1985 vs 2015: Were Films Better 30 Years Ago?

There has been a lot of negative talk recently about the state of the film industry (and by recently I mean the past 15 years). From fanboys and film geeks to skinny jean hipsters and wise old Gen Xs, many, including myself, have lamented the lack of original content in cinemas. It feels like every movie released today is an adaptation, sequel, remake or reboot. “Remember the 80s?” we'd cry, “when film makers told original stories that would spawn franchises and potentially achieve cult status?”

For illustrative purposes only.

We are quick to blame the corporations. If movies have taught us anything, it's to never trust the company stooge. Concerned only with brand recognition and profit margins, corporate bigwigs have been known to frequently treat the film industry like some kind of 'business', callously stifling creativity for the sake of a few dollars. 

What if we were to line up the movies of 1985 and 2015 side by side - would the statistics prove the mid-eighties to really be the halcyon days of cinema? Was 1985 truly the greatest year in film history, or are you looking at the past with nostalgia goggles?