The best dramas of 1981

48 dramas from 1981, ranked by a 0–100 score from IMDb ratings, critics, major awards and box office, compared with every film from the same year.

  1. On Golden Pond Score 87.7 · IMDb 7.6 · Tomatometer 91% · Metascore 68 · Drama, Romance
  2. Reds Score 85.7 · IMDb 7.3 · Tomatometer 90% · Metascore 76 · Drama, History, Romance
  3. Chariots of Fire Score 84.8 · IMDb 7.1 · Tomatometer 84% · Metascore 78 · Drama, History
  4. Das Boot Score 80.4 · IMDb 8.3 · Tomatometer 98% · Metascore 85 · Drama, History, War
  5. Quest for Fire Score 71.2 · IMDb 7.3 · Tomatometer 88% · Metascore 79 · Adventure, Drama, Fantasy
  6. Body Heat Score 64.2 · IMDb 7.4 · Tomatometer 96% · Metascore 77
  7. Excalibur Score 62.5 · IMDb 7.3 · Tomatometer 73% · Metascore 56
  8. Blow Out Score 62.0 · IMDb 7.4 · Tomatometer 88% · Metascore 86
  9. The Fox and the Hound Score 60.9 · IMDb 7.2 · Tomatometer 75% · Metascore 65
  10. Gallipoli Score 60.6 · IMDb 7.4 · Tomatometer 91% · Metascore 65