The following is an overview of events in 1981 in film, including the highest-grossing films, award ceremonies and festivals, a list of films released and notable deaths.

Highest-grossing films (U.S.)

The top ten films released in 1981 by box office gross in North America are as follows:

Events

* May 16 – Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer acquires beleaguered concurrent United Artists. UA was humiliated by the astronomical losses on the $40,000,000 movie '' Heaven's Gate'', a major factor in the decision of owner Transamerica to sell it. * March 30 - The

53rd Academy Awards The 53rd Academy Awards ceremony, organized by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS), honored 1980 in film, films released in 1980 and took place on March 31, 1981, at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in Los Angeles beginning at ...

are postponed due to the attempted assassination of President Ronald Reagan earlier that day. They are held the following day with a message from the President recorded for the ceremony prior to the assassination attempt. * June 8 - Marvin Davis acquires

20th Century Fox 20th Century Studios, Inc. (previously known as 20th Century Fox) is an American film production company headquartered at the Fox Studio Lot in the Century City area of Los Angeles. As of 2019, it serves as a film production arm of Walt Dis ...

for $720 million. * June 12 – ''

Raiders of the Lost Ark ''Raiders of the Lost Ark'' is a 1981 American action-adventure film directed by Steven Spielberg and written by Lawrence Kasdan, based on a story by George Lucas and Philip Kaufman. It stars Harrison Ford, Karen Allen, Paul Freeman, Ronal ...

'' is released by

Paramount Pictures Paramount Pictures Corporation is an American film and television production company, production and Distribution (marketing), distribution company and the main namesake division of Paramount Global (formerly ViacomCBS). It is the fifth-oldes ...

. It became Paramount's highest-grossing film of all time and set a major standard for many action-adventure movies to date and spawned three sequels. * August 21 – '' An American Werewolf in London'' is released and becomes a landmark in Visual Effects and Makeup. * November 1 - United International Pictures is created to handle international distribution of films for United Artists, MGM, Universal Pictures and

to replace Cinema International Corporation following MGM's acquisition of UA. * November 25 -

Norman Lear Norman Milton Lear (born July 27, 1922) is an American producer and screenwriter, who has produced, written, created, or developed over 100 shows. Lear is known for many popular 1970s sitcoms, including the multi-award winning ''All in the Famil ...

and his partner Jerry Perenchio agree to buy Avco Embassy for $25 million. * November 29 – Actress Natalie Wood drowns in a boating accident off Santa Catalina Island.

Awards

Palme d'Or (Cannes Film Festival): :'' Man of Iron'' (Człowiek z żelaza), directed by Andrzej Wajda, Poland

Golden Lion The Golden Lion ( it, Leone d'oro) is the highest prize given to a film at the Venice Film Festival. The prize was introduced in 1949 by the organizing committee and is now regarded as one of the film industry's most prestigious and distinguishe ...

(Venice Film Festival): :'' Marianne and Juliane'' (''Die Bleierne Zeit''), directed by Margarethe von Trotta, W. Germany Golden Bear (Berlin Film Festival): :''

Faster, Faster ''Deprisa, deprisa'' ( en, Hurry, Hurry!) is a 1981 in film, 1981 Cinema of Spain, Spanish film directed by Carlos Saura. It tells the story of a gang of juvenile delinquents and is considered one of the classics of the Quinqui (film genre), quinqu ...

'' (''Deprisa, deprisa'' / ''Vivre vite''), directed by Carlos Saura, Spain / France

Notable films released in 1981

United States unless stated

A

*''

Absence of Malice ''Absence of Malice'' is a 1981 American drama neo noir thriller film directed by Sydney Pollack and starring Paul Newman, Sally Field, Wilford Brimley, Melinda Dillon and Bob Balaban. The title refers to one of the defenses against libel def ...

'', directed by

Sydney Pollack Sydney Irwin Pollack (July 1, 1934 – May 26, 2008) was an American film director, producer and actor. Pollack directed more than 20 films and 10 television shows, acted in over 30 movies or shows and produced over 44 films. For his film ''Out ...

, starring

Paul Newman Paul Leonard Newman (January 26, 1925 – September 26, 2008) was an American actor, film director, race car driver, philanthropist, and entrepreneur. He was the recipient of numerous awards, including an Academy Award, a BAFTA Award, three ...

Sally Field Sally Margaret Field (born November 6, 1946) is an American actress. She has received many awards and nominations, including two Academy Awards, three Primetime Emmy Awards, two Golden Globe Awards, a Screen Actors Guild Award, a Cannes Film F ...

, Bob Balaban, Melinda Dillon *'' All Night Long'', starring Barbra Streisand,

Gene Hackman Eugene Allen Hackman (born January 30, 1930) is an American retired actor and former novelist. In a career that has spanned more than six decades, Hackman has won two Academy Awards, four Golden Globes, one Screen Actors Guild Award, two BAFTAs ...

Diane Ladd Diane Ladd is an American actress. She has appeared in over 120 film and television roles. For the 1974 film '' Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore'', she won the BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role and was nominated for the Academy A ...

, Dennis Quaid *'' ...All the Marbles'', starring

Peter Falk Peter Michael Falk (September 16, 1927 – June 23, 2011) was an American film and television actor. He is best known for his role as Lieutenant Columbo in the long-running television series ''Columbo'' (1968–1978, 1989–2003), for which he ...

Vicki Frederick Vicki Frederick (born January 2, 1949) is an American actress and dancer who has appeared in a number of musicals on Broadway plays, in films, and on popular TV shows such as ''Mork and Mindy'' and ''Happy Days'' in 1979, and ''Murder She Wrote'' i ...

and

Laurene Landon Laurene Landon Coughlin (born March 17, 1957) is a Canadian film and television actress. She first began appearing in movies in the 1980s. She is best known for her roles in '' Maniac Cop'' and '' Maniac Cop 2'', '' I, the Jury'', '' Hundra'', ...

*'' The Amateur'', starring John Savage, Christopher Plummer, Marthe Keller *'' American Pop'', an animated rotoscope musical by Ralph Bakshi and starring Ron Thompson *''

A Moment of Weakness A Moment of Weakness (Egyptian Arabic: ''لحظة ضعف,'' translit. ''Lahzet Da'af'') is a 1981 Egyptian drama film written by Mahmoud Abu Zeid and directed by Sayed Tantawy. It stars Salah Zulfikar, Nelly and Hussein Fahmy. Plot Abdul Ghaffa ...

'', starring Salah Zulfikar,

Nelly Cornell Iral Haynes Jr. (born November 2, 1974), better known by his stage name Nelly, is an American rapper, singer, actor and entrepreneur. He embarked on his music career with the hip hop group St. Lunatics in 1993 and signed to Universal ...

and

Hussein Fahmy Hussein Fahmy ( ar, حسين فهمي; born 22 March 1940) is an Egyptian actor. He worked in the film and television industry for more than 50 years, specializing in film directing and appearing in over 100 film, television, and theatre productio ...

(

Egypt Egypt ( ar, مصر , ), officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, is a transcontinental country spanning the northeast corner of Africa and southwest corner of Asia via a land bridge formed by the Sinai Peninsula. It is bordered by the Med ...

) *'' An American Werewolf in London'', directed by John Landis, starring David Naughton, Griffin Dunne, Jenny Agutter – ( US/ UK) *''

Amy Amy is a female given name, sometimes short for Amanda, Amelia, Amélie, or Amita. In French, the name is spelled ''"Aimée"''. People A–E * Amy Acker (born 1976), American actress * Amy Vera Ackman, also known as Mother Giovanni (1886– ...

'', starring Jenny Agutter and

Barry Newman Barry Foster Newman (born November 7, 1938) is an American actor of stage, screen and television known for his portrayal of Kowalski in ''Vanishing Point'', and for his title role in the 1970s television series ''Petrocelli''. He has been nominat ...

*'' Arthur'', starring Dudley Moore,

Liza Minnelli Liza May Minnelli ( ; born March 12, 1946) is an American actress, singer, dancer, and choreographer. Known for her commanding stage presence and powerful alto singing voice, Minnelli is among a rare group of performers awarded an Emmy, Grammy ...

, John Gielgud, Geraldine Fitzgerald, Stephen Elliott,

Jill Eikenberry Jill Susan Eikenberry (born January 21, 1947) is an American film, stage, and television actress. She is known for her role as lawyer Ann Kelsey on the NBC drama ''L.A. Law'' (1986–94), for which she is a five-time Emmy Award and four-time Gol ...

*'' The Aviator's Wife'' (La femme de l'aviateur), directed by Éric Rohmer – (

France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans. Its metropolitan ar ...

)

B

*'' Back Roads'', directed by Martin Ritt, starring

and Tommy Lee Jones *'' Beau-père'', directed by Bertrand Blier – (

) *'' Die Berührte'', directed by Helma Sanders-Brahms – ( West Germany) *'' Betrayal'' (Løperjenten) – ( Norway) *'' Bianco, rosso e Verdone'' – (

Italy Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in Southern Europe. It is located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, and its territory largely coincides with the homonymous geographical ...

) *'' Blind Chance'' (Przypadek) – ( Poland) *'' The Blood of Hussain'' – ( Pakistan) *'' Blood Wedding'' (Bodas de sangre), directed by Carlos Saura – ( Spain) *'' Blow Out'', directed by Brian De Palma, starring

John Travolta John Joseph Travolta (born February 18, 1954) is an American actor. He came to public attention during the 1970s, appearing on the television sitcom ''Welcome Back, Kotter'' (1975–1979) and starring in the box office successes ''Carrie'' (19 ...

, Nancy Allen, Dennis Franz,

John Lithgow John Arthur Lithgow ( ; born , 1945) is an American actor. Lithgow studied at Harvard University and the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art before becoming known for his work on the stage and screen. He has been the recipient of numerous ...

*'' The Boat Is Full'' (Das Boot ist voll) – (

Switzerland ). Swiss law does not designate a ''capital'' as such, but the federal parliament and government are installed in Bern, while other federal institutions, such as the federal courts, are in other cities (Bellinzona, Lausanne, Luzern, Neuchâtel ...

) *'' Body and Soul'', starring Jayne Kennedy, Leon Isaac Kennedy,

Michael V. Gazzo Michael Vincenzo Gazzo (April 5, 1923 – February 14, 1995) was an American playwright who later in life became a film and television actor. He was nominated for an Academy Award for his role in ''The Godfather Part II'' (1974). Biography Gazz ...

*'' Body Heat'', directed by Lawrence Kasdan, starring William Hurt,

Kathleen Turner Mary Kathleen Turner (born June 19, 1954) is an American actress. She has received various accolades, including two Golden Globe Awards, in addition to nominations for an Academy Award, a Grammy Award, and two Tony Awards. Turner became widely k ...

, Ted Danson, Richard Crenna,

J. A. Preston James Allen Preston (born November 13, 1932) is a former American actor. Preston is best known for portraying Colonel Randolph in the movie ''A Few Good Men'' and for his role as Ozzie Cleveland on the NBC prime-time television series ''Hill St ...

, Mickey Rourke *'' Das Boot'' (Released in the U.S. in 1982), directed by Wolfgang Petersen, starring Jürgen Prochnow – ( West Germany) *''

Buddy Buddy ''Buddy Buddy'' is a 1981 American comedy film based on Francis Veber's play ''Le contrat'' and Édouard Molinaro's film '' L'emmerdeur''. It was the final film directed and written by Billy Wilder. Plot Hitman Trabucco eliminates two witnesses a ...

'', directed by Billy Wilder, starring

Jack Lemmon John Uhler Lemmon III (February 8, 1925 – June 27, 2001) was an American actor. Considered equally proficient in both dramatic and comic roles, Lemmon was known for his anxious, middle-class everyman screen persona in dramedy pictures, leadin ...

and

Walter Matthau Walter Matthau (; born Walter John Matthow; October 1, 1920 – July 1, 2000) was an American actor, comedian and film director. He is best known for his film roles in '' A Face in the Crowd'' (1957), ''King Creole'' (1958) and as a coach of a ...

*''

Buriki no kunsho is a 1981 Japanese film directed by Setsuo Nakayama. Cast * Katsuo Nakamura as Kimura * Shūichi Suzuki as Hideo Nemoto () * Etsuko Ichihara * Michiko Hayashi * Rie Kimura * Masami Horiuchi Awards 5th Japan Academy Prize *Won: Best Supportin ...

'' – (

Japan Japan ( ja, 日本, or , and formally , ''Nihonkoku'') is an island country in East Asia. It is situated in the northwest Pacific Ocean, and is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan, while extending from the Sea of Okhotsk in the no ...

) *'' The Burning'', starring Brian Matthews – ( United States/

Canada Canada is a country in North America. Its ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, covering over , making it the world's second-largest country by tota ...

) *''

The Bushido Blade ''The Bushido Blade'' is a 1981 film directed by Tom Kotani. Sonny Chiba, Toshiro Mifune, Mako, Laura Gemser and James Earl Jones appear in this film. It was filmed in 1978, but not released until 1981. This was Richard Boone's last film appeara ...

'' *'' Bustin' Loose'', starring Richard Pryor and Cicely Tyson

C

*'' The Cannonball Run'', directed by Hal Needham, starring

Burt Reynolds Burton Leon Reynolds Jr. (February 11, 1936 – September 6, 2018) was an American actor, considered a sex symbol and icon of 1970s American popular culture. Reynolds first rose to prominence when he starred in television series such as ' ...

, Dom DeLuise,

Dean Martin Dean Martin (born Dino Paul Crocetti; June 7, 1917 – December 25, 1995) was an American singer, actor and comedian. One of the most popular and enduring American entertainers of the mid-20th century, Martin was nicknamed "The King of Cool". M ...

Sammy Davis, Jr. Samuel George Davis Jr. (December 8, 1925 – May 16, 1990) was an American singer, dancer, actor, comedian, film producer and television director. At age three, Davis began his career in vaudeville with his father Sammy Davis Sr. and the ...

Roger Moore Sir Roger George Moore (14 October 192723 May 2017) was an English actor. He was the third actor to portray fictional British secret agent James Bond in the Eon Productions film series, playing the character in seven feature films between 19 ...

Farrah Fawcett Farrah Leni Fawcett (born Ferrah Leni Fawcett; February 2, 1947 – June 25, 2009) was an American actress. A four-time Primetime Emmy Award nominee and six-time Golden Globe Award nominee, Fawcett rose to international fame when she playe ...

, Adrienne Barbeau *'' Carbon Copy'', starring

George Segal George Segal Jr. (February 13, 1934 – March 23, 2021) was an American actor. He became popular in the 1960s and 1970s for playing both dramatic and comedic roles. After first rising to prominence with roles in acclaimed films such as ''Ship o ...

Denzel Washington Denzel Hayes Washington Jr. (born December 28, 1954) is an American actor and filmmaker. He has been described as an actor who reconfigured "the concept of classic movie stardom". Throughout his career spanning over four decades, Washington ha ...

, Susan Saint James, Jack Warden *''

Cattle Annie and Little Britches ''Cattle Annie and Little Britches'' is a 1981 Western film starring Burt Lancaster, John Savage, Rod Steiger, Diane Lane, and Amanda Plummer, based on the lives of two adolescent girls in late 19th-century Oklahoma Territory, who became inf ...

'', starring

Burt Lancaster Burton Stephen Lancaster (November 2, 1913 – October 20, 1994) was an American actor and producer. Initially known for playing tough guys with a tender heart, he went on to achieve success with more complex and challenging roles over a 45-yea ...

Rod Steiger Rodney Stephen Steiger (; April 14, 1925July 9, 2002, aged 77) was an American actor, noted for his portrayal of offbeat, often volatile and crazed characters. Cited as "one of Hollywood's most charismatic and dynamic stars," he is closely assoc ...

, John Savage, Diane Lane, Amanda Plummer *'' Caveman'', directed by Carl Gottlieb, starring

Ringo Starr Sir Richard Starkey (born 7 July 1940), known professionally as Ringo Starr, is an English musician, singer, songwriter and actor who achieved international fame as the drummer for the Beatles. Starr occasionally sang lead vocals with the ...

, Dennis Quaid, Shelley Long *'' Chariots of Fire'', directed by Hugh Hudson, starring Ben Cross, Ian Charleson, Nigel Havers, Ian Holm – ( U.K.) *'' Charlie Chan and the Curse of the Dragon Queen'', starring

Peter Ustinov Sir Peter Alexander Ustinov (born Peter Alexander Freiherr von Ustinov ; 16 April 192128 March 2004) was a British actor, filmmaker and writer. An internationally known raconteur, he was a fixture on television talk shows and lecture circuits ...

, Lee Grant, Angie Dickinson *'' Charlotte'' – ( Netherlands) *'' The Chosen'', starring Robby Benson,

Barry Miller Barry Miller may refer to: * Barry Miller (actor) (born 1958), American actor *Barry Miller (politician) Barry Miller (December 25, 1864 – June 20, 1933) was a Texas state legislator and Lieutenant Governor from 1925 to 1931 serving under Gover ...

Maximilian Schell Maximilian Schell (8 December 1930 – 1 February 2014) was an Austrian-born Swiss actor, who also wrote, directed and produced some of his own films. He won the Academy Award for Best Actor for the 1961 American film ''Judgment at Nuremberg'', h ...

*'' Christiane F. – We Children from Bahnhof Zoo'', directed by Uli Edel, starring Natja Brunckhorst – ( West Germany) *''

Chu Chu and the Philly Flash ''Chu Chu and the Philly Flash'' is a 1981 American comedy film starring Alan Arkin, Carol Burnett, Jack Warden, Ruth Buzzi, Adam Arkin and Danny Aiello. It was directed by David Lowell Rich and produced by Jay Weston, with the screenplay being wr ...

'', directed by David Lowell Rich, starring Carol Burnett and Alan Arkin *''

Circle of Deceit Circle of Deceit may refer to: * ''Circle of Deceit'' (1981 film), German film * ''Circle of Deceit'' (1998 film), American TV film * '' Circles of Deceit'', British television thriller series {{disamb ...

'' (Die Fälschung), directed by Volker Schlöndorff, starring Bruno Ganz, Hanna Schygulla and Jerzy Skolimowski – ( West Germany) *'' Clash of the Titans'', starring Harry Hamlin,

Laurence Olivier Laurence Kerr Olivier, Baron Olivier (; 22 May 1907 – 11 July 1989) was an English actor and director who, along with his contemporaries Ralph Richardson and John Gielgud, was one of a trio of male actors who dominated the Theatre of the U ...

Maggie Smith Dame Margaret Natalie Smith (born 28 December 1934) is an English actress. With an extensive career on screen and stage beginning in the mid-1950s, Smith has appeared in more than sixty films and seventy plays. She is one of the few performer ...

, Ursula Andress – ( US/ UK) *'' Condorman'', starring Michael Crawford, Oliver Reed, Barbara Carrera – ( U.K.) *''

Le confort et l'indifférence ''Comfort and Indifference'' (french: Le confort et l'indifférence) is a 1982 documentary film by Denys Arcand, offering an analysis of the 1980 Quebec referendum, in which "sovereignty-association The Quebec sovereignty movement (french: M ...

'' (Comfort and Indifference) – (

) *''

Continental Divide A continental divide is a drainage divide on a continent such that the drainage basin on one side of the divide feeds into one ocean or sea, and the basin on the other side either feeds into a different ocean or sea, or else is endorheic, not ...

'', starring John Belushi, Blair Brown, Allen Garfield *'' Coup de torchon'', directed by Bertrand Tavernier, starring Philippe Noiret and Isabelle Huppert – (

) *'' Cutter's Way'', starring Jeff Bridges,

Lisa Eichhorn Lisa Eichhorn (born February 4, 1952) is an American actress, writer and producer. She made her film debut in 1979 in the John Schlesinger film ''Yanks'', for which she received two Golden Globe nominations. Her international career has include ...

, John Heard

D

*'' Dance Craze'', concert documentary featuring

Madness Madness or The Madness may refer to: Emotion and mental health * Anger, an intense emotional response to a perceived provocation, hurt or threat * Insanity, a spectrum of behaviors characterized by certain abnormal mental or behavioral patterns * ...

, The Beat, The Specials and others – ( U.K.) *'' Dark Night of the Scarecrow'' *''

Dead & Buried ''Dead & Buried'' is a 1981 American horror film directed by Gary Sherman, starring Melody Anderson, Jack Albertson, and James Farentino. It is Albertson’s final live-action film role before his death six months after the film’s release. Th ...

'', starring James Farentino *'' Deadly Blessing''. starring Sharon Stone and Ernest Borgnine *'' Death Hunt'', starring

Charles Bronson Charles Bronson (born Charles Dennis Buchinsky; November 3, 1921 – August 30, 2003) was an American actor. Known for his "granite features and brawny physique," he gained international fame for his starring roles in action, Western, and war ...

, Lee Marvin,

Andrew Stevens Herman Andrew Stevens (born June 10, 1955) is an American executive, film producer, director and actor. Early life Stevens was born in Memphis, Tennessee, the only child of actress Stella Stevens and her former husband Noble Herman Stephens. Ca ...

, Carl Weathers, Angie Dickinson *'' The Decline of Western Civilization'', a documentary film *''

Deprisa, Deprisa ''Deprisa, deprisa'' ( en, Hurry, Hurry!) is a 1981 Spanish film directed by Carlos Saura. It tells the story of a gang of juvenile delinquents and is considered one of the classics of the quinqui film genre.' In the English-speaking world, it ...

'' (Hurry, Hurry!), directed by Carlos Saura – ( Spain) – Golden Bear winner *'' The Devil and Max Devlin'', starring

Elliott Gould Elliott Gould (; né Goldstein; born August 29, 1938) is an American actor. He began acting in Hollywood films during the 1960s. Elliott's breakthrough role was in the ''Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice'' (1969), for which he received a nomination f ...

and Bill Cosby *'' Diva'', directed by Jean-Jacques Beineix – (

) *'' Docteur Jekyll et les femmes'', directed by Walerian Borowczyk and starring Udo Kier and Marina Pierro – (

) *'' Do You Remember Dolly Bell?'' (Sjecas li se Doli Bel?) – ( Yugoslavia) *'' Dragonslayer'', starring

Peter MacNicol Peter MacNicol (born April 10, 1954) is an American actor. He received a Theatre World Award for his 1981 Broadway debut in the play ''Crimes of the Heart''. His film roles include Galen in ''Dragonslayer'' (1981), Stingo in ''Sophie's Choice'' ( ...

*'' Dreszcze'' (Shivers) – ( Poland)

E

*'' Eijanaika'' (Why Not?), directed by Shohei Imamura – (

) *'' Ek Duuje Ke Liye'' (Made for Each Other) – (

India India, officially the Republic of India ( Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the ...

) *'' Endless Love'', directed by Franco Zeffirelli, starring

Brooke Shields Brooke Christa Shields (born May 31, 1965) is an American actress and model. She was initially a child model and gained critical acclaim at age 12 for her leading role in Louis Malle's film ''Pretty Baby'' (1978). She continued to model into ...

and Martin Hewitt (actor), Martin Hewitt *''The Entity'', starring Barbara Hershey, Ron Silver, Margaret Blye *''Escape from New York'', directed by John Carpenter, starring Kurt Russell, Lee Van Cleef, Ernest Borgnine, Isaac Hayes, Adrienne Barbeau *''Escape to Victory'' (''aka Victory''), directed by John Huston, starring Michael Caine, Sylvester Stallone, Max von Sydow, Pelé *''The Evil Dead'', directed by Sam Raimi, starring Bruce Campbell *''Excalibur (film), Excalibur'', directed by John Boorman, starring Nigel Terry, Helen Mirren, Nicol Williamson, Nicholas Clay, Liam Neeson *''An Eye for an Eye (1981 film), An Eye for an Eye'', starring Chuck Norris *''Eye of the Needle (film), Eye of the Needle'', starring Donald Sutherland and Kate Nelligan – ( U.K.) *''Eyewitness (1981 film), Eyewitness'', directed by Peter Yates, starring William Hurt, Sigourney Weaver, Christopher Plummer, James Woods

F

*''The Fan (1981 film), The Fan'', directed by Ed Bianchi, Edward Bianchi, starring Lauren Bacall, James Garner, Maureen Stapleton and Michael Biehn *''Fear No Evil (1981 film), Fear No Evil'', directed by Frank LaLoggia *''Fever (1981 film), Fever'' (Gorączka), directed by Agnieszka Holland – ( Poland) *''First Monday in October (film), First Monday in October'', starring

and Jill Clayburgh *''For Your Eyes Only (film), For Your Eyes Only'', starring

(as James Bond), with Carole Bouquet, Lynn-Holly Johnson – ( U.K.) *''Fort Apache, The Bronx'', directed by Daniel Petrie, starring

, Ed Asner, Ken Wahl *''Four Friends (1981 film), Four Friends'', directed by Arthur Penn, starring Craig Wasson and Jodi Thelen *''The Four Seasons (1981 film), The Four Seasons'', directed by and starring Alan Alda, with Carol Burnett, Rita Moreno, Sandy Dennis, Len Cariou, Jack Weston *''The Fox and the Hound (film), The Fox and the Hound'', with the voices of Mickey Rooney, Kurt Russell, Pearl Bailey *''The French Lieutenant's Woman (film), The French Lieutenant's Woman'', directed by Karel Reisz, starring Meryl Streep and Jeremy Irons – ( U.K.) *''Friday the 13th Part II'', directed by Steve Miner, starring Amy Steel, John Furey and Adrienne King *''Full Moon High'', starring Adam Arkin *''The Funhouse'', directed by Tobe Hooper

G

*''Gallipoli (1981 film), Gallipoli'', directed by Peter Weir, starring Mel Gibson – (Australian films of 1981, Australia) *''Gangster Wars'', starring Michael Nouri, Joe Penny, Brian Benben, Madeleine Stowe *''Garde à Vue'', starring Romy Schneider and Michel Serrault – (

) *''Gas (1981 film), Gas'', starring Susan Anspach, Sterling Hayden, Helen Shaver – (Canadian films of the 1980s, Canada) *''Ghost Story (1981 film), Ghost Story'', starring Fred Astaire, Douglas Fairbanks Jr., Melvyn Douglas, John Houseman *''The Girl with the Red Hair'' (Het meisje met het rode haar) – ( Netherlands) *''Going Ape!'', starring Tony Danza, Stacey Nelkin, Jessica Walter, Danny DeVito *''Goodbye Pork Pie'' – (List of New Zealand films#1980s, New Zealand) *''Graduation Day (film), Graduation Day'', starring Christopher George *''The Great Muppet Caper'', directed by Jim Henson – ( US/ UK) *''Gregory's Girl'', directed by Bill Forsyth – ( U.K.) *''Grendel Grendel Grendel'', starring

– (Australia)

H

*''Halloween II (1981 film), Halloween II'', directed by Rick Rosenthal, starring Jamie Lee Curtis and Donald Pleasence *''The Hand (1981 film), The Hand'', directed by Oliver Stone, starring Michael Caine *''Ręce do góry, Hands Up!'', (Ręce do góry), directed by Jerzy Skolimowski – ( Poland) – originally made in 1967 but withheld *''Happy Birthday to Me (film), Happy Birthday to Me'', starring Melissa Sue Anderson and Glenn Ford – (Canadian films of the 1980s, Canada) *''Hard Country (film), Hard Country'', starring Jan-Michael Vincent and Kim Basinger *''Hardly Working'', directed by and starring Jerry Lewis *''Harry's War (1981 film), Harry's War'', starring Edward Herrmann *''Heartbeeps'', directed by Allan Arkush, starring Andy Kaufman and Bernadette Peters *''Heavy Metal (film), Heavy Metal'', starring John Candy – (Canadian films of the 1980s, Canada) *''Hell Night'', starring Linda Blair *''History of the World, Part I'', directed by and starring Mel Brooks, with Gregory Hines, Dom DeLuise, Madeline Kahn, Cloris Leachman, Harvey Korman *''Honky Tonk Freeway'', starring William Devane, Beau Bridges, Teri Garr, Beverly D'Angelo, Howard Hesseman, Jessica Tandy *''The Hound of the Baskervilles (1981 film), The Hound of the Baskervilles'' (Priklyucheniya Sherloka Kholmsa i doktora Vatsona: Sobaka Baskerviley) – (Soviet films: 1980-1991, U.S.S.R.) *''The Howling (film), The Howling'', directed by Joe Dante, starring Dee Wallace and Patrick Macnee

I

*''I Love You (1981 film), I Love You'' (Eu Te Amo), starring Sônia Braga – (Brazilian films of the 1980s, Brazil) *''The Incredible Shrinking Woman'', starring Lily Tomlin, Charles Grodin and Ned Beatty *''Inseminoid'', starring Judy Geeson, Stephanie Beacham, Victoria Tennant – ( U.K.) *''The Inventor'' (Der Erfinder) – (

/ West Germany)

J

*''Just Another Missing Kid'', winner of Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature – (

)

K

*''Killing Heat'' (Gräset Sjunger), starring Karen Black – (Swedish films of the 1980s, Sweden/List of Zambian films, Zambia) *''The Killing of Angel Street'' – (Australian films of 1981, Australia) *''Knightriders'', starring Ed Harris *''Kranti'' (Revolution), starring Dilip Kumar, Manoj Kumar, Shashi Kapoor – (

)

L

*''Ladies and Gentlemen, The Fabulous Stains'', starring Diane Lane and Laura Dern *''Lady Chatterley's Lover (1981 film), Lady Chatterley's Lover'', starring Sylvia Kristel and Nicholas Clay *''Aakali Rajyam, The Land of Hunger'' (Aakali Rajyam) – (Telugu films of 1981, India) *''The Last Chase'', starring Lee Majors *''Lawaaris (1981 film), Lawaaris'', starring Amitabh Bachchan and Zeenat Aman – (

) *''The Legend of the Lone Ranger'', starring Klinton Spilsbury, winner of a Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Actor *''Light Years Away'' (Les Années lumière), starring Trevor Howard – (

) *''Lili Marleen (film), Lili Marleen'', directed by Rainer Werner Fassbinder, starring Hanna Schygulla – (List of German films: 1980s, West Germany) *''Lion of the Desert'', starring Anthony Quinn – (List of Libyan films, Libya) *''The Little Fox'' (Vuk) – (List of Hungarian films 1948–1989, Hungary) *''Lola (1981 film), Lola'', a German film directed by Rainer Werner Fassbinder, starring Barbara Sukowa and Armin Mueller-Stahl – ( West Germany) *''Looker'', directed by Michael Crichton, starring Albert Finney, James Coburn, Susan Dey *''Looks and Smiles'', directed by Ken Loach – ( U.K.) *''The Looney Looney Looney Bugs Bunny Movie'' *''Loophole (1981 film), Loophole'', starring Albert Finney and Martin Sheen

M

*''Mad Max 2, Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior'', starring Mel Gibson – (Australian films of 1981, Australia) *'' Man of Iron'' (Człowiek z żelaza), directed by Andrzej Wajda – ( Poland) – Palme d'Or winner *''Mandala (film), Mandala'' – (List of South Korean films of 1981, South Korea) *'' Marianne and Juliane'' (Die bleierne Zeit), directed by Margarethe von Trotta, starring Barbara Sukowa -

winner – ( West Germany) *''Il Marchese del Grillo'', directed by Mario Monicelli, starring Alberto Sordi – (

) *''Masada (miniseries), Masada'', TV miniseries, starring Peter O'Toole, Peter Strauss, Barbara Carrera, David Warner (actor), David Warner *''The Melody Haunts My Memory'' (Samo jednom se ljubi) – ( Yugoslavia) *''Mephisto (1981 film), Mephisto'', directed by István Szabó, starring Klaus Maria Brandauer – (List of Hungarian films 1948–1989, Hungary/ West Germany/Austrian films of the 1980s, Austria) *''Il minestrone'', starring Roberto Benigni – (

) *''Modern Romance (film), Modern Romance'', directed by and starring Albert Brooks, with Kathryn Harrold and Bruno Kirby *''Lahzet Da’af, Moment of Weakness'', starring Salah Zulfikar,

and

– (

) *''Mommie Dearest (film), Mommie Dearest'', starring Faye Dunaway, Diana Scarwid, Steve Forrest (actor), Steve Forrest – winner of five Golden Raspberry Awards including Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Picture, Worst Picture and Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Actress, Worst Actress (Dunaway) *''Montenegro (film), Montenegro'', starring Susan Anspach and Erland Josephson – (Sweden) *''Ms. 45'', directed by Abel Ferrara *''Muzhiki!'' – (Soviet films: 1980-1991, U.S.S.R.) *''My Bloody Valentine (film), My Bloody Valentine'' – (Canadian films of the 1980s, Canada) *''My Dinner with Andre'', starring Wallace Shawn and Andre Gregory *''The Mysterious Castle in the Carpathians'' (Tajemství hradu v Karpatech) – (Czech films of the 1980s, Czechoslovakia) *''The Mystery of the Third Planet'' (Tayna tretyey planety) – (Soviet films: 1980-1991, U.S.S.R.)

N

*''Naseeb (1981 film), Naseeb'' (Destiny), starring Amitabh Bachchan – (

) *''National Heritage (film), National Heritage'' (Patrimonio nacional), directed by Luis García Berlanga – ( Spain) *''Neighbors (1981 film), Neighbors'', starring John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd *''The Nesting'', starring Bill Rowley, Gloria Grahame *''Nice Dreams'', a Cheech & Chong film *''Nighthawks (1981 film), Nighthawks'', starring Sylvester Stallone, Rutger Hauer, Billy Dee Williams, Lindsay Wagner, Persis Khambatta, Nigel Davenport *''The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia (film), The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia'', starring Kristy McNichol, Dennis Quaid, Mark Hamill *''Nobody's Perfekt'', starring Gabe Kaplan, Alex Karras, Robert Klein

O

*''The Oil, the Baby and the Transylvanians'' (Pruncul, petrolul şi ardelenii) – (List of Romanian films#1980s, Romania) *''Omen III: The Final Conflict'', starring Sam Neill, Rossano Brazzi – ( US/ UK) *''On Golden Pond (1981 film), On Golden Pond'', directed by Mark Rydell, starring Katharine Hepburn, Henry Fonda, Jane Fonda *''On the Right Track'', starring Gary Coleman *''Only When I Laugh (film), Only When I Laugh'', starring Marsha Mason, Kristy McNichol, James Coco, Joan Hackett *''Outland (film), Outland'', directed by Peter Hyams, starring Sean Connery and Peter Boyle – ( U.K.)

P

*''Passion of Love'' (Passione d'amore), directed by Ettore Scola – (

) *''Paternity (film), Paternity'', directed by David Steinberg, starring

and Beverly D'Angelo *''The Skin, La Pelle'' (The Skin), directed by Liliana Cavani, starring Marcello Mastroianni and Claudia Cardinale – (Italy) *''Pennies from Heaven (1981 film), Pennies from Heaven'', starring Steve Martin, Bernadette Peters, Jessica Harper, Christopher Walken – based on the TV series by Dennis Potter *''Pixote'', directed by Héctor Babenco – (Brazilian films of the 1980s, Brazil) *''Polyester (film), Polyester'', directed by John Waters (filmmaker), John Waters, starring Divine (actor), Divine *''Le Pont du Nord'', directed by Jacques Rivette – (

) *''Porky's'', directed by Bob Clark, starring Dan Monahan, Wyatt Knight, Kim Cattrall, Boyd Gaines, Alex Karras, Susan Clark *''Possession (1981 film), Possession'', starring Isabelle Adjani and Sam Neill – (

/ West Germany) *''The Postman Always Rings Twice (1981 film), The Postman Always Rings Twice'', directed by Bob Rafelson, starring Jack Nicholson and Jessica Lange *''Priest of Love'', starring Ian McKellen, Janet Suzman, Ava Gardner – ( UK) *''Prince of the City (film), Prince of the City'', directed by Sidney Lumet, starring Treat Williams and Jerry Orbach *''Private Lessons (1981 film), Private Lessons'', starring Sylvia Kristel, Howard Hesseman, Ed Begley Jr. *''The Prodigal Son (1981 film), The Prodigal Son'' (Bai ga jai), directed by and starring Sammo Hung – (Hong Kong films of 1981, Hong Kong) *''The Pursuit of D. B. Cooper'', starring Treat Williams, Robert Duvall, Kathryn Harrold

Q

*''Quartet (1981 film), Quartet'', directed by James Ivory, starring Alan Bates,

, Isabelle Adjani – ( U.K.) *''Quest for Fire (film), Quest for Fire'' (aka La Guerre du feu), directed by Jean-Jacques Annaud – (Canadian films of the 1980s, Canada/

/ United States)

R

*''Race for the Yankee Zephyr'', starring Ken Wahl, Lesley Ann Warren, George Peppard – (New Zealand) *''Raggedy Man'', starring Sam Shepard and Sissy Spacek *''Ragtime (film), Ragtime'', directed by Miloš Forman, starring James Cagney, Howard Rollins, Howard E. Rollins Jr., Elizabeth McGovern, Mandy Patinkin, Mary Steenburgen, Brad Dourif *''

'', directed by Steven Spielberg, starring Harrison Ford and Karen Allen *''Reds (film), Reds'', directed by and starring Warren Beatty, with Diane Keaton, Jack Nicholson, Maureen Stapleton,

, Paul Sorvino *''Rich and Famous (1981 film), Rich and Famous'', directed by George Cukor, starring Jacqueline Bisset and Candice Bergen *''Roar (1981 film), Roar'', directed by Noel Marshall, starring Tippi Hedren and Melanie Griffith *''Ritam zločina'' – ( Yugoslavia) *''Roadgames'', directed by Richard Franklin (director), Richard Franklin, starring Stacy Keach and Jamie Lee Curtis – (Australian films of 1981, Australia) *''Rollover (film), Rollover'', directed by Alan J. Pakula, starring Jane Fonda and Kris Kristofferson *''Ruckus (film), Ruckus'', starring Dirk Benedict, Linda Blair, Richard Farnsworth

S

*''S.O.B. (film), S.O.B.'', directed by Blake Edwards, starring Julie Andrews, William Holden, Robert Preston (actor), Robert Preston, Richard Mulligan *''The Salamander (1981 film), The Salamander'', starring Anthony Quinn, Franco Nero, Eli Wallach, Claudia Cardinale *''Saturday the 14th'', starring Paula Prentiss and Richard Benjamin *''Scanners'', directed by David Cronenberg – (Canadian films of the 1980s, Canada) *''Zeyara Serreya, Secret Visit'', starring Salah Zulfikar, Athar El-Hakim, Mahmoud el-Meliguy, Mahmoud El-Meliguy – (List of Egyptian films of the 1980s, Egypt) *''Sharky's Machine (film), Sharky's Machine'', directed by and starring

, with Rachel Ward, Henry Silva, Vittorio Gassman, Charles Durning, Earl Holliman *''Shaukeen'', starring Ashok Kumar – (

) *''Shikake-nin Baian'' – (

) *''Shock Treatment'', starring Jessica Harper and Cliff DeYoung *''Short Working Day'', directed by Krzysztof Kieślowski – (Poland) *''Shaolin and Wu Tang'' (Shao Lin yu Wu Dang), Directed by Liu Chia-Hui, starring Adam Cheng, Gordon Liu and Wang Lung-wei – (Hong Kong films of 1981, Hong Kong) *''Silence of the North'', directed by Allan King, Tom Skerritt, Gordon Pinsent and Ellen Burstyn – (Canadian films of the 1980s, Canada) *''The Simple-Minded Murderer'' (Den Enfaldige Mördaren), starring Stellan Skarsgård – (Swedish films of the 1980s, Sweden) *''The Sixth'' (Shestoy) – (Soviet films: 1980-1991, U.S.S.R.) *''Smash Palace'', directed by Roger Donaldson – (List of New Zealand films#1980s, New Zealand) *''Sogni d'oro'' (Golden Dreams), directed by and starring Nanni Moretti – (

) *''Southern Comfort (1981 film), Southern Comfort'', directed by Walter Hill (director), Walter Hill, starring Keith Carradine, Powers Boothe and Fred Ward *''Sphinx (film), Sphinx'', starring Lesley-Anne Down and Frank Langella *''Station (1981 film), Station'' (Eki Station) – (

) *''Strange Affair (1981 film), Strange Affair'' (Une étrange affaire), starring Michel Piccoli – (

) *''Strange Behavior'', starring Michael Murphy (actor), Michael Murphy and Louise Fletcher – (List of New Zealand films, New Zealand) *''Stripes (film), Stripes'', directed by Ivan Reitman, starring Bill Murray, Harold Ramis, Warren Oates, John Larroquette, John Candy *''Student Bodies'' *''Suddenly at Midnight'' (Gipeun bam, gapjagi) – (South Korean films of 1981, South Korea)

T

*''Take This Job and Shove It (film), Take This Job and Shove It'', starring Robert Hays, Barbara Hershey, Art Carney *''Tales of Ordinary Madness'' (Storie di ordinaria follia), starring Ben Gazzara and Ornella Muti – (

) *''Taps (film), Taps'', directed by Harold Becker, starring Timothy Hutton, George C. Scott, Ronny Cox, Sean Penn, Tom Cruise *''Tarzan, the Ape Man (1981 film), Tarzan, the Ape Man'', starring Bo Derek and Richard Harris *''Tattoo (1981 film), Tattoo'', starring Bruce Dern and Maud Adams *''Taxi zum Klo'' (Taxi to the Toilet) – ( West Germany) *''Teheran 43'', starring Alain Delon – (Soviet films: 1980-1991, U.S.S.R./

/List of Swiss films#1980s, Switzerland) *''They All Laughed'', directed by Peter Bogdanovich, starring Audrey Hepburn and Ben Gazzara *''Thief (film), Thief'' aka ''Violent Streets'', directed by Michael Mann (director), Michael Mann, starring James Caan, Tuesday Weld, James Belushi, Robert Prosky *''This Is Elvis'', a documentary *''Three Brothers (1981 film), Three Brothers'' (Tre fratelli), directed by Francesco Rosi – (

) *''Threshold (1981 film), Threshold'', directed by Richard Pearce (director), Richard Pearce, starring Donald Sutherland, Jeff Goldblum, Mare Winningham – (Canadian films of the 1980s, Canada) *''Ticket to Heaven'', starring Nick Mancuso, Saul Rubinek, Meg Foster – (Canada) *''Time Bandits'', directed by Terry Gilliam, starring John Cleese, Sean Connery, Shelley Duvall – ( U.K.) *''Tragedy of a Ridiculous Man'' (La tragedia di un uomo ridicolo), directed by Bernardo Bertolucci, starring Ugo Tognazzi and Anouk Aimée – (Italy) *''Tree of Knowledge (film), Tree of Knowledge'' (Kundskabens træ) – (Danish films of the 1980s, Denmark) *''True Confessions (film), True Confessions'', directed by Ulu Grosbard, starring Robert De Niro, Robert Duvall, Charles Durning, Burgess Meredith, Kenneth McMillan (actor), Kenneth McMillan *''The True Story of Ah Q (film), The True Story of Ah Q'' (Ā Q zhèng zhuàn) – (Chinese films of the 1980s, China) *''Tuck Everlasting (1981 film), Tuck Everlasting''

U

*''Under the Rainbow'', starring Chevy Chase, Carrie Fisher and Billy Barty *''Les Uns et les Autres'', directed by Claude Lelouch – (

) *''Útlaginn'' (Outlaw: The Saga of Gisli) – (List of Icelandic films#1980s, Iceland)

V

*''Variola Vera'' – ( Yugoslavia) *''Vernon, Florida (film), Vernon, Florida'', a documentary

W

*''Whose Life Is It Anyway? (1981 film), Whose Life Is It Anyway?'', directed by John Badham, starring Richard Dreyfuss, Bob Balaban, Christine Lahti, John Cassavetes *''Will: G. Gordon Liddy, Will'', starring Robert Conrad *''Winter of Our Dreams'', directed by John Duigan, starring Judy Davis, Bryan Brown, Brian Brown, and Baz Luhrmann – (Australian films of 1981, Australia) *''Wolfen (film), Wolfen'', starring Albert Finney, Diane Venora and Gregory Hines *''The Woman Next Door'' (La Femme d'à côté), directed by François Truffaut, starring Gérard Depardieu and Fanny Ardant – (

) *''Woman Who Exposes Herself'' (Misetagaru onna) – (

)

Z

*''Zoot Suit (film), Zoot Suit'', starring Edward James Olmos *''Zorro, The Gay Blade'', starring George Hamilton (actor), George Hamilton, Lauren Hutton, Brenda Vaccaro, Ron Leibman

1981 Wide-release movies

January–March

April–June

July–September

October–December

Births

* January 1 - Eden Riegel, American actress * January 6 **Betty Gabriel, American actress **Rinko Kikuchi, Japanese actress and director **Jérémie Renier, Belgian actor * January 8 – Genevieve Cortese, American actress * January 15 - Pitbull (rapper), Pitbull, American rapper * January 17 – Diogo Morgado, Portuguese actor * January 18 - Antje Traue, German actress * January 20 – Daniel Cudmore, Canadian actor * January 21 **Amanda Aday, American actress **Izabella Miko, Polish actress and dancer **David F. Sandberg, Swedish filmmaker * January 22 **O. T. Fagbenle, British actor, writer and director **Willa Ford, American singer, songwriter, model, television personality and actress **Beverley Mitchell, American actress * January 23 - Julia Jones, American actress * January 24 – Carrie Coon, American actress * January 25 - Charlie Bewley, English actor and producer * January 28 ** Gen Hoshino, Japanese actor and singer ** Elijah Wood, American actor * January 30 – Chieko Higuchi, Japanese voice actress * January 31 – Justin Timberlake, American singer and actor * February 5 ** Lee Eon, South Korean actor and model (d. 2008 in film, 2008) ** Sara Foster, American actress ** Nora Zehetner, American actress * February 8 – Jim Parrack, American actor * February 9 – Tom Hiddleston, English actor * February 10 **Uzo Aduba, American actress **Stephanie Beatriz, Argentine actress * February 11 – Kelly Rowland, American singer and actress * February 12 **Jesse Hutch, Canadian actor **Lauri Lagle, Estonian actor, director and screenwriter * February 17 – **Joseph Gordon-Levitt, American actor **Paris Hilton, American media personality, singer and actress * February 19 – Beth Ditto, American singer-songwriter * February 22 – Elodie Yung, French actress * February 23 ** Josh Gad, American actor and comedian ** Mai Nakahara, Japanese voice actress * March 2 – Bryce Dallas Howard, American actress * March 3 – Eugene (actress), Eugene, South Korean actress and singer * March 6 – Ellen Muth, American actress * March 11 – David Anders, American actor * March 17 - Nicky Jam, American singer and actor * March 22 - Tiffany Dupont, American actress * March 23 - Luciana Carro, Canadian actress * March 24 - Philip Winchester, American actor * March 27 - Quim Gutiérrez, Spanish actor * March 28 – Julia Stiles, American actress * March 29 ** Alexander Fehling, German actor ** Alain Moussi, Canadian/Gabonese actor and stuntman * March 30 - Katy Mixon, American actress * March 31 – Ryōko Shintani, Japanese voice actress * April 8 - Taylor Kitsch, Canadian actor and model * April 10 ** Laura Bell Bundy, American actress ** Michael Pitt, American actor * April 13 – Courtney Peldon, American actress * April 17 - Charlie Hofheimer, American actor * April 19 ** Hayden Christensen, Canadian actor ** Catalina Sandino Moreno, Colombian actress * April 23 – Gemma Whelan, English actress * April 26 **Luke Ford, Canadian-Australian actor **Amit Shah (actor), English actor * April 28 **Jessica Alba, American actress **Toby Leonard Moore, Australian actor **Catherine Reitman, Canadian-American actress, producer and writer * April 29 - Alex Vincent (actor), American actor and writer * April 30 **Kunal Nayyar, British actor **Rose Rollins, American actress * May 2 – Rina Satō, Japanese voice actress * May 3 – Natalie Tong, Hong Kong actress and model * May 5 ** Danielle Fishel, American actress ** Farid Kamil, Malaysian actor and film director * May 11 ** JP Karliak, American actor, voice actor and comedian ** Austin O'Brien, American actor * May 12 – Rami Malek, American actor * May 13 - Ryan Piers Williams, American actor, director and writer * May 15 – Jamie-Lynn Sigler, American actress * May 28 – Laura Bailey (voice actress), Laura Bailey, American voice actress * May 29 - Justin Chon, American actor, director and YouTube personality * June 1 – Amy Schumer, American actress and comedian * June 4 – T.J. Miller, American actor, stand-up comedian, producer and writer * June 7 – Larisa Oleynik, American actress * June 9 – Natalie Portman, Israeli-American actress * June 10 – Jonathan Bennett (actor), Jonathan Bennett, American actor * June 12 **Jeremy Howard (actor), American actor **Malachi Pearson, American actor * June 13 – Chris Evans (actor), Chris Evans, American actor * June 14 – Chauncey Leopardi, American actor * June 20 – Alisan Porter, American former actress * June 26 - Jimmy Ray Bennett, American actor * June 28 - Jon Watts, American filmmaker * June 30 - Anna Slotky, American former actress * July 1 - Amanda Lucas (fighter), American retired professional mixed martial artist and actress * July 3 - Rebecca Honig, American voice actress * July 5 - Ryan Hansen, American actor and comedian * July 13 - Fran Kranz, American actor and director * July 21 – Davide Perino, Italian actor and voice actor * July 22 - Josh Lawson, Australian actor and filmmaker * July 24 – Summer Glau, American actress * July 28 - Neil Casey, American actor, writer and comedian * July 30 ** Brandon Scott (actor), Brandon Scott, American actor ** Lisa Wilhoit, American actress * July 31 - Eric Lively, American former actor * August 1 – Taylor Fry, American former child actress * August 3 – Travis Willingham, American voice actor * August 4 **Marques Houston, American singer and actor **Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, American former actress and model **Abigail Spencer, American actress * August 6 – Leslie Odom Jr., American actor * August 8 – Meagan Good, American actress * August 10 - Jon Prescott, American actor * August 20 – Ben Barnes (actor), Ben Barnes, English actor * August 22 **Ross Marquand, American impressionist, actor and producer **Takumi Saito, Japanese actor * August 24 – Chad Michael Murray, American actor * August 25 – Rachel Bilson, American actress * August 27 – Patrick J. Adams, Canadian actor * September 1 - Boyd Holbrook, American actor * September 3 - Evgeniya Brik, Russian actress (d. 2022) * September 4 – Beyoncé Knowles, American singer and actress * September 8 – Jonathan Taylor Thomas, American actor * September 9 - Julie Gonzalo, Argentine-American actress * September 12 – Jennifer Hudson, American singer and actress * September 14 - Miyavi, Japanese guitarist, singer-songwriter and actor * September 15 - Ben Schwartz, American actor, voice actor, comedian, improviser, writer, director and producer * September 16 **Fan Bingbing, Chinese actress, model, producer and singer **Alexis Bledel, American actress * September 18 - Jennifer Tisdale, American actress and singer * September 22 - Ashley Eckstein, American actress * September 23 – Misti Traya, American actress * September 26 – Christina Milian, American singer and actress * September 29 – Shay Astar, American singer and actress * September 30 – Ashleigh Aston Moore, American-Canadian former child actress (d. 2007) * October 1 – Rupert Friend, English actor * October 3 – Seth Gabel, American actor * October 9 – Zachery Ty Bryan, American actor * October 12 – Tom Guiry, American actor * October 18 – Graham Moore (writer), Graham Moore, American screenwriter * October 22 – Michael Fishman, American actor * October 23 - Jackie Long, American actor, writer, musician, director and producer * October 30 - Fiona Dourif, American actress and producer * November 1 - Matt Jones (actor), Matt Jones, American actor, voice artist, comedian, rapper and singer * November 2 - Katharine Isabelle, Canadian actress * November 6 – Lee Dong-wook, South Korean actor * November 7 - Lotta Losten, Swedish actress * November 9 – Scottie Thompson, American actress * November 10 – Perla Liberatori, Italian voice actress * November 14 - Vanessa Bayer, American actress and comedian * November 16 – Caitlin Glass, American voice actress * November 17 - Bojana Novakovic, Serbian-Australian actress * November 18 – Nasim Pedrad, Iranian-American actress and comedian * November 20 – Andrea Riseborough, English actress * December 2 – Britney Spears, American singer and actress * December 3 – Liza Lapira, American actress * December 5 - Adan Canto, Mexican actor * December 8 - Dov Tiefenbach, Canadian actor and musician * December 13 – Amy Lee, American singer-songwriter (Evanescence) * December 15 - Brendan Fletcher, Canadian actor, screenwriter and producer * December 16 – Krysten Ritter, American actress * December 27 **Emilie de Ravin, Australian actress **Jay Ellis, American actor * December 28 – Sienna Miller, English actress * December 29 - Charlotte Riley, English actress

Deaths

Film debuts

*Ben Affleck – ''The Dark End of the Street'' *Jason Alexander – '' The Burning'' *Christina Applegate – ''Jaws of Satan'' *Kim Basinger – ''Hard Country (film), Hard Country'' *Xander Berkeley – ''Mommie Dearest (film), Mommie Dearest'' *Kenneth Branagh – '' Chariots of Fire'' *Robert John Burke - '' The Chosen'' *Gabriel Byrne – ''Excalibur (film), Excalibur'' *James Cameron (director) – ''Piranha II: The Spawning'' *Dana Carvey – ''Halloween II (1981 film), Halloween II'' *Jeffrey Combs - ''Honky Tonk Freeway'' *Kevin Costner – ''Malibu Hot Summer'' *Tom Cruise – '' Endless Love'' *Charles Dance – ''For Your Eyes Only (film), For Your Eyes Only'' *Jeff Daniels – ''Ragtime (film), Ragtime'' *Robert Davi – ''Gangster Wars'' *Loretta Devine – ''Will (1981 film), Will'' *Dennis Farina – ''Thief'' *Stephen Fry – ''Chariots of Fire'' *Gina Gershon – ''Beatlemania: The Movie'' *Jami Gertz – ''Endless Love'' *Bob Gunton – ''Rollover (film), Rollover'' *Glenne Headly – ''Four Friends (1981 film), Four Friends'' *Ciarán Hinds – ''Excalibur'' *Holly Hunter – ''The Burning'' *Jennifer Jason Leigh – ''Eyes of a Stranger (1981 film), Eyes of a Stranger'' *

– '' Dragonslayer'' *Steve Miner (director) – ''Friday the 13th Part 2'' *Alfred Molina – ''

'' *Demi Moore – ''Choices'' *Bill Nighy – ''Eye of the Needle (film), Eye of the Needle'' *Chris Noth – ''Waitress!'' *Sean Penn – ''Taps (film), Taps'' *Ron Perlman – ''Quest for Fire (film), Quest for Fire'' *Robert Picardo – ''The Howling (film), The Howling'' * Amanda Plummer – ''Cattle Annie and Little Britches (film), Cattle Annie and Little Britches'' *Geoffrey Rush – ''Hoodwink (1981 film), Hoodwink'' *Meg Ryan – ''Rich and Famous (1981 film), Rich and Famous'' *Vinessa Shaw – ''Home Sweet Home (1981 film), Home Sweet Home'' *Mindy Sterling – '' The Devil and Max Devlin'' *Fisher Stevens – ''The Burning'' *Madeleine Stowe – ''Gangster Wars'' *Henry Thomas – ''Raggedy Man'' *

– '' Body Heat'' *Diane Venora – ''Wolfen (film), Wolfen'' *

- '' Carbon Copy'' *Hugo Weaving – ''...Maybe This Time''

Notes

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:1981 In Film 1981 in film, Film by year