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Hilary Swank

Hilary Swank

Actor and producer · Born July 30, 1974 (52) · Lincoln, Nebraska, USA

2 Oscars · 2 Golden Globes · Screen Actors Guild Award winner · 3 other major award bodies

Hilary Ann Swank (born July 30, 1974) is an American actress and film producer. She first became known in 1992 for her role on the television series Camp Wilder and made her film debut with a minor role in Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1992). She then had her breakthrough for starring as Julie Pierce in The Next Karate Kid (1994), the fourth installment of The Karate Kid franchise, and as Carly Reynolds on the eighth season of Beverly Hills, 90210 (1997–1998). Swank came to international recognition for her performances as Brandon Teena, a transgender man, in Kimberly Peirce's Boys Don't Cry (1999), and as Maggie Fitzgerald, an aspiring boxer, in Clint Eastwood's Million Dollar Baby (2004). Both of her performances earned her critical acclaim, and she earned numerous accolades, including two Academy Awards, two Golden Globe Awards, two Critics' Choice Movie Awards and a Screen Actors Guild Award. She was named by Time magazine as one of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2005. Swank later ventured into producing with the films Amelia (2009), Conviction (2010), You're Not You (2014), and What They Had (2018), all of which she also starred in. Her other notable films include the television film Iron Jawed Angels (2004), and the feature films Freedom Writers (2007), Logan Lucky (2017), The Hunt (2020), and Fatale (2020).

Read more

Biography from TMDB.

Born
July 30, 1974 (52)
From
Lincoln, Nebraska, USA
Works as
Actor and producer
Titles
50 on MovieCove · 60 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 28Down 17% in 30 days

What are Hilary Swank's films like?

Across their 42 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Self.

Genres

Drama13 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 68th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Comedy7 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 39th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Biography6 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 89th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Biography movies
Action5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 26th percentile
: browse their Action movies
Crime4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 21st percentile
: browse their Crime movies
Horror2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 16th percentile
: browse their Horror 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
Morality
30%
Self
22%
Bonds
19%
Survival
17%
Society
6%
Power
5%
Ideas
2%
Justice13 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds11 titles, browse their movies with this themeGrief9 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception7 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival7 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose7 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity6 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love4 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 39 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 6 · Serious 12 · Dark 21

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

Grounded 27 · Stylized 8 · Heightened 4

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

Gentle 3 · Charged 19 · Intense 17

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

Steady 11 · Shifting 24 · Whiplash 4

Straight-faced: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their straight-faced movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 29 · Some laughs 8 · Funny 2

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

Slow burn 17 · Even-paced 21 · 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 12 · Engaged 22 · 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 6 · Affecting 14 · Heavy 19

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

Resolved 24 · Open-ended 11 · Ambiguous 4

Roles they play

32 analyzed roles

Usually the Hero: 22 of 32 analyzed roles.

Hero
22 of 32
Shadow
5 of 32
Herald
3 of 32
Ally
2 of 32
Show the 32 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
34
Melancholic
19
Hopeful
14
Dread
11
Contemplative
10
Other
39

How their films linger

Bittersweet20 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful15 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking12 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling9 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteRousing7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 10 with a twist

  • Happy8
  • Bittersweet18
  • Tragic4
  • Ambiguous11

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 Hilary Swank's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 37 of their 50 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (13).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Hilary Swank'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

60 credits, 50 with a MovieCove page; 37 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Ordinary Angels(2024)

    as Sharon Stevens

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films

  • The Good Mother(2023)

    Executive Producer · as Marissa Bennings

    Midcredits score: 6th percentile of all films

  • Alaska Daily(2022)

    Show 11 episodes · Executive Producer · as Eileen Fitzgerald

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all shows

  • Yellowjackets(2021)

    Show 2 episodes · as Adult Melissa

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all shows

  • Fatale(2020)

    Producer · as Det. Valerie Quinlan

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • Away(2020)

    Show 10 episodes · Executive Producer · as Emma Green

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all shows

  • Disclosure(2020)

    as Brandon Teena / Self (archive footage)

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • The Hunt(2020)

    as Athena

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • I Am Mother(2019)

    as Woman

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • The Masked Singer(2019)

    Show 1 episode · as Special Message (via video)

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all shows

  • What They Had(2018)

    Executive Producer · as Bridget

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • Explained(2018)

    Show 1 episode · as Narrator (voice)

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • Trust(2018)

    Show 10 episodes · as Gail Getty

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all shows

  • 55 Steps(2017)

    Producer · as Colette Hughes

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • Double Dutchess: Seeing Double (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    Actor

  • Logan Lucky(2017)

    as Special Agent Sarah Grayson

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all films

  • Spark: A Space Tail(2016)

    as The Queen (voice)

    Midcredits score: 10th percentile of all films

  • You're Not You(2014)

    Producer · as Kate

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • BoJack Horseman(2014)

    Show 5 episodes · as Joey Pogo (voice)

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all shows

  • The Homesman(2014)

    as Mary Bee Cuddy

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • Mary and Martha(2013)

    as Mary

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • New Year's Eve(2011)

    as Claire Morgan

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • Something Borrowed(2011)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • The Resident(2011)

    Executive Producer · as Juliet Devereau

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films

  • Conviction(2010)

    Executive Producer · as Betty Anne Waters

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • Amelia(2009)

    Producer · as Amelia Earhart

    Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all films

  • Birds of America(2008)

    as Laura

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films

  • P.S. I Love You(2007)

    as Holly

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • The Reaping(2007)

    as Katherine

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films

  • Freedom Writers(2007)

    Executive Producer · as Erin Gruwell

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • Beautiful Ohio(2006)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films

  • The Black Dahlia(2006)

    as Madeleine Linscott

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • On Native Soil (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    as Narrator (voice)

  • Million Dollar Baby(2004)

    as Maggie Fitzgerald

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • 11:14(2003)

    Executive Producer · as Buzzy

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all films

  • Iron Jawed Angels(2004)

    as Alice Paul

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all films

  • Red Dust(2004)

    as Sarah Barcant

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

  • The Core(2003)

    as Maj. Rebecca Childs

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • Under Antarctic Ice (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    as Narrator (voice)

  • Insomnia(2002)

    as Ellie Burr

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • The Affair of the Necklace(2001)

    as Jeanne St. Remy de Valois

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • The Gift(2000)

    as Valerie Barksdale

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • The Audition (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Actor

  • Boys Don't Cry(1999)

    as Brandon Teena

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • Heartwood (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    as Sylvia Orsini

  • The Sleepwalker Killing(1997)

    as Lauren Schall

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • Leaving L.A. (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    Show 6 episodes · as Tiffany Roebuck

  • Dying to Belong(1997)

    as Lisa Connors

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • Quiet Days in Hollywood(1997)

    as Lolita

    Midcredits score: 6th percentile of all films

  • Kounterfeit(1996)

    as Colleen

    Midcredits score: 8th percentile of all films

  • Sometimes They Come Back... Again(1996)

    as Michelle Porter

    Midcredits score: 6th percentile of all films

  • Terror in the Family(1996)

    as Deena Marten

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • The Next Karate Kid(1994)

    as Julie Pierce

    Midcredits score: 7th percentile of all films

  • Cries Unheard: The Donna Yaklich Story (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    as Patty Yaklich

  • Camp Wilder (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    Show 19 episodes · as Danielle

  • Buffy the Vampire Slayer(1992)

    as Kimberly Hannah

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • Harry and the Hendersons (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    Show 1 episode · as Chelsea

  • Beverly Hills, 90210(1990)

    Show 16 episodes · as Carly Reynolds

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all shows

  • Growing Pains(1985)

    Show 2 episodes · as Sasha Serotsky

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all shows

  • N.A.R. (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Executive Producer · Actor

Career shape

Star power in the 99th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 61 titles, 60 of them dated from 1985 to 2024; peak year 2008.

Biggest box office

Million Dollar Baby (2004)

$217M worldwide

Highest rated

Million Dollar Baby (2004)

Midcredits 99th

Most popular right now

The Black Dahlia (2006)

Film career

MilestoneAward winNomination
19852024

Peak 2008 · back in prominent film roles after a quiet stretch. Top draw in 30 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 3 more milestones

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting59 of 61: 48 only acting, 11 with another role · typical Midcredits score66thProducing13 of 61: 2 only producing, 11 with another role · typical Midcredits score55th

61 titles, 11 with more than one role — acting and producing overlap on 11 of them.

By decade

1980s2 · acting1990s15 · acting2000s18 · 17 acting · 3 crew2010s17 · 16 acting · 5 crew2020s8 · 8 acting · 4 crew

Billing

usually 1st · top billed in 52% of 33 roles
92020712

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

2 Oscars, 2 Golden Globes, a Screen Actors Guild Award and 3 other major awards from 15 major nominations, 2000–2023.

WinNomination
  1. 2023
    • Golden Globe, nominated · Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series - Drama
  2. 2011
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role
  3. 2005
    • Oscar, won · Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading 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 a Motion Picture Made for Television
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, won · Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role
    • 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 Television Movie or Miniseries
    • +1 other major body · 1 win
      • Critics Choice Award, won · Best Actress
  4. 2001
    • BAFTA Award, nominated · Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role
  5. 2000
    • Oscar, won · Best Actress in a Leading Role
    • Golden Globe, won · Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role
    • +2 other major bodies · 2 wins
      • Critics Choice Award, won · Best Actress
      • Independent Spirit Award, won · Best Female Lead

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 Hilary Swank's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 44th percentile, the median of all 41; across their 39 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 39th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

39thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 39

Approval · how many liked their films

42ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 39

Reach · how many have seen their films

92ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 39

Midcredits score across 50 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up17
  • 50th to 74th8
  • 25th to 49th15
  • Below 25th10

Shape of the crowd

20 of their 50 titles are Mixed.

  • Universally Loved8
  • Divisive1
  • Crowd Pleaser17
  • Broadly Agreed4
  • Mixed20

Most divisive · actor

Spark: A Space Tail (2016)

71st percentile spread · 46% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Million Dollar Baby (2004)

Midcredits 99th · 90% liked

Reviewers score the acting 68/100 in their films, across 39 reviewed titles; fans 77, detractors 46. 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 Hilary Swank's work okay for kids?

Across up to 26 MovieCove titles with content scores, violence & gore and profanity run heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore21 titles5–87 · median 56 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity26 titles10–56 · median 35 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity23 titles34–84 · median 46 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs21 titles23–55 · median 36 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense20 titles14–84 · median 49 · 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 Hilary Swank work with?

People who share at least 2 of Hilary Swank's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Andrew A. Kosove shares the most, 4.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Cinematographers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles