Richard Linklater: Movies, Awards & Box Office
- films
- 43
- as director
- 20
- on screen
- 1985–2025
- box office
- $245M
- award wins
- 4
- average score
- 72
- Born
- July 30, 1960 (age 66)
- Birthplace
- Houston, Texas, U.S.
- Full name
- Richard Stuart Linklater
- Citizenship
- United States
- Occupations
- Director, Producer, Writer
- Years active
- 1985-present
- Spouses
- Christina Harrison
- Children
- 3
The Best Richard Linklater Movies
The highest-rated films Richard Linklater is credited on, by the Movie Echo Score that blends critic reviews, audience ratings and lasting impact. Nouvelle Vague (2025) scores highest, at 83. The full ranking adds the biggest box office hits and the most awarded films.
-
Movie Echo Score: Score 83 Nouvelle Vague 2025 · Director -
Movie Echo Score: Score 77 Hit Man 2024 · Director -
Movie Echo Score: Score 77 Blue Moon 2025 · Director -
Movie Echo Score: Score 75 Last Flag Flying 2017 · Director -
Movie Echo Score: Score 63 Apollo 10½: A Space Age Childhood 2022 · Director -
Movie Echo Score: Score 60 Where'd You Go, Bernadette 2019 · Director
Richard Linklater's Career in Numbers
Richard Linklater's films in numbers — as an actor and a director, not counting appearances as themselves: when they were made, the genres Richard Linklater works in most and the milestones along the way. The filmography runs from Woodshock (1985) to Blue Moon (2025), and the 2000s were the busiest decade.
Richard Linklater Movies by Decade
- 1980s 2
- 1990s 4
- 2000s 9
- 2010s 7
- 2020s 4
The 2000s were Richard Linklater's busiest decade, with 9 films.
Richard Linklater Movies by Genre
- Drama 9
- Comedy 6
- Documentary 4
- Biography 2
- Action 1
- Adventure 1
- Sci-Fi 1
- Sport 1
- Music 1
Drama is the genre Richard Linklater has worked in most, with 9 films, ahead of comedy (6).
Richard Linklater Career Milestones
- First film
- Woodshock 1985
- Biggest box office hit
- School of Rock $131M worldwide
- Best-rated film
- Nouvelle Vague Movie Echo Score 83
- Newest film
- Blue Moon 2025
Richard Linklater Filmography: Every Movie
Every film Richard Linklater is credited on, newest first, with the role, the box office and the Movie Echo Score. 20 as director and 6 as actor. Rated films average a score of 72. Re-order the list to see the best-rated films or the biggest hits first.
Movies Directed by Richard Linklater
20- 2025
Nouvelle Vague Biography Worldwide box office: $2.51M Movie Echo Score: 83 - 2025
Blue Moon Biography Worldwide box office: $3.57M Movie Echo Score: 77 - 2024
Hit Man Action Worldwide box office: $5.35M Movie Echo Score: 77 - 2022
Apollo 10½: A Space Age Childhood Adventure Movie Echo Score: 63 - 2019
Where'd You Go, Bernadette Drama Worldwide box office: $11M Movie Echo Score: 60 - 2017
Last Flag Flying Drama Worldwide box office: $1.87M Movie Echo Score: 75 - 2016
Everybody Wants Some!! Comedy Worldwide box office: $4.64M - 2012
Bernie Drama Worldwide box office: $10.2M - 2012
Up to Speed Comedy - 2009
Me and Orson Welles Drama Worldwide box office: $2.34M - 2008
Inning by Inning: A Portrait of a Coach Documentary - 2006
Fast Food Nation Drama Worldwide box office: $2.21M - 2006
A Scanner Darkly Sci-Fi Worldwide box office: $7.66M - 2005
Bad News Bears Sport Worldwide box office: $34.3M - 2003
School of Rock Comedy Worldwide box office: $131M - 2003
Live from Shiva’s Dance Floor Documentary - 2001
Waking Life Drama Worldwide box office: $3.18M - 1997
SubUrbia Drama Worldwide box office: $657K - 1993
Dazed and Confused Drama Worldwide box office: $8.26M - 1985
Woodshock Music
Richard Linklater Movies as an Actor
6Richard Linklater in Documentaries & Specials
17- 2025
Butthole Surfers: The Hole Truth and Nothing Butt as Self · Documentary - 2021
Clerk as Self · Documentary Movie Echo Score: 74 - 2019
J.R. “Bob” Dobbs and The Church of the SubGenius as Self · Documentary Movie Echo Score: 70 - 2018
More Human Than Human as Self · Documentary - 2017
After Before as Self · Documentary - 2017
The Space in Between as Self · Documentary Worldwide box office: $16.1M - 2015
Twelve Years as Self · Documentary - 2013
Linklater: On Cinema and Time as Self (voice) · Documentary - 2009
Great Directors as Self · Documentary Worldwide box office: $17.9K - 2009
For the Love of Movies: The Story of American Film Criticism as Self · Documentary - 2008
The King of Texas as Self · Documentary - 2008
Critic as Self · Documentary - 2007
The Manufacturing of ‘Fast Food Nation’ as Self · Documentary - 2005
Making Dazed as Self · Documentary - 2004
Made Men: The ‘GoodFellas’ Legacy as Self · Documentary - 2001
In the Bathtub of the World as Self · Documentary - 1995
At Sundance as Self · Documentary
Richard Linklater: Awards & Nominations
4 wins from 11 nominations across 7 award bodies, from 1992 to 2026. Every ceremony is listed newest first, with the category and the film.
-
BAFTA 1 win from 2 nominations -
Critics' Choice 1 win from 2 nominations -
César Awards 1 win from 1 nomination -
Golden Globes 1 win from 1 nomination -
Spirit Awards 3 nominations -
Oscars 1 nomination -
DGA Awards 1 nomination
-
51st César Awards- Richard Linklater: Win Best Director Nouvelle Vague
-
87th Academy Awards- Richard Linklater: Nominated Best Director Boyhood
-
67th Directors Guild of America Awards- Richard Linklater: Nominated Outstanding Directing – Feature Film Boyhood
-
72nd Golden Globe Awards- Richard Linklater: Win Best Director Boyhood
-
17th Independent Spirit Awards- Richard Linklater: Nominated Best Director Waking Life
Who Is Richard Linklater?
Richard Linklater was born in Houston, Texas, U.S. in 1960 and is 66 years old. Credited on films since 1985, as both an actor and a director. The background, training and the roles that shaped the career.
Richard Stuart Linklater, born on July 30, 1960, is undoubtedly one of the leading figures in American cinema. Best known as a film director, producer, and screenwriter, Linklater's films frequently explore suburban culture and the passage of time. His repertoire includes acclaimed films like the comedies 'Slacker' and 'Dazed and Confused,' the 'Before' trilogy of romance films, 'School of Rock,' and the innovative adult animated films 'Waking Life,' 'A Scanner Darkly,' and 'Apollo 10 1/2: A Space Age Childhood.' Linklater's 'Boyhood,' a coming-of-age drama filmed over several years using the same actors, not only brought a fresh perspective on film-making but also garnered him numerous awards and nominations. Despite being renowned worldwide, Linklater's career is firmly rooted in Austin, Texas, where he founded the Austin Film Society and created Detour Filmproduction, his production company. Starting with short films and experiments, he made his mark with his first Super-8 feature, 'It's Impossible to Learn to Plow by Reading Books.' He then created 'Slacker' with a modest budget of $23,000, which had a fantastic return, earning over $1.25 million and catapulting his career. Apart from his contributions to the film industry, Linklater is well-known for his distinct directorial style, focusing more on human interactions and narratives over plot devices, often setting his films within a day's span. Having worked in the industry since 1985, Linklater has left an impactful and lasting legacy.
Who Richard Linklater Makes Movies With
The actors and directors Richard Linklater shares the most films with. Ethan Hawke comes first, with 6 films together, followed by Richard Robichaux (3).
Richard Linklater: Questions & Answers
How many movies Richard Linklater has made, the biggest hit, the best-rated film, the award record and more, answered from the filmography above.
How many movies has Richard Linklater been in?
Richard Linklater is credited on 43 films, from 1985 to 2025. 6 of them as an actor and 20 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 Richard Linklater's highest-grossing movie?
School of Rock (2003) is Richard Linklater's biggest box office hit, with $131M worldwide, ahead of Bad News Bears (2005) ($34.3M). Across every film with box office figures, Richard Linklater's movies have made $245M.
Richard Linklater's biggest hits What is the best Richard Linklater movie?
By the Movie Echo Score, which blends critic reviews, audience ratings and lasting impact, Richard Linklater's best-rated film is Nouvelle Vague (2025) with a score of 83, followed by Blue Moon (2025) (77).
Best Richard Linklater movies, ranked Has Richard Linklater won an Oscar?
Richard Linklater has been nominated for an Oscar but has not won one yet. Across every ceremony in the awards database, Richard Linklater has 4 wins from 11 nominations.
How old is Richard Linklater?
Richard Linklater is 66 years old, born on July 30, 1960 in Houston, Texas, U.S..
What is Richard Linklater's newest movie?
The most recent film on Richard Linklater's filmography is Nouvelle Vague (2025), which Richard Linklater directed.
Who does Richard Linklater work with most often?
Richard Linklater shares the most films with Ethan Hawke (6 films), Richard Robichaux (3 films) and Jack Black (3 films).
The Best Richard Linklater Movies, Ranked
Top rated, most awarded and biggest box office hits from 43 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
