The best films of 1981

129 films from 1981, ranked by a 0–100 score from IMDb ratings, critics, the Oscars and box office, compared only with films from the same year.

  1. Escape from New York Score 65.5 · IMDb 7.1 · Tomatometer 70% · Metascore 76 · Action, Thriller, Science Fiction
  2. The Evil Dead Score 65.1 · IMDb 7.3 · Tomatometer 85% · Metascore 71 · Horror
  3. Mephisto Score 64.3 · IMDb 7.7 · Tomatometer 76%
  4. Body Heat Score 64.2 · IMDb 7.4 · Tomatometer 96% · Metascore 77
  5. Ragtime Score 63.7 · IMDb 7.3 · Tomatometer 85% · Metascore 57 · Drama, History
  6. Excalibur Score 62.5 · IMDb 7.3 · Tomatometer 73% · Metascore 56
  7. Blow Out Score 62.0 · IMDb 7.4 · Tomatometer 88% · Metascore 86
  8. The Decline of Western Civilization Score 61.1 · IMDb 7.5 · Tomatometer 100% · Metascore 93
  9. The Fox and the Hound Score 60.9 · IMDb 7.2 · Tomatometer 75% · Metascore 65
  10. Lola Score 60.7 · IMDb 7.4 · Tomatometer 93%