#1 of 16 #1 movie of August 1981
An American Werewolf in London (1981)
1981 · Horror
$30.8M worldwide · 21% of the chart's total
$30.6M US & Canada · 99% $255.3K elsewhere · <1%
Box office · August 1981
August 1981 Box Office: The Highest-Grossing August Releases
An American Werewolf in London (1981) is the highest-grossing movie released in August 1981, with $30.8M worldwide, ahead of Private Lessons (1981) at $26.3M and Body Heat (1981) at $24.1M. 16 films released in August 1981 report a worldwide gross, $146.6M in all, 99% of it from the US & Canada. That is down 57% on July 1981, whose releases took $341.4M. By genre, Drama leads with $60.9M across 7 releases.
- August 1981 releases with a gross
- 16
- combined worldwide
- $146.6M
- An American Werewolf in London (1981), the #1
- $30.8M
- vs July 1981
- −57%
#1 of 16 Top 5
What Were the Biggest Hits of August 1981?
An American Werewolf in London (1981) leads with $30.8M, 21% of the total. The top 5 together took $106.3M, 72% of what all 16 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 August 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 August 1981.
- 1 Aug 21, 1981 US and Canada: $30.6M Rest of the world: $255.3K Worldwide: $30.8M
- 2 Aug 28, 1981 US and Canada: $26.3M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $26.3M
- 3 Aug 28, 1981 US and Canada: $24.1M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $24.1M
- 4 Aug 6, 1981 US and Canada: $12.6M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $12.6M
- 5 Aug 21, 1981 US and Canada: $12.5M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $12.5M
- 6
Aug 6, 1981 US and Canada: $9.6M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $9.6M - 7
Aug 14, 1981 US and Canada: $8.3M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $8.3M - 8
Aug 21, 1981 US and Canada: $8.1M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $8.1M - 9
Aug 28, 1981 US and Canada: $5.7M Rest of the world: $6K Worldwide: $5.7M - 10
Aug 7, 1981 US and Canada: $5.2M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $5.2M - 11
Aug 21, 1981 US and Canada: $2M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $2M - 12
Aug 26, 1981 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $917.3K - 13
Aug 7, 1981 US and Canada: $546.5K Rest of the world: $1K Worldwide: $547.6K - 14
Aug 20, 1981 US and Canada: $8.1K Rest of the world: $1.6K Worldwide: $9.8K - 15
Aug 14, 1981 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $462 - 16
Aug 14, 1981 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $17
US & Canada vs the world
Where Did the Money Come From in August 1981?
Of the top 10, Private Lessons (1981) earned the biggest share at home (100% in the US & Canada), while An American Werewolf in London (1981) made <1% of its gross abroad. Across all 16 films, $145.4M (99%) came from the US & Canada.
- 1 An American Werewolf in London (1981) $30.8M $30.6M US & Canada · 99% $255.3K elsewhere · <1%
- 2 Private Lessons (1981) $26.3M $26.3M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 3 Body Heat (1981) $24.1M $24.1M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 4 The Legend of the Lone Ranger (1981) $12.6M $12.6M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 5 First Monday in October (1981) $12.5M $12.5M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 6 Carbon Copy (1981) $9.6M $9.6M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 7 Deadly Blessing (1981) $8.3M $8.3M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 8 Prince of the City (1981) $8.1M $8.1M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 9 Gallipoli (1981) $5.7M $5.7M US & Canada · 100% $6K elsewhere · <1%
- 10 Student Bodies (1981) $5.2M $5.2M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
Gross bands
How Many August 1981 Releases Crossed $100 Million?
None of the 16 films reached $100M. 11 films, 69% of the list, earned under $10M. Each band shows its films and its share of the $146.6M total.
72% 28%
- $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 5 films, 31% of the list $106.3M · 72% of the gross
- Under $10M 11 films, 69% of the list $40.4M · 28% of the gross
By release week
Which Week of August 1981 Had the Biggest Releases?
Films released in week 35 (Aug 23–29) took $57M, led by Private Lessons (1981). Each column links to that week's chart; weeks are Sunday to Saturday.
- Week 31 Wk 31 Jul 26–Aug 1 No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- Week 32 Wk 32 Aug 2–8 The Legend of the Lone Ranger (1981) $27.9M The Legend of the Lone Ranger (1981)
- Week 33 Wk 33 Aug 9–15 Deadly Blessing (1981) $8.3M Deadly Blessing (1981)
- Week 34 Wk 34 Aug 16–22 An American Werewolf in London (1981) $53.4M An American Werewolf in London (1981)
- Week 35 Wk 35 Aug 23–29 Private Lessons (1981) $57M Private Lessons (1981)
- Week 36 Wk 36 Aug 30–Sep 5 No reported grosses – No reported grosses
Earlier years
How Does August 1981 Compare With August in Earlier Years?
Of these 10 years, August 1979 earned the most: $218.4M from 13 films, led by Apocalypse Now (1979). August 1981 took $146.6M.
| Month | Films | Worldwide | Change | Biggest film |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| August 1972 2 films | 2 | $18.1M | – | Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex * But Were Afraid to Ask (1972) $18.1M |
| August 1973 6 films · +631% | 6 | $132.3M | +631% | American Graffiti (1973) $115M |
| August 1974 3 films · −67% | 3 | $43.6M | −67% | The Longest Yard (1974) $43M |
| August 1975 3 films · −49% | 3 | $22.2M | −49% | Love and Death (1975) $20.1M |
| August 1976 2 films · −64% | 2 | $8.1M | −64% | The Shootist (1976) $8.1M |
| August 1977 7 films · +521% | 7 | $50.3M | +521% | The Spy Who Loved Me (1977) $46.9M |
| August 1978 5 films · −39% | 5 | $30.4M | −39% | Eyes of Laura Mars (1978) $20M |
| August 1979 13 films · +617% | 13 | $218.4M | +617% | Apocalypse Now (1979) $105.1M |
| August 1980 9 films · −32% | 9 | $147.7M | −32% | Smokey and the Bandit II (1980) $66.1M |
| August 1981 16 films · −1% | 16 | $146.6M | −1% | An American Werewolf in London (1981) $30.8M |
Genres & languages
Which Genres and Languages Earned the Most in August 1981?
Drama took $60.9M across 7 films, 42% of the total, ahead of Comedy ($55.5M) and Horror ($44.3M). A film counts once for each of its genres. English-language films took $119.4M across 12 films, 81% of the total, ahead of Cantonese-language films ($917.3K) and German-language films ($9.8K).
August 1981 Box Office by Genre
-
Drama $60.9M7 films · #1 Body Heat (1981) -
Comedy $55.5M5 films · #1 Private Lessons (1981) -
Horror $44.3M4 films · #1 An American Werewolf in London (1981) -
Crime $32.2M3 films · #1 Body Heat (1981) -
Thriller $24.1M2 films · #1 Body Heat (1981) -
Adventure $18.9M4 films · #1 The Legend of the Lone Ranger (1981) -
Action $12.6M2 films · #1 The Legend of the Lone Ranger (1981) -
Western $12.6M1 film · #1 The Legend of the Lone Ranger (1981) -
History $5.7M1 film · #1 Gallipoli (1981) -
War $5.7M1 film · #1 Gallipoli (1981)
Archive
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 $96.1M #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 $341.4M #1 Arthur (1981)
- August $146.6M #1 An American Werewolf in London (1981)
- September $75M #1 Only When I Laugh (1981)
- October $96.6M #1 The French Lieutenant's Woman (1981)
- November $66.2M #1 Time Bandits (1981)
- December $379.7M #1 On Golden Pond (1981)
FAQ
Box Office August 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 16 films as the chart.
What is the highest-grossing movie in August 1981?
An American Werewolf in London (1981) leads with $30.8M worldwide, $30.6M of it in the US & Canada. Next come Private Lessons (1981) at $26.3M and Body Heat (1981) at $24.1M.
How much did movies released in August 1981 earn?
16 films released in August 1981 report a worldwide gross, $146.6M in all, or $9.2M per film on average. July 1981 releases took $341.4M.
How many movies released in August 1981 made $1 billion?
None. The biggest, An American Werewolf in London (1981), earned $30.8M.
How is the August 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 August 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 August 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.