List of American films of 1981

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A list of American films released in 1981.

The Academy Award winner of Best Picture of 1981 was Chariots of Fire. The highest grossing film of 1981 was Raiders of the Lost Ark.

A–C

Title	Director	Cast	Genre	Note
Absence of Malice	Sydney Pollack	Paul Newman, Sally Field, Bob Balaban, Melinda Dillon, Wilford Brimley	Drama	3 Oscar nominations
All Night Long	Jean-Claude Tramont	Gene Hackman, Barbra Streisand, Diane Ladd, Dennis Quaid	Comedy	Universal
...All the Marbles	Robert Aldrich	Peter Falk	Comedy, Drama	Aldrich's final film
The Amateur	Charles Jarrott	John Savage, Christopher Plummer	Spy	20th Century Fox
American Pop	Ralph Bakshi	Lisa Jane Persky, Ron Thompson	Drama, Animated	Columbia
An American Werewolf in London	John Landis	David Naughton, Griffin Dunne	Horror, Comedy	won Saturn Award
Amy	Vincent McEveety	Jenny Agutter, Barry Newman	Family
Arthur	Steve Gordon	Dudley Moore, Liza Minnelli, John Gielgud, Geraldine Fitzgerald	Romantic comedy	Oscar for Gielgud
Back Roads	Martin Ritt	Sally Field, Tommy Lee Jones	Romantic comedy	Warner Bros.
Blow Out	Brian De Palma	John Travolta, Nancy Allen, John Lithgow, Dennis Franz	Thriller	Filmways
Body Heat	Lawrence Kasdan	William Hurt, Kathleen Turner, Richard Crenna, Ted Danson, J.A. Preston, Mickey Rourke	Suspense	first film for Kasdan, Turner
Body and Soul	George Bowers	Leon Isaac Kennedy, Jayne Kennedy, Michael V. Gazzo	Sports drama	remake of 1947 film
Buddy Buddy	Billy Wilder	Jack Lemmon, Walter Matthau, Paula Prentiss, Klaus Kinski	Comedy	Wilder's final film
The Burning	Tony Maylam	Brian Matthews, Holly Hunter, Jason Alexander	Horror
Bustin' Loose	Oz Scott	Richard Pryor, Cicely Tyson	Comedy
The Cannonball Run	Hal Needham	Burt Reynolds, Dom DeLuise, Farrah Fawcett, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis, Jr., Roger Moore, Jackie Chan	Comedy, Action	20th Century Fox; followed by Cannonball Run II
Carbon Copy	Michael Schultz	George Segal, Susan Saint James, Denzel Washington	Comedy	RKO
Cattle Annie and Little Britches	Lamont Johnson	Burt Lancaster, Amanda Plummer, Diane Lane	Drama	Universal
Caveman	Carl Gottlieb	Ringo Starr, Dennis Quaid, Shelley Long, Barbara Bach, John Matuszak, Jack Gilford	Comedy	United Artists
Charlie Chan and the Curse of the Dragon Queen	Clive Donner	Peter Ustinov, Angie Dickinson	Mystery
The Chosen	Jeremy Kagan	Maximilian Schell, Rod Steiger, Robby Benson	Drama	20th Century Fox
Circle of Two	Jules Dassin	Richard Burton, Tatum O'Neal	Drama	Troma
Chu Chu and the Philly Flash	David Lowell Rich	Alan Arkin, Carol Burnett, Jack Warden	Comedy	20th Century Fox
Clash of the Titans	Desmond Davis	Laurence Olivier, Harry Hamlin, Maggie Smith, Burgess Meredith, Ursula Andress, Judi Bowker, Claire Bloom	Fantasy	remade in 2010
Condorman	Charles Jarrott	Michael Crawford, Oliver Reed, Barbara Carrera	Adventure	Disney
Continental Divide	Michael Apted	John Belushi, Blair Brown	Romantic comedy	Belushi's next-to-last film
Cutter's Way	Ivan Passer	Jeff Bridges, John Heard, Lisa Eichhorn	Mystery, Drama	aka Cutter and Bone

D–G

Title	Director	Cast	Genre	Note
Dead & Buried	Gary Sherman	Melody Anderson, Jack Albertson	Horror	Avco Embassy
Deadly Blessing	Wes Craven	Maren Jensen, Sharon Stone, Susan Buckner	Horror
Death of a Centerfold: The Dorothy Stratten Story	Gabrielle Beaumont	Jamie Lee Curtis, Bruce Weitz, Robert Reed	Biography	made for TV
Death Hunt	Peter R. Hunt	Charles Bronson, Lee Marvin, Angie Dickinson, Andrew Stevens, Carl Weathers, Ed Lauter	Adventure	20th Century Fox
The Decline of Western Civilization	Penelope Spheeris	Black Flag, Circle Jerks, X	Documentary
The Devil and Max Devlin	Steven Hilliard Stern	Elliott Gould, Bill Cosby, Susan Anspach	Comedy	Disney
Don't Cry, It's Only Thunder	Peter Werner	Dennis Christopher, Susan Saint James	Drama
Dragonslayer	Matthew Robbins	Peter MacNicol, Ralph Richardson	Fantasy	Paramount, Disney
Endless Love	Franco Zeffirelli	Brooke Shields, Martin Hewitt, Don Murray, Shirley Knight, Richard Kiley, Beatrice Straight, Penelope Milford, James Spader, Tom Cruise	Drama	from Scott Spencer novel; 6 Razzie nominations
Enter the Ninja	Menahem Golan	Franco Nero, Susan George, Sho Kosugi, Christopher George	Action
Escape from New York	John Carpenter	Kurt Russell, Lee Van Cleef, Donald Pleasence, Adrienne Barbeau, Isaac Hayes, Ernest Borgnine	Thriller	followed by Escape from L.A.
Escape to Victory	John Huston	Sylvester Stallone, Michael Caine, Max von Sydow	P.O.W.	aka Victory
The Evil Dead	Sam Raimi	Bruce Campbell, Ellen Sandweiss	Horror	followed by 2 sequels
An Eye for an Eye	Steve Carver	Chuck Norris, Christopher Reeve, Richard Roundtree	Action	Embassy
Eye of the Needle	Richard Marquand	Donald Sutherland, Kate Nelligan, Christopher Cazenove	Spy film	from Ken Follett novel
Eyewitness	Peter Yates	William Hurt, Sigourney Weaver, James Woods, Christopher Plummer	Mystery, Thriller	written by Steve Tesich
The Fan	Edward Bianchi	Lauren Bacall, James Garner, Maureen Stapleton, Michael Biehn, Hector Elizondo	Thriller	Paramount
Fantasies	John Derek	Bo Derek	Drama	filmed in 1973
The Final Conflict	Graham Baker	Sam Neill, Rossano Brazzi, Don Gordon	Horror	2nd sequel to The Omen
First Monday in October	Ronald Neame	Walter Matthau, Jill Clayburgh, Barnard Hughes	Drama	based on play; 2 Golden Globe nominations
Fort Apache, the Bronx	Daniel Petrie	Paul Newman, Edward Asner, Ken Wahl, Pam Grier	Crime drama	20th Century Fox
Four Friends	Arthur Penn	Craig Wasson, Jodi Thelen	Drama	written by Steve Tesich
The Four Seasons	Alan Alda	Alan Alda, Carol Burnett, Rita Moreno, Len Cariou, Jack Weston, Sandy Dennis, Bess Armstrong	Comedy, Drama	1st film directed by Alda; 4 Golden Globe nominations
The Fox and the Hound	Richard Rich	voices of Pearl Bailey, Mickey Rooney	Animated film	Disney
Friday the 13th Part 2	Steve Miner	Adrienne King, Amy Steel	Horror	sequel to Friday the 13th
Full Moon High	Larry Cohen	Adam Arkin, Ed McMahon	Comedy horror
The Funhouse	Tobe Hooper	Elizabeth Berridge, Jack McDermott	Horror
Galaxy of Terror	Bruce D. Clark	Edward Albert, Erin Moran, Ray Walston	Science-fiction	New World Pictures
Gangster Wars	Richard C. Sarafian	Michael Nouri, Joe Penny, Madeleine Stowe	Crime
Ghost Story	John Irvin	Fred Astaire, John Houseman, Melvyn Douglas	Horror	final film for Astaire, Douglas
Going Ape!	Jeremy Joe Kronsberg	Tony Danza, Jessica Walter, Danny DeVito	Comedy	Paramount
Graduation Day	Herb Freed	Christopher George, Michael Pataki	Horror
The Great Muppet Caper	Jim Henson	Diana Rigg, Charles Grodin	Comedy, Family	Universal

H–M

Title	Director	Cast	Genre	Note
Halloween II	Rick Rosenthal	Jamie Lee Curtis, Donald Pleasence	Horror	sequel to Halloween
The Hand	Oliver Stone	Michael Caine, Andrea Marcovicci	Horror	Stone's second film
Hard Country	David Greene	Jan-Michael Vincent, Kim Basinger, Michael Parks	Drama	ITC
Hardly Working	Jerry Lewis	Jerry Lewis, Susan Oliver, Deanna Lund	Comedy	20th Century Fox
Harry's War	Kieth Merrill	Edward Herrmann, Geraldine Page, Karen Grassle	Comedy
Heartbeeps	Allan Arkush	Andy Kaufman, Bernadette Peters, Randy Quaid	Sci-fi comedy	Universal
Heavy Metal	Gerald Potterton	Voices of John Candy, Eugene Levy, Harold Ramis	Animated	Columbia
Hell Night	Tom DeSimone	Linda Blair, Vincent Van Patten, Peter Barton	Horror	Blair Razzie-nominated
History of the World: Part I	Mel Brooks	Mel Brooks, Gregory Hines, Madeline Kahn, Harvey Korman, Cloris Leachman, Pamela Stephenson, Mary-Margaret Humes, Sid Caesar, Dom DeLuise, Ron Carey, Shecky Greene, Orson Welles	Comedy, Anthology	20th Century Fox
Honky Tonk Freeway	John Schlesinger	Beverly D'Angelo, Beau Bridges, William Devane	Comedy	EMI Films
The Howling	Joe Dante	Dee Wallace, Patrick Macnee, Christopher Stone, Belinda Balaski	Horror	from Gary Brandner novel
The Incredible Shrinking Woman	Joel Schumacher	Lily Tomlin, Charles Grodin, Ned Beatty, Henry Gibson	Comedy	spoof of 1957 film
Knightriders	George A. Romero	Ed Harris	Action
Ladies and Gentlemen, the Fabulous Stains	Lou Adler	Diane Lane, Laura Dern, Ray Winstone	Comedy	Paramount
The Last Chase	Martyn Burke	Lee Majors, Burgess Meredith	Sci-fi
The Legend of the Lone Ranger	William A. Fraker	Klinton Spilsbury, Michael Horse, Christopher Lloyd, Jason Robards	Western	won 3 Razzie awards
Lion of the Desert	Moustapha Akkad	Anthony Quinn, Rod Steiger, John Gielgud	Biography, War	story of Omar Mukhtar
Looker	Michael Crichton	Albert Finney, James Coburn, Susan Dey	Sci-fi	Warner Bros.
The Looney Looney Looney Bugs Bunny Movie	Friz Freleng	Mel Blanc, June Foray	Animation	Compilation
The Man Who Saw Tomorrow	Robert Guenette	Orson Welles	Documentary	about Nostradamus
Modern Problems	Ken Shapiro	Chevy Chase, Dabney Coleman, Nell Carter	Comedy	20th Century Fox
Modern Romance	Albert Brooks	Albert Brooks, Kathryn Harrold, Bruno Kirby	Comedy	Columbia
Mommie Dearest	Frank Perry	Faye Dunaway, Diana Scarwid, Mara Hobel, Steve Forrest, Rutanya Alda, Howard Da Silva	Biography	Joan Crawford story; 5 Razzie awards
Ms. 45	Abel Ferrara	Zoe Tamerlis Lund, Abel Ferrara	Action
My Dinner with Andre	Louis Malle	Andre Gregory, Wallace Shawn	Documentary	a two-man conversation

N–S

Title	Director	Cast	Genre	Note
Neighbors	John G. Avildsen	John Belushi, Dan Aykroyd, Cathy Moriarty	Comedy	Columbia; based on Thomas Berger novel
The Nesting	Armand Weston	Robin Groves, Christopher Loomis, John Carradine	Horror
Nice Dreams	Tommy Chong	Cheech Marin, Tommy Chong	Comedy	Columbia
The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia	Ronald F. Maxwell	Kristy McNichol, Dennis Quaid, Mark Hamill	Musical	Embassy; based on 1973 song
Nighthawks	Bruce Malmuth	Sylvester Stallone, Rutger Hauer, Billy Dee Williams	Crime drama	Universal; Hauer's first U.S. film
Nobody's Perfekt	Peter Bonerz	Gabe Kaplan, Alex Karras, Susan Clark	Comedy	Columbia
On Golden Pond	Mark Rydell	Henry Fonda, Katharine Hepburn, Jane Fonda, Dabney Coleman, Doug McKeon	Drama	Oscars for H. Fonda, Hepburn, screenplay; 10 nominations
On the Right Track	Lee Philips	Gary Coleman, Michael Lembeck, Lisa Eilbacher	Comedy
Only When I Laugh	Glenn Jordan	Marsha Mason, Joan Hackett, James Coco, David Dukes, Kristy McNichol	Drama	Neil Simon play; 3 Oscar nominations
Paternity	David Steinberg	Burt Reynolds, Beverly D'Angelo, Elizabeth Ashley	Comedy	Paramount
Pennies from Heaven	Herbert Ross	Steve Martin, Bernadette Peters, Jessica Harper	Musical, Drama	based on BBC series; 3 Oscar nominations
Piranha II: The Spawning	James Cameron	Tricia O'Neil, Lance Henriksen	Horror	sequel
Polyester	John Waters	Divine, Tab Hunter	Comedy	New Line Cinema
The Postman Always Rings Twice	Bob Rafelson	Jack Nicholson, Jessica Lange, John Colicos, Michael Lerner, John P. Ryan, Anjelica Huston	Crime drama	based on James M. Cain novel, remake of 1946 film
Prince of the City	Sidney Lumet	Treat Williams, Jerry Orbach, Lindsay Crouse, Bob Balaban, James Tolkan, Lane Smith, Lee Richardson	Crime drama	based on Robert Daley book; 3 Golden Globe nominations
Private Lessons	Alan Myerson	Sylvia Kristel, Howard Hesseman, Ed Begley, Jr.	Comedy
The Prowler	Joseph Zito	Vicky Dawson, Christopher Goutman	Horror
The Pursuit of D. B. Cooper	Roger Spottiswoode	Treat Williams, Robert Duvall, Kathryn Harrold	True crime	Universal
Raggedy Man	Jack Fisk	Sissy Spacek, Eric Roberts, Sam Shepard	Drama	Universal
Ragtime	Miloš Forman	Elizabeth McGovern, Howard Rollins, James Cagney, Pat O'Brien, Kenneth McMillan, Mary Steenburgen, James Olson, Mandy Patinkin, Brad Dourif, Moses Gunn, Robert Joy, Donald O'Connor, Norman Mailer	Drama	based on E.L. Doctorow novel; 8 Oscar nominations
Raiders of the Lost Ark	Steven Spielberg	Harrison Ford, Karen Allen, Denholm Elliott, Paul Freeman, John Rhys-Davies, Ronald Lacey, Alfred Molina	Adventure	1st Indiana Jones adventure; 8 Oscar nominations
Reds	Warren Beatty	Warren Beatty, Diane Keaton, Gene Hackman, Maureen Stapleton, Jerzy Kosinski, Paul Sorvino, Jack Nicholson	Epic, Biography	story of John Reed; 12 Oscar nominations
Rich and Famous	George Cukor	Jacqueline Bisset, Candice Bergen, Hart Bochner	Drama	Cukor's final film
Rollover	Alan J. Pakula	Jane Fonda, Kris Kristofferson, Hume Cronyn	Thriller	Orion
Ruckus	Max Kleven	Dirk Benedict, Linda Blair, Richard Farnsworth	Action comedy
S.O.B.	Blake Edwards	Julie Andrews, William Holden, Richard Mulligan, Robert Preston, Robert Webber, Robert Vaughn, Larry Hagman	Comedy	2 Razzie nominations; Holden's final film
The Salamander	Peter Zinner	Franco Nero, Anthony Quinn, Sybil Danning	Thriller	ITC
Saturday the 14th	Howard R. Cohen	Richard Benjamin, Paula Prentiss, Severn Darden	Horror comedy	New World
Second-Hand Hearts	Hal Ashby	Robert Blake, Barbara Harris	Romance	Paramount
Sharky's Machine	Burt Reynolds	Burt Reynolds, Rachel Ward, Vittorio Gassman, Henry Silva, Charles Durning, Earl Holliman	Crime drama	based on William Diehl novel
Shock Treatment	Jim Sharman	Cliff DeYoung, Jessica Harper	Musical	20th Century Fox
Southern Comfort	Walter Hill	Powers Boothe, Keith Carradine, Fred Ward, Peter Coyote	Thriller	20th Century Fox
Sphinx	Franklin J. Schaffner	Frank Langella, Lesley-Anne Down, John Gielgud	Adventure	based on book by Robin Cook
Stripes	Ivan Reitman	Bill Murray, Harold Ramis, Warren Oates, John Candy, Sean Young, P.J. Soles, John Larroquette	Comedy	Columbia
Student Bodies	Mickey Rose	Kristen Riter, Matt Goldsby	Comedy

T–Z

Title	Director	Cast	Genre	Note
Take This Job and Shove It	Gus Trikonis	Robert Hays, Art Carney, Barbara Hershey	Comedy	based on the song
Taps	Harold Becker	George C. Scott, Timothy Hutton, Ronny Cox, Sean Penn, Tom Cruise	Drama	20th Century Fox; Penn's first film
Tarzan, the Ape Man	John Derek	Bo Derek, Richard Harris, John Phillip Law, Miles O'Keeffe	Adventure	Razzie for Bo Derek
Tattoo	Bob Brooks	Bruce Dern, Maud Adams, Leonard Frey	Thriller	20th Century Fox
They All Laughed	Peter Bogdanovich	Audrey Hepburn, Ben Gazzara, Patti Hansen, Dorothy Stratten, John Ritter	Romantic comedy	final leading film role for Hepburn
Thief	Michael Mann	James Caan, Tuesday Weld, James Belushi, Robert Prosky, Willie Nelson	Crime drama	United Artists; Mann's first film
This Is Elvis	Malcolm Leo	Elvis Presley	Documentary
True Confessions	Ulu Grosbard	Robert De Niro, Robert Duvall, Charles Durning, Kenneth McMillan, Cyril Cusack, Ed Flanders, Burgess Meredith	Crime drama	United Artists; based on John Gregory Dunne novel
Tuck Everlasting	Frederick King Keller	Margaret Chamberlain, Paul Fleesa	Fantasy
Under the Rainbow	Steve Rash	Chevy Chase, Carrie Fisher, Eve Arden	Comedy	based on Wizard of Oz; 2 Razzie nominations
Vernon, Florida	Errol Morris	Snake Reynolds	Documentary
Whose Life Is It Anyway?	John Badham	Richard Dreyfuss, John Cassavetes, Christine Lahti, Thomas Carter, Kenneth McMillan	Drama	based on 1972 teleplay
Wolfen	Michael Wadleigh	Albert Finney, Gregory Hines	Horror	Orion
The Woman Inside	Joseph Van Winkle	Dane Clark, Joan Blondell	Drama	Blondell's final film
Zoot Suit	Luis Valdez	Edward James Olmos, Daniel Valdez, Tyne Daly	Drama	based on the play
Zorro, the Gay Blade	Peter Medak	George Hamilton, Lauren Hutton	Comedy	spoof of Zorro

External links

• American films of 1981 at the Internet Movie Database