1981 Top-Grossing Movies Internationally

This chart ranks movies by their total cumulative international box office earnings for movies released in 1981. Each movie is ranked by its total gross across all years it played, not just earnings during 1981.

WorldwideDomesticInternational
← 1980
1982 →
RankMovieRelease DateBiggest
Territory		Genre1981 International Gross
1Raiders of the Lost ArkJun 12, 1981United KingdomAdventure$141,765,835
2For Your Eyes OnlyJun 26, 1981United KingdomAction$140,500,000
3Superman IIJun 19, 1981Adventure$82,214,294
4Fort Apache, The BronxJan 1, 1981Drama$36,000,000
5The Postman Always Rings TwiceMar 20, 1981Drama$32,000,000
6An American Werewolf in LondonAug 21, 1981United KingdomHorror$29,995,139
7VictoryJul 31, 1981Action$16,600,000
8Clash of the TitansJun 12, 1981Adventure$14,400,000
9SphinxFeb 11, 1981Thriller/Suspense$9,400,000
10Mommie DearestSep 18, 1981New ZealandDrama$6,000,000
11NighthawksApr 10, 1981Action$5,000,000
12Shi Ye ShengAug 26, 1981ChinaDrama$1,777,785
13Chariots of FireMar 31, 1981South KoreaDrama$365,914
14Les Uns et les AutresMay 27, 1981NetherlandsDrama$122,054
15Take It or Leave itDec 31, 1981United KingdomComedy$52,211
16The Girl with Red HairSep 17, 1981NetherlandsDrama$38,334
17PossessionMay 27, 1981South KoreaHorror$34,147
18Escape from New YorkJun 24, 1981Russia (CIS)Action$31,892
19Subzero Point '81Apr 18, 1981South KoreaDrama$10,421
20Lady Chatterley's LoverAug 1, 1981South KoreaDrama$5,406
21Aus dem Leben der MarionettenSep 25, 1981PortugalDrama$5,049
22Body HeatAug 28, 1981South KoreaThriller/Suspense$2,803
23Private LessonsAug 28, 1981South KoreaComedy$1,923
24Baekugido bame uneungaMar 1, 1981South KoreaDrama$1,756
25Le dernier métroFeb 11, 1981PortugalDrama$1,544
26Blow OutJul 24, 1981New ZealandThriller/Suspense$1,480
27Krakonoš a lyžníciJan 23, 1981Czech RepublicComedy$1,471
28Aengmusae Momeulo UleossdaOct 24, 1981South KoreaDrama$1,415
29LoulouMay 8, 1981PortugalDrama$1,343
30ThiefMar 27, 1981New ZealandAction$1,338
31Mad Max 2: The Road WarriorDec 24, 1981New ZealandAction$986
32La femme d’à côtéOct 29, 1981PortugalDrama$970
33Friday the 13th Part 2Apr 30, 1981New ZealandHorror$491
34The Declline of Western Civil…Jul 1, 1981New ZealandDocumentary$442
35RoarJan 1, 1981New ZealandAdventure$403
36Goodbye Pork PieFeb 6, 1981New ZealandAction$394
37Rude BoyJan 2, 1981New ZealandDrama$382
38The BurningMay 8, 1981New ZealandHorror$310
39Bom Povo PortuguêsNov 18, 1981PortugalDocumentary$304
40RedsDec 4, 1981New ZealandDrama$300
41The FunhouseMar 13, 1981New ZealandHorror$141
42The HowlingApr 10, 1981New ZealandHorror$130
43Ms. 45Apr 24, 1981New ZealandThriller/Suspense$92
44Eye of the NeedleJul 24, 1981New ZealandThriller/Suspense$53