David Byrne: Movies & Box Office
- films
- 54
- on screen
- 1973–2025
- box office
- $16.5M
- average score
- 73
- Born
- May 14, 1952 (age 74)
- Birthplace
- Dumbarton, Scotland
- Citizenship
- United Kingdom, United States, Ireland
- Occupations
- Singer, songwriter, musician, record producer, music theorist, visual artist, actor, writer, filmmaker
- Years active
- 1971-present
- Spouses
- Adelle Lutz
- Children
- 1
The Best David Byrne Movies
The films of David Byrne that made the most at the worldwide box office, biggest first: Stop Making Sense (1984) leads with $13.1M. The full ranking adds the most awarded films and the newest releases.
David Byrne's Career in Numbers
David Byrne's films in numbers — as an actor, not counting appearances as themselves: when they were made, the genres David Byrne works in most and the milestones along the way. The filmography runs from And His Ghost May Be Heard (1973) to The Greatest Night in Pop (2024), and the 1980s were the busiest decade.
David Byrne Movies by Decade
- 1970s 2
- 1980s 6
- 1990s 2
- 2000s 3
- 2010s 6
- 2020s 1
The 1980s were David Byrne's busiest decade, with 6 films.
David Byrne Movies by Genre
- Music 6
- Documentary 4
- Comedy 3
- Horror 2
- Family 1
- Romance 1
- Drama 1
Music is the genre David Byrne has worked in most, with 6 films, ahead of documentary (4).
David Byrne Career Milestones
- First film
- And His Ghost May Be Heard 1973
- Biggest box office hit
- Stop Making Sense $13.1M worldwide
- Best-rated film
- The Greatest Night in Pop Movie Echo Score 81
- Newest film
- The Greatest Night in Pop 2024
David Byrne Filmography: Every Movie
Every film David Byrne is credited on, newest first, with the role, the box office and the Movie Echo Score. Rated films average a score of 73. Re-order the list to see the best-rated films or the biggest hits first.
David Byrne Movies as an Actor
20- 2024
The Greatest Night in Pop Documentary Movie Echo Score: 81 - 2019
John Mulaney & The Sack Lunch Bunch as David Byrne · Family Movie Echo Score: 77 - 2019
Triple-Chaser as Narrator - 2018
Real Life as Narrator / Self · Documentary - 2018
The Necromancer as Young Boy · Horror Worldwide box office: $7.84K Movie Echo Score: 38 - 2016
Temporary Color Comedy - 2011
Talking Heads - Chronology Documentary - 2009
Tom Zé: Liberated Astronaut Documentary - 2004
Dennis Cleveland Music - 2003
David Byrne: Live At Union Chapel Music - 1998
Lulu on the Bridge as "Laughing Man" Escort · Romance - 1993
Between the Teeth Music - 1988
Checking Out as Bartender · Comedy Worldwide box office: $30.9K - 1986
True Stories Comedy Worldwide box office: $2.55M - 1986
The Kitchen Presents: Two Moon July - 1984
Stop Making Sense Music Worldwide box office: $13.1M - 1982
Talking Heads: Live at Montreux Jazz Festival Music - 1981
Talking Heads: Rock Pop in Concert Music - 1977
Terror of Frankenstein as Felix · Horror - 1973
And His Ghost May Be Heard as Ghost · Drama
David Byrne in Documentaries & Specials
34- 2025
Monk in Pieces as Self · Documentary Worldwide box office: $39.1K - 2025
SNL50: The Homecoming Concert as Self · Comedy - 2021
Twyla Moves as Self · Documentary - 2020
David Byrne's American Utopia as Self · Music Worldwide box office: $249K Movie Echo Score: 79 - 2020
David Byrne’s American Utopia as Self · Documentary Worldwide box office: $249K Movie Echo Score: 92 - 2020
BREAK IT ALL: The History of Rock in Latin America as Self · Documentary - 2019
Café Tacvba - Un Segundo / MTV Unplugged as Self - Voice · Music - 2019
Museum Town as Self · Documentary - 2018
The Making of True Stories as Self · Documentary - 2014
Lennon or McCartney as Self · Music - 2012
Paul Simon: Under African Skies as Self · Documentary - 2010
Ride, Rise, Roar as Self · Music Worldwide box office: $338 - 2009
Wandering Heart as Self · Documentary - 2009
Burning Down the House: The Story of CBGB as Self · Music - 2008
The Man Who Bottled Clouds as Self · Documentary - 2008
Wild Combination: A Portrait of Arthur Russell as Self (archive footage) · Documentary - 2007
David Byrne - Live from Austin Texas as Self · Music - 2007
NY77: The Coolest Year in Hell as Self (archive footage) (uncredited) · Documentary - 2006
Fabricating Tom Zé as Self · Documentary - 2006
By the Ways, a Journey with William Eggleston as Self · Documentary - 2005
TV Party as Self · Documentary - 2004
The Pogues Live at the Town and Country as Self · Music - 2001
25 Years of Punk as Self · Documentary - 1998
Tori Amos: Sessions at West 54th as Self · Music - 1998
Lou Reed: Rock and Roll Heart as Self · Music - 1993
10000 Maniacs: MTV Unplugged as Self · Music - 1990
Red Hot + Blue: A Tribute to Cole Porter as Self · Music - 1990
Summer of Love as Self · Documentary - 1989
Heavy Petting as Self · Documentary Worldwide box office: $272K - 1988
Talking Heads: Storytelling Giant as Self · Music - 1984
Talking Heads: The Name of this Programme is Once In A Lifetime as Self · Music - 1980
Talking Heads: Live in Rome as Self - Vocals, guitar · Music - 1980
Talking Heads: Capitol Theatre as Self - Lead Vocals, Guitar · Music - 1976
The Blank Generation as Self · Documentary
Who Is David Byrne?
David Byrne was born in Dumbarton, Scotland in 1952 and is 74 years old. Credited on films since 1973, as an actor. The background, training and the roles that shaped the career.
David Byrne (/bɜːrn/; born 14 May 1952) is a widely-recognized Scottish-American musician, writer, visual artist, and filmmaker. He earned much of his fame as a founding member and principal songwriter of the American new wave band Talking Heads. Byrne has also launched numerous solo recordings and explored various media including film, photography, opera, fiction, and non-fiction. He is a recipient of several prestigious awards including an Academy Award, a Grammy Award, a Special Tony Award, and a Golden Globe Award. Byrne is an inductee into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as part of Talking Heads. He has shown exponential growth in his artistic pursuits from an early age, mastering skills in playing guitar, accordion, and violin even before high school. After college, he kick-started his musical career and has since delivered numerous chart-topping tracks in different music genres like rock, new wave, post-punk, art pop, worldbeat, and electronic. He has kept his musical vigor alive, currently active in his musical pursuit and continues to inspire masses through his works.
Apart from his musical feats, Byrne has shown significant interests in acting, writing, and filmmaking. His works are extensively used in film soundtracks, contributing significantly to the film industry. He had also directed the documentary Île Aiye and the concert film of his 1992 Latin-tinged tour titled Between the Teeth. He has also used his talents for good, contributing to multiple AIDS benefit compilation albums, as an activist for increased cycling and the founder of the world-music record label Luaka Bop. Byrne has also penned down multiple books shedding light on his artistic journey and perspectives
Who David Byrne Makes Movies With
The actors and directors David Byrne shares the most films with. Patti Smith comes first, with 4 films together, followed by John Goodman (3).
David Byrne: Questions & Answers
How many movies David Byrne has made, the biggest hit, the best-rated film, the award record and more, answered from the filmography above.
How many movies has David Byrne been in?
David Byrne is credited on 54 films, from 1973 to 2025. The filmography on this page lists every one of them, newest first, with the role and the Movie Echo Score.
What is David Byrne's highest-grossing movie?
Stop Making Sense (1984) is David Byrne's biggest box office hit, with $13.1M worldwide, ahead of True Stories (1986) ($2.55M). Across every film with box office figures, David Byrne's movies have made $16.5M.
David Byrne's biggest hits What is the best David Byrne movie?
By the Movie Echo Score, which blends critic reviews, audience ratings and lasting impact, David Byrne's best-rated film is David Byrne’s American Utopia (2020) with a score of 92, followed by The Greatest Night in Pop (2024) (81).
Best David Byrne movies, ranked How old is David Byrne?
David Byrne is 74 years old, born on May 14, 1952 in Dumbarton, Scotland.
What is David Byrne's newest movie?
The most recent film on David Byrne's filmography is Monk in Pieces (2025), in the role of Self.
Who does David Byrne work with most often?
David Byrne shares the most films with Patti Smith (4 films), John Goodman (3 films) and Spalding Gray (3 films).
The Best David Byrne Movies, Ranked
Top rated, most awarded and biggest box office hits from 54 credits.
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