
Melanie Griffith
ActingAbout Melanie Griffith
Melanie Richards Griffith (born August 9, 1957) is an American actress. She began her career in the 1970s, appearing in several independent thriller films before achieving mainstream success in the mid-1980s. Born in New York City to actress Tippi Hedren and advertising executive Peter Griffith, she was raised mainly in Los Angeles, where she graduated from the Hollywood Professional School at age 16. In 1975, a then 17-year-old Griffith appeared opposite Gene Hackman in Arthur Penn's film noir Night Moves. She later rose to prominence for her role portraying a pornographic actress in Brian De Palma's thriller Body Double (1984), which earned her a National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Supporting Actress. Griffith's subsequent performance in the comedy Something Wild (1986) garnered critical acclaim before she was cast in 1988's Working Girl, which earned her a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Actress and won her a Golden Globe. The 1990s had Griffith in a series of roles that received varying critical reception; she received Golden Globe nominations for her performances in Buffalo Girls (1995), and as Marion Davies in RKO 281 (1999), while also earning a Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Actress for her performances in Shining Through (1992), as well as receiving nominations for Crazy in Alabama (1999) and John Waters' cult film Cecil B. Demented (2000). Other credits include John Schlesinger's Pacific Heights (1990), Milk Money (1994), the neo-noir film Mulholland Falls (1996), as Charlotte Haze in Adrian Lyne's Lolita (1997), and Another Day in Paradise (1998). She later starred as Barbara Marx in The Night We Called It a Day (2003), and spent the majority of the 2000s appearing on such television series as Nip/Tuck, Raising Hope, and Hawaii Five-0. After acting on stage in London, in 2003, she made her Broadway debut in a revival of the musical Chicago, receiving celebratory reviews. In the 2010s, Griffith returned to film, starring opposite then-husband Antonio Banderas in the science-fiction film Autómata (2014) and as an acting coach in James Franco's The Disaster Artist (2017).
Melanie Griffith Movies & Career Overview
The filmography of Melanie Griffith reflects a strong mix of popular and critically appreciated roles. Across 50 major appearances, the actor has built a reputation through performances in multiple genres and storytelling styles.
Dominant Genre
A large portion of Melanie Griffith's work falls within the Drama genre, where audiences tend to respond most strongly to their on-screen presence.
Success Ratio
Approximately 52% of Melanie Griffith's films maintain ratings above 6.5, indicating a consistent level of audience approval.
One of the most highly rated entries in their career remains Steel Cowboy, which stands out as a key performance.
Best Melanie Griffith Movies Ranked
Must-watch hits from Melanie Griffith's career based on audience ratings.
Full Filmography
Every movie Melanie Griffith has appeared in, with audience ratings and verdicts.
| Year | Movie | Character | Success | More |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Melanie Griffith - Die Frau, die Hollywood überlebte | Self (archive footage) | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 2020 | The High Note | Tess | Hit | Similar → |
| 2018 | Howard | Karen (archive footage) | Hit | Similar → |
| 2017 | The Pirates of Somalia | Maria Bahadur | Hit | Similar → |
| 2017 | Roar: The Most Dangerous Movie Ever Made | Self (archive footage) | Hit | Similar → |
| 2017 | The Disaster Artist | Jean Shelton | Hit | Similar → |
| 2016 | J.L. Family Ranch | Laura Lee | Average | Similar → |
| 2015 | Back to the Jurassic | Tyra | Average | Similar → |
| 2014 | Automata | Dr. Susan Dupré / Cleo (voice) | Average | Similar → |
| 2013 | Call Me Crazy: A Five Film | Kristin | Hit | Similar → |
| 2012 | Dino Time | Tyra (voice) | Average | Similar → |
| 2010 | A Turtle's Tale: Sammy's Adventures | Snow (voice) | Average | Similar → |
| 2004 | Happy to Be Nappy and Other Stories of Me | Self (voice) | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 2003 | Shade | Eve | Average | Similar → |
| 2002 | Stuart Little 2 | Margalo (voice) | Average | Similar → |
| 2002 | Searching for Debra Winger | Self | Average | Similar → |
| 2000 | Light Keeps Me Company | Self | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 2000 | The Book That Wrote Itself | Melanie Griffith | Hit | Similar → |
| 2000 | Cecil B. Demented | Honey Whitlock | Average | Similar → |
| 1999 | RKO 281 | Marion Davies | Hit | Similar → |
| 1999 | Crazy in Alabama | Lucille Vinson | Average | Similar → |
| 1998 | Another Day in Paradise | Sid | Average | Similar → |
| 1998 | Celebrity | Nicole Oliver | Average | Similar → |
| 1997 | Lolita | Charlotte Haze | Hit | Similar → |
| 1996 | Mulholland Falls | Katherine Hoover | Average | Similar → |
| 1995 | Now and Then | Teeny | Hit | Similar → |
| 1995 | A Night to Die For | Self | Hit | Similar → |
| 1995 | Buffalo Girls | Dora DuFran | Hit | Similar → |
| 1994 | Nobody's Fool | Toby Roebuck | Hit | Similar → |
| 1994 | Milk Money | V | Average | Similar → |
| 1992 | The Grand Opening of Euro Disneyland | Self - Host (US) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1992 | Shining Through | Linda Voss | Hit | Similar → |
| 1991 | Paradise | Lily Reed | Average | Similar → |
| 1990 | The Bonfire of the Vanities | Maria Ruskin | Average | Similar → |
| 1990 | Pacific Heights | Patty Palmer | Average | Similar → |
| 1988 | Working Girl | Tess McGill | Hit | Similar → |
| 1988 | Stormy Monday | Kate | Average | Similar → |
| 1988 | The Milagro Beanfield War | Flossie Devine | Hit | Similar → |
| 1987 | Cherry 2000 | Edith 'E.' Johnson | Average | Similar → |
| 1986 | Something Wild | Audrey Hankel | Hit | Similar → |
| 1984 | Body Double | Holly Body | Hit | Similar → |
| 1981 | Roar | Melanie | Average | Similar → |
| 1981 | Golden Gate | Karen | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1979 | The Cheryl Ladd Special | Ellie - Waitress | Hit | Similar → |
| 1978 | Steel Cowboy | Johnnie | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1977 | One on One | The Hitchhiker | Average | Similar → |
| 1975 | The Drowning Pool | Schuyler | Average | Similar → |
| 1975 | Night Moves | Delilah "Delly" Grastner | Hit | Similar → |
| 1975 | Smile | Karen | Average | Similar → |
| 1969 | Smith! | Extra (uncredited) | Average | Similar → |
Melanie Griffith - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best movie of Melanie Griffith?
According to audience ratings, the best movie starring Melanie Griffith is "Steel Cowboy" with a rating of 9.0/10.
How many movies has Melanie Griffith acted in?
Melanie Griffith has been featured in at least 50 major films throughout their career.
What are some other popular movies by Melanie Griffith?
Other notable films include "Golden Gate", "Happy to Be Nappy and Other Stories of Me", and "Melanie Griffith - Die Frau, die Hollywood überlebte".




