English box office · 1981

English Box Office 1981: Highest-Grossing English Movies, Page 2

Superman II (1981) is the highest-grossing English-language movie released in 1981, with $216.4M worldwide, ahead of On Golden Pond (1981) at $119.3M and Arthur (1981) at $95.5M. 114 English-language films released in 1981 report a worldwide gross, $2.1B in all, 94% of it from the US & Canada. 2 films crossed $100 million; none reached $1 billion. That is down 10% on 1980, whose releases took $2.3B. By genre, Drama leads with $866.3M across 50 English releases.

1981 releases with a gross: 114
combined worldwide: $2.1B
films crossed $100M: 2
vs 1980: −10%

#1 of 114

#1 English-language movie of 1981

Superman II (1981)

1981 · Action, Adventure

$216.4M worldwide · 10% of the chart's total

$108.2M US & Canada · 50% $108.2M elsewhere · 50%

Page 2 of 3

Every English Release of 1981, Ranked by Worldwide Gross

Ranks 51 to 100 of 114. Lifetime worldwide grosses in US dollars, not adjusted for inflation; domestic means the US & Canada. Films are grouped by their release date in 1981.

51
Atlantic City (1981) Apr 3, 1981 · Drama, Romance $12.7M worldwide

Apr 3, 1981 US and Canada: $12.7M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $12.7M
52
The Legend of the Lone Ranger (1981) Aug 6, 1981 · Adventure, Action $12.6M worldwide

Aug 6, 1981 US and Canada: $12.6M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $12.6M
53
First Monday in October (1981) Aug 21, 1981 · Drama, Comedy $12.5M worldwide

Aug 21, 1981 US and Canada: $12.5M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $12.5M
54
The Postman Always Rings Twice (1981) Mar 20, 1981 · Drama, Thriller $12.4M worldwide

Mar 20, 1981 US and Canada: $12.4M Rest of the world: $6.8K Worldwide: $12.4M
55
Blow Out (1981) Jul 24, 1981 · Mystery, Thriller $12M worldwide

Jul 24, 1981 US and Canada: $12M Rest of the world: $1.5K Worldwide: $12M
56
Back Roads (1981) Mar 13, 1981 · Adventure, Comedy $11.8M worldwide

Mar 13, 1981 US and Canada: $11.8M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $11.8M
57
Thief (1981) Mar 27, 1981 · Action, Drama $11.5M worldwide

Mar 27, 1981 US and Canada: $11.5M Rest of the world: $2.6K Worldwide: $11.5M
58
Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) Jun 12, 1981 · Action, Adventure $11M worldwide

Jun 12, 1981 US and Canada: $11M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $11M
59
Victory (1981) Jul 31, 1981 · Drama, Sport $10.9M worldwide

Jul 31, 1981 US and Canada: $10.9M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $10.9M
60
Rollover (1981) Dec 11, 1981 · Drama, Mystery $10.9M worldwide

Dec 11, 1981 US and Canada: $10.9M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $10.9M
61
Wolfen (1981) Jul 24, 1981 · Thriller, Horror $10.6M worldwide

Jul 24, 1981 US and Canada: $10.6M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $10.6M
62
Carbon Copy (1981) Aug 6, 1981 · Drama, Comedy $9.6M worldwide

Aug 6, 1981 US and Canada: $9.6M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $9.6M
63
Deadly Blessing (1981) Aug 14, 1981 · Horror $8.3M worldwide

Aug 14, 1981 US and Canada: $8.3M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $8.3M
64
Whose Life Is It Anyway? (1981) Dec 2, 1981 · Drama $8.2M worldwide

Dec 2, 1981 US and Canada: $8.2M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $8.2M
65
Prince of the City (1981) Aug 21, 1981 · Drama, Crime $8.1M worldwide

Aug 21, 1981 US and Canada: $8.1M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $8.1M
66
The Funhouse (1981) Mar 13, 1981 · Horror $7.9M worldwide

Mar 13, 1981 US and Canada: $7.9M Rest of the world: $142 Worldwide: $7.9M
67
Buddy Buddy (1981) Apr 2, 1981 · Comedy, Crime $7.3M worldwide

Apr 2, 1981 US and Canada: $7.3M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $7.3M
68
The Amateur (1981) Dec 11, 1981 · Action, Thriller $6.9M worldwide

Dec 11, 1981 US and Canada: $6.9M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $6.9M
69
Eyewitness (1981) Feb 13, 1981 · Drama, Mystery $6.4M worldwide

Feb 13, 1981 US and Canada: $6.4M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $6.4M
70
Gallipoli (1981) Aug 28, 1981 · Adventure, Drama $5.7M worldwide

Aug 28, 1981 US and Canada: $5.7M Rest of the world: $6K Worldwide: $5.7M
71
My Bloody Valentine (1981) Feb 11, 1981 · Mystery, Thriller $5.7M worldwide

Feb 11, 1981 US and Canada: $5.7M Rest of the world: $1.3K Worldwide: $5.7M
72
Going Ape! (1981) Apr 10, 1981 · Crime, Family $5.5M worldwide

Apr 10, 1981 US and Canada: $5.5M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $5.5M
73
The Dogs of War (1981) Feb 13, 1981 · Action, Adventure $5.5M worldwide

Feb 13, 1981 US and Canada: $5.5M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $5.5M
74
Venom (1981) Nov 28, 1981 · Thriller, Horror $5.2M worldwide

Nov 28, 1981 US and Canada: $5.2M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $5.2M
75
Inchon (1981) May 4, 1981 · War, History $5.2M worldwide

May 4, 1981 US and Canada: $5.2M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $5.2M
76
Student Bodies (1981) Aug 7, 1981 · Mystery, Horror $5.2M worldwide

Aug 7, 1981 US and Canada: $5.2M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $5.2M
77
The Watcher in the Woods (1981) Oct 9, 1981 · Mystery, Thriller $5M worldwide

Oct 9, 1981 US and Canada: $5M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $5M
78
All Night Long (1981) Mar 6, 1981 · Comedy, Romance $4.5M worldwide

Mar 6, 1981 US and Canada: $4.5M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $4.5M
79
The Pursuit of D.B. Cooper (1981) Nov 13, 1981 · Adventure, Thriller $3.7M worldwide

Nov 13, 1981 US and Canada: $3.7M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $3.7M
80
Zoot Suit (1981) Oct 2, 1981 · Drama, Music $3.3M worldwide

Oct 2, 1981 US and Canada: $3.3M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $3.3M
81
The Fan (1981) May 15, 1981 · Drama, Horror $3.1M worldwide

May 15, 1981 US and Canada: $3.1M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $3.1M
82
Gas (1981) Jul 24, 1981 · Comedy $2.9M worldwide

Jul 24, 1981 US and Canada: $2.9M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $2.9M
83
Modern Romance (1981) Mar 13, 1981 · Comedy, Romance $2.9M worldwide

Mar 13, 1981 US and Canada: $2.9M Rest of the world: $582 Worldwide: $2.9M
84
The Hand (1981) Apr 24, 1981 · Drama, Thriller $2.4M worldwide

Apr 24, 1981 US and Canada: $2.4M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $2.4M
85
Heartbeeps (1981) Dec 18, 1981 · Family, Romance $2.2M worldwide

Dec 18, 1981 US and Canada: $2.2M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $2.2M
86
This Is Elvis (1981) Apr 10, 1981 · Biography, Music $2M worldwide

Apr 10, 1981 US and Canada: $2M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $2M
87
Sphinx (1981) Feb 11, 1981 · Adventure, Mystery $2M worldwide

Feb 11, 1981 US and Canada: $2M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $2M
88
Honky Tonk Freeway (1981) Aug 21, 1981 · Comedy $2M worldwide

Aug 21, 1981 US and Canada: $2M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $2M
89
Raggedy Man (1981) Sep 18, 1981 · Drama $2M worldwide

Sep 18, 1981 US and Canada: $2M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $2M
90
King of the Mountain (1981) May 1, 1981 · Drama $1.8M worldwide

May 1, 1981 US and Canada: $1.8M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $1.8M
91
Cutter's Way (1981) Mar 20, 1981 · Drama, Mystery $1.8M worldwide

Mar 20, 1981 US and Canada: $1.7M Rest of the world: $23.4K Worldwide: $1.8M
92
Silence of the North (1981) Oct 23, 1981 · Drama, Adventure $1.6M worldwide

Oct 23, 1981 US and Canada: $1.6M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $1.6M
93
Night School (1981) Jan 7, 1981 · Thriller, Horror $1.2M worldwide

Jan 7, 1981 US and Canada: $1.2M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $1.2M
94
Eyes of a Stranger (1981) Feb 11, 1981 · Thriller, Horror $1.1M worldwide

Feb 11, 1981 US and Canada: $1.1M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $1.1M
95
Heavy Metal (1981) Aug 7, 1981 · Adventure, Sci-Fi $547.6K worldwide

Aug 7, 1981 US and Canada: $546.5K Rest of the world: $1K Worldwide: $547.6K
96
Cattle Annie and Little Britches (1981) Apr 24, 1981 · Western $534.8K worldwide

Apr 24, 1981 US and Canada: $534.8K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $534.8K
97
Hard Country (1981) Apr 1, 1981 · Drama, Romance $534.7K worldwide

Apr 1, 1981 US and Canada: $534.7K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $534.7K
98
Kelly (1981) Mar 20, 1981 · Adventure, Drama $469.8K worldwide

Mar 20, 1981 US and Canada: $469.8K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $469.8K
99
Puberty Blues (1981) Dec 10, 1981 · Comedy, Drama $237.3K worldwide

Dec 10, 1981 US and Canada: $237K Rest of the world: $286 Worldwide: $237.3K
100
Roar (1981) Oct 30, 1981 · Comedy, Thriller $110.4K worldwide

Oct 30, 1981 US and Canada: $110K Rest of the world: $401 Worldwide: $110.4K