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Viola Davis, actor
Actor

Viola Davis: Movies, Awards & Box Office

films
41
on screen
1998–2025
box office
$3.2B
award wins
8
average score
69
Born
August 11, 1965 (age 61)
Birthplace
St. Matthews, South Carolina, U.S.
Citizenship
United States
Occupations
Actress, Producer
Years active
1988-present
Spouses
Julius Tennon
Children
1
Known for

The Best Viola Davis Movies

The highest-rated films Viola Davis is credited on, by the Movie Echo Score that blends critic reviews, audience ratings and lasting impact. Ma Rainey's Black Bottom (2020) scores highest, at 77. The full ranking adds the biggest box office hits and the most awarded films.

Full ranking
Career at a glance

Viola Davis's Career in Numbers

Viola Davis's films in numbers — as an actor, not counting appearances as themselves: when they were made, the genres Viola Davis works in most and the milestones along the way. The filmography runs from Grace & Glorie (1998) to G20 (2025), and the 2010s were the busiest decade.

Viola Davis Movies by Decade

  1. 1990s 2
  2. 2000s 9
  3. 2010s 14
  4. 2020s 10

The 2010s were Viola Davis's busiest decade, with 14 films.

Viola Davis Movies by Genre

  • Drama 18
  • Action 7
  • Tv movie 3
  • Animation 1
  • Comedy 1
  • Biography 1
  • War 1
  • Crime 1
  • Thriller 1
  • Romance 1

Drama is the genre Viola Davis has worked in most, with 18 films, ahead of action (7).

Viola Davis Career Milestones

First film
Grace & Glorie 1998
Biggest box office hit
Suicide Squad $749M worldwide
Best-rated film
Ma Rainey's Black Bottom Movie Echo Score 77
Newest film
G20 2025
41 credits

Viola Davis Filmography: Every Movie

Every film Viola Davis is credited on, newest first, with the role, the box office and the Movie Echo Score. Rated films average a score of 69. Re-order the list to see the best-rated films or the biggest hits first.

Viola Davis Movies as an Actor

35
  1. 2025 G20 (2025) movie poster G20 as President Danielle Sutton · Action Movie Echo Score: 72
  2. 2024 Kung Fu Panda 4 (2024) movie poster Kung Fu Panda 4 as The Chameleon · Animation Movie Echo Score: 62
  3. 2023 The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes (2023) movie poster The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes as Dr. Volumnia Gaul · Action Movie Echo Score: 62
  4. 2023 Air (2023) movie poster Air as Deloris Jordan · Drama Movie Echo Score: 76
  5. 2022 Black Adam (2022) movie poster Black Adam Action Movie Echo Score: 55
  6. 2022 The Woman King (2022) movie poster The Woman King as Nanisca · Action Movie Echo Score: 68
  7. 2021 The Unforgivable (2021) movie poster The Unforgivable as Liz Ingram · Drama Movie Echo Score: 40
  8. 2021 The Suicide Squad (2021) movie poster The Suicide Squad as Amanda Waller · Action Movie Echo Score: 74
  9. 2020 Ma Rainey's Black Bottom (2020) movie poster Ma Rainey's Black Bottom as Ma Rainey · Drama Movie Echo Score: 77
  10. 2020 Troop Zero (2020) movie poster Troop Zero as Miss Rayleen · Drama Movie Echo Score: 60
  11. 2019 Live in Front of a Studio Audience: “All in the Family” and “Good Times” (2019) movie poster Live in Front of a Studio Audience: “All in the Family” and “Good Times” as Florida Evans · Comedy Movie Echo Score: 73
  12. 2019 Troop Zero (2019) movie poster Troop Zero as Miss Rayleen · Drama Movie Echo Score: 73
  13. 2018 Widows (2018) movie poster Widows as Veronica · Drama Movie Echo Score: 69
  14. 2016 Fences (2016) movie poster Fences Drama
  15. 2016 Suicide Squad (2016) movie poster Suicide Squad Action
  16. 2015 Blackhat (2015) movie poster Blackhat Action
  17. 2014 The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby: Them (2014) movie poster The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby: Them Drama
  18. 2014 Get On Up (2014) movie poster Get On Up Biography
  19. 2013 Prisoners (2013) movie poster Prisoners Drama
  20. 2013 Beautiful Creatures (2013) movie poster Beautiful Creatures Drama
  21. 2012 Won't Back Down (2012) movie poster Won't Back Down Drama
  22. 2011 Touch of Evil (2011) movie poster Touch of Evil as The Vengeful Caretaker · Drama
  23. 2011 The Help (2011) movie poster The Help Drama
  24. 2010 Eat Pray Love (2010) movie poster Eat Pray Love Drama
  25. 2009 Beyond All Boundaries (2009) movie poster Beyond All Boundaries as Hortense Johnson · War
  26. 2008 The Andromeda Strain (2008) movie poster The Andromeda Strain as Dr. Charlene Barton · Drama
  27. 2007 Jesse Stone: Sea Change (2007) movie poster Jesse Stone: Sea Change as Molly Crane · Tv movie
  28. 2006 Life Is Not a Fairytale: The Fantasia Barrino Story (2006) movie poster Life Is Not a Fairytale: The Fantasia Barrino Story as Diane Barrino · Drama
  29. 2006 Jesse Stone: Death in Paradise (2006) movie poster Jesse Stone: Death in Paradise as Molly Crane · Crime
  30. 2006 Jesse Stone: Night Passage (2006) movie poster Jesse Stone: Night Passage as Officer Molly Crane · Thriller
  31. 2005 Stone Cold (2005) movie poster Stone Cold as Molly Crane · Tv movie
  32. 2001 The Shrink Is In (2001) movie poster The Shrink Is In as Robin · Romance
  33. 2001 Amy & Isabelle (2001) movie poster Amy & Isabelle as Dottie · Drama
  34. 1998 Grace & Glorie (1998) movie poster Grace & Glorie as Rosemary Allbright · Drama
  35. 1998 The Pentagon Wars (1998) movie poster The Pentagon Wars as Sgt. Fanning · Tv movie

Viola Davis in Documentaries & Specials

6
  1. 2024 Predator or Prey: Making The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes (2024) movie poster Predator or Prey: Making The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes as Self (Dr. Volumnia Gaul) · Documentary
  2. 2022 Oprah + Viola: A Netflix Special Event (2022) movie poster Oprah + Viola: A Netflix Special Event as Self · Documentary
  3. 2020 Giving Voice (2020) movie poster Giving Voice as Self · Documentary Movie Echo Score: 94
  4. 2019 On Broadway (2019) movie poster On Broadway as Self (archive footage) · Documentary Movie Echo Score: 80
  5. 2016 The Warrior, The Myth, The Wonder (2016) movie poster The Warrior, The Myth, The Wonder as Self · Documentary
  6. 2015 August Wilson: The Ground on Which I Stand (2015) movie poster August Wilson: The Ground on Which I Stand as Self · Documentary
8 wins · 29 nominations

Viola Davis: Awards & Nominations

8 wins from 29 nominations across 7 award bodies, from 2003 to 2024. That includes an Oscar: Best Supporting Actress for Fences. Every ceremony is listed newest first, with the category and the film.

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

Who Is Viola Davis?

Viola Davis was born in St. Matthews, South Carolina, U.S. in 1965 and is 61 years old. Credited on films since 1998, as an actor. The background, training and the roles that shaped the career.

Viola Davis (born August 11, 1965) is a towering figure in the American film industry, renowned for her dynamic roles across screen and stage. Her remarkable career includes a Triple Crown of Acting and an EGOT, a rare achievement that cements her place in the annals of performing arts. A graduate from Juilliard, Davis started her career in Central Falls, Rhode Island. She made her Broadway debut in the play Seven Guitars (1996) and subsequently won two Tony Awards for her performances in King Hedley II (2001) and Fences (2010). She won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for the film adaptation of Fences in 2016. Apart from her stage and big screen accomplishments, Davis also made history on television by becoming the first black actress to win the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series for How to Get Away with Murder (2014–2020). In addition to her acting prowess, Davis is an accomplished producer and an advocate for human rights and women of color. She cofounded the production company JuVee Productions with her husband, and in 2019, she became an ambassador for L'Oréal Paris. Her 2022 memoir, Finding Me, won her a Grammy Award for Best Audio Book, Narration & Storytelling Recording.

Works with

Who Viola Davis Makes Movies With

The actors and directors Viola Davis shares the most films with. Stephen McHattie comes first, with 4 films together, followed by Tom Selleck (4).

FAQ

Viola Davis: Questions & Answers

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

How many movies has Viola Davis been in?

Viola Davis is credited on 41 films, from 1998 to 2025. The filmography on this page lists every one of them, newest first, with the role and the Movie Echo Score.

What is Viola Davis's highest-grossing movie?

Suicide Squad (2016) is Viola Davis's biggest box office hit, with $749M worldwide, ahead of Kung Fu Panda 4 (2024) ($548M). Across every film with box office figures, Viola Davis's movies have made $3.2B.

Viola Davis's biggest hits

What is the best Viola Davis movie?

By the Movie Echo Score, which blends critic reviews, audience ratings and lasting impact, Viola Davis's best-rated film is Giving Voice (2020) with a score of 94, followed by On Broadway (2019) (80).

Best Viola Davis movies, ranked

Has Viola Davis won an Oscar?

Viola Davis has won an Oscar: Best Supporting Actress for Fences at the 2017 ceremony. Across every ceremony in the awards database, Viola Davis has 8 wins from 29 nominations.

How old is Viola Davis?

Viola Davis is 61 years old, born on August 11, 1965 in St. Matthews, South Carolina, U.S..

What is Viola Davis's newest movie?

The most recent film on Viola Davis's filmography is G20 (2025), in the role of President Danielle Sutton.

Who does Viola Davis work with most often?

Viola Davis shares the most films with Stephen McHattie (4 films), Tom Selleck (4 films) and Margot Robbie (3 films).

The Best Viola Davis Movies, Ranked

Top rated, most awarded and biggest box office hits from 41 credits.

See the ranking

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