List of 1981 box office number-one films in the United States

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This is a list of films which have placed number one at the weekend box office in the United States during 1981.

Contents

Number-one films

†This implies the highest-grossing movie of the year. [1]
#Week endingFilmGrossNotesRef
1January 4, 1981 9 to 5 $7,111,919 [2] [3]
2January 11, 1981$6,388,982 [4]
3January 18, 1981$6,014,902 [5]
4January 25, 1981 Stir Crazy TBD [6]
5February 1, 1981 The Incredible Shrinking Woman $4,279,264 [7]
6February 8, 1981 Fort Apache, The Bronx $4,565,000 [8]
7February 15, 1981$4,000,000 [9] [10]
8February 22, 1981TBD [11]
9March 1, 1981 [12]
10March 8, 1981 [13]
11March 15, 1981 Back Roads $3,046,339 [14]
12March 22, 1981 Omen III: The Final Conflict $5,571,675 [15] [16]
13March 29, 1981TBD [17]
14April 5, 1981 Hardly Working $4,160,193 [18]
15April 12, 1981 Star Wars (reissue)$6,549,751 [19] [20]
16April 19, 1981$4,564,616 [20]
17April 26, 1981 Excalibur $3,144,818 [21]
18May 3, 1981 Friday the 13th Part 2 $6,420,784 [22] [23]
19May 10, 1981TBD [24]
20May 17, 1981 Happy Birthday to Me $3,712,597 [25] [26]
21May 25, 19814-day weekend Bustin' Loose $6,622,753 [27]
22May 31, 1981 The Four Seasons $4,355,238 [28]
23June 7, 1981 Cheech and Chong's Nice Dreams $8,153,738 [29] [30]
24June 14, 1981 Raiders of the Lost Ark †$8,305,823 [31] [32]
25June 21, 1981 Superman II $14,100,523Superman II had the highest weekend debut of all-time beating the record of $11.9 million set by Star Trek: The Motion Picture . [33] [34]
26June 28, 1981$10,765,687Superman II becomes the first film to have more than one weekend with a gross over $10 million. [35] [36]
27July 5, 1981$10,905,892 [37] [36]
28July 12, 1981$6,745,678 [38] [36]
29July 19, 1981Raiders of the Lost Ark †$6,450,189Raiders of the Lost Ark reclaimed number 1 in its sixth weekend of release. [39] [36]
30July 26, 1981 Tarzan, the Ape Man $6,700,809 [40]
31August 2, 1981 The Empire Strikes Back (reissue)$7,001,282 [41]
32August 9, 1981Raiders of the Lost Ark †$4,046,228Raiders of the Lost Ark reclaimed number 1 in its ninth weekend of release. [42]
33August 16, 1981$5,157,432 [43]
34August 23, 1981$4,183,784 [44]
35August 30, 1981$3,909,879 [45] [46]
36September 7, 19814-day weekend$5,406,403 [47] [48]
37September 13, 1981 Arthur $3,002,255 [49] [50]
38September 20, 1981 Continental Divide $3,218,347 [51]
39September 27, 1981 Mommie Dearest $4,667,761 [52]
40October 4, 1981 Paternity $3,610,147 [53] [54]
41October 11, 1981$3,227,174 [55]
42October 18, 1981$2,442,503 [56]
43October 25, 1981 The French Lieutenant's Woman TBD [57]
44November 1, 1981 Halloween II $7,676,836 [58] [59]
45November 8, 1981 Time Bandits $6,507,356 [60] [61]
46November 15, 1981$5,336,032 [62]
47November 22, 1981$3,700,000 [63] [64]
48November 29, 1981$5,000,000 [65] [66]
49December 6, 1981Raiders of the Lost Ark †$2,441,000Raiders of the Lost Ark reclaimed number 1 in its 26th weekend of release. [67] [68]
50December 13, 1981 Rollover $2,260,889 [69] [70]
51December 20, 1981 Neighbors $6,481,386 [71]
52December 27, 1981$5,821,835 [72]

Highest-grossing films

The top ten films released in 1981 by box office gross in the United States and Canada are as follows:

Highest-grossing films of 1981 based on year of release [1]
RankTitleDistributorDomestic gross
1 Raiders of the Lost Ark Paramount $212,222,025
2 On Golden Pond Universal $119,285,432
3 Superman II Warner Bros. $108,185,706
4 Arthur $95,461,682
5 Stripes Columbia $85,297,000
6 The Cannonball Run 20th Century Fox $72,179,579
7 Chariots of Fire Warner Bros. $58,972,904
8 For Your Eyes Only United Artists $54,812,802
9 The Four Seasons Universal $50,427,646
10 Time Bandits Embassy $42,365,581

See also

Notes

    References

    1. 1 2 "1981 Domestic Grosses". Box Office Mojo . Retrieved May 13, 2020.
    2. ↑ Ginsberg, Steven (January 6, 1981). "Christmas '80 Boxoffice Among Best At $142 Mil". Daily Variety . p. 1.
    3. ↑ Ginsberg, Steven (January 7, 1981). "A Happy New Year For Xmas Pix". Variety . p. 1. Retrieved May 6, 2024– via Internet Archive.
    4. ↑ Ginsberg, Steven (January 13, 1981). "'Nine To Five' Tops Weekend's B.O. Competish". Daily Variety . p. 3.
    5. ↑ "'Crazy,' '9 To 5,' 'Which Way' Glow; 'Scanners' Strong". Variety . January 21, 1981. p. 3. Retrieved May 6, 2024– via Internet Archive.
    6. ↑ "50 Top-Grossing Films". Variety . February 4, 1981. p. 9. Week ending January 28 No. 1 Stir Crazy $2,183,400 from 191 screens from 20-24 key cities sampled; No. 2 9 to 5 $1,465,953 from 136 screens
    7. ↑ "Domestic 1981 Weekend 5". Box Office Mojo . Retrieved May 9, 2020.
    8. ↑ "'Fort Apache' Bags $4.6 Mil". Daily Variety . February 10, 1981. p. 3.
    9. ↑ "'Bronx' B.O. Tops $11 Mil". Daily Variety . February 24, 1981. p. 13. Company reports second weekend is 12% off the first.
    10. ↑ "50 Top-Grossing Films". Variety . February 25, 1981. p. 9.
    11. ↑ "50 Top-Grossing Films". Variety . March 4, 1981. p. 12. Week ending February 25 No. 1 Fort Apache, The Bronx $1,575,828 from 136 screens from 20-24 key cities sampled; No. 2 9 to 5 $842,873 from 114 screens
    12. ↑ "50 Top-Grossing Films". Variety . March 11, 1981. p. 13. Week ending March 4 No. 1 Fort Apache, The Bronx $1,186,630 from 130 screens from 20-24 key cities sampled; No. 2 9 to 5 $724,886 from 108 screens
    13. ↑ "50 Top-Grossing Films". Variety . March 25, 1981. p. 12. Week ending March 11 No. 1 Fort Apache, The Bronx $903,294 from 20-24 key cities sampled; No. 2 9 to 5 $691,605
    14. ↑ "Domestic 1981 Weekend 11". Box Office Mojo . Retrieved May 9, 2020.
    15. ↑ "50 Top-Grossing Films". Variety . April 1, 1981. p. 9.
    16. ↑ "Domestic 1981 Weekend 12". Box Office Mojo . Retrieved May 9, 2020.
    17. ↑ "50 Top-Grossing Films". Variety . April 8, 1981. p. 9. Week ending April 1 No. 1 Omen III $1,400,323 from 156 screens from 20-24 key cities sampled; No. 2 Thief $1,159,719 from 125 screens
    18. ↑ ""Hardly Working" Is Really Working (advertisement)". Daily Variety . April 8, 1981. pp. 10–11.
    19. ↑ "'Wars' Re-Release Tops At B.O.". Daily Variety . April 14, 1981. p. 2.
    20. 1 2 "Fox's 7 Nab 25% of Easter Screens". Variety . April 29, 1981. p. 7.
    21. ↑ "'Excalibur' Mounting: $16-Mil Thus Far". Variety . April 29, 1981. p. 3.
    22. ↑ "'Friday's' Weekend Biz". Variety . May 6, 1981. p. 7.
    23. ↑ "Domestic 1981 Weekend 18". Box Office Mojo . Retrieved May 9, 2020.
    24. ↑ "50 Top-Grossing Films". Variety . May 20, 1981. p. 13. Week ending May 13 No. 1 Friday the 13th Part 2 $820,246 from 123 screens from 20-24 key cities sampled; No. 2 Kill and Kill Again $753,600 from 94 screens
    25. ↑ "50 Top-Grossing Films". Variety . May 27, 1981. p. 9.
    26. ↑ "'Birthday's' Happy Biz". Variety . May 20, 1981. p. 5.
    27. ↑ "Domestic 1981 Weekend 21". Box Office Mojo . Retrieved May 9, 2020.
    28. ↑ "Weekend Domestic Chart for May 29, 1981". The Numbers . Retrieved May 9, 2020.
    29. ↑ "Weekend Domestic Chart for June 5, 1981". The Numbers . Retrieved May 8, 2020.
    30. ↑ "'Dreams' 1st Weekend Draws Biggest Of Yr". Daily Variety . June 9, 1981. p. 3.
    31. ↑ "Domestic 1981 Weekend 24". Box Office Mojo . Retrieved May 9, 2020.
    32. ↑ "Weekend Biz Breaks B.O. Logjam; 'Raiders,' 'Titans' and 'History' Score". Variety . June 17, 1981. p. 3.
    33. ↑ "Domestic 1981 Weekend 25". Box Office Mojo . Retrieved May 9, 2020.
    34. ↑ Ginsberg, Steven (June 23, 1981). "Super B.O. For 'Superman II'". Daily Variety . p. 1.
    35. ↑ "Domestic 1981 Weekend 26". Box Office Mojo . Retrieved May 9, 2020.
    36. 1 2 3 4 Ginsberg, Steven (July 27, 1981). "'Superman,' 'Raiders' Neck & Neck". Daily Variety . p. 1.
    37. ↑ "Domestic 1981 Weekend 27". Box Office Mojo . Retrieved May 9, 2020.
    38. ↑ "Weekend Domestic Chart for July 10, 1981". The Numbers . Retrieved May 9, 2020.
    39. ↑ "Weekend Domestic Chart for July 17, 1981". The Numbers . Retrieved May 9, 2020.
    40. ↑ "Weekend Domestic Chart for July 24, 1981". The Numbers . Retrieved May 9, 2020.
    41. ↑ "Weekend Domestic Chart for July 31, 1981". The Numbers . Retrieved May 9, 2020.
    42. ↑ "Weekend Domestic Chart for August 7, 1981". The Numbers . Retrieved May 9, 2020.
    43. ↑ "Weekend Domestic Chart for August 14, 1981". The Numbers . Retrieved May 9, 2020.
    44. ↑ "Weekend Domestic Chart for August 21, 1981". The Numbers . Retrieved May 9, 2020.
    45. ↑ "Weekend Domestic Chart for August 28, 1981". The Numbers . Retrieved May 9, 2020.
    46. ↑ Ginsberg, Steven (September 2, 1981). "Summer B.O. Cooks, But 'Body,' 'Gallipoli' and 'Lessons' Start Well". Variety . p. 3.
    47. ↑ "Weekend Domestic Chart for September 4, 1981". The Numbers . Retrieved May 9, 2020.
    48. ↑ Ginsberg, Steven (September 9, 1981). "'Ark' Outdistances Its Summer Rivals, Holdovers Slowing". Variety . p. 3.
    49. ↑ "Weekend Domestic Chart for September 11, 1981". The Numbers . Retrieved May 9, 2020.
    50. ↑ Ginsberg, Steven (September 16, 1981). "Post Labor Day Dip Shuffles B.O. Pack". Variety . p. 3.
    51. ↑ "Domestic 1981 Weekend 38". Box Office Mojo . Retrieved May 9, 2020.
    52. ↑ "Weekend Domestic Chart for September 25, 1981". The Numbers . Retrieved May 9, 2020.
    53. ↑ "Weekend Domestic Chart for October 2, 1981". The Numbers . Retrieved May 9, 2020.
    54. ↑ Ginsberg, Steven (October 7, 1981). "Most Pix Post B.O. Drop Across U.S.; 'Paternity' Delivers A So-So $3.6-Mil". Daily Variety . p. 2.
    55. ↑ "Weekend Domestic Chart for October 9, 1981". The Numbers . Retrieved May 9, 2020.
    56. ↑ "Weekend Domestic Chart for October 16, 1981". The Numbers . Retrieved May 9, 2020.
    57. ↑ "50 Top-Grossing Films". Variety . November 4, 1981. p. 13. Week ending October 28 No.1 The French Lieutenant's Woman $948,753 from 79 screens from 20-24 key cities sampled; No. 2 Rich and Famous $767,927 from 163 screens
    58. ↑ "Weekend Domestic Chart for October 30, 1981". The Numbers . Retrieved May 9, 2020.
    59. ↑ Ginsberg, Steven (November 4, 1981). "Boff 'Halloween II' Coin Is Only Highlight on National Scene". Variety . p. 3.
    60. ↑ "Domestic 1981 Weekend 45". Box Office Mojo . Retrieved May 9, 2020.
    61. ↑ Ginsberg, Steven (November 11, 1981). "'Bandits' Steal B.O. Thunder From Thin Pack; 'Halloween II' Plunges". Variety . p. 3.
    62. ↑ Ginsberg, Steven (November 18, 1981). "'Bandits' Still Tops In Pre-Xmas B.O. Calm; 'Cooper,' Falling Flat". Variety . p. 3.
    63. ↑ "Weekend Domestic Chart for November 20, 1981". The Numbers . Retrieved May 9, 2020.
    64. ↑ Ginsberg, Steven (November 25, 1981). "'Bandits' Pace B.O.; Upbeat Starts For 'Malice,' 'Ragtime'". Variety . p. 3.
    65. ↑ "Weekend Domestic Chart for November 27, 1981". The Numbers . Retrieved May 9, 2020.
    66. ↑ Ginsberg, Steven (December 2, 1981). "Thanksgiving Cooks B.O. Gravy; 'Bandits' Zoom; 'Raiders' Soar". Variety . p. 3.
    67. ↑ "Weekend Domestic Chart for December 4, 1981". The Numbers . Retrieved May 9, 2020.
    68. ↑ Ginsberg, Steven (December 9, 1981). "B.O. In Holding Pattern; 'Pond' Wow: 'Reds' Okay; 'Life' Fair". Variety . p. 3.
    69. ↑ "Weekend Domestic Chart for December 11, 1981". The Numbers . Retrieved May 9, 2020.
    70. ↑ Ginsberg, Steven (December 16, 1981). "No Sugarplums In Xmas Crop; Soft Debuts Prevail; 'Reds' Dives". Variety . p. 3.
    71. ↑ "Domestic 1981 Weekend 51". Box Office Mojo . Retrieved May 9, 2020.
    72. ↑ Ginsberg, Steven (December 29, 1981). "Some Tinsel Brightening B.O.". Daily Variety . p. 1.

    Chronology

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