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. Click on the individual movie to see its total gross over all the years in which it played.

Inflation-adjusted figures are based on ticket sale estimates.

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Rank Movie Release Date Distributor Genre 1981 Gross
Infl. adj.		 Tickets Sold
1 Raiders of the Lost Ark Jun 12, 1981 Paramount Pictures Adventure $724,592,586 60,584,664
2 Superman II Jun 19, 1981 Warner Bros. Adventure $465,432,030 38,915,721
3 9 to 5 Dec 19, 1980 20th Century Fox Comedy $414,912,513 34,691,681
4 Stripes Jun 26, 1981 Columbia Comedy $366,974,101 30,683,453
5 Arthur Jul 17, 1981 Warner Bros. Romantic Comedy $324,005,168 27,090,733
6 The Cannonball Run Jun 19, 1981 20th Century Fox Action $247,368,551 20,682,989
7 For Your Eyes Only Jun 26, 1981 United Artists Action $235,758,273 19,712,230
8 The Fox and the Hound Jul 10, 1981 Walt Disney Adventure $188,861,440 15,791,090
9 The Four Seasons May 22, 1981 Universal Comedy $182,790,793 15,283,511
10 Cheech & Chong's Nice Dreams Jun 5, 1981 Columbia Comedy $159,179,856 13,309,352
11 Tarzan, The Ape Man Jul 24, 1981 MGM Adventure $157,308,417 13,152,877
12 Excalibur Apr 10, 1981 Warner Bros. Adventure $147,133,813 12,302,158
13 Time Bandits Nov 6, 1981 Avco Embassy Adventure $144,537,047 12,085,037
14 Endless Love Jul 17, 1981 Universal Drama $141,971,223 11,870,503
15 An American Werewolf in London Aug 21, 1981 Universal Horror $137,553,978 11,501,168
16 History of the World: Part I Jun 12, 1981 20th Century Fox Comedy $136,257,957 11,392,805
17 Bustin' Loose May 22, 1981 Universal Comedy $134,489,770 11,244,964
18 The Great Muppet Caper Jun 26, 1981 Universal Comedy $134,254,231 11,225,270
19 Clash of the Titans Jun 12, 1981 MGM Adventure $129,064,748 10,791,366
20 Fort Apache, The Bronx Jan 1, 1981 20th Century Fox Drama $125,623,022 10,503,597
21 The Jazz Singer May 1, 1981 Universal Drama $116,665,928 9,754,676
22 Only When I Laugh Sep 23, 1981 Columbia Romantic Comedy $110,919,552 9,274,210
23 Halloween II Oct 30, 1981 Universal Horror $109,850,526 9,184,826
24 Escape from New York Jul 10, 1981 Avco Embassy Action $108,606,695 9,080,827
25 Body Heat Aug 28, 1981 Warner Bros. Thriller/Suspense $103,501,324 8,653,956
26 Graduation Day May 1, 1981 IFI Scope Horror $102,795,770 8,594,964
27 Neighbors Dec 18, 1981 Columbia Black Comedy $98,575,322 8,242,083
28 The French Lieutenant's Woman Sep 18, 1981 United Artists Drama $97,228,777 8,129,496
29 Friday the 13th Part 2 Apr 30, 1981 Paramount Pictures Horror $93,454,820 7,813,948
30 Raging Bull Nov 14, 1980 United Artists Drama $92,375,727 7,723,723
31 Reds Dec 4, 1981 Paramount Pictures Drama $88,662,823 7,413,279
32 The Final Conflict Mar 20, 1981 20th Century Fox Horror $88,069,482 7,363,669
33 The Incredible Shrinking Woman Jan 30, 1981 Universal Comedy $87,157,424 7,287,410
34 Outland May 22, 1981 Warner Bros. Action $86,043,165 7,194,244
35 Heavy Metal Aug 7, 1981 Columbia Adventure $84,197,931 7,039,960
36 Star Wars Ep. V: The Empire S… May 21, 1980 20th Century Fox Adventure $83,994,194 7,022,925
37 Mommie Dearest Sep 18, 1981 Paramount Pictures Drama $81,878,676 6,846,043
38 Absence of Malice Nov 19, 1981 Columbia Thriller/Suspense $81,763,774 6,836,435
39 Sharky's Machine Dec 18, 1981 Warner Bros. Thriller/Suspense $81,475,788 6,812,356
40 Paternity Oct 2, 1981 Paramount Pictures Romantic Comedy $81,044,058 6,776,258
41 Under the Rainbow Jul 31, 1981 Warner Bros. Comedy $80,994,540 6,772,118
42 Tess Dec 12, 1980 Drama $78,314,390 6,548,025
43 The Private Eyes Jan 1, 1981 New World Comedy $77,438,849 6,474,820
44 The Howling Apr 10, 1981 Avco Embassy Horror $77,374,317 6,469,424
45 Eye of the Needle Jul 24, 1981 United Artists Thriller/Suspense $75,644,849 6,324,820
46 Take This Job and Shove It May 15, 1981 Avco Embassy Comedy $75,584,619 6,319,784
47 Modern Problems Dec 25, 1981 20th Century Fox Comedy $69,691,815 5,827,074
48 The Devil and Max Devlin Jan 1, 1981 Walt Disney Comedy $68,834,532 5,755,395
49 Caveman Apr 17, 1981 United Artists Comedy $68,683,957 5,742,805
50 Continental Divide Sep 18, 1981 Universal Romantic Comedy $67,019,022 5,603,597
51 S.O.B. Jul 1, 1981 Paramount Pictures Black Comedy $63,960,557 5,347,872
52 Taps Dec 9, 1981 20th Century Fox Drama $63,948,494 5,346,864
53 Nighthawks Apr 10, 1981 Universal Action $62,811,511 5,251,798
54 Scanners Jan 1, 1981 Avco Embassy Horror $61,090,647 5,107,913
55 The Night the Lights Went Out… Jun 5, 1981 Avco Embassy Drama $60,230,216 5,035,971
56 Blow Out Jul 24, 1981 Filmways Pictures Thriller/Suspense $59,142,776 4,945,048
57 The Legend of the Lone Ranger May 22, 1981 Universal Western $57,648,921 4,820,143
58 Ghost Story Dec 18, 1981 Universal Horror $57,252,460 4,786,994
59 On the Right Track Mar 6, 1981 20th Century Fox Comedy $55,928,058 4,676,258
60 Rich and Famous Oct 9, 1981 MGM Drama $55,928,058 4,676,258
61 Private Lessons Aug 28, 1981 Jensen Farley Pic… Comedy $55,497,842 4,640,287
62 The Postman Always Rings Twice Mar 20, 1981 Paramount Pictures Drama $52,486,331 4,388,489
63 True Confessions Sep 25, 1981 United Artists Drama $52,486,331 4,388,489
64 First Monday in October Aug 21, 1981 Paramount Pictures Comedy $51,625,899 4,316,546
65 Back Roads Mar 13, 1981 Warner Bros. Romantic Comedy $50,805,852 4,247,980
66 Raggedy Man Sep 18, 1981 Universal Drama $47,323,741 3,956,834
67 Wolfen Jul 24, 1981 Warner Bros. Horror $47,323,741 3,956,834
68 Victory Jul 31, 1981 Paramount Pictures Action $46,691,324 3,903,956
69 Happy Birthday To Me May 15, 1981 Columbia Horror $45,643,808 3,816,371
70 So Fine Sep 25, 1981 Warner Bros. Comedy $43,021,583 3,597,122
71 Zorro, The Gay Blade Jul 24, 1981 20th Century Fox Comedy $43,021,583 3,597,122
72 Atlantic City Apr 3, 1981 Paramount Pictures Drama $43,021,583 3,597,122
73 Prince of the City Aug 19, 1981 Warner Bros. Drama $38,719,424 3,237,410
74 Carbon Copy Sep 25, 1981 Avco Embassy Comedy $36,138,129 3,021,582
75 Ragtime Nov 20, 1981 Paramount Pictures Drama $36,062,846 3,015,288
76 Force: Five Jun 26, 1981 American Cinema R… Action $34,417,266 2,877,697
77 All Night Long Mar 6, 1981 Universal Romantic Comedy $33,556,835 2,805,755
78 Rollover Dec 11, 1981 Warner Bros. Thriller/Suspense $33,329,371 2,786,736
79 An Eye for an Eye Aug 7, 1981 Avco Embassy Action $32,251,908 2,696,647
80 The Funhouse Mar 13, 1981 Universal Horror $30,115,108 2,517,985
81 Comin' at Ya! Jul 24, 1981 Filmways Pictures $28,842,215 2,411,556
82 Eyewitness Feb 13, 1981 20th Century Fox $27,533,813 2,302,158
83 American Pop Feb 13, 1981 Columbia Musical $25,812,950 2,158,273
84 Dragonslayer Jun 26, 1981 Paramount Pictures Action $25,812,950 2,158,273
85 Heartbeeps Dec 18, 1981 Universal Comedy $25,812,950 2,158,273
86 Gallipoli Aug 28, 1981 Paramount Pictures Drama $24,662,497 2,062,081
87 Buddy Buddy Dec 11, 1981 United Artists Comedy $22,797,296 1,906,128
88 Pennies from Heaven Dec 11, 1981 MGM Musical $22,488,496 1,880,308
89 Death Hunt Jan 1, 1981 20th Century Fox $21,510,791 1,798,561
90 Galaxina Jun 6, 1980 Crown $20,930,000 1,750,000
91 All the Marbles Oct 16, 1981 MGM $18,499,281 1,546,762
92 Thief Mar 27, 1981 United Artists Action $18,499,281 1,546,762
93 Whose Life is it Anyway? Dec 2, 1981 MGM Drama $17,432,294 1,457,549
94 Looker Oct 30, 1981 Warner Bros. Thriller/Suspense $14,116,379 1,180,299
95 Le dernier métro Feb 11, 1981 United Artists Drama $12,906,475 1,079,136
96 Southern Comfort Sep 25, 1981 20th Century Fox Thriller/Suspense $12,644,792 1,057,256
97 Deadly Blessing Aug 14, 1981 United Artists $12,046,043 1,007,194
98 Chariots of Fire Sep 25, 1981 Warner Bros. Drama $11,917,908 996,480
99 Napoléon Feb 17, 1929 Drama $11,381,377 951,620
100 Hell Night Aug 7, 1981 Compass Internati… Horror $9,894,964 827,338
101 The Pursuit of D.B. Cooper Nov 13, 1981 Universal Adventure $9,052,447 756,893
102 The Hand Apr 24, 1981 Warner Bros. Horror $8,604,317 719,424
103 Sphinx Feb 11, 1981 Warner Bros. Thriller/Suspense $8,604,317 719,424
104 Cinderella Feb 15, 1950 Musical $7,457,077 6,195,585
105 Student Bodies Aug 7, 1981 Paramount Pictures Comedy $6,806,651 569,117
106 On Golden Pond Dec 4, 1981 Universal Drama $5,997,295 501,446
107 King of the Mountain May 1, 1981 Universal Drama $4,124,208 344,833
108 Honky Tonk Freeway Aug 21, 1981 Universal Comedy $4,041,546 337,921
109 Tattoo Oct 9, 1981 20th Century Fox Thriller/Suspense $3,701,887 309,522
110 Beyond the Reef Apr 24, 1981 Universal $2,355,539 196,951
111 Eyes of a Stranger Mar 27, 1981 Warner Bros. Horror $2,352,093 196,663
112 This is Elvis Apr 10, 1981 Warner Bros. Documentary $1,846,254 154,369
113 Zoot Suit Oct 2, 1981 Universal Drama $1,636,119 136,799
114 Silence of the North Oct 23, 1981 Universal Drama $1,483,543 124,042
115 Chu Chu and the Philly Flash Aug 14, 1981 20th Century Fox $954,640 79,819
116 Dead & Buried Nov 13, 1981 Avco Embassy Horror $929,980 77,757
117 Cattle Annie and Little Britc… Apr 24, 1981 Universal Western $497,669 41,611
118 Modern Romance Mar 13, 1981 Columbia Romantic Comedy $125,352 10,480
119 Pick-up Summer Mar 31, 1981 $123,713 10,343
120 Soggy Bottom, U.S.A. Aug 7, 1981 Comworld Comedy $82,709 6,915
121 Heartland Aug 21, 1981 Levitt-Pickman Drama $30,335 2,536
122 Nobody's Perfekt Jul 24, 1981 Columbia $4,281 357