#1 of 36 #1 thriller movie of 1981
1981 · Action, Adventure
$54.8M worldwide · 14% of the chart's total
$54.8M US & Canada · 100% $24.9K elsewhere · <1%
Thriller box office · 1981
Thriller Box Office 1981: Highest-Grossing Thriller Movies
For Your Eyes Only (1981) is the highest-grossing thriller movie released in 1981, with $54.8M worldwide, ahead of Absence of Malice (1981) at $40.7M and Sharky's Machine (1981) at $35.6M. 36 thriller films released in 1981 report a worldwide gross, $397.1M in all, 99% of it from the US & Canada. That is up 36% on 1980, whose releases took $291.5M. By language, English leads with $396.9M across 34 thriller releases.
- 1981 releases with a gross
- 36
- combined worldwide
- $397.1M
- For Your Eyes Only (1981), the #1
- $54.8M
- vs 1980
- +36%
#1 of 36 Top 5
What Were the Biggest Thriller Hits of 1981?
For Your Eyes Only (1981) leads with $54.8M, 14% of the total. The top 5 together took $180.8M, 46% of what all 36 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 Thriller 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: $54.8M Rest of the world: $24.9K Worldwide: $54.8M
- 2 Dec 18, 1981 US and Canada: $40.7M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $40.7M
- 3 Dec 18, 1981 US and Canada: $35.6M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $35.6M
- 4 Oct 30, 1981 US and Canada: $25.5M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $25.5M
- 5 Aug 28, 1981 US and Canada: $24.1M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $24.1M
- 6
Dec 18, 1981 US and Canada: $23.4M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $23.4M - 7
May 1, 1981 US and Canada: $21.7M Rest of the world: $199 Worldwide: $21.7M - 8
Apr 10, 1981 US and Canada: $14.9M Rest of the world: $5M Worldwide: $19.9M - 9
Jul 24, 1981 US and Canada: $17.6M Rest of the world: $52 Worldwide: $17.6M - 10
May 22, 1981 US and Canada: $17.4M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $17.4M - 11
Jan 14, 1981 US and Canada: $14.2M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $14.2M - 12
The Postman Always Rings Twice (1981)Mar 20, 1981 US and Canada: $12.4M Rest of the world: $6.8K Worldwide: $12.4M
Mar 20, 1981 · English · Drama, Thriller, Romance $12.4M worldwide - 13
Jul 24, 1981 US and Canada: $12M Rest of the world: $1.5K Worldwide: $12M - 14
Mar 27, 1981 US and Canada: $11.5M Rest of the world: $2.6K Worldwide: $11.5M - 15
Dec 11, 1981 US and Canada: $10.9M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $10.9M - 16
Jul 24, 1981 US and Canada: $10.6M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $10.6M - 17
Dec 11, 1981 US and Canada: $6.9M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $6.9M - 18
Feb 13, 1981 US and Canada: $6.4M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $6.4M - 19
Feb 11, 1981 US and Canada: $5.7M Rest of the world: $1.3K Worldwide: $5.7M - 20
Nov 28, 1981 US and Canada: $5.2M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $5.2M - 21
Oct 9, 1981 US and Canada: $5M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $5M - 22
The Pursuit of D.B. Cooper (1981)Nov 13, 1981 US and Canada: $3.7M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $3.7M Nov 13, 1981 · English · Adventure, Thriller, Crime $3.7M worldwide - 23
May 15, 1981 US and Canada: $3.1M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $3.1M - 24
Apr 24, 1981 US and Canada: $2.4M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $2.4M - 25
Feb 11, 1981 US and Canada: $2M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $2M - 26
Mar 20, 1981 US and Canada: $1.7M Rest of the world: $23.4K Worldwide: $1.8M - 27
Jan 7, 1981 US and Canada: $1.2M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $1.2M - 28
Feb 11, 1981 US and Canada: $1.1M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $1.1M - 29
Mar 11, 1981 US and Canada: $183.4K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $183.4K - 30
Oct 30, 1981 US and Canada: $110K Rest of the world: $401 Worldwide: $110.4K - 31
Sep 17, 1981 US and Canada: $39K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $39K - 32
Oct 23, 1981 US and Canada: $560 Rest of the world: Worldwide: $560 - 33
Nov 19, 1981 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $306 - 34
Oct 1, 1981 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $297 - 35
Apr 24, 1981 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $91 - 36
Aug 14, 1981 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $17
US & Canada vs the world
Where Did the Money Come From in 1981?
Of the top 10, Absence of Malice (1981) earned the biggest share at home (100% in the US & Canada), while Nighthawks (1981) made 25% of its gross abroad. Across all 36 films, $392.1M (99%) came from the US & Canada.
- 1 For Your Eyes Only (1981) $54.8M $54.8M US & Canada · 100% $24.9K elsewhere · <1%
- 2 Absence of Malice (1981) $40.7M $40.7M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 3 Sharky's Machine (1981) $35.6M $35.6M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 4 Halloween II (1981) $25.5M $25.5M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 5 Body Heat (1981) $24.1M $24.1M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 6 Ghost Story (1981) $23.4M $23.4M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 7 Friday the 13th Part 2 (1981) $21.7M $21.7M US & Canada · 100% $199 elsewhere · <1%
- 8 Nighthawks (1981) $19.9M $14.9M US & Canada · 75% $5M elsewhere · 25%
- 9 Eye of the Needle (1981) $17.6M $17.6M US & Canada · 100% $52 elsewhere · <1%
- 10 Outland (1981) $17.4M $17.4M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
Gross bands
How Many 1981 Releases Crossed $100 Million?
None of the 36 films reached $100M. 20 films, 56% of the list, earned under $10M. Each band shows its films and its share of the $397.1M total.
89% 11%
- $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 16 films, 44% of the list $352.3M · 89% of the gross
- Under $10M 20 films, 56% of the list $44.8M · 11% of the gross
By release month
Which Month of 1981 Earned the Most?
December releases took the most, $117.4M from 5 films, led by Absence of Malice (1981). September was the quietest month ($39K). Each column is a release month and links to that month's chart.
- January Jan Scanners (1981) $15.4M Scanners (1981)
- February Feb Eyewitness (1981) $15.2M Eyewitness (1981)
- March Mar The Postman Always Rings Twice (1981) $25.8M The Postman Always Rings Twice (1981)
- April Apr Nighthawks (1981) $22.4M Nighthawks (1981)
- May May Friday the 13th Part 2 (1981) $42.2M Friday the 13th Part 2 (1981)
- June Jun For Your Eyes Only (1981) $54.8M For Your Eyes Only (1981)
- July Jul Eye of the Needle (1981) $40.2M Eye of the Needle (1981)
- August Aug Body Heat (1981) $24.1M Body Heat (1981)
- September Sep The Girl with the Red Hair (1981) $39K The Girl with the Red Hair (1981)
- October Oct Halloween II (1981) $30.6M Halloween II (1981)
- November Nov Venom (1981) $8.9M Venom (1981)
- December Dec Absence of Malice (1981) $117.4M Absence of Malice (1981)
Last 10 years
How Does 1981 Compare With Previous Years?
Of these 10 years, 1978 earned the most: $674.5M from 14 films, led by Superman (1978). 1981 took $397.1M.
| Year | Films | Worldwide | Change | Biggest film |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1972 8 films | 8 | $334.9M | – | The Godfather (1972) $250.3M |
| 1973 15 films · +52% | 15 | $509M | +52% | The Exorcist (1973) $430.9M |
| 1974 21 films · −31% | 21 | $352.9M | −31% | The Towering Inferno (1974) $116M |
| 1975 11 films · +67% | 11 | $589.1M | +67% | Jaws (1975) $477.9M |
| 1976 13 films · −66% | 13 | $200.3M | −66% | All the President's Men (1976) $70.6M |
| 1977 10 films · −20% | 10 | $161.1M | −20% | The Deep (1977) $47.3M |
| 1978 14 films · +319% | 14 | $674.5M | +319% | Superman (1978) $300.5M |
| 1979 18 films · −33% | 18 | $452.1M | −33% | Moonraker (1979) $210.3M |
| 1980 21 films · −36% | 21 | $291.5M | −36% | The Shining (1980) $48M |
| 1981 36 films · +36% | 36 | $397.1M | +36% | For Your Eyes Only (1981) $54.8M |
By language
Which Languages Do the Biggest Thriller Movies Speak in 1981?
English-language thriller films took $396.9M across 34 films, 100% of the total, ahead of French-language thriller films ($183.4K) and Dutch-language thriller films ($39K).
Archive
Thriller Box Office Year by Year
Every year from 1920 to 2026 with its total and its biggest film. 2015 leads with $12.8B, led by Jurassic World (2015).
2020s 7 years · $38.5B
- 2026 so far $2.6B #1 Project Hail Mary (2026)
- 2025 $7.7B #1 Avatar: Fire and Ash (2025)
- 2024 $5.7B #1 Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire (2024)
- 2023 $7.9B #1 Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023)
- 2022 $7.1B #1 Avatar: The Way of Water (2022)
- 2021 $5.5B #1 No Time to Die (2021)
- 2020 $2B #1 Bad Boys for Life (2020)
2010s 10 years · $93.9B
- 2019 $8.6B #1 Joker (2019)
- 2018 $10B #1 Venom (2018)
- 2017 $10.2B #1 The Fate of the Furious (2017)
- 2016 $7.6B #1 Captain America: Civil War (2016)
- 2015 $12.8B #1 Jurassic World (2015)
- 2014 $8.5B #1 The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1 (2014)
- 2013 $10.5B #1 Iron Man 3 (2013)
- 2012 $12B #1 The Avengers (2012)
- 2011 $5B #1 The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1 (2011)
- 2010 $8.6B #1 Inception (2010)
2000s 10 years · $67.5B
- 2009 $8.6B #1 Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (2009)
- 2008 $8.5B #1 The Dark Knight (2008)
- 2007 $8.8B #1 Spider-Man 3 (2007)
- 2006 $7B #1 The Da Vinci Code (2006)
- 2005 $5.8B #1 War of the Worlds (2005)
- 2004 $6.7B #1 Spider-Man 2 (2004)
- 2003 $6.6B #1 The Matrix Reloaded (2003)
- 2002 $5.2B #1 Die Another Day (2002)
- 2001 $5.3B #1 Ocean's Eleven (2001)
- 2000 $5B #1 Mission: Impossible II (2000)
1990s 10 years · $36B
- 1999 $5.2B #1 The Sixth Sense (1999)
- 1998 $4.2B #1 Armageddon (1998)
- 1997 $5.1B #1 The Lost World: Jurassic Park (1997)
- 1996 $5B #1 Independence Day (1996)
- 1995 $3.9B #1 Die Hard: With a Vengeance (1995)
- 1994 $2.9B #1 True Lies (1994)
- 1993 $2.3B #1 The Fugitive (1993)
- 1992 $2.3B #1 Basic Instinct (1992)
- 1991 $2.2B #1 Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)
- 1990 $3B #1 Ghost (1990)
1980s 10 years · $9.2B
- 1989 $1.8B #1 Batman (1989)
- 1988 $995.3M #1 Rambo III (1988)
- 1987 $1.7B #1 Fatal Attraction (1987)
- 1986 $571.7M #1 Aliens (1986)
- 1985 $908.2M #1 Rambo: First Blood Part II (1985)
- 1984 $822.8M #1 Beverly Hills Cop (1984)
- 1983 $1.2B #1 Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983)
- 1982 $608M #1 First Blood (1982)
- 1981 $397.1M #1 For Your Eyes Only (1981)
- 1980 $291.5M #1 The Shining (1980)
1970s 10 years · $3.5B
- 1979 $452.1M #1 Moonraker (1979)
- 1978 $674.5M #1 Superman (1978)
- 1977 $161.1M #1 The Deep (1977)
- 1976 $200.3M #1 All the President's Men (1976)
- 1975 $589.1M #1 Jaws (1975)
- 1974 $352.9M #1 The Towering Inferno (1974)
- 1973 $509M #1 The Exorcist (1973)
- 1972 $334.9M #1 The Godfather (1972)
- 1971 $141.7M #1 The French Connection (1971)
- 1970 $120.3M #1 Airport (1970)
1960s 10 years · $273.6M
- 1969 $24.3M #1 On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969)
- 1968 $3.7M #1 Coogan’s Bluff (1968)
- 1967 $43.9M #1 You Only Live Twice (1967)
- 1966 $47.4K #1 Blow-Up (1966)
- 1965 $114.9M #1 Thunderball (1965)
- 1964 $34.5M #1 From Russia with Love (1964)
- 1963 $16.6M #1 Dr. No (1963)
- 1962 $2.9M #1 The Manchurian Candidate (1962)
- 1961 $69.7K #1 Yojimbo (1961)
- 1960 $32.7M #1 Psycho (1960)
1950s 10 years · $52.7M
- 1959 $215.4K #1 North by Northwest (1959)
- 1958 $10.7M #1 Vertigo (1958)
- 1957 $27.4K #1 The Curse of Frankenstein (1957)
- 1956 $18.2K #1 The Man Who Knew Too Much (1956)
- 1955 $2.3M #1 Kiss Me Deadly (1955)
- 1954 $38.5M #1 Rear Window (1954)
- 1953 $46.2K #1 The Wages of Fear (1953)
- 1952 $26K #1 Sudden Fear (1952)
- 1951 $52K #1 Strangers on a Train (1951)
- 1950 $816.7K #1 Shadow on the Wall (1950)
1940s 10 years · $12.3M
- 1949 $1.5M #1 The Third Man (1949)
- 1948 $464.6K #1 The Fallen Idol (1948)
- 1947 $79K #1 Odd Man Out (1947)
- 1946 $10M #1 Cloak and Dagger (1946)
- 1945 $94.2K #1 Dead of Night (1945)
- 1944 $23.6K #1 Double Indemnity (1944)
- 1943 $37K #1 Le Corbeau (1943)
- 1942 $47.5K #1 Went the Day Well? (1942)
- 1941 $19 #1 Suspicion (1941)
- 1940 $114.1K #1 Rebecca (1940)
1930s 7 years · $195.5K
FAQ
Thriller 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 36 films as the chart.
What is the highest-grossing thriller movie in 1981?
For Your Eyes Only (1981) leads with $54.8M worldwide, $54.8M of it in the US & Canada. Next come Absence of Malice (1981) at $40.7M and Sharky's Machine (1981) at $35.6M.
How much did thriller movies released in 1981 earn?
36 thriller films released in 1981 report a worldwide gross, $397.1M in all, or $11M per film on average. 1980 releases took $291.5M.
How many thriller movies released in 1981 made $1 billion?
None. The biggest, For Your Eyes Only (1981), earned $54.8M.
How is the 1981 thriller 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 thriller 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.