Want to know the best John Lithgow movies? How about the worst John Lithgow movies? Curious about John Lithgow box office grosses or which John Lithgow movie picked up the most Oscar® nominations? Need to know which John Lithgow movie got the best reviews from critics and audiences? Well you have come to the right place…as we have that information and lots moree.
John Lithgow (1945-) is an Oscar® nominated American actor. Lithgow has also found success as a musician, comedian, poet, author, and singer. He has received two Tony Awards, six Emmy Awards, two Golden Globe® Awards, three Screen Actors Guild Awards®, four Drama Desk Awards®, and has been nominated for two Academy Awards® and four Grammy Awards®. His IMDb page shows over 117 acting credits since 1972 . This page will rank 50 John Lithgow Movies in 6 different statistical categories. Television roles, shorts and uncredited roles are not included in the rankings.
John Lithgow Movies Ranked In Chronological Order With Ultimate Movie Rankings Score (1 to 5 UMR Tickets) *Best combo of box office, reviews and awards.
John Lithgow 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.
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John Lithgow eh… good actor…. good subject.
I’ve seen 20 of the 50 films on the chart. Favorites are – 2010, Buckaroo Banzai, Interstellar, Twilight Zone the Movie, Rise of the Planet of the Apes, Cliffhanger, Harry and the Hendersons, Shrek and Blow Out.
Lithgow had a memorable role in Twilight Zone as the panic-stricken airplane passenger who spots a strange creature tearing up one of the planes engines, but no one believes him. A young William Shatner played the same role in the original 60s TV series.
Top rated Lithgow movies I haven’t seen – All That Jazz and Kinsey.
Nice work Bruce. Vote Up!
Whoa ho ho! The game’s afoot!
🙂
Wow…I missed lots of Lithgow comments.
Hey Steve…thanks for the comment and tally count on John Lithgow. I have seen 30 of his movies….surprisingly not many of his bottom movies..usually I see at least 3 or 4 of the Bottom 10. I have seen and liked all of your favorites…with the exception of Buckaroo Banzai…..which I never really “got”…I know it was hip and cool…it just went right over my head. All That Jazz is very good…but I admit…I do not remember his part at all. His role in The Twilight Zone is the best part of the movie….he did well taking over for the Shatner….lol Good stuff as always.
I saw 17 including top 7. 10 and favorite: interstellar. 10 not favorite: terms of endearment 9s: blow out( hidden gem), all that jazz, pelican brief, the adventures of buckaroo banzai (hidden gem), shrek.:
Hey bob cox….thanks for the tally count….and the comment. Interstellar was good…but a lot of Nolan’s movies…I felt the ending was ok at best. Blow Out is indeed a hidden gem….one of Travolta’s best movies. Lots of 9s from you. Good stuff as always.
Before I start a bit of mourning to 2 theaters I attended that Bow Tie Cinemas shut down on the same night, Thursday April 11. Gone now are the Manhasset Triplex and the Roslyn Quad, both art picture theaters and also the only cinemas in those 2 towns. Last year they shut the Port Washington Main Street one (7 screens) but they have another cinema. A few years back the closed the American in the Bronx which I attended a lot when I live there. That was 2013 and it was there since 1940. They were shutting the Squire in nearby Great Neck a few weeks ago but the former owners of the closed Douglaston theater (closed last July for a Loews store which has had no work commence) bought it and took it over. They advertise cheap afternoon showings and then open at about 5 on weekdays so no afternoon showings.
John Lithgow is # 361 on the December 15, 2018 Oracle of Bacon Top 1000 Centers of the Hollywood Universe list. These are the other actors on the list he has appeared with;
4 DONALD SUTHERLAND Hollow Point (1996)
20 SYLVESTER STALLONE Cliffhanger (1993)
21 SEAN CONNERY A Good Man in Africa (1994)
34 ALFRED MOLINA LOVE IS STRANGE (2014)
35 HARRY DEAN STANTON A Civil Action (1998)
39 JIM BROADBENT Princess Caraboo (1994)
40 ROBERT DUVALL A Civil Action (1998)
54 JACK NICHOLSON Terms of Endearment (1983)
58 HELEN MIRREN 2010 (1984)
68 CHRISTOPHER LLOYD The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension (1984)
68 CHRISTOPHER LLOYD The Macabre World of Lavender Williams (2009)
70 SUSAN SARANDON Rugrats in Paris: The Movie – Rugrats II (2000)
77 CANDICE BERGEN 2010 (1984)
82 LIAM NEESON Kinsey (2004)
83 RICHARD JENKINS The Manhattan Project (1986)
86 DANNY TREJO Love, Cheat & Steal (1993)
98 JOHN GOODMAN Confessions of a Shopaholic (2009)
104 HARRY ANDREWS My Letter to George (1986)
108 M. EMMET WALSH Harry and the Hendersons (1987)
112 SHIRLEY MACLAINE Terms of Endearment (1983)
113 JULIA ROBERTS The Pelican Brief (1993)
123 JEFF GOLDBLUM The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension (1984)
129 TOMMY LEE JONES THE HOMESMAN (2014)
135 WOODY HARRELSON L.A. Story (1991)
143 F. MURRAY ABRAHAM The Big Fix (1978)
145 DAN AYKROYD Twilight Zone: The Movie (1983)
154 KATHY BATES A Civil Action (1998)
154 KATHY BATES At Play in the Fields of the Lord (1991)
160 DANNY GLOVER Dreamgirls (2006)
182 BURGESS MEREDITH Santa Claus (1985)
182 BURGESS MEREDITH Twilight Zone: The Movie (1983)
197 OLIVER PLATT Kinsey (2004)
200 BRIAN COX Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011)
202 ERIC ROBERTS Love, Cheat & Steal (1993)
206 STANLEY TUCCI The Life and Death of Peter Sellers (2004)
206 STANLEY TUCCI The Pelican Brief (1993)
210 BRUCE MCGILL Cliffhanger (1993)
210 BRUCE MCGILL Out Cold (1989)
212 DAVID STRAITHAIRN Memphis Belle (1990)
213 DANNY DEVITO Terms of Endearment (1983)
225 BOB BALABAN 2010 (1984)
225 BOB BALABAN 2010: The Odyssey Continues (1984)
229 CHARLES DURNING Dealing: Or the Berkeley-to-Boston Forty-Brick Lost-Bag Blues (1972)
234 TOM BERENGER At Play in the Fields of the Lord (1991)
237 MERYL STREEP THE HOMESMAN (2014)
238 TONY SHALHOUB A CIVIL ACTION (1998)
240 RICHARD E. GRANT L.A. Story (1991)
244 RANDY QUAID Out Cold (1989)
255 EDWARD HERRMANN A Civil Action (1998)
257 PAUL SORVINO Dealing: Or the Berkeley-to-Boston Forty-Brick Lost-Bag Blues (1972)
262 WALLACE SHAWN All That Jazz (1979)
267 ROBIN WILLIAMS The World According to Garp (1982)
272 DENZEL WASHINGTON Ricochet (1991)
272 DENZEL WASHINGTON The Pelican Brief (1993)
287 GLENN CLOSE The World According to Garp (1982)
289 MEL GIBSON DADDY’S HOME 2 (2017)
300 BILLY ZANE Memphis Belle (1990)
306 JOHN LEGUIZAMO ShowBusiness: The Road to Broadway (2007)
307 DAN HEDAYA A Civil Action (1998)
307 DAN HEDAYA I’m Dancing as Fast as I Can (1982)
307 DAN HEDAYA The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension (1984)
315 MARK STRONG MISS SLOANE (2016)
327 DARYL HANNAH At Play in the Fields of the Lord (1991)
329 JOHN HEARD The Pelican Brief (1993)
336 JACK BLACK Johnny Skidmarks (1998)
336 JACK BLACK Orange County (2002)
337 BILLY BOB THORNTON Homegrown (1998)
344 MAKO Rugrats in Paris: The Movie – Rugrats II (2000)
349 OLYMPIA DUKAKIS Rich Kids (1979)
350 KRISTIN SCOTT THOMAS Confessions of a Shopaholic (2009)
354 WILLIAM H. MACY A Civil Action (1998)
360 VINCENT SCHIAVELLI The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension (1984)
362 KEVIN POLLAK L.A. Story (1991)
362 KEVIN POLLAK Ricochet (1991)
369 RON RIFKIN THE BIG FIX (1978)
375 TERI GARR Out Cold (1989)
377 JEFF DANIELS Terms of Endearment (1983)
378 JODIE FOSTER My Letter to George (1986)
399 JOHN TRAVOLTA A Civil Action (1998)
399 JOHN TRAVOLTA Blow Out (1981)
418 JEFFREY TAMBOR THE ACCOUNTANT (2016)
420 PATRICK STEWART L.A. Story (1991)
422 PETER VAUGHAN The Life and Death of Peter Sellers (2004)
434 ROY SCHEIDER 2010 (1984)
434 ROY SCHEIDER All That Jazz (1979)
442 CLANCY BROWN THE ADVENTURES OF BUCKAROO BANZAI ACROSS THE 8TH DIMENSION (1984)
447 STEPHEN FRY A CIVIL ACTION (1998)
447 STEPHEN FRY THE LIFE AND DEATH OF PETER SELLERS (2004)
450 KEVIN BACON Footloose (1984)
464 BEN STILLER ORANGE COUNTY (2002)
473 MICHAEL MURPHY My Letter to George (1986)
489 DICK MILLER Twilight Zone: The Movie (1983)
492 DYLAN BAKER Kinsey (2004)
492 DYLAN BAKER MISS SLOANE (2016)
493 SAM WATERSTON MISS SLOANE (2016)
508 BARBARA HERSHEY Dealing: Or the Berkeley-to-Boston Forty-Brick Lost-Bag Blues (1972)
513 LYNN REDGRAVE Confessions of a Shopaholic (2009)
513 LYNN REDGRAVE Kinsey (2004)
518 ERIC STOLTZ Memphis Belle (1990)
530 CHARLIZE THERON The Life and Death of Peter Sellers (2004)
537 KATHLEEN FREEMAN Shrek (2001)
538 AMANDA PLUMMER The World According to Garp (1982)
546 STEVE MARTIN L.A. Story (1991)
547 RICHARD DREYFUSS Silent Fall (1994)
547 RICHARD DREYFUSS The Big Fix (1978)
556 JAMES SPADER THE HOMESMAN (2014)
565 TIM CURRY Kinsey (2004)
565 TIM CURRY Rugrats in Paris: The Movie – Rugrats II (2000)
570 CLIFF ROBERTSON Obsession (1976)
577 MARK WAHLBERG DADDY’S HOME 2 (2017)
578 MATTHEW MODINE Memphis Belle (1990)
582 RICHARD EDSON Love, Cheat & Steal (1993)
586 GEOFFREY RUSH The Life and Death of Peter Sellers (2004)
587 CHRIS PENN Footloose (1984)
588 ALAN CUMMING ShowBusiness: The Road to Broadway (2007)
590 BEN AFFLECK THE ACCOUNTANT (2016)
594 STEPHEN REA Princess Caraboo (1994)
597 FRANCES MCDORMAND Johnny Skidmarks (1998)
601 LARRY MILLER L.A. Story (1991)
601 LARRY MILLER Out Cold (1989)
620 HANK AZARIA C-SCAM (2000)
620 HANK AZARIA HOMEGROWN (1998)
630 MIRIAM MARGOLYES The Life and Death of Peter Sellers (2004)
633 CHEVY CHASE L.A. Story (1991)
633 CHEVY CHASE Orange County (2002)
634 DEBBIE REYNOLDS Rugrats in Paris: The Movie – Rugrats II (2000)
638 SALMA HAYEK BEATRIZ AT DINNER (2017)
659 SAM SHEPARD The Pelican Brief (1993)
670 J.T. WALSH Silent Fall (1994)
679 RICHARD MASUR I’m Dancing as Fast as I Can (1982)
685 TOM BOWER Distant Thunder (1988)
685 TOM BOWER Raising Cain (1992)
694 KEVIN KLINE Orange County (2002)
694 KEVIN KLINE Princess Caraboo (1994)
742 DIANNE WIEST FOOTLOOSE (1984)
742 DIANNE WIEST I’M DANCING AS FAST AS I CAN (1982)
744 BARRY CORBIN THE HOMESMAN (2014)
753 DAVID KOECHNER OUT COLD (2001)
755 PAUL DOOLEY Rich Kids (1979)
756 TIMOTHY HUTTON Kinsey (2004)
761 JAMES FRANCO Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011)
771 LAURA LINNEY KINSEY (2004)
774 CAMERON DIAZ Shrek (2001)
788 MICHAEL ROOKER Cliffhanger (1993)
796 WILL FERRELL DADDY’S HOME 2 (2017)
806 TIM BLAKE NELSON THE HOMESMAN (2014)
816 PAUL WINFIELD Cliffhanger (1993)
830 GENEVIEVE BUJOLD Obsession (1976)
837 MARISA TOMEI LOVE IS STRANGE (2014)
839 DAVID SUCHET HARRY AND THE HENDERSONS (1987)
840 KEVIN MCCARTHY Twilight Zone: The Movie (1983)
848 DONALD MOFFAT Love, Cheat & Steal (1993)
856 VICTOR ARGO Dealing: Or the Berkeley-to-Boston Forty-Brick Lost-Bag Blues (1972)
862 ELYA BASKIN 2010 (1984)
862 ELYA BASKIN 2010: The Odyssey Continues (1984)
873 MAGGIE GYLLENHAAL Homegrown (1998)
880 SARAH JESSICA PARKER Footloose (1984)
880 SARAH JESSICA PARKER L.A. Story (1991)
882 PETER GALLAGHER Johnny Skidmarks (1998)
892 MATT CLARK Homegrown (1998)
892 MATT CLARK The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension (1984)
898 PETER WELLER The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension (1984)
900 ELLEN BARKIN The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension (1984)
905 CHRISTINE BARANSKI MISS SLOANE (2016)
914 JAMIE LEE CURTIS Homegrown (1998)
914 JAMIE LEE CURTIS The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension (1984)
918 MIGUEL SANDOVAL RICOCHET (1991)
920 VINCENT CASSEL SHREK (2001)
924 AMY ADAMS Leap Year (2010)
926 AIDAN QUINN At Play in the Fields of the Lord (1991)
930 DANIEL STERN I’m Dancing as Fast as I Can (1982)
947 MARY KAY PLACE TERMS OF ENDEARMENT (1983)
950 EDDIE MURPHY Dreamgirls (2006)
950 EDDIE MURPHY Shrek (2001)
950 EDDIE MURPHY Shrek 4-D (2003)
965 KATHLEEN QUINLAN A Civil Action (1998)
965 KATHLEEN QUINLAN Twilight Zone: The Movie (1983)
967 JOHN MICHAEL HIGGINS PITCH PERFECT 3 (2017)
1000 MANDY PATINKIN The Big Fix (1978)
HM (834) NICOL WILLIAMSON I’m Dancing as Fast as I Can (1982)
HM (930) WILLIAM FICHTNER THE HOMESMAN (2014)
John has appeared with 32 Oscar winners, I thought it would be more.
CHARLIZE THERON The Life and Death of Peter Sellers (2004)
CLIFF ROBERTSON Obsession (1976)
DENZEL WASHINGTON Ricochet (1991)
DENZEL WASHINGTON The Pelican Brief (1993)
DIANNE WIEST FOOTLOOSE (1984)
DIANNE WIEST I’M DANCING AS FAST AS I CAN (1982)
DON AMECHE Harry and the Hendersons (1987)
F. MURRAY ABRAHAM The Big Fix (1978)
FRANCES MCDORMAND Johnny Skidmarks (1998)
GEOFFREY RUSH The Life and Death of Peter Sellers (2004)
GERALDINE PAGE I’m Dancing as Fast as I Can (1982)
HELEN MIRREN 2010 (1984)
HILARY SWANK THE HOMESMAN (2014)
J. K. SIMMONS THE ACCOUNTANT (2016)
JACK NICHOLSON Terms of Endearment (1983)
JAMIE FOXX Dreamgirls (2006)
JESSICA LANGE All That Jazz (1979)
JIM BROADBENT Princess Caraboo (1994)
JODIE FOSTER My Letter to George (1986)
JULIA ROBERTS The Pelican Brief (1993)
KATHY BATES A Civil Action (1998)
KATHY BATES At Play in the Fields of the Lord (1991)
KEVIN KLINE Orange County (2002)
KEVIN KLINE Princess Caraboo (1994)
LOUIS GOSSETT JR. A Good Man in Africa (1994)
MARISA TOMEI LOVE IS STRANGE (2014)
MERYL STREEP THE HOMESMAN (2014)
OLYMPIA DUKAKIS Rich Kids (1979)
RICHARD DREYFUSS Silent Fall (1994)
RICHARD DREYFUSS The Big Fix (1978)
ROBERT DUVALL A Civil Action (1998)
ROBIN WILLIAMS The World According to Garp (1982)
SEAN CONNERY A Good Man in Africa (1994)
SHIRLEY MACLAINE Terms of Endearment (1983)
SUSAN SARANDON Rugrats in Paris: The Movie – Rugrats II (2000)
TIMOTHY HUTTON Kinsey (2004)
TOMMY LEE JONES THE HOMESMAN (2014)
Hey Dan
1. Thanks for these lists.
2. Sorry it took so long to respond….and sorry about the closing theaters. It reminds me of the scene in Cinema Paradiso when they torn down the theater….so many memories.
3. Lithgow…might have improved his Oracle standing since December 18th….as he has been pretty busy in 2019.
4. Looking at his first list…looks like Dan “Blood Simple” Heyada is his most frequent Oracle co-star.
5. 32 Oscar winning co-stars is below average for an actor that has been so busy the last 4 or 5 decades….but one of those co-stars is Michael Caine…so all is forgiven….lol.
I have seen 6 John Lithgow movies. Five of them are in the top 10. Only 1 is not a favourite.
Favourite John Lithgow movies:
Shrek
All That Jazz
Footloose
Dreamgirls
Harry and the Hendersons
Other John Lithgow Movie I’ve Seen:
Terms of Endearment
Hey Flora. Thanks for the tally, visit and comment. All greatly appreciated. Surprised that Terms of Endearment did not join your other favorites. I guess it does get a little depressing at the end….plus the mother-daughter relationship has a lot of yelling at each other…my grandmother strongly disliked that in movies. I have seen all 6 of the ones you have seen. Overall, I have seen 35 of these movies….or 70%. I saw and enjoyed Harry and the Hendersons in theaters back in the day….my little ones have seen Harry many times over the years….a silly but fun movie. Shrek is a classic for sure….while All That Jazz and Footloose have some great dancing in them. Good feedback as always.