#1 of 8 #1 sci-fi movie of 1981
1981 · Action, Adventure
$216.4M worldwide · 60% of the chart's total
$108.2M US & Canada · 50% $108.2M elsewhere · 50%
Sci-Fi box office · 1981
Sci-Fi Box Office 1981: Highest-Grossing Sci-Fi Movies
Superman II (1981) is the highest-grossing sci-fi movie released in 1981, with $216.4M worldwide, ahead of Time Bandits (1981) at $42.4M and Modern Problems (1981) at $26.2M. 8 sci-fi films released in 1981 report a worldwide gross, $362.6M in all, 70% of it from the US & Canada. One film crossed $100 million; none reached $1 billion. That is down 44% on 1980, whose releases took $645.6M. By language, English leads with $362.6M across 8 sci-fi releases.
- 1981 releases with a gross
- 8
- combined worldwide
- $362.6M
- film crossed $100M
- 1
- vs 1980
- −44%
#1 of 8 Top 5
What Were the Biggest Sci-Fi Hits of 1981?
Superman II (1981) leads with $216.4M, 60% of the total. The top 5 together took $330.4M, 91% 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 Sci-Fi 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 19, 1981 US and Canada: $108.2M Rest of the world: $108.2M Worldwide: $216.4M
- 2 Nov 6, 1981 US and Canada: $42.4M Rest of the world: $2.4K Worldwide: $42.4M
- 3 Dec 25, 1981 US and Canada: $26.2M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $26.2M
- 4 Jul 10, 1981 US and Canada: $25.2M Rest of the world: $32K Worldwide: $25.3M
- 5 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 - 6
May 22, 1981 US and Canada: $17.4M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $17.4M - 7
Jan 14, 1981 US and Canada: $14.2M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $14.2M - 8
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 8, Modern Problems (1981) earned the biggest share at home (100% in the US & Canada), while Superman II (1981) made 50% of its gross abroad. Across all 8 films, $254.4M (70%) came from the US & Canada.
- 1 Superman II (1981) $216.4M $108.2M US & Canada · 50% $108.2M elsewhere · 50%
- 2 Time Bandits (1981) $42.4M $42.4M US & Canada · 100% $2.4K elsewhere · <1%
- 3 Modern Problems (1981) $26.2M $26.2M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 4 Escape from New York (1981) $25.3M $25.2M US & Canada · 100% $32K elsewhere · <1%
- 5 The Incredible Shrinking Woman (1981) $20.3M $20.3M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 6 Outland (1981) $17.4M $17.4M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 7 Scanners (1981) $14.2M $14.2M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 8 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, $216.4M from 1 film, led by Superman II (1981). August was the quietest month ($547.6K). Each column is a release month and links to that month's chart.
- January Jan The Incredible Shrinking Woman (1981) $34.5M The Incredible Shrinking Woman (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 Outland (1981) $17.4M Outland (1981)
- June Jun Superman II (1981) $216.4M Superman II (1981)
- July Jul Escape from New York (1981) $25.3M Escape from New York (1981)
- 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: $1.1B from 4 films, led by Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977). 1981 took $362.6M.
| Year | Films | Worldwide | Change | Biggest film |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1972 3 films | 3 | $9.3M | – | Conquest of the Planet of the Apes (1972) $9M |
| 1973 5 films · +193% | 5 | $27.2M | +193% | Sleeper (1973) $18.3M |
| 1974 5 films · −98% | 5 | $560.7K | −98% | The Terminal Man (1974) $551.9K |
| 1975 3 films · +595% | 3 | $3.9M | +595% | Bug (1975) $3.6M |
| 1976 3 films · +5% | 3 | $4.1M | +5% | Robot Taekwon V (1976) $3.9M |
| 1977 4 films · +26431% | 4 | $1.1B | +26431% | Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977) $775.4M |
| 1978 5 films · −68% | 5 | $341.8M | −68% | Superman (1978) $300.5M |
| 1979 12 films · +46% | 12 | $500.5M | +46% | Moonraker (1979) $210.3M |
| 1980 9 films · +29% | 9 | $645.6M | +29% | Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980) $550M |
| 1981 8 films · −44% | 8 | $362.6M | −44% | Superman II (1981) $216.4M |
Archive
Sci-Fi Box Office Year by Year
Every year from 1933 to 2026 with its total and its biggest film. 2018 leads with $15.1B, led by Avengers: Infinity War (2018).
2020s 7 years · $37.1B
- 2026 so far $5.9B #1 Spider-Man: Brand New Day (2026)
- 2025 $4.9B #1 Avatar: Fire and Ash (2025)
- 2024 $6.9B #1 Deadpool & Wolverine (2024)
- 2023 $4.7B #1 Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023)
- 2022 $7.5B #1 Avatar: The Way of Water (2022)
- 2021 $6.2B #1 Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021)
- 2020 $912.4M #1 Tenet (2020)
2010s 10 years · $87.8B
- 2019 $10.3B #1 Avengers: Endgame (2019)
- 2018 $15.1B #1 Avengers: Infinity War (2018)
- 2017 $11.1B #1 Star Wars: Episode VIII - The Last Jedi (2017)
- 2016 $8.4B #1 Captain America: Civil War (2016)
- 2015 $10.2B #1 Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens (2015)
- 2014 $9.7B #1 Transformers: Age Of Extinction (2014)
- 2013 $8.6B #1 Iron Man 3 (2013)
- 2012 $5.6B #1 The Avengers (2012)
- 2011 $4.8B #1 Transformers: Dark of the Moon (2011)
- 2010 $3.9B #1 Inception (2010)
2000s 10 years · $31B
- 2009 $7.9B #1 Avatar (2009)
- 2008 $3.2B #1 Iron Man (2008)
- 2007 $2.5B #1 Transformers (2007)
- 2006 $1.6B #1 X-Men: The Last Stand (2006)
- 2005 $3.3B #1 Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith (2005)
- 2004 $2.5B #1 Spider-Man 2 (2004)
- 2003 $3.4B #1 The Matrix Reloaded (2003)
- 2002 $3B #1 Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones (2002)
- 2001 $2.3B #1 The Mummy Returns (2001)
- 2000 $1.3B #1 X-Men (2000)
1990s 10 years · $12.5B
- 1999 $2.3B #1 Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999)
- 1998 $1.9B #1 Armageddon (1998)
- 1997 $2.7B #1 The Lost World: Jurassic Park (1997)
- 1996 $1.5B #1 Independence Day (1996)
- 1995 $918.9M #1 Waterworld (1995)
- 1994 $555.9M #1 Stargate (1994)
- 1993 $199.7M #1 Demolition Man (1993)
- 1992 $456.9M #1 Alien 3 (1992)
- 1991 $819.7M #1 Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)
- 1990 $995.3M #1 Total Recall (1990)
1980s 10 years · $5.4B
- 1989 $1B #1 Back to the Future Part II (1989)
- 1988 $139.1M #1 Alien Nation (1988)
- 1987 $360.5M #1 Predator (1987)
- 1986 $504.9M #1 Aliens (1986)
- 1985 $654.3M #1 Back to the Future (1985)
- 1984 $693.3M #1 Ghostbusters (1984)
- 1983 $781.3M #1 Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983)
- 1982 $234.5M #1 Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (1982)
- 1981 $362.6M #1 Superman II (1981)
- 1980 $645.6M #1 Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
1970s 10 years · $2B
- 1979 $500.5M #1 Moonraker (1979)
- 1978 $341.8M #1 Superman (1978)
- 1977 $1.1B #1 Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977)
- 1976 $4.1M #1 Robot Taekwon V (1976)
- 1975 $3.9M #1 Bug (1975)
- 1974 $560.7K #1 The Terminal Man (1974)
- 1973 $27.2M #1 Sleeper (1973)
- 1972 $9.3M #1 Conquest of the Planet of the Apes (1972)
- 1971 $42.1M #1 A Clockwork Orange (1971)
- 1970 $19M #1 Beneath the Planet of the Apes (1970)
1960s 8 years · $33.1M
- 1969 $171 #1 Night of the Bloody Apes (1969)
- 1968 $32.6M #1 Planet of the Apes (1968)
- 1967 $240.1K #1 Night of the Big Heat (1967)
- 1966 $36.5K #1 The Face of Another (1966)
- 1965 $180.7K #1 Dr. Who and the Daleks (1965)
- 1964 $492 #1 Mothra vs. Godzilla (1964)
- 1961 $90 #1 Mothra (1961)
- 1960 $5.9K #1 The Time Machine (1960)
1950s 9 years · $696.6K
- 1959 $12.1K #1 On the Beach (1959)
- 1958 $16.3K #1 Hare-Way to the Stars (1958)
- 1957 $30K #1 The Curse of Frankenstein (1957)
- 1956 $3.7K #1 Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956)
- 1955 $291 #1 Godzilla Raids Again (1955)
- 1954 $594.6K #1 Godzilla (1954)
- 1953 $15K #1 Duck Dodgers in the 24½th Century (1953)
- 1952 $15K #1 Water, Water Every Hare (1952)
- 1951 $9.6K #1 The Man in the White Suit (1951)
1940s 1 year · $14.8K
FAQ
Sci-Fi 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 sci-fi movie in 1981?
Superman II (1981) leads with $216.4M worldwide, $108.2M of it in the US & Canada. Next come Time Bandits (1981) at $42.4M and Modern Problems (1981) at $26.2M.
How much did sci-fi movies released in 1981 earn?
8 sci-fi films released in 1981 report a worldwide gross, $362.6M in all, or $45.3M per film on average. 1980 releases took $645.6M.
How many sci-fi movies released in 1981 made $1 billion?
None. 1 film crossed $100 million, led by Superman II (1981) with $216.4M.
How is the 1981 sci-fi 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 sci-fi 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.