1981 Top-Grossing Movies (Inflation-Adjusted Dollars)

Note: This chart ranks movies by the amount they earned during 1981. It includes movies released in previous years that earned money during 1981. For example, a movie released over Thanksgiving in 1980 will most likely earn money in 1980 and 1981.

To see the top movies released in 1981 (ranked by their total cumulative gross across all years), click the “Released in 1981” button below.

Inflation-adjusted figures are based on ticket sale estimates.

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RankMovieRelease DateDistributorGenre1981 Gross
Infl. adj.		Tickets Sold
1Raiders of the Lost ArkJun 12, 1981Paramount PicturesAdventure$724,592,58660,584,664
2Superman IIJun 19, 1981Warner Bros.Adventure$465,432,03038,915,721
39 to 5Dec 19, 198020th Century FoxComedy$414,912,51334,691,681
4StripesJun 26, 1981ColumbiaComedy$366,974,10130,683,453
5ArthurJul 17, 1981Warner Bros.Romantic Comedy$324,005,16827,090,733
6The Cannonball RunJun 19, 198120th Century FoxAction$247,368,55120,682,989
7For Your Eyes OnlyJun 26, 1981United ArtistsAction$235,758,27319,712,230
8The Fox and the HoundJul 10, 1981Walt DisneyAdventure$188,861,44015,791,090
9The Four SeasonsMay 22, 1981UniversalComedy$182,790,79315,283,511
10Cheech & Chong's Nice DreamsJun 5, 1981ColumbiaComedy$159,179,85613,309,352
11Tarzan, The Ape ManJul 24, 1981MGMAdventure$157,308,41713,152,877
12ExcaliburApr 10, 1981Warner Bros.Adventure$147,133,81312,302,158
13Time BanditsNov 6, 1981Avco EmbassyAdventure$144,537,04712,085,037
14Endless LoveJul 17, 1981UniversalDrama$141,971,22311,870,503
15An American Werewolf in LondonAug 21, 1981UniversalHorror$137,553,97811,501,168
16History of the World: Part IJun 12, 198120th Century FoxComedy$136,257,95711,392,805
17Bustin' LooseMay 22, 1981UniversalComedy$134,489,77011,244,964
18The Great Muppet CaperJun 26, 1981UniversalComedy$134,254,23111,225,270
19Clash of the TitansJun 12, 1981MGMAdventure$129,064,74810,791,366
20Fort Apache, The BronxJan 1, 198120th Century FoxDrama$125,623,02210,503,597
21The Jazz SingerMay 1, 1981UniversalDrama$116,665,9289,754,676
22Only When I LaughSep 23, 1981ColumbiaComedy$110,919,5529,274,210
23Halloween IIOct 30, 1981UniversalHorror$109,850,5269,184,826
24Escape from New YorkJul 10, 1981Avco EmbassyAction$108,606,6959,080,827
25Body HeatAug 28, 1981Warner Bros.Thriller/Suspense$103,501,3248,653,956
26Graduation DayMay 1, 1981IFI ScopeHorror$102,795,7708,594,964
27NeighborsDec 18, 1981ColumbiaBlack Comedy$98,575,3228,242,083
28The French Lieutenant's WomanSep 18, 1981United ArtistsDrama$97,228,7778,129,496
29Friday the 13th Part 2Apr 30, 1981Paramount PicturesHorror$93,454,8207,813,948
30Raging BullNov 14, 1980United ArtistsDrama$92,375,7277,723,723
31RedsDec 4, 1981Paramount PicturesDrama$88,662,8237,413,279
32The Final ConflictMar 20, 198120th Century FoxHorror$88,069,4827,363,669
33The Incredible Shrinking WomanJan 30, 1981UniversalComedy$87,157,4247,287,410
34OutlandMay 22, 1981Warner Bros.Action$86,043,1657,194,244
35Heavy MetalAug 7, 1981ColumbiaAdventure$84,197,9317,039,960
36Star Wars Ep. V: The Empire S…May 21, 198020th Century FoxAdventure$83,994,1947,022,925
37Mommie DearestSep 18, 1981Paramount PicturesDrama$81,878,6766,846,043
38Absence of MaliceNov 19, 1981ColumbiaThriller/Suspense$81,763,7746,836,435
39Sharky's MachineDec 18, 1981Warner Bros.Thriller/Suspense$81,475,7886,812,356
40PaternityOct 2, 1981Paramount PicturesRomantic Comedy$81,044,0586,776,258
41Under the RainbowJul 31, 1981Warner Bros.Comedy$80,994,5406,772,118
42TessDec 12, 1980Drama$78,314,3906,548,025
43The Private EyesJan 1, 1981New WorldComedy$77,438,8496,474,820
44The HowlingApr 10, 1981Avco EmbassyHorror$77,374,3176,469,424
45Eye of the NeedleJul 24, 1981United ArtistsThriller/Suspense$75,644,8496,324,820
46Take This Job and Shove ItMay 15, 1981Avco EmbassyComedy$75,584,6196,319,784
47Modern ProblemsDec 25, 198120th Century FoxComedy$69,691,8155,827,074
48The Devil and Max DevlinJan 1, 1981Walt DisneyComedy$68,834,5325,755,395
49CavemanApr 17, 1981United ArtistsComedy$68,683,9575,742,805
50Continental DivideSep 18, 1981UniversalRomantic Comedy$67,019,0225,603,597
51S.O.B.Jul 1, 1981Paramount PicturesBlack Comedy$63,960,5575,347,872
52TapsDec 9, 198120th Century FoxDrama$63,948,4945,346,864
53NighthawksApr 10, 1981UniversalAction$62,811,5115,251,798
54ScannersJan 1, 1981Avco EmbassyHorror$61,090,6475,107,913
55The Night the Lights Went Out…Jun 5, 1981Avco EmbassyDrama$60,230,2165,035,971
56Blow OutJul 24, 1981Filmways PicturesThriller/Suspense$59,142,7764,945,048
57The Legend of the Lone RangerMay 22, 1981UniversalWestern$57,648,9214,820,143
58Ghost StoryDec 18, 1981UniversalHorror$57,252,4604,786,994
59On the Right TrackMar 6, 198120th Century FoxComedy$55,928,0584,676,258
60Rich and FamousOct 9, 1981MGMDrama$55,928,0584,676,258
61Private LessonsAug 28, 1981Jensen Farley Pic…Comedy$55,497,8424,640,287
62The Postman Always Rings TwiceMar 20, 1981Paramount PicturesDrama$52,486,3314,388,489
63True ConfessionsSep 25, 1981United ArtistsDrama$52,486,3314,388,489
64First Monday in OctoberAug 21, 1981Paramount PicturesComedy$51,625,8994,316,546
65Back RoadsMar 13, 1981Warner Bros.Romantic Comedy$50,805,8524,247,980
66Raggedy ManSep 18, 1981UniversalDrama$47,323,7413,956,834
67WolfenJul 24, 1981Warner Bros.Horror$47,323,7413,956,834
68VictoryJul 31, 1981Paramount PicturesAction$46,691,3243,903,956
69Happy Birthday To MeMay 15, 1981ColumbiaHorror$45,643,8083,816,371
70So FineSep 25, 1981Warner Bros.Comedy$43,021,5833,597,122
71Zorro, The Gay BladeJul 24, 198120th Century FoxComedy$43,021,5833,597,122
72Atlantic CityApr 3, 1981Paramount PicturesDrama$43,021,5833,597,122
73Prince of the CityAug 19, 1981Warner Bros.Drama$38,719,4243,237,410
74Carbon CopySep 25, 1981Avco EmbassyComedy$36,138,1293,021,582
75RagtimeNov 20, 1981Paramount PicturesDrama$36,062,8463,015,288
76Force: FiveJun 26, 1981American Cinema R…Action$34,417,2662,877,697
77All Night LongMar 6, 1981UniversalRomantic Comedy$33,556,8352,805,755
78RolloverDec 11, 1981Warner Bros.Thriller/Suspense$33,329,3712,786,736
79An Eye for an EyeAug 7, 1981Avco EmbassyAction$32,251,9082,696,647
80The FunhouseMar 13, 1981UniversalHorror$30,115,1082,517,985
81Comin' at Ya!Jul 24, 1981Filmways Pictures$28,842,2152,411,556
82EyewitnessFeb 13, 198120th Century Fox$27,533,8132,302,158
83American PopFeb 13, 1981ColumbiaMusical$25,812,9502,158,273
84DragonslayerJun 26, 1981Paramount PicturesAction$25,812,9502,158,273
85HeartbeepsDec 18, 1981UniversalComedy$25,812,9502,158,273
86GallipoliAug 28, 1981Paramount PicturesDrama$24,662,4972,062,081
87Buddy BuddyDec 11, 1981United ArtistsComedy$22,797,2961,906,128
88Pennies from HeavenDec 11, 1981MGMMusical$22,488,4961,880,308
89Death HuntJan 1, 198120th Century Fox$21,510,7911,798,561
90GalaxinaJun 6, 1980Crown$20,930,0001,750,000
91All the MarblesOct 16, 1981MGM$18,499,2811,546,762
92ThiefMar 27, 1981United ArtistsAction$18,499,2811,546,762
93Whose Life is it Anyway?Dec 2, 1981MGMDrama$17,432,2941,457,549
94LookerOct 30, 1981Warner Bros.Thriller/Suspense$14,116,3791,180,299
95Le dernier métroFeb 11, 1981United ArtistsDrama$12,906,4751,079,136
96Southern ComfortSep 25, 198120th Century FoxThriller/Suspense$12,644,7921,057,256
97Deadly BlessingAug 14, 1981United ArtistsHorror$12,046,0431,007,194
98Chariots of FireSep 25, 1981Warner Bros.Drama$11,917,908996,480
99NapoléonFeb 17, 1929Drama$11,381,377951,620
100Hell NightAug 7, 1981Compass Internati…Horror$9,894,964827,338
101The Pursuit of D.B. CooperNov 13, 1981UniversalAdventure$9,052,447756,893
102The HandApr 24, 1981Warner Bros.Horror$8,604,317719,424
103SphinxFeb 11, 1981Warner Bros.Thriller/Suspense$8,604,317719,424
104CinderellaFeb 15, 1950Musical$7,457,0776,195,585
105Student BodiesAug 7, 1981Paramount PicturesComedy$6,806,651569,117
106On Golden PondDec 4, 1981UniversalDrama$5,997,295501,446
107King of the MountainMay 1, 1981UniversalDrama$4,124,208344,833
108Honky Tonk FreewayAug 21, 1981UniversalComedy$4,041,546337,921
109TattooOct 9, 198120th Century FoxThriller/Suspense$3,701,887309,522
110Beyond the ReefApr 24, 1981Universal$2,355,539196,951
111Eyes of a StrangerMar 27, 1981Warner Bros.Horror$2,352,093196,663
112This is ElvisApr 10, 1981Warner Bros.Documentary$1,846,254154,369
113Zoot SuitOct 2, 1981UniversalDrama$1,636,119136,799
114Silence of the NorthOct 23, 1981UniversalDrama$1,483,543124,042
115Chu Chu and the Philly FlashAug 14, 198120th Century Fox$954,64079,819
116Dead & BuriedNov 13, 1981Avco EmbassyHorror$929,98077,757
117Cattle Annie and Little Britc…Apr 24, 1981UniversalWestern$497,66941,611
118Modern RomanceMar 13, 1981ColumbiaRomantic Comedy$125,35210,480
119Pick-up SummerMar 31, 1981$123,71310,343
120Soggy Bottom, U.S.A.Aug 7, 1981ComworldComedy$82,7096,915
121HeartlandAug 21, 1981Levitt-PickmanDrama$30,3352,536
122Nobody's PerfektJul 24, 1981Columbia$4,281357