8 Best Movies of 1985

By Vlad Zakh · June 28, 2026

Drama thought provokingintense

A look back at 1985, one of cinema’s most memorable years, ranking the films that have best stood the test of time.

The Purple Rose of Cairo (1985) 01

The Purple Rose of Cairo (1985)

IMDb ★ 7.4

A Depression-era woman's life is transformed when a movie character steps off the screen and into reality.

After Hours (1985) 02

After Hours (1985)

IMDb ★ 7.5

A mild-mannered office worker's night out in downtown Manhattan spirals into a surreal, escalating nightmare.

The Goonies (1985) 03

The Goonies (1985)

IMDb ★ 7.5

A group of kids embarks on a treasure hunt through underground caverns to save their homes from foreclosure.

Brazil (1985) 04

Brazil (1985)

IMDb ★ 7.7

A low-level bureaucrat in a dystopian, paperwork-obsessed society escapes into elaborate fantasies.

The Breakfast Club (1985) 05

The Breakfast Club (1985)

IMDb ★ 7.7

Five high schoolers from different social cliques bond during a single day of Saturday detention.

The Color Purple (1985) 06

The Color Purple (1985)

IMDb ★ 7.7

A Black woman in the early 20th-century South endures decades of hardship before finding strength and family.

Ran (1985) 07

Ran (1985)

IMDb ★ 8.0

An aging warlord's decision to divide his kingdom among his sons ignites a catastrophic war.

Back to the Future (1985) 08

Back to the Future (1985)

IMDb ★ 8.3

A teenager accidentally travels back to 1955 and must ensure his future parents fall in love.

Vlad Zakh

Vlad Zakh

Founder, Movieix

Founder of Movieix, built to fix a specific annoyance: most recommendation sites are just algorithm-driven noise. Our lists are researched and organized by who's in a film, where it's from, and the mood you're actually in tonight.