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Live Action > 1981
Live Action Movies Released in 1981
This list shows all Live Action films released in 1981, including films that went direct-to-video, or only got an international theatrical release. For each film, we use the first date on which it was made available to the public, which might include international theatrical or domestic video releases that were a few days, or sometimes more, earlier than the domestic (US/Canada) theatrical release.
The revenue listed is the worldwide box office combined with the domestic home market revenue to date.
Domestic Analysis for Live Action Movies for 1981
Release Date | Movie | Genre | Release Type | Revenue to Date | Trailer |
January, 1981 |
January 1 |
My Dinner with Andre |
Comedy |
Theatrical |
$15,063 |
|
|
Scream |
Horror |
Theatrical |
$0 |
|
|
1981 TBD |
The Private Eyes |
Comedy |
Theatrical |
$18,000,000 |
|
|
Roar |
Adventure |
Theatrical |
$2,808,397 |
|
|
Scanners |
Horror |
Theatrical |
$14,444,999 |
|
|
January 16 |
Fear No Evil |
Horror |
Theatrical |
$0 |
|
|
January 23 |
Krakonoš a lyžníci |
Comedy |
Theatrical |
$1,471 |
|
|
Le notti del terrore |
Horror |
Theatrical |
$0 |
|
|
January 30 |
The Incredible Shrinking Woman |
Comedy |
Theatrical |
$20,259,000 |
|
February, 1981 |
February 1 |
Subway Riders |
Thriller/Suspense |
Theatrical |
$0 |
|
|
February 6 |
Goodbye Pork Pie |
Action |
Theatrical |
$394 |
|
|
February 11 |
Le dernier métro |
Drama |
Theatrical |
$3,000,000 |
|
|
My Bloody Valentine |
Horror |
Theatrical |
$0 |
|
|
Sphinx |
Thriller/Suspense |
Theatrical |
$11,400,000 |
|
|
February 13 |
The Dogs of War |
Action |
Theatrical |
$0 |
|
|
|
Feb, 1981 TBD |
Charlie Chan and the Curse of the Dra… |
Comedy |
Theatrical |
$0 |
|
March, 1981 |
March 1 |
Baekugido bame uneunga |
Drama |
Theatrical |
$1,756 |
|
|
March 4 |
Madhouse |
Horror |
Theatrical |
$0 |
|
|
March 6 |
All Night Long |
Romantic Comedy |
Theatrical |
$7,800,000 |
|
|
March 13 |
Back Roads |
Romantic Comedy |
Theatrical |
$11,809,387 |
|
|
The Funhouse |
Horror |
Theatrical |
$7,000,141 |
|
|
Loophole |
Adventure |
Theatrical |
$0 |
|
|
Modern Romance |
Romantic Comedy |
Theatrical |
$29,137 |
|
|
March 15 |
Confidence |
Drama |
Theatrical |
$0 |
|
|
March 18 |
The Wobblies |
Documentary |
Theatrical |
$12,232 |
|
|
March 20 |
Amy |
Drama |
Theatrical |
$0 |
|
|
The Final Conflict |
Horror |
Theatrical |
$20,471,000 |
|
|
The Postman Always Rings Twice |
Drama |
Theatrical |
$44,200,000 |
|
|
March 21 |
Si wang ta (死亡塔) |
Action |
Theatrical |
$0 |
|
|
March 27 |
Eyes of a Stranger |
Horror |
Theatrical |
$546,724 |
|
|
Thief |
Action |
Theatrical |
$5,066,732 |
|
April, 1981 |
April 3 |
Atlantic City |
Drama |
Theatrical |
$10,000,000 |
|
|
April 10 |
Excalibur |
Adventure |
Theatrical |
$34,200,000 |
|
|
From Mao to Mozart |
Documentary |
Theatrical |
$0 |
|
|
The Howling |
Horror |
Theatrical |
$17,985,130 |
|
|
Knightriders |
Action |
Theatrical |
$56,682 |
|
|
Nighthawks |
Action |
Theatrical |
$19,600,000 |
|
|
This is Elvis |
Documentary |
Theatrical |
$429,146 |
|
|
April 17 |
Caveman |
Comedy |
Theatrical |
$15,965,000 |
|
|
April 18 |
Subzero Point '81 |
Drama |
Theatrical |
$10,421 |
|
|
April 24 |
Beyond the Reef |
|
Theatrical |
$547,525 |
|
|
Cannibal ferox |
Horror |
Theatrical |
$176,339 |
|
|
Cattle Annie and Little Britches |
Western |
Theatrical |
$115,679 |
|
|
The Hand |
Horror |
Theatrical |
$2,000,000 |
|
|
Ms. 45 |
Thriller/Suspense |
Theatrical |
$0 |
|
|
April 28 |
Bloody Birthday |
Horror |
Theatrical |
$0 |
|
|
April 30 |
Friday the 13th Part 2 |
Horror |
Theatrical |
$21,722,776 |
|
|
Apr, 1981 TBD |
Bedtime for Bonzo |
Comedy |
Video |
$0 |
|
May, 1981 |
May 1 |
Graduation Day |
Horror |
Theatrical |
$23,894,000 |
|
|
King of the Mountain |
Drama |
Theatrical |
$958,637 |
|
|
May 6 |
The Jericho Mile |
Drama |
Theatrical |
$172,417 |
|
|
May 8 |
The Burning |
Horror |
Theatrical |
$0 |
|
|
Loulou |
Drama |
Theatrical |
$1,343 |
|
|
Shoot the Sun Down |
Western |
Theatrical |
$4,009 |
|
|
May 13 |
Le lac des morts vivants |
Horror |
Theatrical |
$0 |
|
|
May 15 |
The Fan |
Thriller/Suspense |
Theatrical |
$0 |
|
|
Happy Birthday To Me |
Horror |
Theatrical |
$10,609,514 |
|
|
May 22 |
Bustin' Loose |
Comedy |
Theatrical |
$31,261,000 |
|
|
The Four Seasons |
Comedy |
Theatrical |
$42,488,161 |
|
|
The Legend of the Lone Ranger |
Western |
Theatrical |
$13,522,974 |
|
|
Outland |
Action |
Theatrical |
$20,000,000 |
|
|
May 27 |
Les Uns et les Autres |
Drama |
Theatrical |
$122,054 |
|
|
May 29 |
Polyester |
Comedy |
Theatrical |
$0 |
|
June, 1981 |
June 5 |
Cheech & Chong's Nice Dreams |
Comedy |
Theatrical |
$37,000,000 |
|
|
Final Exam |
Horror |
Theatrical |
$182,210 |
|
|
The Sea Wolves |
Action |
Theatrical |
$0 |
|
|
June 12 |
Clash of the Titans |
Adventure |
Theatrical |
$44,400,000 |
|
|
History of the World: Part I |
Comedy |
Theatrical |
$31,672,000 |
|
|
Raiders of the Lost Ark |
Adventure |
Theatrical |
$368,624,439 |
|
|
June 19 |
The Cannonball Run |
Action |
Theatrical |
$57,498,710 |
|
|
Superman II |
Adventure |
Theatrical |
$190,400,000 |
|
|
June 26 |
Dragonslayer |
Action |
Theatrical |
$6,000,000 |
|
|
For Your Eyes Only |
Action |
Theatrical |
$195,300,000 |
|
|
The Great Muppet Caper |
Comedy |
Theatrical |
$31,206,251 |
|
|
Stripes |
Comedy |
Theatrical |
$85,300,000 |
|
|
|
Jun, 1981 TBD |
Demonoid |
Horror |
Theatrical |
$0 |
|
July, 1981 |
July 1 |
S.O.B. |
Black Comedy |
Theatrical |
$14,867,086 |
|
|
July 10 |
Escape from New York |
Action |
Theatrical |
$25,276,350 |
|
|
Vecinos |
Comedy |
Theatrical |
$0 |
|
|
July 17 |
Arthur |
Comedy |
Theatrical |
$81,464,486 |
|
|
Endless Love |
Drama |
Theatrical |
$33,000,000 |
|
|
July 24 |
Blow Out |
Thriller/Suspense |
Theatrical |
$13,747,988 |
|
|
Eye of the Needle |
Thriller/Suspense |
Theatrical |
$17,583,000 |
|
|
Tarzan, The Ape Man |
Adventure |
Theatrical |
$36,565,000 |
|
|
Wolfen |
Horror |
Theatrical |
$11,306,664 |
|
|
Zorro, The Gay Blade |
Comedy |
Theatrical |
$10,000,000 |
|
|
July 31 |
Under the Rainbow |
Comedy |
Theatrical |
$18,826,490 |
|
|
Victory |
Action |
Theatrical |
$27,453,000 |
|
August, 1981 |
August 1 |
Lady Chatterley's Lover |
Drama |
Theatrical |
$5,406 |
|
|
August 5 |
Les Gardiennes du Pénitencier |
Drama |
Theatrical |
$0 |
|
|
August 7 |
Condorman |
Action |
Theatrical |
$0 |
|
|
An Eye for an Eye |
Action |
Theatrical |
$7,496,681 |
|
|
Hell Night |
Horror |
Theatrical |
$2,300,000 |
|
|
Soggy Bottom, U.S.A. |
Comedy |
Theatrical |
$19,225 |
|
|
Student Bodies |
Comedy |
Theatrical |
$1,582,148 |
|
|
August 13 |
Gallipoli |
Drama |
Theatrical |
$5,732,587 |
|
|
August 14 |
Quella villa accanto al cimitero |
Horror |
Theatrical |
$0 |
|
|
August 17 |
El Crimen de Cuenca |
Drama |
Theatrical |
$0 |
|
|
August 19 |
Prince of the City |
Drama |
Theatrical |
$9,000,000 |
|
|
August 21 |
An American Werewolf in London |
Horror |
Theatrical |
$61,968,388 |
|
|
Heartland |
Drama |
Theatrical |
$0 |
|
|
Honky Tonk Freeway |
Comedy |
Theatrical |
$939,423 |
|
|
August 22 |
Babylon |
Drama |
Theatrical |
$109,749 |
|
|
Evilspeak |
Horror |
Theatrical |
$0 |
|
|
August 26 |
Shi Ye Sheng |
Drama |
Theatrical |
$1,834,692 |
|
|
August 28 |
Body Heat |
Thriller/Suspense |
Theatrical |
$24,058,000 |
|
|
Private Lessons |
Comedy |
Theatrical |
$18,066,774 |
|
September, 1981 |
September 18 |
Apocalypse domani |
Horror |
Theatrical |
$0 |
|
|
Continental Divide |
Romantic Comedy |
Theatrical |
$15,578,000 |
|
|
The French Lieutenant's Woman |
Drama |
Theatrical |
$22,680,306 |
|
|
Mommie Dearest |
Drama |
Theatrical |
$25,032,000 |
|
|
Raggedy Man |
Drama |
Theatrical |
$11,000,000 |
|
|
September 25 |
Aus dem Leben der Marionetten |
Drama |
Theatrical |
$4,289 |
|
|
Carbon Copy |
Comedy |
Theatrical |
$8,431,768 |
|
|
Chariots of Fire |
Drama |
Theatrical |
$61,910,507 |
|
|
Southern Comfort |
Thriller/Suspense |
Theatrical |
$3,561,662 |
|
|
|
Sep, 1981 TBD |
St. Helens |
Adventure |
Theatrical |
$0 |
|
October, 1981 |
October 2 |
Zoot Suit |
Drama |
Theatrical |
$380,302 |
|
|
October 9 |
Full Moon High |
|
Theatrical |
$26,782 |
|
|
Tattoo |
Thriller/Suspense |
Theatrical |
$860,472 |
|
|
October 21 |
The Professional |
Action |
Theatrical |
$0 |
|
|
October 23 |
Das boot ist voll |
Drama |
Theatrical |
$1,016 |
|
|
Enter the Ninja |
Action |
Theatrical |
$91,351 |
|
|
Nightmare |
Horror |
Theatrical |
$0 |
|
|
The Pit |
Horror |
Theatrical |
$188,414 |
|
|
Silence of the North |
Drama |
Theatrical |
$344,837 |
|
|
October 24 |
Aengmusae Momeulo Uleossda |
Drama |
Theatrical |
$1,415 |
|
|
October 25 |
Quartet |
Drama |
Theatrical |
$0 |
|
|
October 30 |
Halloween II |
Horror |
Theatrical |
$25,533,818 |
|
|
Looker |
Thriller/Suspense |
Theatrical |
$3,281,232 |
|
|
Saturday The 14th |
Comedy |
Theatrical |
$0 |
|
|
October 31 |
Shock Treatment |
Comedy |
Theatrical |
$0 |
|
|
Oct, 1981 TBD |
Galaxy of Terror |
Horror |
Theatrical |
$0 |
|
November, 1981 |
November 1 |
The Orchard End Murder |
Drama |
Theatrical |
$6,266 |
|
|
November 6 |
Time Bandits |
Adventure |
Theatrical |
$38,894,209 |
|
|
November 13 |
Dead & Buried |
Horror |
Theatrical |
$216,166 |
|
|
The Pursuit of D.B. Cooper |
Adventure |
Theatrical |
$2,104,164 |
|
|
November 18 |
Bom Povo Português |
Documentary |
Theatrical |
$304 |
|
|
November 19 |
Absence of Malice |
Thriller/Suspense |
Theatrical |
$33,312,129 |
|
|
Roadgames |
Thriller/Suspense |
Theatrical |
$0 |
|
|
November 20 |
Ragtime |
Drama |
Theatrical |
$17,468,158 |
|
|
November 23 |
Dos y dos, cinco |
Drama |
Theatrical |
$0 |
|
|
November 25 |
Francisca |
Drama |
Theatrical |
$0 |
|
|
November 27 |
Just Before Dawn |
Horror |
Theatrical |
$0 |
|
|
November 30 |
La Cripta |
Drama |
Theatrical |
$0 |
|
December, 1981 |
December 2 |
Whose Life is it Anyway? |
Drama |
Theatrical |
$6,100,000 |
|
|
December 4 |
On Golden Pond |
Drama |
Theatrical |
$119,889,465 |
|
|
Reds |
Drama |
Theatrical |
$50,000,130 |
|
|
December 9 |
La Chèvre |
Comedy |
Theatrical |
$0 |
|
|
Lebenszeichen |
Drama |
Theatrical |
$0 |
|
|
Taps |
Drama |
Theatrical |
$35,856,053 |
|
|
December 11 |
Buddy Buddy |
Comedy |
Theatrical |
$5,299,037 |
|
|
Four Friends |
Drama |
Theatrical |
$0 |
|
|
Pennies from Heaven |
Musical |
Theatrical |
$6,200,000 |
|
|
Rollover |
Thriller/Suspense |
Theatrical |
$10,217,873 |
|
|
December 18 |
Ghost Story |
Horror |
Theatrical |
$16,202,210 |
|
|
Heartbeeps |
Comedy |
Theatrical |
$6,000,000 |
|
|
Neighbors |
Black Comedy |
Theatrical |
$29,952,397 |
|
|
Sharky's Machine |
Thriller/Suspense |
Theatrical |
$33,056,959 |
|
|
December 22 |
The Prodigal Son (敗家仔) |
Action |
Theatrical |
$0 |
|
|
December 24 |
Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior |
Action |
Theatrical |
$23,668,407 |
|
|
December 25 |
Modern Problems |
Comedy |
Theatrical |
$24,474,312 |
|