#1 of 5 #1 comedy movie of August 1981
1981 · Comedy
$26.3M worldwide · 47% of the chart's total
$26.3M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
Comedy box office · August 1981
Comedy Box Office, August 1981: Top-Grossing Releases
Private Lessons (1981) is the highest-grossing comedy movie released in August 1981, with $26.3M worldwide, ahead of First Monday in October (1981) at $12.5M and Carbon Copy (1981) at $9.6M. 5 comedy films released in August 1981 report a worldwide gross, $55.5M in all, 100% of it from the US & Canada. That is down 58% on July 1981, whose releases took $132M. By language, English leads with $29.2M across 4 comedy releases.
- August 1981 releases with a gross
- 5
- combined worldwide
- $55.5M
- Private Lessons (1981), the #1
- $26.3M
- vs July 1981
- −58%
#1 of 5 Top 5
What Were the Biggest Comedy Hits of August 1981?
Private Lessons (1981) leads with $26.3M, 47% of the total. The top 5 together took $55.5M, almost all of what the 5 films earned. Each bar splits a film's gross into the US & Canada and the rest of the world.
- Number 1
-
Number 2 -
Number 3 -
Number 4 -
Number 5
US & Canada (domestic) Rest of the world
The chart
Every Comedy Release of August 1981, Ranked by Worldwide Gross
Lifetime worldwide grosses in US dollars, not adjusted for inflation; domestic means the US & Canada. Films are grouped by their release date in August 1981.
- 1 Aug 28, 1981 US and Canada: $26.3M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $26.3M
- 2 Aug 21, 1981 US and Canada: $12.5M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $12.5M
- 3 Aug 6, 1981 US and Canada: $9.6M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $9.6M
- 4 Aug 7, 1981 US and Canada: $5.2M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $5.2M
- 5 Aug 21, 1981 US and Canada: $2M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $2M
US & Canada vs the world
Where Did the Money Come From in August 1981?
Of the top 5, Private Lessons (1981) earned the biggest share at home (100% in the US & Canada), while Honky Tonk Freeway (1981) made 0% of its gross abroad. Across all 5 films, $55.5M (100%) came from the US & Canada.
- 1 Private Lessons (1981) $26.3M $26.3M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 2 First Monday in October (1981) $12.5M $12.5M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 3 Carbon Copy (1981) $9.6M $9.6M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 4 Student Bodies (1981) $5.2M $5.2M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 5 Honky Tonk Freeway (1981) $2M $2M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
By release week
Which Week of August 1981 Had the Biggest Releases?
Films released in week 35 (Aug 23–29) took $26.3M, led by Private Lessons (1981). Each column links to that week's chart; weeks are Sunday to Saturday.
- Week 31 Wk 31 Jul 26–Aug 1 No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- Week 32 Wk 32 Aug 2–8 Carbon Copy (1981) $14.7M Carbon Copy (1981)
- Week 33 Wk 33 Aug 9–15 No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- Week 34 Wk 34 Aug 16–22 First Monday in October (1981) $14.5M First Monday in October (1981)
- Week 35 Wk 35 Aug 23–29 Private Lessons (1981) $26.3M Private Lessons (1981)
- Week 36 Wk 36 Aug 30–Sep 5 No reported grosses – No reported grosses
Earlier years
How Does August 1981 Compare With August in Earlier Years?
Of these 10 years, August 1973 earned the most: $116.4M from 2 films, led by American Graffiti (1973). August 1981 took $55.5M.
| Month | Films | Worldwide | Change | Biggest film |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| August 1972 1 film | 1 | $18.1M | – | Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex * But Were Afraid to Ask (1972) $18.1M |
| August 1973 2 films · +543% | 2 | $116.4M | +543% | American Graffiti (1973) $115M |
| August 1974 1 film · −63% | 1 | $43M | −63% | The Longest Yard (1974) $43M |
| August 1975 1 film · −53% | 1 | $20.1M | −53% | Love and Death (1975) $20.1M |
| August 1976 No films | 0 | – | – | – |
| August 1977 2 films | 2 | $105.1K | – | Billy Connolly: Big Banana Feet (1977) $102K |
| August 1978 2 films · −92% | 2 | $8.7K | −92% | Girlfriends (1978) $8.4K |
| August 1979 8 films · +916336% | 8 | $80.1M | +916336% | North Dallas Forty (1979) $26.1M |
| August 1980 4 films · +5% | 4 | $84.4M | +5% | Smokey and the Bandit II (1980) $66.1M |
| August 1981 5 films · −34% | 5 | $55.5M | −34% | Private Lessons (1981) $26.3M |
Archive
Comedy Box Office in 1981, Month by Month
The months of 1981 with their totals: June leads with $220.4M, led by Stripes (1981).
- January $20.3M #1 The Incredible Shrinking Woman (1981)
- February No grosses
- March $35.2M #1 The Devil and Max Devlin (1981)
- April $46.3M #1 Take This Job and Shove It (1981)
- May $81.7M #1 The Four Seasons (1981)
- June $220.4M #1 Stripes (1981)
- July $132M #1 Arthur (1981)
- August $55.5M #1 Private Lessons (1981)
- September $41.1M #1 Only When I Laugh (1981)
- October $19M #1 Paternity (1981)
- November $42.4M #1 Time Bandits (1981)
- December $58.5M #1 Neighbors (1981)
FAQ
Comedy Box Office August 1981: Questions & Answers
The chart's numbers in short: the #1 film, the total, the billion-dollar hits and the US & Canada share, answered from the same 5 films as the chart.
What is the highest-grossing comedy movie in August 1981?
Private Lessons (1981) leads with $26.3M worldwide, $26.3M of it in the US & Canada. Next come First Monday in October (1981) at $12.5M and Carbon Copy (1981) at $9.6M.
How much did comedy movies released in August 1981 earn?
5 comedy films released in August 1981 report a worldwide gross, $55.5M in all, or $11.1M per film on average. July 1981 releases took $132M.
How many comedy movies released in August 1981 made $1 billion?
None. The biggest, Private Lessons (1981), earned $26.3M.
How is the August 1981 comedy box office chart ranked and where do the numbers come from?
Films are ranked by lifetime worldwide gross in US dollars, not adjusted for inflation, and grouped by their release date in August 1981. The figures are the reported box office grosses in our database. A gross that looks misattributed, such as one figure shared by two unrelated films or a blockbuster total on an obscure title, is left out rather than shown as a fact.
How often is the August 1981 comedy box office chart updated?
Grosses change while films are in theaters and whenever a new figure is reported; this chart reads the latest numbers in our database, so an older film can still move after a re-release.