“Marty we have to go back to 1985”
As we find ourselves halfway through the eighties, it’s time to reflect on the top ten movies 1985 gave to us.
There’s family fun in the shape of The Goonies, romance and tears in Out of Africa, and explosive action in… well anything that Sylvester Stallone appeared in.
But most importantly, 1985 is when two 80’s cult classics were released. We went Back to the Future with Marty and Doc Brown, plus we connected with the teenage life struggles of The Breakfast Club.
Here are the best movies of 1985, let’s go!
Back to the Future
It’s agreed then, Back to the Future wasn’t just the number one movie in 1985, it was one of the best movies ever to grace the silver screen.
This epic, timeless masterpiece never fails to impress, as Marty McFly (the awesome Michael J Fox) travels back in time. His actions have a butterfly effect on his future, with every scene having a payoff later on.
It’s more than a great movie; it’s a love letter to our past, present and future selves, and quite possibly the most perfect film ever made. Testament to this, it raked in $210.61 million in the box office as the top-grossing movie of 1985.
IMDb: 8.5/10
Cast: Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd, Lea Thompson and more.
How to stream Back To The Future
The Goonies
The Goonies wasn’t just a film from the eighties… it was the eighties! Conjuring up all the nostalgia feels, it takes you back to simpler times when the ‘Truffle shuffle’ wasn’t considered fat-shaming and friendship was everything.
The film celebrates adventure, fun and the magic of childhood quite splendidly, and easily slides into the top ten movies 1985 delivered.
IMDb: 7.8/10
Cast: Josh Brolin, Sean Astin, Corey Feldman and more
How to stream The Goonies
The Breakfast Club
Ask any child of the eighties to compile their 1985 top movies list and The Breakfast Club is sure to be on it.
This hit gave life to ‘The Brat Pack’ (Emilio Estevez, Molly Ringwald, Judd Nelson), who perfectly deliver teen angst that’s of its time. Overall it’s worth a dabble, if only to see the struggles of teenagers in a world before social media, just imagine!
IMDb: 7.8/10
Cast: Emilio Estevez, Molly Ringwald, Judd Nelson and more
How to stream The Breakfast Club
The Colour Purple
Icons of the future were made in this film, including Whoopi Goldberg (Celie Johnson), Oprah Winfrey (Sofia) and Danny Glover (Albert).
This hard-hitting drama follows Celie, a black woman from the south, who overcomes abuse throughout her life, in the plight to reunite with her sister. Tissues at the ready.
IMDb: 7.8/10
Cast: Oprah Winfrey, Whoopi Goldberg, Danny Glover and more
How to stream The Colour Purple
Witness
As the title suggests, Witness tells the story of an Amish family who seek police protection from officer John Brook (Harrison Ford), when the only witness to a murder is their young son.
There’s plenty of gripping drama in this crime movie, with a touch of romance to keep your attention for two long hours.
IMDb: 7.4/10
Cast: Harrison Ford, Lukas Haas, Kelly McGillis and more
How to stream Witness
Out of Africa
When Hollywood stalwarts Robert Redford and Meryl Streep team up, you know you have one of the top ten movies 1985 created.
Winner of Best Picture in the Academy Awards, Out of Africa is the tender love story of Karen Blixen (Meryl Streep) who travels to Africa to be with her husband Bror, who turns out to be a cheating liar.
It’s all good though, because hoorah – Denys (Robert Redford) sweeps in to save the day as her new love interest. While the storyline remains relevant, the same cannot be said for the slightly outdated score.
IMDb: 7.2/10
Cast: Meryl Streep, Robert Redford, Michael Kitchen and more
How to stream Out Of Africa
Rocky IV
If you’re still craving your Sly Stallone fix, then here’s a film to add to your eighties playlist.
Frequently appearing in 1985 top movies lists, Rocky IV sees Balboa defend his world heavyweight boxing championship title against a newer, younger boxer from Russia. With everything to fight for and everything to lose, it’s loaded with all the good stuff that sports movies should be.
IMDb: 6.9/10
Cast: Sylvester Stallone, Dolph Lungdren, Carl Weathers and more
How to stream Rocky IV
Cocoon
As the 80s love-fest for Steve Guttenberg continues, what would another year be without a movie starring our favourite leading man?
Even forty years on, Cocoon provokes a wave of emotions about our own mortality, in this reflective fantasy where elderly residents in a care home get a new lease of life thanks to some extra-terrestrial alien cocoons, as you do…
IMDb: 6.7/10
Cast: Wilford Brimley, Don Ameche, Steve Guttenberg and more
How to stream Cocoon
Rambo: First Blood Part II
In the cinema poster, a ripped Sylvester Stallone appears shirtless wielding a AK-47, with full bandana, obvs.
And that tells you all you need to know about this movie, that you’ll either love or hate. Expect full-on action and gung-ho shooting, as Rambo returns to Vietnam as the saviour to prisoner of war captives. That is all.
IMDb: 6.5/10
Cast: Sylvester Stallone, Julia Nickson, Richard Crenna and more
How to stream Rambo: First Blood Part II
A View to a Kill
Despite scathing reviews, A View to a Kill remains an under-rated movie in the James Bond catalogue.
Remember that famous Bond opening scene, where he ski’s down the alpine coast – that’s ‘A View’. Once again, Roger Moore reprises his role as Bond, with Christopher Walken as the menacing bad guy – Maximillian Zorin in full machine-gun mode, complete with terrifying Grace Jones as Mayday.
There’s plenty of fast-paced action, in this unusually violent version of what we’ve come to expect from Bond.
IMDb: 6.3/10
Cast: Roger Moore, Tanya Roberts, Grace Jones and more
How to stream A View To Kill
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