#1 of 23 #1 horror movie of 1981
An American Werewolf in London (1981)
1981 · Horror
$30.8M worldwide · 15% of the chart's total
$30.6M US & Canada · 99% $255.3K elsewhere · <1%
Horror box office · 1981
Horror Box Office 1981: Highest-Grossing Horror Movies
An American Werewolf in London (1981) is the highest-grossing horror movie released in 1981, with $30.8M worldwide, ahead of Halloween II (1981) at $25.5M and Ghost Story (1981) at $23.4M. 23 horror films released in 1981 report a worldwide gross, $209.9M in all, 100% of it from the US & Canada. That is up 20% on 1980, whose releases took $175M. By language, English leads with $209.9M across 21 horror releases.
- 1981 releases with a gross
- 23
- combined worldwide
- $209.9M
- An American Werewolf in London (1981), the #1
- $30.8M
- vs 1980
- +20%
#1 of 23 Top 5
What Were the Biggest Horror Hits of 1981?
An American Werewolf in London (1981) leads with $30.8M, 15% of the total. The top 5 together took $121.9M, 58% of what all 23 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 Horror 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 Aug 21, 1981 US and Canada: $30.6M Rest of the world: $255.3K Worldwide: $30.8M
- 2 Oct 30, 1981 US and Canada: $25.5M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $25.5M
- 3 Dec 18, 1981 US and Canada: $23.4M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $23.4M
- 4 May 1, 1981 US and Canada: $21.7M Rest of the world: $199 Worldwide: $21.7M
- 5 Mar 20, 1981 US and Canada: $20.5M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $20.5M
- 6
Apr 10, 1981 US and Canada: $18M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $18M - 7
Jan 14, 1981 US and Canada: $14.2M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $14.2M - 8
Jul 24, 1981 US and Canada: $10.6M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $10.6M - 9
Aug 14, 1981 US and Canada: $8.3M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $8.3M - 10
Mar 13, 1981 US and Canada: $7.9M Rest of the world: $142 Worldwide: $7.9M - 11
Feb 11, 1981 US and Canada: $5.7M Rest of the world: $1.3K Worldwide: $5.7M - 12
Nov 28, 1981 US and Canada: $5.2M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $5.2M - 13
Aug 7, 1981 US and Canada: $5.2M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $5.2M - 14
Oct 9, 1981 US and Canada: $5M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $5M - 15
May 15, 1981 US and Canada: $3.1M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $3.1M - 16
Apr 24, 1981 US and Canada: $2.4M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $2.4M - 17
Jan 7, 1981 US and Canada: $1.2M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $1.2M - 18
Feb 11, 1981 US and Canada: $1.1M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $1.1M - 19
Oct 30, 1981 US and Canada: $110K Rest of the world: $401 Worldwide: $110.4K - 20
Oct 23, 1981 US and Canada: $560 Rest of the world: Worldwide: $560 - 21
Aug 14, 1981 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $462 - 22
May 8, 1981 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $315 - 23
Oct 1, 1981 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $297
US & Canada vs the world
Where Did the Money Come From in 1981?
Of the top 10, Halloween II (1981) earned the biggest share at home (100% in the US & Canada), while An American Werewolf in London (1981) made <1% of its gross abroad. Across all 23 films, $209.7M (100%) came from the US & Canada.
- 1 An American Werewolf in London (1981) $30.8M $30.6M US & Canada · 99% $255.3K elsewhere · <1%
- 2 Halloween II (1981) $25.5M $25.5M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 3 Ghost Story (1981) $23.4M $23.4M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 4 Friday the 13th Part 2 (1981) $21.7M $21.7M US & Canada · 100% $199 elsewhere · <1%
- 5 The Final Conflict (1981) $20.5M $20.5M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 6 The Howling (1981) $18M $18M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 7 Scanners (1981) $14.2M $14.2M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 8 Wolfen (1981) $10.6M $10.6M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 9 Deadly Blessing (1981) $8.3M $8.3M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 10 The Funhouse (1981) $7.9M $7.9M US & Canada · 100% $142 elsewhere · <1%
Gross bands
How Many 1981 Releases Crossed $100 Million?
None of the 23 films reached $100M. 15 films, 65% of the list, earned under $10M. Each band shows its films and its share of the $209.9M total.
78% 22%
- $1B or more 0 films, 0% of the list No films
- $500M to $1B 0 films, 0% of the list No films
- $100M to $500M 0 films, 0% of the list No films
- $10M to $100M 8 films, 35% of the list $164.8M · 78% of the gross
- Under $10M 15 films, 65% of the list $45.2M · 22% of the gross
By release month
Which Month of 1981 Earned the Most?
August releases took the most, $44.3M from 4 films, led by An American Werewolf in London (1981). November was the quietest month ($5.2M). Each column is a release month and links to that month's chart.
- January Jan Scanners (1981) $15.4M Scanners (1981)
- February Feb My Bloody Valentine (1981) $6.8M My Bloody Valentine (1981)
- March Mar The Final Conflict (1981) $28.4M The Final Conflict (1981)
- April Apr The Howling (1981) $20.4M The Howling (1981)
- May May Friday the 13th Part 2 (1981) $24.8M Friday the 13th Part 2 (1981)
- June Jun No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- July Jul Wolfen (1981) $10.6M Wolfen (1981)
- August Aug An American Werewolf in London (1981) $44.3M An American Werewolf in London (1981)
- September Sep No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- October Oct Halloween II (1981) $30.6M Halloween II (1981)
- November Nov Venom (1981) $5.2M Venom (1981)
- December Dec Ghost Story (1981) $23.4M Ghost Story (1981)
Last 10 years
How Does 1981 Compare With Previous Years?
Of these 10 years, 1975 earned the most: $481.8M from 4 films, led by Jaws (1975). 1981 took $209.9M.
| Year | Films | Worldwide | Change | Biggest film |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1972 2 films | 2 | $1.6K | – | Images (1972) $1.4K |
| 1973 4 films · +27702431% | 4 | $431.3M | +27702431% | The Exorcist (1973) $430.9M |
| 1974 9 films · −93% | 9 | $32.1M | −93% | The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974) $30.9M |
| 1975 4 films · +1400% | 4 | $481.8M | +1400% | Jaws (1975) $477.9M |
| 1976 6 films · −69% | 6 | $149.4M | −69% | The Omen (1976) $60.9M |
| 1977 7 films · −69% | 7 | $45.7M | −69% | Exorcist II: The Heretic (1977) $30.7M |
| 1978 7 films · +526% | 7 | $286.6M | +526% | Jaws 2 (1978) $187.9M |
| 1979 12 films · −2% | 12 | $279.6M | −2% | Alien (1979) $109.1M |
| 1980 16 films · −37% | 16 | $175M | −37% | The Shining (1980) $48M |
| 1981 23 films · +20% | 23 | $209.9M | +20% | An American Werewolf in London (1981) $30.8M |
By language
Which Languages Do the Biggest Horror Movies Speak in 1981?
English-language horror films took $209.9M across 21 films, 100% of the total, ahead of Italian-language horror films ($462).
Archive
Horror Box Office Year by Year
Every year from 1920 to 2026 with its total and its biggest film. 2018 leads with $3.7B, led by Venom (2018).
2020s 7 years · $15.4B
- 2026 so far $2.5B #1 Backrooms (2026)
- 2025 $2.7B #1 The Conjuring: Last Rites (2025)
- 2024 $2.6B #1 Beetlejuice Beetlejuice (2024)
- 2023 $2.7B #1 Meg 2: The Trench (2023)
- 2022 $2.6B #1 Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022)
- 2021 $1.6B #1 Venom: Let There Be Carnage (2021)
- 2020 $697.4M #1 The Invisible Man (2020)
2010s 10 years · $22.6B
- 2019 $3.1B #1 It: Chapter Two (2019)
- 2018 $3.7B #1 Venom (2018)
- 2017 $3.5B #1 It (2017)
- 2016 $1.9B #1 The Conjuring 2 (2016)
- 2015 $1.6B #1 Mojin: The Lost Legend (2015)
- 2014 $1.4B #1 Annabelle (2014)
- 2013 $2.2B #1 World War Z (2013)
- 2012 $2.7B #1 Prometheus (2012)
- 2011 $1.1B #1 Paranormal Activity 3 (2011)
- 2010 $1.3B #1 Resident Evil: Afterlife (2010)
2000s 10 years · $12.1B
- 2009 $1.4B #1 The Final Destination (2009)
- 2008 $661.8M #1 Saw V (2008)
- 2007 $1.6B #1 Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007)
- 2006 $1.2B #1 Saw III (2006)
- 2005 $1.7B #1 Constantine (2005)
- 2004 $1.3B #1 The Grudge (2004)
- 2003 $970.4M #1 Gothika (2003)
- 2002 $1.1B #1 Signs (2002)
- 2001 $712.3M #1 The Others (2001)
- 2000 $1.3B #1 What Lies Beneath (2000)
1990s 10 years · $5.4B
- 1999 $1.3B #1 The Blair Witch Project (1999)
- 1998 $929.6M #1 Godzilla (1998)
- 1997 $720.6M #1 Scream 2 (1997)
- 1996 $357.9M #1 Scream (1996)
- 1995 $283.3M #1 Species (1995)
- 1994 $368.5M #1 Interview with the Vampire: The Vampire Chronicles (1994)
- 1993 $165M #1 The Good Son (1993)
- 1992 $571M #1 Bram Stoker's Dracula (1992)
- 1991 $285.2M #1 Cape Fear (1991)
- 1990 $450.5M #1 Flatliners (1990)
1980s 10 years · $2.5B
- 1989 $214.3M #1 Pet Sematary (1989)
- 1988 $284.7M #1 A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master (1988)
- 1987 $325.5M #1 The Witches of Eastwick (1987)
- 1986 $262.9M #1 The Fly (1986)
- 1985 $185.9M #1 A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy's Revenge (1985)
- 1984 $303.5M #1 Gremlins (1984)
- 1983 $243.8M #1 Jaws 3-D (1983)
- 1982 $289M #1 Poltergeist (1982)
- 1981 $209.9M #1 An American Werewolf in London (1981)
- 1980 $175M #1 The Shining (1980)
1970s 10 years · $1.7B
- 1979 $279.6M #1 Alien (1979)
- 1978 $286.6M #1 Jaws 2 (1978)
- 1977 $45.7M #1 Exorcist II: The Heretic (1977)
- 1976 $149.4M #1 The Omen (1976)
- 1975 $481.8M #1 Jaws (1975)
- 1974 $32.1M #1 The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974)
- 1973 $431.3M #1 The Exorcist (1973)
- 1972 $1.6K #1 Images (1972)
- 1971 $2.7M #1 THX 1138 (1971)
- 1970 $40.6K #1 Multiple Maniacs (1970)
1960s 10 years · $33M
- 1969 $171 #1 Night of the Bloody Apes (1969)
- 1968 $242.2K #1 Night of the Living Dead (1968)
- 1967 $240.1K #1 Night of the Big Heat (1967)
- 1966 $5.6K #1 Eye of the Devil (1966)
- 1965 $34.7K #1 Repulsion (1965)
- 1964 $1.2K #1 Onibaba (1964)
- 1963 $55.4K #1 The Birds (1963)
- 1962 $4.5K #1 What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? (1962)
- 1961 $30.2K #1 The Innocents (1961)
- 1960 $32.4M #1 Psycho (1960)
1950s 7 years · $24.4M
1940s 5 years · $42.7K
1930s 6 years · $168.1K
FAQ
Horror 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 23 films as the chart.
What is the highest-grossing horror movie in 1981?
An American Werewolf in London (1981) leads with $30.8M worldwide, $30.6M of it in the US & Canada. Next come Halloween II (1981) at $25.5M and Ghost Story (1981) at $23.4M.
How much did horror movies released in 1981 earn?
23 horror films released in 1981 report a worldwide gross, $209.9M in all, or $9.1M per film on average. 1980 releases took $175M.
How many horror movies released in 1981 made $1 billion?
None. The biggest, An American Werewolf in London (1981), earned $30.8M.
How is the 1981 horror 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 horror 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.