1981 in home video

• "Laserdisc" becomes the common name for the format originally introduced (in 1978) as "DiscoVision".
• March - The analog format called SelectaVision (popularly known as "videodiscs") is introduced by RCA.

Movie releases

The following movies were released on video on the following dates:

• 2001: A Space Odyssey
• The Absent-Minded Professor - June 26, 1981
• Airplane!
• Alice in Wonderland - October 15, 1981
• All Quiet on the Western Front
• All That Jazz
• Bananas
• Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
• Darby O'Gill and the Little People - October 15, 1981
• Davy Crockett and the River Pirates - June 26, 1981
• The Devil and Max Devlin
• Dumbo - June 26, 1981
• Fame
• Fiddler on the Roof
• Herbie Rides Again - October 15, 1981
• Kramer vs. Kramer
• The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh - June 26, 1981
• My Fair Lady
• Nine to Five
• Pollyanna - October 15, 1981
• Stir Crazy
• Treasure Island - October 15, 1981
• The Watcher in the Woods