Most Popular Movies 1981
This chart shows the 1981 movie releases that have attracted the most interest on The Numbers web site over the past 24 hours. A share of 100 corresponds to 1 percent of the total views for all 1981 releases.
See also: Domestic Release Schedule for 1981 - Top 1981 Worldwide
1
| Raiders of the Lost Ark |
| Director: Steven Spielberg |
| Lead Roles: Harrison Ford as Indiana Jones, Karen Allen as Marion |
| Initial Theatrical Release: June 12, 1981 (Wide) by Paramount Pictures |
| Keywords: Treasure Hunters, IMAX: DMR, Nazis, Religious, Character's Journey Shown on Map, Academics, Hot for Teacher, Occult, Prologue, Kidnap, Rescue, Intertitle, Archaeology, Chase Adventure, 1982 Oscars Best Picture Nominee |
| Classification: Original Screenplay, Adventure, Live Action, Historical Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $225,686,079 |
|
International BO: $141,765,835 |
2
| Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior |
| Director: George Miller |
| Lead Roles: Mel Gibson as Max |
| Initial Theatrical Release: December 24, 1981 (Wide) by Roadshow Films (Australia) |
| Keywords: Post Apocalypse, Action Adventure, Near Future, Voiceover/Narration, Car Chase, Ozploitation, Death of a Pet, 1980s, Yesterday's Tomorrow |
| Classification: Original Screenplay, Action, Live Action, Science Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $23,667,907 |
|
International BO: $500 |
3
| Sharky's Machine |
| Director: Burt Reynolds |
| Initial Theatrical Release: December 18, 1981 (Wide) by Warner Bros. |
| Keywords: Action Thriller, Film Noir, Police Detective, Political, Prostitution, Sex Scandal, Mistaken Identity, Hitman Killing an Innocent Bystander, Organized Crime, Sex Crimes, Demoted, Police Shooting, Corrupt Cops |
| Classification: Based on Fiction Book/Short Story, Thriller/Suspense, Live Action, Contemporary Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $32,984,898 |
4
| Friday the 13th Part 2 |
| Director: Steve Miner |
| Lead Roles: Adrienne King as Alice Hardy, Warrington Gillette as Jason |
| Initial Theatrical Release: April 30, 1981 (Wide) by Paramount Pictures |
| Keywords: Slasher Horror |
| Classification: Original Screenplay, Horror, Live Action, Contemporary Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $21,722,776 |
5
| Sphinx |
| Director: Franklin J. Schaffner |
| Initial Theatrical Release: February 11, 1981 (Wide) by Warner Bros. |
| Classification: Based on Fiction Book/Short Story, Thriller/Suspense, Live Action, Contemporary Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $2,000,000 |
|
International BO: $9,400,000 |
6
| Mommie Dearest |
| Director: Frank Perry |
| Initial Theatrical Release: September 18, 1981 (Wide) by Paramount Pictures |
| Keywords: Biography, Dysfunctional Family, Performing Arts, Movie Business, Boarding School, Biographical Drama, Autobiographical, 1970s |
| Classification: Based on Fiction Book/Short Story, Drama, Live Action, Dramatization |
|
Domestic BO: $19,032,000 |
|
International BO: $6,000,000 |
7
| Escape from New York |
| Director: John Carpenter |
| Lead Roles: Kurt Russell as Snake Plissken |
| Initial Theatrical Release: July 10, 1981 (Wide) by Avco Embassy |
| Keywords: Hostage, Action Thriller, Rescue, Near Future, Yesterday's Tomorrow, Set in New York, Set in New York City, Politicians, 1990s, Crime Boss, Death of a Girlfriend / Boyfriend, Voiceover/Narration, Dystopia |
| Classification: Original Screenplay, Action, Live Action, Science Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $25,244,700 |
|
International BO: $31,650 |
Synopsis
The world is ravaged by crime and the entire island of Manhattan has been converted to a walled prison where brutal prisoners roam. But when the U.S. President crash-lands inside, only Plissken can bring him back.
8
| Cutter’s Way |
| Director: Ivan Passer |
| Lead Roles: Jeff Bridges, John Heard as Alex Cutter, Lisa Eichhorn |
| Initial Theatrical Release: March 20, 1981 (Wide) by United Artists |
| Keywords: Film Noir |
9
| Excalibur |
| Director: John Boorman |
| Initial Theatrical Release: April 10, 1981 (Wide) by Warner Bros. |
| Keywords: Heroic Adventure, Medieval, Incest, Accidental Incest, Born from Incest, Sex Crimes, Sword & Sorcerer |
| Classification: Based on Fiction Book/Short Story, Adventure, Live Action, Fantasy |
|
Domestic BO: $34,200,000 |
10
| The Burning |
| Director: Tony Maylam |
| Initial Theatrical Release: May 8, 1981 (Limited) by Filmways Pictures |
| Classification: Original Screenplay, Horror, Live Action, Contemporary Fiction |
11
| All the Marbles |
| Initial Theatrical Release: October 16, 1981 (Wide) by MGM |
|
Domestic BO: $4,300,000 |
12
| Rich and Famous |
| Initial Theatrical Release: October 9, 1981 (Wide) by MGM |
|
Domestic BO: $13,000,000 |
13
| The Dogs of War |
| Director: John Irvin |
| Initial Theatrical Release: February 13, 1981 (Wide) by MGM |
| Classification: Based on Fiction Book/Short Story, Action, Live Action, Contemporary Fiction |
14
| The Jericho Mile |
| Director: Michael Mann |
| Initial Theatrical Release: May 6, 1981 (Wide) (France) |
| Keywords: TV Movie |
| Classification: Drama, Live Action |
15
| Heavy Metal |
| Director: Gerald Potterton |
| Initial Theatrical Release: August 7, 1981 (Wide) by Columbia |
| Keywords: Segments, Voiceover/Narration, Good vs. Evil, Action Adventure, Alien Abduction, World War II, Zombies, Warlord, Cult Movie, Film Noir, Private Investigator, 2030s, Set in New York City, Rescue, Reincarnation, Epilogue, Prologue, In a Plane |
| Classification: Based on Comic/Graphic Novel, Adventure, Rotoscoping, Science Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $19,571,091 |
17
| Cheech & Chong's Nice Dreams |
| Director: Tommy Chong |
| Initial Theatrical Release: June 5, 1981 (Wide) by Columbia |
| Keywords: Stoner Comedy, Narcotics, Addiction, Relationships Gone Wrong, Infidelity, Revenge, Mental Hospital, Mental Illness, Strippers / Stripping |
| Classification: Original Screenplay, Comedy, Live Action, Contemporary Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $37,000,000 |
18
| La Chèvre |
| Director: Francis Veber |
| Initial Theatrical Release: December 9, 1981 (Limited) (France) |
| Classification: Original Screenplay, Comedy, Live Action, Contemporary Fiction |
19
| Gallipoli |
| Director: Peter Weir |
| Lead Roles: Mark Lee as Archy Hamilton, Mel Gibson as Frank Dunne |
| Initial Theatrical Release: August 13, 1981 (Limited) (Australia) |
| Keywords: Historical Battles, World War I, War, War Drama, 1910s |
| Classification: Based on Factual Book/Article, Drama, Live Action, Dramatization |
|
Domestic BO: $5,732,587 |
20
| On the Right Track |
| Initial Theatrical Release: March 6, 1981 (Wide) by 20th Century Fox |
|
Domestic BO: $13,000,000 |
21
| Spetters |
| Director: Paul Verhoeven |
| Initial Theatrical Release: February 8, 1981 (Limited) by Samuel Goldwyn Films |
22
| From Mao to Mozart |
| Initial Theatrical Release: April 10, 1981 (Wide) by United Artists |
| Classification: Documentary, Live Action, Factual |
23
| Time Bandits |
| Director: Terry Gilliam |
| Initial Theatrical Release: November 6, 1981 (Wide) by Avco Embassy |
| Keywords: Time Travel, Chase Adventure, Good vs. Evil, Dysfunctional Family, Cult Movie, Sword & Sorcerer, 1700s, Ancient Greece, On a Boat, 1910s, Disaster |
| Classification: Original Screenplay, Adventure, Live Action, Fantasy |
|
Domestic BO: $37,400,000 |
24
| Goodbye Pork Pie |
| Director: Geoff Murphy |
| Initial Theatrical Release: February 6, 1981 (Limited) (New Zealand) |
| Classification: Original Screenplay, Action, Live Action, Contemporary Fiction |
|
International BO: $394 |
25
| Heartbeeps |
| Director: Allan Arkush |
| Lead Roles: Andy Kaufman as ValCom 17485, Bernadette Peters as AquaCom 89045 , Jack Carter as Catskil, Jerry Garcia as Phil |
| Initial Theatrical Release: December 18, 1981 (Wide) by Universal |
| Keywords: Robot, Romance, Fugitive / On the Run, Famously Bad, Farcical / Slapstick Comedy |
| Classification: Original Screenplay, Comedy, Live Action, Science Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $6,000,000 |
Synopsis
While standing on a bleak factory repair shelf, ValCom-17485, a robot valet, and hostess robot AquaCom-89045 strike up a conversation. What starts as an instant connection soon transforms into love, and the two decide to override their programmed lives and explore the forbidden world beyond the factory window. With the police on their trail and a baby on the way, they’re on the digital road to romance and adventure.