David Lynch: Movies, Awards & Box Office
- films
- 127
- as director
- 32
- on screen
- 1956–2022
- box office
- $291M
- nominations
- 10
- average score
- 66
- Born
- January 20, 1946 (age 80)
- Birthplace
- Missoula, Montana, U.S.
- Full name
- David Keith Lynch
- Citizenship
- United States
- Occupations
- Filmmaker, painter, visual artist, musician, author, actor
- Years active
- 1967-present
- Spouses
- Peggy Lentz, Mary Fisk, Mary Sweeney, Emily Stofle
- Children
- 4
The Best David Lynch Movies
The films of David Lynch that made the most at the worldwide box office, biggest first: Dune (1984) leads with $31.5M. The full ranking adds the most awarded films and the newest releases.
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Worldwide box office: $31.5M Dune 1984 · Action -
Worldwide box office: $26M The Elephant Man 1980 · Biography -
Worldwide box office: $20.4M Mulholland Dr. 2001 · Drama -
Worldwide box office: $14.6M Wild at Heart 1990 · Drama -
Worldwide box office: $8.67M Blue Velvet 1986 · Drama -
Worldwide box office: $6.45M The Straight Story 1999 · Adventure
David Lynch's Career in Numbers
David Lynch's films in numbers — as an actor and a director, not counting appearances as themselves: when they were made, the genres David Lynch works in most and the milestones along the way. The filmography runs from Absurd Encounter with Fear (1967) to The Original Image - David Lynch (2019), and the 2000s were the busiest decade.
David Lynch Movies by Decade
- 1960s 4
- 1970s 3
- 1980s 9
- 1990s 7
- 2000s 20
- 2010s 16
The 2000s were David Lynch's busiest decade, with 20 films.
David Lynch Movies by Genre
- Drama 15
- Documentary 9
- Comedy 8
- Mystery 6
- Horror 6
- Animation 4
- Music 2
- Crime 1
- Adventure 1
- Tv movie 1
Drama is the genre David Lynch has worked in most, with 15 films, ahead of documentary (9).
David Lynch Career Milestones
- First film
- Absurd Encounter with Fear 1967
- Biggest box office hit
- Dune $31.5M worldwide
- Best-rated film
- WHAT DID JACK DO? Movie Echo Score 66
- Newest film
- The Original Image - David Lynch 2019
David Lynch Filmography: Every Movie
Every film David Lynch is credited on, newest first, with the role, the box office and the Movie Echo Score. 32 as director and 27 as actor. Rated films average a score of 66. Re-order the list to see the best-rated films or the biggest hits first.
Movies Directed by David Lynch
32- 2013
Idem Paris Documentary - 2011
Blue Velvet: The Lost Footage Mystery - 2011
Duran Duran: Unstaged Music Worldwide box office: $111K - 2011
The 3 Rs - 2010
Lady Blue Shanghai Drama - 2007
More Things That Happened Drama - 2006
Inland Empire Drama Worldwide box office: $4.31M - 2005
Scene from a David Lynch DV Project Drama - 2002
Rabbits Mystery - 2002
Darkened Room Horror - 2002
Pierre and Sonny Jim Comedy - 2002
Laura Palmer Mystery - 2001
You’re Not Supposed to Be Here Documentary - 2001
Where are the Bananas? Documentary - 2001
Mulholland Dr. Drama Worldwide box office: $20.4M - 1999
The Straight Story Adventure Worldwide box office: $6.45M - 1999
Mulholland Dr. Tv movie - 1997
Lost Highway Drama Worldwide box office: $3.85M - 1993
Hotel Room Drama - 1992
Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me Drama Worldwide box office: $4.26M - 1990
Industrial Symphony No. 1: The Dream of the Brokenhearted Music - 1990
Wild at Heart Drama Worldwide box office: $14.6M - 1989
Twin Peaks Thriller - 1988
The French as Seen by… War - 1988
The Cowboy and the Frenchman Western - 1986
Blue Velvet Drama Worldwide box office: $8.67M - 1984
Dune Action Worldwide box office: $31.5M - 1980
The Elephant Man Biography Worldwide box office: $26M - 1978
Eraserhead Horror Worldwide box office: $37.8K - 1969
The Alphabet Animation - 1967
Absurd Encounter with Fear Horror - 1967
Fictitious Anacin Commercial Comedy
David Lynch Movies as an Actor
27- 2019
The Original Image - David Lynch Documentary - 2018
Curtains Up Documentary - 2017
WHAT DID JACK DO? as Detective · Mystery Movie Echo Score: 66 - 2017
The Black Ghiandola as Man In Black · Horror - 2017
Twin Peaks: The Return as FBI Deputy Director Gordon Cole · Crime - 2016
Shadows of Paradise Documentary - 2014
Twin Peaks: The Missing Pieces as Gordon Cole · Mystery - 2012
Memory Film Animation - 2011
Coffee with Barbie as David / Barbie · Comedy - 2010
David Wants to Fly Documentary - 2010
When Lynch Met Lucas Animation - 2009
Red Fish as O Sábio · Mystery - 2008
Early Experiments Horror - 2007
Out Yonder — Chicken Comedy - 2004
Love, Death, Elvis & Oz: The Making of Wild at Heart Documentary - 2003
Boat as The Man · Horror - 2003
Out Yonder — Teeth Comedy - 2002
The Disc of Sorrow Is Installed Comedy - 2002
BlueBob Egg as Billy Groper · Comedy - 2002
Out Yonder — Neighbor Boy Comedy - 2001
DumbLand as Randy / Wife / Sparky (voice) · Animation - 1988
Zelly & Me as Willie · Drama - 1985
Anzacs as Max Earnshaw · Drama - 1980
Heart Beat as Painter (uncredited) · Drama Worldwide box office: $954K - 1974
The Amputee as The Nurse · Drama - 1974
The Amputee as The Nurse · Drama - 1967
Sailing with Bushnell Keeler Documentary
David Lynch in Documentaries & Specials
68- 2022
This Is Sparklehorse as Self · Documentary - 2021
The Sleeper Must Awaken: Making Dune as Self (voice) (archive footage) · Documentary - 2021
Welcome Home: Mary Reber and the Twin Peaks Palmer House as Self · Documentary - 2020
Meeting the Beatles in India as Self · Documentary Worldwide box office: $2.43K - 2020
Jar Final as Self · Documentary - 2020
The Story of a Small Bug as Self · Documentary - 2020
What Is David Lynch Working on Today? as Self · Documentary - 2019
David Lynch Teaches Creativity and Film as Himself · Documentary - 2018
Why Are We Creative? as Self · Documentary - 2017
A Very Lovely Dream: One Week in Twin Peaks as Self · Documentary - 2017
Behind the Red Curtain as Self · Documentary - 2017
The Man with the Gray Elevated Hair as Self · Documentary Worldwide box office: $4.41M - 2017
I Had Bad Milk in Dehradun as Self · Documentary - 2017
A Pot of Boiling Oil as Self · Documentary - 2017
Two Blue Balls as Self · Documentary - 2017
Do Not Pick Up Hitchhikers as Self · Documentary - 2017
A Bloody Finger in Your Mouth as Self · Documentary - 2017
Bad Binoculars as Self · Documentary - 2017
Tell It Martin as Self · Documentary - 2017
The Polish Accountant as Self · Documentary Worldwide box office: $156M - 2017
The Number of Completion as Self · Documentary - 2017
See You on the Other Side Dear Friend as Self · Documentary - 2016
Blue Velvet Revisited as Self · Documentary - 2016
On Meditation as Self · Documentary Worldwide box office: $4.32K - 2016
The Reality of Truth as Self · Documentary - 2015
Rammstein in Amerika as Self · Music Worldwide box office: $73.6K - 2014
My Beautiful Broken Brain as Self · Documentary - 2014
The 8th Floor as Self · Documentary Worldwide box office: $10.2M - 2014
It’s a Beautiful World as Self · Documentary - 2013
What Is Cinema? as Self · Documentary - 2013
Mel Brooks: Make a Noise as Self · Documentary - 2013
Professor Goudet’s Lessons as Self · Documentary - 2012
Meditation, Creativity, Peace as Self · Documentary - 2010
2012: Time for Change as Self · Documentary Worldwide box office: $68.3K - 2010
Brunes et Blondes as Self · Documentary - 2009
Great Directors as Self · Documentary Worldwide box office: $17.9K - 2008
Twin Peaks Festival Greeting 2008 as Self · Comedy - 2008
Hollyshorts Greeting as Himself · Comedy - 2008
Critic as Self (voice) · Documentary - 2007
A Slice of Lynch as Self · Documentary - 2007
Lynch (one) as Self · Documentary - 2007
David Lynch Cooks Quinoa as Himself · Documentary - 2007
Lynch 2 as Self · Documentary - 2005
Midnight Movies: From the Margin to the Mainstream as Self · Documentary Worldwide box office: $2.14K - 2005
David Lynch: 1985 as Self · Documentary - 2004
The Making of ‘Mulholland Drive’ as Self · Documentary - 2003
Does That Hurt You? as Self · Documentary - 2003
Lamp as Self · Documentary - 2003
Return to Mulholland Drive as Self · Documentary - 2003
Dennis Hopper: Create (or Die) as Self · Documentary - 2002
Lunch With Lynch Drawing as Himself · Comedy - 2002
I Don’t Know Jack as Self · Documentary - 2002
Mysteries of Love as Self (archive footage) · Documentary - 2002
The Short Films of David Lynch as Self · Documentary - 2001
Eraserhead Stories as Self · Documentary - 1999
In Dreams: The Roy Orbison Story as Self · Music - 1997
Pretty as a Picture: The Art of David Lynch as Self · Documentary - 1996
The Fine Art of Separating People from Their Money as Self · Documentary - 1994
Don Van Vliet: Some YoYo Stuff as Himself · Documentary - 1993
Made in the USA as Self · Documentary - 1990
Jonathan Ross Presents for One Week Only: David Lynch as Self · Documentary - 1990
Hollywood Mavericks as Self · Documentary - 1988
No Frank in Lumberton as Self · Documentary - 1988
Roy Orbison and Friends: A Black and White Night as Self - Audience Member · Music - 1987
Ruth, Roses, and Revolver as Himself · Documentary - 1983
Destination Dune as Self · Documentary - 1957
Rock All Night as Self (with The Platters) · Crime - 1956
Rock Around the Clock as Himself · Music Worldwide box office: $365
David Lynch: Awards & Nominations
10 nominations across 6 award bodies, from 1981 to 2023. Every ceremony is listed newest first, with the category and the film.
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Spirit Awards 3 nominations -
Oscars 2 nominations -
Golden Globes 2 nominations -
Actor Awards (SAG) 1 nomination -
BAFTA 1 nomination -
DGA Awards 1 nomination
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29th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards- David Lynch: Nominated Outstanding Cast The Fabelmans
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15th Film Independent Spirit Awards- David Lynch: Nominated Best Director The Straight Story
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The 59th Academy Awards- David Lynch: Nominated Best Director Blue Velvet
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44th Golden Globe Awards- David Lynch: Nominated Best Screenplay Blue Velvet
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2nd Independent Spirit Awards- David Lynch: Nominated Best Director Blue Velvet
- David Lynch: Nominated Best Screenplay Blue Velvet
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The 53rd Academy Awards- David Lynch: Nominated Best Director The Elephant Man
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34th British Academy Film Awards- David Lynch: Nominated Best Director The Elephant Man
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33rd Directors Guild of America Awards- David Lynch: Nominated Outstanding Directing – Feature Film The Elephant Man
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38th Golden Globe Awards- David Lynch: Nominated Best Director The Elephant Man
Who Is David Lynch?
David Lynch was born in Missoula, Montana, U.S. in 1946 and is 80 years old. Credited on films since 1956, as both an actor and a director. The background, training and the roles that shaped the career.
Born on January 20, 1946, in Missoula, Montana, David Keith Lynch is a celebrated American artist celebrated for his work in film, television, and music. Lynch gained critical acclaim for his mind-bending and often surrealist artistry. Known for his distinctive non-linear storytelling and dreamlike aesthetic, he has carved a niche for himself in the world of cinema and the broader realm of pop culture.
Lynch studied painting before venturing into films during the late 1960s, establishing himself with his cult classic 'Eraserhead' in 1977. Gaining mainstream attention from his Academy Award-nominated 'The Elephant Man' in 1980, Lynch continued to enthrall audiences with films such as 'Blue Velvet', 'Mulholland Drive', and 'Inland Empire'. Aside from film-making, he is also critically recognized for his work in television, most notably the series 'Twin Peaks'. In all his endeavors in film, television, music, and even painting, Lynch’s works remain distinctive in its bizarre and enigmatic aura, making him a figure of major significance in contemporary art.
In his personal life, Lynch has been married four times and has four children. He is an active proponent of Transcendental Meditation. He was twice awarded the top honor at the Cannes Film Festival, the Palme d'Or, and also received an honorary Academy Award in 2019.
Who David Lynch Makes Movies With
The actors and directors David Lynch shares the most films with. Kyle MacLachlan comes first, with 22 films together, followed by Laura Dern (17).
David Lynch: Questions & Answers
How many movies David Lynch has made, the biggest hit, the best-rated film, the award record and more, answered from the filmography above.
How many movies has David Lynch been in?
David Lynch is credited on 127 films, from 1956 to 2022. 27 of them as an actor and 32 as a director. The filmography on this page lists every one of them, newest first, with the role and the Movie Echo Score.
What is David Lynch's highest-grossing movie?
The Polish Accountant (2017) is David Lynch's biggest box office hit, with $156M worldwide, ahead of Dune (1984) ($31.5M). Across every film with box office figures, David Lynch's movies have made $291M.
David Lynch's biggest hits What is the best David Lynch movie?
By the Movie Echo Score, which blends critic reviews, audience ratings and lasting impact, David Lynch's best-rated film is WHAT DID JACK DO? (2017) with a score of 66.
Best David Lynch movies, ranked Has David Lynch won an Oscar?
David Lynch has been nominated for 2 Oscars but has not won one yet. Across every ceremony in the awards database, David Lynch has 0 wins from 10 nominations.
How old is David Lynch?
David Lynch is 80 years old, born on January 20, 1946 in Missoula, Montana, U.S..
What is David Lynch's newest movie?
The most recent film on David Lynch's filmography is This Is Sparklehorse (2022), in the role of Self.
Who does David Lynch work with most often?
David Lynch shares the most films with Kyle MacLachlan (22 films), Laura Dern (17 films) and Jack Nance (12 films).
The Best David Lynch Movies, Ranked
Top rated, most awarded and biggest box office hits from 127 credits.
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