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Fairuza Balk

Fairuza Balk

Actor · Born May 21, 1974 (52) · Point Reyes, California, USA

Fairuza Balk (born Fairuza Alejandra Feldthouse; May 21, 1974) is an American actress and musician. She made her theatrical film debut as Dorothy Gale in Disney's 1985 film Return to Oz. Balk also appeared in Valmont, The Craft, The Island of Dr. Moreau, American History X, The Waterboy, Almost Famous, and Personal Velocity: Three Portraits. Wikipedia

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
May 21, 1974 (52)
From
Point Reyes, California, USA
Works as
Actor
Titles
33 on MovieCove · 52 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Official site (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 64 days to Oct 27Down 10% in 30 days

What are Fairuza Balk's films like?

Across their 29 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Self and Bonds.

Genres

Drama10 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 57th percentile
: browse their Drama movies
Crime6 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 57th percentile
: browse their Crime movies
Comedy5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 58th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Documentary3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 91st percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Documentary movies
Adventure2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 85th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Adventure movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Self
33%
Bonds
21%
Morality
14%
Survival
13%
Power
8%
Society
7%
Ideas
4%
Family bonds9 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity6 titles, browse their movies with this themeComing of age5 titles, browse their movies with this themeSelf-worth3 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception3 titles, browse their movies with this themeObsession3 titles, browse their movies with this themePower3 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship3 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 28 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Serious: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their serious movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

A split, not a type: Light 8 · Serious 9 · Dark 11

Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

A split, not a type: Grounded 14 · Stylized 7 · Heightened 7

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 6 · Charged 13 · Intense 9

Shifting: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their shifting movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 11 · Shifting 13 · Whiplash 4

Some laughs: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their some laughs movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

A split, not a type: Straight-faced 15 · Some laughs 12 · Funny 1

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 13 · Even-paced 14 · Relentless 1

Engaged: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their engaged movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 7 · Engaged 17 · Full focus 4

Affecting: How much it costs you emotionally; whether you need recovery time. Browse their affecting movies.
Demand · Emotional cost
easyheavy

Easy watch 5 · Affecting 15 · Heavy 8

Open-ended: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their open-ended movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

A split, not a type: Resolved 13 · Open-ended 10 · Ambiguous 5

Roles they play

17 analyzed roles

Usually the Hero: 7 of 17 analyzed roles.

Hero
7 of 17
Shadow
4 of 17
Herald
2 of 17
Shapeshifter
2 of 17
Threshold guardian
1 of 17
Ally
1 of 17
Show the 17 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
22
Melancholic
14
Dread
7
Contemplative
9
Joyful
4
Other
25

How their films linger

Bittersweet14 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful10 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking9 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 4 with a twist

  • Happy5
  • Bittersweet10
  • Tragic1
  • Ambiguous13

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Fairuza Balk's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 28 of their 33 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (21).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Fairuza Balk's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

52 credits, 33 with a MovieCove page; 7 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • The Skull (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2023)

    as narrator

  • Paradise City(2021)

    Show 8 episodes · as Lizzie Thomas

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all shows

  • The Craft: Legacy(2020)

    as Nancy Downs

    Midcredits score: 11th percentile of all films

  • Close Enough (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2020)

    Show 1 episode · as Roxy (voice)

  • Trespassers(2018)

    as Visitor

    Midcredits score: 11th percentile of all films

  • Battle Scars(2015)

    as Rifka

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films

  • August Falls(2017)

    as Anna Ellison

    Midcredits score: 10th percentile of all films

  • Beyond Clueless(2014)

    as Narrator

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • Ray Donovan(2013)

    Show 7 episodes · as Ginger

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all shows

  • Dose of Reality (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    as Rose

  • Shit Year(2010)

    as Message Voice (voice)

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films

  • Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans(2009)

    as Heidi

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • Humboldt County(2008)

    as Bogart

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • Grindstone Road(2008)

    as Hannah

    Midcredits score: 9th percentile of all films

  • Wild Tigers I Have Known(2006)

    as Logan's Mom

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • Pick Me Up (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    as Stacia

  • Orpheus (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    as Karen

  • A Year and a Day (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    Actor

  • Masters of Horror(2005)

    Show 1 episode · as Stacia

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all shows

  • Don't Come Knocking(2005)

    as Amber

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • What Is It? (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    as Screaming Snail / Insect / Monkey Girl (voice)

  • Deuces Wild(2002)

    as Annie

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films

  • Personal Velocity(2002)

    as Paula

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • Justice League(2001)

    Show 1 episode · as Penny Dee (voice)

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all shows

  • Almost Famous(2000)

    as Sapphire

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • Red Letters (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    as Gretchen Van Buren

  • Family Guy(1999)

    Show 2 episodes · as Connie D'Amico (voice)

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all shows

  • The Waterboy(1998)

    as Vicki Vallencourt

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • Life in the Fast Lane(1998)

    as Mona

    Midcredits score: 12th percentile of all films

  • American History X(1998)

    as Stacey

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • EP Daily (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Maker (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    as Bella Sotto

  • American Perfekt(1997)

    as Alice

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • Shadow of a Doubt(1995)

    as Angel Harwell

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • The Island of Dr. Moreau(1996)

    as Aissa

    Midcredits score: 7th percentile of all films

  • The Craft(1996)

    as Nancy

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • Things to Do in Denver When You're Dead(1995)

    as Lucinda

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • Tollbooth (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    as Doris

  • Imaginary Crimes(1994)

    as Sonya

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • Murder in the Heartland (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    Show 2 episodes · as Caril Ann Fugate

  • The Danger of Love: The Carolyn Warmus Story (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    as Lisa

  • Shame (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    as Lizzie Curtis

  • Gas Food Lodging(1992)

    as Shade

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • Deadly Intentions... Again? (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    as Stacey

  • Valmont(1989)

    as Cécile

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • Poor Little Rich Girl: The Barbara Hutton Story (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Show 6 episodes · as Barbara (age 12)

  • The Outside Chance of Maximilian Glick (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    as Celia Brzjinski

  • The Worst Witch(1986)

    as Mildred Hubble

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • Return to Oz(1985)

    as Dorothy

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • Deceptions (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    as Penny Roberts

  • Deceptions (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Show 2 episodes · as Penny Roberts

  • The Best Christmas Pageant Ever(1983)

    as Beth Bradley

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

Career shape

Star power in the 99th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 52 titles from 1983 to 2023; peak year 1997.

Biggest box office

The Waterboy (1998)

$186M worldwide

Highest rated

American History X (1998)

Midcredits 99th

Film career

19832023

Peak 1997 · fewer prominent film roles lately. Top draw in 5 MovieCove titles. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting52 of 52: 52 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score57th

By decade

1980s8 · acting1990s18 · acting2000s15 · acting2010s7 · acting2020s4 · acting

Billing

usually 4th · top billed in 10% of 20 roles
8500

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

How do Fairuza Balk's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 54th percentile, the median of all 28; across their 28 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 57th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

57thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 28

Approval · how many liked their films

60thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 28

Reach · how many have seen their films

79thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 28

Midcredits score across 33 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up7
  • 50th to 74th14
  • 25th to 49th4
  • Below 25th8

Shape of the crowd

16 of their 33 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved4
  • Cult Classic1
  • Crowd Pleaser16
  • Mixed12

Most divisive · actor

August Falls (2017)

83rd percentile spread · 44% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

American History X (1998)

Midcredits 99th · 94% liked

Reviewers score the acting 69/100 in their films, across 26 reviewed titles; fans 78, detractors 41. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is Fairuza Balk's work okay for kids?

Across up to 14 MovieCove titles with content scores, violence & gore, profanity, alcohol & drugs and frightening / intense run heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore10 titles24–93 · median 67 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity14 titles30–55 · median 41 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity11 titles38–93 · median 57 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs8 titles29–92 · median 53 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense11 titles17–82 · median 69 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted. The band's colour is the severity of their median, named beside it.

Who does Fairuza Balk work with?

People who share at least 2 of Fairuza Balk's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Val Kilmer shares the most, 3.

Actors

Editors

Producers

Mixed roles