Some years produce a few good movies.

1985 produced an entire generation’s childhood.

Whether you were watching them in a theater, renting them on VHS, or catching them on cable for the hundredth time, these films became more than entertainment—they became part of pop culture. Ask ten people to name the best movies of 1985 and you’ll get plenty of different answers, but these six belong in every conversation.

1. Back to the Future

If there’s one movie that defines 1985, this is it.

Time travel, an unforgettable soundtrack, a DeLorean, and one of the most likable movie heroes ever created. Back to the Future somehow mixed comedy, science fiction, adventure, and heart into one nearly perfect film.

Almost 40 years later, it still feels fresh.

Why it belongs on the list: It’s arguably the most rewatchable movie ever made.

2. Rocky IV

No Rocky movie is more over-the-top—and that’s exactly why people love it.

The training montage. The Cold War backdrop. Apollo Creed vs. Ivan Drago. The soundtrack. Rocky IV didn’t just tell a boxing story; it became an event.

Sure, it’s cheesy.

That’s part of its charm.

Why it belongs on the list: Few movies capture the spirit of the 1980s better.

3. The Breakfast Club

Five teenagers.

One Saturday detention.

An entire generation understood.

What could have been a simple high school movie became one of the greatest coming-of-age films ever made. It proved that every stereotype has a story behind it.

Why it belongs on the list: It’s just as relevant today as it was in 1985.

4. Commando

They don’t make action movies like this anymore.

Arnold Schwarzenegger spends 90 minutes delivering one-liners, carrying impossible weapons, and doing things that make absolutely no sense.

And somehow…

It works perfectly.

Commando never pretended to be realistic. It simply wanted to entertain, and it succeeded.

Why it belongs on the list: Pure, unapologetic 1980s action.

5. Weird Science

What happens when two awkward teenagers create the perfect woman with a computer?

Only in the 1980s could this movie exist.

Equal parts comedy, fantasy, and teenage wish fulfillment, Weird Science embraced its ridiculous premise and became a cult classic.

Why it belongs on the list: It’s one of the funniest and most uniquely ’80s movies ever made.

6. The Goonies

Adventure movies don’t get much better.

A group of kids searching for pirate treasure sounds simple, but The Goonies delivered unforgettable characters, memorable quotes, hidden tunnels, booby traps, and enough excitement to fuel countless childhood imaginations.

Every generation deserves a movie like this.

Why it belongs on the list: It’s impossible not to smile while watching it.

Honorable Mentions

Leaving movies off this list wasn’t easy. Some other great 1985 releases include:

• Rambo: First Blood Part II
• Spies Like Us
• Teen Wolf
• Action Jackson

Any of these could make someone else’s top six.

Pure Nostalgia

The best movies of 1985 weren’t just box office hits—they became cultural landmarks.

They gave us unforgettable characters, iconic quotes, legendary soundtracks, and moments people still talk about decades later.

Will everyone agree with this list?

Of course not.

That’s the fun of movie debates.

So here’s the question:

Which movie from 1985 would be at the top of your list?