Ron Howard: Movies, Awards & Box Office
- films
- 86
- as director
- 36
- on screen
- 1959–2025
- box office
- $4.02B
- award wins
- 4
- average score
- 63
- Born
- March 1, 1954 (age 72)
- Birthplace
- Duncan, Oklahoma, U.S.
- Full name
- Ronald William Howard
- Citizenship
- United States
- Occupations
- Director, Producer, Screenwriter, Actor
- Years active
- 1959-present
- Spouses
- Cheryl Alley
- Children
- 4
The Best Ron Howard Movies
The highest-rated films Ron Howard is credited on, by the Movie Echo Score that blends critic reviews, audience ratings and lasting impact. Rebuilding Paradise (2020) scores highest, at 78. The full ranking adds the biggest box office hits and the most awarded films.
-
Movie Echo Score: Score 78 Rebuilding Paradise 2020 · Director -
Movie Echo Score: Score 77 We Feed People 2022 · Director -
Movie Echo Score: Score 72 Thirteen Lives 2022 · Director -
Movie Echo Score: Score 70 Jim Henson Idea Man 2024 · Director -
Movie Echo Score: Score 60 Eden 2025 · Director -
Movie Echo Score: Score 55 Hillbilly Elegy 2020 · Director
Ron Howard's Career in Numbers
Ron Howard's films in numbers — as an actor and a director, not counting appearances as themselves: when they were made, the genres Ron Howard works in most and the milestones along the way. The filmography runs from The Journey (1959) to Eden (2025), and the 1980s were the busiest decade.
Ron Howard Movies by Decade
- 1950s 1
- 1960s 4
- 1970s 9
- 1980s 12
- 1990s 8
- 2000s 7
- 2010s 9
- 2020s 6
The 1980s were Ron Howard's busiest decade, with 12 films.
Ron Howard Movies by Genre
- Drama 11
- Action 7
- Documentary 6
- Tv movie 5
- Comedy 4
- Biography 3
- Adventure 3
- Thriller 2
- Music 2
- Mystery 2
Drama is the genre Ron Howard has worked in most, with 11 films, ahead of action (7).
Ron Howard Career Milestones
- First film
- The Journey 1959
- Biggest box office hit
- The Da Vinci Code $760M worldwide
- Best-rated film
- Rebuilding Paradise Movie Echo Score 78
- Newest film
- Eden 2025
Ron Howard Filmography: Every Movie
Every film Ron Howard is credited on, newest first, with the role, the box office and the Movie Echo Score. 36 as director and 21 as actor. Rated films average a score of 63. Re-order the list to see the best-rated films or the biggest hits first.
Movies Directed by Ron Howard
36- 2025
Eden Thriller Worldwide box office: $2.81M Movie Echo Score: 60 - 2024
Jim Henson Idea Man Documentary Movie Echo Score: 70 - 2022
Thirteen Lives Biography Movie Echo Score: 72 - 2022
We Feed People Documentary Movie Echo Score: 77 - 2020
Hillbilly Elegy Drama Movie Echo Score: 55 - 2020
Rebuilding Paradise Documentary Worldwide box office: $3.41K Movie Echo Score: 78 - 2016
Inferno Action Worldwide box office: $220M - 2016
The Beatles: Eight Days a Week - The Touring Years Music Worldwide box office: $13.7M - 2015
In the Heart of the Sea Action Worldwide box office: $94.3M - 2014
Made in America Music Worldwide box office: $9.96K - 2013
Rush Action Worldwide box office: $97M - 2011
The Dilemma Drama Worldwide box office: $69.7M - 2010
Presidential Reunion Tv movie - 2009
Angels & Demons Mystery Worldwide box office: $486M - 2008
Frost/Nixon Drama Worldwide box office: $27.4M - 2006
The Da Vinci Code Mystery Worldwide box office: $760M - 2005
Cinderella Man Biography Worldwide box office: $109M - 2003
The Missing Adventure Worldwide box office: $38.4M - 2001
A Beautiful Mind Biography Worldwide box office: $317M - 2000
How the Grinch Stole Christmas Fantasy Worldwide box office: $347M - 1999
Edtv Comedy Worldwide box office: $35.2M - 1996
Ransom Action Worldwide box office: $309M - 1995
Apollo 13 Adventure Worldwide box office: $355M - 1994
The Paper Drama Worldwide box office: $48.4M - 1992
Far and Away Adventure Worldwide box office: $138M - 1991
Backdraft Action Worldwide box office: $152M - 1989
Parenthood Drama Worldwide box office: $126M - 1988
Willow Action Worldwide box office: $57.3M - 1986
Gung Ho Drama Worldwide box office: $36.6M - 1985
Cocoon Sci-Fi Worldwide box office: $85.3M - 1984
Splash Fantasy Worldwide box office: $69.8M - 1982
Night Shift Comedy Worldwide box office: $21.1M - 1981
Through the Magic Pyramid Tv movie - 1980
Skyward Drama - 1969
Cards, Cads, Guns, Gore, and Death… Western - —
The Shrinking of Treehorn Animation
Ron Howard Movies as an Actor
21- 2019
The Twilight Zone: A 60th Anniversary Celebration as Wilcox Boy (archive footage) · Documentary Worldwide box office: $249K - 2011
Classic TV Bloopers Uncensored as Richie Cunningham (archive footage) · Documentary - 1998
Welcome to Hollywood as Ron Howard · Comedy - 1996
Blacklist: Hollywood on Trial as Herbert Biberman · Documentary - 1986
Return to Mayberry as Opie Taylor · Tv movie - 1981
Fire on the Mountain as Lee Mackie · Drama - 1981
Bitter Harvest as Ned De Vries · Drama - 1980
Act of Love as Leon Cybulkowski · Drama - 1979
A Walking Tour of Sesame Street as Richie Cunningham (archive footage) · Family - 1976
The First Nudie Musical as Auditioning Actor · Comedy - 1975
Huckleberry Finn as Huckleberry Finn · Tv movie - 1974
Locusts as Donny Fletcher · Horror - 1974
The Spikes Gang as Les · Action - 1974
The Migrants as Lyle Barlow · Tv movie - 1973
Happy Mother’s Day, Love George as Johnny · Thriller - 1970
The Wild Country as Virgil Tanner · Western - 1970
Smoke as Chris (as Ronny Howard) · Drama - 1965
Village of the Giants as Genius · Sci-Fi - 1963
The Courtship of Eddie’s Father as Eddie Corbett · Family - 1961
Five Minutes to Live as Bobby Wilson · Crime - 1959
The Journey as Billy Rhinelander · Romance
Ron Howard in Documentaries & Specials
29- 2023
Tom Hanks: The Nomad as Self (archive footage) · Documentary Movie Echo Score: 6 - 2023
Willow: Behind the Magic as Self - Director, Willow, 1988 / Executive Producer, Willow, 2022 · Documentary - 2022
’Tis the Season: The Holidays on Screen as Self · Tv movie - 2022
Hans Zimmer: Hollywood Rebel as Self · Documentary - 2021
Roger Corman, the Pope of Pop Cinema as Self · Documentary - 2020
Showbiz Kids as Self (archive footage) · Drama Movie Echo Score: 75 - 2020
The Happy Days of Garry Marshall as Self · Tv movie - 2019
Dads as Self · Documentary Movie Echo Score: 71 - 2019
Peanuts in Space: Secrets of Apollo 10 as Self · Family - 2017
Laddie: The Man Behind the Movies as Self · Documentary - 2016
Donald Trump’s The Art of the Deal: The Movie as Himself · Comedy - 2014
And the Oscar Goes To… as Self (archive footage) · Documentary - 2013
The Arrested Development Documentary Project as Self · Documentary - 2013
Don’t Say No Until I Finish Talking: The Story of Richard D. Zanuck as Self · Documentary - 2013
From Morf to Morphing: The Dawn of Digital Filmmaking as Self - Director · Adventure - 2012
Radioman as Self · Documentary - 2011
Corman’s World as Self - Filmmaker · Documentary - 2010
Industrial Light & Magic: Creating the Impossible as Self · Documentary - 2007
Cannes: All Access as Self · Documentary - 2005
George Lucas: Creating an Empire as Self · Documentary - 2004
Making a ‘Splash’ as Self - Director · Documentary - 2002
Christopher Plummer: A Man For All Stages as Self · Documentary - 2001
The Shootist: The Legend Lives On as Self (archive footage) (uncredited) · Documentary - 2000
Chuck Jones: Extremes and In-Betweens - A Life in Animation as Self · Documentary - 1998
The Making of ‘American Graffiti’ as Self · Documentary - 1997
Frank Capra’s American Dream as Self · Documentary - 1996
Lost Moon: The Triumph of Apollo 13 as Self · Documentary - 1985
Hollywood’s Funniest All-Star Bloopers as Self (archive footage) · Documentary - 1978
Roger Corman: Hollywood’s Wild Angel as Self · Documentary
Ron Howard: Awards & Nominations
4 wins from 16 nominations across 6 award bodies, from 1977 to 2009. That includes an Oscar: Best Director for A Beautiful Mind. Every ceremony is listed newest first, with the category and the film.
-
DGA Awards 2 wins from 4 nominations -
Critics' Choice 1 win from 3 nominations -
Oscars 1 win from 2 nominations -
Golden Globes 4 nominations -
BAFTA 2 nominations -
Saturn Awards 1 nomination
-
81st Academy Awards- Ron Howard: Nominated Best Director Frost/Nixon
-
62nd British Academy Film Awards- Ron Howard: Nominated Best Director Frost/Nixon
-
14th Critics' Choice Awards- Ron Howard: Nominated Best Director Frost/Nixon
-
61st Directors Guild of America Awards- Ron Howard: Nominated Outstanding Directing – Feature Film Frost/Nixon
-
66th Golden Globe Awards- Ron Howard: Nominated Best Director Frost/Nixon
-
11th Critics' Choice Awards- Ron Howard: Nominated Best Director Cinderella Man
-
74th Academy Awards- Ron Howard: Win Best Director A Beautiful Mind
-
55th British Academy Film Awards- Ron Howard: Nominated Best Director A Beautiful Mind
-
7th Critics' Choice Awards- Ron Howard: Win Best Director A Beautiful Mind
-
54th Directors Guild of America Awards- Ron Howard: Win Outstanding Directing – Feature Film A Beautiful Mind
-
58th Golden Globe Awards- Ron Howard: Nominated Best Director A Beautiful Mind
-
48th Directors Guild of America Awards- Ron Howard: Win Outstanding Directing – Feature Film Apollo 13
-
53rd Golden Globe Awards- Ron Howard: Nominated Best Director Apollo 13
-
38th Directors Guild of America Awards- Ron Howard: Nominated Outstanding Directing – Feature Film Cocoon
-
12th Saturn Awards- Ron Howard: Nominated Best Director Splash
-
34th Golden Globe Awards- Ron Howard: Nominated Best Supporting Performance in a Motion Picture – Drama, Comedy or Musical (Supporting Actor) The Shootist
Who Is Ron Howard?
Ron Howard was born in Duncan, Oklahoma, U.S. in 1954 and is 72 years old. Credited on films since 1959, as both an actor and a director. The background, training and the roles that shaped the career.
Ronald William Howard, born March 1, 1954, is a renowned American director, producer, screenwriter, and actor. He began his career in acting as a child before gradually shifting to direct films. Over his remarkable six-decade career, Howard has won numerous accolades including two Academy Awards, six Emmy Awards, two Golden Globe Awards, and a Grammy. He was inducted into the Television Hall of Fame in 2013 and has been awarded the National Medal of Arts. Howard holds two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, recognizing his significant contributions to the film and television industries.
Howard was born in Duncan, Oklahoma, and he was thrust into the world of acting at a very young age. He performed in various television series before earning national recognition for his portrayal of Opie Taylor in the sitcom 'The Andy Griffith Show' from 1960 to 1968. He took on one of the lead roles in the iconic coming-of-age film 'American Graffiti' in 1973, further establishing his status in the industry. Howard eventually transitioned into directing and has been behind the helm of several acclaimed films, including 'A Beautiful Mind' for which he won the Academy Award for Best Director. He has made his mark in a variety of genres, including comedy (Splash, 1984), drama (Frost/Nixon, 2008), fantasy (Willow, 1988), and historical documentary (Apollo 13, 1995).
Who Ron Howard Makes Movies With
The actors and directors Ron Howard shares the most films with. Tom Hanks comes first, with 11 films together, followed by Henry Winkler (7).
Ron Howard: Questions & Answers
How many movies Ron Howard has made, the biggest hit, the best-rated film, the award record and more, answered from the filmography above.
How many movies has Ron Howard been in?
Ron Howard is credited on 86 films, from 1959 to 2025. 21 of them as an actor and 36 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 Ron Howard's highest-grossing movie?
The Da Vinci Code (2006) is Ron Howard's biggest box office hit, with $760M worldwide, ahead of Angels & Demons (2009) ($486M). Across every film with box office figures, Ron Howard's movies have made $4.02B.
Ron Howard's biggest hits What is the best Ron Howard movie?
By the Movie Echo Score, which blends critic reviews, audience ratings and lasting impact, Ron Howard's best-rated film is Rebuilding Paradise (2020) with a score of 78, followed by We Feed People (2022) (77).
Best Ron Howard movies, ranked Has Ron Howard won an Oscar?
Ron Howard has won an Oscar: Best Director for A Beautiful Mind at the 2002 ceremony. Across every ceremony in the awards database, Ron Howard has 4 wins from 16 nominations.
How old is Ron Howard?
Ron Howard is 72 years old, born on March 1, 1954 in Duncan, Oklahoma, U.S..
What is Ron Howard's newest movie?
The most recent film on Ron Howard's filmography is Eden (2025), which Ron Howard directed.
Who does Ron Howard work with most often?
Ron Howard shares the most films with Tom Hanks (11 films), Henry Winkler (7 films) and George Lucas (7 films).
The Best Ron Howard Movies, Ranked
Top rated, most awarded and biggest box office hits from 86 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
