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. Absence of Malice Score 59.3 · IMDb 6.9 · Tomatometer 82% · Metascore 64
  2. My Dinner with Andre Score 58.7 · IMDb 7.6 · Tomatometer 93% · Metascore 83
  3. Thief Score 58.7 · IMDb 7.4 · Tomatometer 80% · Metascore 78
  4. The French Lieutenant's Woman Score 57.4 · IMDb 6.9 · Tomatometer 83% · Metascore 64
  5. Prince of the City Score 56.3 · IMDb 7.4 · Tomatometer 93% · Metascore 81
  6. Mephisto Score 56.3 · IMDb 7.7 · Tomatometer 76%
  7. Ragtime Score 55.7 · IMDb 7.3 · Tomatometer 85% · Metascore 57 · Drama, History
  8. Lola Score 53.5 · IMDb 7.4 · Tomatometer 93%
  9. Diva Score 53.3 · IMDb 7.1 · Tomatometer 97%
  10. Coup de torchon Score 53.1 · IMDb 7.3 · Tomatometer 92%