List of 1981 box office number-one films in the United States
Updated: 11/6/2025, 1:11:40 AM Wikipedia source
This is a list of films which have placed number one at the weekend box office in the United States during 1981.
Tables
· Number-one films
1
1
#
1
Week ending
January 4, 1981
Film
9 to 5
Gross
$7,111,919
2
2
#
2
Week ending
January 11, 1981
Film
$6,388,982
3
3
#
3
Week ending
January 18, 1981
Film
$6,014,902
4
4
#
4
Week ending
January 25, 1981
Film
Stir Crazy
Gross
TBD
5
5
#
5
Week ending
February 1, 1981
Film
The Incredible Shrinking Woman
Gross
$4,279,264
6
6
#
6
Week ending
February 8, 1981
Film
Fort Apache, The Bronx
Gross
$4,565,000
7
7
#
7
Week ending
February 15, 1981
Film
$4,000,000
8
8
#
8
Week ending
February 22, 1981
Film
TBD
9
9
#
9
Week ending
March 1, 1981
Film
TBD
10
10
#
10
Week ending
March 8, 1981
Film
TBD
11
11
#
11
Week ending
March 15, 1981
Film
Back Roads
Gross
$3,046,339
12
12
#
12
Week ending
March 22, 1981
Film
Omen III: The Final Conflict
Gross
$5,571,675
13
13
#
13
Week ending
March 29, 1981
Film
TBD
14
14
#
14
Week ending
April 5, 1981
Film
Hardly Working
Gross
$4,160,193
15
15
#
15
Week ending
April 12, 1981
Film
Star Wars (reissue)
Gross
$6,549,751
16
16
#
16
Week ending
April 19, 1981
Film
$4,564,616
17
17
#
17
Week ending
April 26, 1981
Film
Excalibur
Gross
$3,144,818
18
18
#
18
Week ending
May 3, 1981
Film
Friday the 13th Part 2
Gross
$6,420,784
19
19
#
19
Week ending
May 10, 1981
Film
TBD
20
20
#
20
Week ending
May 17, 1981
Film
Happy Birthday to Me
Gross
$3,712,597
21
21
#
21
Week ending
May 25, 19814-day weekend
Film
Bustin' Loose
Gross
$6,622,753
22
22
#
22
Week ending
May 31, 1981
Film
The Four Seasons
Gross
$4,355,238
23
23
#
23
Week ending
June 7, 1981
Film
Cheech and Chong's Nice Dreams
Gross
$8,153,738
24
24
#
24
Week ending
June 14, 1981
Film
Raiders of the Lost Ark
Gross
$8,305,823
25
25
#
25
Week ending
June 21, 1981
Film
Superman II
Gross
$14,100,523
Notes
Superman II had the highest weekend debut of all-time beating the record of $11.9 million set by Star Trek: The Motion Picture.
26
26
#
26
Week ending
June 28, 1981
Film
$10,765,687
Gross
Superman II becomes the first film to have more than one weekend with a gross over $10 million.
27
27
#
27
Week ending
July 5, 1981
Film
$10,905,892
28
28
#
28
Week ending
July 12, 1981
Film
$6,745,678
29
29
#
29
Week ending
July 19, 1981
Film
Raiders of the Lost Ark
Gross
$6,450,189
Notes
Raiders of the Lost Ark reclaimed number 1 in its sixth weekend of release.
30
30
#
30
Week ending
July 26, 1981
Film
Tarzan, the Ape Man
Gross
$6,700,809
31
31
#
31
Week ending
August 2, 1981
Film
The Empire Strikes Back (reissue)
Gross
$7,001,282
32
32
#
32
Week ending
August 9, 1981
Film
Raiders of the Lost Ark
Gross
$4,046,228
Notes
Raiders of the Lost Ark reclaimed number 1 in its ninth weekend of release.
33
33
#
33
Week ending
August 16, 1981
Film
$5,157,432
34
34
#
34
Week ending
August 23, 1981
Film
$4,183,784
35
35
#
35
Week ending
August 30, 1981
Film
$3,909,879
36
36
#
36
Week ending
September 7, 19814-day weekend
Film
$5,406,403
37
37
#
37
Week ending
September 13, 1981
Film
Arthur
Gross
$3,002,255
38
38
#
38
Week ending
September 20, 1981
Film
Continental Divide
Gross
$3,218,347
39
39
#
39
Week ending
September 27, 1981
Film
Mommie Dearest
Gross
$4,667,761
40
40
#
40
Week ending
October 4, 1981
Film
Paternity
Gross
$3,610,147
41
41
#
41
Week ending
October 11, 1981
Film
$3,227,174
42
42
#
42
Week ending
October 18, 1981
Film
$2,442,503
43
43
#
43
Week ending
October 25, 1981
Film
The French Lieutenant's Woman
Gross
TBD
44
44
#
44
Week ending
November 1, 1981
Film
Halloween II
Gross
$7,676,836
45
45
#
45
Week ending
November 8, 1981
Film
Time Bandits
Gross
$6,507,356
46
46
#
46
Week ending
November 15, 1981
Film
$5,336,032
47
47
#
47
Week ending
November 22, 1981
Film
$3,700,000
48
48
#
48
Week ending
November 29, 1981
Film
$5,000,000
49
49
#
49
Week ending
December 6, 1981
Film
Raiders of the Lost Ark
Gross
$2,441,000
Notes
Raiders of the Lost Ark reclaimed number 1 in its 26th weekend of release.
50
50
#
50
Week ending
December 13, 1981
Film
Rollover
Gross
$2,260,889
51
51
#
51
Week ending
December 20, 1981
Film
Neighbors
Gross
$6,481,386
52
52
#
52
Week ending
December 27, 1981
Film
$5,821,835
| # | Week ending | Film | Gross | Notes | Ref |
| 1 | January 4, 1981 | 9 to 5 | $7,111,919 | ||
| 2 | January 11, 1981 | $6,388,982 | |||
| 3 | January 18, 1981 | $6,014,902 | |||
| 4 | January 25, 1981 | Stir Crazy | TBD | ||
| 5 | February 1, 1981 | The Incredible Shrinking Woman | $4,279,264 | ||
| 6 | February 8, 1981 | Fort Apache, The Bronx | $4,565,000 | ||
| 7 | February 15, 1981 | $4,000,000 | |||
| 8 | February 22, 1981 | TBD | |||
| 9 | March 1, 1981 | TBD | |||
| 10 | March 8, 1981 | TBD | |||
| 11 | March 15, 1981 | Back Roads | $3,046,339 | ||
| 12 | March 22, 1981 | Omen III: The Final Conflict | $5,571,675 | ||
| 13 | March 29, 1981 | TBD | |||
| 14 | April 5, 1981 | Hardly Working | $4,160,193 | ||
| 15 | April 12, 1981 | Star Wars (reissue) | $6,549,751 | ||
| 16 | April 19, 1981 | $4,564,616 | |||
| 17 | April 26, 1981 | Excalibur | $3,144,818 | ||
| 18 | May 3, 1981 | Friday the 13th Part 2 | $6,420,784 | ||
| 19 | May 10, 1981 | TBD | |||
| 20 | May 17, 1981 | Happy Birthday to Me | $3,712,597 | ||
| 21 | May 25, 19814-day weekend | Bustin' Loose | $6,622,753 | ||
| 22 | May 31, 1981 | The Four Seasons | $4,355,238 | ||
| 23 | June 7, 1981 | Cheech and Chong's Nice Dreams | $8,153,738 | ||
| 24 | June 14, 1981 | Raiders of the Lost Ark | $8,305,823 | ||
| 25 | June 21, 1981 | Superman II | $14,100,523 | Superman II had the highest weekend debut of all-time beating the record of $11.9 million set by Star Trek: The Motion Picture. | |
| 26 | June 28, 1981 | $10,765,687 | Superman II becomes the first film to have more than one weekend with a gross over $10 million. | ||
| 27 | July 5, 1981 | $10,905,892 | |||
| 28 | July 12, 1981 | $6,745,678 | |||
| 29 | July 19, 1981 | Raiders of the Lost Ark | $6,450,189 | Raiders of the Lost Ark reclaimed number 1 in its sixth weekend of release. | |
| 30 | July 26, 1981 | Tarzan, the Ape Man | $6,700,809 | ||
| 31 | August 2, 1981 | The Empire Strikes Back (reissue) | $7,001,282 | ||
| 32 | August 9, 1981 | Raiders of the Lost Ark | $4,046,228 | Raiders of the Lost Ark reclaimed number 1 in its ninth weekend of release. | |
| 33 | August 16, 1981 | $5,157,432 | |||
| 34 | August 23, 1981 | $4,183,784 | |||
| 35 | August 30, 1981 | $3,909,879 | |||
| 36 | September 7, 19814-day weekend | $5,406,403 | |||
| 37 | September 13, 1981 | Arthur | $3,002,255 | ||
| 38 | September 20, 1981 | Continental Divide | $3,218,347 | ||
| 39 | September 27, 1981 | Mommie Dearest | $4,667,761 | ||
| 40 | October 4, 1981 | Paternity | $3,610,147 | ||
| 41 | October 11, 1981 | $3,227,174 | |||
| 42 | October 18, 1981 | $2,442,503 | |||
| 43 | October 25, 1981 | The French Lieutenant's Woman | TBD | ||
| 44 | November 1, 1981 | Halloween II | $7,676,836 | ||
| 45 | November 8, 1981 | Time Bandits | $6,507,356 | ||
| 46 | November 15, 1981 | $5,336,032 | |||
| 47 | November 22, 1981 | $3,700,000 | |||
| 48 | November 29, 1981 | $5,000,000 | |||
| 49 | December 6, 1981 | Raiders of the Lost Ark | $2,441,000 | Raiders of the Lost Ark reclaimed number 1 in its 26th weekend of release. |
Highest-grossing films of 1981 based on year of release[72] · Highest-grossing films
1
1
Rank
1
Title
Raiders of the Lost Ark
Distributor
Paramount
Domestic gross
$212,222,025
2
2
Rank
2
Title
On Golden Pond
Distributor
Universal
Domestic gross
$119,285,432
3
3
Rank
3
Title
Superman II
Distributor
Warner Bros.
Domestic gross
$108,185,706
4
4
Rank
4
Title
Arthur
Distributor
$95,461,682
5
5
Rank
5
Title
Stripes
Distributor
Columbia
Domestic gross
$85,297,000
6
6
Rank
6
Title
The Cannonball Run
Distributor
20th Century Fox
Domestic gross
$72,179,579
7
7
Rank
7
Title
Chariots of Fire
Distributor
Warner Bros.
Domestic gross
$58,972,904
8
8
Rank
8
Title
For Your Eyes Only
Distributor
United Artists
Domestic gross
$54,812,802
9
9
Rank
9
Title
The Four Seasons
Distributor
Universal
Domestic gross
$50,427,646
10
10
Rank
10
Title
Time Bandits
Distributor
Embassy
Domestic gross
$42,365,581
| Rank | Title | Distributor | Domestic 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 |
· Chronology
| Preceded by1980 | 1981 | Succeeded by1982 |
References
- Daily Variety
- Varietyhttps://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1981-01-07_301_10/mode/2up?view=theater
- Daily Variety
- Varietyhttps://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1981-01-21_301_12/page/3/mode/1up
- Variety
- Box Office Mojohttps://www.boxofficemojo.com/weekend/1981W05
- Daily Variety
- Daily Variety
- Variety
- Variety
- Variety
- Variety
- Box Office Mojohttps://www.boxofficemojo.com/weekend/1981W11
- Variety
- Box Office Mojohttps://www.boxofficemojo.com/weekend/1981W12
- Variety
- Daily Variety
- Daily Variety
- Variety
- Variety
- Variety
- Box Office Mojohttps://www.boxofficemojo.com/weekend/1981W18
- Variety
- Variety
- Variety
- Box Office Mojohttps://www.boxofficemojo.com/weekend/1981W21/occasion/us_memorialday_weekend/
- The Numbershttps://www.the-numbers.com/box-office-chart/weekend/1981/05/29
- The Numbershttps://www.the-numbers.com/box-office-chart/weekend/1981/06/05
- Daily Variety
- Box Office Mojohttps://www.boxofficemojo.com/weekend/1981W24
- Variety
- Box Office Mojohttps://www.boxofficemojo.com/weekend/1981W25
- Daily Variety
- Box Office Mojohttps://www.boxofficemojo.com/weekend/1981W26
- Daily Variety
- Box Office Mojohttps://www.boxofficemojo.com/weekend/1981W27
- The Numbershttps://www.the-numbers.com/box-office-chart/weekend/1981/07/10
- The Numbershttps://www.the-numbers.com/box-office-chart/weekend/1981/07/17
- The Numbershttps://www.the-numbers.com/box-office-chart/weekend/1981/07/24
- The Numbershttps://www.the-numbers.com/box-office-chart/weekend/1981/07/31
- The Numbershttps://www.the-numbers.com/box-office-chart/weekend/1981/08/07
- The Numbershttps://www.the-numbers.com/box-office-chart/weekend/1981/08/14
- The Numbershttps://www.the-numbers.com/box-office-chart/weekend/1981/08/21
- The Numbershttps://www.the-numbers.com/box-office-chart/weekend/1981/08/28
- Variety
- The Numbershttps://www.the-numbers.com/box-office-chart/weekend/1981/09/04
- Variety
- The Numbershttps://www.the-numbers.com/box-office-chart/weekend/1981/09/11
- Variety
- Box Office Mojohttps://www.boxofficemojo.com/weekend/1981W38
- The Numbershttps://www.the-numbers.com/box-office-chart/weekend/1981/09/25
- The Numbershttps://www.the-numbers.com/box-office-chart/weekend/1981/10/02
- Daily Variety
- The Numbershttps://www.the-numbers.com/box-office-chart/weekend/1981/10/09
- The Numbershttps://www.the-numbers.com/box-office-chart/weekend/1981/10/16
- Variety
- The Numbershttps://www.the-numbers.com/box-office-chart/weekend/1981/10/30
- Variety
- Box Office Mojohttps://www.boxofficemojo.com/weekend/1981W45
- Variety
- Variety
- The Numbershttps://www.the-numbers.com/box-office-chart/weekend/1981/11/20
- Variety
- The Numbershttps://www.the-numbers.com/box-office-chart/weekend/1981/11/27
- Variety
- The Numbershttps://www.the-numbers.com/box-office-chart/weekend/1981/12/04
- Variety
- The Numbershttps://www.the-numbers.com/box-office-chart/weekend/1981/12/11
- Variety
- Box Office Mojohttps://www.boxofficemojo.com/weekend/1981W51
- Daily Variety
- Box Office Mojohttps://www.boxofficemojo.com/year/1981/?grossesOption=totalGrosses