#1 of 136 #1 movie of 1981
1981 · Action, Adventure
$216.4M worldwide · 10% of the chart's total
$108.2M US & Canada · 50% $108.2M elsewhere · 50%
Box office · 1981
1981 Box Office: The Highest-Grossing Movies of 1981
Superman II (1981) is the highest-grossing movie released in 1981, with $216.4M worldwide, ahead of On Golden Pond (1981) at $119.3M and Arthur (1981) at $95.5M. 136 films released in 1981 report a worldwide gross, $2.1B in all, 95% of it from the US & Canada. 2 films crossed $100 million; none reached $1 billion. That is down 15% on 1980, whose releases took $2.5B. By genre, Drama leads with $889.5M across 67 releases.
- 1981 releases with a gross
- 136
- combined worldwide
- $2.1B
- films crossed $100M
- 2
- vs 1980
- −15%
#1 of 136 Top 5
What Were the Biggest Hits of 1981?
Superman II (1981) leads with $216.4M, 10% of the total. The top 5 together took $588.6M, 28% of what all 136 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 Release of 1981, Ranked by Worldwide Gross
Ranks 1 to 50 of 136. 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 Dec 4, 1981 US and Canada: $119.3M Rest of the world: $378 Worldwide: $119.3M
- 3 Jul 17, 1981 US and Canada: $95.5M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $95.5M
- 4 Jun 26, 1981 US and Canada: $85.3M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $85.3M
- 5 Jun 19, 1981 US and Canada: $72.2M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $72.2M
- 6
Jul 10, 1981 US and Canada: $63.5M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $63.5M - 7
Jun 26, 1981 US and Canada: $54.8M Rest of the world: $24.9K Worldwide: $54.8M - 8
May 22, 1981 US and Canada: $50.4M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $50.4M - 9
Nov 6, 1981 US and Canada: $42.4M Rest of the world: $2.4K Worldwide: $42.4M - 10
Jun 12, 1981 US and Canada: $41.1M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $41.1M - 11
Dec 18, 1981 US and Canada: $40.7M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $40.7M - 12
Dec 25, 1981 US and Canada: $40.4M Rest of the world: $129 Worldwide: $40.4M - 13
Jul 24, 1981 US and Canada: $36.6M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $36.6M - 14
Dec 25, 1981 US and Canada: $35.9M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $35.9M - 15
Dec 18, 1981 US and Canada: $35.6M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $35.6M - 16
Apr 10, 1981 US and Canada: $35M Rest of the world: $3.7K Worldwide: $35M - 17
Jul 17, 1981 US and Canada: $31.2M Rest of the world: $1.3M Worldwide: $32.5M - 18
Jun 12, 1981 US and Canada: $31.7M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $31.7M - 19
May 22, 1981 US and Canada: $31.3M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $31.3M - 20
Jun 26, 1981 US and Canada: $31.2M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $31.2M - 21
Aug 21, 1981 US and Canada: $30.6M Rest of the world: $255.3K Worldwide: $30.8M - 22
Dec 18, 1981 US and Canada: $29.9M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $29.9M - 23
Feb 6, 1981 US and Canada: $29.2M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $29.2M - 24
Oct 16, 1981 US and Canada: $26.9M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $26.9M - 25
Aug 28, 1981 US and Canada: $26.3M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $26.3M - 26
Dec 25, 1981 US and Canada: $26.2M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $26.2M - 27
Oct 30, 1981 US and Canada: $25.5M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $25.5M - 28
Sep 25, 1981 US and Canada: $25.5M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $25.5M - 29
Jul 10, 1981 US and Canada: $25.2M Rest of the world: $32K Worldwide: $25.3M - 30
Aug 28, 1981 US and Canada: $24.1M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $24.1M - 31
Dec 18, 1981 US and Canada: $23.4M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $23.4M - 32
May 1, 1981 US and Canada: $21.7M Rest of the world: $199 Worldwide: $21.7M - 33
Mar 20, 1981 US and Canada: $20.5M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $20.5M - 34
Jan 30, 1981 US and Canada: $20.3M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $20.3M - 35
Apr 10, 1981 US and Canada: $14.9M Rest of the world: $5M Worldwide: $19.9M - 36
Sep 25, 1981 US and Canada: $19M Rest of the world: $1.9K Worldwide: $19M - 37
Oct 2, 1981 US and Canada: $18.8M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $18.8M - 38
Jul 31, 1981 US and Canada: $18.8M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $18.8M - 39
Apr 10, 1981 US and Canada: $18M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $18M - 40
Jul 24, 1981 US and Canada: $17.6M Rest of the world: $52 Worldwide: $17.6M - 41
Apr 24, 1981 US and Canada: $17.6M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $17.6M - 42
May 22, 1981 US and Canada: $17.4M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $17.4M - 43
Mar 6, 1981 US and Canada: $16M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $16M - 44
Apr 17, 1981 US and Canada: $16M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $16M - 45
Sep 18, 1981 US and Canada: $15.6M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $15.6M - 46
The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia (1981)Jun 5, 1981 US and Canada: $14.9M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $14.9M
Jun 5, 1981 · English · Drama, Music $14.9M worldwide - 47
Nov 20, 1981 US and Canada: $14.9M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $14.9M - 48
Jul 1, 1981 US and Canada: $14.9M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $14.9M - 49
Oct 9, 1981 US and Canada: $14.5M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $14.5M - 50
Jan 14, 1981 US and Canada: $14.2M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $14.2M
US & Canada vs the world
Where Did the Money Come From in 1981?
Of the top 10, Arthur (1981) earned the biggest share at home (100% in the US & Canada), while Superman II (1981) made 50% of its gross abroad. Across all 136 films, $2B (95%) came from the US & Canada.
- 1 Superman II (1981) $216.4M $108.2M US & Canada · 50% $108.2M elsewhere · 50%
- 2 On Golden Pond (1981) $119.3M $119.3M US & Canada · 100% $378 elsewhere · <1%
- 3 Arthur (1981) $95.5M $95.5M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 4 Stripes (1981) $85.3M $85.3M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 5 The Cannonball Run (1981) $72.2M $72.2M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 6 The Fox and the Hound (1981) $63.5M $63.5M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 7 For Your Eyes Only (1981) $54.8M $54.8M US & Canada · 100% $24.9K elsewhere · <1%
- 8 The Four Seasons (1981) $50.4M $50.4M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 9 Time Bandits (1981) $42.4M $42.4M US & Canada · 100% $2.4K elsewhere · <1%
- 10 Clash of the Titans (1981) $41.1M $41.1M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
Gross bands
How Many 1981 Releases Crossed $100 Million?
2 of 136 films crossed $100M and took $335.7M between them, 16% of the total. 73 films, 54% of the list, earned under $10M.
16% 77%
- $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 2 films, 1% of the list $335.7M · 16% of the gross
- $10M to $100M 61 films, 45% of the list $1.6B · 77% of the gross
- Under $10M 73 films, 54% of the list $157.3M · 7% of the gross
By release month
Which Month of 1981 Earned the Most?
June releases took the most, $572.7M from 10 films, led by Superman II (1981). January was the quietest month ($35.7M). Each column is a release month and links to that month's chart.
- January Jan The Incredible Shrinking Woman (1981) $35.7M The Incredible Shrinking Woman (1981)
- February Feb Fort Apache the Bronx (1981) $50M Fort Apache the Bronx (1981)
- March Mar The Final Conflict (1981) $96.1M The Final Conflict (1981)
- April Apr Excalibur (1981) $137.4M Excalibur (1981)
- May May The Four Seasons (1981) $130.9M The Four Seasons (1981)
- June Jun Superman II (1981) $572.7M Superman II (1981)
- July Jul Arthur (1981) $341.4M Arthur (1981)
- August Aug An American Werewolf in London (1981) $146.6M An American Werewolf in London (1981)
- September Sep Only When I Laugh (1981) $75M Only When I Laugh (1981)
- October Oct The French Lieutenant's Woman (1981) $96.6M The French Lieutenant's Woman (1981)
- November Nov Time Bandits (1981) $66.2M Time Bandits (1981)
- December Dec On Golden Pond (1981) $379.7M On Golden Pond (1981)
Last 10 years
How Does 1981 Compare With Previous Years?
Of these 10 years, 1980 earned the most: $2.5B from 130 films, led by Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980). 1981 took $2.1B.
| Year | Films | Worldwide | Change | Biggest film |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1972 50 films | 50 | $371.4M | – | The Godfather (1972) $250.3M |
| 1973 53 films · +166% | 53 | $989.4M | +166% | The Exorcist (1973) $430.9M |
| 1974 65 films · −19% | 65 | $803.9M | −19% | Blazing Saddles (1974) $119.6M |
| 1975 49 films · +35% | 49 | $1.1B | +35% | Jaws (1975) $477.9M |
| 1976 49 films · −28% | 49 | $784.1M | −28% | Rocky (1976) $117.3M |
| 1977 72 films · +184% | 72 | $2.2B | +184% | Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977) $775.4M |
| 1978 84 films · −12% | 84 | $2B | −12% | Grease (1978) $396.3M |
| 1979 99 films · +10% | 99 | $2.2B | +10% | Moonraker (1979) $210.3M |
| 1980 130 films · +16% | 130 | $2.5B | +16% | Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980) $550M |
| 1981 136 films · −15% | 136 | $2.1B | −15% | Superman II (1981) $216.4M |
Genres & languages
Which Genres and Languages Earned the Most in 1981?
Drama took $889.5M across 67 films, 42% of the total, ahead of Comedy ($752.2M) and Romance ($688.4M). A film counts once for each of its genres. English-language films took $2.1B across 114 films, 98% of the total, ahead of French-language films ($6.5M) and Cantonese-language films ($917.3K).
1981 Box Office by Genre
-
Drama $889.5M67 films · #1 On Golden Pond (1981) -
Comedy $752.2M42 films · #1 Arthur (1981) -
Romance $688.4M30 films · #1 Superman II (1981) -
Adventure $590.1M22 films · #1 Superman II (1981) -
Action $544.5M18 films · #1 Superman II (1981) -
Thriller $397.1M36 films · #1 For Your Eyes Only (1981) -
Sci-Fi $362.6M8 films · #1 Superman II (1981) -
Crime $247.4M23 films · #1 Sharky's Machine (1981) -
Horror $209.9M23 films · #1 An American Werewolf in London (1981) -
Fantasy $175.2M7 films · #1 Time Bandits (1981)
1981 Box Office by Language
- English $2.1B114 films · #1 Superman II (1981)
-
French $6.5M7 films · #1 The Boy Soldier (1981) -
Cantonese $917.3K1 film · #1 On Trial (1981) -
Japanese $777.5K2 films · #1 Lonely Heart (1981) -
Polish $492K1 film · #1 Man of Iron (1981) -
Dutch $39K1 film · #1 The Girl with the Red Hair (1981) -
Italian $20.4K2 films · #1 Who Finds a Friend Finds a Treasure (1981) -
German $19.9K3 films · #1 Lola (1981) -
Tamil $11.2K1 film · #1 Thee (1981) - Punjabi $3.4K1 film · #1 Chann Pardesee (1981)
Archive
Box Office Year by Year
Every year from 1918 to 2026 with its total and its biggest film. 2019 leads with $37.1B, led by Avengers: Endgame (2019).
2020s 7 years · $134B
2010s 10 years · $325.6B
- 2019 $37.1B #1 Avengers: Endgame (2019)
- 2018 $37.1B #1 Avengers: Infinity War (2018)
- 2017 $36.6B #1 Star Wars: Episode VIII - The Last Jedi (2017)
- 2016 $34.2B #1 Captain America: Civil War (2016)
- 2015 $34B #1 Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens (2015)
- 2014 $30.1B #1 Transformers: Age Of Extinction (2014)
- 2013 $31.3B #1 Frozen (2013)
- 2012 $30.6B #1 The Avengers (2012)
- 2011 $28.1B #1 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (2011)
- 2010 $26.5B #1 Toy Story 3 (2010)
2000s 10 years · $201.4B
- 2009 $27.2B #1 Avatar (2009)
- 2008 $23.9B #1 The Dark Knight (2008)
- 2007 $24.1B #1 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007)
- 2006 $21.2B #1 Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest (2006)
- 2005 $20.2B #1 Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith (2005)
- 2004 $19.7B #1 Shrek 2 (2004)
- 2003 $19.2B #1 The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)
- 2002 $15.8B #1 Spider-Man (2002)
- 2001 $16B #1 Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (2001)
- 2000 $14B #1 Mission: Impossible II (2000)
1990s 10 years · $91.9B
- 1999 $13.7B #1 Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999)
- 1998 $11.3B #1 Armageddon (1998)
- 1997 $12.7B #1 Titanic (1997)
- 1996 $9.9B #1 Independence Day (1996)
- 1995 $9.5B #1 Toy Story (1995)
- 1994 $8.5B #1 The Lion King (1994)
- 1993 $7.1B #1 Mrs. Doubtfire (1993)
- 1992 $6.3B #1 The Bodyguard (1992)
- 1991 $6.2B #1 Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)
- 1990 $6.7B #1 Ghost (1990)
1980s 10 years · $36B
- 1989 $6.1B #1 Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989)
- 1988 $4.9B #1 Rain Man (1988)
- 1987 $4B #1 Fatal Attraction (1987)
- 1986 $3.7B #1 Top Gun (1986)
- 1985 $3.7B #1 Back to the Future (1985)
- 1984 $3.6B #1 Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984)
- 1983 $2.8B #1 Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983)
- 1982 $2.5B #1 Tootsie (1982)
- 1981 $2.1B #1 Superman II (1981)
- 1980 $2.5B #1 Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
1970s 10 years · $11.1B
- 1979 $2.2B #1 Moonraker (1979)
- 1978 $2B #1 Grease (1978)
- 1977 $2.2B #1 Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977)
- 1976 $784.1M #1 Rocky (1976)
- 1975 $1.1B #1 Jaws (1975)
- 1974 $803.9M #1 Blazing Saddles (1974)
- 1973 $989.4M #1 The Exorcist (1973)
- 1972 $371.4M #1 The Godfather (1972)
- 1971 $206M #1 The French Connection (1971)
- 1970 $450M #1 The Aristocats (1970)
1960s 10 years · $1.8B
- 1969 $247.4M #1 Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969)
- 1968 $144M #1 Funny Girl (1968)
- 1967 $441.4M #1 The Jungle Book (1967)
- 1966 $29.9M #1 Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (1966)
- 1965 $387.9M #1 The Sound of Music (1965)
- 1964 $240.7M #1 Mary Poppins (1964)
- 1963 $138.3M #1 Cleopatra (1963)
- 1962 $52M #1 Lawrence of Arabia (1962)
- 1961 $12.9M #1 The Taste of Violence (1961)
- 1960 $94.9M #1 Swiss Family Robinson (1960)
1950s 10 years · $801.3M
- 1959 $127.1M #1 Ben-Hur (1959)
- 1958 $13.9M #1 Vertigo (1958)
- 1957 $32.7M #1 The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957)
- 1956 $162.1M #1 The Ten Commandments (1956)
- 1955 $96.9M #1 Lady and the Tramp (1955)
- 1954 $74.4M #1 Rear Window (1954)
- 1953 $153.5M #1 Peter Pan (1953)
- 1952 $38.8M #1 The Greatest Show on Earth (1952)
- 1951 $4.8M #1 Ace in the Hole (1951)
- 1950 $97.2M #1 Cinderella (1950)
1940s 10 years · $936.9M
- 1949 $1.8M #1 The Third Man (1949)
- 1948 $6.2M #1 The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (1948)
- 1947 $12.1M #1 It's a Wonderful Life (1947)
- 1946 $92.2M #1 Song of the South (1946)
- 1945 $22.1M #1 The Bells of St. Mary’s (1945)
- 1944 $132K #1 Henry V (1944)
- 1943 $6.2M #1 Casablanca (1943)
- 1942 $268.3M #1 Bambi (1942)
- 1941 $1.9M #1 Citizen Kane (1941)
- 1940 $525.9M #1 Gone with the Wind (1940)
1930s 10 years · $214M
- 1939 $26.7M #1 The Wizard of Oz (1939)
- 1938 $185.2M #1 Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1938)
- 1937 $32.8K #1 Stage Door (1937)
- 1936 $1.5M #1 Born to Dance (1936)
- 1935 $105.9K #1 The 39 Steps (1935)
- 1934 $47.3K #1 It Happened One Night (1934)
- 1933 $164.8K #1 Duck Soup (1933)
- 1932 $51.1K #1 The Old Dark House (1932)
- 1931 $135.8K #1 Drácula (1931)
- 1930 $6.1K #1 The Blue Angel (1930)
1920s 9 years · $10M
- 1929 $89.2K #1 Pandora’s Box (1929)
- 1928 $41.6K #1 The Air Circus (1928)
- 1927 $245K #1 Sunrise (1927)
- 1926 $67.1K #1 Battleship Potemkin (1926)
- 1925 $87.5K #1 The Gold Rush (1925)
- 1924 $198.9K #1 The Epic of Everest (1924)
- 1923 $13.2K #1 A Woman of Paris: A Drama of Fate (1923)
- 1921 $9.2M #1 The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse (1921)
- 1920 $9.3K #1 The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1920)
1910s 2 years · $9.8K
FAQ
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 136 films as the chart.
What is the highest-grossing movie in 1981?
Superman II (1981) leads with $216.4M worldwide, $108.2M of it in the US & Canada. Next come On Golden Pond (1981) at $119.3M and Arthur (1981) at $95.5M.
How much did movies released in 1981 earn?
136 films released in 1981 report a worldwide gross, $2.1B in all, or $15.6M per film on average. 1980 releases took $2.5B.
How many movies released in 1981 made $1 billion?
None. 2 films crossed $100 million, led by Superman II (1981) with $216.4M.
How is the 1981 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 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.