Top Movies 1985

From Claude Lanzmann, starring Simon Srebnik, Michael Podchlebnik, Motke Zaïdl, Hanna Zaïdl
Rated Not Rated

Shoah (1985) is a nine-and-a-half hour documentary film by Claude Lanzmann. It focuses on the systematic extermination of Jews by the Nazis during World War II, as experienced by the people who lived through it. The film includes interviews with survivors, both Jewish and non-Jewish, as well as footage of concentration camps and other sites of atrocities. It is an unflinching exploration of the Holocaust, which Lanzmann intended as a cinematic memorial to the six million Jews who perished in the Holocaust. Shoah is considered a landmark of documentary filmmaking, having won several awards and being included on numerous lists of the greatest films of all time.

From Robert Zemeckis, starring Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd, Lea Thompson, Crispin Glover
Rated PG

Back to the Future is a 1985 American science fiction film directed by Robert Zemeckis and written by Zemeckis and Bob Gale. It stars Michael J. Fox as teenager Marty McFly, who accidentally travels back in time to 1955, where he meets his future parents and becomes his mother's romantic interest. Marty must also find a way to return to his own time while avoiding disrupting the space-time continuum. Along the way, he meets his eccentric scientist friend, Dr. Emmett Brown, who helps him repair the time machine and return to the future. The film features an iconic soundtrack composed by Alan Silvestri and a cast of memorable characters. The film was a critical and commercial success, receiving four Academy Award nominations and grossing over $381 million worldwide, making it the highest-grossing film of 1985.

From Akira Kurosawa, starring Tatsuya Nakadai, Akira Terao, Jinpachi Nezu, Daisuke Ryû
Rated R

Ran is a 1985 period tragedy film directed by legendary Japanese director, Akira Kurosawa. The film is an adaptation of Shakespeare's play, King Lear, with a Japanese setting. The story follows an elderly warlord, Hidetora Ichimonji, who splits his kingdom between his three sons. His decision to give away his power leads to betrayal, tragedy, and ultimately, his own downfall. The movie is known for its stunning cinematography, lavish sets, and memorable score. The film won several awards, including the Grand Prix at the 1985 Cannes Film Festival and the Academy Award for Best Costume Design.

From Terry Gilliam, starring Jonathan Pryce, Kim Greist, Robert De Niro, Katherine Helmond
Rated R

Brazil is a 1985 British-American science fiction dystopian black comedy film directed by Terry Gilliam and written by Gilliam, Charles McKeown, and Tom Stoppard. The film stars Jonathan Pryce as a bureaucratic dreamer, Sam Lowry, who becomes entwined in a reality-bending bureaucratic nightmare when he attempts to find a woman he has been dreaming of. The story takes place in a future society where bureaucracy has become a way of life. Sam Lowry is a low-level government employee who finds himself constantly swept up in bureaucratic red tape and mind-numbing paperwork. He dreams of a heroic, romantic figure who will rescue him from his mundane life. His dream is realized when he meets Jill Layton, a beautiful woman who is searching for a missing person in the records of the Ministry of Information. Sam and Jill embark on a quest to discover the truth, eventually realizing that the government is using the bureaucracy to control the population. Along the way, they experience the absurdity and darkness of the bureaucracy and ultimately, the power it has to control even the most rebellious of individuals. With the help of Sam's mother, Sam and Jill come up with a plan to overthrow the government, leading to a thrilling conclusion.

From John Hughes, starring Emilio Estevez, Judd Nelson, Molly Ringwald, Ally Sheedy
Rated R

The Breakfast Club is a classic 1985 teen movie directed by John Hughes. It follows five high school students from different social cliques who are stuck in Saturday detention. As they get to know each other and share their stories, they grow closer, realizing they have more in common than they originally thought. The five students are Claire, a popular and wealthy girl; Andrew, an athlete; John, a criminal; Brian, an intellectual; and Allison, an outsider. Through their conversations, they confront the stereotypes and pressures of teenage life and ultimately realize that, despite their differences, they are more alike than they are different. In the end, they decide to remain friends even after their detention is over.

From Steven Spielberg, starring Danny Glover, Whoopi Goldberg, Oprah Winfrey, Margaret Avery
Rated PG-13

The Color Purple is a 1985 American coming-of-age period drama film directed by Steven Spielberg, based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel of the same name by Alice Walker. It tells the story of Celie, an African-American woman living in the American South during the early 20th century who experiences a journey of self-discovery, empowerment, and love. The film follows Celie's story as she struggles against a society filled with racism, sexism, and abuse. With help from her friends, Celie ultimately triumphs and learns to claim her own voice, embracing her own identity. The film stars Whoopi Goldberg, Danny Glover, and Oprah Winfrey.

From Richard Donner, starring Sean Astin, Josh Brolin, Jeff Cohen, Corey Feldman
Rated PG

The Goonies is a 1985 American adventure comedy film directed by Richard Donner, and starring Sean Astin, Josh Brolin, Jeff Cohen, Corey Feldman, Jonathan Ke Quan, Martha Plimpton, Kerri Green, and Joe Pantoliano. The story follows a band of pre-teens who live in the "Goon Docks" neighborhood of Astoria, Oregon, as they attempt to save their homes from demolition, and, in doing so, discover an old Spanish map that leads them on an adventure to unearth the long-lost fortune of One-Eyed Willy, a legendary 17th-century pirate. Along the way, they are pursued by a family of criminals who also want the treasure for themselves. The film was released on June 7, 1985 and grossed $61 million in the United States. The Goonies has become a cult classic and is often cited as a classic 1980s film.

From Woody Allen, starring Mia Farrow, Jeff Daniels, Danny Aiello, Irving Metzman
Rated PG

The Purple Rose of Cairo is a 1985 romantic fantasy comedy-drama written and directed by Woody Allen. Set in the 1930s, the film stars Mia Farrow as Cecilia, a destitute waitress living in a small, lonely town in New Jersey. Out of desperation, she takes solace in watching the same movie, The Purple Rose of Cairo, every day. Eventually, the main character of the movie, Tom Baxter, played by Jeff Daniels, steps out of the movie and into Cecilia’s life. The two quickly fall in love, but their relationship is threatened when Hollywood studio executives decide to re-shoot the movie and replace Baxter with a new actor. In the end, Cecilia and Baxter must decide if they can find a way to be together outside of the movie.

From Directors: Joel Coen, Ethan Coen, starring John Getz, Frances McDormand, Dan Hedaya, M. Emmet Walsh
Rated R

Blood Simple is a 1984 neo-noir crime thriller film written, edited, and directed by Joel and Ethan Coen. Set in Texas, the story follows a bar owner who hires a private detective to investigate his wife whom he suspects of having an affair with one of his employees. The detective’s investigation spirals out of control as he discovers the truth behind the wife’s suspected infidelity and finds himself entangled in a web of murder and deceit. With an intense atmosphere and highly suspenseful plot, Blood Simple is an unforgettable film that has gone on to become a classic in the neo-noir genre.

From Martin Scorsese, starring Griffin Dunne, Rosanna Arquette, Verna Bloom, Tommy Chong
Rated R

"After Hours" is a darkly comedic film directed by Martin Scorsese. The film follows word processor Paul Hackett as he embarks on a strange and humorous adventure through the underworld of New York City's East Village. After meeting an attractive woman in a café, he is invited to her home for what he believes is a romantic encounter. Instead, Paul finds himself in a nightmarish situation as he attempts to navigate the series of bizarre situations and criminal underworld he encounters. With the help of Marcy, a strange waitress, and the eclectic characters he meets along the way, Paul must find a way out of his predicament and make it home alive.

From Peter Weir, starring Harrison Ford, Kelly McGillis, Lukas Haas, Josef Sommer
Rated R

From Peter Masterson, starring Geraldine Page, John Heard, Carlin Glynn, Richard Bradford
Rated PG

From William Friedkin, starring William Petersen, Willem Dafoe, Jane Leeves, Cherise Bates
Rated R

From Clint Eastwood, starring Clint Eastwood, Michael Moriarty, Carrie Snodgress, Sydney Penny
Rated R

From Dan O'Bannon, starring Clu Gulager, James Karen, Don Calfa, Thom Mathews
Rated R

From Peter Bogdanovich, starring Cher, Eric Stoltz, Sam Elliott, Estelle Getty
Rated PG-13

From Lawrence Kasdan, starring Kevin Kline, Scott Glenn, Kevin Costner, Danny Glover
Rated PG-13

From Andrey Konchalovskiy, starring Jon Voight, Eric Roberts, Rebecca De Mornay, Kyle T. Heffner
Rated R

From Jonathan Lynn, starring Eileen Brennan, Tim Curry, Madeline Kahn, Christopher Lloyd
Rated PG

From Sydney Pollack, starring Meryl Streep, Robert Redford, Klaus Maria Brandauer, Michael Kitchen
Rated PG

From George A. Romero, starring Lori Cardille, Terry Alexander, Joseph Pilato, Jarlath Conroy
Rated Not Rated

From Savage Steve Holland, starring John Cusack, David Ogden Stiers, Kim Darby, Demian Slade
Rated PG

From Tim Burton, starring Paul Reubens, Elizabeth Daily, Mark Holton, Diane Salinger
Rated PG

From Albert Brooks, starring Albert Brooks, Julie Hagerty, Sylvia Farrel, Tina Kincaid
Rated R

From Rob Reiner, starring John Cusack, Daphne Zuniga, Anthony Edwards, Boyd Gaines
Rated PG-13