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Holly Hunter

Holly Hunter

Actor, also producer · Born March 20, 1958 (68) · Conyers, Georgia, USA

Oscar winner · 2 Primetime Emmys · Golden Globe winner · 7 other major award bodies

Holly Hunter (born March 20, 1958) is an American actress. Born in Conyers, Georgia, she first appeared as Helen Keller in a fifth-grade play before starring in Rockdale County High School stagings of Oklahoma!, Man of La Mancha, and Fiddler on the Roof. In Pittsburgh, she graduated from Carnegie Mellon University with a degree in drama and performed in local theatre.  She then moved to New York City with Frances McDormand, beginning a Broadway career. After appearing in the 1981 slasher film  The Burning, she moved to Los Angeles a year later, taking on various supporting roles in theatrical and television films before starring in Raising Arizona (1987) and receiving an Academy Award nomination for her role in Broadcast News (1987). She later went on to win two Primetime Emmy Awards for her performances in the television films Roe vs. Wade (1989) and The Positively True Adventures of the Alleged Texas Cheerleader-Murdering Mom (1993). For her performance as a mute Scottish woman in The Piano (1993), she won the Academy Award for Best Actress. Later, she was nominated for two more Oscars for The Firm (1993) and Thirteen (2003). Other major accolades she has won include an AACTA Award, a Silver Bear, a BAFTA Award, a Cannes Film Festival Award and a Golden Globe. Description above from the Wikipedia article Holly Hunter, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
March 20, 1958 (68)
From
Conyers, Georgia, USA
Works as
Actor, also producer
Titles
62 on MovieCove · 75 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 157 days to Oct 28Up 18% in 30 days

What are Holly Hunter's films like?

Across their 48 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Self.

Genres

Drama17 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 58th percentile
: browse their Drama movies
Comedy14 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 51st percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Animation2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 95th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Animation movies
Biography2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 52nd percentile
: browse their Biography movies
Crime2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 65th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Crime 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
33%
Self
22%
Morality
20%
Power
9%
Society
8%
Survival
7%
Ideas
2%
Romantic love16 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds13 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice9 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity8 titles, browse their movies with this themeRedemption7 titles, browse their movies with this themeOppression5 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship5 titles, browse their movies with this themeSelf-worth5 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 40 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Serious: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their serious movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 12 · Serious 16 · Dark 12

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

A split, not a type: Grounded 25 · Stylized 6 · Heightened 9

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

Gentle 8 · Charged 24 · Intense 8

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

A split, not a type: Steady 20 · Shifting 15 · Whiplash 5

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 18 · Some laughs 15 · Funny 7

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

Slow burn 18 · Even-paced 19 · Relentless 3

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

Casual 17 · Engaged 19 · 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 9 · Affecting 21 · Heavy 10

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

A split, not a type: Resolved 23 · Open-ended 12 · Ambiguous 5

Roles they play

35 analyzed roles

Usually the Hero: 15 of 35 analyzed roles.

Hero
15 of 35
Ally
8 of 35
Shapeshifter
4 of 35
Mentor
4 of 35
Herald
2 of 35
Threshold guardian
1 of 35
Shadow
1 of 35
Show the 35 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
22
Melancholic
22
Contemplative
15
Absurd
11
Warm
12
Other
50

How their films linger

Bittersweet21 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful21 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking15 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good12 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 4 with a twist

  • Happy11
  • Bittersweet26
  • Tragic1
  • Ambiguous9
  • 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 Holly Hunter's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 38 of their 62 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (11).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Holly Hunter'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

75 credits, 62 with a MovieCove page; 26 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Incredibles 3 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2028)

    as Helen Parr / Elastigirl (voice)

  • Star Trek: Starfleet Academy(2026)

    Show 10 episodes · as Nahla Ake

    Midcredits score: 4th percentile of all shows

  • Incredicoaster | Disneyland Resort (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2025)

    as Elastigirl (voice)

  • Hurricanna (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2025)

    Actor

  • The Electric State(2025)

    as Madeline Vance

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • Lego Pixar: BrickToons(2024)

    Show 1 episode · as Helen Parr (voice)

    Midcredits score: 12th percentile of all shows

  • Mulligan(2023)

    Show 2 episodes · as (voice)

    Midcredits score: 3rd percentile of all shows

  • Pixar Popcorn(2021)

    Show 1 episode · as Helen Parr (voice)

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all shows

  • Mr. Mayor(2021)

    Show 19 episodes · as Arpi

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all shows

  • The Comey Rule(2020)

    Show 2 episodes · as Sally Yates

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all shows

  • Bless the Harts(2019)

    Show 3 episodes · as Marjune (voice)

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all shows

  • Incredibles 2(2018)

    as Helen Parr / Elastigirl (voice)

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films

  • Succession(2018)

    Show 6 episodes · as Rhea Jarrell

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all shows

  • Here and Now (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2018)

    Show 10 episodes · as Audrey Bayer-Boatwright

  • Big Mouth(2017)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all shows

  • The Big Sick(2017)

    as Beth Gardner

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • Song to Song(2017)

    as Miranda

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • Breakable You(2017)

    as Eleanor Weller

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films

  • Strange Weather(2016)

    as Darcy Baylor

    Midcredits score: 43rd percentile of all films

  • Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice(2016)

    as Senator Finch

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • Manglehorn(2014)

    as Dawn

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • Bonnie & Clyde(2013)

    Show 2 episodes · as Emma Parker

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all shows

  • Paradise(2013)

    as Melanie Mannerheim

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all films

  • The Frame (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    Show 1 episode · as Helen Remington

  • Top of the Lake(2013)

    Show 7 episodes · as GJ

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all shows

  • Won't Back Down(2012)

    as Evelyn Riske

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • Jackie (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    as Jackie

  • Final Cut: Ladies and Gentlemen(2012)

    as (archive footage)

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • Portraits in Dramatic Time(2011)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • Saving Grace(2007)

    Show 46 episodes · as Grace Hanadarko

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all shows

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

    as Cafe waitress

  • The Big White(2005)

    as Margaret Barnell

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • Nine Lives(2005)

    as Sonia

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • The Incredibles(2004)

    as Helen Parr / Elastigirl (voice)

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • Little Black Book(2004)

    as Barb

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films

  • Peep and the Big Wide World(2004)

    Show 2 episodes · as Robin (voice)

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all shows

  • Thirteen(2003)

    Executive Producer · as Melanie

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • Levity(2003)

    as Adele Easley

    Midcredits score: 52nd percentile of all films

  • Moonlight Mile(2002)

    as Mona Camp

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • When Billie Beat Bobby(2001)

    Co-Executive Producer · as Billie Jean King

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films

  • Lost Souls(2000)

    Thanks

    Midcredits score: 9th percentile of all films

  • O Brother, Where Art Thou?(2000)

    as Penny

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • Jesus' Son(1999)

    as Mira

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • Things You Can Tell Just by Looking at Her(2000)

    as Rebecca Waynon (segment "Fantasies About Rebecca")

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • Harlan County War(2000)

    as Ruby Kincaid

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • Timecode(2000)

    as Renee Fishbine

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • Woman Wanted(1999)

    as Emma Riley

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • Living Out Loud(1998)

    as Judith Moore

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • A Life Less Ordinary(1997)

    as O'Reilly

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • Crash(1996)

    as Helen Remington

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • Home for the Holidays(1995)

    as Claudia Larson

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

  • Copycat(1995)

    as M.J. Monahan

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

  • Eco-Challenge (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    Show 17 episodes · Actor

  • The Firm(1993)

    as Tammy Hemphill

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • The Piano(1993)

    as Ada McGrath

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • The Positively True Adventures of the Alleged Texas Cheerleader-Murdering Mom(1993)

    as Wanda Holloway

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • Crazy in Love (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    as Georgie Symonds

  • Once Around(1991)

    as Renata Bella

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

  • Always(1989)

    as Dorinda Durston

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • Animal Behavior (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    as Coral Grable

  • Rabbit Ears - The Three Billy Goats Gruff/The Three Little Pigs (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    as Narrator (voice)

  • Roe vs. Wade(1989)

    as Ellen Russell / Jane Doe

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films

  • Miss Firecracker(1989)

    as Carnelle Scott

    Midcredits score: 43rd percentile of all films

  • American Experience(1988)

    Show 3 episodes · as Mary Lincoln (voice)

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all shows

  • Live with Kelly and Mark(1988)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 3rd percentile of all shows

  • Broadcast News(1987)

    as Jane Craig

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • End of the Line(1987)

    as Charlotte

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films

  • A Gathering of Old Men(1987)

    as Candy Marshall

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • Raising Arizona(1987)

    as Ed

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films

  • Blood Simple(1984)

    as Helene Trend (voice) (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • With Intent to Kill(1984)

    as Wynn Nolen

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • Swing Shift(1984)

    as Jeannie Sherman

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films

  • An Uncommon Love (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    as Karen

  • Svengali (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    as Leslie

  • The Burning(1981)

    as Sophie

    Midcredits score: 51st 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 75 titles, 74 of them dated from 1981 to 2026; peak year 2004.

Biggest box office

Incredibles 2 (2018)

$1.2B worldwide

Highest rated

The Incredibles (2004)

Midcredits 98th

Most popular right now

American Experience (1988)

Film career

MilestoneBreakoutNomination
19812026

Peak 2004 · fewer prominent film roles lately. Top draw in 22 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 6 more milestones

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting74 of 75: 72 only acting, 2 with another role · typical Midcredits score58thProducing2 of 75: 0 only producing, 2 with another roleOther crew1 of 75: 1 only other crew, 0 with another role

By decade

1980s17 · acting1990s12 · acting2000s17 · 16 acting · 3 crew2010s19 · acting2020s9 · acting

Billing

usually 3rd · top billed in 17% of 36 roles
8191960111

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

an Oscar, 2 Primetime Emmys, a Golden Globe, a BAFTA Award and 3 other major awards from 34 major nominations, 1988–2018.

WinNomination
  1. 2018
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role
    • +2 other major bodies · 2 nominations
      • Critics Choice Award, nominated · Best Supporting Actress
      • Independent Spirit Award, nominated · Best Supporting Female
  2. 2014
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries
  3. 2010
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series
  4. 2009
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series
  5. 2008
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series
    • Golden Globe, nominated · Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series - Drama
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series
  6. 2004
    • Oscar, nominated · Best Actress in a Supporting Role
    • Golden Globe, nominated · Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture
    • BAFTA Award, nominated · Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role
    • +1 other major body · 1 nomination
      • Critics Choice Award, nominated · Best Supporting Actress
  7. 2003
    • Sundance award, won
  8. 2001
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie
    • Golden Globe, nominated · Best Performance by an Actress in a Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television
Show 6 earlier years
  1. 2000
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie
  2. 1994
    • Oscar, won · Best Actress in a Leading Role
    • Oscar, nominated · Best Actress in a Supporting Role
    • Golden Globe, won · Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama
    • Golden Globe, nominated · Best Performance by an Actress in a Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television
    • BAFTA Award, won · Best Actress
    • BAFTA Award, nominated · Best Actress in a Supporting Role
  3. 1993
    • Primetime Emmy, won · Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Special
    • +1 other major body · 1 win
      • Cannes award, won
  4. 1990
    • Golden Globe, nominated · Best Performance by an Actress in a Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television
  5. 1989
    • Primetime Emmy, won · Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Special
  6. 1988
    • Oscar, nominated · Best Actress in a Leading Role
    • Golden Globe, nominated · Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Comedy or Musical
    • +1 other major body · 1 win
      • Berlinale award, won · Best Actress

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 Holly Hunter's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 58th percentile, the median of all 47; across their 40 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 56th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

56thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 40

Approval · how many liked their films

59thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 40

Reach · how many have seen their films

84thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 40

Midcredits score across 62 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up17
  • 50th to 74th21
  • 25th to 49th13
  • Below 25th11

Shape of the crowd

26 of their 62 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved8
  • Divisive2
  • Crowd Pleaser26
  • Broadly Agreed2
  • Mixed24

Most divisive · actor

Star Trek: Starfleet Academy (2026)

95th percentile spread · 53% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Succession (2018)

Midcredits 99th · 93% liked

Reviewers score the acting 75/100 in their films, across 39 reviewed titles; fans 84, detractors 52. 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 Holly Hunter's work okay for kids?

Across up to 24 MovieCove titles with content scores, profanity runs heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore16 titles18–81 · median 45 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity24 titles21–68 · median 38 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity18 titles28–79 · median 57 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs16 titles27–70 · median 33 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense15 titles26–74 · median 46 · 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 Holly Hunter work with?

People who share at least 2 of Holly Hunter's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Craig T. Nelson shares the most, 4.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles