1981
Top 10 of the year
The ten highest-voted films and series that premiered in 1981, via TMDB discover rankings.
Movies
- 1
Film
Raiders of the Lost Ark
- “Indiana Jones – the tweed-suited professor who just happens to be a celebrated archaeologist – is hired by the government to locate the legendary Ark of the Covenant, he finds himself up against the entire Nazi regime.”
- “It's not the years, honey. It's the mileage.”
- “The return of the great adventure.”
★ 7.9 · 13,643 votes
- 2
Film
The Evil Dead
- “In 1979, a group of college students find a Sumerian Book of the Dead in an old wilderness cabin they've rented for a weekend getaway.”
- “In 1979, a group of college students find a Sumerian Book of the Dead…”
- “The ultimate experience in gruelling terror.”
★ 7.3 · 4,468 votes
- 3
Film
Mad Max 2
- “I am the scales of justice, conductor of the choir of death!”
- “Oh what a day. What a lovely day!”
- “Witness me!”
★ 7.4 · 4,173 votes
- 4
Film
Escape from New York
- “1997. New York City is a walled, maximum security prison. Breaking out is impossible. Breaking in is insane.”
- “After the US president crash-lands inside, war hero Snake Plissken has 24 hours to bring him back.”
- “In a world ravaged by crime, the entire island of Manhattan has been converted into a walled prison where brutal prisoners roam free.”
★ 7.0 · 3,518 votes
- 5
Film
The Fox and the Hound
- “A story of two friends who didn't know they were supposed to be enemies.”
- “Life is full of hilarious adventures until Copper is expected to take on his role as a hunting dog -- and the object of his search is his best friend!”
- “When a feisty little fox named Tod is adopted into a farm family, he quickly becomes friends with a fun and adorable hound puppy named Copper.”
★ 7.1 · 3,477 votes
- 6
Film
An American Werewolf in London
- “[while transforming] I didn't mean to call you a meatloaf, Jack!”
- “From the director of Animal House... Comes a different kind of animal.”
- “Little boy: A naked American man stole my balloons.”
★ 7.4 · 2,696 votes
- 7
Film
Das Boot
- “A German submarine hunts allied ships during the Second World War, but it soon becomes the hunted.”
- “On land they dreamed of being heroes. Beneath the sea they pray to be survivors.”
- “The crew tries to survive below the surface, while stretching both the boat and themselves to their limits.”
★ 8.1 · 2,514 votes
- 8
Film
Halloween II
- “After failing to kill stubborn survivor Laurie and taking a bullet or six from former psychiatrist Dr.”
- “More of the night he came home.”
- “Sam Loomis, Michael Myers has followed Laurie to the Haddonfield Memorial Hospital, where she's been admitted for Myers' attempt on her life.”
★ 6.6 · 2,241 votes
- 9
Film
For Your Eyes Only
- “A British spy ship has sunk and on board was a hi-tech encryption device.”
- “James Bond is sent to find the device that holds British launching instructions before the enemy Soviets get to it first.”
- “No one comes close to James Bond, 007.”
★ 6.5 · 2,081 votes
- 10
Film
Friday the 13th Part 2
- “Bye Felicia!”
- “Five years after the horrible bloodbath at Camp Crystal Lake, new counselors roam the area, not sensing the ominous lurking presence that proves that the grisly legend is real.”
- “The body count continues...”
★ 6.2 · 1,911 votes
TV shows
- 1
TV
The Smurfs
- “Classic Saturday-morning cartoon series featuring magical blue elf-like creatures called Smurfs.”
- “The Smurfs, named for their personalities, inhabit a village of mushroom houses in an enchanted forest.”
- “These loveable creatures are led by Papa Smurf and live carefree...”
★ 7.0 · 566 votes
- 2
TV
Only Fools and Horses
- “Is a British sitcom created and written by John Sullivan.”
- “Only Fools and Horses....”
- “This time next year, we'll be millionaires!”
★ 8.1 · 301 votes
- 3
TV
Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends
- “As a trio called the Spider-Friends, they fought against various villains.”
- “Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends is an American animated television series produced by Marvel Productions starring established Marvel Comics characters Spider-Man and Iceman and an original character, Firestar.”
- “Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends is an American animated television series produced by Marvel…”
★ 7.5 · 255 votes
- 4
TV
The Fall Guy
- “Hollywood stuntman Colt Seavers picks up some extra pocket money by using his rough-and-tumble skills to track and capture bail jumpers.”
- “Hollywood stuntman Colt Seavers picks up some extra pocket money by using his rough-and-tumble…”
- “What a mystery this world, one day you love them and the next day you want to kill them a thousand times over.”
★ 7.6 · 167 votes
- 5
TV
Dr. Slump
- “Senbei Norimaki, known by his nickname Dr.”
- “Slump, a genius yet under-respected inventor and roboticist, creates an android by the name of Arale, and poses her as his little sister.”
- “What starts as an experiment in robotics turns into an adventure every day for the residents of Penguin Village, a wacky rural community with several colorful characters interacting with Arale and her creator.”
★ 7.9 · 133 votes
- 6
TV
Dynasty
- “Greed. Seduction. Betrayal. Revenge.”
- “Most of the show features the conflict between 2 large corporations, Blake's Denver Carrington and Alexis' ColbyCo.”
- “The saga of a wealthy Denver family in the oil business: Blake Carrington, the…”
★ 6.5 · 129 votes
- 7
TV
Hill Street Blues
- “A realistic glimpse into the daily lives of the officers and detectives at an urban police station.”
- “A realistic glimpse into the daily lives of the officers and detectives at an…”
- “Let's be careful out there.”
★ 7.6 · 123 votes
- 8
TV
Ulysses 31
- “Ulysses and his crew struggle against the divine entities that rule the universe, the ancient gods from Greek mythology.”
- “Ulysses and his crew struggle against the divine entities that rule the universe, the ancient…”
- “Ulysses and his crew struggle against the divine entities that rule the universe, the…”
★ 8.0 · 120 votes
- 9
TV
The Greatest American Hero
- “The chronicles of teacher Ralph Hinkley's adventures after a group of aliens gives him a red suit that gives him superhuman abilities.”
- “The chronicles of teacher Ralph Hinkley's adventures after a group of aliens gives him…”
- “Unfortunately, Ralph, who hates wearing the suit, immediately loses its instruction booklet, and thus has to learn how to use its powers by trial and error, often with comical results.”
★ 7.2 · 112 votes
- 10
TV
Hello! Sandybell
- “In the original title when it is made in Japan, her name is the spelling to which "E" is attached to an end by "Sandybelle".”
- “It was aired in Japan by TV Asahi.”
- “Sandybell is an anime series made by Toei Animation in 1981.”
★ 8.0 · 108 votes