Box office In the United States (U.S.) and Canada, Raiders of the Lost Ark was released on June12, 1981, in 1,078 theaters. The film earned $8.3million—an average of $7,705 per theater, and finished as the number one film of the weekend, ahead of the debuts of Clash of the Titans ($6.6million) and History of the World, Part I ($4.9million). The film fell to the number three position in its second weekend with an additional gross of $8million—a decline of only four percent—behind the debuts of The Cannonball Run ($11.8million) and Superman II ($14.1million). By its fourth week, Raiders began climbing box office charts, reaching the number two position with a gross of $7.3million, behind Superman II ($10.9million). In its sixth week, it regained the number one position with $6.4million. The film spent most of the following nine weeks as the number one film, and forty-weeks straight as one of the top ten highest-grossing films. It was declared the top box office film of the summer by early September, with a total approximate gross of $125million. Of this figure, $72 million was estimated to have been returned to the studio; the profit-sharing deal with Spielberg and Lucas meant that after marketing costs, Paramount had earned $23million in profit.
box office in the united states (us) and canada raiders of the lost ark was released on june12 1981 in 1078 theaters the film earned $83million—an average of $7705 per theater and finished as the number one film of the weekend ahead of the debuts of clash of the titans ($66million) and history of the world part i ($49million) the film fell to the number three position in its second weekend with an additional gross of $8million—a decline of only four percent—behind the debuts of the cannonball run ($118million) and superman ii ($141million) by its fourth week raiders began climbing box office charts reaching the number two position with a gross of $73million behind superman ii ($109million) in its sixth week it regained the number one position with $64million the film spent most of the following nine weeks as the number one film and forty-weeks straight as one of the top ten highest-grossing films it was declared the top box office film of the summer by early september with a total approximate gross of $125million of this figure $72 million was estimated to have been returned to the studio; the profit-sharing deal with spielberg and lucas meant that after marketing costs paramount had earned $23million in profit