| <<< 53rd National Board of Review Awards (1981) >>> |
| Top Ten Films: |
| 1. Chariots of Fire, Reds | |
| 2. Atlantic City | |
| 3. Stevie | |
| 4. Gallipoli | |
| 5. On Golden Pond | |
| 6. Prince of the City | |
| 7. Raiders of the Lost Ark | |
| 8. Heartland | |
| 9. Ticket to Heaven | |
| 10. Breaker Morant |
| Top Foreign Films: |
| 1. A Few Days from the Life of I. I. Oblomov | |
| 2. The Boat Is Full | |
| 3. The Last Metro | |
| 4. Kontrakt | |
| 5. Pixote |
| Best Film: |
| Chariots of Fire, Reds |
| Best Director: |
| Warren Beatty (Reds) |
| Best Actor: |
| Henry Fonda (On Golden Pond) |
| Best Actress: |
| Glenda Jackson (Stevie) |
| Best Supporting Actor: |
| Jack Nicholson (Reds) |
| Best Supporting Actress: |
| Mona Washbourne (Stevie) |
| Best Foreign Film: |
| A Few Days from the Life of I. I. Oblomov |
| Career Achievement Award: |
| James Cagney |
| Special Award: |
| Blanche Sweet for her leadership of the National Board of Review; Kevin Brownlow, for the restoration of Napoléon |