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Michelle Pfeiffer

Michelle Pfeiffer

Actor, also producer · Born April 29, 1958 (68) · Santa Ana, California, USA

Golden Globe winner · BAFTA Award winner · Oscar nominee · 5 other major award bodies

Michelle Marie Pfeiffer (/ˈfaɪfər/ FY-fər; born April 29, 1958) is an American actress. One of Hollywood's most bankable stars during the 1980s and 1990s, her performances have earned her numerous accolades including a Golden Globe Award and a British Academy Film Award, as well as nominations for three Academy Awards and a Primetime Emmy Award. Pfeiffer began her acting career with minor television and film appearances and secured her first lead role in Grease 2 (1982). Her breakthrough role as Elvira Hancock in Scarface (1983) propelled her into mainstream success, which continued with performances in The Witches of Eastwick (1987) and Tequila Sunrise (1988). Pfeiffer received her first of six consecutive Golden Globe Award nominations for Married to the Mob (1988). Her roles in Dangerous Liaisons (1988) and The Fabulous Baker Boys (1989) garnered her two consecutive Academy Award nominations, for Best Supporting Actress and Best Actress, respectively, and she won a Golden Globe Award for the latter. Cemented as one of the highest-paid actresses of the 1990s, Pfeiffer starred in The Russia House (1990) and Frankie and Johnny (1991). In 1992, she played Catwoman in Batman Returns and received her third Academy Award nomination for Love Field, which she followed up with performances in The Age of Innocence (1993) and Wolf (1994). She also produced several of her own features through her company, Via Rosa Productions, including Dangerous Minds (1995). Reducing her workload to prioritise her family, Pfeiffer acted sporadically throughout the 2000s, starring in What Lies Beneath (2000), White Oleander (2002), Hairspray, and Stardust (both 2007). Following another hiatus, Pfeiffer returned to prominence in 2017 with performances in Where Is Kyra?, Mother!, and Murder on the Orient Express, and received her first Primetime Emmy Award nomination for playing Ruth Madoff in The Wizard of Lies. In 2020, she received her eighth Golden Globe Award nomination for French Exit. Pfeiffer has played Janet van Dyne in the Marvel Cinematic Universe since 2018, beginning with Ant-Man and the Wasp. Description above from the Wikipedia article Michael Douglas, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

Read more

Biography from TMDB.

Born
April 29, 1958 (68)
From
Santa Ana, California, USA
Works as
Actor, also producer
Titles
65 on MovieCove · 77 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 155 days to Oct 26Down 19% in 30 days

What are Michelle Pfeiffer's films like?

Across their 60 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Self.

Genres

Comedy22 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 49th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Drama18 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 50th percentile
: browse their Drama movies
Action4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 65th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Action movies
Documentary4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 70th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Documentary movies
Adventure3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 80th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Adventure movies
Crime3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 43rd percentile
: browse their Crime movies
Animation2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 83rd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Animation movies
Biography2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 70th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Biography 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
Bonds
36%
Self
24%
Morality
11%
Survival
10%
Society
9%
Power
5%
Ideas
5%
Family bonds27 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love15 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity15 titles, browse their movies with this themeSelf-worth10 titles, browse their movies with this themeGrief10 titles, browse their movies with this themeArt5 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity7 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose5 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 58 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 25 · Serious 16 · Dark 17

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

A split, not a type: Grounded 24 · Stylized 18 · Heightened 16

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

Gentle 13 · Charged 29 · Intense 16

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

A split, not a type: Steady 29 · Shifting 25 · 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 26 · Some laughs 20 · Funny 12

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

Slow burn 26 · Even-paced 29 · Relentless 3

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

A split, not a type: Casual 35 · Engaged 18 · Full focus 5

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

A split, not a type: Easy watch 24 · Affecting 17 · Heavy 17

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 45 · Open-ended 10 · Ambiguous 3

Roles they play

44 analyzed roles

Usually the Hero: 16 of 44 analyzed roles.

Hero
16 of 44
Shapeshifter
10 of 44
Ally
9 of 44
Shadow
3 of 44
Herald
2 of 44
Trickster
2 of 44
Mentor
2 of 44
Show the 44 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Melancholic
28
Tense
22
Romantic
16
Hopeful
20
Warm
12
Other
66

How their films linger

Hopeful29 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good25 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet20 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun12 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting9 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 7 with a twist

  • Happy24
  • Bittersweet22
  • Tragic5
  • Ambiguous8
  • Cyclical1

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 Michelle Pfeiffer's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 39 of their 65 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (17).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Michelle Pfeiffer'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

77 credits, 65 with a MovieCove page; 38 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Margo's Got Money Troubles(2026)

    Show 8 episodes · Executive Producer · as Shyanne

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all shows

  • The Madison(2026)

    Show 6 episodes · Executive Producer · as Stacy Clyburn

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all shows

  • Oh. What. Fun.(2025)

    as Claire

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films

  • Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania(2023)

    as Janet Van Dyne

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • The First Lady (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2022)

    Show 10 episodes · as Betty Ford

  • French Exit(2020)

    as Frances Price

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films

  • Marvel Studios: Legends(2021)

    Show 2 episodes · as Janet van Dyne (archive footage) (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all shows

  • Maleficent: Mistress of Evil(2019)

    as Queen Ingrith

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • Avengers: Endgame(2019)

    as Janet Van Dyne

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • Ant-Man and the Wasp(2018)

    as Janet Van Dyne / Wasp

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • Where Is Kyra?(2017)

    as Kyra

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • Murder on the Orient Express(2017)

    as Caroline Hubbard

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • Mother!(2017)

    as Woman

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • The Wizard of Lies(2017)

    as Ruth Madoff

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • The Family(2013)

    as Maggie Blake

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • People Like Us(2012)

    as Lillian Harper

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films

  • Dark Shadows(2012)

    as Elizabeth Collins Stoddard

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • Final Cut: Ladies and Gentlemen(2012)

    as (archive footage)

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • New Year's Eve(2011)

    as Ingrid Withers

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • Chéri(2009)

    as Lea

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • Personal Effects(2009)

    as Linda

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • Stardust(2007)

    as Lamia

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • Hairspray(2007)

    as Velma Von Tussle

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • I Could Never Be Your Woman(2007)

    as Rosie

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films

  • Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas(2003)

    as Eris (voice)

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films

  • White Oleander(2002)

    as Ingrid Magnussen

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • I Am Sam(2001)

    as Rita Harrison Williams

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • De Superman à Spider-Man: L'aventure des super-héros(2001)

    as Catwoman (archive footage)

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • Original Sin(2001)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films

  • What Lies Beneath(2000)

    as Claire Spencer

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • The Story of Us(1999)

    as Katie Jordan

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films

  • A Midsummer Night's Dream(1999)

    as Titania

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • The Deep End of the Ocean(1999)

    as Beth Cappadora

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • The Prince of Egypt(1998)

    as Tzipporah (voice)

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films

  • A Thousand Acres(1997)

    Producer · as Rose Cook Lewis

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • One Fine Day(1996)

    Executive Producer · as Melanie Parker

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • To Gillian on Her 37th Birthday(1996)

    as Gillian Lewis

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • E! True Hollywood Story (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Up Close & Personal(1996)

    as Tally Atwater

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • Dangerous Minds(1995)

    Producer · as Louanne Johnson

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • Wolf(1994)

    as Laura Alden

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • The Age of Innocence(1993)

    as Ellen Olenska

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • Love Field(1992)

    Producer · as Lurene Hallett

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • Picket Fences(1992)

    Show 1 episode · as Client (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all shows

  • Batman Returns(1992)

    as Catwoman / Selina

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • Frankie and Johnny(1991)

    as Frankie

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • The Russia House(1990)

    as Katya Orlova

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • The Simpsons(1989)

    Show 2 episodes · as Mindy Simmons (voice)

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all shows

  • The Fabulous Baker Boys(1989)

    as Susie Diamond

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • Dangerous Liaisons(1988)

    as Madame Marie de Tourvel

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • Tequila Sunrise(1988)

    as Jo Ann Vallenari

    Midcredits score: 43rd percentile of all films

  • Married to the Mob(1988)

    as Angela de Marco

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • Tales from the Hollywood Hills: Natica Jackson (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    as Natica Jackson

  • Amazon Women on the Moon(1987)

    as Brenda (segment "Hospital")

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • The Witches of Eastwick(1987)

    as Sukie Ridgemont

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

  • Sweet Liberty(1986)

    as Faith Healy

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • One Too Many (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    as Annie

  • Ladyhawke(1985)

    as Isabeau d'Anjou

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films

  • Into the Night(1985)

    as Diana

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • Scarface(1983)

    as Elvira

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • Grease 2(1982)

    as Stephanie Zinone

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films

  • The Children Nobody Wanted(1981)

    as Jennifer Williams

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • Splendor in the Grass(1981)

    as Ginny Stamper

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • Charlie Chan and the Curse of the Dragon Queen(1981)

    as Cordelia Farenington III

    Midcredits score: 6th percentile of all films

  • Callie & Son(1981)

    as Sue Lynn Bordeaux

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films

  • Falling in Love Again(1980)

    as Sue Wellington (1940's)

    Midcredits score: 11th percentile of all films

  • Enos (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    Show 1 episode · as Joy

  • The Hollywood Knights(1980)

    as Suzie Q

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • B.A.D. Cats (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    Show 8 episodes · as Samantha 'Sunshine' Jensen

  • The Solitary Man (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    as Tricia

  • Delta House (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    Show 13 episodes · as The Bombshell

  • Fantasy Island(1977)

    Show 1 episode · as Athena · as Deborah Dare

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all shows

  • CHiPs(1977)

    Show 1 episode · as Jobina

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all shows

  • ABC Afterschool Special (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    Show 1 episode · as Annie

  • Great Performances (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    Show 1 episode · as Natica Jackson

  • Turn of Mind (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    as Amanda O'Toole

  • Wild Four O'Clocks (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Actor

Career shape

Star power in the 99th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 77 titles, 75 of them dated from 1971 to 2026; peak year 2000.

Biggest box office

Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018)

$623M worldwide

Highest rated

Scarface (1983)

Midcredits 99th

Most popular right now

Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018)

Film career

MilestoneAward winNomination
19712026

Peak 2000 · fewer prominent film roles lately. Top draw in 41 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.

Show 8 more milestones

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting76 of 77: 70 only acting, 6 with another role · typical Midcredits score57thProducing7 of 77: 1 only producing, 6 with another role · typical Midcredits score60th

77 titles, 6 with more than one role — acting and producing overlap on 6 of them.

By decade

1970s6 · acting1980s22 · acting1990s17 · 17 acting · 4 crew2000s11 · 10 acting · 1 crew2010s12 · acting2020s7 · 7 acting · 2 crew

Billing

usually 2nd · top billed in 28% of 50 roles
8090950010

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.

Awards

a Golden Globe, a BAFTA Award and 3 other major awards from 23 major nominations, 1989–2026.

WinNomination
  1. 2026
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Comedy Series
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
  2. 2023
    • Critics Choice Award, nominated · Best Actress in a Limited Series or Movie Made for Television
  3. 2021
    • Golden Globe, nominated · Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy
  4. 2018
    • Golden Globe, nominated · Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television
    • +1 other major body · 1 nomination
      • Critics Choice Award, nominated · Best Supporting Actress in a Movie Made for Television or Limited Series
  5. 2017
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Movie
  6. 2008
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
    • +1 other major body · 1 win
      • Critics Choice Award, won · Best Acting Ensemble
  7. 2003
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role
  8. 1994
    • Golden Globe, nominated · Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama
Show 5 earlier years
  1. 1993
    • Oscar, nominated · Best Actress in a Leading Role
    • Golden Globe, nominated · Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama
    • +2 other major bodies · 2 wins
      • Venice award, won
      • Berlinale award, won · Best Actress
  2. 1992
    • Golden Globe, nominated · Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Comedy or Musical
  3. 1991
    • Golden Globe, nominated · Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama
    • BAFTA Award, nominated · Best Actress
  4. 1990
    • Oscar, nominated · Best Actress in a Leading Role
    • Golden Globe, won · Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama
    • BAFTA Award, won · Best Actress in a Supporting Role
  5. 1989
    • Oscar, nominated · Best Actress in a Supporting Role
    • Golden Globe, nominated · Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Comedy or Musical

Major bodies only: the Oscars, Primetime Emmys, Golden Globes, BAFTAs and Screen Actors Guild Awards are named; Cannes, Venice, the Berlinale, Sundance, the directors', writers' and producers' guilds, the Grammys, Critics Choice and the Independent Spirit Awards count as other major bodies. Festival and regional prizes are not counted. Source: IMDb.

How do Michelle Pfeiffer's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 55th percentile, the median of all 58; across their 58 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 58

Approval · how many liked their films

56thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 58

Reach · how many have seen their films

92ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 58

Midcredits score across 65 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up19
  • 50th to 74th18
  • 25th to 49th24
  • Below 25th4

Shape of the crowd

28 of their 65 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved7
  • Universally Panned1
  • Cult Classic1
  • Crowd Pleaser28
  • Broadly Agreed8
  • Mixed20

Most divisive · actor

Splendor in the Grass (1981)

87th percentile spread · 30% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Scarface (1983)

Midcredits 99th · 92% liked

Reviewers score the acting 73/100 in their films, across 54 reviewed titles; fans 82, detractors 48. 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 Michelle Pfeiffer's work okay for kids?

Across up to 46 MovieCove titles with content scores, every category sits near the median of all films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore39 titles8–68 · median 36 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity46 titles16–58 · median 36 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity39 titles16–74 · median 40 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs34 titles11–50 · median 34 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense34 titles7–74 · median 41 · moderatenear the median of all 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 Michelle Pfeiffer work with?

People who share at least 2 of Michelle Pfeiffer's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Kate Guinzburg shares the most, 5.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles