The 10 Best Movies of 1985
See the Top 10 of 1984
Ah, 1985, when we're really hitting our superficial stride. Michael
Jackson and gang perform "We Are the World," and Live Aid is staged,
both to combat African hunger. The 49ers take down Superbowl XIX
against Miami. In one of the stranger marketing campaigns in history,
New Coke debuts, flops, and gets replaced by Classic Coke. The Nintendo
game system is released. Ronald Reagan begins his second term in office
Yul Brenner, Orson Welles, Telly Savalas and Rock Hudson pass.
Ashley Tisdale, Frankie Muniz and Jack Osbourne arrive.
David Lee Roth leaves Van Halen. Michael Jackson purchases the
rights to a slew of Beatles songs.
Guns N' Roses form, and Devo call it quits.
Bruce Springsteen, Duran Duran, Don Henley, Phil Collins, Eddie
Murphy ("Party All the Time") and Tina Turner all enjoy success.
And in the world of cinema, the top 10 movies of 1985 are:
1. Back
to the Future
Director: Robert Zemeckis
Stars: Michael J Fox, Christopher Lloyd, Lea Thompson, Crispin
Glover, Claudia Wells
Why a Fave? It took the cross-generational, feel-good summer
blockbuster to a new level. Watching the movie today makes me remember
the '80s nostalgically. Plus, who doesn't like to let their film geek
flag fly with a well-timed "McFly?!"
2. Color
Purple
Director: Steven Spielberg
Stars: Oprah Winfrey, Danny Glover, Whoopi Goldberg, Margaret
Avery, Willard E. Pugh
Why a Fave? Super performances by all and brilliantly directed
by Spielberg (who some insist was snubbed for a Best Director award).
This film, based on an Alice Walker novel, really shows how
multi-talented Oprah is.
3. Out
of Africa
Director: Sydney Pollack
Stars: Meryl Streep, Robert Redford, Klaus Maria Brandauer
Why a Fave? It won 7 Oscars, including Best Picture and Best
Director. Isn't that enough?
target="_blank">Fletch
Director: Michael Ritchie
Stars: Chevy Chase, Joe Don Baker, Dana Wheeler-Nicholson,
Richard Libertini, Tim Matheson
Why a Fave? It has Chevy Chase at his very best. "You using the
whole fist, Doc? "
5. Pee-Wee's
Big Adventure
Director: Tim Burton
Stars: Paul Reubens, Elizabeth Daily, Mark Holton, Diane
Salinger, Judd Omen
Why a Fave? Because it was such goofy fun. Because it had such a
great tagline in "The story of a rebel and his bike." Because the late
Phil hartman was a writer on the movie. Because it gives a unique
perspective to Paul Reubens' other
life.
6. Silverado
Director: Lawrence Kasdan
Stars: Kevin Kline, Scott Glenn, Kevin Costner, Danny Glover,
Brian Dennehy, John Cleese, Linda Hunt
Why a Fave? It took the western and gave it an '80's spin: big
budget, big stars, big plot.
7. Brazil
Director: Terry Gilliam
Stars: Jonathan Pryce, Kim Greist, Michael Palin, Robert De
Niro, Katherine Helmond, Bob Hoskins, Ian Holm
Why a Fave? Because the visuals matched up with the zaniness so
perfectly.
8. Cocoon
Director: Ron Howard
Stars: Don Ameche, Wilford Brimley, Hume Cronyn, Jessica Tandy,
Maureen Stapleton, Gwen Verdon, Steve Guttenberg, Brian Dennehy, Jack
Gilford
Why a Fave? This movie had everything: old folk love, aliens,
eternal life, adventure, and Steve Guttenberg.
Director: Joel Schumacher
Stars: Rob Lowe, Demi Moore, Andrew McCarthy, Emilio Estevez,
Judd Nelson
Why a Fave? While not a great movie by any means, this makes the
cut because it captures the ridiculousness of the '80s so perfectly.
This is the Hollywood "brat pack" at its worst.
10. The
Breakfast Club
Director: John Hughes
Stars: Emilio Estevez, Paul Gleason, Anthony Michael Hall, Judd
Nelson, Molly Ringwald, Ally Sheedy
Why a Fave? Because this captures the Hollywood "brat pack" at
its best, thanks to the writing and directing skills of Hughes. This
goes down in history as one of the best high school movies ever.
best movies of 1985 in the Film.com forums.
See the Top 10 of 1984
