James Franco: Movies, Awards & Box Office
- films
- 85
- as director
- 5
- on screen
- 2001–2024
- box office
- $2.46B
- award wins
- 4
- average score
- 54
- Born
- April 19, 1978 (age 48)
- Birthplace
- Palo Alto, California, U.S.
- Full name
- James Edward Franco
- Citizenship
- American
- Occupations
- Actor, Film Director, Producer, Screenwriter
- Years active
- 1997-present
The Best James Franco Movies
The highest-rated films James Franco is credited on, by the Movie Echo Score that blends critic reviews, audience ratings and lasting impact. The Ballad of Buster Scruggs (2018) scores highest, at 80. The full ranking adds the biggest box office hits and the most awarded films.
-
Movie Echo Score: Score 80 The Ballad of Buster Scruggs 2018 · Cowboy (segment "Near Algodones") -
Movie Echo Score: Score 75 The Show 2017 · Drama -
Movie Echo Score: Score 68 Don't Come Back from the Moon 2019 · Roman Smalley -
Movie Echo Score: Score 60 Kin 2018 · Taylor Balik -
Movie Echo Score: Score 60 The Vault 2017 · Ed Maas -
Movie Echo Score: Score 47 Arctic Dogs 2019 · Lemmy
James Franco's Career in Numbers
James Franco's films in numbers — as an actor and a director, not counting appearances as themselves: when they were made, the genres James Franco works in most and the milestones along the way. The filmography runs from James Dean (2001) to Hey Joe (2024), and the 2010s were the busiest decade.
James Franco Movies by Decade
- 2000s 19
- 2010s 53
- 2020s 1
The 2010s were James Franco's busiest decade, with 53 films.
James Franco Movies by Genre
- Drama 29
- Action 13
- Biography 4
- Comedy 4
- Adventure 3
- Sci-Fi 3
- Thriller 3
- Documentary 3
- Romance 2
- Fantasy 1
Drama is the genre James Franco has worked in most, with 29 films, ahead of action (13).
James Franco Career Milestones
- First film
- James Dean 2001
- Biggest box office hit
- Spider-Man 3 $892M worldwide
- Best-rated film
- The Ballad of Buster Scruggs Movie Echo Score 80
- Newest film
- Hey Joe 2024
James Franco Filmography: Every Movie
Every film James Franco is credited on, newest first, with the role, the box office and the Movie Echo Score. 5 as director and 68 as actor. Rated films average a score of 54. Re-order the list to see the best-rated films or the biggest hits first.
Movies Directed by James Franco
5James Franco Movies as an Actor
68- 2024
Hey Joe as Dean Barry · Drama Worldwide box office: $48.5K - 2019
Arctic Dogs as Lemmy · Adventure Worldwide box office: $10.4M Movie Echo Score: 47 - 2019
The Pretenders as Maxwell · Drama Movie Echo Score: 36 - 2019
Zeroville as Vikar · Drama Worldwide box office: $69.4K Movie Echo Score: 33 - 2019
Don't Come Back from the Moon as Roman Smalley · Sci-Fi Movie Echo Score: 68 - 2018
Pretenders as Maxwell · Drama - 2018
The Ballad of Buster Scruggs as Cowboy (segment "Near Algodones") · Drama Movie Echo Score: 80 - 2018
Kin as Taylor Balik · Action Worldwide box office: $10.3M Movie Echo Score: 60 - 2018
Future World as Warlord · Sci-Fi Worldwide box office: $163K Movie Echo Score: 30 - 2017
The Heyday of the Insensitive Bastards as Conrad · Drama - 2017
The Show Drama Movie Echo Score: 75 - 2017
The Vault as Ed Maas · Thriller Worldwide box office: $347K Movie Echo Score: 60 - 2017
The Mad Whale as Edward Fry · Thriller - 2017
Alien: Covenant - Prologue: Last Supper as Branson · Sci-Fi - 2017
In Dubious Battle Drama Worldwide box office: $214K - 2017
High School Lover as Rick Winters · Drama - 2016
The Labyrinth as Narrator (voice) · Fantasy - 2016
Mother, May I Sleep with Danger? as Director · Horror - 2016
The Caged Pillows as David D-R+ · Animation - 2016
Yosemite Drama Worldwide box office: $13.9K - 2016
11.22.63 as Jake Epping · Drama - 2015
A Walk in Winter as Conrad · Thriller - 2015
True Story Drama Worldwide box office: $5.26M - 2015
Don Quixote: The Ingenious Gentleman of La Mancha as Pasamonte · Drama - 2014
The Interview Action Worldwide box office: $11.8M - 2014
The Color of Time Biography Worldwide box office: $115K - 2014
National Theatre Live: Of Mice and Men as George · Drama Worldwide box office: $73.5K - 2014
Good People Action Worldwide box office: $1.89M - 2014
Third Person Drama Worldwide box office: $2.62M - 2014
Obituaries as Felix Mitchum · Documentary - 2014
Palo Alto Drama Worldwide box office: $920K - 2014
Interior. Leather Bar. Drama Worldwide box office: $42.5K - 2013
Homefront Action Worldwide box office: $48.4M - 2013
Seth Rogen & James Franco Bound 3 - 2013
Playtime as The Art Dealer · Drama - 2013
Venice 70: Future Reloaded Documentary - 2013
Lovelace Biography Worldwide box office: $1.59M - 2013
This Is the End Action Worldwide box office: $126M - 2013
The Iceman Biography Worldwide box office: $4.55M - 2013
Spring Breakers Drama Worldwide box office: $32M - 2013
Oz the Great and Powerful Action Worldwide box office: $493M - 2012
About Cherry Drama Worldwide box office: $8.32K - 2011
Rise of the Planet of the Apes Action Worldwide box office: $482M - 2011
The Broken Tower Biography Worldwide box office: $36.5M - 2011
Caput Comedy - 2011
Your Highness Adventure Worldwide box office: $28M - 2010
127 Hours Adventure Worldwide box office: $60.7M - 2010
Love and Distrust as Travis (segment "Grasshopper") · Romance - 2010
Masculinity & Me - 2010
Shadows & Lies as William Vincent · Action - 2009
The Room Before and After - Part 1: James Franco - 2008
Good Time Max as Max · Drama Worldwide box office: $2.4M - 2008
Pineapple Express Action Worldwide box office: $102M - 2008
Camille as Silias · Romance Worldwide box office: $631K - 2007
The Hills with James Franco and Mila Kunis as Justin Bobby · Comedy - 2007
Spider-Man 3 Action Worldwide box office: $892M - 2006
Grasshopper as Travis · Drama - 2006
Flyboys Action Worldwide box office: $17.9M - 2006
Annapolis Drama Worldwide box office: $17.5M - 2006
Tristan and Isolde Action Worldwide box office: $28M - 2005
The Great Raid Action Worldwide box office: $10.8M - 2005
The Ape as Harry Walker · Comedy - 2003
The Company Drama Worldwide box office: $6.42M - 2002
Sonny Drama Worldwide box office: $132K - 2002
City by the Sea Drama Worldwide box office: $29.7M - 2002
Mother Ghost as Skateboarder guy · Comedy - 2002
The Car Kid - 2001
James Dean as James Dean · Tv movie
James Franco in Documentaries & Specials
12- 2022
Spider-Man: All Roads Lead to No Way Home as Self (archive footage) · Documentary - 2018
Freaks and Geeks: The Documentary as Self · Documentary - 2018
Oh, Hi Mark: Making a Disaster as Self · Documentary - 2017
Drugs, Skate & Violence: Filmmaker Harmony Korine as Self - Archive Footage · Documentary - 2016
The 4%: Film’s Gender Problem as Self · Documentary - 2015
Saturday Night Live: 40th Anniversary Special as Self · Tv movie - 2014
Behind the Scenes of Palo Alto as Self · Documentary - 2013
What Is Cinema? as Self · Documentary - 2013
Comedy Central Roast of James Franco as Self · Comedy - 2010
With Great Power: The Stan Lee Story as Self · Documentary - 2010
Saturday Night as Self · Documentary - 2002
Behind the Ultimate Spin: The Making of ‘Spider-Man’ as Self · Documentary
James Franco: Awards & Nominations
4 wins from 15 nominations across 7 award bodies, from 2009 to 2018. Every ceremony is listed newest first, with the category and the film.
-
Spirit Awards 2 wins from 3 nominations -
Critics' Choice 1 win from 4 nominations -
Golden Globes 1 win from 3 nominations -
Actor Awards (SAG) 2 nominations -
TIFF 1 nomination -
Oscars 1 nomination -
BAFTA 1 nomination
-
23rd Critics' Choice Awards- James Franco: Nominated Best Actor The Disaster Artist
- James Franco: Win Best Actor in a Comedy Movie The Disaster Artist
-
24th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards- James Franco: Nominated Outstanding Leading Male Actor The Disaster Artist
-
75th Golden Globe Awards- James Franco: Win Best Actor – Musical or Comedy The Disaster Artist
-
33rd Film Independent Spirit Awards- James Franco: Nominated Best Male Lead The Disaster Artist
-
2017 Toronto International Film Festival Awards- James Franco: Nominated People's Choice Award, Midnight Madness First Runner Up The Disaster Artist
-
83rd Academy Awards- James Franco: Nominated Best Actor 127 Hours
-
64th British Academy Film Awards- James Franco: Nominated Best Actor 127 Hours
-
16th Critics' Choice Awards- James Franco: Nominated Best Actor 127 Hours
-
17th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards- James Franco: Nominated Outstanding Leading Male Actor 127 Hours
-
68th Golden Globe Awards- James Franco: Nominated Best Actor – Drama 127 Hours
-
26th Film Independent Spirit Awards- James Franco: Win Best Male Lead 127 Hours
-
14th Critics' Choice Awards- James Franco: Nominated Best Supporting Actor Milk
-
66th Golden Globe Awards- James Franco: Nominated Best Actor – Musical or Comedy Pineapple Express
-
24th Film Independent Spirit Awards- James Franco: Win Best Supporting Male Milk
Who Is James Franco?
James Franco was born in Palo Alto, California, U.S. in 1978 and is 48 years old. Credited on films since 2001, as both an actor and a director. The background, training and the roles that shaped the career.
James Edward Franco, born on April 19, 1978, in Palo Alto, California, is an American actor and filmmaker. He has starred in numerous films including Sam Raimi's Spider-Man trilogy (2002–2007), Milk (2008), Eat Pray Love (2010), Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011), Spring Breakers (2012), and Oz the Great and Powerful (2013). Franco has also collaborated with fellow actor Seth Rogen on multiple projects which include Pineapple Express (2008), This Is the End (2013), Sausage Party (2016), and The Disaster Artist (2017), which earned him a Golden Globe for Best Actor. His performance in 127 Hours (2010) also earned him a Best Actor nomination at the 83rd Academy Awards. Aside from acting, Franco is also known for his work as a film director, producer and screenwriter. In his personal life, Franco faced accusations of sexual misconduct in 2018, which led to lawsuits and a $2.2 million settlement in 2021.
Who James Franco Makes Movies With
The actors and directors James Franco shares the most films with. Seth Rogen comes first, with 9 films together, followed by Sam Raimi (4).
James Franco: Questions & Answers
How many movies James Franco has made, the biggest hit, the best-rated film, the award record and more, answered from the filmography above.
How many movies has James Franco been in?
James Franco is credited on 85 films, from 2001 to 2024. 68 of them as an actor and 5 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 James Franco's highest-grossing movie?
Spider-Man 3 (2007) is James Franco's biggest box office hit, with $892M worldwide, ahead of Oz the Great and Powerful (2013) ($493M). Across every film with box office figures, James Franco's movies have made $2.46B.
James Franco's biggest hits What is the best James Franco movie?
By the Movie Echo Score, which blends critic reviews, audience ratings and lasting impact, James Franco's best-rated film is The Ballad of Buster Scruggs (2018) with a score of 80, followed by The Show (2017) (75).
Best James Franco movies, ranked Has James Franco won an Oscar?
James Franco has been nominated for an Oscar but has not won one yet. Across every ceremony in the awards database, James Franco has 4 wins from 15 nominations.
How old is James Franco?
James Franco is 48 years old, born on April 19, 1978 in Palo Alto, California, U.S..
What is James Franco's newest movie?
The most recent film on James Franco's filmography is Hey Joe (2024), in the role of Dean Barry.
Who does James Franco work with most often?
James Franco shares the most films with Seth Rogen (9 films), Sam Raimi (4 films) and Kirsten Dunst (4 films).
The Best James Franco Movies, Ranked
Top rated, most awarded and biggest box office hits from 85 credits.
Coming soon to your phone
The Plot Explained Movie Summary App
From blockbusters to hidden gems: plot summaries, endings explained and timelines on your phone. Save your favorites and never miss a twist again.
Be the first to know when it launches. Your email stays private, always. Learn more about the app
