1981 Movies Ranked

<< 1980   1982 >> 

11. Wolfen

1981

D: Michael Wadleigh

**********

Well-directed, but it was one of the most anticlimactic movies I have ever seen.  We thought we were going to see werewolves, but instead we got wolves who were social justice warriors.

10. Scanners

1981

D: David Cronenberg

**********

The head-exploding scene is indeed thrilling, but part of me doubts that most people have even bothered trying to sit through the rest of the movie.

9. The Evil Dead

D: Sam Raimi

**********

Though not as funny as its sequels, this movie brought Sam Raimi’s unique vision to light.  Too bad about the utterly unnecessary remake they're coming out with.

8. Dragonslayer

D: Matthew Robbins

**********

Not the greatest story, but has some impressive effects on the dragon.  Also a rare non-Palpatine appearance by Ian McDiarmid.

7. An American Werewolf in London
D: John Landis
**********
Solid, but I don't like the werewolf design, and the protagonist doesn't take precautions against his lycanthropy.

6. The Fox and the Hound

D: Ted Berman, Richard Rich, Art Stevens

**********

A solid Disney feature with some emotional heft.

5. Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior

D: George Miller

**********

An iconic vision of a post-apocalyptic future with some great stunts.  Could have used more characterization, though.

4. Escape from New York

D: John Carpenter

**********

A solid thriller with some nice miniature work of a run-down futuristic New York, and I love Isaac Hayes’ car.

3. The Howling
D: Joe Dante
**********
I understand it much better now.  Possibly my favorite werewolf movie.

2. Das Boot

D: Wolfgang Petersen

**********

A great, visceral war movie that really does a good job portraying the frightening nature of serving on a U-Boat during WWII.  By far Petersen's best film.  Also has a great score.

1. The Raiders of the Lost Ark

D: Steven Spielberg

**********

The best of the Indiana Jones series.  Unimaginative, reactionary, soulless critics blame it for “ruining” movies, and tasteless kids think it’s “boring,” but to everyone with decent taste, it’s an undeniable classic.

<< 1980   1982 >>