Market Charts > 1981 > Movie Chart

North America (US and Canada) Domestic Movie Chart for 1981

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Note: This chart ranks movies by the amount they earned during 1981. It includes movies released in previous years that earned money during 1981. For example, a movie released over Thanksgiving in 1980 will most likely earn money in 1980 and 1981. Click on the individual movie to see its total gross over all the years in which it played.

Inflation-adjusted figures are based on ticket sale estimates.

See Top 1981 Movies at the Domestic Box Office for the total domestic box office for the top 100 movies released in 1981, and Movie Index 1981 for an overview of all movies released in 1981.

Top Grossing Movies of 1981

RankMovieRelease
Date		DistributorGenre1981 GrossTickets Sold
1 Raiders of the Lost Ark Jun 12, 1981 Paramount Pictures Adventure $168,425,367 60,584,664
2 Superman II Jun 19, 1981 Warner Bros. Adventure $108,185,706 38,915,721
3 Nine to Five Dec 19, 1980 20th Century Fox Comedy $96,442,875 34,691,681
4 Stripes Jun 26, 1981 Columbia Comedy $85,300,000 30,683,453
5 Arthur Jul 17, 1981 Warner Bros. Comedy $75,312,238 27,090,733
6 The Cannonball Run Jun 19, 1981 20th Century Fox Action $57,498,710 20,682,989
7 For Your Eyes Only Jun 26, 1981 Universal Action $54,800,000 19,712,230
8 The Fox and the Hound Jul 10, 1981 Walt Disney Adventure $43,899,231 15,791,090
9 The Four Seasons May 22, 1981 Universal Comedy $42,488,161 15,283,511
10 Cheech & Chong's Nice Dreams Jun 5, 1981 Columbia Comedy $37,000,000 13,309,352
11 Tarzan, The Ape Man Jul 24, 1981 MGM Adventure $36,565,000 13,152,877
12 Excalibur Apr 10, 1981 Warner Bros. Adventure $34,200,000 12,302,158
13 Time Bandits Nov 6, 1981 Avco Embassy Adventure $33,596,404 12,085,037
14 Endless Love Jul 17, 1981 Universal Drama $33,000,000 11,870,503
15 An American Werewolf in London Aug 21, 1981 Universal Horror $31,973,249 11,501,168
16 History of the World: Part I Jun 12, 1981 20th Century Fox Comedy $31,672,000 11,392,805
17 Bustin' Loose May 22, 1981 Universal Comedy $31,261,000 11,244,964
18 The Great Muppet Caper Jun 26, 1981 Universal Comedy $31,206,251 11,225,270
19 Clash of the Titans Jun 12, 1981 MGM Adventure $30,000,000 10,791,366
20 Fort Apache, The Bronx Jan 1, 1981 20th Century Fox $29,200,000 10,503,597
21 The Jazz Singer May 1, 1981 Universal $27,118,000 9,754,676
22 Only When I Laugh Sep 23, 1981 Columbia $25,782,304 9,274,210
23 Halloween II Oct 30, 1981 Universal Horror $25,533,818 9,184,826
24 Escape from New York Jul 10, 1981 Avco Embassy Action $25,244,700 9,080,827
25 Body Heat Aug 28, 1981 Warner Bros. Thriller/Suspense $24,058,000 8,653,956
26 Graduation Day May 1, 1981 IFI Scope Horror $23,894,000 8,594,964
27 Neighbors Dec 18, 1981 Columbia Black Comedy $22,912,993 8,242,083
28 The French Lieutenant's Woman Sep 18, 1981 United Artists Drama $22,600,000 8,129,496
29 Friday the 13th Part 2 Apr 30, 1981 Paramount Pictures Horror $21,722,776 7,813,948
30 Raging Bull Nov 14, 1980 United Artists Drama $21,471,950 7,723,723
31 Reds Dec 4, 1981 Paramount Pictures Drama $20,608,917 7,413,279
32 The Final Conflict Mar 20, 1981 20th Century Fox Horror $20,471,000 7,363,669
33 The Incredible Shrinking Woman Jan 30, 1981 Universal Comedy $20,259,000 7,287,410
34 Outland May 22, 1981 Warner Bros. Action $20,000,000 7,194,244
35 Heavy Metal Aug 7, 1981 Columbia Adventure $19,571,091 7,039,960
36 Star Wars Ep. V: The Empire… Jul 31, 1981 20th Century Fox Adventure $19,523,734 7,022,925
37 Mommie Dearest Sep 18, 1981 Paramount Pictures Drama $19,032,000 6,846,043
38 Absence of Malice Nov 19, 1981 Columbia Thriller/Suspense $19,005,292 6,836,435
39 Sharky's Machine Dec 18, 1981 Warner Bros. Thriller/Suspense $18,938,352 6,812,356
40 Paternity Oct 2, 1981 Paramount Pictures $18,838,000 6,776,258
41 Under the Rainbow Jul 31, 1981 Warner Bros. Comedy $18,826,490 6,772,118
42 Tess Dec 12, 1980 Columbia Drama $18,203,512 6,548,025
43 The Private Eyes Jan 1, 1981 New World Comedy $18,000,000 6,474,820
44 The Howling Apr 10, 1981 Avco Embassy Horror $17,985,000 6,469,424
45 Eye of the Needle Jul 24, 1981 United Artists Thriller/Suspense $17,583,000 6,324,820
46 Take This Job and Shove It May 15, 1981 Avco Embassy $17,569,000 6,319,784
47 Cinderella Dec 18, 1981 Walt Disney Musical $17,223,729 6,195,585
48 Modern Problems Dec 25, 1981 20th Century Fox Comedy $16,199,268 5,827,074
49 The Devil and Max Devlin Jan 1, 1981 Walt Disney $16,000,000 5,755,395
50 Caveman Apr 17, 1981 United Artists Comedy $15,965,000 5,742,805
51 Continental Divide Sep 18, 1981 Universal Romantic Comedy $15,578,000 5,603,597
52 S.O.B. Jul 1, 1981 Paramount Pictures Black Comedy $14,867,086 5,347,872
53 Taps Dec 9, 1981 20th Century Fox Drama $14,864,282 5,346,864
54 Nighthawks Apr 10, 1981 Universal Action $14,600,000 5,251,798
55 Scanners Jan 1, 1981 Avco Embassy Horror $14,200,000 5,107,913
56 The Night the Lights Went O… Jun 5, 1981 Avco Embassy $14,000,000 5,035,971
57 Blow Out Jul 24, 1981 Filmways Pictures Thriller/Suspense $13,747,234 4,945,048
58 The Legend of the Lone Ranger May 22, 1981 Universal Western $13,400,000 4,820,143
59 Ghost Story Dec 18, 1981 Universal Horror $13,307,846 4,786,994
60 Rich and Famous Oct 9, 1981 MGM $13,000,000 4,676,258
61 On the Right Track Mar 6, 1981 20th Century Fox $13,000,000 4,676,258
62 Private Lessons Aug 28, 1981 Jensen Farley Pic… Comedy $12,900,000 4,640,287
63 True Confessions Sep 25, 1981 United Artists $12,200,000 4,388,489
64 The Postman Always Rings Twice Mar 20, 1981 Paramount Pictures Drama $12,200,000 4,388,489
65 First Monday in October Aug 21, 1981 Paramount Pictures $12,000,000 4,316,546
66 Back Roads Mar 13, 1981 Warner Bros. Romantic Comedy $11,809,387 4,247,980
67 Raggedy Man Sep 18, 1981 Universal Drama $11,000,000 3,956,834
68 Wolfen Jul 24, 1981 Warner Bros. Horror $11,000,000 3,956,834
69 Victory Jul 31, 1981 Paramount Pictures Action $10,853,000 3,903,956
70 Happy Birthday To Me May 15, 1981 Columbia Horror $10,609,514 3,816,371
71 Zorro, The Gay Blade Jul 24, 1981 20th Century Fox Comedy $10,000,000 3,597,122
72 So Fine Sep 25, 1981 Warner Bros. $10,000,000 3,597,122
73 Atlantic City Apr 3, 1981 Paramount Pictures Drama $10,000,000 3,597,122
74 Prince of the City Aug 19, 1981 Warner Bros. Drama $9,000,000 3,237,410
75 Carbon Copy Sep 25, 1981 Avco Embassy Comedy $8,400,000 3,021,582
76 Ragtime Nov 20, 1981 Paramount Pictures Drama $8,382,501 3,015,288
77 Force: Five Jun 26, 1981 American Cinema R… $8,000,000 2,877,697
78 All Night Long Mar 6, 1981 Universal Romantic Comedy $7,800,000 2,805,755
79 Rollover Dec 11, 1981 Warner Bros. Thriller/Suspense $7,747,128 2,786,736
80 An Eye for an Eye Aug 7, 1981 Avco Embassy Action $7,496,681 2,696,647
81 The Funhouse Mar 13, 1981 Universal Horror $7,000,000 2,517,985
82 Comin' at Ya! Jul 24, 1981 Filmways Pictures $6,704,127 2,411,556
83 Eyewitness Feb 13, 1981 20th Century Fox $6,400,000 2,302,158
84 Dragonslayer Jun 26, 1981 Paramount Pictures Action $6,000,000 2,158,273
85 American Pop Feb 13, 1981 Columbia Musical $6,000,000 2,158,273
86 Heartbeeps Dec 18, 1981 Universal Comedy $6,000,000 2,158,273
87 Gallipoli Aug 28, 1981 Paramount Pictures Drama $5,732,587 2,062,081
88 Buddy Buddy Dec 11, 1981 United Artists Comedy $5,299,037 1,906,128
89 Pennies from Heaven Dec 11, 1981 MGM Musical $5,227,259 1,880,308
90 Death Hunt Jan 1, 1981 20th Century Fox $5,000,000 1,798,561
91 Galaxina Jun 6, 1980 Crown $4,865,000 1,750,000
92 All the Marbles Oct 16, 1981 MGM $4,300,000 1,546,762
93 Thief Mar 27, 1981 United Artists Action $4,300,000 1,546,762
94 Whose Life is it Anyway? Dec 2, 1981 MGM Drama $4,051,988 1,457,549
95 Looker Oct 30, 1981 Warner Bros. Thriller/Suspense $3,281,232 1,180,299
96 The Last Metro Feb 11, 1981 United Artists Drama $3,000,000 1,079,136
97 Southern Comfort Sep 25, 1981 20th Century Fox Thriller/Suspense $2,939,174 1,057,256
98 Deadly Blessing Aug 14, 1981 United Artists $2,800,000 1,007,194
99 Chariots of Fire Sep 25, 1981 Warner Bros. Drama $2,770,216 996,480
100 Napoléon Feb 17, 1929 Drama $2,645,504 951,620
101 Hell Night Aug 7, 1981 Compass Internati… Horror $2,300,000 827,338
102 The Pursuit of D.B. Cooper Nov 13, 1981 Universal Adventure $2,104,164 756,893
103 The Hand Apr 24, 1981 Warner Bros. Horror $2,000,000 719,424
104 Sphinx Feb 11, 1981 Warner Bros. Thriller/Suspense $2,000,000 719,424
105 Student Bodies Aug 7, 1981 Paramount Pictures Comedy $1,582,148 569,117
106 On Golden Pond Dec 4, 1981 Universal Drama $1,394,020 501,446
107 King of the Mountain May 1, 1981 Universal Drama $958,637 344,833
108 Honky Tonk Freeway Aug 21, 1981 Universal Comedy $939,423 337,921
109 Tattoo Oct 9, 1981 20th Century Fox Thriller/Suspense $860,472 309,522
110 Beyond the Reef Apr 24, 1981 Universal $547,525 196,951
111 Eyes of a Stranger Mar 27, 1981 Warner Bros. Horror $546,724 196,663
112 This is Elvis Apr 10, 1981 Warner Bros. Documentary $429,146 154,369
113 Zoot Suit Oct 2, 1981 Universal Drama $380,302 136,799
114 Silence of the North Oct 23, 1981 Universal Drama $344,837 124,042
115 Chu Chu and the Philly Flash Aug 14, 1981 20th Century Fox $221,898 79,819
116 Dead and Buried Nov 13, 1981 Avco Embassy Horror $216,166 77,757
117 Cattle Annie and Little Bri… Apr 24, 1981 Universal Western $115,679 41,611
118 Modern Romance Mar 13, 1981 Columbia Romantic Comedy $29,137 10,480
119 Pick-up Summer Mar 31, 1981 $28,756 10,343
120 Soggy Bottom, U.S.A. Aug 7, 1981 Comworld Comedy $19,225 6,915
121 Nobody's Perfekt Jul 24, 1981 Columbia $995 357
Total Gross of All Movies$2,159,465,155
Total Tickets Sold776,785,968

Our Theatrical Market pages are based on the Domestic Theatrical Market performance only. The Domestic Market is defined as the North American movie territory (consisting of the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico and Guam).

The yearly amounts on our Theatrical Market pages are based on box office years. Each box office year starts on the first Monday of the year, so the previous year ends on the Sunday before the first Monday. For example, the "2017 box office year" started on January 2, 2017 so the "2016 box office year" ended on Sunday, January 1, 2017.