson as Beth Wexler, John Candy as Tom Tuttle from Tacoma |
| Initial Theatrical Release: August 16, 1985 (Wide) by Sony/TriStar |
| Keywords: Action Comedy, Set in Thailand, 1960s, Gambling, Money Troubles, Romance, Relationships Gone Wrong, Commies, Peace Corps |
| Classification: Based on Fiction Book/Short Story, Comedy, Live Action, Historical Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $19,875,740 |
18
| Pale Rider |
| Director: Clint Eastwood |
| Lead Roles: Clint Eastwood as The Preacher |
| Initial Theatrical Release: June 28, 1985 (Wide) by Warner Bros. |
| Keywords: Western Drama, Unnamed Character, Directing Yourself, Corrupt Cops, Sex Crimes, Revenge, Single Parent, Gold Rush |
| Classification: Original Screenplay, Western, Live Action, Historical Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $41,410,568 |
19
| Subway |
| Director: Luc Besson |
| Lead Roles: Christopher Lambert as Fred |
| Initial Theatrical Release: November 6, 1985 (Wide) by Island/Alive |
| Keywords: Rock 'n' Roll, Foreign Language |
| Classification: Original Screenplay, Thriller/Suspense, Live Action, Contemporary Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $390,659 |
|
International BO: $1,272,637 |
20
| Pee Wee's Big Adventure |
| Director: Tim Burton |
| Lead Roles: Paul Reubens as Pee-Wee Herman |
| Initial Theatrical Release: July 26, 1985 (Wide) by Warner Bros., released as Pee Wee's Big Adventure |
| Keywords: Family Adventure, Fake Psychics, Road Trip, Movie Business, Hitchhiker, Haunting |
| Classification: Original Screenplay, Adventure, Live Action, Contemporary Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $40,940,662 |
21
| Twice in a Lifetime |
| Director: Bud Yorkin |
| Initial Theatrical Release: October 23, 1985 (Wide) by Bud Yorkin Co. |
| Keywords: Family Drama, Relationships Gone Wrong, Dysfunctional Family, Infidelity, Adult Child of Divorce, Children Dealing with Divorce, Wedding Day |
| Classification: Original Screenplay, Drama, Live Action, Contemporary Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $7,681,246 |
22
| Key Exchange |
| Initial Theatrical Release: August 14, 1985 (Wide) by 20th Century Fox |
| Keywords: Romance |
| Classification: Based on Play, Romantic Comedy, Live Action, Contemporary Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $425,000 |
23
| A Nightmare on Elm Street Part 2: Freddy’s Revenge |
| Initial Theatrical Release: November 1, 1985 (Wide) by New Line, released as A Nightmare On Elm Street Part 2: Freddy’s Revenge |
| Keywords: Slasher Horror |
| Classification: Original Screenplay, Horror, Live Action, Contemporary Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $21,163,999 |
24
| Come and See |
| Director: Elem Klimov |
| Lead Roles: Alexei Kravchenko as Florya |
| Initial Theatrical Release: October 17, 1985 (Wide), released as Jöjj és lásd! (Hungary) |
| Keywords: Set in Soviet Union, World War II, 1940s |
| Classification: Based on Factual Book/Article, Drama, Live Action, Dramatization |
|
Domestic BO: $71,909 |
|
International BO: $10,884 |
25
| Rappin' |
| Director: Joel Silberg |
| Initial Theatrical Release: May 10, 1985 (Wide) by Cannon |
| Keywords: Life Drama, Musicians, Singers, Hip Hop and Rap, Land Developer, Gangs, Romance |
| Classification: Original Screenplay, Drama, Live Action, Contemporary Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $2,864,844 |