Michael McKean: Movies & Box Office
- films
- 62
- on screen
- 1977–2025
- box office
- $222M
- average score
- 70
- Born
- October 17, 1947 (age 78)
- Birthplace
- New York City, New York, U.S.
- Full name
- Michael John McKean
- Citizenship
- American
- Occupations
- Actor, Comedian, Screenwriter, Director, Singer, Composer, Musician
- Years active
- 1967-present
- Spouses
- Susan Russell, Annette O'Toole
- Children
- 2
The Best Michael McKean Movies
The highest-rated films Michael McKean is credited on, by the Movie Echo Score that blends critic reviews, audience ratings and lasting impact. My Little Pony: A New Generation (2021) scores highest, at 81. The full ranking adds the biggest box office hits and the most awarded films.
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Movie Echo Score: Score 81 My Little Pony: A New Generation 2021 · Argyle -
Movie Echo Score: Score 78 Jerry & Marge Go Large 2022 · Howard -
Movie Echo Score: Score 72 Pink Skies Ahead 2021 · Robert -
Movie Echo Score: Score 71 Playing God 2021 · Frank -
Movie Echo Score: Score 67 Spinal Tap II: The End Continues 2025 · David St. Hubbins -
Movie Echo Score: Score 67 Jerry and Marge Go Large 2022 · Howard
Michael McKean's Career in Numbers
Michael McKean's films in numbers — as an actor, not counting appearances as themselves: when they were made, the genres Michael McKean works in most and the milestones along the way. The filmography runs from Cracking Up (1977) to Spinal Tap II: The End Continues (2025), and the 1990s were the busiest decade.
Michael McKean Movies by Decade
- 1970s 1
- 1980s 13
- 1990s 18
- 2000s 12
- 2010s 6
- 2020s 6
The 1990s were Michael McKean's busiest decade, with 18 films.
Michael McKean Movies by Genre
- Comedy 17
- Drama 10
- Animation 4
- Adventure 3
- Action 3
- Music 3
- Tv movie 3
- Family 3
- Thriller 2
- Sci-Fi 2
Comedy is the genre Michael McKean has worked in most, with 17 films, ahead of drama (10).
Michael McKean Career Milestones
- First film
- Cracking Up 1977
- Biggest box office hit
- Small Soldiers $54.7M worldwide
- Best-rated film
- My Little Pony: A New Generation Movie Echo Score 81
- Newest film
- Spinal Tap II: The End Continues 2025
Michael McKean Filmography: Every Movie
Every film Michael McKean is credited on, newest first, with the role, the box office and the Movie Echo Score. Rated films average a score of 70. Re-order the list to see the best-rated films or the biggest hits first.
Michael McKean Movies as an Actor
56- 2025
Spinal Tap II: The End Continues as David St. Hubbins · Comedy Worldwide box office: $3.34M Movie Echo Score: 67 - 2022
Jerry and Marge Go Large as Howard · Biography Movie Echo Score: 67 - 2022
Jerry & Marge Go Large as Howard · Drama Movie Echo Score: 78 - 2021
My Little Pony: A New Generation as Argyle · Adventure Worldwide box office: $1.38M Movie Echo Score: 81 - 2021
Playing God as Frank · Drama Movie Echo Score: 71 - 2021
Pink Skies Ahead as Robert · Drama Movie Echo Score: 72 - 2019
Image Makers: The Adventures of America’s Pioneer Cinematographers as Narrator (voice) · History - 2019
Daddio as Paul · Comedy - 2016
The Meddler Drama Worldwide box office: $5.43M - 2013
Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Part 2 as Bartholomew Wolper (voice) · Animation - 2012
Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Part 1 as Dr. Bartholomew Wolper (voice) · Action - 2010
Pure Country 2: The Gift as Angel Joseph · Music Worldwide box office: $134K - 2009
Spinal Tap: Back from the Dead as David St. Hubbins · Music - 2007
Billy & Mandy: Wrath of the Spider Queen as Kalgoron (voice) · Adventure - 2006
The Year Without a Santa Claus as Snow Miser · Tv movie - 2006
Relative Strangers as Ken Hyman · Comedy Worldwide box office: $155K - 2005
Arnie the Doughnut as Narrator / Arnie the Doughnut (voice) · Animation - 2003
And Starring Pancho Villa as Himself as William Christy Cabanne · Drama - 2003
A Mighty Wind Comedy Worldwide box office: $18.8M - 2003
Haunted Lighthouse 4-D as Captain Van Legge · Mystery - 2002
100 Mile Rule as Howard · Thriller - 2002
Slap Her... She's French Comedy - 2002
The Hunchback of Notre Dame II as Sarousch (voice) · Animation - 2001
Recess Christmas: Miracle On Third Street as Mr. Bream (voice) · Comedy - 1999
Snowden’s Christmas as (voice) · Animation - 1998
Small Soldiers as Insaniac / Freakenstein (voice) · Adventure Worldwide box office: $54.7M - 1998
Final Justice as Merle Hammond · Tv movie - 1998
The Pass as Willie L. · Thriller - 1997
Nothing to Lose as Phillip "P.B." Barrow · Action Worldwide box office: $44.5M - 1997
That Darn Cat Action Worldwide box office: $18.3M - 1996
Edie & Pen as Rick · Comedy - 1996
The Sunshine Boys as Scott Grogan · Drama - 1994
Spinal Tap: The Final Tour as David St. Hubbins - 1994
Radioland Murders as Rick Rochester · Drama Worldwide box office: $1.32M - 1994
Across the Moon as Frank · Drama - 1992
A Spinal Tap Reunion: The 25th Anniversary London Sell-Out as David St. Hubbins / Jerry Palter · Comedy - 1992
Metallica: A Year and a Half in the Life of Metallica as David St. Hubbins · Music - 1992
Man Trouble as Eddy Revere · Romance Worldwide box office: $4.1M - 1991
Amnesty International’s Big 30 as David St. Hubbins · Comedy - 1991
True Identity Comedy Worldwide box office: $4.69M - 1990
Book of Love as Adult Jack Twiller · Comedy Worldwide box office: $1.38M - 1990
Flashback as Hal Cresciman · Comedy Worldwide box office: $6.49M - 1989
The Big Picture Drama Worldwide box office: $117K - 1989
Hider in the House as Phil Dreyer · Horror - 1989
Earth Girls Are Easy Sci-Fi Worldwide box office: $3.92M - 1988
Portrait of a White Marriage as Reverend Alfred 'Alfie' Prufrock · Tv movie - 1987
Double Agent as Jason Starr / Warren Starbinder · Comedy - 1987
Light of Day Drama Worldwide box office: $10.5M - 1986
Davy Crockett as Mr. Wallace · Family - 1986
Johnny Appleseed as Mac Macintosh · Family - 1986
The History of White People in America: Volume II as Rev. Alfred 'Alfie' Prufrock · Comedy - 1985
D.A.R.Y.L. as Andy Richardson · Family Worldwide box office: $7.84M - 1984
This Is Spinal Tap Comedy Worldwide box office: $4.74M - 1983
Imps* as Fritz #2 · Comedy - 1982
Young Doctors in Love as Dr. Simon August · Comedy Worldwide box office: $30.7M - 1977
Cracking Up Sci-Fi
Michael McKean in Documentaries & Specials
6- 2022
Who Done It: The Clue Documentary as Self · Documentary Movie Echo Score: 44 - 2020
Time Warp Vol. 3: Comedy and Camp as Self · Documentary - 2020
The Happy Days of Garry Marshall as Self · Tv movie - 2020
Time Warp Vol. 1: Midnight Madness as Self · Documentary - 2020
Time Warp: The Greatest Cult Films of All-Time Vol. 1: Midnight Madness as Self · Documentary Movie Echo Score: 77 - 2016
50 Years of Star Trek as Self · Documentary
Who Is Michael McKean?
Michael McKean was born in New York City, New York, U.S. in 1947 and is 78 years old. Credited on films since 1977, as an actor. The background, training and the roles that shaped the career.
Michael John McKean was born on October 17, 1947, in New York City at Manhattan Women's Hospital. With a career spanning decades, he has become a recognized figure in the American film, television, and theater industry, acclaimed for his work as an actor, comedian, screenwriter, composer, singer, and musician. Over the course of his career, he has received an array of prestigious accolades, including a Grammy Award and nominations for awards like the Academy Award and Primetime Emmy. McKean started his career with the ABC sitcom Laverne & Shirley, going on to have a diverse career that includes films like Used Cars, Clue, The Big Picture and collaborations with Christopher Guest. His songwriting prowess won him a Grammy for the song "A Mighty Wind" and he was Primetime Emmy nominated for his role as Chuck McGill on the AMC series Better Call Saul.
His journey from his early career beginnings in Pittsburgh to the peak of Hollywood and Broadway is marked by several prominent roles and collaborations with major artists. His film roles, TV shows, musical performances, and Broadway plays have consistently demonstrated his compelling talent and versatile capabilities. He was the oldest person to ever join the cast of Saturday Night Live at the time, voiced various characters in children's TV shows and films, and has appeared on many popular TV series including Curb Your Enthusiasm, Veep, Grace and Frankie, and Star Trek: Voyager among many others. His work extends to stage performances, having debuted on Broadway as Edna Turnblad in the musical Hairspray. He has also made significant contributions in the field of music, having released an album and co-written Grammy winning songs.
Who Michael McKean Makes Movies With
The actors and directors Michael McKean shares the most films with. Harry Shearer comes first, with 12 films together, followed by Christopher Guest (10).
Michael McKean: Questions & Answers
How many movies Michael McKean has made, the biggest hit, the best-rated film, the award record and more, answered from the filmography above.
How many movies has Michael McKean been in?
Michael McKean is credited on 62 films, from 1977 to 2025. The filmography on this page lists every one of them, newest first, with the role and the Movie Echo Score.
What is Michael McKean's highest-grossing movie?
Small Soldiers (1998) is Michael McKean's biggest box office hit, with $54.7M worldwide, ahead of Nothing to Lose (1997) ($44.5M). Across every film with box office figures, Michael McKean's movies have made $222M.
Michael McKean's biggest hits What is the best Michael McKean movie?
By the Movie Echo Score, which blends critic reviews, audience ratings and lasting impact, Michael McKean's best-rated film is My Little Pony: A New Generation (2021) with a score of 81, followed by Jerry & Marge Go Large (2022) (78).
Best Michael McKean movies, ranked How old is Michael McKean?
Michael McKean is 78 years old, born on October 17, 1947 in New York City, New York, U.S..
What is Michael McKean's newest movie?
The most recent film on Michael McKean's filmography is Spinal Tap II: The End Continues (2025), in the role of David St. Hubbins.
Who does Michael McKean work with most often?
Michael McKean shares the most films with Harry Shearer (12 films), Christopher Guest (10 films) and Fred Willard (8 films).
The Best Michael McKean Movies, Ranked
Top rated, most awarded and biggest box office hits from 62 credits.
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