#1 of 8 #1 family movie of 1981
1981 · Adventure, Drama
$63.5M worldwide · 38% of the chart's total
$63.5M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
Family box office · 1981
Family Box Office 1981: Highest-Grossing Family Movies
The Fox and the Hound (1981) is the highest-grossing family movie released in 1981, with $63.5M worldwide, ahead of Clash of the Titans (1981) at $41.1M and The Great Muppet Caper (1981) at $31.2M. 8 family films released in 1981 report a worldwide gross, $169.1M in all, 100% of it from the US & Canada. That is up 83% on 1980, whose releases took $92.5M. By language, English leads with $169.1M across 8 family releases.
- 1981 releases with a gross
- 8
- combined worldwide
- $169.1M
- The Fox and the Hound (1981), the #1
- $63.5M
- vs 1980
- +83%
#1 of 8 Top 5
What Were the Biggest Family Hits of 1981?
The Fox and the Hound (1981) leads with $63.5M, 38% of the total. The top 5 together took $161.5M, 95% of what all 8 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 Family Release of 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 1981.
- 1 Jul 10, 1981 US and Canada: $63.5M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $63.5M
- 2 Jun 12, 1981 US and Canada: $41.1M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $41.1M
- 3 Jun 26, 1981 US and Canada: $31.2M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $31.2M
- 4 The Incredible Shrinking Woman (1981)Jan 30, 1981 US and Canada: $20.3M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $20.3M
Jan 30, 1981 · English · Sci-Fi, Family, Comedy $20.3M worldwide - 5 Apr 10, 1981 US and Canada: $5.5M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $5.5M
- 6
Oct 9, 1981 US and Canada: $5M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $5M - 7
Dec 18, 1981 US and Canada: $2.2M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $2.2M - 8
Mar 20, 1981 US and Canada: $469.8K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $469.8K
US & Canada vs the world
Where Did the Money Come From in 1981?
Of the top 8, The Fox and the Hound (1981) earned the biggest share at home (100% in the US & Canada), while Kelly (1981) made 0% of its gross abroad. Across all 8 films, $169.1M (100%) came from the US & Canada.
- 1 The Fox and the Hound (1981) $63.5M $63.5M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 2 Clash of the Titans (1981) $41.1M $41.1M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 3 The Great Muppet Caper (1981) $31.2M $31.2M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 4 The Incredible Shrinking Woman (1981) $20.3M $20.3M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 5 Going Ape! (1981) $5.5M $5.5M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 6 The Watcher in the Woods (1981) $5M $5M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 7 Heartbeeps (1981) $2.2M $2.2M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 8 Kelly (1981) $469.8K $469.8K US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
By release month
Which Month of 1981 Earned the Most?
June releases took the most, $72.3M from 2 films, led by Clash of the Titans (1981). March was the quietest month ($469.8K). Each column is a release month and links to that month's chart.
- January Jan The Incredible Shrinking Woman (1981) $20.3M The Incredible Shrinking Woman (1981)
- February Feb No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- March Mar Kelly (1981) $469.8K Kelly (1981)
- April Apr Going Ape! (1981) $5.5M Going Ape! (1981)
- May May No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- June Jun Clash of the Titans (1981) $72.3M Clash of the Titans (1981)
- July Jul The Fox and the Hound (1981) $63.5M The Fox and the Hound (1981)
- August Aug No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- September Sep No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- October Oct The Watcher in the Woods (1981) $5M The Watcher in the Woods (1981)
- November Nov No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- December Dec Heartbeeps (1981) $2.2M Heartbeeps (1981)
Last 10 years
How Does 1981 Compare With Previous Years?
Of these 10 years, 1977 earned the most: $206.1M from 9 films, led by The Rescuers (1977). 1981 took $169.1M.
| Year | Films | Worldwide | Change | Biggest film |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1972 No films | 0 | – | – | – |
| 1973 2 films | 2 | $22.6M | – | The World’s Greatest Athlete (1973) $22.6M |
| 1974 5 films · +366% | 5 | $105.3M | +366% | Benji (1974) $39.6M |
| 1975 2 films · −65% | 2 | $36.9M | −65% | The Apple Dumpling Gang (1975) $36.9M |
| 1976 5 films · +68% | 5 | $61.9M | +68% | The Bad News Bears (1976) $32.2M |
| 1977 9 films · +233% | 9 | $206.1M | +233% | The Rescuers (1977) $71.2M |
| 1978 4 films · −75% | 4 | $51.5M | −75% | The Wiz (1978) $21M |
| 1979 3 films · +143% | 3 | $125.2M | +143% | The Muppet Movie (1979) $66.5M |
| 1980 5 films · −26% | 5 | $92.5M | −26% | Popeye (1980) $49.8M |
| 1981 8 films · +83% | 8 | $169.1M | +83% | The Fox and the Hound (1981) $63.5M |
Archive
Family Box Office Year by Year
Every year from 1938 to 2026 with its total and its biggest film. 2019 leads with $9.1B, led by The Lion King (2019).
2020s 7 years · $22.3B
2010s 10 years · $62.9B
- 2019 $9.1B #1 The Lion King (2019)
- 2018 $5.6B #1 Incredibles 2 (2018)
- 2017 $7.8B #1 Beauty and the Beast (2017)
- 2016 $8.9B #1 Finding Dory (2016)
- 2015 $6.3B #1 Minions (2015)
- 2014 $4.4B #1 Big Hero 6 (2014)
- 2013 $5.3B #1 Despicable Me 2 (2013)
- 2012 $4.8B #1 Ice Age: Continental Drift (2012)
- 2011 $4B #1 Kung Fu Panda 2 (2011)
- 2010 $6.7B #1 Toy Story 3 (2010)
2000s 10 years · $44.3B
- 2009 $6.9B #1 Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009)
- 2008 $4.9B #1 Kung Fu Panda (2008)
- 2007 $5.7B #1 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007)
- 2006 $5.1B #1 Ice Age: The Meltdown (2006)
- 2005 $5.2B #1 Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005)
- 2004 $4.6B #1 Shrek 2 (2004)
- 2003 $4.2B #1 Finding Nemo (2003)
- 2002 $2.5B #1 Ice Age (2002)
- 2001 $3.1B #1 Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (2001)
- 2000 $2.1B #1 Dinosaur (2000)
1990s 10 years · $14.6B
- 1999 $1.8B #1 Toy Story 2 (1999)
- 1998 $2B #1 A Bug's Life (1998)
- 1997 $1.1B #1 Bean (1997)
- 1996 $1.1B #1 The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996)
- 1995 $2.1B #1 Toy Story (1995)
- 1994 $2.1B #1 The Lion King (1994)
- 1993 $1.7B #1 Mrs. Doubtfire (1993)
- 1992 $607.3M #1 Sister Act (1992)
- 1991 $1.2B #1 Beauty and the Beast (1991)
- 1990 $940.8M #1 Home Alone (1990)
1980s 10 years · $3.1B
- 1989 $765.9M #1 Honey, I Shrunk the Kids (1989)
- 1988 $710.7M #1 Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988)
- 1987 $412.1M #1 3 Men and a Baby (1987)
- 1986 $349.6M #1 The Karate Kid Part II (1986)
- 1985 $247M #1 The Goonies (1985)
- 1984 $123.3M #1 The Karate Kid (1984)
- 1983 $60.1M #1 A Christmas Story (1983)
- 1982 $136.9M #1 Annie (1982)
- 1981 $169.1M #1 The Fox and the Hound (1981)
- 1980 $92.5M #1 Popeye (1980)
1970s 9 years · $811.6M
- 1979 $125.2M #1 The Muppet Movie (1979)
- 1978 $51.5M #1 The Wiz (1978)
- 1977 $206.1M #1 The Rescuers (1977)
- 1976 $61.9M #1 The Bad News Bears (1976)
- 1975 $36.9M #1 The Apple Dumpling Gang (1975)
- 1974 $105.3M #1 Benji (1974)
- 1973 $22.6M #1 The World’s Greatest Athlete (1973)
- 1971 $11.1M #1 Fiddler on the Roof (1971)
- 1970 $191M #1 The Aristocats (1970)
1960s 9 years · $657.6M
- 1969 $51.3M #1 The Love Bug (1969)
- 1968 $8.8M #1 Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (1968)
- 1967 $205.8M #1 The Jungle Book (1967)
- 1966 $16K #1 The Ghost of Monk’s Island (1966)
- 1965 $159.6M #1 The Sound of Music (1965)
- 1964 $179.7M #1 Mary Poppins (1964)
- 1963 $12M #1 The Sword in the Stone (1963)
- 1962 $14.8K #1 Bill of Hare (1962)
- 1960 $40.4M #1 Swiss Family Robinson (1960)
1950s 9 years · $412.6M
- 1959 $51.6M #1 Sleeping Beauty (1959)
- 1957 $91 #1 Old Yeller (1957)
- 1956 $42.1M #1 Around the World in 80 Days (1956)
- 1955 $93.9M #1 Lady and the Tramp (1955)
- 1954 $746 #1 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (1954)
- 1953 $92.6M #1 Peter Pan (1953)
- 1952 $36M #1 The Greatest Show on Earth (1952)
- 1951 $16K #1 Lovelorn Leghorn (1951)
- 1950 $96.4M #1 Cinderella (1950)
1940s 8 years · $438.2M
1930s 2 years · $210.7M
FAQ
Family Box Office 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 8 films as the chart.
What is the highest-grossing family movie in 1981?
The Fox and the Hound (1981) leads with $63.5M worldwide, $63.5M of it in the US & Canada. Next come Clash of the Titans (1981) at $41.1M and The Great Muppet Caper (1981) at $31.2M.
How much did family movies released in 1981 earn?
8 family films released in 1981 report a worldwide gross, $169.1M in all, or $21.1M per film on average. 1980 releases took $92.5M.
How many family movies released in 1981 made $1 billion?
None. The biggest, The Fox and the Hound (1981), earned $63.5M.
How is the 1981 family 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 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 1981 family 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.