AT first glance, 1981 doesn’t seem that great a film year apart from one adventure classic.

But dig deeper and there are still gems to be found in a Top Ten of 1981.

1 Raiders of The Lost Ark. The greatest adventure film ever made? definitely top three.

2 Gallipoli. The best Australian war film ever.

3 An American Werewolf in London. John Landis’ comedy/horror classic.

4 Escape from New York. One of cult director John Carpenter’s best.

5 Thief. Heat director Michael Mann’s crime sleeper with James Caan.

6 The Dogs of War. Based on the Frederick Forsyth novel and starring a young Christopher Walken.

7 For Apache The Bronx. Tough police drama with Paul Newman.

8 The Postman Always Rings Twice. Power pairing Jack Nicholson and Jessica Lange burn up the screen.

9 Southern Comfort. Backwoods boys versus weekend soldiers in Walter Hill’s thriller

10 Nighthawks. Great, little-known action thriller with Sylvester Stallone.