#1 of 9 #1 English-language movie of May 1981
1981 · Romance, Drama
$50.4M worldwide · 39% of the chart's total
$50.4M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
English box office · May 1981
English Box Office, May 1981: Top-Grossing Releases
The Four Seasons (1981) is the highest-grossing English-language movie released in May 1981, with $50.4M worldwide, ahead of Bustin’ Loose (1981) at $31.3M and Friday the 13th Part 2 (1981) at $21.7M. 9 English-language films released in May 1981 report a worldwide gross, $130.9M in all, 100% of it from the US & Canada. That is down 5% on April 1981, whose releases took $137.4M. By genre, Drama leads with $91.8M across 5 English releases.
- May 1981 releases with a gross
- 9
- combined worldwide
- $130.9M
- The Four Seasons (1981), the #1
- $50.4M
- vs April 1981
- −5%
#1 of 9 Top 5
What Were the Biggest English Hits of May 1981?
The Four Seasons (1981) leads with $50.4M, 39% of the total. The top 5 together took $126M, 96% of what all 9 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 English Release of May 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 May 1981.
- 1 May 22, 1981 US and Canada: $50.4M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $50.4M
- 2 May 22, 1981 US and Canada: $31.3M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $31.3M
- 3 May 1, 1981 US and Canada: $21.7M Rest of the world: $199 Worldwide: $21.7M
- 4 May 22, 1981 US and Canada: $17.4M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $17.4M
- 5 May 4, 1981 US and Canada: $5.2M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $5.2M
- 6
May 15, 1981 US and Canada: $3.1M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $3.1M - 7
May 1, 1981 US and Canada: $1.8M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $1.8M - 8
May 8, 1981 US and Canada: $19.5K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $19.5K - 9
May 29, 1981 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $5.1K
US & Canada vs the world
Where Did the Money Come From in May 1981?
Of the top 9, The Four Seasons (1981) earned the biggest share at home (100% in the US & Canada), while Friday the 13th Part 2 (1981) made <1% of its gross abroad. Across all 9 films, $130.9M (100%) came from the US & Canada. 1 film of the top 9 reports no US & Canada figure.
- 1 The Four Seasons (1981) $50.4M $50.4M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 2 Bustin’ Loose (1981) $31.3M $31.3M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 3 Friday the 13th Part 2 (1981) $21.7M $21.7M US & Canada · 100% $199 elsewhere · <1%
- 4 Outland (1981) $17.4M $17.4M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 5 Inchon (1981) $5.2M $5.2M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 6 The Fan (1981) $3.1M $3.1M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 7 King of the Mountain (1981) $1.8M $1.8M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 8 Second-Hand Hearts (1981) $19.5K $19.5K US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 9 Polyester (1981) $5.1K No US & Canada figure reported
By release week
Which Week of May 1981 Had the Biggest Releases?
Films released in week 21 (May 17–23) took $99.1M, led by The Four Seasons (1981). Each column links to that week's chart; weeks are Sunday to Saturday.
- Week 18 Wk 18 Apr 26–May 2 Friday the 13th Part 2 (1981) $23.5M Friday the 13th Part 2 (1981)
- Week 19 Wk 19 May 3–9 Inchon (1981) $5.2M Inchon (1981)
- Week 20 Wk 20 May 10–16 The Fan (1981) $3.1M The Fan (1981)
- Week 21 Wk 21 May 17–23 The Four Seasons (1981) $99.1M The Four Seasons (1981)
- Week 22 Wk 22 May 24–30 Polyester (1981) $5.1K Polyester (1981)
- Week 23 Wk 23 May 31–Jun 6 No reported grosses – No reported grosses
Earlier years
How Does May 1981 Compare With May in Earlier Years?
Of these 10 years, May 1977 earned the most: $903M from 6 films, led by Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977). May 1981 took $130.9M.
| Month | Films | Worldwide | Change | Biggest film |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 1972 2 films | 2 | $16.8K | – | Play It Again, Sam (1972) $15.4K |
| May 1973 4 films · −45% | 4 | $9.2K | −45% | Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid (1973) $8.5K |
| May 1974 3 films · +237186% | 3 | $21.8M | +237186% | Thunderbolt and Lightfoot (1974) $21.7M |
| May 1975 5 films · +214% | 5 | $68.5M | +214% | The Return of the Pink Panther (1975) $41.8M |
| May 1976 3 films · −92% | 3 | $5.2M | −92% | That's Entertainment, Part II (1976) $5M |
| May 1977 6 films · +17382% | 6 | $903M | +17382% | Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977) $775.4M |
| May 1978 7 films · −97% | 7 | $31.1M | −97% | The Greek Tycoon (1978) $14.7M |
| May 1979 6 films · −83% | 6 | $5.2M | −83% | Zulu Dawn (1979) $1.9M |
| May 1980 11 films · +13411% | 11 | $700M | +13411% | Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980) $550M |
| May 1981 9 films · −81% | 9 | $130.9M | −81% | The Four Seasons (1981) $50.4M |
By genre
Which English Genres Earned the Most in May 1981?
Drama took $91.8M across 5 films, 70% of the total, ahead of Comedy ($81.7M) and Romance ($50.4M). A film counts once for each of its genres.
May 1981 English Box Office by Genre
-
Drama $91.8M5 films · #1 The Four Seasons (1981) -
Comedy $81.7M4 films · #1 The Four Seasons (1981) -
Romance $50.4M1 film · #1 The Four Seasons (1981) -
Thriller $42.2M3 films · #1 Friday the 13th Part 2 (1981) -
Horror $24.8M2 films · #1 Friday the 13th Part 2 (1981) -
Mystery $21.7M1 film · #1 Friday the 13th Part 2 (1981) -
Action $17.4M1 film · #1 Outland (1981) -
Crime $17.4M1 film · #1 Outland (1981) -
Sci-Fi $17.4M1 film · #1 Outland (1981) -
Western $17.4M1 film · #1 Outland (1981)
Archive
English Box Office in 1981, Month by Month
The months of 1981 with their totals: June leads with $572.7M, led by Superman II (1981).
- January $35.7M #1 The Incredible Shrinking Woman (1981)
- February $50M #1 Fort Apache the Bronx (1981)
- March $89.6M #1 The Final Conflict (1981)
- April $137.4M #1 Excalibur (1981)
- May $130.9M #1 The Four Seasons (1981)
- June $572.7M #1 Superman II (1981)
- July $340.9M #1 Arthur (1981)
- August $119.4M #1 An American Werewolf in London (1981)
- September $75M #1 Only When I Laugh (1981)
- October $81.3M #1 The French Lieutenant's Woman (1981)
- November $66.2M #1 Time Bandits (1981)
- December $379.6M #1 On Golden Pond (1981)
FAQ
English Box Office May 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 9 films as the chart.
What is the highest-grossing English-language movie in May 1981?
The Four Seasons (1981) leads with $50.4M worldwide, $50.4M of it in the US & Canada. Next come Bustin’ Loose (1981) at $31.3M and Friday the 13th Part 2 (1981) at $21.7M.
How much did English-language movies released in May 1981 earn?
9 English-language films released in May 1981 report a worldwide gross, $130.9M in all, or $14.5M per film on average. April 1981 releases took $137.4M.
How many English-language movies released in May 1981 made $1 billion?
None. The biggest, The Four Seasons (1981), earned $50.4M.
How is the May 1981 English 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 May 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, and so are films whose stored language is most likely wrong.
How often is the May 1981 English 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.