Sort by Popularity - Most Popular Movies and TV Shows tagged with keyword "year-1981"

51. Moffie (2019)

Not Rated | 104 min | Drama, Romance, War

A young man in 1981 South Africa must complete his brutal and racist two years of compulsory military service while desperately maintaining the secrecy of his homosexuality.

Director: Oliver Hermanus | Stars: Kai Luke Brummer, Barbara-Marié Immelman, Michael Kirch, Remano De Beer

Votes: 3,817

52. Say Nothing (I)

Drama, History, Thriller | Filming

Spanning four tumultuous decades during The Troubles in Northern Ireland.

Stars: Martin McCann, Jack Myers, Isabelle Pratt, Eddie Elks

53. Longtime Companion (1989)

R | 96 min | Drama, Romance

The emergence and devastation of the AIDS epidemic is chronicled in the lives of several gay men living during the 1980s.

Director: Norman René | Stars: Stephen Caffrey, Patrick Cassidy, Brian Cousins, Bruce Davison

Votes: 6,144 | Gross: $4.61M

54. Barry (II) (2016)

TV-MA | 104 min | Biography, Drama

A look into the early life of U.S. President Barack Obama.

Director: Vikram Gandhi | Stars: Devon Terrell, Anya Taylor-Joy, Jason Mitchell, Ellar Coltrane

Votes: 7,691

55. Marley (2012)

PG-13 | 144 min | Documentary, Biography, Music

A documentary on the life, music, and legacy of Bob Marley.

Director: Kevin Macdonald | Stars: Bob Marley, Ziggy Marley, Rita Marley, Jimmy Cliff

Votes: 14,533 | Gross: $1.41M

56. Virus (1980)

PG | 108 min | Adventure, Drama, Horror

After a virus devastates the global human population, survivors in Antarctica desperately try to find a cure and save the human race.

Director: Kinji Fukasaku | Stars: Masao Kusakari, Tsunehiko Watase, Isao Natsuyagi, Shin'ichi Chiba

Votes: 3,058

57. The Connection (2014)

R | 135 min | Action, Crime, Thriller

A French police magistrate spends years trying to take down one of the country's most powerful drug rings.

Director: Cédric Jimenez | Stars: Jean Dujardin, Gilles Lellouche, Céline Sallette, Mélanie Doutey

Votes: 12,304

58. Once Upon a Time in Northern Ireland (2023)

Documentary, History, War

Twenty-five years on from a peace agreement being reached, Once Upon a Time in Northern Ireland shares intimate, unheard testimonies from all sides of the conflict.

Votes: 945

59. The Passengers of the Night (2022)

111 min | Drama

Left by her husband, Elisabeth finds herself alone, responsible for the day-to-day care of her two children. She picks up a job on a night-time radio show, where she meets Talulah, a youngster she decides to take under her wing.

Director: Mikhaël Hers | Stars: Charlotte Gainsbourg, Quito Rayon Richter, Noée Abita, Megan Northam

Votes: 3,052

60. OSS 117: From Africa with Love (2021)

117 min | Action, Comedy

The third entry in secret agent OSS 117's parodic spy adventures.

Director: Nicolas Bedos | Stars: Jean Dujardin, Pierre Niney, Fatou N'Diaye, Natacha Lindinger

Votes: 5,888

61. Asalto al Banco Central (2024)

Action, Crime, Thriller

In it we travel to Barcelona in 1981, specifically to May 23 of that year. Exactly three months have passed since the attempted coup d'état in the Congress of Deputies and the population is... See full summary »

Stars: María Pedraza, Hovik Keuchkerian, Miguel Herrán, Pablo Béjar

62. Chernobyl: The Lost Tapes (2022)

96 min | Documentary, History

Newly-discovered archive footage and witness accounts to lay bare the tragedy and heroic efforts made to prevent another explosion.

Director: James Jones | Stars: Lyudmila Ignatenko, Oleksiy Breus, Leonenko Vitaliy, Aleksandr Syrota

Votes: 1,886

63. The King of the Kickboxers (1990)

R | 99 min | Action, Crime, Drama

A cop goes undercover in Thailand to avenge his brother's death in this martial arts film.

Director: Lucas Lowe | Stars: Loren Avedon, Richard Jaeckel, Don Stroud, Billy Blanks

Votes: 2,017

64. Bandit Queen (1994)

Not Rated | 119 min | Action, Biography, Crime

The story of the bandit queen Phoolan Devi who was sent to prison in 1983 and got free in 1994.

Director: Shekhar Kapur | Stars: Seema Biswas, Nirmal Pandey, Rajesh Vivek, Raghubir Yadav

Votes: 5,331 | Gross: $0.40M

65. Mao's Last Dancer (2009)

PG | 117 min | Biography, Drama, Music

In Maoist China, a boy is taken from his family and trained to become a dancer, but everything he knows is challenged when he is chosen to attend a ballet summer school in Houston, Texas.

Director: Bruce Beresford | Stars: Chi Cao, Bruce Greenwood, Kyle MacLachlan, Penne Hackforth-Jones

Votes: 8,305 | Gross: $4.81M

66. Kill Your Friends (2015)

Not Rated | 103 min | Comedy, Crime, Music

An A&R man working at the height of the Britpop music craze goes to extremes in order to find his next hit.

Director: Owen Harris | Stars: Nicholas Hoult, Thomas Conroy, James Corden, Georgia King

Votes: 10,043

67. RBG (2018)

PG | 98 min | Documentary, Biography

The exceptional life and career of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who has developed a breathtaking legal legacy while becoming an unexpected pop culture icon.

Directors: Julie Cohen, Betsy West | Stars: Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Ann Kittner, Harryette Helsel, Nina Totenberg

Votes: 15,090 | Gross: $14.02M

68. Adam (1983 TV Movie)

TV-14 | 100 min | Crime, Drama

After their child is abducted, John and Reve Walsh are trying to find him. But, shortly after that, Adam is found dead.

Director: Michael Tuchner | Stars: Daniel J. Travanti, JoBeth Williams, Martha Scott, Richard Masur

Votes: 716

69. The Last Execution (2021)

116 min | Biography, Drama

Life of Werner Teske, the last man to be executed in former East Germany in 1981 before the death penalty was finally abolished in 1987.

Director: Franziska Stünkel | Stars: Lars Eidinger, Devid Striesow, Luise Heyer, Paula Kalenberg

Votes: 1,206

70. The Dorm That Dripped Blood (1982)

R | 88 min | Horror, Mystery, Thriller

Four college students are stalked by an unknown assailant while staying on campus over the Christmas holidays to help clear out a dormitory which is to be demolished.

Directors: Stephen Carpenter, Jeffrey Obrow | Stars: Laurie Lapinski, Stephen Sachs, David Snow, Pamela Holland

Votes: 2,472

71. The Terry Fox Story (1983 TV Movie)

96 min | Biography, Drama, Sport

The true story about the Canadian cancer amputee hero who decided to run across Canada on only one leg to raise money for cancer research.

Director: Ralph L. Thomas | Stars: Eric Fryer, Robert Duvall, Chris Makepeace, Rosalind Chao

Votes: 720

72. Srimulat: Hil yang Mustahal - Babak Pertama (2022)

110 min | Biography, Comedy, Drama

A biopic about Srimulat the first comedy group in Indonesia.

Director: Fajar Nugros | Stars: Juan Bione Subiantoro, Elang El Gibran, Dimas Anggara, Ibnu Jamil

Votes: 242

73. Magnetic Beats (2021)

98 min | Drama, History

A kid living in Brittany in the 1980s is called up for military service and drafted to West Berlin.

Director: Vincent Maël Cardona | Stars: Thimotée Robart, Marie Colomb, Joseph Olivennes, Fabrice Adde

Votes: 981

74. American Fighter (2019)

R | 98 min | Action, Biography

In this gritty action tale, a young wrestler competes in the world of underground fighting to raise money for his ailing mother. But will he survive his next match?

Director: Shaun Paul Piccinino | Stars: George Kosturos, Tommy Flanagan, Sean Patrick Flanery, Bryan Craig

Votes: 643

75. Uprising (2021)

TV-14 | 177 min | Documentary

Uprising tells the extraordinary story of three intertwined events from 1981: the New Cross Fire, which killed 13 young black people; the Black People's Day of Action; and the Brixton riots.

Stars: Peter Bleksley, Alex Wheatle, Leila Howe, George Rhoden

Votes: 341

76. Champions (1984)

PG | 106 min | Biography, Drama, Romance

A British steeple chase jockey who, in the late 1970s, was diagnosed with cancer. Rather than succumb to the disease, however, Bob stages a miraculous recovery and goes on to win the 1981 Grand National steeplechase on the horse Aldaniti.

Director: John Irvin | Stars: John Hurt, Gregory Jones, Mick Dillon, Ann Bell

Votes: 754 | Gross: $0.17M

77. Land of Fear (1999)

142 min | Crime, Drama, Thriller

A mix between an honored police officer who fight the crimes and a drug dealer in the same person and a confliction in and out.

Director: Daoud Abdel Sayed | Stars: Ahmed Zaki, Farah, Hamdy Gheith, Abdel Rahman Abou Zahra

Votes: 1,914

78. Killing Reagan (2016 TV Movie)

TV-14 | 100 min | Biography, Crime, Drama

A look at John Hinkley's 1981 assassination attempt against U.S. President Ronald Reagan.

Director: Rod Lurie | Stars: Tim Matheson, Cynthia Nixon, Patrick St. Esprit, Joel Murray

Votes: 968

79. K-9 and Company: A Girl's Best Friend (1981 TV Movie)

50 min | Mystery, Sci-Fi

One time companion of the Doctor, Sarah Jane Smith returns to Earth and carries on with her journalist career. Now, in 1981, she has managed to rebuild her career and has come, a matter of ... See full summary »

Director: John Black | Stars: Elisabeth Sladen, John Leeson, Bill Fraser, Ian Sears

Votes: 670

80. Leap (2020)

135 min | Biography, Drama, Sport

After 12 years, the Chinese women's volleyball team again reached the Olympic final in 2016. They were now coached by Lang Ping, a stalwart of the 1980s Chinese women's team, who won consecutive World Championships from 1981 to 1985.

Director: Peter Ho-Sun Chan | Stars: Gong Li, Huang Bo, Gang Wu, Yuchang Peng

Votes: 1,449 | Gross: $0.08M

81. Trevor: The Musical (2022)

TV-PG | 113 min | Musical

When an incident at school suddenly puts Trevor in the wrong spotlight, he struggles to navigate his own identity and determine how he fits in a challenging world.

Directors: Robin Abrams, Marc Bruni | Stars: Holden Hagelberger, Aaron Alcaraz, Sammy Dell, Diego Lucano

Votes: 414

82. Srimulat: Hidup Memang Komedi (2023)

105 min | Biography, Comedy, Drama

Showcases the time when Srimulat's career began to climb so high that it became the first comedy group to appear on Indonesian national television.

Director: Fajar Nugros | Stars: Juan Bione Subiantoro, Elang El Gibran, Erika Carlina, Dimas Anggara

Votes: 73

83. Synkefri (2023)

103 min | Drama

The brand new and unsinkable rescue boat RF2 goes down on one of its first rescue missions in 1981, Hirtshals. 9 men died. Henrik, the son of the captain of RF2, starts an investigation as ... See full summary »

Director: Christian Andersen | Stars: Katherine Høj Andersen, Anders Baggesen, Lotte Bergstrøm, Jørgen Bing

Votes: 214

84. The Song (I) (2014)

PG-13 | 116 min | Drama, Music, Romance

An aspiring singer-songwriter's life and marriage suffer when the song he writes for his wife propels him to stardom.

Director: Richard L. Ramsey | Stars: Alan Powell, Ali Faulkner, Caitlin Nicol-Thomas, Danny Vinson

Votes: 2,326 | Gross: $1.01M

85. The Sleeper (2012)

Not Rated | 90 min | Horror, Thriller

In 1981, new pledges are welcomed to a sorority and the Sleeper clandestinely spies on the girls - prompting to kill them at their most vulnerable.

Director: Justin Russell | Stars: Brittany Belland, Ray Goodwin, Jason Jay Crabtree, Elizabeth Lane

Votes: 1,390

86. a-ha: The Movie (2021)

109 min | Documentary, Biography, Music

Follows the band on tour, telling the full story of how three young men followed their impossible dream of becoming Norwegian pop stars. When Take On Me reached number 1 on Billboard in the US in 1985 the dream came true. Or did it?

Directors: Thomas Robsahm, Aslaug Holm | Stars: a-ha, Morten Harket, Pål Waaktaar, Magne Furuholmen

Votes: 1,240

87. Bobby Sands: 66 Days (2016)

105 min | Documentary, Biography, History

In the spring of 1981 Irish Republican Bobby Sands' 66-day hunger strike brought the attention of the world to his cause. Drawing on an Irish Republican tradition of martyrdom, Sands' ... See full summary »

Directors: Brendan Byrne, Brendan J. Byrne | Stars: Gerry Adams, Michael Alison, Humphrey Atkins, Aram Bakshian

Votes: 669

88. El calentito (2005)

Not Rated | 90 min | Comedy, Music

A posh girl introduces to a women punk band, having their first concert on a crucial event: 23F's coup d'etat.

Director: Chus Gutiérrez | Stars: Verónica Sánchez, Macarena Gómez, Juan Sanz, Ruth Díaz

Votes: 591

89. Murder Most Likely (1999 TV Movie)

96 min | Drama, Crime

A Mountie is accused of killing his wife in a fatal fall from a luxury condo in 1981.

Director: Alex Chapple | Stars: Paul Gross, Marie-Josée Croze, Janine Theriault, Kim Huffman

Votes: 332

90. The Day Reagan Was Shot (2001 TV Movie)

R | 98 min | Biography, Drama, History

The 30th of March, 1981, the delusional John Hinckley Jr. tries to kill president Ronald Reagan. His life hangs on a thin thread at the hospital, while the Soviet Union is ready to invade a... See full summary »

Director: Cyrus Nowrasteh | Stars: Richard Dreyfuss, Richard Crenna, Yannick Bisson, Colm Feore

Votes: 1,791

91. 18 Years Old and Rising (2011)

92 min | Comedy, Drama, Romance

This feature is a classic first-love and coming-of-age story set in the exciting political context of 1981.

Director: Frédéric Louf | Stars: Pierre Niney, Audrey Bastien, Lou de Laâge, Ali Marhyar

Votes: 613

92. Street Gang: How We Got to Sesame Street (2021)

PG | 107 min | Documentary, Family, History

Take a stroll down Sesame Street and witness the birth of the most impactful children's series in TV history. From the iconic furry characters to the songs you know by heart, learn how a gang of visionary creators changed our world.

Director: Marilyn Agrelo | Stars: Frank Biondo, Linda Bove, Fran Brill, Northern Calloway

Votes: 1,370

93. The Year I Became a Liar (2009)

Not Rated | 102 min | Comedy, Drama, Family

Filmmaker Ricardo Trogi recalls the events surrounding his family moving to a new neighborhood when he was 11 years old.

Director: Ricardo Trogi | Stars: Jean-Carl Boucher, Claudio Colangelo, Sandrine Bisson, Gabriel Maillé

Votes: 2,047

94. Not a Love Story: A Film About Pornography (1981)

69 min | Documentary

Documentary about the pornography industry and the apparent violent anti-woman slant much of it takes.

Director: Bonnie Sherr Klein | Stars: Linda Lee Tracey, Bonnie Sherr Klein, Suze Randall, Kate Millett

Votes: 312

95. Untitled A Most Violent Year Sequel

Action | Announced

The continuing saga of Anna and Abel Morales

Director: J.C. Chandor | Stars: Jessica Chastain, Oscar Isaac, Catalina Sandino Moreno, David Oyelowo

96. The Other Dream Team (2012)

Not Rated | 89 min | Documentary, Sport

The incredible story of the 1992 Lithuanian basketball team, whose athletes struggled under Soviet rule, became symbols of Lithuania's independence movement, and - with help from the Grateful Dead - triumphed at the Barcelona Olympics.

Director: Marius A. Markevicius | Stars: Sarunas Marciulionis, Arvydas Sabonis, Rimas Kurtinaitis, Jonas Valanciunas

Votes: 3,685 | Gross: $0.13M

97. Trevor (1994)

Not Rated | 23 min | Short, Comedy, Drama

Upon hitting puberty, a high-school boy realizes he is homosexual and faces prejudice from his parents and friends.

Director: Peggy Rajski | Stars: Brett Barsky, Judy Kain, John Lizzi, Jonah Rooney

Votes: 1,630

98. Manolo: The Boy Who Made Shoes for Lizards (2017)

Not Rated | 89 min | Documentary, Biography, Drama

An in-depth portrait of MANOLO BLAHNIK, self-confessed 'cobbler' and the man regarded by most influential fashion figures as 'the best shoe-maker of the 20th and 21st centuries. A film for ... See full summary »

Director: Michael Roberts | Stars: Manolo Blahnik, David Bailey, Mary Beard, Lucy Burley

Votes: 573 | Gross: $0.06M

99. The Stream (2013)

PG | 82 min | Adventure, Comedy, Family

A long time ago... in the summer of 1981, a tragedy of epic proportions (a broken plastic bat) sends five friends on an epic adventure to the mall. All they have to do is follow The Stream and back.

Director: Estlin Feigley | Stars: Mario Lopez, Christopher Gorham, Kelly Rutherford, Rainn Wilson

Votes: 455

100. Y a-t-il un Français dans la salle? (1982)

106 min | Comedy, Crime

Horace Tumelat, a powerful politician was raised by his uncle Eusèbe. He has to find a letter written by his uncle who committed suicide.

Director: Jean-Pierre Mocky | Stars: Victor Lanoux, Jacques Dutronc, Jacqueline Maillan, Michel Galabru

Votes: 267