#1 of 7 #1 drama movie of August 1981
1981 · Drama, Thriller
$24.1M worldwide · 40% of the chart's total
$24.1M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
Drama box office · August 1981
Drama Box Office, August 1981: Top-Grossing Releases
Body Heat (1981) is the highest-grossing drama movie released in August 1981, with $24.1M worldwide, ahead of First Monday in October (1981) at $12.5M and Carbon Copy (1981) at $9.6M. 7 drama films released in August 1981 report a worldwide gross, $60.9M in all, 98% of it from the US & Canada. That is down 62% on July 1981, whose releases took $158.7M. By language, English leads with $60M across 5 drama releases.
- August 1981 releases with a gross
- 7
- combined worldwide
- $60.9M
- Body Heat (1981), the #1
- $24.1M
- vs July 1981
- −62%
#1 of 7 Top 5
What Were the Biggest Drama Hits of August 1981?
Body Heat (1981) leads with $24.1M, 40% of the total. The top 5 together took $60M, 98% of what all 7 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 Drama 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: $24.1M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $24.1M
- 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 21, 1981 US and Canada: $8.1M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $8.1M
- 5 Aug 28, 1981 US and Canada: $5.7M Rest of the world: $6K Worldwide: $5.7M
- 6
Aug 26, 1981 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $917.3K - 7
Aug 20, 1981 US and Canada: $8.1K Rest of the world: $1.6K Worldwide: $9.8K
US & Canada vs the world
Where Did the Money Come From in August 1981?
Of the top 7, Body Heat (1981) earned the biggest share at home (100% in the US & Canada), while Lola (1981) made 17% of its gross abroad. Across all 7 films, $60M (98%) came from the US & Canada. 1 film of the top 7 reports no US & Canada figure.
- 1 Body Heat (1981) $24.1M $24.1M 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 Prince of the City (1981) $8.1M $8.1M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 5 Gallipoli (1981) $5.7M $5.7M US & Canada · 100% $6K elsewhere · <1%
- 6 On Trial (1981) $917.3K No US & Canada figure reported
- 7 Lola (1981) $9.8K $8.1K US & Canada · 83% $1.6K elsewhere · 17%
By release week
Which Week of August 1981 Had the Biggest Releases?
Films released in week 35 (Aug 23–29) took $30.7M, led by Body Heat (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) $9.6M 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) $20.6M First Monday in October (1981)
- Week 35 Wk 35 Aug 23–29 Body Heat (1981) $30.7M Body Heat (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 1979 earned the most: $180.7M from 7 films, led by Apocalypse Now (1979). August 1981 took $60.9M.
| Month | Films | Worldwide | Change | Biggest film |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| August 1972 No films | 0 | – | – | – |
| August 1973 3 films | 3 | $115.2M | – | American Graffiti (1973) $115M |
| August 1974 2 films · −63% | 2 | $43M | −63% | The Longest Yard (1974) $43M |
| August 1975 1 film · −100% | 1 | $2.2K | −100% | The Old Gun (1975) $2.2K |
| August 1976 2 films · +363765% | 2 | $8.1M | +363765% | The Shootist (1976) $8.1M |
| August 1977 2 films · −100% | 2 | $3.3K | −100% | That Obscure Object of Desire (1977) $3.1K |
| August 1978 2 films · +315713% | 2 | $10.4M | +315713% | Interiors (1978) $10.4M |
| August 1979 7 films · +1631% | 7 | $180.7M | +1631% | Apocalypse Now (1979) $105.1M |
| August 1980 5 films · −79% | 5 | $37.2M | −79% | The Octagon (1980) $19M |
| August 1981 7 films · +64% | 7 | $60.9M | +64% | Body Heat (1981) $24.1M |
Archive
Drama Box Office in 1981, Month by Month
The months of 1981 with their totals: December leads with $314.5M, led by On Golden Pond (1981).
- January $21.3K #1 Thee (1981)
- February $41.1M #1 Fort Apache the Bronx (1981)
- March $35.5M #1 The Postman Always Rings Twice (1981)
- April $50.7M #1 Excalibur (1981)
- May $91.8M #1 The Four Seasons (1981)
- June $14.9M #1 The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia (1981)
- July $158.7M #1 The Fox and the Hound (1981)
- August $60.9M #1 Body Heat (1981)
- September $59.4M #1 Only When I Laugh (1981)
- October $47.1M #1 The French Lieutenant's Woman (1981)
- November $14.9M #1 Ragtime (1981)
- December $314.5M #1 On Golden Pond (1981)
FAQ
Drama 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 7 films as the chart.
What is the highest-grossing drama movie in August 1981?
Body Heat (1981) leads with $24.1M worldwide, $24.1M 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 drama movies released in August 1981 earn?
7 drama films released in August 1981 report a worldwide gross, $60.9M in all, or $8.7M per film on average. July 1981 releases took $158.7M.
How many drama movies released in August 1981 made $1 billion?
None. The biggest, Body Heat (1981), earned $24.1M.
How is the August 1981 drama 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 drama 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.