1981 Daily Box Office Records
This chart shows the highest-grossing single days at the domestic box office for 1981.
| Rank | Date | Movie | Daily Gross | Theaters | Per-Theater Average | Total Gross | Days in Release |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jun 20, 1981 | Superman II | $5,475,015 | 1,395 | $3,925 | $9,740,587 | 2 |
| 2 | Jun 21, 1981 | Superman II | $4,359,935 | 1,395 | $3,125 | $14,100,522 | 3 |
| 3 | Jun 27, 1981 | Superman II | $4,267,234 | 1,408 | $3,031 | $31,637,998 | 9 |
| 4 | Jun 19, 1981 | Superman II | $4,265,572 | 1,395 | $3,058 | $4,265,572 | 1 |
| 5 | Jul 3, 1981 | Superman II | $4,061,444 | 1,887 | $2,152 | $38,836,443 | 15 |
| 6 | Jul 5, 1981 | Superman II | $3,551,034 | 1,887 | $1,882 | $45,680,891 | 17 |
| 7 | Oct 31, 1981 | Halloween II | $3,374,741 | 1,217 | $2,773 | $5,538,567 | 2 |
| 8 | Jun 26, 1981 | Superman II | $3,361,491 | 1,408 | $2,387 | $27,370,764 | 8 |
| 9 | Jul 4, 1981 | Superman II | $3,293,414 | 1,887 | $1,745 | $42,129,857 | 16 |
| 10 | Jun 28, 1981 | Superman II | $3,137,002 | 1,408 | $2,228 | $34,775,000 | 10 |
| 11 | Jul 11, 1981 | Superman II | $2,784,267 | 1,853 | $1,503 | $58,327,100 | 23 |
| 12 | Jun 25, 1981 | Superman II | $2,557,585 | 1,395 | $1,833 | $24,009,273 | 7 |
| 13 | Jun 22, 1981 | Superman II | $2,537,556 | 1,395 | $1,819 | $16,638,079 | 4 |
| 14 | Jun 23, 1981 | Superman II | $2,508,644 | 1,395 | $1,798 | $19,146,723 | 5 |
| 15 | Jun 27, 1981 | Stripes | $2,327,000 | 1,074 | $2,167 | $4,219,000 | 2 |
| 16 | Jun 24, 1981 | Superman II | $2,304,965 | 1,395 | $1,652 | $21,451,688 | 6 |
| 17 | Oct 30, 1981 | Halloween II | $2,163,826 | 1,217 | $1,778 | $2,163,826 | 1 |
| 18 | Nov 1, 1981 | Halloween II | $2,138,269 | 1,217 | $1,757 | $7,676,836 | 3 |
| 19 | Jul 10, 1981 | Superman II | $2,070,335 | 1,853 | $1,117 | $55,542,833 | 22 |
| 20 | May 30, 1981 | The Four Seasons | $1,955,000 | 617 | $3,169 | $10,253,000 | 9 |
| 21 | Jun 26, 1981 | Stripes | $1,892,000 | 1,074 | $1,762 | $1,892,000 | 1 |
| 22 | Jul 12, 1981 | Superman II | $1,891,076 | 1,853 | $1,021 | $60,218,176 | 24 |
| 23 | Jun 28, 1981 | Stripes | $1,881,000 | 1,074 | $1,751 | $6,100,000 | 3 |
| 24 | May 23, 1981 | Bustin' Loose | $1,804,124 | 833 | $2,166 | $3,057,948 | 2 |
| 25 | May 24, 1981 | Bustin' Loose | $1,740,341 | 833 | $2,089 | $4,798,289 | 3 |
| 26 | May 29, 1981 | The Four Seasons | $1,277,000 | 617 | $2,070 | $8,298,000 | 8 |
| 27 | May 22, 1981 | Bustin' Loose | $1,253,824 | 833 | $1,505 | $1,253,824 | 1 |
| 28 | May 23, 1981 | The Legend of the Lone Ranger | $1,157,031 | 980 | $1,181 | $0 | 2 |
| 29 | May 25, 1981 | Bustin' Loose | $1,104,529 | 833 | $1,326 | $5,902,836 | 4 |
| 30 | May 31, 1981 | The Four Seasons | $1,087,000 | 634 | $1,715 | $11,375,954 | 10 |
| 31 | May 25, 1981 | The Four Seasons | $1,030,598 | 634 | $1,626 | $5,159,123 | 4 |
| 32 | May 22, 1981 | The Four Seasons | $971,396 | 634 | $1,532 | $971,396 | 1 |
| 33 | May 30, 1981 | Outland | $941,000 | 331 | $2,843 | $5,418,000 | 9 |
| 34 | May 23, 1981 | Outland | $912,000 | 331 | $2,755 | $1,609,000 | 2 |
| 35 | May 24, 1981 | Outland | $846,000 | 331 | $2,556 | $2,455,000 | 3 |
| 36 | May 25, 1981 | The Legend of the Lone Ranger | $700,000 | 980 | $714 | $3,417,616 | 4 |
| 37 | May 22, 1981 | Outland | $697,000 | 331 | $2,106 | $697,000 | 1 |
| 38 | May 31, 1981 | Outland | $625,000 | 331 | $1,888 | $6,044,000 | 10 |
| 39 | May 25, 1981 | Outland | $609,000 | 331 | $1,840 | $3,059,638 | 4 |
| 40 | May 29, 1981 | Outland | $609,000 | 331 | $1,840 | $4,477,000 | 8 |
| 41 | Jul 27, 1981 | Arthur | $450,313 | 705 | $639 | $8,161,535 | 11 |
| 42 | May 28, 1981 | Outland | $274,000 | 331 | $828 | $3,868,000 | 7 |
| 43 | May 26, 1981 | Outland | $270,000 | 331 | $816 | $3,330,000 | 5 |
| 44 | May 27, 1981 | Outland | $264,000 | 331 | $798 | $3,594,000 | 6 |
| 45 | Sep 26, 1981 | True Confessions | $57,340 | 4 | $14,335 | $105,122 | 2 |
| 46 | Sep 24, 1981 | Only When I Laugh | $51,291 | 31 | $1,655 | $102,399 | 2 |
| 47 | Sep 23, 1981 | Only When I Laugh | $51,108 | 31 | $1,649 | $51,108 | 1 |
| 48 | Sep 27, 1981 | True Confessions | $49,801 | 4 | $12,450 | $154,923 | 3 |
| 49 | Sep 7, 1981 | Prince of the City | $47,951 | 5 | $9,590 | $560,269 | 20 |
| 50 | Sep 25, 1981 | True Confessions | $47,782 | 4 | $11,946 | $47,782 | 1 |
| 51 | Sep 6, 1981 | Prince of the City | $47,248 | 5 | $9,450 | $512,318 | 19 |
| 52 | Aug 30, 1981 | Prince of the City | $46,894 | 5 | $9,379 | $286,419 | 12 |
| 53 | Sep 19, 1981 | The French Lieutenant's Woman | $45,034 | 4 | $11,259 | $80,127 | 2 |
| 54 | Sep 20, 1981 | The French Lieutenant's Woman | $43,983 | 4 | $10,996 | $124,110 | 3 |
| 55 | Sep 5, 1981 | Prince of the City | $43,670 | 5 | $8,734 | $465,070 | 18 |
| 56 | Aug 29, 1981 | Prince of the City | $43,481 | 5 | $8,696 | $239,525 | 11 |
| 57 | Sep 18, 1981 | The French Lieutenant's Woman | $35,093 | 4 | $8,773 | $35,093 | 1 |
| 58 | Sep 4, 1981 | Prince of the City | $34,673 | 5 | $6,935 | $421,400 | 17 |
| 59 | Aug 28, 1981 | Prince of the City | $34,227 | 5 | $6,845 | $196,044 | 10 |
| 60 | Aug 31, 1981 | Prince of the City | $25,760 | 5 | $5,152 | $312,179 | 13 |
| 61 | Sep 1, 1981 | Prince of the City | $25,581 | 5 | $5,116 | $337,760 | 14 |
| 62 | Sep 2, 1981 | Prince of the City | $25,434 | 5 | $5,087 | $363,194 | 15 |
| 63 | Sep 3, 1981 | Prince of the City | $23,533 | 5 | $4,707 | $386,727 | 16 |
| 64 | Aug 22, 1981 | Prince of the City | $23,491 | 3 | $7,830 | $77,878 | 4 |
| 65 | Nov 21, 1981 | Absence of Malice | $23,403 | 2 | $11,702 | $51,337 | 3 |
| 66 | Aug 29, 1981 | Gallipoli | $23,318 | 2 | $11,659 | $39,974 | 2 |
| 67 | Aug 23, 1981 | Prince of the City | $22,540 | 3 | $7,513 | $100,418 | 5 |
| 68 | Nov 22, 1981 | Absence of Malice | $22,216 | 2 | $11,108 | $73,553 | 4 |
| 69 | Aug 30, 1981 | Gallipoli | $19,783 | 2 | $9,892 | $59,757 | 3 |
| 70 | Nov 20, 1981 | Absence of Malice | $19,156 | 2 | $9,578 | $27,934 | 2 |
| 71 | Aug 19, 1981 | Prince of the City | $19,043 | 3 | $6,348 | $19,043 | 1 |
| 72 | Aug 21, 1981 | Prince of the City | $18,582 | 3 | $6,194 | $54,387 | 3 |
| 73 | Aug 20, 1981 | Prince of the City | $16,762 | 3 | $5,587 | $35,805 | 2 |
| 74 | Aug 28, 1981 | Gallipoli | $16,656 | 2 | $8,328 | $16,656 | 1 |
| 75 | Aug 24, 1981 | Prince of the City | $15,891 | 3 | $5,297 | $116,309 | 6 |
| 76 | Aug 25, 1981 | Prince of the City | $15,280 | 3 | $5,093 | $131,589 | 7 |
| 77 | Aug 26, 1981 | Prince of the City | $15,256 | 3 | $5,085 | $146,845 | 8 |
| 78 | Aug 27, 1981 | Prince of the City | $14,972 | 3 | $4,991 | $161,817 | 9 |
| 79 | Sep 6, 1981 | Heartland | $10,624 | 1 | $10,624 | $7,051 | 17 |
| 80 | Apr 11, 1981 | Star Wars Ep. V: The Empire S… | $8,894 | 1 | $8,894 | $145,911,847 | 326 |
| 81 | Nov 19, 1981 | Absence of Malice | $8,778 | 1 | $8,778 | $8,778 | 1 |
| 82 | Aug 30, 1981 | Heartland | $8,241 | 1 | $8,241 | $7,051 | 10 |
| 83 | Apr 18, 1981 | Star Wars Ep. V: The Empire S… | $8,199 | 1 | $8,199 | $145,920,046 | 333 |
| 84 | Aug 23, 1981 | Heartland | $7,051 | 1 | $7,051 | $7,051 | 3 |
| 85 | May 9, 1981 | Star Wars Ep. V: The Empire S… | $5,657 | 1 | $5,657 | $145,936,161 | 354 |
| 86 | May 2, 1981 | Star Wars Ep. V: The Empire S… | $5,417 | 1 | $5,417 | $145,930,504 | 347 |
| 87 | Apr 25, 1981 | Star Wars Ep. V: The Empire S… | $5,041 | 1 | $5,041 | $145,925,087 | 340 |
| 88 | Apr 4, 1981 | Star Wars Ep. V: The Empire S… | $4,984 | 1 | $4,984 | $145,902,953 | 319 |
| 89 | Mar 28, 1981 | Star Wars Ep. V: The Empire S… | $4,046 | 1 | $4,046 | $145,897,969 | 312 |