Continental Divide (1981)

Continental Divide
Theatrical Performance
Domestic Box Office $15,578,000Details
OpusData ID: 29640100
Further financial details...

Synopsis

Ernie Souchak is a celebrated Chicago Sun-Times columnist famous for his blistering political exposés. While his controversial reporting has earned him the respect of his editor, Howard McDermott, and the admiration of a legion of fans, it also earns him a trip to the hospital following a run-in with some disgruntled thugs. Suggesting he leave the city for a while, McDermott sends Ernie to the Rockies to interview renowned ornithologist Nell Porter, who studies the habits of the endangered American bald eagle. It’s a case of loathe at first sight when the chain-smoking, big city Souchak meets the reclusive nature-lover Porter. But despite their differences, Souchak’s trip west soon turns into a fun-filled romantic adventure as these two trek through the mountains at the top of the world along the Continental Divide.

Metrics

Opening Weekend:$3,218,347 (20.7% of total gross)
Legs:4.84 (domestic box office/biggest weekend)
Domestic Share:100.0% (domestic box office/worldwide)
Theater counts:864 opening theaters/864 max. theaters, 3.9 weeks average run per theater
Infl. Adj. Dom. BO $63,376,682

Latest Ranking on Cumulative Box Office Lists

RecordRankAmount
All Time Domestic Box Office (Rank 4,501-4,600) 4,541 $15,578,000
All Time Worldwide Box Office (Rank 6,501-6,600) 6,503 $15,578,000

See the Box Office tab (Domestic) and International tab (International and Worldwide) for more Cumulative Box Office Records.


Movie Details

Domestic Releases: September 18th, 1981 (Wide) by Universal
Video Release: March 1st, 1992 by Universal Home Entertainment
MPAA Rating: PG
Running Time: 103 minutes
Comparisons: Create your own comparison chart…
Keywords: Romance
Source:Original Screenplay
Genre:Romantic Comedy
Production Method:Live Action
Creative Type:Contemporary Fiction
Production/Financing Companies: Amblin Entertainment, Universal Pictures
Production Countries: United States
Languages: English

Compare this performance with other movies…

Domestic Cumulative Box Office Records

RecordRankRevenue
All Time Domestic Box Office (Rank 4,501-4,600) 4,541 $15,578,000
All Time Domestic Inflation Adjusted Box Office (Rank 2,701-2,800) 2,774 $63,376,682
All Time Domestic Non-Sequel Box Office (Rank 3,801-3,900) 3,825 $15,578,000
Top-grossing movies at the domestic box office first released in 1981 52 $15,578,000
All Time Domestic Box Office for Original Screenplay Movies (Rank 2,401-2,500) 2,429 $15,578,000
All Time Domestic Box Office for Live Action Movies (Rank 4,001-4,100) 4,030 $15,578,000
All Time Domestic Box Office for Contemporary Fiction Movies (Rank 2,401-2,500) 2,409 $15,578,000
All Time Domestic Box Office for Romantic Comedy Movies (Rank 201-300) 265 $15,578,000
All Time Domestic Box Office for PG Movies (Rank 901-1,000) 1,000 $15,578,000
All Time Domestic Box Office for Universal Movies (Rank 501-600) 559 $15,578,000

Weekend Box Office Performance

DateRankGross% ChangeTheatersPer TheaterTotal GrossWeek
Sep 18, 1981 1 $3,218,347   864 $3,725   $3,218,347 1
Sep 25, 1981 6 $2,000,000 -38% 831 $2,407   $6,086,063 2
Oct 2, 1981 8 $1,500,000 -25% 709 $2,116   $8,143,450 3
Oct 9, 1981 9 $960,000 -36% 513 $1,871   $0 4
Oct 16, 1981 12 $647,643 -33% 459 $1,411   $10,430,647 5

Daily Box Office Performance

Weekly Box Office Performance

DateRankGross% ChangeTheatersPer TheaterTotal GrossWeek
Sep 18, 1981 2 $4,086,063   864 $4,729   $4,086,063 1
Sep 25, 1981 6 $2,557,387 -37% 831 $3,077   $6,643,450 2
Oct 9, 1981 1 $10,743,004   513 $20,942   $9,783,004 4

Leading Cast

John Belushi    Ernie Souchak
Blair Brown    Nell Porter

Supporting Cast

Allen Goorwitz    Howard
Carlin Glynn    Sylvia
Tony Ganios    Possum
Val Avery    Yablonowitz
Bill Henderson    Train Conductor
Liam Russell    Deke
Everett Smith    Fiddle
Bruce Jarchow    Hellinger
Eddie Schwartz    Jimmy
Harold Holmes    Mr. Feeney
Elizabeth Young    Mrs. Feeney
Ron Dean    Plesko
Frankie Hill    Agatha
Mike Bacarella    Delaney
Marji Bank    Mrs. Yablonowitz
Christopher Lowell    Poacher
Frank Noel, Jr.    Poacher
Zaid Farid    Mugger
Rai Rogers    Mugger
Jack Decker    Police Thug
Ben Rawnsley    Police Thug
Dave Adams    Alderman
Dallas Alinder    Alderman
Ron McLeish    Station Master
Chuck Bailey    Station Master
Yana Nirvana    Blonde
Joe Wright    Newsboy
Tim Kazurinsky    Reporter
Robert Biggs    Reporter
Frank Heinrich    Cab Driver
Paul Mathews    Moderator
John Larson    Henchman
Norm Tobin    Layout Man

For a description of the different acting role types we use to categorize acting perfomances, see our Glossary.

Production and Technical Credits

Michael Apted    Director
Lawrence Kasdan    Screenwriter
Steven Spielberg    Executive Producer
Bob Larson    Producer
Bernie Brillstein    Executive Producer
Michael Small    Composer
John Bailey    Director of Photography
Zelda Barron    Associate Producer
Jack Rosenthal    Associate Producer
Kim Kurumada    Assistant Director
Bill Badalato    Unit Production Manager
Mack Harding    Unit Production Manager
Peter Jamison    Production Designer
Linda Spheeris    Set Decorator
Patrick Anderson    Second Unit Camera
Joe Valentine    Second Unit Camera
Steve Yaconelli    Second Unit Camera
Moss Mabry    Costume Designer
Bob Chase    Costume Supervisor
Dennis Virkler    Editor
Bill Kaplan    Sound Mixer
William L. McCaughey    Re-recording Mixer
Robert L. Harman    Re-recording Mixer
Howard Wollman    Re-recording Mixer
John Stacy    Sound Editor
George Brand    Music Editor
Carole Bayer Sager    Song Writer
Michael Chinich    Casting Director
Jo Doster    Casting Director
Jonathan Yarbrough    Stunt Coordinator

The bold credits above the line are the "above-the-line" credits, the other the "below-the-line" credits.


  1. Summary
  2. News
  3. Box Office
  4. International
  5. Video Sales
  6. Cast & Crew
  7. Trailer

Synopsis

Ernie Souchak is a celebrated Chicago Sun-Times columnist famous for his blistering political exposés. While his controversial reporting has earned him the respect of his editor, Howard McDermott, and the admiration of a legion of fans, it also earns him a trip to the hospital following a run-in with some disgruntled thugs. Suggesting he leave the city for a while, McDermott sends Ernie to the Rockies to interview renowned ornithologist Nell Porter, who studies the habits of the endangered American bald eagle. It’s a case of loathe at first sight when the chain-smoking, big city Souchak meets the reclusive nature-lover Porter. But despite their differences, Souchak’s trip west soon turns into a fun-filled romantic adventure as these two trek through the mountains at the top of the world along the Continental Divide.

Metrics

Opening Weekend:$3,218,347 (20.7% of total gross)
Legs:4.84 (domestic box office/biggest weekend)
Domestic Share:100.0% (domestic box office/worldwide)
Theater counts:864 opening theaters/864 max. theaters, 3.9 weeks average run per theater
Infl. Adj. Dom. BO $63,376,682

Latest Ranking on Cumulative Box Office Lists

RecordRankAmount
All Time Domestic Box Office (Rank 4,501-4,600) 4,541 $15,578,000
All Time Worldwide Box Office (Rank 6,501-6,600) 6,503 $15,578,000

See the Box Office tab (Domestic) and International tab (International and Worldwide) for more Cumulative Box Office Records.


Movie Details

Domestic Releases: September 18th, 1981 (Wide) by Universal
Video Release: March 1st, 1992 by Universal Home Entertainment
MPAA Rating: PG
Running Time: 103 minutes
Comparisons: Create your own comparison chart…
Keywords: Romance
Source:Original Screenplay
Genre:Romantic Comedy
Production Method:Live Action
Creative Type:Contemporary Fiction
Production/Financing Companies: Amblin Entertainment, Universal Pictures
Production Countries: United States
Languages: English

Leading Cast

John Belushi    Ernie Souchak
Blair Brown    Nell Porter

Supporting Cast

Allen Goorwitz    Howard
Carlin Glynn    Sylvia
Tony Ganios    Possum
Val Avery    Yablonowitz
Bill Henderson    Train Conductor
Liam Russell    Deke
Everett Smith    Fiddle
Bruce Jarchow    Hellinger
Eddie Schwartz    Jimmy
Harold Holmes    Mr. Feeney
Elizabeth Young    Mrs. Feeney
Ron Dean    Plesko
Frankie Hill    Agatha
Mike Bacarella    Delaney
Marji Bank    Mrs. Yablonowitz
Christopher Lowell    Poacher
Frank Noel, Jr.    Poacher
Zaid Farid    Mugger
Rai Rogers    Mugger
Jack Decker    Police Thug
Ben Rawnsley    Police Thug
Dave Adams    Alderman
Dallas Alinder    Alderman
Ron McLeish    Station Master
Chuck Bailey    Station Master
Yana Nirvana    Blonde
Joe Wright    Newsboy
Tim Kazurinsky    Reporter
Robert Biggs    Reporter
Frank Heinrich    Cab Driver
Paul Mathews    Moderator
John Larson    Henchman
Norm Tobin    Layout Man

For a description of the different acting role types we use to categorize acting perfomances, see our Glossary.

Production and Technical Credits

Michael Apted    Director
Lawrence Kasdan    Screenwriter
Steven Spielberg    Executive Producer
Bob Larson    Producer
Bernie Brillstein    Executive Producer
Michael Small    Composer
John Bailey    Director of Photography
Zelda Barron    Associate Producer
Jack Rosenthal    Associate Producer
Kim Kurumada    Assistant Director
Bill Badalato    Unit Production Manager
Mack Harding    Unit Production Manager
Peter Jamison    Production Designer
Linda Spheeris    Set Decorator
Patrick Anderson    Second Unit Camera
Joe Valentine    Second Unit Camera
Steve Yaconelli    Second Unit Camera
Moss Mabry    Costume Designer
Bob Chase    Costume Supervisor
Dennis Virkler    Editor
Bill Kaplan    Sound Mixer
William L. McCaughey    Re-recording Mixer
Robert L. Harman    Re-recording Mixer
Howard Wollman    Re-recording Mixer
John Stacy    Sound Editor
George Brand    Music Editor
Carole Bayer Sager    Song Writer
Michael Chinich    Casting Director
Jo Doster    Casting Director
Jonathan Yarbrough    Stunt Coordinator

The bold credits above the line are the "above-the-line" credits, the other the "below-the-line" credits.

Compare this performance with other movies…

Domestic Cumulative Box Office Records

RecordRankRevenue
All Time Domestic Box Office (Rank 4,501-4,600) 4,541 $15,578,000
All Time Domestic Inflation Adjusted Box Office (Rank 2,701-2,800) 2,774 $63,376,682
All Time Domestic Non-Sequel Box Office (Rank 3,801-3,900) 3,825 $15,578,000
Top-grossing movies at the domestic box office first released in 1981 52 $15,578,000
All Time Domestic Box Office for Original Screenplay Movies (Rank 2,401-2,500) 2,429 $15,578,000
All Time Domestic Box Office for Live Action Movies (Rank 4,001-4,100) 4,030 $15,578,000
All Time Domestic Box Office for Contemporary Fiction Movies (Rank 2,401-2,500) 2,409 $15,578,000
All Time Domestic Box Office for Romantic Comedy Movies (Rank 201-300) 265 $15,578,000
All Time Domestic Box Office for PG Movies (Rank 901-1,000) 1,000 $15,578,000
All Time Domestic Box Office for Universal Movies (Rank 501-600) 559 $15,578,000

Weekend Box Office Performance

DateRankGross% ChangeTheatersPer TheaterTotal GrossWeek
Sep 18, 1981 1 $3,218,347   864 $3,725   $3,218,347 1
Sep 25, 1981 6 $2,000,000 -38% 831 $2,407   $6,086,063 2
Oct 2, 1981 8 $1,500,000 -25% 709 $2,116   $8,143,450 3
Oct 9, 1981 9 $960,000 -36% 513 $1,871   $0 4
Oct 16, 1981 12 $647,643 -33% 459 $1,411   $10,430,647 5

Daily Box Office Performance

Weekly Box Office Performance

DateRankGross% ChangeTheatersPer TheaterTotal GrossWeek
Sep 18, 1981 2 $4,086,063   864 $4,729   $4,086,063 1
Sep 25, 1981 6 $2,557,387 -37% 831 $3,077   $6,643,450 2
Oct 9, 1981 1 $10,743,004   513 $20,942   $9,783,004 4

Worldwide Cumulative Box Office Records

RecordRankRevenue
All Time Worldwide Box Office (Rank 6,501-6,600) 6,503 $15,578,000
All Time Worldwide Non-Sequel Box Office (Rank 5,501-5,600) 5,545 $15,578,000
Top 1981 Movies at the Worldwide Box Office 56 $15,578,000
All Time Worldwide Box Office for Original Screenplay Movies (Rank 3,501-3,600) 3,570 $15,578,000
All Time Worldwide Box Office for Live Action Movies (Rank 5,701-5,800) 5,711 $15,578,000
All Time Worldwide Box Office for Contemporary Fiction Movies (Rank 3,401-3,500) 3,488 $15,578,000
All Time Worldwide Box Office for Romantic Comedy Movies (Rank 301-400) 364 $15,578,000
All Time Worldwide Box Office for PG Movies (Rank 1,101-1,200) 1,106 $15,578,000
All Time Worldwide Box Office for Universal Movies (Rank 501-600) 589 $15,578,000