The following are the 10 highest-grossing films of 1985, arranged in order from “best” to “worst” according to the collective opinions of Rotten Tomatoes film critics. Contained is each film’s critical approval, average rating and critical consensus (if there is one).
93% – 8.8/10 (109 reviews)
Inventive, funny, and breathlessly constructed, Back to the Future is a rousing time-travel adventure with an unforgettable spirit. Read critic reviews
93% – 8.4/10 (43 reviews)
A wonderfully entertaining thriller within an unusual setting, with Harrison Ford delivering a surprisingly emotive and sympathetic performance. Read critic reviews
77% – 6.5/10 (64 reviews)
The Goonies is an energetic, sometimes noisy mix of Spielbergian sentiment and funhouse tricks that will appeal to kids and nostalgic adults alike. Read critic reviews
76% – 6.1/10 (33 reviews)
Though it may be too sentimental for some, Ron Howard’s supernatural tale of eternal youth is gentle and heartwarming, touching on poignant issues of age in the process. Read critic reviews
73% – 7.6/10 (122 reviews)
It might have been better served by a filmmaker with a deeper connection to the source material, but The Color Purple remains a worthy, well-acted adaptation of Alice Walker’s classic novel. Read critic reviews
62% – 6.9/10 (90 reviews)
Though lensed with stunning cinematography and featuring a pair of winning performances from Meryl Streep and Robert Redford, Out of Africa suffers from excessive length and glacial pacing. Read critic reviews
46% – 4.8/10 (26 reviews)
The sense of romantic spark has waned and the prevalence of stereotypes has grown in Jewel of the Nile, although there is still plenty of swooning action for fans of the first adventure. Read critic reviews
38% – 5.1/10 (50 reviews)
Rocky IV inflates the action to absurd heights, but it ultimately rings hollow thanks to a story that hits the same basic beats as the first three entries in the franchise. Read critic reviews
33% – 4.6/10 (46 reviews)
First Blood Part II offers enough mayhem to satisfy genre fans, but remains a regressive sequel that turns its once-compelling protagonist into just another muscled action berserker. Read critic reviews
32% – 4.4/10 (25 reviews)
Despite the comedic prowess of its director and two leads, Spies Like Us appears to disavow all knowledge of how to make the viewer laugh. Read critic reviews
Blockbusters Reviewed 
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