I used to hear that this seen as a forgettable year, but over time, it's become more iconic.

Live Aid
Gorby and Reagan's first meeting
Nintendo
New Coke

Some of the most iconic movies of the decade like Back to the Future, Rambo II, Rocky IV, The Goonies and The Breakfast Club. Plus, a slew of cult favorites.

It’s iconic to those of us that love the 80s and early 90s.

In 1985, all of the world was getting much closer to the early 90s.

I used to hear that this seen as a forgettable year, but over time, it's become more iconic.



How on earth is 1985 a forgettable year? You're making that up. Madonna had her biggest year and Whitney exploded onto the music scene. Don't even get me started on all the classic tv shows and cartoons which debuted in 1985.

Madonna's heyday peaked that year thanks to the release of the Like A Virgin album in late 1984, along with her song "Crazy For You" from Vision Quest and her Hollywood debut in Desperately Seeking Susan along with the hit "Get Into The Groove", and of course, her wedding to Sean Penn had the most media hype since Charles & Diana's. And she still topped the album charts 34 years later. It was a lot like Britney in 1999 or Lady Gaga in 2009. 

Although the NES was released in North America in 1985, its initial release was limited to a few markets like New York and LA, with the system gradually rolling out through the rest of North America during 1986 and 1987.

The third season of Stranger Things takes place during this year, and Kellogg's is even bringing back retro packaging for their Eggo waffles to promote it.

1985 was the year of the 80s when male late Gen Xers were wearing Ghostbusters shirts and collecting Generation 1 Transformers and G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero toys. Both male and female late Gen Xers were losing interest in The Smurfs because the Smurflings were added. Older male Boomers and Gen Xers, on the other hand, were dressing like Sonny Crockett from Miami Vice. It was the cool new “in” thing to do. New Coke was introduced and nobody I know liked it. Coke drinkers had to stock up on what Coca Cola cans and tall bottles they could still find if they wanted the classic Coke in early ‘85. I think most early and late Xers preferred the Coca Cola rugby sweaters sold for the first time in ‘85 to New Coke. Rambo, Rocky, and Axel Foley were everybody’s favorite heroes at the cinema. Because it was the 80s still, some 70s moviegoers went to see Death Wish 3 in the week it came out. ‘85 was the second to last year that people were breakdancing on the sidewalks for cash.

Of course, Madonnabes were made after the constant airplay of Madonna music videos on MTV and “Desperately Seeking Susan” came to movie theaters everywhere in the US.

Everyone alive in ‘85 was much closer to living like they would at the start of the late 1980s than they were in the previous year.

1985 was a good year for pop culture, but I like 1986 even better.

la la la la la la    la la la la la  I was wearing a baby bib at the time.  Smurfs seemed like it was made for little kids

la la la la la la    la la la la la  I was wearing a baby bib at the time.  Smurfs seemed like it was made for little kids


“The Smurfs” were very important to late Gen Xers and Xennials in the 1983 to 1984 TV season. “The Smurfs” and “Masters of the Universe” were THE cartoons to watch in the mid 80s. There were so many countless Smurfs knock-offs made in the mid 80s that it wasn’t funny! McDonald’s had Astrosniks PVCs in their Happy Meals in ‘84. That’s how much of a force the Smurfs were in those years.

What are some things the oldest members of this board remember about living in 1985? Did you see teenage girls dressing like Madonna in her “Like a Virgin” music video? Did you watch “Thundercats” on weekday afternoons with late Gen Xers after its’ premiere date in the US or were you devoted to the “ABC Afternoon Special” movies back then? Did you like Dynasty at the time or Dallas? Were you still a “Star Wars” fan or did the Ewoks kill off the property completely for you? Who were the Ewoks supposed to represent anyway? Darth Vader was based off of a black man and Yoda was derived from an elderly Asian man. Were the Ewoks supposed to remind us of Hispanic people or were the Ewoks just teddy bears made for ‘the plush eras of the 80s’?

I like this thread. Was 1985 the best year of the 80s to anyone on here?

maybe I never understood what Star Wars was all about

What are some things the oldest members of this board remember about living in 1985? Did you see teenage girls dressing like Madonna in her “Like a Virgin” music video? Did you watch “Thundercats” on weekday afternoons with late Gen Xers after its’ premiere date in the US or were you devoted to the “ABC Afternoon Special” movies back then? Did you like Dynasty at the time or Dallas? 


Uh..maybe you should phrase that "what are some of the things that OLDER members of this board remember...".  ;)

It's no secret to anyone here that I disliked the 80s immensely. After coming through the 60s and 70s which I found to be very spiritual, which had a "cosmic consciousness" reflected in the arts, the 80s wero shallow and materialistic and the music took a nosedive.

But you asked specific questions. In all reality,  though there might have been flourishes and references,very few teenage girls were actually going around in any kind of full Madonna regalia (unless it was a Halloween costume). They just weren't. They certainly LIKED her though. When Live Aid happened I eagerly anticipated the artists I love from the 60s and 70s who were still going strong. Eric Clapton and David Bowie, for example, turned in stellar sets. The one 80s artist I was truly interested in was Nik Kershaw. But I had no interest in Thompson Twins and all that nonsense. But a younger female member of my family was only interested in Madonna, who gave a less than great performance. In those days before autotune, at an event where lip synching would have exposed one as a fraud, she simply ran up and down and bellowed tunelessly.

Lots of people watched "Dallas" and "Dynasty" but I would say it's demographic was primarily middle aged females and some younger females. I didn't have much interest.

Even then, those "Afternoon Special" movies were looked upon with a bit of a cynical eye, especially by the demographic they were intended for. I mean, they were SCHLOCKY. Primarily amusing for their kitsch value.

Uh..maybe you should phrase that "what are some of the things that OLDER members of this board remember...".  ;)

It's no secret to anyone here that I disliked the 80s immensely. After coming through the 60s and 70s which I found to be very spiritual, which had a "cosmic consciousness" reflected in the arts, the 80s wero shallow and materialistic and the music took a nosedive.

But you asked specific questions. In all reality,  though there might have been flourishes and references,very few teenage girls were actually going around in any kind of full Madonna regalia (unless it was a Halloween costume). They just weren't. They certainly LIKED her though. When Live Aid happened I eagerly anticipated the artists I love from the 60s and 70s who were still going strong. Eric Clapton and David Bowie, for example, turned in stellar sets. The one 80s artist I was truly interested in was Nik Kershaw. But I had no interest in Thompson Twins and all that nonsense. But a younger female member of my family was only interested in Madonna, who gave a less than great performance. In those days before autotune, at an event where lip synching would have exposed one as a fraud, she simply ran up and down and bellowed tunelessly.

Lots of people watched "Dallas" and "Dynasty" but I would say it's demographic was primarily middle aged females and some younger females. I didn't have much interest.

Even then, those "Afternoon Special" movies were looked upon with a bit of a cynical eye, especially by the demographic they were intended for. I mean, they were SCHLOCKY. Primarily amusing for their kitsch value.


What was your favorite thing about 1985? The clothes? TV? Any TV? Movies? Books? Being able to watch repeats of shows from the 50s and 60s a lot easier? The restaurants? What?

What was your favorite thing about 1985? The clothes? TV? Any TV? Movies? Books? Being able to watch repeats of shows from the 50s and 60s a lot easier? The restaurants? What?


IMO the 80s was the best decade of my lifetime for movies.  Mid 80's TV was pretty awesome too.  I didn't dislike 80's music overall, although I agreed with Bob Seger's sentiment about 80's music vs earlier, that it "ain't got the same soul".  Nonetheless, I went to more concerts in the 80's than probably any other decade.

On a personal level 1985 was pretty darn awesome.  It was my last year of college and student co-op (graduated in December).  I got to watch my favorite football team have a spectacular year ('85 Bears, anyone?).  I had a good job lined up by late November.  Although my wacko boyfriend and me were on the outs, my (nice) old boyfriend showed back up in time for graduation (though unbeknownst to me at the time, it wouldn't be long before he moved away again).  I was enjoying my family and my friends and nothing could get in my way.  My future was so bright, I had to wear shades!  ;D

Not much to say about 1985 clothes except, I wore them...

I think I'm to young to say anything in this thread

What was your favorite thing about 1985? The clothes? TV? Any TV? Movies? Books? Being able to watch repeats of shows from the 50s and 60s a lot easier? The restaurants? What?


I liked a band called the Waterboys very much. Still do. They released a career defining album that year called "This Is The Sea".  Dig these lyrics to a song from it called "The Pan Within":

"Put your face to my window
Breathe a night full of treasure
The wind is delicious
Sweet and wild with the promise of pleasure
The stars are alive
And nights like these
Were born to be
Sanctified by you and me
Lovers thieves fools and pretenders
And all we gotta do is surrender..."

I saw them live that year too. Two years later they would go on to release another excellent career defining album called "Fisherman's Blues" that sounded nothing whatsoever like the last one.

What were your least favorite things from 1985? Did all of the buzz surrounding “The Brat Pack” annoy you? Was “The Cosby Show” to fictional to you? Were you tired of greeting card characters having cartoons like “Care Bears” and “Rainbow Brite”? Did “Party All the Time” by Eddie Murphy make you into a total party animal or you just wanted it go off?

What were your least favorite things from 1985? Did all of the buzz surrounding “The Brat Pack” annoy you? Was “The Cosby Show” to fictional to you? Were you tired of greeting card characters having cartoons like “Care Bears” and “Rainbow Brite”? Did “Party All the Time” by Eddie Murphy make you into a total party animal or you just wanted it go off?


I'll speak to these questions.  I don't recall any "The Brat Pack" buzz - just not on my radar.  I liked the Cosby Show (like most of us did).  Now my favorite TV show at the time (among my all-time favorites) was Remington Steele.  I also watched Dallas some - but think I was tiring of it by 1985.  I didn't get into Dynasty (at least not in a big way).

I don't recall anything about those greeting card characters, so I guess I wasn't tired of them.

I think "Party All The Time" made me into a party animal!  Just kidding - I did became a party animal (not in a huge way until '86), but that's because of where my life was at the time.

That's about it.

I'll speak to these questions.  I don't recall any "The Brat Pack" buzz - just not on my radar.  I liked the Cosby Show (like most of us did).  Now my favorite TV show at the time (among my all-time favorites) was Remington Steele.  I also watched Dallas some - but think I was tiring of it by 1985.  I didn't get into Dynasty (at least not in a big way).

I don't recall anything about those greeting card characters, so I guess I wasn't tired of them.

I think "Party All The Time" made me into a party animal!  Just kidding - I did became a party animal (not in a huge way until '86), but that's because of where my life was at the time.

That's about it.


The Brat Pack were on the covers of almost every magazine in 1985. There was no way you could miss them.

Anyway, what discontinued items from 1985 do you miss? How about Nerds Cereal or a MCDlt from McDonald’s?

1985 is my favourite year from the 80s. My three favourite artists all had their debut albums that year – Five Star, The Jets, Whitney Houston.

I was 8 going on 9 in 1985. The television and toys were the highlight for me. I was obsessed with Ewoks, as I’ve always loved Native Americans – and they were kinda based on that whole tribal culture. I had the Star Wars ewok figures, loved the Ewok tv movies, loved the cartoon series and had a big plush Wicket soft toy too. Ewoks were huge for my age group! I still collect them now.

My favourite tv shows were all running in 1985 – Cosby Show, Remington Steele and Punky Brewster. Also Thundercats, GI Joe, Jem, Small Wonder, Dynasty, MacGyver, A-Team… the list goes on and on. Golden Girls also debuted in 1985.

One of my sisters was obsessed with Nik Kershaw, so I have great appreciation for him too.

1985 is my favourite year from the 80s. My three favourite artists all had their debut albums that year – Five Star, The Jets, Whitney Houston.

I was 8 going on 9 in 1985. The television and toys were the highlight for me. I was obsessed with Ewoks, as I’ve always loved Native Americans – and they were kinda based on that whole tribal culture. I had the Star Wars ewok figures, loved the Ewok tv movies, loved the cartoon series and had a big plush Wicket soft toy too. Ewoks were huge for my age group! I still collect them now.

My favourite tv shows were all running in 1985 – Cosby Show, Remington Steele and Punky Brewster. Also Thundercats, GI Joe, Jem, Small Wonder, Dynasty, MacGyver, A-Team… the list goes on and on. Golden Girls also debuted in 1985.

One of my sisters was obsessed with Nik Kershaw, so I have great appreciation for him too.


I had no idea the Ewoks and their customs were based off of those of Native Americans! I don’t know why I didn’t see the connection.

Was “Punky Brewster” better than “Small Wonder” to you back in the mid 80s?

Was “Punky Brewster” better than “Small Wonder” to you back in the mid 80s?


Oooh tough choice. I love both equally. I have all seasons of Punky on dvd and the first season of Small Wonder on dvd. I'll give the edge to Punky though. Both shows still hold up comedy-wise for me.

The Brat Pack were on the covers of almost every magazine in 1985. There was no way you could miss them.

Anyway, what discontinued items from 1985 do you miss? How about Nerds Cereal or a MCDlt from McDonald’s?


I do miss those highly sugared cereals they used to sell during the 1980's.

Oooh tough choice. I love both equally. I have all seasons of Punky on dvd and the first season of Small Wonder on dvd. I'll give the edge to Punky though. Both shows still hold up comedy-wise for me.


Do you agree that the best “Small Wonder” episodes were from the mid 80s? What other  TV premieres from 1985 did you like?

What was your favorite thing about 1985? The clothes? TV? Any TV? Movies? Books? Being able to watch repeats of shows from the 50s and 60s a lot easier? The restaurants? What?


By the way, one of the distinguishing factors of the 70s  and 80s was very short shorts for males. Frequently denim "cutoffs" as we used to call them, way above the knee. 1985 was the zenith of this. Very short gym/basketball shorts too. This can be seen in old clips of pro basketball games. It stayed that way until the early 90s when  specifically Michael Jordan wanted longer shorts. Being as he was what would now be called an "influencer" everybody else followed suit and shorts got longer and baggier until they are as we now know them, looking like something from a circus clown's garage sale. People today are absolutely horrified at the thought of men in the kind of short shorts people wore in the 70s and 80s. The "half shirts", as we used to call them too. T shirts cut off halfway, now more tackily known as "crop tops". Males dressed like this in old photos seem like something from another planet to the modern eye. Back then it was perfectly normal. Nobody batted an eye.  I just bring this up because I wonder how many here who profess to worship the 80s who weren't there would actually take the plunge and dress like this if they had the choice to be in 1985. People seem so horrified by it now. Like I said, it seems normal to me. I already lived through it.

By the way, one of the distinguishing factors of the 70s  and 80s was very short shorts for males. Frequently denim "cutoffs" as we used to call them, way above the knee. 1985 was the zenith of this. Very short gym/basketball shorts too. This can be seen in old clips of pro basketball games. It stayed that way until the early 90s when  specifically Michael Jordan wanted longer shorts. Being as he was what would now be called an "influencer" everybody else followed suit and shorts got longer and baggier until they are as we now know them, looking like something from a circus clown's garage sale. People today are absolutely horrified at the thought of men in the kind of short shorts people wore in the 70s and 80s. The "half shirts", as we used to call them too. T shirts cut off halfway, now more tackily known as "crop tops". Males dressed like this in old photos seem like something from another planet to the modern eye. Back then it was perfectly normal. Nobody batted an eye.  I just bring this up because I wonder how many here who profess to worship the 80s who weren't there would actually take the plunge and dress like this if they had the choice to be in 1985. People seem so horrified by it now. Like I said, it seems normal to me. I already lived through it.


Do you remember those football jersey crop tops made from cotton like regular shirts?

What are some things you found to be mediocre in 1985?

Do you remember those football jersey crop tops made from cotton like regular shirts?


For the most part they weren't made that way. People cut them. No males went into a store and bought them that way. That would have been a bit much. Just like the cutoff jeans. You didn't but them that way. You made them out of an old pair of jeans.

For the most part they weren't made that way. People cut them. No males went into a store and bought them that way. That would have been a bit much. Just like the cutoff jeans. You didn't but them that way. You made them out of an old pair of jeans.


Were jorts around in 1985? I know males wore them from 1988 into the 90s. Do you know?

Were jorts around in 1985? I know males wore them from 1988 into the 90s. Do you know?


If you are talking about the longer ones, bought in a store that way, no they were not around. Denim cutoff jeans themselves were around since the 60s and, as I said, were primarily made by cutting old jeans. Things were more organic then. In the 70s and 80s they were VERY short for both males and females. The derogatory term "Daisy Dukes" was not around yet because it was just an acceptable thing to wear them. "Jorts" is a ridiculous word by the way. A marketing person probably got paid a fortune to think of it.

Michael Jackson recorded 'We are the world' along with everybody else. He was at his peak in 1985, although 1983 to 1985 were his years!

By 1985 Madonna was fully blown famous. And she's been fame hungry ever since then!  ;D

Musically, not as good as 1984 IMO. But still an iconic year and fun pop culture!  :)

I started Kindergarten in September of 1985. I still remember my first day. I cried so much! My teacher's name was Mrs. Diaz.  :)

I used to hear that this seen as a forgettable year, but over time, it's become more iconic.

Live Aid
Gorby and Reagan's first meeting
Nintendo
New Coke

Some of the most iconic movies of the decade like Back to the Future, Rambo II, Rocky IV, The Goonies and The Breakfast Club. Plus, a slew of cult favorites.




New Coke, foul taste!

Michael Jackson recorded 'We are the world' along with everybody else. He was at his peak in 1985, although 1983 to 1985 were his years!

That was back in January of this year, but on this day in 1985, Michael Jackson won a bid over Yoko Ono and Paul McCartney to secure the ATV Music Publishing catalogue. At $47.5m he gained the rights to more than 250 songs written by Lennon and McCartney. McCartney had been negotiating with Yoko Ono, who had decided to withdraw her side of the deal because of 'astrological' reasons.

I turned 5, and started Kindergarten in September of 1985.

I still remember my first day.  :)

I turned 5, and started Kindergarten in September of 1985.

I still remember my first day.  :)

As did/do I! O0

For me, it was September 9th 1985. At first I was kinda sad about it, but in the subsequent weeks I gradually got adjusted to it and felt good about being there.

Rites of Spring

USA For Africa

Early 1985 I was 8 and had my first bowel surgery, I was out of school for 6 weeks I think. Had a colonoscopy before that. Let’s just say the cameras weren’t as small as they are today. I couldn’t sit down for a week. During that time was the first time I watched Jeopardy.

1985 my dad scored a good job, which would last exactly 5 years before the company closed. So we bought an 84 Cavalier wagon, which would later become my first car.

1985 was the year that I got braces for my buck teeth, from 1974-1984 I had sucked my thumb till the time that I was 10 years of age so I needed something to straighten out my two front teeth.

It was on this day (June 30th) in 1985, that John Lennon's psychedelic Rolls Royce was sold at auction for $2 million.

It was on this day (June 30th) in 1985, that John Lennon's psychedelic Rolls Royce was sold at auction for $2 million.

I think the Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps was born on that day, too!