James Hetfield: Movies & Box Office
- films
- 64
- on screen
- 1972–2025
- box office
- $17.7M
- average score
- 79
- Born
- August 3, 1963 (age 63)
- Birthplace
- Downey, California, U.S.
- Full name
- James Alan Hetfield
- Citizenship
- American
- Occupations
- musician, songwriter, actor, guitarist, vocalist
- Years active
- 1978-present
- Spouses
- Francesca Tomasi
- Children
- 3
James Hetfield's Career in Numbers
James Hetfield's films in numbers — as an actor, not counting appearances as themselves: when they were made, the genres James Hetfield works in most and the milestones along the way. The filmography runs from Metallica - Kill ’Em All in Chicago 1983 (1983) to Ennio (2024), and the 2010s were the busiest decade.
James Hetfield Movies by Decade
- 1980s 4
- 1990s 2
- 2000s 5
- 2010s 9
- 2020s 5
The 2010s were James Hetfield's busiest decade, with 9 films.
James Hetfield Movies by Genre
- Music 16
- Documentary 5
- Crime 1
- Biography 1
Music is the genre James Hetfield has worked in most, with 16 films, ahead of documentary (5).
James Hetfield Career Milestones
- First film
- Metallica - Kill ’Em All in Chicago 1983 1983
- Biggest box office hit
- Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile $9.82M worldwide
- Best-rated film
- The Thicket Movie Echo Score 80
- Newest film
- Ennio 2024
James Hetfield Filmography: Every Movie
Every film James Hetfield is credited on, newest first, with the role, the box office and the Movie Echo Score. Rated films average a score of 79. Re-order the list to see the best-rated films or the biggest hits first.
James Hetfield Movies as an Actor
25- 2024
The Thicket as Simon Deasy · Crime Movie Echo Score: 80 - 2024
Ennio Documentary Worldwide box office: $1.97M Movie Echo Score: 75 - 2021
Metallica: 40th Anniversary - Live at Chase Center (Night 2) as vocals, guitars · Music - 2021
Metallica: 40th Anniversary - Live at Chase Center (Night 1) as vocals, guitars · Music - 2020
Metallica: Live at Slane Castle as lead vocals, guitar · Music - 2019
Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile as Officer Bob Hayward · Biography Worldwide box office: $9.82M Movie Echo Score: 64 - 2017
Addicted to Porn: Chasing the Cardboard Butterfly as Narrator · Documentary - 2016
Metallica: Making of Hardwired… to Self-Destruct Music - 2016
Metallica: Live from The House of Vans as Vocals, guitars · Music - 2013
’Tallica Parking Lot as James Hetfield (voice) · Music - 2012
Metallica: Quebec Magnetic as Lead Vocals/Rhythm Guitar · Documentary Worldwide box office: $54.8K - 2011
Metallica: Rock In Rio 2011 as Vocal, Guitar · Music - 2010
The Big Four: Live in Sofia as Guitars · Music - 2010
Metallica: Live at Sonisphere as James Hetfield - 2009
Metallica: Pride, Passion and Glory - Three Nights in Mexico City as Lead Vocals/Rhythm Guitar · Documentary - 2009
Metallica: Français pour une nuit as Lead Vocals/Rhythm Guitar · Music Worldwide box office: $56.2K - 2008
Metallica: Making Magnetic - 2006
Metallica: Rock AM Ring 2006 as Vocals, Guitars · Music - 2004
Metallica: Some Kind of Monster Music Worldwide box office: $1.98M - 1994
Metallica: Woodstock ’94 Music - 1993
Metallica: Mexico City, Mexico as Vox, Guitars · Documentary - 1989
Metallica - Live Shit - Binge & Purge, Seattle 1989 as Lead Vocals/Rhythm Guitar · Music - 1985
Metallica - Metal Hammer Festival as Lead Vocals/Rhythm Guitar · Music - 1985
Metallica: [1985] Day on the Green as Vox, Guitars · Music - 1983
Metallica - Kill ’Em All in Chicago 1983 as Lead Vocals/Rhythm Guitar · Music
James Hetfield in Documentaries & Specials
39- 2025
Ozzy: No Escape From Now as Self · Documentary - 2023
Metallica: M72 World Tour Live from Texas - Night 1 as Himself · Music Worldwide box office: $256K - 2023
Metallica: 72 Seasons - Global Premiere as Self · Documentary Worldwide box office: $695K - 2022
Metallica Presents: The Helping Hands Concert as Self · Music - 2020
MoPOP Founders Award 2020 Honoring Alice in Chains as Self · Documentary - 2020
Phil Lynott: Songs for While I’m Away as Self · Documentary - 2020
Hypnotizing Power: The Story of Master of Puppets as Self · Music - 2019
Metallica and San Francisco Symphony: S&M2 as Himself · Music Worldwide box office: $2.58M Movie Echo Score: 95 - 2019
Murder in the Front Row: The San Francisco Bay Area Thrash Metal Story as Self · Music - 2017
Sad Hill Unearthed as Self - Musician · History - 2017
Linkin Park and Friends Celebrate Life in Honor of Chester Bennington as Self (archive footage) · Music - 2017
Who the Fuck is That Guy?: The Fabulous Journey of Michael Alago as Self · Music - 2017
Cum On Feel The Noize as Self · Documentary - 2015
Metallica: Rock in Rio 2015 as Self - Vocals, Rhythm Guitar · Music - 2014
Metallica: This Monster Lives as Himself · Documentary - 2014
Hit the Lights: The Making of Metallica “Through the Never” as Self · Music - 2012
Metallica: Live in Orion Music Festival as Self - Vocals, Rhythm Guitar · Music - 2012
Anton Corbijn Inside Out as Self · Documentary Worldwide box office: $4.11K - 2011
Metallica: The 30th Anniversary Event as Self · Music - 2008
Metallica - Rock AM Ring as Self - Vocals, Rhythm Guitar · Music - 2007
Seven Ages of Rock as Self · Documentary - 2006
The Darwin Awards as Self · Romance Worldwide box office: $309K - 2006
Heavy Metal: Louder Than Life as Self · Documentary - 2003
Metallica: St. Anger Rehearsals as Himself - 2003
Metallica: MTV Icon as Himself · Documentary - 2001
Classic Albums: Metallica - Metallica as Self - Vocals, Rhythm Guitar · Documentary - 1999
Metallica and San Francisco Symphony: S&M as Self · Music - 1999
Metallica: Making of S&M as Self - Guitar, Vocals · Documentary - 1998
Metallica: Cunning Stunts as Self · Music - 1995
The History of Rock ’n’ Roll as Self · Music - 1993
Metallica: Live Shit - Binge & Purge, San Diego 1992 as Self - Guitar, Vocals · Music - 1993
Metallica: Live Shit: Binge and Purge as Himself (Rhythm Guitar/Lead Vocal) - 1992
Metallica: A Year and a Half in the Life of Metallica as Self · Music - 1992
The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert as Self · Music - 1992
Metallica: Live at San Diego as Himself - 1989
2 of One as Himself (Rhythm Guitar/Lead Vocal) · Documentary - 1987
Metallica - Cliff ’Em All as Himself (Guitarist / Vocalist) · Documentary - 1985
Metallica: Ride The Lightning as Self · Music - 1972
Deep Purple: Made In Japan as Self · Music
Who Is James Hetfield?
James Hetfield was born in Downey, California, U.S. in 1963 and is 63 years old. Credited on films since 1972, as an actor. The background, training and the roles that shaped the career.
James Hetfield, born James Alan Hetfield on August 3, 1963 in Downey, California, is best known as the co‑founder, lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist of the pioneering heavy‑metal band Metallica. Growing up in a strict Christian‑Science household, he experienced the loss of his mother to cancer at sixteen, an event that would later shape the dark lyrical themes of songs such as “The God That Failed” and “Dyers Eve”. His early musical education began with piano lessons at age nine, progressed to drums on his half‑brother’s kit, and finally settled on guitar at fourteen, where he was heavily influenced by Aerosmith and the early British metal scene. In 1981 Hetfield answered a classified ad placed by Lars Ulrich, and together they assembled the classic lineup of Metallica, releasing landmark albums like Kill ’Em All (1983), Master of Puppets (1986) and the self‑titled Black Album (1991), each earning critical acclaim and multi‑platinum sales. Over a career spanning more than four decades, he has garnered ten Grammy Awards, multiple MVP rankings in Guitar World and Rolling Stone, and induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2009. Hetfield’s signature down‑picking style, often described as “the king of down‑picking”, combined with his gruff, melodic vocal delivery, has cemented his reputation as one of metal’s most influential performers. Despite numerous personal challenges—including a 1992 on‑stage pyrotechnic accident, multiple injuries from skateboarding, and several stints in alcohol rehabilitation—he has consistently returned to the stage, demonstrating resilience and a dedication to his craft. Outside of music, he is an avid outdoorsman, enjoying hunting, beekeeping, and custom motorcycle work, and he maintains a passion for classic cars, famously auctioning his 1968 Chevrolet Camaro for charity. His personal life includes a marriage to Francesca Tomasi in 1997, with whom he has three children, and a recent divorce in 2022, after which he has been linked to Adriana Gillet. Today Hetfield resides in Vail, Colorado, where he continues to write, record, and tour with Metallica, influencing new generations of musicians worldwide.
Who James Hetfield Makes Movies With
The actors and directors James Hetfield shares the most films with. Ozzy Osbourne comes first, with 4 films together, followed by Bruce Springsteen (3).
James Hetfield: Questions & Answers
How many movies James Hetfield has made, the biggest hit, the best-rated film, the award record and more, answered from the filmography above.
How many movies has James Hetfield been in?
James Hetfield is credited on 64 films, from 1972 to 2025. The filmography on this page lists every one of them, newest first, with the role and the Movie Echo Score.
What is James Hetfield's highest-grossing movie?
Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile (2019) is James Hetfield's biggest box office hit, with $9.82M worldwide, ahead of Metallica and San Francisco Symphony: S&M2 (2019) ($2.58M). Across every film with box office figures, James Hetfield's movies have made $17.7M.
James Hetfield's biggest hits What is the best James Hetfield movie?
By the Movie Echo Score, which blends critic reviews, audience ratings and lasting impact, James Hetfield's best-rated film is Metallica and San Francisco Symphony: S&M2 (2019) with a score of 95, followed by The Thicket (2024) (80).
Best James Hetfield movies, ranked How old is James Hetfield?
James Hetfield is 63 years old, born on August 3, 1963 in Downey, California, U.S..
What is James Hetfield's newest movie?
The most recent film on James Hetfield's filmography is Ozzy: No Escape From Now (2025), in the role of Self.
Who does James Hetfield work with most often?
James Hetfield shares the most films with Ozzy Osbourne (4 films), Bruce Springsteen (3 films) and Bono (3 films).
The Best James Hetfield Movies, Ranked
Top rated, most awarded and biggest box office hits from 64 credits.
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