Skip to content
What's After the Movie?
Sean Penn, actor
Actor

Sean Penn: Movies, Awards & Box Office

films
77
on screen
1981–2025
box office
$1.51B
award wins
10
average score
62
Born
August 17, 1960 (age 66)
Birthplace
Santa Monica, California, U.S.
Full name
Sean Justin Penn
Citizenship
United States of America
Occupations
Actor, Film director
Years active
1974-present
Spouses
Madonna, Robin Wright, Leila George
Children
2
Known for

The Best Sean Penn Movies

The highest-rated films Sean Penn is credited on, by the Movie Echo Score that blends critic reviews, audience ratings and lasting impact. Licorice Pizza (2021) scores highest, at 83. The full ranking adds the biggest box office hits and the most awarded films.

Full ranking
Career at a glance

Sean Penn's Career in Numbers

Sean Penn's films in numbers — as an actor, not counting appearances as themselves: when they were made, the genres Sean Penn works in most and the milestones along the way. The filmography runs from The Beaver Kid 2 (1981) to One Battle After Another (2025), and the 1980s were the busiest decade.

Sean Penn Movies by Decade

  1. 1980s 14
  2. 1990s 12
  3. 2000s 14
  4. 2010s 7
  5. 2020s 8

The 1980s were Sean Penn's busiest decade, with 14 films.

Sean Penn Movies by Genre

  • Drama 28
  • Action 8
  • Documentary 4
  • Biography 4
  • Comedy 4
  • Sci-Fi 1
  • Mystery 1
  • Sport 1
  • Music 1
  • Romance 1

Drama is the genre Sean Penn has worked in most, with 28 films, ahead of action (8).

Sean Penn Career Milestones

First film
The Beaver Kid 2 1981
Biggest box office hit
One Battle After Another $213M worldwide
Best-rated film
Licorice Pizza Movie Echo Score 83
77 credits

Sean Penn Filmography: Every Movie

Every film Sean Penn is credited on, newest first, with the role, the box office and the Movie Echo Score. Rated films average a score of 62. Re-order the list to see the best-rated films or the biggest hits first.

Sean Penn Movies as an Actor

55
  1. 2025 One Battle After Another (2025) movie poster One Battle After Another as Col. Steven J. Lockjaw · Action Movie Echo Score: 80
  2. 2024 Daddio (2024) movie poster Daddio as Clark · Drama Movie Echo Score: 59
  3. 2024 Asphalt City (2024) movie poster Asphalt City as Gene Rutkovsky · Drama Movie Echo Score: 49
  4. 2023 Superpower (2023) movie poster Superpower Documentary Movie Echo Score: 55
  5. 2023 Gonzo Girl (2023) movie poster Gonzo Girl Drama Movie Echo Score: 65
  6. 2022 Gaslit (2022) movie poster Gaslit as John Mitchell · Drama
  7. 2021 Licorice Pizza (2021) movie poster Licorice Pizza as Jack Holden · Drama Movie Echo Score: 83
  8. 2021 Flag Day (2021) movie poster Flag Day as John Vogel · Drama Movie Echo Score: 48
  9. 2019 The Professor and the Madman (2019) movie poster The Professor and the Madman as Dr. William Chester Minor · Biography Movie Echo Score: 59
  10. 2017 Sound of Sun (2017) movie poster Sound of Sun as Man · Drama
  11. 2015 The Gunman (2015) movie poster The Gunman Action
  12. 2013 Gangster Squad (2013) movie poster Gangster Squad Action
  13. 2012 This Must Be the Place (2012) movie poster This Must Be the Place Drama
  14. 2011 The Tree of Life (2011) movie poster The Tree of Life Drama
  15. 2010 Fair Game (2010) movie poster Fair Game Action
  16. 2008 Milk (2008) movie poster Milk Biography
  17. 2006 All the King's Men (2006) movie poster All the King's Men Drama
  18. 2005 The Interpreter (2005) movie poster The Interpreter Drama
  19. 2004 The Assassination of Richard Nixon (2004) movie poster The Assassination of Richard Nixon Biography
  20. 2004 It's All About Love (2004) movie poster It's All About Love Sci-Fi
  21. 2004 This So-Called Disaster: Sam Shepard Directs the Late Henry Moss (2004) movie poster This So-Called Disaster: Sam Shepard Directs the Late Henry Moss Documentary
  22. 2003 21 Grams (2003) movie poster 21 Grams Drama
  23. 2003 Mystic River (2003) movie poster Mystic River Drama
  24. 2003 Pauly Shore Is Dead (2003) movie poster Pauly Shore Is Dead as Sean Penn · Comedy
  25. 2003 This So-Called Disaster (2003) movie poster This So-Called Disaster as Ray · Documentary
  26. 2002 The Weight of Water (2002) movie poster The Weight of Water Mystery
  27. 2002 Dogtown and Z-Boys (2002) movie poster Dogtown and Z-Boys Sport
  28. 2001 I Am Sam (2001) movie poster I Am Sam Drama
  29. 2000 Beaver Trilogy (2000) movie poster Beaver Trilogy as "Groovin' Larry" Huff · Music
  30. 1999 Reliving Our Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1999) movie poster Reliving Our Fast Times at Ridgemont High Documentary
  31. 1999 Sweet and Lowdown (1999) movie poster Sweet and Lowdown Comedy
  32. 1999 The Thin Red Line (1999) movie poster The Thin Red Line Action
  33. 1998 Hurlyburly (1998) movie poster Hurlyburly as Eddie · Drama
  34. 1997 Hugo Pool (1997) movie poster Hugo Pool as Strange Hitchhiker · Romance
  35. 1997 U Turn (1997) movie poster U Turn Drama
  36. 1997 The Game (1997) movie poster The Game Action
  37. 1997 She's So Lovely (1997) movie poster She's So Lovely Drama
  38. 1995 Dead Man Walking (1995) movie poster Dead Man Walking Drama
  39. 1993 Carlito's Way (1993) movie poster Carlito's Way Drama
  40. 1990 State of Grace (1990) movie poster State of Grace Action
  41. 1990 Cool Blue (1990) movie poster Cool Blue as Phil the Plumber (uncredited) · Comedy
  42. 1989 We're No Angels (1989) movie poster We're No Angels Comedy
  43. 1989 Casualties of War (1989) movie poster Casualties of War Drama
  44. 1988 Judgment in Berlin (1988) movie poster Judgment in Berlin as Guenther X · Drama
  45. 1988 Colors (1988) movie poster Colors Drama
  46. 1987 Dear America: Letters Home from Vietnam (1987) movie poster Dear America: Letters Home from Vietnam as (voice) · War
  47. 1986 Shanghai Surprise (1986) movie poster Shanghai Surprise Adventure
  48. 1986 At Close Range (1986) movie poster At Close Range Drama
  49. 1985 The Falcon and the Snowman (1985) movie poster The Falcon and the Snowman Biography
  50. 1984 Racing with the Moon (1984) movie poster Racing with the Moon Drama
  51. 1984 Crackers (1984) movie poster Crackers as Dillard · Action
  52. 1983 Bad Boys (1983) movie poster Bad Boys Drama
  53. 1982 Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982) movie poster Fast Times at Ridgemont High Drama
  54. 1981 The Beaver Kid 2 (1981) movie poster The Beaver Kid 2 as Groovin' Larry · Drama
  55. 1981 The Killing of Randy Webster (1981) movie poster The Killing of Randy Webster as Don Fremont · Drama
10 wins · 30 nominations

Sean Penn: Awards & Nominations

10 wins from 30 nominations across 7 award bodies, from 1994 to 2026. That includes 3 Oscars: Best Supporting Actor for One Battle After Another, Best Actor for Milk and Best Actor for Mystic River. Every ceremony is listed newest first, with the category and the film.

All movie awards
  • Oscars logo Oscars 3 wins from 6 nominations
  • Critics' Choice logo Critics' Choice 2 wins from 6 nominations
  • Actor Awards (SAG) logo Actor Awards (SAG) 2 wins from 5 nominations
  • Golden Globes logo Golden Globes 1 win from 6 nominations
  • BAFTA logo BAFTA 1 win from 4 nominations
  • Spirit Awards logo Spirit Awards 1 win from 2 nominations
  • DGA Awards logo DGA Awards 1 nomination
Biography

Who Is Sean Penn?

Sean Penn was born in Santa Monica, California, U.S. in 1960 and is 66 years old. Credited on films since 1981, as an actor. The background, training and the roles that shaped the career.

Sean Justin Penn (born August 17, 1960) is an acclaimed American actor and film director. Known for his intense leading roles in films, he has garnered numerous accolades in his career, including two Academy Awards, a Golden Globe Award, a Screen Actors Guild Award, and nominations for three BAFTA Film Awards. Penn received an Honorary César in 2015. He made his feature film debut in Taps (1981), and has taken roles in a wide variety of notable films including Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982), Dead Man Walking (1995), and Mystical River (2003). Making his directorial film debut with The Indian Runner in 1991, he has since directed critically acclaimed films like The Crossing Guard (1995), The Pledge (2001) and Into the Wild (2007). Beyond his film work, Penn has engaged in political and social activism, such as his criticism of the George W. Bush administration, his attention to the Russo-Ukrainian War, and his humanitarian work during the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and the 2010 Haiti earthquake. Penn was born in Santa Monica, California, to actor and director Leo Penn and actress Eileen Ryan. His early life revolved around filmmaking with his childhood friends including actors Emilio Estevez and Charlie Sheen. He first appeared in the 1974 television series Little House on the Prairie and made a Broadway debut in 1981. He defined his career as a serious actor with his role in Bad Boys (1983), and has since been celebrated for his ability to develop in-depth, compelling characters on screen. He is one of Hollywood's most well-rounded talents, with his work spanning four decades, various genres, and numerous standout performances.

Works with

Who Sean Penn Makes Movies With

The actors and directors Sean Penn shares the most films with. Nick Nolte comes first, with 6 films together, followed by Naomi Watts (5).

FAQ

Sean Penn: Questions & Answers

How many movies Sean Penn has made, the biggest hit, the best-rated film, the award record and more, answered from the filmography above.

How many movies has Sean Penn been in?

Sean Penn is credited on 77 films, from 1981 to 2025. The filmography on this page lists every one of them, newest first, with the role and the Movie Echo Score.

What is Sean Penn's highest-grossing movie?

One Battle After Another (2025) is Sean Penn's biggest box office hit, with $213M worldwide, ahead of The Interpreter (2005) ($163M). Across every film with box office figures, Sean Penn's movies have made $1.51B.

Sean Penn's biggest hits

What is the best Sean Penn movie?

By the Movie Echo Score, which blends critic reviews, audience ratings and lasting impact, Sean Penn's best-rated film is Licorice Pizza (2021) with a score of 83, followed by One Battle After Another (2025) (80).

Best Sean Penn movies, ranked

Has Sean Penn won an Oscar?

Sean Penn has won 3 Oscars: Best Supporting Actor for One Battle After Another at the 2026 ceremony, Best Actor for Milk at the 2009 ceremony and Best Actor for Mystic River at the 2004 ceremony. Across every ceremony in the awards database, Sean Penn has 10 wins from 30 nominations.

How old is Sean Penn?

Sean Penn is 66 years old, born on August 17, 1960 in Santa Monica, California, U.S..

What is Sean Penn's newest movie?

The most recent film on Sean Penn's filmography is One Battle After Another (2025), in the role of Col. Steven J. Lockjaw.

Who does Sean Penn work with most often?

Sean Penn shares the most films with Nick Nolte (6 films), Naomi Watts (5 films) and Josh Brolin (5 films).

The Best Sean Penn Movies, Ranked

Top rated, most awarded and biggest box office hits from 77 credits.

See the ranking

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