Ragtime (1981)
| Theatrical Performance | ||
| Domestic Box Office | $17,468,158 | Details |
| OpusData ID: 27630100 More info... | ||
| Further financial details... | ||
Metrics
| Opening Weekend: | $151,351 (0.9% of total gross) |
| Legs: | 8.54 (domestic box office/biggest weekend) |
| Domestic Share: | 100.0% (domestic box office/worldwide) |
| Theater counts: | 5 opening theaters/500 max. theaters, 6.2 weeks average run per theater |
| Infl. Adj. Dom. BO | $69,054,868 |
Movie Details
| Domestic Releases: | November 20th, 1981 (Wide) by Paramount Pictures |
| Video Release: | November 16th, 2004 by Paramount Home Video |
| MPA Rating: | PG |
| Running Time: | 156 minutes |
| Plot point: | African Americans |
| Subgenre: | Historical Drama |
| Time period setting: | 1900s |
| Source: | Based on Fiction Book/Short Story |
| Genre: | Drama |
| Production Method: | Live Action |
| Creative Type: | Historical Fiction |
| Production/Financing Companies: | Ragtime Productions, Ragtime Productions (U.K.) |
| Production Countries: | United States, United Kingdom |
| Languages: | English |
Weekend Box Office Performance
| Date | Rank | Gross | % Change | Theaters | Per Theater | Total Gross | Week |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 20, 1981 | 11 | $151,351 | 5 | $30,270 | $151,351 | 1 | |
| Nov 27, 1981 | 9 | $160,884 | +6% | 4 | $40,221 | $418,359 | 2 |
| Dec 4, 1981 | 13 | $103,955 | -35% | 5 | $20,791 | $594,893 | 3 |
| Jan 1, 1982 | 11 | $2,045,298 | 444 | $4,607 | $8,382,501 | 7 | |
| Jan 8, 1982 | 9 | $1,508,236 | -26% | 447 | $3,374 | $10,741,269 | 8 |
| Jan 15, 1982 | 7 | $1,403,534 | -7% | 419 | $3,350 | $12,631,335 | 9 |
| Jan 22, 1982 | 12 | $851,000 | -39% | 350 | $2,431 | $13,835,000 | 10 |
| Jan 29, 1982 | 13 | $702,905 | -17% | 250 | $2,812 | $14,751,152 | 11 |
| Feb 5, 1982 | 14 | $536,245 | -24% | 215 | $2,494 | $15,457,026 | 12 |
| Feb 12, 1982 | 13 | $938,641 | +75% | 500 | $1,877 | $16,652,108 | 13 |
| Feb 19, 1982 | 13 | $673,959 | -28% | 442 | $1,525 | $17,468,158 | 14 |
Weekly Box Office Performance
| Date | Rank | Gross | % Change | Theaters | Per Theater | Total Gross | Week |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 20, 1981 | 9 | $257,475 | 5 | $51,495 | $257,475 | 1 | |
| Nov 27, 1981 | 8 | $233,463 | -9% | 4 | $58,366 | $490,938 | 2 |
| Jan 1, 1982 | 11 | $2,895,830 | 444 | $6,522 | $9,233,033 | 7 | |
| Jan 8, 1982 | 7 | $1,994,768 | -31% | 447 | $4,463 | $11,227,801 | 8 |
| Jan 15, 1982 | 7 | $1,756,199 | -12% | 419 | $4,191 | $12,984,000 | 9 |
| Jan 22, 1982 | 10 | $1,064,247 | -39% | 350 | $3,041 | $14,048,247 | 10 |
| Jan 29, 1982 | 12 | $872,534 | -18% | 250 | $3,490 | $14,920,781 | 11 |
| Feb 5, 1982 | 10 | $792,686 | -9% | 215 | $3,687 | $15,713,467 | 12 |
| Feb 12, 1982 | 13 | $1,080,732 | +36% | 500 | $2,161 | $16,794,199 | 13 |
Lead Ensemble Member
| Moses Gunn | Booker T. Washington | |
| Howard E. Rollins, Jr. | Coalhouse Walker Jr. | |
| Debbie Allen | Sarah | |
| James Cagney | New York Police Commissioner Rheinlander Waldo | |
| Pat O'Brien | Delmas |
Supporting
| Brad Dourif | Younger Brother | |
| Elizabeth McGovern | Evelyn Nesbit | |
| Kenneth McMillan | Willie Conklin | |
| James Olson | Father | |
| Mandy Patinkin | Tateh | |
| Mary Steenburgen | Mother | |
| Donald O’Connor | Evelyn's Dance Instructor | |
| Jeffrey DeMunn | Houdini | |
| Robert Joy | Harry K. Thaw | |
| Norman Mailer | Stanford White | |
| Bruce Boa | Jerome | |
| Hoolihan Burke | Brigit | |
| Norman Chancer | Gent, Agent | |
| Edwin Cooper | Grandfather | |
| Jeff Daniels | Sgt. O'Donnell | |
| Fran Drescher | Mameh | |
| Frankie Faison | Gang Member | |
| Hal Galili | Police Captain | |
| Alan Gifford | Judge | |
| Richard Griffiths | Delmas Assistant | |
| Samuel L. Jackson | Gang member | |
| Michael Jeter | Special Reporter | |
| Calvin Levels | Gang Member | |
| Bessie Love | Old Lady, T.O.C. | |
| Malcolm Christopher | Police Captain | |
| Herman Meckler | Vernon Elliott | |
| Billy J. Mitchell | Delmas Assistant | |
| Jenny Nichols | Little Girl | |
| Max Nichols | Little Boy | |
| Zack Norman | Gent, Manager | |
| Eloise O'Brien | Mrs. Thaw | |
| Don Plumley | Inspector McNeil | |
| Ted Ross | Black Lawyer | |
| Dorsey Wright | Gang Member | |
| Robert Arden | Foreman of the Jury | |
| Robert Boyd | Teddy Roosevelt | |
| Thomas A. Carlin | Vice President Fairbanks | |
| John Clarkson | Plainclothes Detective | |
| E. Brian Dean | Fireman | |
| Harry Ditson | County Clerk | |
| Robert Dorning | Gent with Stanford White | |
| Geoffrey Greenhill | Police Guard, T.O.C. | |
| Ray Hassett | Policeman | |
| Robert Hitt | Plainclothes Detective | |
| Rodney James | Sleek Male Dancer | |
| George Harris | Band Leader, Clef Club | |
| George J. Manos | Novelty Shop Storeman | |
| Val Pringle | Clef Club Manager | |
| Ron Weyand | Doctor Muller | |
| Sonny Abagnale | Evelyn's Driver | |
| John Alderson | Waldo's Aide | |
| Nesbitt Blaisdell | Policeman | |
| Chaim Blatter | Rabbi | |
| Donald Bisset | J.P. Morgan | |
| Josh Clark | Fireman | |
| Robert Coffin | Desk Clerk | |
| Patrick Connor | Waldo's Aide | |
| Joel Cutrara | Policeman | |
| Jake Dengel | Fireman | |
| Barry Dennen | Stage Manager | |
| Natalia Dobrer | Woman | |
| Daniel Foley | Reporter | |
| Gretchen Franklin | Elderly Woman | |
| Pat Gorman | Thug | |
| Guy Gregory | Black Butler | |
| Dave Griffiths | Thug | |
| Jeff Harding | Policeman | |
| Robert Henderson | Elderly Man | |
| Collette Hiller | Lawyer's Female Companion | |
| Patrick M. Hughes | Policeman | |
| Elaine Ives-Cameron | Lawyer's Female Companion | |
| Andreas Katsulas | Policeman | |
| Douglas Lambert | Police Sergeant | |
| Pavel Landovsky | Soloman Peretz | |
| Norris Mailer | Lady with Stanford White | |
| Derek Martin | Waldo's Aide | |
| Al Matthews | Maitre d' | |
| Stuart Milligan | Marksman | |
| Richard Oldfield | Reporter | |
| Nelly Polissky | Woman in Window | |
| Mike Potter | Thug | |
| Anthony Powell | Policeman | |
| Ethan Phillips | Guard at Family House | |
| Joe Praml | Policeman | |
| John Ratzenberger | Fireman | |
| Bill Reimbold | Gent, Lawyer | |
| Bob Sherman | Policeman | |
| Tony Sibbald | Reporter | |
| Stan Simmons | Thug | |
| John Sterland | Library Guard | |
| Jan Tříska | Special Reporter | |
| Burnell Tucker | Reporter | |
| Britt Walker | Black Butler | |
| Peter Whitman | Reporter | |
| Edward Wiley | Conductor |
Production and Technical Credits
| Miloš Forman | Director | |
| Dino De Laurentiis | Producer | |
| Michael Weller | Screenwriter | |
| E.L. Doctorow | Story Creator | |
| Michael Hausman | Executive Producer | |
| Bernard Williams | Executive Producer | |
| Randy Newman | Composer | |
| Fredric M. Sidewater | Associate Producer | |
| Michael Hausman | Assistant Director | |
| Pat Churchill | Production Manager | |
| Malcolm Christopher | Production Manager | |
| John Graysmark | Production Designer | |
| Patrizia Von Brandenstein | Art Director | |
| Anthony Reading | Art Director | |
| George DeTitta, Sr | Set Decorator | |
| George DeTitta Jr. | Set Decorator | |
| Peter Howitt | Set Decorator | |
| Miroslav Ondříček | Director of Photography | |
| Anna Hill Johnstone | Costume Designer | |
| Peggy Farrell | Associate Costume Designer | |
| John Boyt | Associate Costume Designer | |
| Marilyn Putnam | Costume Supervisor | |
| Ron Beck | Costume Supervisor | |
| Anne V. Coates | Editor | |
| Antony Gibbs | Editor | |
| Nena Danevic | Associate Editor | |
| Chris Newman | Sound Mixer | |
| Gerry Humphreys | Dubbing Mixer | |
| Les Wiggins | Sound Editor | |
| Archie Ludski | Sound Editor | |
| John Strauss | Music Editor | |
| Randy Newman | Song Writer | |
| Mary Goldberg | Casting Director | |
| Maggie Carter | Casting Director | |
| Patricia Golden | Casting Associate | |
| Victor Magnotta | Stunt Coordinator |
Cast and crew with above-the-line roles are marked in bold. The line marks the division between above-the-line and below-the-line roles.
Metrics
| Opening Weekend: | $151,351 (0.9% of total gross) |
| Legs: | 8.54 (domestic box office/biggest weekend) |
| Domestic Share: | 100.0% (domestic box office/worldwide) |
| Theater counts: | 5 opening theaters/500 max. theaters, 6.2 weeks average run per theater |
| Infl. Adj. Dom. BO | $69,054,868 |
Movie Details
| Domestic Releases: | November 20th, 1981 (Wide) by Paramount Pictures |
| Video Release: | November 16th, 2004 by Paramount Home Video |
| MPA Rating: | PG |
| Running Time: | 156 minutes |
| Plot point: | African Americans |
| Subgenre: | Historical Drama |
| Time period setting: | 1900s |
| Source: | Based on Fiction Book/Short Story |
| Genre: | Drama |
| Production Method: | Live Action |
| Creative Type: | Historical Fiction |
| Production/Financing Companies: | Ragtime Productions, Ragtime Productions (U.K.) |
| Production Countries: | United States, United Kingdom |
| Languages: | English |
Weekend Box Office Performance
| Date | Rank | Gross | % Change | Theaters | Per Theater | Total Gross | Week |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 20, 1981 | 11 | $151,351 | 5 | $30,270 | $151,351 | 1 | |
| Nov 27, 1981 | 9 | $160,884 | +6% | 4 | $40,221 | $418,359 | 2 |
| Dec 4, 1981 | 13 | $103,955 | -35% | 5 | $20,791 | $594,893 | 3 |
| Jan 1, 1982 | 11 | $2,045,298 | 444 | $4,607 | $8,382,501 | 7 | |
| Jan 8, 1982 | 9 | $1,508,236 | -26% | 447 | $3,374 | $10,741,269 | 8 |
| Jan 15, 1982 | 7 | $1,403,534 | -7% | 419 | $3,350 | $12,631,335 | 9 |
| Jan 22, 1982 | 12 | $851,000 | -39% | 350 | $2,431 | $13,835,000 | 10 |
| Jan 29, 1982 | 13 | $702,905 | -17% | 250 | $2,812 | $14,751,152 | 11 |
| Feb 5, 1982 | 14 | $536,245 | -24% | 215 | $2,494 | $15,457,026 | 12 |
| Feb 12, 1982 | 13 | $938,641 | +75% | 500 | $1,877 | $16,652,108 | 13 |
| Feb 19, 1982 | 13 | $673,959 | -28% | 442 | $1,525 | $17,468,158 | 14 |
Weekly Box Office Performance
| Date | Rank | Gross | % Change | Theaters | Per Theater | Total Gross | Week |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 20, 1981 | 9 | $257,475 | 5 | $51,495 | $257,475 | 1 | |
| Nov 27, 1981 | 8 | $233,463 | -9% | 4 | $58,366 | $490,938 | 2 |
| Jan 1, 1982 | 11 | $2,895,830 | 444 | $6,522 | $9,233,033 | 7 | |
| Jan 8, 1982 | 7 | $1,994,768 | -31% | 447 | $4,463 | $11,227,801 | 8 |
| Jan 15, 1982 | 7 | $1,756,199 | -12% | 419 | $4,191 | $12,984,000 | 9 |
| Jan 22, 1982 | 10 | $1,064,247 | -39% | 350 | $3,041 | $14,048,247 | 10 |
| Jan 29, 1982 | 12 | $872,534 | -18% | 250 | $3,490 | $14,920,781 | 11 |
| Feb 5, 1982 | 10 | $792,686 | -9% | 215 | $3,687 | $15,713,467 | 12 |
| Feb 12, 1982 | 13 | $1,080,732 | +36% | 500 | $2,161 | $16,794,199 | 13 |
Lead Ensemble Member
| Moses Gunn | Booker T. Washington | |
| Howard E. Rollins, Jr. | Coalhouse Walker Jr. | |
| Debbie Allen | Sarah | |
| James Cagney | New York Police Commissioner Rheinlander Waldo | |
| Pat O'Brien | Delmas |
Supporting
| Brad Dourif | Younger Brother | |
| Elizabeth McGovern | Evelyn Nesbit | |
| Kenneth McMillan | Willie Conklin | |
| James Olson | Father | |
| Mandy Patinkin | Tateh | |
| Mary Steenburgen | Mother | |
| Donald O’Connor | Evelyn's Dance Instructor | |
| Jeffrey DeMunn | Houdini | |
| Robert Joy | Harry K. Thaw | |
| Norman Mailer | Stanford White | |
| Bruce Boa | Jerome | |
| Hoolihan Burke | Brigit | |
| Norman Chancer | Gent, Agent | |
| Edwin Cooper | Grandfather | |
| Jeff Daniels | Sgt. O'Donnell | |
| Fran Drescher | Mameh | |
| Frankie Faison | Gang Member | |
| Hal Galili | Police Captain | |
| Alan Gifford | Judge | |
| Richard Griffiths | Delmas Assistant | |
| Samuel L. Jackson | Gang member | |
| Michael Jeter | Special Reporter | |
| Calvin Levels | Gang Member | |
| Bessie Love | Old Lady, T.O.C. | |
| Malcolm Christopher | Police Captain | |
| Herman Meckler | Vernon Elliott | |
| Billy J. Mitchell | Delmas Assistant | |
| Jenny Nichols | Little Girl | |
| Max Nichols | Little Boy | |
| Zack Norman | Gent, Manager | |
| Eloise O'Brien | Mrs. Thaw | |
| Don Plumley | Inspector McNeil | |
| Ted Ross | Black Lawyer | |
| Dorsey Wright | Gang Member | |
| Robert Arden | Foreman of the Jury | |
| Robert Boyd | Teddy Roosevelt | |
| Thomas A. Carlin | Vice President Fairbanks | |
| John Clarkson | Plainclothes Detective | |
| E. Brian Dean | Fireman | |
| Harry Ditson | County Clerk | |
| Robert Dorning | Gent with Stanford White | |
| Geoffrey Greenhill | Police Guard, T.O.C. | |
| Ray Hassett | Policeman | |
| Robert Hitt | Plainclothes Detective | |
| Rodney James | Sleek Male Dancer | |
| George Harris | Band Leader, Clef Club | |
| George J. Manos | Novelty Shop Storeman | |
| Val Pringle | Clef Club Manager | |
| Ron Weyand | Doctor Muller | |
| Sonny Abagnale | Evelyn's Driver | |
| John Alderson | Waldo's Aide | |
| Nesbitt Blaisdell | Policeman | |
| Chaim Blatter | Rabbi | |
| Donald Bisset | J.P. Morgan | |
| Josh Clark | Fireman | |
| Robert Coffin | Desk Clerk | |
| Patrick Connor | Waldo's Aide | |
| Joel Cutrara | Policeman | |
| Jake Dengel | Fireman | |
| Barry Dennen | Stage Manager | |
| Natalia Dobrer | Woman | |
| Daniel Foley | Reporter | |
| Gretchen Franklin | Elderly Woman | |
| Pat Gorman | Thug | |
| Guy Gregory | Black Butler | |
| Dave Griffiths | Thug | |
| Jeff Harding | Policeman | |
| Robert Henderson | Elderly Man | |
| Collette Hiller | Lawyer's Female Companion | |
| Patrick M. Hughes | Policeman | |
| Elaine Ives-Cameron | Lawyer's Female Companion | |
| Andreas Katsulas | Policeman | |
| Douglas Lambert | Police Sergeant | |
| Pavel Landovsky | Soloman Peretz | |
| Norris Mailer | Lady with Stanford White | |
| Derek Martin | Waldo's Aide | |
| Al Matthews | Maitre d' | |
| Stuart Milligan | Marksman | |
| Richard Oldfield | Reporter | |
| Nelly Polissky | Woman in Window | |
| Mike Potter | Thug | |
| Anthony Powell | Policeman | |
| Ethan Phillips | Guard at Family House | |
| Joe Praml | Policeman | |
| John Ratzenberger | Fireman | |
| Bill Reimbold | Gent, Lawyer | |
| Bob Sherman | Policeman | |
| Tony Sibbald | Reporter | |
| Stan Simmons | Thug | |
| John Sterland | Library Guard | |
| Jan Tříska | Special Reporter | |
| Burnell Tucker | Reporter | |
| Britt Walker | Black Butler | |
| Peter Whitman | Reporter | |
| Edward Wiley | Conductor |
Production and Technical Credits
| Miloš Forman | Director | |
| Dino De Laurentiis | Producer | |
| Michael Weller | Screenwriter | |
| E.L. Doctorow | Story Creator | |
| Michael Hausman | Executive Producer | |
| Bernard Williams | Executive Producer | |
| Randy Newman | Composer | |
| Fredric M. Sidewater | Associate Producer | |
| Michael Hausman | Assistant Director | |
| Pat Churchill | Production Manager | |
| Malcolm Christopher | Production Manager | |
| John Graysmark | Production Designer | |
| Patrizia Von Brandenstein | Art Director | |
| Anthony Reading | Art Director | |
| George DeTitta, Sr | Set Decorator | |
| George DeTitta Jr. | Set Decorator | |
| Peter Howitt | Set Decorator | |
| Miroslav Ondříček | Director of Photography | |
| Anna Hill Johnstone | Costume Designer | |
| Peggy Farrell | Associate Costume Designer | |
| John Boyt | Associate Costume Designer | |
| Marilyn Putnam | Costume Supervisor | |
| Ron Beck | Costume Supervisor | |
| Anne V. Coates | Editor | |
| Antony Gibbs | Editor | |
| Nena Danevic | Associate Editor | |
| Chris Newman | Sound Mixer | |
| Gerry Humphreys | Dubbing Mixer | |
| Les Wiggins | Sound Editor | |
| Archie Ludski | Sound Editor | |
| John Strauss | Music Editor | |
| Randy Newman | Song Writer | |
| Mary Goldberg | Casting Director | |
| Maggie Carter | Casting Director | |
| Patricia Golden | Casting Associate | |
| Victor Magnotta | Stunt Coordinator |
Cast and crew with above-the-line roles are marked in bold. The line marks the division between above-the-line and below-the-line roles.