#1 of 7 #1 fantasy movie of 1981
1981 · Adventure, Sci-Fi
$42.4M worldwide · 24% of the chart's total
$42.4M US & Canada · 100% $2.4K elsewhere · <1%
Fantasy box office · 1981
Fantasy Box Office 1981: Highest-Grossing Fantasy Movies
Time Bandits (1981) is the highest-grossing fantasy movie released in 1981, with $42.4M worldwide, ahead of Clash of the Titans (1981) at $41.1M and Excalibur (1981) at $35M. 7 fantasy films released in 1981 report a worldwide gross, $175.2M in all, 100% of it from the US & Canada. That is up 133% on 1980, whose releases took $75.3M. By language, English leads with $175.2M across 7 fantasy releases.
- 1981 releases with a gross
- 7
- combined worldwide
- $175.2M
- Time Bandits (1981), the #1
- $42.4M
- vs 1980
- +133%
#1 of 7 Top 5
What Were the Biggest Fantasy Hits of 1981?
Time Bandits (1981) leads with $42.4M, 24% of the total. The top 5 together took $160.6M, 92% 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 Fantasy 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 Nov 6, 1981 US and Canada: $42.4M Rest of the world: $2.4K Worldwide: $42.4M
- 2 Jun 12, 1981 US and Canada: $41.1M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $41.1M
- 3 Apr 10, 1981 US and Canada: $35M Rest of the world: $3.7K Worldwide: $35M
- 4 Dec 25, 1981 US and Canada: $26.2M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $26.2M
- 5 Mar 6, 1981 US and Canada: $16M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $16M
- 6
Jun 26, 1981 US and Canada: $14.1M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $14.1M - 7
Aug 7, 1981 US and Canada: $546.5K Rest of the world: $1K Worldwide: $547.6K
US & Canada vs the world
Where Did the Money Come From in 1981?
Of the top 7, Clash of the Titans (1981) earned the biggest share at home (100% in the US & Canada), while Heavy Metal (1981) made <1% of its gross abroad. Across all 7 films, $175.2M (100%) came from the US & Canada.
- 1 Time Bandits (1981) $42.4M $42.4M US & Canada · 100% $2.4K elsewhere · <1%
- 2 Clash of the Titans (1981) $41.1M $41.1M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 3 Excalibur (1981) $35M $35M US & Canada · 100% $3.7K elsewhere · <1%
- 4 Modern Problems (1981) $26.2M $26.2M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 5 The Devil and Max Devlin (1981) $16M $16M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 6 Dragonslayer (1981) $14.1M $14.1M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 7 Heavy Metal (1981) $547.6K $546.5K US & Canada · 100% $1K elsewhere · <1%
By release month
Which Month of 1981 Earned the Most?
June releases took the most, $55.2M from 2 films, led by Clash of the Titans (1981). August was the quietest month ($547.6K). Each column is a release month and links to that month's chart.
- January Jan No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- February Feb No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- March Mar The Devil and Max Devlin (1981) $16M The Devil and Max Devlin (1981)
- April Apr Excalibur (1981) $35M Excalibur (1981)
- May May No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- June Jun Clash of the Titans (1981) $55.2M Clash of the Titans (1981)
- July Jul No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- August Aug Heavy Metal (1981) $547.6K Heavy Metal (1981)
- September Sep No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- October Oct No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- November Nov Time Bandits (1981) $42.4M Time Bandits (1981)
- December Dec Modern Problems (1981) $26.2M Modern Problems (1981)
Last 10 years
How Does 1981 Compare With Previous Years?
Of these 10 years, 1977 earned the most: $954.3M from 9 films, led by Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977). 1981 took $175.2M.
| Year | Films | Worldwide | Change | Biggest film |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1972 2 films | 2 | $356.8K | – | The Master and Margarita (1972) $356.5K |
| 1973 6 films · −3% | 6 | $345K | −3% | The Spirit of the Beehive (1973) $190.7K |
| 1974 5 films · +10985% | 5 | $38.2M | +10985% | Herbie Rides Again (1974) $38.2M |
| 1975 4 films · −63% | 4 | $14.2M | −63% | The Smurfs and the Magic Flute (1975) $11.2M |
| 1976 1 film · −100% | 1 | $21.8K | −100% | Master of the Flying Guillotine (1976) $21.8K |
| 1977 9 films · +4381654% | 9 | $954.3M | +4381654% | Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977) $775.4M |
| 1978 6 films · −82% | 6 | $169.9M | −82% | Heaven Can Wait (1978) $81.6M |
| 1979 5 films · −71% | 5 | $49.8M | −71% | All That Jazz (1979) $37.8M |
| 1980 9 films · +51% | 9 | $75.3M | +51% | Xanadu (1980) $22.8M |
| 1981 7 films · +133% | 7 | $175.2M | +133% | Time Bandits (1981) $42.4M |
Archive
Fantasy Box Office Year by Year
Every year from 1921 to 2026 with its total and its biggest film. 2019 leads with $15.7B, led by Avengers: Endgame (2019).
2020s 7 years · $40.9B
2010s 10 years · $90B
- 2019 $15.7B #1 Avengers: Endgame (2019)
- 2018 $8.2B #1 Avengers: Infinity War (2018)
- 2017 $13.4B #1 Star Wars: Episode VIII - The Last Jedi (2017)
- 2016 $10.4B #1 Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016)
- 2015 $7.3B #1 Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens (2015)
- 2014 $6.9B #1 The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies (2014)
- 2013 $8.2B #1 Iron Man 3 (2013)
- 2012 $6.7B #1 The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012)
- 2011 $5.8B #1 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (2011)
- 2010 $7.4B #1 Toy Story 3 (2010)
2000s 10 years · $46.3B
- 2009 $8.5B #1 Avatar (2009)
- 2008 $4B #1 Hancock (2008)
- 2007 $7.3B #1 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007)
- 2006 $3.8B #1 Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest (2006)
- 2005 $4.8B #1 Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith (2005)
- 2004 $4.2B #1 Shrek 2 (2004)
- 2003 $4.3B #1 The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)
- 2002 $3B #1 Spider-Man (2002)
- 2001 $4.4B #1 Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (2001)
- 2000 $2.1B #1 What Women Want (2000)
1990s 10 years · $11.9B
- 1999 $3.5B #1 Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999)
- 1998 $987.9M #1 City of Angels (1998)
- 1997 $736.5M #1 Liar Liar (1997)
- 1996 $770.2M #1 Phenomenon (1996)
- 1995 $1.9B #1 Toy Story (1995)
- 1994 $764.7M #1 The Mask (1994)
- 1993 $645.5M #1 Last Action Hero (1993)
- 1992 $600.2M #1 Bram Stoker's Dracula (1992)
- 1991 $1.2B #1 Beauty and the Beast (1991)
- 1990 $791.6M #1 Ghost (1990)
1980s 10 years · $4.4B
- 1989 $678.8M #1 Ghostbusters II (1989)
- 1988 $805.7M #1 Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988)
- 1987 $521.8M #1 *batteries not included (1987)
- 1986 $240.7M #1 The Golden Child (1986)
- 1985 $295.4M #1 Pee-wee's Big Adventure (1985)
- 1984 $651.5M #1 Ghostbusters (1984)
- 1983 $694.5M #1 Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983)
- 1982 $262.9M #1 Conan the Barbarian (1982)
- 1981 $175.2M #1 Time Bandits (1981)
- 1980 $75.3M #1 Xanadu (1980)
1970s 10 years · $1.2B
- 1979 $49.8M #1 All That Jazz (1979)
- 1978 $169.9M #1 Heaven Can Wait (1978)
- 1977 $954.3M #1 Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977)
- 1976 $21.8K #1 Master of the Flying Guillotine (1976)
- 1975 $14.2M #1 The Smurfs and the Magic Flute (1975)
- 1974 $38.2M #1 Herbie Rides Again (1974)
- 1973 $345K #1 The Spirit of the Beehive (1973)
- 1972 $356.8K #1 The Master and Margarita (1972)
- 1971 $688.6K #1 Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (1971)
- 1970 $61.6K #1 Donkey Skin (1970)
1960s 10 years · $125.1M
- 1969 $1.1M #1 Satyricon (1969)
- 1968 $8.8M #1 Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (1968)
- 1967 $4.2K #1 Magical Mystery Tour (1967)
- 1966 $3.3K #1 The Hawks and the Sparrows (1966)
- 1965 $33K #1 Juliet of the Spirits (1965)
- 1964 $103.1M #1 Mary Poppins (1964)
- 1963 $12M #1 The Sword in the Stone (1963)
- 1962 $31.9K #1 Pitfall (1962)
- 1961 $90 #1 Mothra (1961)
- 1960 $3K #1 Testament of Orpheus (1960)
1950s 7 years · $236M
1940s 8 years · $171.6M
- 1948 $44 #1 The Bishop's Wife (1948)
- 1947 $11.6M #1 It's a Wonderful Life (1947)
- 1946 $38M #1 Song of the South (1946)
- 1945 $2.7K #1 Anchors Aweigh (1945)
- 1944 $306 #1 The Curse of the Cat People (1944)
- 1942 $27 #1 I Married a Witch (1942)
- 1941 $112.6K #1 Dumbo (1941)
- 1940 $121.9M #1 Pinocchio (1940)
1930s 4 years · $210.7M
1920s 1 year · $12.2K
FAQ
Fantasy 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 7 films as the chart.
What is the highest-grossing fantasy movie in 1981?
Time Bandits (1981) leads with $42.4M worldwide, $42.4M of it in the US & Canada. Next come Clash of the Titans (1981) at $41.1M and Excalibur (1981) at $35M.
How much did fantasy movies released in 1981 earn?
7 fantasy films released in 1981 report a worldwide gross, $175.2M in all, or $25M per film on average. 1980 releases took $75.3M.
How many fantasy movies released in 1981 made $1 billion?
None. The biggest, Time Bandits (1981), earned $42.4M.
How is the 1981 fantasy 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 fantasy 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.