Melissa Leo: Movies, Awards & Box Office
- films
- 65
- on screen
- 1985–2026
- box office
- $1.27B
- award wins
- 5
- average score
- 57
- Born
- September 14, 1960 (age 66)
- Birthplace
- New York City, U.S.
- Full name
- Melissa Chessington Leo
- Citizenship
- American
- Occupations
- Actress
- Years active
- 1984-present
- Spouses
- John Heard
- Children
- 1
The Best Melissa Leo Movies
The highest-rated films Melissa Leo is credited on, by the Movie Echo Score that blends critic reviews, audience ratings and lasting impact. Novitiate (2017) scores highest, at 78. The full ranking adds the biggest box office hits and the most awarded films.
-
Movie Echo Score: Score 78 Novitiate 2017 · Reverend Mother -
Movie Echo Score: Score 75 Unlovable 2018 · Maddie -
Movie Echo Score: Score 73 Coast 2021 · Olivia -
Movie Echo Score: Score 70 The Knife 2025 · Detective Carlsen -
Movie Echo Score: Score 67 King Ivory 2025 · Ginger Greene -
Movie Echo Score: Score 67 Body Brokers 2021 · Dr. White
Melissa Leo's Career in Numbers
Melissa Leo's films in numbers — as an actor, not counting appearances as themselves: when they were made, the genres Melissa Leo works in most and the milestones along the way. The filmography runs from Silent Witness (1985) to Passenger (2026), and the 2010s were the busiest decade.
Melissa Leo Movies by Decade
- 1980s 6
- 1990s 6
- 2000s 9
- 2010s 25
- 2020s 16
The 2010s were Melissa Leo's busiest decade, with 25 films.
Melissa Leo Movies by Genre
- Drama 29
- Action 10
- Thriller 7
- Comedy 3
- Biography 3
- Horror 2
- Romance 2
- Crime 1
- Mystery 1
- History 1
Drama is the genre Melissa Leo has worked in most, with 29 films, ahead of action (10).
Melissa Leo Career Milestones
- First film
- Silent Witness 1985
- Biggest box office hit
- Oblivion $286M worldwide
- Best-rated film
- Novitiate Movie Echo Score 78
- Newest film
- Passenger 2026
Melissa Leo Filmography: Every Movie
Every film Melissa Leo is credited on, newest first, with the role, the box office and the Movie Echo Score. Rated films average a score of 57. Re-order the list to see the best-rated films or the biggest hits first.
Melissa Leo Movies as an Actor
62- 2026
Passenger as Diana · Horror Worldwide box office: $31.6M Movie Echo Score: 61 - 2025
King Ivory as Ginger Greene · Crime Worldwide box office: $155K Movie Echo Score: 67 - 2025
The Knife as Detective Carlsen · Drama Movie Echo Score: 70 - 2025
Guns Up as Michael Temple · Action Worldwide box office: $253K Movie Echo Score: 42 - 2024
Long Gone Heroes as Olivia Peterson · Action Worldwide box office: $4.58K Movie Echo Score: 42 - 2024
King Ivory as Ginger Greene · Thriller - 2024
The Clean Up Crew as Siobhan · Action Worldwide box office: $94.3K Movie Echo Score: 38 - 2024
The Knife as Detective Carlsen · Thriller - 2022
Jane as Principal Rhodes · Thriller Worldwide box office: $13.1K Movie Echo Score: 66 - 2022
Alone Together as Deborah · Drama Worldwide box office: $21.6K Movie Echo Score: 47 - 2022
Measure of Revenge as Lillian · Mystery Movie Echo Score: 34 - 2021
Ida Red as Ida 'Red' Walker · Action Movie Echo Score: 42 - 2021
Thunder Force as Allie · Action Movie Echo Score: 48 - 2021
Coast as Olivia · Drama Movie Echo Score: 73 - 2021
Body Brokers as Dr. White · Drama Worldwide box office: $13.5K Movie Echo Score: 67 - 2020
I Know This Much Is True as Concettina Ipolita Tempesta 'Ma' Birdsey · Drama - 2018
Unlovable as Maddie · Drama Movie Echo Score: 75 - 2018
The Equalizer 2 as Susan Plummer · Action Worldwide box office: $190M Movie Echo Score: 65 - 2018
The Parting Glass as Al · Drama - 2018
Furlough as Joan Anderson · Comedy Worldwide box office: $8.47K Movie Echo Score: 46 - 2018
The Ashram as Chandra · Thriller Worldwide box office: $21.8K Movie Echo Score: 57 - 2017
Novitiate as Reverend Mother · Drama Worldwide box office: $580K Movie Echo Score: 78 - 2017
The View from Up Here Drama - 2016
Snowden Action Worldwide box office: $37.4M - 2016
All the Way as Lady Bird Johnson · History - 2015
The Big Short Biography Worldwide box office: $133M - 2014
The Equalizer Action Worldwide box office: $192M - 2014
The Angriest Man in Brooklyn Drama Worldwide box office: $615K - 2014
Dwegons and Leprechauns as Grandma Fitz / Butterfly McDweg / Mrs. Fitzgerald · Animation - 2013
Prisoners Drama Worldwide box office: $122M - 2013
A Single Shot Drama Worldwide box office: $18.6K - 2013
Lee Daniels' The Butler Biography - 2013
Letters to Jackie: Remembering President Kennedy as Narrator (voice) · Documentary - 2013
Call Me Crazy: A Five Film as Robin · Drama - 2013
Oblivion Action Worldwide box office: $286M - 2012
Why Stop Now Drama Worldwide box office: $2.43K - 2011
Mildred Pierce as Lucy Gessler · Drama - 2010
The Fighter Drama Worldwide box office: $129M - 2010
Welcome to the Rileys Drama Worldwide box office: $362K - 2010
Conviction Biography Worldwide box office: $11.1M - 2010
Don McKay Drama Worldwide box office: $13.7K - 2009
According to Greta as Karen · Drama - 2009
Don McKay as Marie · Thriller Worldwide box office: $13.7K - 2009
True Adolescents as Sharon Mitchell · Drama - 2008
Frozen River Drama Worldwide box office: $5.46M - 2007
Dear Lemon Lima as Mrs. Howard - 2006
The House Is Burning as Mrs. Miller · Drama - 2005
Hide and Seek Drama Worldwide box office: $127M - 2005
Confess as Agnes Lessor · Thriller - 2000
Homicide: The Movie as Kay Howard · Drama - 1999
The 24 Hour Woman as Dr. Suzanne Pincus · Comedy Worldwide box office: $110K - 1995
Last Summer in the Hamptons as Trish Axelrod · Comedy Worldwide box office: $802K - 1994
Scarlett Drama - 1992
Immaculate Conception as Hannah · Drama - 1992
Venice/Venice as Peggy · Drama - 1991
Carolina Skeletons as Cassie · Thriller - 1988
A Time of Destiny as Josie Larraneta · Drama Worldwide box office: $1.21M - 1986
Deadtime Stories as Judith 'MaMa' Baer · Horror Worldwide box office: $2.75M - 1985
Silent Witness as Patti Mullen · Drama - 1985
Always … But Not Forever as Peggy · Romance - 1985
Always … But Not Forever as Peggy · Romance - 1985
Streetwalkin' Action
Melissa Leo in Documentaries & Specials
3Melissa Leo: Awards & Nominations
5 wins from 8 nominations across 5 award bodies, from 2009 to 2011. That includes an Oscar: Best Supporting Actress for The Fighter. Every ceremony is listed newest first, with the category and the film.
-
Oscars 1 win from 2 nominations -
Critics' Choice 1 win from 2 nominations -
Actor Awards (SAG) 1 win from 2 nominations -
Golden Globes 1 win from 1 nomination -
Spirit Awards 1 win from 1 nomination
-
83rd Academy Awards- Melissa Leo: Win Best Supporting Actress The Fighter
-
16th Critics' Choice Awards- Melissa Leo: Win Best Supporting Actress The Fighter
-
17th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards- Melissa Leo: Win Outstanding Supporting Female Actor The Fighter
-
68th Golden Globe Awards- Melissa Leo: Win Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama, Musical or Comedy The Fighter
-
81st Academy Awards- Melissa Leo: Nominated Best Actress Frozen River
-
14th Critics' Choice Awards- Melissa Leo: Nominated Best Actress Frozen River
-
15th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards- Melissa Leo: Nominated Outstanding Leading Female Actor Frozen River
-
24th Film Independent Spirit Awards- Melissa Leo: Win Best Female Lead Frozen River
Who Is Melissa Leo?
Melissa Leo was born in New York City, U.S. in 1960 and is 66 years old. Credited on films since 1985, as an actor. The background, training and the roles that shaped the career.
Melissa Chessington Leo, an American actress, was born on September 14, 1960. She has received multiple accolades, including an Academy Award, a Primetime Emmy Award, a Golden Globe Award, a Screen Actors Guild Award, and two Critics' Choice Awards. After making several TV appearances and films in the 1980s, Leo started as regular on All My Children, earning her a Daytime Emmy Award nomination, and on The Young Riders. Her breakthrough role was in 1993, playing detective Kay Howard on Homicide: Life on the Street from 1993-1997. She was widely praised for her performance as Ray Eddy in Frozen River in 2008, earning multiple nominations and awards, including an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress. This film was pivotal in her career, showing her remarkable prowess in character embodiment and earning her a resounding reputation in the industry. In 2010, Leo won several awards for her excellent performance as Alice Eklund-Ward in the film The Fighter, bagging the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress.
In 2013, she appeared on Louie as a guest star, for which she bagged a Primetime Emmy Award. She subsequently had major roles in the Fox series Wayward Pines as Nurse Pam and the Netflix film The Most Hated Woman in America. She established herself as a versatile actress capable of significant range, and her dedication to each part has been noted by many industry critics. Additionally, Leo had a series of successful films throughout 2009 and 2010, including Stephanie's Image, True Adolescents, and Veronika Decides to Die. She earned fame for her role in David O. Russell's The Fighter alongside Mark Wahlberg and Christian Bale. For her performance, Leo bagged numerous awards, including the Golden Globe, New York Film Critics Circle, Screen Actors Guild, and Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress.
Who Melissa Leo Makes Movies With
The actors and directors Melissa Leo shares the most films with. John Swab comes first, with 5 films together, followed by Henry Jaglom (5).
Melissa Leo: Questions & Answers
How many movies Melissa Leo has made, the biggest hit, the best-rated film, the award record and more, answered from the filmography above.
How many movies has Melissa Leo been in?
Melissa Leo is credited on 65 films, from 1985 to 2026. The filmography on this page lists every one of them, newest first, with the role and the Movie Echo Score.
What is Melissa Leo's highest-grossing movie?
Oblivion (2013) is Melissa Leo's biggest box office hit, with $286M worldwide, ahead of The Equalizer (2014) ($192M). Across every film with box office figures, Melissa Leo's movies have made $1.27B.
Melissa Leo's biggest hits What is the best Melissa Leo movie?
By the Movie Echo Score, which blends critic reviews, audience ratings and lasting impact, Melissa Leo's best-rated film is Novitiate (2017) with a score of 78, followed by Unlovable (2018) (75).
Best Melissa Leo movies, ranked Has Melissa Leo won an Oscar?
Melissa Leo has won an Oscar: Best Supporting Actress for The Fighter at the 2011 ceremony. Across every ceremony in the awards database, Melissa Leo has 5 wins from 8 nominations.
How old is Melissa Leo?
Melissa Leo is 66 years old, born on September 14, 1960 in New York City, U.S..
What is Melissa Leo's newest movie?
The most recent film on Melissa Leo's filmography is Passenger (2026), in the role of Diana.
Who does Melissa Leo work with most often?
Melissa Leo shares the most films with John Swab (5 films), Henry Jaglom (5 films) and Sam Quartin (4 films).
The Best Melissa Leo Movies, Ranked
Top rated, most awarded and biggest box office hits from 65 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
