Kathy Bates: Movies, Awards & Box Office
- films
- 76
- as director
- 2
- on screen
- 1971–2024
- box office
- $1.27B
- award wins
- 4
- average score
- 58
- Born
- June 28, 1948 (age 78)
- Birthplace
- Memphis, Tennessee, U.S.
- Full name
- Kathleen Doyle Bates
- Citizenship
- American
- Occupations
- Actress
- Years active
- 1969-present
- Spouses
- Tony Campisi
The Best Kathy Bates Movies
The highest-rated films Kathy Bates is credited on, by the Movie Echo Score that blends critic reviews, audience ratings and lasting impact. Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret (2023) scores highest, at 88. The full ranking adds the biggest box office hits and the most awarded films.
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Movie Echo Score: Score 88 Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret 2023 · Sylvia Simon -
Movie Echo Score: Score 77 The Great Lillian Hall 2024 · Edith Wilson -
Movie Echo Score: Score 75 Richard Jewell 2019 · Bobi Jewell -
Movie Echo Score: Score 73 The Highwaymen 2019 · Ma Ferguson -
Movie Echo Score: Score 64 On the Basis of Sex 2018 · Dorothy Kenyon -
Movie Echo Score: Score 59 The Miracle Club 2023 · Eileen Dunne
Kathy Bates's Career in Numbers
Kathy Bates's films in numbers — as an actor, not counting appearances as themselves: when they were made, the genres Kathy Bates works in most and the milestones along the way. The filmography runs from Taking Off (1971) to Summer Camp (2024), and the 1990s were the busiest decade.
Kathy Bates Movies by Decade
- 1970s 2
- 1980s 9
- 1990s 23
- 2000s 18
- 2010s 11
- 2020s 6
The 1990s were Kathy Bates's busiest decade, with 23 films.
Kathy Bates Movies by Genre
- Drama 37
- Comedy 11
- Tv movie 4
- Biography 3
- Romance 3
- Thriller 3
- Animation 2
- Crime 2
- Sci-Fi 1
- Documentary 1
Drama is the genre Kathy Bates has worked in most, with 37 films, ahead of comedy (11).
Kathy Bates Career Milestones
- First film
- Taking Off 1971
- Biggest box office hit
- The Day the Earth Stood Still $233M worldwide
- Best-rated film
- Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret Movie Echo Score 88
- Newest film
- Summer Camp 2024
Kathy Bates Filmography: Every Movie
Every film Kathy Bates is credited on, newest first, with the role, the box office and the Movie Echo Score. 2 as director and 67 as actor. Rated films average a score of 58. Re-order the list to see the best-rated films or the biggest hits first.
Movies Directed by Kathy Bates
2
Kathy Bates Movies as an Actor
67- 2024
A Family Affair as Leila Ford · Comedy Movie Echo Score: 49 - 2024 The Great Lillian Hall as Edith Wilson · Drama Worldwide box office: $200K Movie Echo Score: 77
- 2024
Summer Camp as Ginny Moon · Comedy Worldwide box office: $2.66M Movie Echo Score: 50 - 2023 The Miracle Club as Eileen Dunne · Comedy Worldwide box office: $7.5M Movie Echo Score: 59
- 2023 Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret as Sylvia Simon · Drama Worldwide box office: $21.5M Movie Echo Score: 88
- 2020
Home as Bernadette · Drama - 2019 Richard Jewell as Bobi Jewell · Biography Worldwide box office: $44.6M Movie Echo Score: 75
- 2019
The Death and Life of John F. Donovan as Barbara Haggermaker · Drama Worldwide box office: $3.33M Movie Echo Score: 34 - 2019 The Highwaymen as Ma Ferguson · Biography Movie Echo Score: 73
- 2018 On the Basis of Sex as Dorothy Kenyon · Biography Worldwide box office: $38.8M Movie Echo Score: 64
- 2018
The Death & Life of John F. Donovan as Barbara Haggermaker · Drama Worldwide box office: $3.33M Movie Echo Score: 27 - 2018
Krystal as Vera Greenwood · Drama Worldwide box office: $37.5K Movie Echo Score: 38 - 2016
Bad Santa 2 Drama Worldwide box office: $24.1M - 2014
Tammy Comedy Worldwide box office: $100M - 2012
Cadaver as Beth · Animation - 2012
A Little Bit of Heaven Drama Worldwide box office: $6.78M - 2011
You May Not Kiss the Bride as Bryan's Mother · Romance - 2009
Chéri Drama Worldwide box office: $9.37M - 2008
The Day the Earth Stood Still Sci-Fi Worldwide box office: $233M - 2008
The Family That Preys Drama Worldwide box office: $37.1M - 2008
Bonneville Drama - 2007
Christmas Is Here Again as Miss Dowdy (voice) · Comedy - 2007
Guilty Hearts as The Judge · Drama - 2006
Relative Strangers as Agnes Menure · Comedy Worldwide box office: $155K - 2006
Failure to Launch Comedy Worldwide box office: $130M - 2005
Ambulance Girl as Jane Stern · Drama - 2005
The Bridge of San Luis Rey Drama Worldwide box office: $1.91M - 2005
Warm Springs as Helena Mahoney · Tv movie - 2004
The Cutting Edge: The Magic of Movie Editing as Narrator (voice) · Documentary - 2004
Popeye’s Voyage: The Quest for Pappy as Siren / Sea Hag (voice) · Animation - 2004
Little Black Book Drama Worldwide box office: $22M - 2002
Love Liza Drama Worldwide box office: $223K - 2002
Unconditional Love as Grace Beasley · Drama Worldwide box office: $489K - 2000
Without Lying Down: Frances Marion and the Power of Women in Hollywood as Frances Marion (voice) · Tv movie - 1999
Annie as Miss Agatha Hannigan · Comedy - 1998
The Waterboy Sport Worldwide box office: $186M - 1998
Primary Colors Drama Worldwide box office: $52.1M - 1997
Swept from the Sea as Miss Swaffer · Drama Worldwide box office: $397K - 1996
The War at Home as Maurine Collier · Drama Worldwide box office: $44.7K - 1996
Diabolique as Det. Shirley Vogel · Thriller Worldwide box office: $17.1M - 1996
The Late Shift as Helen Kushnick · Drama - 1995
The West Side Waltz as Mr. Goo · Tv movie - 1995
Angus as Meg Bethune · Comedy Worldwide box office: $4.82M - 1995
Dolores Claiborne Drama Worldwide box office: $24.4M - 1994
Curse of the Starving Class as Ella Tate · Drama - 1994
Tupperware! as Narrator · History - 1993
A Home of Our Own as Frances Lacey · Drama Worldwide box office: $1.68M - 1992
Used People as Bibby Berman · Drama Worldwide box office: $18M - 1992
Hostages as Peggy Say · Tv movie - 1992
Prelude to a Kiss as Leah Blier · Drama Worldwide box office: $22.7M - 1992
Fried Green Tomatoes Drama Worldwide box office: $119M - 1991
At Play in the Fields of the Lord as Hazel Quarrier · Romance Worldwide box office: $1.35M - 1991
Shadows and Fog as Prostitute · Crime Worldwide box office: $2.74M - 1990
Misery Drama Worldwide box office: $61.3M - 1990
White Palace Drama Worldwide box office: $17.5M - 1990
Men Don’t Leave as Lisa Coleman · Comedy - 1989
No Place Like Home as Bonnie Cooper · Drama - 1989
High Stakes as Jill · Thriller Worldwide box office: $4.78K - 1989
Roe vs. Wade as Jessie · Drama - 1989
Signs of Life as Mary Beth Alder · Drama Worldwide box office: $109K - 1988
Arthur 2: On the Rocks as Mrs. Canby · Comedy Worldwide box office: $14.7M - 1987
Summer Heat as Ruth · Romance Worldwide box office: $350K - 1987
Murder Ordained as Bobbi Birk · Drama - 1986
The Morning After as Woman on Mateo Street · Thriller Worldwide box office: $25.1M - 1982
Come Back to the 5 & Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean as Stella Mae · Drama Worldwide box office: $842K - 1978
Straight Time Drama Worldwide box office: $9.9M - 1971
Taking Off as Audition Singer · Drama
Kathy Bates in Documentaries & Specials
7- 2023
Titanic: Stories from the Heart as Self / Molly Brown (archive footage) · Documentary - 2021
Hannibal Hopkins & Sir Anthony as Self (archive footage) · Documentary - 2014
And the Oscar Goes To… as Self (archive footage) · Documentary - 2012
Reflections on Titanic as Self · Documentary - 2005
Six Feet Under: In Memoriam as Herself · Documentary - 2003
Declaration of Independence as Self · Documentary - 1996
The Good, The Bad, and the Beautiful as Self · Documentary
Kathy Bates: Awards & Nominations
4 wins from 14 nominations across 5 award bodies, from 1991 to 2020. That includes an Oscar: Best Actress for Misery. Every ceremony is listed newest first, with the category and the film.
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Golden Globes 1 win from 5 nominations -
Oscars 1 win from 4 nominations -
Critics' Choice 1 win from 2 nominations -
Actor Awards (SAG) 1 win from 2 nominations -
BAFTA 1 nomination
- 92nd Academy Awards
- Kathy Bates: Nominated Best Supporting Actress Richard Jewell
- 77th Golden Globe Awards
- Kathy Bates: Nominated Best Supporting Performance in a Motion Picture (Supporting Actress) Richard Jewell
- 75th Academy Awards
- Kathy Bates: Nominated Best Supporting Actress About Schmidt
- 8th Critics' Choice Awards
- Kathy Bates: Nominated Best Supporting Actress About Schmidt
- 9th Screen Actors Guild Awards
- Kathy Bates: Nominated Outstanding Supporting Female Actor About Schmidt
- 60th Golden Globe Awards
- Kathy Bates: Nominated Best Supporting Performance in a Motion Picture – Drama, Musical or Comedy (Actress) About Schmidt
- 71st Academy Awards
- Kathy Bates: Nominated Best Supporting Actress Primary Colors
- 52nd British Academy Film Awards
- Kathy Bates: Nominated Best Supporting Actress Primary Colors
- 4th Critics' Choice Movie Awards
- Kathy Bates: Win Best Supporting Actress Primary Colors
- 5th Screen Actors Guild Awards
- Kathy Bates: Win Outstanding Supporting Female Actor Primary Colors
- 56th Golden Globe Awards
- Kathy Bates: Nominated Best Supporting Performance in a Motion Picture – Drama, Musical or Comedy (Supporting Actress) Primary Colors
- 49th Golden Globe Awards
- Kathy Bates: Nominated Best Actress – Musical or Comedy Fried Green Tomatoes
- 63rd Academy Awards
- Kathy Bates: Win Best Actress Misery
- 48th Golden Globe Awards
- Kathy Bates: Win Best Actress – Drama Misery
Who Is Kathy Bates?
Kathy Bates was born in Memphis, Tennessee, U.S. in 1948 and is 78 years old. Credited on films since 1971, as an actor. The background, training and the roles that shaped the career.
Kathleen Doyle Bates, known as Kathy Bates, is an accomplished American actress with a prodigious career that extends over five decades. She was born on June 28, 1948, in Memphis, Tennessee where she engaged in theater studies at Southern Methodist University. She later relocated to New York City to embark on her acting career. Bates has amassed a distinguished repertoire of awards, which includes numerous Academy Awards, Primetime Emmy Awards, and Golden Globe awards, alongside nominations for a Tony Award and BAFTA Awards. Similarly, her captivating performances in various theater productions have seen her secure an Obie Award and a Tony Award nomination. Bates' breakthrough role was in the thriller Misery released in 1990, where her authentic depiction of Annie Wilkes earned her an Academy Award for Best Actress. With other critically acclaimed performances in films such as Primary Colors, About Schmidt, and Richard Jewell, she continues to pioneer depiction of complex characters in the industry. In addition to her film work, Bates has earned accolades for her work in television, notably her roles in Two and a Half Men and American Horror Story.
Who Kathy Bates Makes Movies With
The actors and directors Kathy Bates shares the most films with. Susan Sarandon comes first, with 4 films together, followed by Emma Thompson (3).
Kathy Bates: Questions & Answers
How many movies Kathy Bates has made, the biggest hit, the best-rated film, the award record and more, answered from the filmography above.
How many movies has Kathy Bates been in?
Kathy Bates is credited on 76 films, from 1971 to 2024. 67 of them as an actor and 2 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 Kathy Bates's highest-grossing movie?
The Day the Earth Stood Still (2008) is Kathy Bates's biggest box office hit, with $233M worldwide, ahead of The Waterboy (1998) ($186M). Across every film with box office figures, Kathy Bates's movies have made $1.27B.
Kathy Bates's biggest hits What is the best Kathy Bates movie?
By the Movie Echo Score, which blends critic reviews, audience ratings and lasting impact, Kathy Bates's best-rated film is Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret (2023) with a score of 88, followed by The Great Lillian Hall (2024) (77).
Best Kathy Bates movies, ranked Has Kathy Bates won an Oscar?
Kathy Bates has won an Oscar: Best Actress for Misery at the 1991 ceremony. Across every ceremony in the awards database, Kathy Bates has 4 wins from 14 nominations.
How old is Kathy Bates?
Kathy Bates is 78 years old, born on June 28, 1948 in Memphis, Tennessee, U.S..
What is Kathy Bates's newest movie?
The most recent film on Kathy Bates's filmography is A Family Affair (2024), in the role of Leila Ford.
Who does Kathy Bates work with most often?
Kathy Bates shares the most films with Susan Sarandon (4 films), Emma Thompson (3 films) and Steven Spielberg (3 films).
The Best Kathy Bates Movies, Ranked
Top rated, most awarded and biggest box office hits from 76 credits.
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