Want to know the best Ellen Burstyn movies? How about the worst Ellen Burstyn movies? Curious about Ellen Burstyn box office grosses or which Ellen Burstyn movie picked up the most Oscar® nominations? Need to know which Ellen Burstyn movie got the best reviews from critics and audiences? Well you have come to the right place….because we have all of that information.
Ellen Burstyn (1932-) is an Oscar® winning American actress. Burstyn is best known for her roles in films such as The Last Picture Show, The Exorcist, Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore (she won Oscar), and Requiem For a Dream (one of the most depressing movies ever). Her IMDb page shows over 160 acting credits since 1958. This page will rank Ellen Burstyn movies from Best to Worst in six different sortable columns of information. Television shows, movies that were not released in North American theaters were not included in the rankings. To do well in our overall rankings a movie has to do well at the box office, get good reviews by critics, be liked by audiences and get some award recognition.
Ellen Burstyn Movies Ranked In Chronological Order With Ultimate Movie Rankings Score (1 to 5 UMR Tickets) *Best combo of box office, reviews and awards.
Ellen Burstyn Movies Can Be Ranked 6 Ways In This Table
The really cool thing about this table is that it is “user-sortable”. Rank the movies anyway you want.
- Sort Ellen Burstyn movies by his co-stars
- Sort Ellen Burstyn movies by adjusted domestic box office grosses using current movie ticket cost (in millions)
- Sort Ellen Burstyn movies by yearly domestic box office rank
- Sort Ellen Burstyn movies by how they were received by critics and audiences. 60% rating or higher should indicate a good movie.
- Sort by how many Oscar® nominations and how many Oscar® wins each Ellen Burstyn movie received.
- Sort Ellen Burstyn movies by Ultimate Movie Rankings (UMR) Score. UMR puts box office, reviews and awards into a mathematical equation and gives each movie a score.
Best IMDb Trivia On Ellen Burstyn
1. Edna Rae Gillooly was born in Detroit, Michigan in 1932.
2. Ellen Burstyn’s many name changes. When she first started her career she shortened Edna Rae Gillooly to Edna Rae. Then she briefly used the name Keri Flynn and tested at 20th Century Fox as Erica Dean. She then adopted the professional name Ellen McRae. And finally…after her marriage to Neil Burstyn she became Ellen Burstyn.
3. Ellen Burstyn is often mistaken for fellow actress Louise Fletcher. People tell her she was great in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (1975) (for which Fletcher won an Oscar®). Fletcher reports being told frequently that she did a wonderful job in one of Burstyn’s roles.
4. Ellen Burstyn plays two unusual roles where she becomes older than her parents. First, as Murph in Interstellar (2014), in which she was older than her father. The second, as Flemming in The Age of Adaline (2015), in which she was older than her mother.
5. Check out Ellen Burstyn’s career compared to current and classic actors. Most 100 Million Dollar Movies of All-Time.
I’ve seen just 5 of the 54 films on the chart, less than I thought. Favorites are – The Exorcist, The Fountain and Interstellar. I’ve also seen The Last Picture Show and W.
Top rated Ellen Burstyn movies I’ve missed include- Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore and Requiem for a Dream.
The Exorcist easily tops the box office chart, a sensation in it’s time with ambulances parked outside cinemas (US = theaters) in case people fainted or dropped dead of fright. Audiences today will probably laugh at the exorcism scenes. It’s still my favorite modern horror movie.
Nice work Bruce. Vote Up!
Hey Steve. Surprised you have only seen 5…though many of her movies are on subjects you tend to avoid. Tally count. Cogerson 20, box cox 13, and 5 for you, Bob and Flora. I have seen all of your favorites. The Exorcist is a classic. Her part in Interstellar is one of the reasons I do not love that movie….that ending rubs me the wrong way. As for the ones you have missed….Alice and Dream are good movies..but one and done for me. Heck….Requiem For A Dream is always mentioned as one of the “most depressing movies” of all-time……and it deserves that title….OMG….is that movie depressing! As for The Exorcist…I think it still scares people…mainly because of the “based on a true story” angle. Thanks for the comment. Good feedback.
I have seen 5 Ellen Burstyn movies.
The HIGHEST rated movie I have seen is The Last Picture Show.
The highest rated picture I have NOT seen is The Exorcist.
The LOWEST rated movie I have seen is The Baby-Sitters Club.
Favourite Ellen Burstyn Movies:
The Last Picture Show
Harry and Tonto
Other Ellen Burstyn Movies I Have Seen:
Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore
Goodbye Charlie
The Baby-Sitters Club
Hey Flora. Thanks for the thoughts on Ellen Burstyn. Tally count. Cogerson 20, box cox 13 and a three way tie for third…as you, Bob and Steve sit at 5. Of the 5 you have seen…I have seen three of them. All three:The Last Picture Show, Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore and Harry and Tonto…are major Oscar winners and are high quality…but not ones I have re-visited more than once. Not surprised you have not seen The Exorcist….I avoided that one for almost 40 years. Good feedback.
Ellen Burstyn is # 198 on the Oracle of Bacon Top 1000 Center of the Hollywood Universe list. These are the other actors on the list she has appeared with. You know I never saw Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore until a few weeks ago on TCM, amazing.
2 HARVEY KEITEL Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore (1974)
2 HARVEY KEITEL Red Dragon (2002)
2 HARVEY KEITEL TWO MEN IN TOWN (2015)
4 DONALD SUTHERLAND Alex in Wonderland (1970)
4 DONALD SUTHERLAND THE CALLING (2014)
5 MICHAEL CAINE INTERSTELLAR (2014)
7 HARRISON FORD THE AGE OF ADALINE (2015)
12 MAX VON SYDOW The Exorcist (1973)
15 ANTHONY HOPKINS Red Dragon (2002)
18 JOHN GIELGUD Providence (1977)
21 SEAN CONNERY Playing by Heart (1998)
46 KEITH DAVID Requiem for a Dream (2000)
54 JACK NICHOLSON The King of Marvin Gardens (1972)
62 JAMES CAAN The Yards (2000)
70 SUSAN SARANDON THE CALLING (2014)
74 GENE HACKMAN Twice in a Lifetime (1985)
75 DONALD PLEASENCE Hanna’s War (1988)
75 DONALD PLEASENCE The Ambassador (1984)
79 BRUCE DERN NOSTALGIA (2018)
79 BRUCE DERN The King of Marvin Gardens (1972)
83 RICHARD JENKINS How to Make an American Quilt (1995)
90 MARTIN LANDAU Lovely, Still (2008)
90 MARTIN LANDAU The Color of Evening (1994)
102 RIP TORN How to Make an American Quilt (1995)
102 RIP TORN Tropic of Cancer (1970)
105 ROBERT MITCHUM The Ambassador (1984)
110 RODDY MCDOWELL The Color of Evening (1994)
113 JULIA ROBERTS Dying Young (1991)
126 SCOTT GLENN W. (2008/I)
128 DAVID WARNER Hanna’s War (1988)
128 DAVID WARNER Providence (1977)
157 MATT DAMON INTERSTELLAR (2014)
159 DENNIS QUAID Playing by Heart (1998)
161 NICOLAS CAGE The Wicker Man (2006)
163 JAMES CROMWELL W. (2008/I)
167 MAGGIE SMITH Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood (2002)
183 FOREST WHITAKER TWO MEN IN TOWN (2015)
192 KRIS KRISTOFFERSON Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore (1974)
205 PETER FALK Roommates (1995)
207 DENHOLM ELLIOTT Hanna’s War (1988)
210 BRUCE MCGILL W. (2008/I)
215 STACY KEACH W. (2008/I)
223 JEFF BRIDGES The Last Picture Show (1971)
236 FAYE DUNAWAY The Yards (2000)
239 ANGELINA JOLIE Playing by Heart (1998)
244 RANDY QUAID The Last Picture Show (1971)
254 FRANK LANGELLA Draft Day (2014)
254 FRANK LANGELLA Red Dragon (2002)
255 EDWARD HERRMANN Walking Across Egypt (1999)
256 TIM ROTH Deceiver (1997)
262 WALLACE SHAWN The Cemetery Club (1993)
263 DANNY AIELLO The Cemetery Club (1993)
264 JAMES GARNER Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood (2002)
281 CLORIS LEACHMAN The Last Picture Show (1971)
282 VINCENT D’ONOFRIO Dying Young (1991)
284 JULIANNE MOORE Roommates (1995)
288 JULIAN SANDS Grand Isle (1991)
291 ANNE BANCROFT How to Make an American Quilt (1995)
295 WILL PATTON The Loss of a Teardrop Diamond (2008)
295 WILL PATTON The Spitfire Grill (1996)
303 MARK MARGOLIS Requiem for a Dream (2000)
303 MARK MARGOLIS The Fountain (2006)
311 SHARON STONE ALL I WISH (2018)
312 HARRIS YULIN The Baby-Sitters Club (1995)
317 ANDY GARCIA When a Man Loves a Woman (1994)
326 BRUCE DAVISON The Baby-Sitters Club (1995)
331 CHRISTOPHER MCDONALD Requiem for a Dream (2000)
335 KEVIN DUNN Draft Day (2014)
338 TOMAS MILIAN The Yards (2000)
349 OLYMPIA DUKAKIS The Cemetery Club (1993)
354 WILLIAM H. MACY Roommates (1995)
363 PHILIP SEYMOUR HOFFMAN Red Dragon (2002)
363 PHILIP SEYMOUR HOFFMAN When a Man Loves a Woman (1994)
378 JODIE FOSTER Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore (1974)
382 ROBERT DOWNEY JR. SPIDER-MAN: HOMECOMING (2017)
388 MARCIA GAY HARDEN The Spitfire Grill (1996)
392 BRIAN DENNEHY Twice in a Lifetime (1985)
396 JIM BROWN Draft Day (2014)
407 JOHN ORTIZ NOSTALGIA (2018)
409 MICHAEL LERNER Alex in Wonderland (1970)
419 ANN-MARGRET The Loss of a Teardrop Diamond (2008)
419 ANN-MARGRET Twice in a Lifetime (1985)
426 LUIS GUZMAN TWO MEN IN TOWN (2015)
433 JAMES BROLIN Goodbye Charlie (1964)
434 ROY SCHEIDER Resurrection (1980)
437 TOBY JONES W. (2008/I)
455 ROSANNA ARQUETTE Deceiver (1997)
455 ROSANNA ARQUETTE Draft Day (2014)
458 SAM ELLIOTT Draft Day (2014)
463 TOM SKERRITT Silence of the North (1981)
463 TOM SKERRITT The Velveteen Rabbit (2009)
465 STUART WHITMAN The Color of Evening (1994)
473 MICHAEL MURPHY According to Greta (2009)
474 TONY CURTIS Goodbye Charlie (1964)
486 MARK HAMILL Walking Across Egypt (1999)
492 DYLAN BAKER Requiem for a Dream (2000)
492 DYLAN BAKER The Stone Angel (2007)
499 NATALIE PORTMAN LUCY IN THE SKY (2019)
500 JOSH BROLIN W. (2008/I)
503 MICHAEL PARKS Deceiver (1997)
522 WINONA RYDER How to Make an American Quilt (1995)
530 CHARLIZE THERON The Yards (2000)
531 DIANE LADD Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore (1974)
531 DIANE LADD The Cemetery Club (1993)
538 AMANDA PLUMMER You Can Thank Me Later (1999)
539 RALPH FIENNES Red Dragon (2002)
547 RICHARD DREYFUSS W. (2008/I)
550 JAMES REBHORN How to Make an American Quilt (1995)
555 WALTER MATTHAU Goodbye Charlie (1964)
572 CHRISTINA RICCI The Cemetery Club (1993)
577 MARK WAHLBERG The Yards (2000)
587 CHRIS PENN Deceiver (1997)
599 NASTASSJA KINSKI Playing by Heart (1998)
603 JEFFREY WRIGHT W. (2008/I)
607 KEVIN COSTNER Draft Day (2014)
618 SID HAIG PIT STOP (1969)
621 BEN JOHNSON The Last Picture Show (1971)
626 GWYNETH PALTROW SPIDER-MAN: HOMECOMING (2017)
634 DEBBIE REYNOLDS Goodbye Charlie (1964)
640 MELISSA LEO ACCORDING TO GRETA (2009)
643 SHIRLEY KNIGHT Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood (2002)
648 THANDIE NEWTON W. (2008/I)
659 SAM SHEPARD Resurrection (1980)
663 DERMOT MULRONEY HOW TO MAKE AN AMERICAN QUILT (1995)
668 MYKELTI WILLIAMSON HOW TO MAKE AN AMERICAN QUILT (1995)
673 CARLA GUGINO The Mighty Macs (2009)
676 IOAN GRUFFUD W. (2008/I)
678 TED LEVINE YOU CAN THANK ME LATER (1999)
728 DIRK BOGARDE Providence (1977)
732 CLIFF CURTIS THE FOUNTAIN (2006)
748 TERRY CREWS Draft Day (2014)
752 FAMKE JANSSEN ALL I WISH (2018)
761 JAMES FRANCO The Wicker Man (2006)
764 FRANKIE FAISON Red Dragon (2002)
764 FRANKIE FAISON Roommates (1995)
775 GENA ROWLANDS Playing by Heart (1998)
778 SANDRA BULLOCK Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood (2002)
788 MICHAEL ROOKER Deceiver (1997)
798 LOIS SMITH How to Make an American Quilt (1995)
798 LOIS SMITH Resurrection (1980)
817 STEPHEN MCHATTIE THE FOUNTAIN (2006)
820 MATTHEW MCCONAUGHEY INTERSTELLAR (2014)
830 GENEVIEVE BUJOLD You Can Thank Me Later (1999)
831 COLLEEN CAMP The Baby-Sitters Club (1995)
836 JOSEF SOMMER The Elephant King (2006)
837 MARISA TOMEI SPIDER-MAN: HOMECOMING (2017)
856 VICTOR ARGO The Yards (2000)
861 RADE SERBEDZIJA Hanna’s War (1988)
875 PATRICIA CLARKSON PLAYING BY HEART (1998)
886 STEPHEN LANG TWICE IN A LIFETIME (1985)
887 JEFFREY DEMUNN RESURRECTION (1980)
895 TIM GUINEE HOW TO MAKE AN AMERICAN QUILT (1995)
895 TIM GUINEE TWO MEN IN TOWN (2015)
906 DENIS LEARY Draft Day (2014)
928 JANE SEYMOUR The Velveteen Rabbit (2009)
929 CATHERINE KEENER NOSTALGIA (2018)
929 CATHERINE KEENER The Cemetery Club (1993)
932 MICHAEL KEATON SPIDER-MAN: HOMECOMING (2017)
938 EDWARD NORTON Red Dragon (2002)
HM (804) KATE NELLIGAN HOW TO MAKE AN AMERICAN QUILT (1995)
HM (923) TIMOTHY BOTTOMS The Last Picture Show (1971)
Ellen has appeared with 39 Oscar winners which I found disappointing, thought she’d be in Kathy Bates’ class.
ANGELINA JOLIE Playing by Heart (1998)
ANNE BANCROFT How to Make an American Quilt (1995)
ANNE HATHAWAY INTERSTELLAR (2014)
ANTHONY HOPKINS Red Dragon (2002)
ART CARNEY Harry and Tonto (1974)
BEN JOHNSON The Last Picture Show (1971)
CASEY AFFLECK INTERSTELLAR (2014)
CHARLIZE THERON The Yards (2000)
CLORIS LEACHMAN The Last Picture Show (1971)
FAYE DUNAWAY The Yards (2000)
FOREST WHITAKER TWO MEN IN TOWN (2015)
GENE HACKMAN Twice in a Lifetime (1985)
GWYNETH PALTROW SPIDER-MAN: HOMECOMING (2017)
JACK NICHOLSON The King of Marvin Gardens (1972)
JEFF BRIDGES The Last Picture Show (1971)
JENNIFER CONNELLY Requiem for a Dream (2000)
JENNIFER CONNELLY SPIDER-MAN: HOMECOMING (2017)
JODIE FOSTER Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore (1974)
JOHN GIELGUD Providence (1977)
JULIA ROBERTS Dying Young (1991)
JULIANNE MOORE Roommates (1995)
MAGGIE SMITH Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood (2002)
MARCIA GAY HARDEN The Spitfire Grill (1996)
MARISA TOMEI SPIDER-MAN: HOMECOMING (2017)
MARTIN LANDAU Lovely, Still (2008)
MARTIN LANDAU The Color of Evening (1994)
MATTHEW MCCONAUGHEY INTERSTELLAR (2014)
MELISSA LEO ACCORDING TO GRETA (2009)
MERCEDES MCCAMBRIDGE THE EXORCIST (1973)
MICHAEL CAINE INTERSTELLAR (2014)
NATALIE PORTMAN LUCY IN THE SKY (2019)
NICOLAS CAGE The Wicker Man (2006)
OLYMPIA DUKAKIS The Cemetery Club (1993)
PHILIP SEYMOUR HOFFMAN Red Dragon (2002)
PHILIP SEYMOUR HOFFMAN When a Man Loves a Woman (1994)
RACHEL WEISZ The Fountain (2006)
RENEE ZELLWEGER Deceiver (1997)
RICHARD DREYFUSS W. (2008/I)
SANDRA BULLOCK Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood (2002)
SEAN CONNERY Playing by Heart (1998)
SUSAN SARANDON THE CALLING (2014)
WALTER MATTHAU Goodbye Charlie (1964)
Hey Dan
1. Thanks for this information.
2. I took me awhile to see Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore too. I think I finally saw it a few years ago when I attempted to see every major Oscar winning movie …Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actor, Best Supporting Actress, Best Director and Best Picture. I ended up seeing about 95% of those movies…still hunting down the last 5%.
3. Even as a kid…I was aware that the television show Alice was based on a movie…granted…Alice was not my favorite show…but back then it was the show my family watched….as we really only had 3 choices…ABC, NBC and CBS.
4. With all of Ellen Burstyn’s credits…I am not surprised she is in the Top 200.
5. Even as she is pushing 90…..she is making about 2 movies a year…..and that does not included her many many television roles as well.
6. First list…packed with two timers….but no three timers…that is surprising….but at least Michael Caine is on her list…lol.
7. Second list….39 Oscar winning co-stars would probably put her in the Top 10…when looking at actresses….not many cross the 40 mark.
Good stuff as always.
I have never seen the TV series Alice but I understand the actor that played Alice’s son on the TV series, Philip McKeon died yesterday at 55.
Hey Dan….wow….I did not see that Alice’s son on the show passed away….although I did not like that show…I enjoyed Philip McKeon’s part in the show. For awhile, the McKeon siblings were a hot commodity. His sister was Jo on The Facts of Life. RIP Mr. McKeon.
All the time I tend, understandably I think, to confuse Ellen Burstyn with Ellen Barkin; and indeed both appeared in 2011’s Another Happy Day. In fact Barkin was the top-billed star in that one [billing being alphabetical] but not surprisingly she is ignored in the co-stars column above in favour of Gimme More.
On top of a hefty big screen career commencing in 1964 and still going strong, Burstyn has appeared in an amazing 77 TV productions [from 1958-2016 to date]. On the big screen she will next appear in Welcome to Pine Grove, a comedy in which she plays a mother and a grandmother and is the top billed star, above James Caan and Ann-Margret. It is at post-production stage with release date TBA.
I have seen Burstyn in 5 cinematic movies: Last Picture Show, Myrna Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, Exorcist, Red Dragon and Lovely Still.
The latter is my favourite and Wikipedia says about it: “Lovely, Still is a 2008 Christmas-themed romantic drama film starring Martin Landau and Ellen Burstyn.”Indeed in recent television repeats the title has been changed to Lovely Still at Christmas. Ellen received one of the minor acting awards nomination for her performance.
Hey Bob. Thanks for the thoughts on Ellen Burstyn. Interesting about you getting her mixed up with Ellen Barkin. For me it is Louise Fletcher that I get her mixed up with. I have seen Another Happy Day…an ensemble cast that gets a big ….it’s alight from me. She has indeed been a very busy on television. Tally count…you, Steve and Flora at 5…..bob cox 13 and me at 20.
HI BRUCE: I appreciate the feedback. IMDB credits her with36 acting awards and 57 noms and according to Celeb Net Worth site she has $20 million in the bank at present.
I think that Ellen escaped the clutches of The Curse because she never achieved major stardom for it to feed upon [“Weary is the head that wears the crown”]; and her skills and versatility as an ACTRESS have enabled her to keep going on the big screen and on television as she aged, so that at 87 she is still highly active.
On top of Welcome to Pine Grove [aka Never Too Late] which I mentioned she has 4 other projects at one planning stage or another– Bathing Flo; Wake; Diamonds in the Dust; and Fuddy Meers. In 4 of the overall 5 she is the lead female and in 3 of them she is the top billed star. Match that record if you can, Thin Woman!
Certainly Ellen was in fine form in Lovely Still [aka Lovely Still at Christmas] the last movie in which I have seen her. They say it Is Bruce Willis’ favourite Christmas movie. I heard that when he was asked one Yuletide what attracted him to it he replied “At this time of the year The World deserves a short break from being saved by guys like us.”
Hey Bob…let’s see….she turned 39 in 1971…..had her biggest success from 1970 to 1975….and then pretty much did not have a major movie (Resurrection excluded) that could be considered an “Ellen Burstyn” movie…I think the curse of 39 got her as well. Thanks for the further information…glad she has collected a nice nest egg…and has so many awards and nominations in her trophy case. Good stuff.
HI BRUCE: Thanks for your further comments. I am not sure there EVER has been an “Ellen Burstyn picture” in the way there was a Crawford, Davis, Grable, Durbin, Day movie years ago and in the way there have been Julia Roberts, Meryl Streep and Sandra Bullock pictures in recent years. I see the matter as follows:
1/Ellen HAS been IN a few hits but in only two of her Cogerson $100 million barrier crashers was she top billed and for the bigger of those two, The Exorcist, she was not the selling point; and anyway “One swallow doesn’t make a summer.”
“Ellen Burstyn’s chief strength–her versatility–may also be her worst falling in terms of stardom. She can be a waitress, an anxious mother, or a faith healer with equal conviction, but she hasn’t, as writer Robert Osborne once put it, found “a public image in keeping with her new stature as a film world first lady.” The Master.
2/Her Cogerson $100 million crashers number just 7 and in the other 5 of them her roles were supporting ones or secondary or lower to Sandra Bullock and Meg Ryan for example. She was officially uncredited in Red Dragon, which you list for her.
Hey Bob….I do not imagine many non movie fans are even aware of Ellen Burstyn….as you say…..there probably has never been an Ellen Burstyn movie….but us movie buffs know she is one of the best….6 Oscar nominations is one of the greatest amount of acting nominations for a thespian….that ties her with Sir Michael. Good return comment.
Hey Bob….that is impressive that she has so many movies in post production…I suspect like most of her movies since the early 1980s…..they will come and go without much fanfare. Though I would love to see the one with James Caan take off. Thanks for doing that research.
HI BRUCE
Thanks for the additional attention to this matter.
I see Ellen as someone who built on her earlier success to establish a longevity plateau for herself as a prestige actress and that was really her best option because as Joel rightly indicates her type of persona was never going to achieve top stardom.
However whilst as you suggest she may have largely worked under the radar of wider audiences, when compiling your 25 Female Legends 1950-2010 page you were switched on enough to at least seriously consider Ellen for recognition within the 25 so you deserve credit for that.
Ellen Burstyn’s chief strength–her versatility–may also be her worst falling in terms of stardom. She can be a waitress, an anxious mother, or a faith healer with equal conviction, but she hasn’t, as writer Robert Osborne once put it, found “a public image in keeping with her new stature as a film world first lady.”
Rating the Movie Stars Book (1983) 4 Star Ellen Burstyn Movie Performances
1971’s The Last Picture Show
1973’s The Exorcist
1974’s Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore
1979’s Resurrection
Another Joel subject completed.