#1 of 16 #1 mystery movie of 1981
1981 · Adventure, Mystery
$31.2M worldwide · 30% of the chart's total
$31.2M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
Mystery box office · 1981
Mystery Box Office 1981: Highest-Grossing Mystery Movies
The Great Muppet Caper (1981) is the highest-grossing mystery movie released in 1981, with $31.2M worldwide, ahead of Friday the 13th Part 2 (1981) at $21.7M and Blow Out (1981) at $12M. 16 mystery films released in 1981 report a worldwide gross, $103M in all, 100% of it from the US & Canada. That is down 16% on 1980, whose releases took $122.9M. By language, English leads with $103M across 14 mystery releases.
- 1981 releases with a gross
- 16
- combined worldwide
- $103M
- The Great Muppet Caper (1981), the #1
- $31.2M
- vs 1980
- −16%
#1 of 16 Top 5
What Were the Biggest Mystery Hits of 1981?
The Great Muppet Caper (1981) leads with $31.2M, 30% of the total. The top 5 together took $82.2M, 80% of what all 16 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 Mystery 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 Jun 26, 1981 US and Canada: $31.2M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $31.2M
- 2 May 1, 1981 US and Canada: $21.7M Rest of the world: $199 Worldwide: $21.7M
- 3 Jul 24, 1981 US and Canada: $12M Rest of the world: $1.5K Worldwide: $12M
- 4 Dec 11, 1981 US and Canada: $10.9M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $10.9M
- 5 Feb 13, 1981 US and Canada: $6.4M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $6.4M
- 6
Feb 11, 1981 US and Canada: $5.7M Rest of the world: $1.3K Worldwide: $5.7M - 7
Aug 7, 1981 US and Canada: $5.2M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $5.2M - 8
Oct 9, 1981 US and Canada: $5M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $5M - 9
Feb 11, 1981 US and Canada: $2M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $2M - 10
Mar 20, 1981 US and Canada: $1.7M Rest of the world: $23.4K Worldwide: $1.8M - 11
Jan 7, 1981 US and Canada: $1.2M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $1.2M - 12
Oct 7, 1981 US and Canada: $17.1K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $17.1K - 13
Oct 23, 1981 US and Canada: $560 Rest of the world: Worldwide: $560 - 14
Aug 14, 1981 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $462 - 15
Nov 19, 1981 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $306 - 16
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, The Great Muppet Caper (1981) earned the biggest share at home (100% in the US & Canada), while Cutter's Way (1981) made 1% of its gross abroad. Across all 16 films, $103M (100%) came from the US & Canada.
- 1 The Great Muppet Caper (1981) $31.2M $31.2M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 2 Friday the 13th Part 2 (1981) $21.7M $21.7M US & Canada · 100% $199 elsewhere · <1%
- 3 Blow Out (1981) $12M $12M US & Canada · 100% $1.5K elsewhere · <1%
- 4 Rollover (1981) $10.9M $10.9M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 5 Eyewitness (1981) $6.4M $6.4M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 6 My Bloody Valentine (1981) $5.7M $5.7M US & Canada · 100% $1.3K elsewhere · <1%
- 7 Student Bodies (1981) $5.2M $5.2M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 8 The Watcher in the Woods (1981) $5M $5M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 9 Sphinx (1981) $2M $2M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 10 Cutter's Way (1981) $1.8M $1.7M US & Canada · 99% $23.4K elsewhere · 1%
Gross bands
How Many 1981 Releases Crossed $100 Million?
None of the 16 films reached $100M. 12 films, 75% of the list, earned under $10M. Each band shows its films and its share of the $103M total.
74% 26%
- $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 4 films, 25% of the list $75.8M · 74% of the gross
- Under $10M 12 films, 75% of the list $27.2M · 26% of the gross
By release month
Which Month of 1981 Earned the Most?
June releases took the most, $31.2M from 1 film, led by The Great Muppet Caper (1981). November was the quietest month ($306). Each column is a release month and links to that month's chart.
- January Jan Night School (1981) $1.2M Night School (1981)
- February Feb Eyewitness (1981) $14.1M Eyewitness (1981)
- March Mar Cutter's Way (1981) $1.8M Cutter's Way (1981)
- April Apr No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- May May Friday the 13th Part 2 (1981) $21.7M Friday the 13th Part 2 (1981)
- June Jun The Great Muppet Caper (1981) $31.2M The Great Muppet Caper (1981)
- July Jul Blow Out (1981) $12M Blow Out (1981)
- August Aug Student Bodies (1981) $5.2M Student Bodies (1981)
- 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 Road Games (1981) $306 Road Games (1981)
- December Dec Rollover (1981) $10.9M Rollover (1981)
Last 10 years
How Does 1981 Compare With Previous Years?
Of these 10 years, 1978 earned the most: $142.2M from 5 films, led by Revenge of the Pink Panther (1978). 1981 took $103M.
| Year | Films | Worldwide | Change | Biggest film |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1972 2 films | 2 | $232.4K | – | Solaris (1972) $231K |
| 1973 6 films · +23917% | 6 | $55.8M | +23917% | Magnum Force (1973) $39.8M |
| 1974 6 films · +67% | 6 | $93.3M | +67% | The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974) $30.9M |
| 1975 5 films · −20% | 5 | $74.2M | −20% | The Return of the Pink Panther (1975) $41.8M |
| 1976 4 films · −97% | 4 | $2.3M | −97% | The Tenant (1976) $1.9M |
| 1977 7 films · +2006% | 7 | $47.4M | +2006% | The Deep (1977) $47.3M |
| 1978 5 films · +200% | 5 | $142.2M | +200% | Revenge of the Pink Panther (1978) $49.6M |
| 1979 5 films · −25% | 5 | $106.8M | −25% | Star Trek: The Motion Picture (1979) $82.7M |
| 1980 8 films · +15% | 8 | $122.9M | +15% | Dressed to Kill (1980) $31.9M |
| 1981 16 films · −16% | 16 | $103M | −16% | The Great Muppet Caper (1981) $31.2M |
By language
Which Languages Do the Biggest Mystery Movies Speak in 1981?
English-language mystery films took $103M across 14 films, 100% of the total, ahead of French-language mystery films ($17.1K) and Italian-language mystery films ($462).
Archive
Mystery Box Office Year by Year
Every year from 1924 to 2026 with its total and its biggest film. 2023 leads with $4B, led by Fast X (2023).
2020s 7 years · $14.2B
2010s 10 years · $24.4B
- 2019 $2.9B #1 Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood (2019)
- 2018 $2.8B #1 The Nun (2018)
- 2017 $3B #1 Murder on the Orient Express (2017)
- 2016 $2.3B #1 Now You See Me 2 (2016)
- 2015 $1.2B #1 Tomorrowland (2015)
- 2014 $1.7B #1 Gone Girl (2014)
- 2013 $2.3B #1 Gravity (2013)
- 2012 $1.4B #1 The Bourne Legacy (2012)
- 2011 $3.1B #1 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (2011)
- 2010 $3.7B #1 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part I (2010)
2000s 10 years · $24.3B
- 2009 $3.4B #1 Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009)
- 2008 $1.8B #1 The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008)
- 2007 $3.4B #1 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007)
- 2006 $2.7B #1 The Da Vinci Code (2006)
- 2005 $2.7B #1 Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005)
- 2004 $3.3B #1 Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004)
- 2003 $1.1B #1 The Haunted Mansion (2003)
- 2002 $2.2B #1 Signs (2002)
- 2001 $2.4B #1 Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (2001)
- 2000 $1.3B #1 What Lies Beneath (2000)
1990s 10 years · $10.4B
- 1999 $3.1B #1 The Sixth Sense (1999)
- 1998 $810M #1 The X Files (1998)
- 1997 $1.2B #1 Scream 2 (1997)
- 1996 $805.2M #1 Eraser (1996)
- 1995 $974.6M #1 Seven (1995)
- 1994 $329.6M #1 The Client (1994)
- 1993 $964.2M #1 The Fugitive (1993)
- 1992 $825.1M #1 Basic Instinct (1992)
- 1991 $525.9M #1 JFK (1991)
- 1990 $868.2M #1 Ghost (1990)
1980s 10 years · $1.7B
- 1989 $195.4M #1 The 'Burbs (1989)
- 1988 $456.1M #1 Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988)
- 1987 $145.3M #1 No Way Out (1987)
- 1986 $182M #1 The Golden Child (1986)
- 1985 $227.7M #1 Fletch (1985)
- 1984 $104.6M #1 Tightrope (1984)
- 1983 $95.5M #1 Psycho II (1983)
- 1982 $109.4M #1 The Thing (1982)
- 1981 $103M #1 The Great Muppet Caper (1981)
- 1980 $122.9M #1 Dressed to Kill (1980)
1970s 10 years · $524.6M
- 1979 $106.8M #1 Star Trek: The Motion Picture (1979)
- 1978 $142.2M #1 Revenge of the Pink Panther (1978)
- 1977 $47.4M #1 The Deep (1977)
- 1976 $2.3M #1 The Tenant (1976)
- 1975 $74.2M #1 The Return of the Pink Panther (1975)
- 1974 $93.3M #1 The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974)
- 1973 $55.8M #1 Magnum Force (1973)
- 1972 $232.4K #1 Solaris (1972)
- 1971 $2.5M #1 THX 1138 (1971)
- 1970 $19.9K #1 The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes (1970)
1960s 9 years · $48.7M
- 1968 $558.4K #1 Bullitt (1968)
- 1967 $38.8K #1 In the Heat of the Night (1967)
- 1966 $139.5K #1 Made in U.S.A (1966)
- 1965 $80K #1 Alphaville (1965)
- 1964 $12.4M #1 A Shot in the Dark (1964)
- 1963 $294.2K #1 Charade (1963)
- 1962 $2.9M #1 The Manchurian Candidate (1962)
- 1961 $1.2K #1 The Naked Edge (1961)
- 1960 $32.3M #1 Psycho (1960)
1950s 8 years · $53.7M
1940s 10 years · $3.6M
- 1949 $1.5M #1 The Third Man (1949)
- 1948 $13.6K #1 Rope (1948)
- 1947 $43.5K #1 Great Expectations (1947)
- 1946 $109.7K #1 The Killers (1946)
- 1945 $31.1K #1 Spellbound (1945)
- 1944 $24.8K #1 Double Indemnity (1944)
- 1943 $36.1K #1 Le Corbeau (1943)
- 1942 $15.6K #1 Keeper of the Flame (1942)
- 1941 $1.8M #1 Citizen Kane (1941)
- 1940 $114.1K #1 Rebecca (1940)
1930s 6 years · $3.3M
FAQ
Mystery 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 16 films as the chart.
What is the highest-grossing mystery movie in 1981?
The Great Muppet Caper (1981) leads with $31.2M worldwide, $31.2M of it in the US & Canada. Next come Friday the 13th Part 2 (1981) at $21.7M and Blow Out (1981) at $12M.
How much did mystery movies released in 1981 earn?
16 mystery films released in 1981 report a worldwide gross, $103M in all, or $6.4M per film on average. 1980 releases took $122.9M.
How many mystery movies released in 1981 made $1 billion?
None. The biggest, The Great Muppet Caper (1981), earned $31.2M.
How is the 1981 mystery 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 mystery 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.