#1 of 7 #1 history movie of 1981
1981 · Biography, Drama
$40.4M worldwide · 48% of the chart's total
$40.4M US & Canada · 100% $129 elsewhere · <1%
History box office · 1981
History Box Office 1981: Highest-Grossing History Movies
Reds (1981) is the highest-grossing history movie released in 1981, with $40.4M worldwide, ahead of History of the World: Part I (1981) at $31.7M and Gallipoli (1981) at $5.7M. 7 history films released in 1981 report a worldwide gross, $83.5M in all, 100% of it from the US & Canada. By language, English leads with $83M across 5 history releases.
- 1981 releases with a gross
- 7
- combined worldwide
- $83.5M
- Reds (1981), the #1
- $40.4M
- earned in the US & Canada
- 100%
#1 of 7 Top 5
What Were the Biggest History Hits of 1981?
Reds (1981) leads with $40.4M, 48% of the total. The top 5 together took $83.5M, almost all of what the 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 History 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 Dec 25, 1981 US and Canada: $40.4M Rest of the world: $129 Worldwide: $40.4M
- 2 Jun 12, 1981 US and Canada: $31.7M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $31.7M
- 3 Aug 28, 1981 US and Canada: $5.7M Rest of the world: $6K Worldwide: $5.7M
- 4 May 4, 1981 US and Canada: $5.2M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $5.2M
- 5 Jul 24, 1981 US and Canada: $492K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $492K
- 6
Jan 15, 1981 US and Canada: $1.7K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $1.7K - 7
The Decline of Western Civilization (1981)Jul 5, 1981 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $440
Jul 5, 1981 · English · History, Music, Documentary $440 worldwide
US & Canada vs the world
Where Did the Money Come From in 1981?
Of the top 7, History of the World: Part I (1981) earned the biggest share at home (100% in the US & Canada), while Gallipoli (1981) made <1% of its gross abroad. Across all 7 films, $83.5M (100%) came from the US & Canada. 1 film of the top 7 reports no US & Canada figure.
- 1 Reds (1981) $40.4M $40.4M US & Canada · 100% $129 elsewhere · <1%
- 2 History of the World: Part I (1981) $31.7M $31.7M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 3 Gallipoli (1981) $5.7M $5.7M US & Canada · 100% $6K elsewhere · <1%
- 4 Inchon (1981) $5.2M $5.2M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 5 Man of Iron (1981) $492K $492K US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 6 The Boat Is Full (1981) $1.7K $1.7K US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 7 The Decline of Western Civilization (1981) $440 No US & Canada figure reported
By release month
Which Month of 1981 Earned the Most?
December releases took the most, $40.4M from 1 film, led by Reds (1981). January was the quietest month ($1.7K). Each column is a release month and links to that month's chart.
- January Jan The Boat Is Full (1981) $1.7K The Boat Is Full (1981)
- February Feb No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- March Mar No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- April Apr No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- May May Inchon (1981) $5.2M Inchon (1981)
- June Jun History of the World: Part I (1981) $31.7M History of the World: Part I (1981)
- July Jul Man of Iron (1981) $492.5K Man of Iron (1981)
- August Aug Gallipoli (1981) $5.7M Gallipoli (1981)
- September Sep No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- October Oct No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- November Nov No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- December Dec Reds (1981) $40.4M Reds (1981)
Last 10 years
How Does 1981 Compare With Previous Years?
Of these 10 years, 1981 earned the most: $83.5M from 7 films, led by Reds (1981).
| Year | Films | Worldwide | Change | Biggest film |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1972 1 film | 1 | $37.8K | – | Aguirre, the Wrath of God (1972) $37.8K |
| 1973 No films | 0 | – | – | – |
| 1974 5 films | 5 | $103.4K | – | Edvard Munch (1974) $76.9K |
| 1975 5 films · +303% | 5 | $416.1K | +303% | Barry Lyndon (1975) $283.9K |
| 1976 3 films · +16920% | 3 | $70.8M | +16920% | All the President's Men (1976) $70.6M |
| 1977 2 films · −28% | 2 | $50.8M | −28% | A Bridge Too Far (1977) $50.8M |
| 1978 6 films · −69% | 6 | $15.9M | −69% | American Hot Wax (1978) $7.9M |
| 1979 3 films · −88% | 3 | $1.9M | −88% | Zulu Dawn (1979) $1.9M |
| 1980 2 films · +114% | 2 | $4M | +114% | Kagemusha (1980) $4M |
| 1981 7 films · +1977% | 7 | $83.5M | +1977% | Reds (1981) $40.4M |
Archive
History Box Office Year by Year
Every year from 1918 to 2026 with its total and its biggest film. 2023 leads with $2.8B, led by Oppenheimer (2023).
2020s 7 years · $6.8B
2010s 10 years · $11.6B
- 2019 $1.8B #1 My People, My Country (2019)
- 2018 $1.2B #1 Green Book (2018)
- 2017 $1.7B #1 Dunkirk (2017)
- 2016 $1.8B #1 Dangal (2016)
- 2015 $1.1B #1 Everest (2015)
- 2014 $528.3M #1 Unbroken (2014)
- 2013 $969.9M #1 American Hustle (2013)
- 2012 $1.2B #1 Lincoln (2012)
- 2011 $413.7M #1 Beginning of the Great Revival (2011)
- 2010 $881.6M #1 The King's Speech (2010)
2000s 10 years · $6.7B
- 2009 $638.5M #1 Public Enemies (2009)
- 2008 $943.6M #1 Australia (2008)
- 2007 $426.8M #1 Elizabeth: The Golden Age (2007)
- 2006 $744.1M #1 World Trade Center (2006)
- 2005 $796.9M #1 Kingdom of Heaven (2005)
- 2004 $1.2B #1 The Passion of the Christ (2004)
- 2003 $666.9M #1 The Last Samurai (2003)
- 2002 $630M #1 Gangs of New York (2002)
- 2001 $103.7M #1 Enemy at the Gates (2001)
- 2000 $565.8M #1 Gladiator (2000)
1990s 10 years · $2.6B
- 1999 $183.1M #1 Anna and the King (1999)
- 1998 $353.8M #1 The Man in the Iron Mask (1998)
- 1997 $207.8M #1 Seven Years in Tibet (1997)
- 1996 $40.4M #1 Ghosts of Mississippi (1996)
- 1995 $980.4M #1 Apollo 13 (1995)
- 1994 $52.8M #1 Quiz Show (1994)
- 1993 $420M #1 Schindler's List (1993)
- 1992 $58M #1 Malcolm X (1992)
- 1991 $223M #1 JFK (1991)
- 1990 $42.6M #1 Glory (1990)
1980s 10 years · $628.2M
- 1989 $24.8M #1 Henry V (1989)
- 1988 $70.4M #1 Gorillas in the Mist (1988)
- 1987 $157.2M #1 The Untouchables (1987)
- 1986 $23.6M #1 The Mission (1986)
- 1985 $73.7M #1 The Killing Fields (1985)
- 1984 $63.8M #1 Amadeus (1984)
- 1983 $74M #1 Gandhi (1983)
- 1982 $53.3M #1 Quest for Fire (1982)
- 1981 $83.5M #1 Reds (1981)
- 1980 $4M #1 Kagemusha (1980)
1970s 9 years · $171.8M
- 1979 $1.9M #1 Zulu Dawn (1979)
- 1978 $15.9M #1 American Hot Wax (1978)
- 1977 $50.8M #1 A Bridge Too Far (1977)
- 1976 $70.8M #1 All the President's Men (1976)
- 1975 $416.1K #1 Barry Lyndon (1975)
- 1974 $103.4K #1 Edvard Munch (1974)
- 1972 $37.8K #1 Aguirre, the Wrath of God (1972)
- 1971 $3.1K #1 The Devils (1971)
- 1970 $31.9M #1 Little Big Man (1970)
1960s 10 years · $108.7M
- 1969 $1M #1 Army of Shadows (1969)
- 1968 $20.1K #1 The Lion in Winter (1968)
- 1967 $316 #1 In Cold Blood (1967)
- 1966 $1.1M #1 The Battle of Algiers (1966)
- 1965 $162.9K #1 War and Peace (1965)
- 1964 $149.3K #1 Becket (1964)
- 1963 $58M #1 Cleopatra (1963)
- 1962 $46M #1 Lawrence of Arabia (1962)
- 1961 $350K #1 The Colossus of Rhodes (1961)
- 1960 $1.9M #1 Spartacus (1960)
1950s 9 years · $177.5M
- 1959 $74.6M #1 Ben-Hur (1959)
- 1958 $38.4K #1 The Vikings (1958)
- 1957 $68K #1 Throne of Blood (1957)
- 1956 $65.5M #1 The Ten Commandments (1956)
- 1955 $911.1K #1 The Dam Busters (1955)
- 1954 $26.6K #1 Knights of the Round Table (1954)
- 1953 $36M #1 The Robe (1953)
- 1952 $280.5K #1 Les Miserables (1952)
- 1950 $10.9K #1 The Flame and the Arrow (1950)
1940s 5 years · $402.5M
1930s 4 years · $29.1K
1920s 3 years · $124.9K
1910s 1 year · $9.7K
FAQ
History 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 history movie in 1981?
Reds (1981) leads with $40.4M worldwide, $40.4M of it in the US & Canada. Next come History of the World: Part I (1981) at $31.7M and Gallipoli (1981) at $5.7M.
How much did history movies released in 1981 earn?
7 history films released in 1981 report a worldwide gross, $83.5M in all, or $11.9M per film on average.
How many history movies released in 1981 made $1 billion?
None. The biggest, Reds (1981), earned $40.4M.
How is the 1981 history 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 history 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.