List of Canadian films of 1981


This is a list of Canadian films which were released in 1981:
TitleDirectorCastGenreNotes
Alligator ShoesClay BorrisClay Borris, Garry Borris, Ronalda JonesDrama
The AmateurCharles JarrottJohn Savage, Christopher Plummer, Marthe Keller, Arthur HillDrama
'Norma Bailey, Robert LowerDocumentary
A Choice of TwoJohn HoweAlexandra Bastedo, Mavor Moore, Leslie Nielsen, Gary ReinekeDrama
Circle of TwoJules DassinRichard Burton, Tatum O’Neal, Patricia Collins, Kate ReidDramaDassin's last film; novel by Marie-Térèse Baird
CracFrédéric BackAnimated
The Devil at Your HeelsRobert FortierKen CarterDocumentary
Dirty TricksAlvin RakoffElliott Gould, Kate Jackson, Arthur Hill, Rich Little, John JulianiComedy
Elvis GrattonPierre FalardeauJulien PoulinShortGenie AwardTheatrical Short
Firebird 2015 ADDavid RobertsonDarren McGavin, Doug McClureFuturistic drama
First WinterJohn N. SmithNational Film Board dramatic shortAcademy Award nominee
GasLes RosePhilip Akin, Susan AnspachComedy
GhostkeeperJim MakichukHorror
Happy Birthday to MeJ. Lee ThompsonMelissa Sue Anderson, Glenn Ford, Lawrence Dane, Sharon AckerSlasher film
Happy Memories Francis MankiewiczMonique Spaziani, Paul Hébert, R. H. Thomson, Julie VincentDrama
HeartachesDonald ShebibMargot Kidder. Annie Potts, Robert Carradine, Winston RekertDramaGenie Award – Screenplay, Actress, Foreign Actress
Heartbreak HighMark WarrenComedy
Heavy MetalGerald PottertonVoices of Jackie Burroughs, John Candy, Joe Flaherty, Don Francks, Eugene Levy, Al WaxmanFeature animation; based on the French fantasy magazine of the same nameGenie Award – Sound, Golden Reel Award
The High CountryHarvey HartTimothy Bottoms, Linda PurlDrama
The Hot TouchRoger VadimCrime comedy
Imagine the SoundRon MannCecil Taylor, Archie Shepp, Bill Dixon and Paul BleyFeature documentaryA film that focuses on four musicians of the free jazz movement.
Improper ChannelsEric TillAlan Arkin, Mariette HartleyComedyGenie Award– Foreign Actor
The IncubusJohn HoughHorror
Just Another Missing KidJohn ZaritskyDocumentaryAcademy Award for Documentary Feature
Kings and Desperate MenAlexis KannerPatrick McGoohan, Alexis Kanner, Margaret TrudeauDramaFeaturing Margaret Trudeau, the ex-wife of Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau.
Mr. PatmanJohn GuillerminJames Coburn, Kate Nelligan, Fionnula Flanagan, Les CarlsonDrama
My Bloody ValentineGeorge MihalkaPaul Kelman, Don Francks, Cynthia DaleSlasher filmShot in Cape Breton Island coal mines
Off the WallDerek MayDocumentary
The PitLew LehmanHorror
The Plouffe Family Gilles CarleÉmile Genest, Juliette Huot, Denise Filiatrault, Gabriel ArcandDrama based on the novel by Roger Lemelin
Porky'sBob ClarkDan Monahan, Mark Herrier, Wyatt Knight, Roger Wilson, Kim Cattrall, Susan ClarkTeen comedyGolden Reel Award; made with U.S. financing
'Janis Cole & Holly DaleDocumentaryGenie Award – Theatrical Documentary
Quest for FireJean-Jacques AnnaudDrama
RubberfaceGlen Salzman, Rebecca YatesJim CarreyComedy
The Running ManDonald BrittainChuck Shamata, Barbara Gordon, Colm Feore, Kate TrotterDrama
ScannersDavid CronenbergMichael Ironside, Stephen Lack, Jennifer O'Neill, Patrick McGoohan, Lawrence DaneHorror/Sci-Fi
Silence of the NorthAllan KingEllen Burstyn, Tom Skerritt, Gordon PinsentDramaGenie Award – Cinematography
Stade 81Jaco Van DormaelDocumentary
SurfacingClaude JutraJoseph Bottoms, R. H. Thomson, Kathleen Beller, Michael IronsideDramaAdaptation of the Margaret Atwood novel
The Tender Tale of Cinderella PenguinJanet PerlmanNational Film Board animated shortAcademy Award nominee
ThresholdRichard PearceDonald Sutherland, Jeff Goldblum, John Marley, Sharon Acker, Mare Winningham, Mavor MooreMedical dramaGenie Award – Actor, Cinematography
Ticket to HeavenRalph L. ThomasSaul Rubinek, R. H. Thomson, Nick Mancuso, Meg Foster, Kim Cattrall, Jennifer DaleCult drama
TulipsRex BromfieldGabe Kaplan, Bernadette Peters, Henry Gibson, Al WaxmanComedy, drama
VioletShelley LevinsonDidi ConnShort drama
A War StoryAnne WheelerDocudrama
YesterdayLawrence KentVincent Van Patten, Claire PimparéDrama
Your Ticket Is No Longer ValidGeorge KaczenderRichard Harris, Jennifer Dale, George Peppard, Jeanne Moreau, Winston Rekert, Alexandra StewartDrama
ZeaAndré Leduc, Jean-Jacques LeducNon-fiction short