JoBeth Williams: Movies & Box Office
- films
- 52
- as director
- 1
- on screen
- 1978–2026
- box office
- $313M
- average score
- 65
- Born
- December 6, 1948 (age 77)
- Birthplace
- Houston, Texas, U.S.
- Full name
- Margaret JoBeth Williams
- Citizenship
- American
- Occupations
- Actress
- Years active
- 1974-present
- Spouses
- John Pasquin
- Children
- 2
The Best JoBeth Williams Movies
The highest-rated films JoBeth Williams is credited on, by the Movie Echo Score that blends critic reviews, audience ratings and lasting impact. Cash for Gold (2025) scores highest, at 90. The full ranking adds the biggest box office hits and the most awarded films.
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Movie Echo Score: Score 90 Cash for Gold 2025 · Boots -
Movie Echo Score: Score 85 Chantilly Bridge 2023 · Natalie -
Movie Echo Score: Score 85 Barracuda 2017 · Patricia -
Movie Echo Score: Score 46 Alex & The List 2018 · Mrs. Stern -
Movie Echo Score: Score 42 Not Without Hope 2025 · Marcia Schuyler -
Movie Echo Score: Score 40 Sgt. Will Gardner 2019 · Sherry
JoBeth Williams's Career in Numbers
JoBeth Williams's films in numbers — as an actor, not counting appearances as themselves: when they were made, the genres JoBeth Williams works in most and the milestones along the way. The filmography runs from The World Beyond (1978) to Cash for Gold (2025), and the 1990s were the busiest decade.
JoBeth Williams Movies by Decade
- 1970s 1
- 1980s 15
- 1990s 17
- 2000s 6
- 2010s 7
- 2020s 3
The 1990s were JoBeth Williams's busiest decade, with 17 films.
JoBeth Williams Movies by Genre
- Drama 21
- Comedy 6
- Tv movie 5
- Horror 4
- Action 3
- Fantasy 2
- Romance 2
- Music 2
- Thriller 2
- Family 1
Drama is the genre JoBeth Williams has worked in most, with 21 films, ahead of comedy (6).
JoBeth Williams Career Milestones
- First film
- The World Beyond 1978
- Biggest box office hit
- Poltergeist $77.2M worldwide
- Best-rated film
- Cash for Gold Movie Echo Score 90
- Newest film
- Cash for Gold 2025
JoBeth Williams Filmography: Every Movie
Every film JoBeth Williams is credited on, newest first, with the role, the box office and the Movie Echo Score. 1 as director and 48 as actor. Rated films average a score of 65. Re-order the list to see the best-rated films or the biggest hits first.
Movies Directed by JoBeth Williams
1JoBeth Williams Movies as an Actor
48- 2025
Not Without Hope as Marcia Schuyler · Drama Worldwide box office: $236K Movie Echo Score: 42 - 2025
Cash for Gold as Boots · Drama Movie Echo Score: 90 - 2023
Chantilly Bridge as Natalie · Drama Movie Echo Score: 85 - 2019
Sgt. Will Gardner as Sherry · Action Worldwide box office: $4.41K Movie Echo Score: 40 - 2018
Alex & The List as Mrs. Stern · Comedy Movie Echo Score: 46 - 2017
Barracuda as Patricia · Drama Movie Echo Score: 85 - 2016
Within as Rosemary Fletcher · Horror Worldwide box office: $10.4K - 2016
The Last Film Festival as Mayor · Comedy Worldwide box office: $3.56K - 2014
In My Dreams as Charlotte Smith · Fantasy - 2011
Love’s Christmas Journey as Beatrice · Drama - 2009
Uncorked as Sophia Browning · Romance - 2007
Sybil as Hattie Dorsett · Drama - 2005
14 Hours as Jeanette Makins · Drama - 2002
Repossessed Horror - 2000
Trapped in a Purple Haze as Sophie Hanson · Tv movie - 1999
Jackie’s Back! as Jo Face (Jackie's Vocal Coach) · Music - 1999
Justice as Jane Newhart · Drama - 1998
A Chance of Snow as Madeline 'Maddie Parker · Tv movie - 1997
Jungle 2 Jungle Comedy Worldwide box office: $59.9M - 1997
Just Write as Sidney Stone · Comedy - 1996
Breaking Through as Pam Willis (as Jobeth Williams) · Drama - 1996
Ruby Jean and Joe as Rose · Comedy - 1994
Parallel Lives as Winnie Winslow · Drama - 1993
Final Appeal as Christine Biondi · Drama - 1993
Chantilly Lace Drama - 1992
Commercial Entertainment Product as Diane Freeling · Music - 1992
Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot as Lt. Gwen Harper · Action Worldwide box office: $70.6M - 1992
Me, Myself and I as Crazy / Sane Diane · Comedy - 1991
Dutch as Natalie Standish · Drama Worldwide box office: $4.6M - 1991
Switch Fantasy Worldwide box office: $15.5M - 1991
Victim of Love as Tess Harper · Thriller - 1990
Child in the Night as Dr. Hollis · Drama - 1989
Welcome Home as Sarah · Drama - 1989
My Name Is Bill W. as Lois Wilson · Tv movie - 1988
Memories of Me Drama Worldwide box office: $3.97M - 1988
Baby M as Marybeth Whitehead - 1987
Murder Ordained as Lorna Anderson · Drama - 1986
Adam: His Song Continues as Reve Walsh · Tv movie - 1986
Poltergeist II: The Other Side Horror Worldwide box office: $41M - 1986
Desert Bloom as Lily Chismore · Family Worldwide box office: $416K - 1984
American Dreamer as Cathy Palmer · Romance Worldwide box office: $5.02M - 1984
Teachers Drama Worldwide box office: $27.8M - 1983
The Day After as Nurse Nancy Bauer · Tv movie - 1983
Adam as Reve Walsh · Drama - 1982
Endangered Species as Harriet Purdue · Drama Worldwide box office: $1.47M - 1982
Poltergeist Horror Worldwide box office: $77.2M - 1981
The Dogs of War Action Worldwide box office: $5.48M - 1978
The World Beyond as Marian Faber · Thriller
JoBeth Williams in Documentaries & Specials
3Who Is JoBeth Williams?
JoBeth Williams was born in Houston, Texas, U.S. in 1948 and is 77 years old. Credited on films since 1978, as an actor. The background, training and the roles that shaped the career.
Margaret JoBeth Williams (born December 6, 1948) is a renowned American actress best remembered for her roles in notable films like Kramer vs. Kramer (1979), Stir Crazy (1980), Poltergeist (1982), The Big Chill (1983), and The Day After (1983), among many others. She started her acting career in 1974 and quickly rose to prominence. Williams' work is extensively diverse, including her remarkable performances in Teachers (1984), Poltergeist II: The Other Side (1986), the TV movie Adam (1983), and the TV miniseries Baby M (1988). Apart from acting, she is also recognized in the film industry for her directorial debut with the 1994 short film On Hope, which brought her an Academy Award nomination for Best Live Action Short Film.
In her early life, JoBeth was brought up in the South Park neighborhood of Houston. Her career-long accomplishments also include a prestigious stint as president of the Screen Actors Guild Foundation. Apart from her illustrious film career, she has had an impressive television presence too. Williams has played noteworthy roles in TV series like Dexter (2007) and Private Practice (2009–11), demonstrating her versatility. She is a three-time Emmy Award nominee, acknowledged for her outstanding lead performances. Williams continues to enthrall audiences with her strong performances, maintaining a consistent presence on both the big and small screens.
Who JoBeth Williams Makes Movies With
The actors and directors JoBeth Williams shares the most films with. Ally Sheedy comes first, with 4 films together, followed by Lindsay Crouse (4).
JoBeth Williams: Questions & Answers
How many movies JoBeth Williams has made, the biggest hit, the best-rated film, the award record and more, answered from the filmography above.
How many movies has JoBeth Williams been in?
JoBeth Williams is credited on 52 films, from 1978 to 2026. 48 of them as an actor and 1 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 JoBeth Williams's highest-grossing movie?
Poltergeist (1982) is JoBeth Williams's biggest box office hit, with $77.2M worldwide, ahead of Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot (1992) ($70.6M). Across every film with box office figures, JoBeth Williams's movies have made $313M.
JoBeth Williams's biggest hits What is the best JoBeth Williams movie?
By the Movie Echo Score, which blends critic reviews, audience ratings and lasting impact, JoBeth Williams's best-rated film is Cash for Gold (2025) with a score of 90, followed by Chantilly Bridge (2023) (85).
Best JoBeth Williams movies, ranked How old is JoBeth Williams?
JoBeth Williams is 77 years old, born on December 6, 1948 in Houston, Texas, U.S..
What is JoBeth Williams's newest movie?
The most recent film on JoBeth Williams's filmography is She Was Here (2026), in the role of Self.
Who does JoBeth Williams work with most often?
JoBeth Williams shares the most films with Ally Sheedy (4 films), Lindsay Crouse (4 films) and Helen Slater (3 films).
The Best JoBeth Williams Movies, Ranked
Top rated, most awarded and biggest box office hits from 52 credits.
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