The Best Sam Waterston Movies, Ranked
59 credits from 1966 to 2024, ranked by the Movie Echo Score — a blend of critic reviews, audience ratings and lasting impact. On the Basis of Sex (2018) comes out on top with a score of 64. The biggest box office hit is On the Basis of Sex (2018) with $38.8M worldwide. Below: the best films by genre and by decade, the most awarded and the newest releases.
Biggest Sam Waterston Box Office Hits
Sam Waterston's films have made $99.6M worldwide in total. On the Basis of Sex (2018) is the biggest hit at $38.8M, ahead of The Killing Fields (1985) ($34.7M). Lifetime grosses, with each film's domestic share.
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On the Basis of Sex 2018 · Biography $38.8M $24.7M dom. - 2
The Killing Fields 1985 · Drama $34.7M $34.7M dom. - 3
Serial Mom 1994 · Thriller $7.82M $7.82M dom. - 4
Just Between Friends 1986 · Romance $6.41M $6.41M dom. - 5
Heaven's Gate 1980 · Adventure $3.48M $3.48M dom. - 6
The Man in the Moon 1991 · Drama $2.85M $2.85M dom. - 7
Shadow Conspiracy 1997 · Thriller $2.31M $2.31M dom. - 8
Warning Sign 1985 · Drama $1.92M $1.92M dom. - 9
Mindwalk 1990 · Drama $774K $774K dom. - 10
September 1987 · Drama $486K $486K dom.
The Best Sam Waterston Movie in Every Genre
The best-rated film in each genre Sam Waterston has worked in, the genres with the most films first. Drama leads with 19 films, and The Six Triple Eight (2024) is the pick of them.
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Drama 19 films The Six Triple Eight 2024 · as President Roosevelt Movie Echo Score: 52 - Romance 4 films Just Between Friends 1986 · as Harry Crandall
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Western 3 films Godless 2017 · as Marshall John Cook - Thriller 3 films Serial Mom 1994
- Biography 1 film On the Basis of Sex 2018 · as Erwin Griswold Movie Echo Score: 64
- Adventure 1 film Heaven's Gate 1980
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Action 1 film Capricorn One 1978
The Best Sam Waterston Movie of Each Decade
One pick per decade of Sam Waterston's career, newest decade first: the best-rated film of each ten years, from 1970s to 2020s.
The Latest Sam Waterston Movies
The most recent films Sam Waterston is credited on, newest first — starting with The Six Triple Eight (2024). Open any of them for the cast, ratings, box office and where to watch.
- The Six Triple Eight 2024 · President Roosevelt
- On the Basis of Sex 2018 · Erwin Griswold
- Godless 2017 · Marshall John Cook
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Anesthesia 2016 · Drama -
The Matthew Shepard Story 2002 · Dennis Shepard -
A House Divided 2000 · David Dickson -
Miracle at Midnight 1998 · Dr. Karl Koster - Shadow Conspiracy 1997 · The President
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The Proprietor 1996 · Harry Bancroft -
The Journey of August King 1995 · Mooney Wright -
The Enemy Within 1994 · President William Foster - Serial Mom 1994 · Thriller
The Best Sam Waterston Movies: Questions & Answers
The best-rated, highest-grossing, most awarded and newest Sam Waterston films, answered from the rankings on this page.
What is the best Sam Waterston movie?
On the Basis of Sex (2018) is the best-rated Sam Waterston film, with a Movie Echo Score of 64, ahead of The Six Triple Eight (2024) (52). The Movie Echo Score blends critic reviews, audience ratings and how well a film has lasted.
On the Basis of Sex: cast, ratings & box office What is the highest-grossing Sam Waterston movie?
On the Basis of Sex (2018) made the most at the box office, with $38.8M worldwide, followed by The Killing Fields (1985) with $34.7M. Together, Sam Waterston's films with box office figures have made $99.6M.
Which Sam Waterston movie won the most awards?
The Killing Fields (1985) is the most decorated Sam Waterston film, with 11 wins from 27 nominations across the Oscars, Golden Globes, BAFTA and the other ceremonies in the awards database.
What is the best Sam Waterston drama movie?
The Six Triple Eight (2024) is the best-rated of Sam Waterston's drama films, with a score of 52. In other genres: Just Between Friends (romance), Godless (western) and Serial Mom (thriller).
What is the newest Sam Waterston movie?
The newest film on Sam Waterston's filmography is The Six Triple Eight (2024), with Sam Waterston as President Roosevelt.
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