List of American films of 1981

This film-related list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.

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 MaliceSydney PollackPaul Newman, Sally Field, Bob Balaban, Melinda Dillon, Wilford BrimleyDrama3 Oscar nominations
All Night LongJean-Claude TramontGene Hackman, Barbra Streisand, Diane Ladd, Dennis QuaidComedyUniversal
...All the MarblesRobert AldrichPeter FalkComedy, DramaAldrich's final film
The AmateurCharles JarrottJohn Savage, Christopher PlummerSpy20th Century Fox
American PopRalph BakshiLisa Jane Persky, Ron ThompsonDrama, AnimatedColumbia
An American Werewolf in LondonJohn LandisDavid Naughton, Griffin DunneHorror, Comedywon Saturn Award
Amy Vincent McEveetyJenny Agutter, Barry NewmanFamily
ArthurSteve GordonDudley Moore, Liza Minnelli, John Gielgud, Geraldine Fitzgerald, Jill Eikenberry, Ted RossRomantic comedyOscar for Gielgud; inspired 1988 sequel
Back RoadsMartin RittSally Field, Tommy Lee JonesRomantic comedyWarner Bros.
Blow OutBrian De PalmaJohn Travolta, Nancy Allen, John Lithgow, Dennis FranzThrillerFilmways
Body HeatLawrence KasdanWilliam Hurt, Kathleen Turner, Richard Crenna, Ted Danson, J. A. Preston, Mickey RourkeSuspensefirst film for Kasdan, Turner
Body and SoulGeorge BowersLeon Isaac Kennedy, Jayne Kennedy, Michael V. GazzoSports dramaremake of 1947 film
Buddy BuddyBilly WilderJack Lemmon, Walter Matthau, Paula Prentiss, Klaus KinskiComedyWilder's final film
Burned at the StakeBert I. GordonSusan Swift, Albert Salmi, Guy StockwellHorror
The BurningTony MaylamBrian Matthews, Holly Hunter, Jason AlexanderHorror
Bustin' LooseOz ScottRichard Pryor, Cicely TysonComedyUniversal
The Cannonball RunHal NeedhamBurt Reynolds, Dom DeLuise, Farrah Fawcett, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., Roger Moore, Jackie ChanComedy, Action20th Century Fox; followed by Cannonball Run II
Carbon CopyMichael SchultzGeorge Segal, Susan Saint James, Denzel WashingtonComedyRKO
Cattle Annie and Little BritchesLamont JohnsonBurt Lancaster, Amanda Plummer, Diane LaneDramaUniversal
CavemanCarl GottliebRingo Starr, Dennis Quaid, Shelley Long, Barbara Bach, John Matuszak, Jack GilfordComedyUnited Artists
Charlie Chan and the Curse of the Dragon QueenClive DonnerPeter Ustinov, Angie DickinsonMysteryCharlie Chan
The ChosenJeremy KaganMaximilian Schell, Rod Steiger, Robby BensonDrama20th Century Fox
Circle of PowerBobby RothYvette Mimieux, Christopher AllportThriller
Circle of TwoJules DassinRichard Burton, Tatum O'NealDramaTroma
Chu Chu and the Philly FlashDavid Lowell RichAlan Arkin, Carol Burnett, Jack WardenComedy20th Century Fox
Clash of the TitansDesmond DavisLaurence Olivier, Harry Hamlin, Maggie Smith, Burgess Meredith, Ursula Andress, Judi Bowker, Claire BloomFantasyremade in 2010
CondormanCharles JarrottMichael Crawford, Oliver Reed, Barbara CarreraAdventureDisney
Continental DivideMichael AptedJohn Belushi, Blair BrownRomantic comedyBelushi's next-to-last film
Cutter's WayIvan PasserJeff Bridges, John Heard, Lisa EichhornMystery, Dramaaka Cutter and Bone

D–G

Title Director Cast Genre Note
Dead & BuriedGary ShermanMelody Anderson, Jack AlbertsonHorrorAvco Embassy
Deadly BlessingWes CravenMaren Jensen, Sharon Stone, Susan BucknerHorror
Death of a Centerfold: The Dorothy Stratten StoryGabrielle BeaumontJamie Lee Curtis, Bruce Weitz, Robert ReedBiographymade for TV
Death HuntPeter R. HuntCharles Bronson, Lee Marvin, Angie Dickinson, Andrew Stevens, Carl Weathers, Ed LauterAdventure20th Century Fox
The Decline of Western CivilizationPenelope SpheerisBlack Flag, Circle Jerks, XDocumentary
The Devil and Max DevlinSteven Hilliard SternElliott Gould, Bill Cosby, Susan AnspachComedyDisney
Don't Cry, It's Only ThunderPeter WernerDennis Christopher, Susan Saint JamesDrama
DragonslayerMatthew RobbinsPeter MacNicol, Ralph RichardsonFantasyParamount, Disney
Endless LoveFranco ZeffirelliBrooke Shields, Martin Hewitt, Don Murray, Shirley Knight, Richard Kiley, Beatrice Straight, Penelope Milford, James Spader, Tom CruiseDramafrom Scott Spencer novel; 6 Razzie nominations
Enter the NinjaMenahem GolanFranco Nero, Susan George, Sho Kosugi, Christopher GeorgeAction
Escape from New YorkJohn CarpenterKurt Russell, Lee Van Cleef, Donald Pleasence, Adrienne Barbeau, Isaac Hayes, Ernest BorgnineThrillerfollowed by Escape from L.A.
Escape to VictoryJohn HustonSylvester Stallone, Michael Caine, Max von SydowP.O.W.aka Victory
The Evil DeadSam RaimiBruce Campbell, Ellen SandweissHorrorfollowed by 2 sequels
An Eye for an EyeSteve CarverChuck Norris, Christopher Reeve, Richard RoundtreeActionEmbassy
Eye of the NeedleRichard MarquandDonald Sutherland, Kate Nelligan, Christopher CazenoveSpy filmfrom Ken Follett novel
EyewitnessPeter YatesWilliam Hurt, Sigourney Weaver, James Woods, Christopher PlummerMystery, Thrillerwritten by Steve Tesich
ExcaliburJohn BoormanNigel Terry, Helen MirrenFantasyOrion Pictures
The FanEdward BianchiLauren Bacall, James Garner, Maureen Stapleton, Michael Biehn, Hector ElizondoThrillerParamount
FantasiesJohn DerekBo DerekDramafilmed in 1973
The Final ConflictGraham BakerSam Neill, Rossano Brazzi, Don GordonHorror2nd sequel to The Omen
First Monday in OctoberRonald NeameWalter Matthau, Jill Clayburgh, Barnard HughesDramabased on play; 2 Golden Globe nominations
Fort Apache, the BronxDaniel PetriePaul Newman, Edward Asner, Ken Wahl, Pam GrierCrime drama20th Century Fox
Four FriendsArthur PennCraig Wasson, Jodi ThelenDramawritten by Steve Tesich
The Four SeasonsAlan AldaAlan Alda, Carol Burnett, Rita Moreno, Len Cariou, Jack Weston, Sandy Dennis, Bess ArmstrongComedy, Drama1st film directed by Alda; 4 Golden Globe nominations
The Fox and the HoundRichard Richvoices of Pearl Bailey, Mickey RooneyAnimated filmDisney
Friday the 13th Part 2Steve MinerAdrienne King, Amy SteelHorrorsequel to Friday the 13th
Full Moon HighLarry CohenAdam Arkin, Ed McMahonComedy horror
The FunhouseTobe HooperElizabeth Berridge, Jack McDermottHorror
Galaxy of TerrorBruce D. ClarkEdward Albert, Erin Moran, Ray WalstonScience-fictionNew World Pictures
Gangster WarsRichard C. SarafianMichael Nouri, Joe Penny, Madeleine StoweCrime
Ghost StoryJohn IrvinFred Astaire, John Houseman, Melvyn DouglasHorrorfinal film for Astaire, Douglas
Going Ape!Jeremy Joe KronsbergTony Danza, Jessica Walter, Danny DeVitoComedyParamount
Graduation DayHerb FreedChristopher George, Michael PatakiHorror
The Great Muppet CaperJim HensonDiana Rigg, Charles GrodinComedy, FamilyUniversal

H–M

Title Director Cast Genre Note
Halloween IIRick RosenthalJamie Lee Curtis, Donald PleasenceHorrorsequel to Halloween
The HandOliver StoneMichael Caine, Andrea MarcovicciHorrorStone's second film
Hard CountryDavid Greene Jan-Michael Vincent, Kim Basinger, Michael ParksDramaITC
Hardly WorkingJerry LewisJerry Lewis, Susan Oliver, Deanna LundComedy20th Century Fox
Harry's WarKieth MerrillEdward Herrmann, Geraldine Page, Karen GrassleComedy
HeartbeepsAllan ArkushAndy Kaufman, Bernadette Peters, Randy QuaidSci-fi comedyUniversal
Heavy MetalGerald PottertonVoices of John Candy, Eugene Levy, Harold RamisAnimatedColumbia
Hell NightTom DeSimoneLinda Blair, Vincent Van Patten, Peter BartonHorrorBlair Razzie-nominated
History of the World: Part IMel BrooksMel Brooks, Gregory Hines, Madeline Kahn, Harvey Korman, Cloris Leachman, Pamela Stephenson, Mary-Margaret Humes, Sid Caesar, Dom DeLuise, Ron Carey, Shecky Greene, Orson WellesComedy, Anthology20th Century Fox
Honky Tonk FreewayJohn SchlesingerBeverly D'Angelo, Beau Bridges, William DevaneComedyEMI Films
The HowlingJoe DanteDee Wallace, Patrick Macnee, Christopher Stone, Belinda Balaski, Elisabeth BrooksHorrorfrom Gary Brandner novel
The Incredible Shrinking WomanJoel SchumacherLily Tomlin, Charles Grodin, Ned Beatty, Henry GibsonComedyspoof of 1957 film
KnightridersGeorge A. RomeroEd Harris, Tom SaviniAction
Ladies and Gentlemen, the Fabulous StainsLou AdlerDiane Lane, Laura Dern, Ray WinstoneComedyParamount
The Last ChaseMartyn BurkeLee Majors, Burgess MeredithSci-fi
The Legend of the Lone RangerWilliam A. FrakerKlinton Spilsbury, Michael Horse, Christopher Lloyd, Jason RobardsWesternwon 3 Razzie awards
Lion of the DesertMoustapha AkkadAnthony Quinn, Rod Steiger, John GielgudBiography, Warstory of Omar Mukhtar
LookerMichael CrichtonAlbert Finney, James Coburn, Susan DeySci-fiWarner Bros.
The Looney Looney Looney Bugs Bunny MovieFriz FrelengMel Blanc, June ForayAnimationCompilation
The Man Who Saw TomorrowRobert GuenetteOrson WellesDocumentaryabout Nostradamus
Modern ProblemsKen ShapiroChevy Chase, Dabney Coleman, Nell CarterComedy20th Century Fox
Modern RomanceAlbert BrooksAlbert Brooks, Kathryn Harrold, Bruno KirbyComedyColumbia
Mommie DearestFrank PerryFaye Dunaway, Diana Scarwid, Mara Hobel, Steve Forrest, Rutanya Alda, Howard Da SilvaBiographyJoan Crawford story; 5 Razzie awards
Ms. 45Abel FerraraZoe Tamerlis Lund, Abel FerraraAction
My Dinner with AndreLouis MalleAndre Gregory, Wallace ShawnDocumentarya two-man conversation

N–S

Title Director Cast Genre Note
NeighborsJohn G. AvildsenJohn Belushi, Dan Aykroyd, Cathy MoriartyComedyColumbia; based on Thomas Berger novel
The NestingArmand WestonRobin Groves, Christopher Loomis, John CarradineHorror
Nice DreamsTommy ChongCheech Marin, Tommy ChongComedyColumbia
The Night the Lights Went Out in GeorgiaRonald F. MaxwellKristy McNichol, Dennis Quaid, Mark HamillMusicalEmbassy; based on 1973 song
NighthawksBruce MalmuthSylvester Stallone, Rutger Hauer, Billy Dee WilliamsCrime dramaUniversal; Hauer's first U.S. film
Nobody's PerfektPeter BonerzGabe Kaplan, Alex Karras, Susan ClarkComedyColumbia
On Golden PondMark RydellHenry Fonda, Katharine Hepburn, Jane Fonda, Dabney Coleman, Doug McKeonDramaOscars for H. Fonda, Hepburn, screenplay; 10 nominations
On the Right TrackLee PhilipsGary Coleman, Michael Lembeck, Lisa EilbacherComedy
Only When I LaughGlenn JordanMarsha Mason, Joan Hackett, James Coco, David Dukes, Kristy McNicholDramaNeil Simon play; 3 Oscar nominations
PaternityDavid SteinbergBurt Reynolds, Beverly D'Angelo, Elizabeth AshleyComedyParamount
Pennies from HeavenHerbert RossSteve Martin, Bernadette Peters, Jessica HarperMusical, Dramabased on BBC series; 3 Oscar nominations
Piranha II: The SpawningJames CameronTricia O'Neil, Lance HenriksenHorrorsequel
PolyesterJohn WatersDivine, Tab HunterComedyNew Line Cinema
The Postman Always Rings TwiceBob RafelsonJack Nicholson, Jessica Lange, John Colicos, Michael Lerner, John P. Ryan, Anjelica HustonCrime dramabased on James M. Cain novel, remake of 1946 film
Prince of the CitySidney LumetTreat Williams, Jerry Orbach, Lindsay Crouse, Bob Balaban, James Tolkan, Lane Smith, Lee RichardsonCrime dramabased on Robert Daley book; 3 Golden Globe nominations
Private LessonsAlan MyersonSylvia Kristel, Howard Hesseman, Ed Begley Jr.Comedy
The ProwlerJoseph ZitoVicky Dawson, Christopher GoutmanHorror
The Pursuit of D. B. CooperRoger SpottiswoodeTreat Williams, Robert Duvall, Kathryn HarroldTrue crimeUniversal
Raggedy ManJack FiskSissy Spacek, Eric Roberts, Sam ShepardDramaUniversal
RagtimeMiloš FormanElizabeth 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 MailerDramabased on E.L. Doctorow novel; 8 Oscar nominations
Raiders of the Lost ArkSteven SpielbergHarrison Ford, Karen Allen, Denholm Elliott, Paul Freeman, John Rhys-Davies, Ronald Lacey, Alfred MolinaAdventure1st Indiana Jones adventure; 8 Oscar nominations
RedsWarren BeattyWarren Beatty, Diane Keaton, Gene Hackman, Maureen Stapleton, Jerzy Kosinski, Paul Sorvino, Jack NicholsonEpic, Biographystory of John Reed; 12 Oscar nominations
Rich and FamousGeorge CukorJacqueline Bisset, Candice Bergen, Hart BochnerDramaCukor's final film
RolloverAlan J. PakulaJane Fonda, Kris Kristofferson, Hume CronynThrillerOrion
RuckusMax KlevenDirk Benedict, Linda Blair, Richard FarnsworthAction comedy
S.O.B.Blake EdwardsJulie Andrews, William Holden, Richard Mulligan, Robert Preston, Robert Webber, Robert Vaughn, Larry HagmanComedy2 Razzie nominations; Holden's final film
The SalamanderPeter ZinnerFranco Nero, Anthony Quinn, Sybil DanningThrillerITC
Saturday the 14thHoward R. CohenRichard Benjamin, Paula Prentiss, Severn DardenHorror comedyNew World
Second-Hand HeartsHal AshbyRobert Blake, Barbara HarrisRomanceParamount
Sharky's MachineBurt ReynoldsBurt Reynolds, Rachel Ward, Vittorio Gassman, Henry Silva, Charles Durning, Earl HollimanCrime dramabased on William Diehl novel
Shock TreatmentJim SharmanCliff DeYoung, Jessica HarperMusical20th Century Fox
Southern ComfortWalter HillPowers Boothe, Keith Carradine, Fred Ward, Peter CoyoteThriller20th Century Fox
SphinxFranklin J. SchaffnerFrank Langella, Lesley-Anne Down, John GielgudAdventurebased on book by Robin Cook
StripesIvan ReitmanBill Murray, Harold Ramis, Warren Oates, John Candy, Sean Young, P.J. Soles, John LarroquetteComedyColumbia
Student BodiesMickey RoseKristen Riter, Matt GoldsbyComedy

T–Z

Title Director Cast Genre Note
Take This Job and Shove ItGus TrikonisRobert Hays, Art Carney, Barbara HersheyComedybased on the song
TapsHarold BeckerGeorge C. Scott, Timothy Hutton, Ronny Cox, Sean Penn, Tom CruiseDrama20th Century Fox; Penn's first film
Tarzan, the Ape ManJohn DerekBo Derek, Richard Harris, John Phillip Law, Miles O'KeeffeAdventureRazzie for Bo Derek
TattooBob BrooksBruce Dern, Maud Adams, Leonard FreyThriller20th Century Fox
They All LaughedPeter BogdanovichAudrey Hepburn, Ben Gazzara, Patti Hansen, Dorothy Stratten, John RitterRomantic comedyfinal leading film role for Hepburn
ThiefMichael MannJames Caan, Tuesday Weld, James Belushi, Robert Prosky, Willie NelsonCrime dramaUnited Artists; Mann's first film
This Is ElvisMalcolm LeoElvis PresleyDocumentary
True ConfessionsUlu GrosbardRobert De Niro, Robert Duvall, Charles Durning, Kenneth McMillan, Cyril Cusack, Ed Flanders, Burgess MeredithCrime dramaUnited Artists; based on John Gregory Dunne novel
Tuck EverlastingFrederick King KellerMargaret Chamberlain, Paul FleesaFantasy
Under the RainbowSteve RashChevy Chase, Carrie Fisher, Eve ArdenComedybased on Wizard of Oz; 2 Razzie nominations
Vernon, FloridaErrol MorrisSnake ReynoldsDocumentary
Waitress!Michael HerzJim Harris, [Carol DrakeComedy
Whose Life Is It Anyway?John BadhamRichard Dreyfuss, John Cassavetes, Christine Lahti, Thomas Carter, Kenneth McMillanDramabased on 1972 teleplay
WolfenMichael WadleighAlbert Finney, Gregory HinesHorrorOrion
The Woman InsideJoseph Van WinkleDane Clark, Joan BlondellDramaBlondell's final film
Zoot SuitLuis ValdezEdward James Olmos, Daniel Valdez, Tyne DalyDramabased on the play
Zorro, the Gay BladePeter MedakGeorge Hamilton, Lauren HuttonComedyspoof of Zorro

See also


This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.