What Happened in 1985 – Trivia, Movies, Songs, TV Shows, Born In
Trivia, Movies, Songs, Sports, Celebrities Born In 1985, Toys, Fun Facts and more.
Here you’ll be able to relive or discover, “What Happened in 1985?” with a variety of facts and information.
Also if you if you are planning a birthday party for friends or family, 1980s trivia game night, wedding anniversary event, class reunion or just interested in 1985 movies, music, tv, famous people born, new and popular toys, trivia and fun facts; well you are in luck. Party Game Ideas has pulled together a list of news and interesting facts that happened in 1985, so you can create trivia games or activities based on events and information from that year.
1985 Items – Page Topics Listed in Order
1985 History & News, 1985 Fun Facts
1985 Top Movies, Notable Quotes, Top 40 Songs of 1985, Sports Champions & Facts
Celebrities Born in 1985, Top TV Shows of 1985, Saturday Morning Cartoons, Popular Toys
What Did Things Cost in 1985, and a handy Calendar at the bottom of the page.
Party Game Ideas may receive compensation if you purchase items via links on this page.
1985 History & News
- Ronald Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev meet for first time at Geneva summit
- Mikhail Gorbachev became the leader of the Soviet Union and relations with the US began to improve.
- Nevado del Ruiz volcano erupts in Colombia killing 23,000 people.
- Russian space probe Vega 1 lands on Venus.
- Greenpeace flagship Rainbow Warrior is destroyed by French foreign intelligence agents to prevent nuclear test interference in the South Pacific.
- 8.0 Mexico City Earthquake destroys over 400 buildings. Over 5,000 people lost their lives because of this natural disaster.
- Associated Press correspondent Terry Anderson is taken hostage in Beirut and held for 6 years and nine months.
- Philadelphia police drop explosive device to end stand off with revolutionary Black separatist group “Move.” The action results in 11 dead and 61 homes being destroyed by fire.
- TWA Flight 847 with 153 passengers is hijacked on June 14th by a Hezbollah fringe group.
- Time Person of the Year: Deng Xiaoping
Interesting Trivia & Fun Facts about 1985
- Live Aid Benefit Concert takes place in London and Philadelphia to raise money for Africa famine.
- Titanic shipwreck is found on the ocean floor 73 years after sinking in 1912.
- The inaugural WrestleMania is held in Madison Square Garden (March 31). The main event is a tag team match of Hulk Hogan and Mr. T vs. Paul Orndorff and Roddy Piper.
- Coca-Cola releases New Coke on April 23 to a wave of outrage. The original formula returns to stores within 3 months.
- 17 year old West German Boris Becker becomes the youngest man to win Wimbledon.
- VH-1 cable channel launches.
- Miami Vice becomes a TV ratings hit and influences fashion, music and pop culture.
- Sour Patch Kids candy is launched – The name was inspired by Cabbage Patch Kids!
- Calvin and Hobbes comic strip debuts in 35 newspapers in November and become an instant success reaching 250 newspapers within a year.
- The iconic U.S. Route 66 is officially decommissioned.
- The Cosby Show becomes No. 1 show on TV.
- Swatch watches become the must watch with some people wearing 2 or more at a time.
- We Are the World is recorded by USA for Africa.
- Dr. Ruth’s Lifetime show Good Sex, makes the straight talking 57 year old a celebrity.
- Madonna’s Like a Virgin video sparks outrage for church and burning cross images, the album of the same name goes to #1 on the charts.
- Notable companies that started in 1985 include Beef O’Bradys, Blockbuster Video, Cinnabon, Gateway 2000 (Computers), Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville, Qualcomm, Rocket Mortgage, and Tommy Hilfiger.
- Michael Jordan named NBA Rookie of the Year.
- The Nintendo Entertainment System, NES, is released in North America on Oct. 18 and cost $199.
- Super Mario Bros. is released on Sept. 13th.
- California Wine Coolers becomes the trendy adult beverage. Bartles & Jaymes becomes the leading wine cooler brand. Trivia question – Do you remember Bartles & Jaymes first names?
Answer: Frank Bartles and Ed Jaymes - Larry King Live debuts on CNN in June 1985 and will run through December 2010.
- Microsoft releases Windows 1.0 in U.S. (as version 1.01) It is panned as slow, limited compatibility and reliance on the computer mouse.
- The Internet’s Domain Name System is created. The first registered domain name is nordu.net (Jan. 1) and first .com name is symbolics.com on March 15th.
- William the Refrigerator, a Chicago Bear lineman, becomes the heaviest man (305 lbs.) in the NFL to score a touchdown. (The play was designed for him!)
- Britain agrees to return Hong Kong to China in 1997.
- Pictionary debuts, the drawing guessing game still remains popular today.
- The radically different designed Ford Taurus and Mercury Sable are released for sale to the public in the US on Dec. 1st.
World Population – 4,850,000,000
Top Movies 1985 – US Box Office in millions
This list represents the earnings of movies that were released in 1985. We feature the top grossing movies of 1985 and other movies that were very memorable or are now notable decades after they first hit the big screen.
1. Back to the Future $212.3
2. Rambo: First Blood Part II $150.4
3. Rocky IV $127.9
4. The Color Purple $94.2
5. Out of Africa $87.1
6. Cocoon $76.1
7. The Jewel of the Nile $76.0
8. Witness $68.7
9. The Goonies $61.4
10. Spies Like Us $60.1
11. Police Academy 2: Their First Assignment $55.6
12. Fletch $50.6
13. A View to a Kill $50.3
14. National Lampoon’s European Vacation $49.3
15. Mask $48.2
16. The Breakfast Club $45.9
Other notable 1985 movies:
Pee-wee’s Big Adventure, St. Elmo’s Fire, Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome, Desperately Seeking Susan (Madonna), Weird Science
The Goonies
The Goonies was a hit when it was released in 1985, but far from the biggest movie of the year. However it has stood the test of time and one of the most loved movies of the 1980s and the second most popular movie to be released in 1985, coming just behind “Back to the Future.”
- 1985 Academy Award for Best Picture – Amadeus
- 1985 Best Actor – F. Murray Abraham for Amadeus
- 1985 Best Actress – Sally Field for Places in the Heart
Since the Academy Awards honors films from the past year, rather than the current year we include who won the Oscars in 1986 on our 1985 trivia page as well. This way you know if any of the big movies of 85 won any awards.
- 1986 Academy Award for Best Picture – Out of Africa
- 1986 Best Actor – William Hurt for Kiss of the Spider Woman
- 1986 Best Actress – Geraldine Page for The Trip to Bountiful
Take 1982 Trivia to the Party! See how well guests can remember tv, fads, movies and events from the 80s and 90s. 1985 Trivia Games Coming Soon.
Top 40 Songs of 1985
Ratings are based on Hot 100 Charts from 1985 rankings by Billboard
No. 1. Song of 1985 – “Careless Whisper” Wham!
2. “Like a Virgin” Madonna
3. “Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go” Wham!
4. “I Want to Know What Love Is” Foreigner
5. “I Feel for You” Chaka Khan
6. “Out of Touch” Daryl Hall & John Oates
7. “Everybody Wants to Rule the World” Tears for Fears
8. “Money for Nothing” Dire Straits
9. “Crazy for You” Madonna
10. “Take On Me” a-ha
11. “Everytime You Go Away” Paul Young
12. “Easy Lover” Philip Bailey and Phil Collins
13. “Can’t Fight This Feeling” REO Speedwagon
14. “We Built This City” Starship
15. “The Power of Love” Huey Lewis and the News
16. “Don’t You (Forget About Me)” Simple Minds
17. “Cherish” Kool & the Gang
18. “St. Elmo’s Fire (Man in Motion)” John Parr
19. “The Heat Is On” Glenn Frey
20. “We Are the World” USA for Africa
21. “Shout” Tears for Fears
22. “Part-Time Lover” Stevie Wonder
23. “Saving All My Love for You” Whitney Houston
24. “Heaven” Bryan Adams
25. “Everything She Wants” Wham!
26. “Cool It Now” New Edition
27. “Miami Vice Theme” Jan Hammer
28. “Loverboy” Billy Ocean
29. “Lovergirl” Teena Marie
30. “You Belong to the City” Glenn Frey
31. “Oh Sheila” Ready for the World
32. “Rhythm of the Night” DeBarge
33. “One More Night” Phil Collins
34. “Sea of Love” The Honeydrippers
35. “A View to a Kill” Duran Duran
36. “The Wild Boys” Duran Duran
37. “You’re the Inspiration” Chicago
38. “Neutron Dance” The Pointer Sisters
39. “We Belong” Pat Benatar
40. “Nightshift” Commodores
Interesting Facts:
With “We Are the World” and the Live Aid concert, 1985 was one of the music industries most giving / charitable years. These music achievements raised funds that helped thousands in Africa but gave us some of the most memorable music moments of the decade.
August 5 – The establishment of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is announced.
Other notable songs that came out in 1985 include:
“Freeway of Love” by Aretha Franklin #43, “Sussudio” Phil Collins #45, “The Boys of Summer” Don Henley #53, “Material Girl” Madonna #58, “Glory Days” Bruce Springsteen #67, “Summer of 69” Bryan Adams #74, “Born in the U.S.A” Bruce Springsteen #92
Notable Bands / Groups that formed in 1985
Edie Brickell & New Bohemians, Crowded House, Cutting Crew, Erasure, Extreme, Guns N’ Roses, Indigo Girls, Jane’s Addiction, Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam, Love and Rockets, Mike and the Mechanics, Public Enemy, Radiohead, Salt-N-Pepper, Stabbing Westward, A Tribe Called Quest
Need 1980s Music for a birthday party or event. Check out 80s Forever playlist on Spotify with around 300 hit songs from the 80s!
1985 – What Happened in Sports
- Football – Super Bowl XIX – San Francisco 49ers defeated Miami Dolphins 38-16
- William the Refrigerator, a Chicago Bear lineman, becomes the heaviest man (305 lbs.) in the NFL to score a touchdown. (The play was designed for him!)
- Horse Racing – Kentucky Derby – Spend a Buck
- Ice Hockey – Stanley Cup – Edmonton Oilers defeated Philadelphia Flyers 4 games to 1
- NBA Finals – Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Boston Celtics 4 games to 2
- Michael Jordan named NBA Rookie of Year
- Golf – U.S. Open – Andy North
- Tennis
Wimbledon Championships – Men’s Boris Becker, Women’s Martina Navratilova
US Open – Men’s Ivan Lendl, Women’s Hana Mandlikova - Baseball – World Series – Kansas City Royals defeated St. Louis Cardinals 4 games to 3 games.
- Cincinnati Red’s Pete Rose breaks Ty Cobb’s All-Time Hit Record of 4,191 hits on Sept. 11th. Rose will end his career with 4,256 hits, which is still a record.
- Tour de France: Frenchman Bernard Hinault
- Libby Riddles is 1st woman to win Iditarod Trail Dog Sled Race.
NCAA
- Football
Orange Bowl: January 1, 1985 – Washington defeated Oklahoma
Rose Bowl: January 1, 1985 – USC defeated Ohio State
Sugar Bowl : January 1, 1985 – Nebraska defeated LSU
Cotton Bowl : January 1, 1985 – Boston College defeated Houston - Men’s Division 1 Basketball – Villanova defeats Georgetown 66 – 64
Celebrities Born in 1985
These celebrities and famous people were all born in 1985! You’ll be surprised at how many household names were born in the mid-80s.
Gal Gadot
Bruno Mars
Anna Kendrick
Cristiano Ronaldo
Kaley Cuoco
Michael Phelps
Raven-Symone
Derek Hough
Chrissy Teigen
More Celebrities and Famous People Born in 1985
- Sam Altman (CEO Open AI)
- Kyle Busch (Stock Car Racing)
- Ciara (Singer)
- Ronnie Chieng (Comedian, Daily Show)
- J. Cole
- Chace Crawford
- Lana Del Rey
- Joe Flacco (Football)
- Dave Franco
- Jonathan Groff
- Todrick Hall
- Lewis Hamilton (Formula One Driver)
- Dwight Howard
- Nipsey Hussle (Passed in 2019)
- Carly Rae Jepsen
- Keira Knightly
- Leona Lewis
- Frankie Muniz (Malcolm in the Middle)
- Jack Osbourne
- Adrian Peterson (Football)
- Chris Paul
- Roman Reigns
- Matt Ryan (Football)
- Amanda Seyfried
- Ashley Tisdale
- Jey & Jimmy Uso (Twins & Wrestlers)
Top Baby Names of 1985
- Girls Names – 1. Jessica, 2. Ashley, 3. Jennifer, 4. Amanda, 5. Sarah
- Boys Names – 1. Michael, 2. Christopher, 3. Matthew, 4. Joshua, 5. Daniel
Hosting a Baby Shower? Consider some of our unique baby shower games including Bad Baby Advice, 100 of Baby Name Trivia and Baby Shower Taboo.
Most Popular US TV Shows of 1985
We include the US Top 20 TV shows for two seasons, since they are different. Interesting to see the shows shift in popularity over the course of one year. The number after the show is the number of average viewers per week in millions. Numbers based on Neilson Media.
Top TV Shows of 1984 – 1985 Season
1. Dynasty ABC 25.0
2. Dallas CBS 24.7
3. The Cosby Show NBC 24.2
4. 60 Minutes CBS 22.2
5. Family Ties NBC 22.1
6. The A-Team NBC 21.9
7. Simon & Simon CBS 21.8
8. Murder, She Wrote CBS 20.1
9. Knots Landing CBS 20.0
10T. Falcon Crest CBS 19.9
10T. Crazy Like a Fox CBS
12T. Hotel ABC 19.7
12T. Cheers NBC
14. Riptide NBC 19.2
15. Magnum, P.I. CBS 19.1
16. Newhart CBS 18.4
17. Kate & Allie CBS 18.3
18. NBC Monday Night Movie NBC 18.2
19. Highway to Heaven NBC 17.7
20. Night Court NBC 17.6
The start of the 1984-85 TV Season launched what later became to be know as NBC’s Thursday Night Must See TV line up. NBC had languished for many years behind CBS and ABC, but with the launch of “The Cosby Show” they were able to draw in and keep audiences. Thursday night would belong to NBC starting in the mid-80s and that title would hold strong for almost 20 years with hits like Cheers, Seinfeld, ER, and others. It wasn’t until Friends went off the air 2004 that NBC’s Thursday night dominance ended.
Top TV Shows of 1985 – 1986 Season
1. The Cosby Show NBC 33.7
2. Family Ties NBC 30.0
3. Murder, She Wrote CBS 25.3
4. 60 Minutes CBS 23.9
5. Cheers NBC 23.7
6. Dallas CBS 24.7
7T. Dynasty ABC 21.8
7T. The Golden Girls 21.8
9. Miami Vice NBC 21.3
10. Who’s the Boss ABC 21.1
11. Night Court NBC 20.9
12. CBS Sunday Night Movie CBS 20.5
13. Highway to Heaven NBC 20.1
14. Kate & Allie CBS 20.0
15. Monday Night Football ABC 19.8
16. Newhart CBS 19.6
17T. Knots Landing CBS 19.5
17T. Growing Pains ABC 19.5
19. You Again? NBC 19.2
20. 227 NBC 18.8
• The Golden Girls debuts on NBC, Sept. 13th and quickly becomes a TV hit. The comedy show lasts 7 seasons.
• MacGyver premieres and the action pack show about an agent who uses science and wits instead of a gun to defeat the bad guys finds a loyal audience and the action continues for 7 seasons.
Popular Saturday Morning Cartoons & Shows in 1984
- Super Friends
- The Smurfs
- Hulk Hogan’s Rock ‘n’ Wrestling
- Dungeons & Dragons
- Bugs Bunny Looney Tunes
- Snorks
- Star Wars Ewoks
- Jim Henson’s Muppet Babies
- Adventures of the Gummi Bears
- Berenstain Bears Show
- Alvin and the Chipmunks
- It’s Punky Brewster
Notable Games and Toys of 1985
These are toys and games that were popular during the mid 80s or just released in 1985. Feeling nostalgic? Then click on the image or text to view vintage toys, figures and games for sale online.
- Pictionary
- Trivial Pursuit
- Cabbage Patch Kids
- G.I. Joe toys
- Pillow People
- Voltron Action Figures
- Real Baby Doll by Hasbro
What did things cost in 1985
Check out this 1985 prices for food, gas, and even gold. Keep in mind that these tend to be average prices for an item in the US during the year. Things like bacon, gas, eggs and milk often fluctuate during the year by as much as 10-20%, so we average out the price. For gold we use the end of year price. When possible we used US Govt. Economic data.
- Stamp $0.22
- Loaf of bread $0.70 (bread 99 cents)
- Dozen Eggs $0.80
- Sliced Bacon 1 lb. $1.94
- Gallon of Milk $2.20
- Gallon of Gas $1.13
- Movie Ticket $3.55
- Minimum Wage $3.35 (This rate remained until April 1990)
- Nintendo Entertainment System $199
- Ounce of Gold $327 (End of year price)
- Commodore Amiga personal computer $1,595
- New Car $11,838
- Cost of a 30 second Super Bowl ad in 1985 $525,000
- Cost of a gigabyte of data storage $105,000
Most likely if you are searching for fun facts, trivia, and What Happened in 1985, you are getting ready to plan a big event like a birthday celebration for a spouse or close friend. We hope that our 1985 trivia, fun facts, top movies, top 40 songs of 1985 and other information was helpful and interesting.
If you are hosting a birthday party for someone Born in 1985, be sure to check out these party decorations that will help make your event extra special.
Party Game Ideas may receive compensation if featured items are purchased from linked web sites.
Birthday Party Game Options
1961 - Birthday Games • 1962 - Birthday Games • 1963 - 60th Birthday Party Games• 1971 Birthday Games • 1972 - Birthday Games • 1973 - 50th Birthday Party Games • 1981 Birthday Games • 1982 Birthday Games • 1983 - 40th Birthday Party Game Pack • 1991 - Birthday Party Game Packs
Kid's Birthday Party Games
My 1st Birthday • Who Knows the Birthday Girl • Who Knows the Birthday Boy • Who Knows the Birthday Star
Birthday Bingo • Birthday Charades & Pictionary • Birthday Left Right Story
Birthday Decorations
Back in 1971 Poster, Back in 1981 Poster
Funny & Joke - 40th Birthday Star Posters, 40th Birthday Gold Glitter Posters, 50th Birthday Posters, 60th Birthday Posters
Year Trivia, Fun Facts, Celebs Born in, What Happened In
1961 Trivia • 1962 Trivia • 1963 Trivia • 1971 Trivia • 1972 Trivia • 1973 Trivia • • 1975 Trivia • 1981 Trivia • 1982 Trivia • 1983 Trivia • 1984 Trivia • 1985 Trivia • 1991 Trivia
1985 Calendar
Want to know on what day of the week someone was born, an anniversary or just need to check out a specific date from 1985? Then check out our 12 month 1985 calendar.
Thanks for visiting our What Happened in 1985 Trivia page. We hope you had fun reliving the movies, top songs & music, tv shows, actors born in 1985, fun facts and other items from 1985. We created a graphic so you can save this page on Pinterest or any social media account.
