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Fran Walsh

Fran Walsh

Writer and producer · Born January 10, 1959 (67) · Wellington, New Zealand

3 Oscars · Golden Globe winner · 2 BAFTA Awards · 3 other major award bodies

Dame Frances Rosemary Walsh DNZM (born 10 January 1959) is a New Zealand screenwriter and film producer. The partner of filmmaker Peter Jackson, Walsh has contributed to all of their films since 1989: as co-writer since Meet the Feebles, and as producer since The Lord of the Rings Trilogy. She has won three Academy Awards for the final film of the trilogy, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King. Together with her partner Peter Jackson, Walsh was named the fifth richest on the 2025 NBR Rich List in New Zealand. Together, their estimated net worth is $2.6 billion NZD. Description above from the Wikipedia article Fran Walsh, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
January 10, 1959 (67)
From
Wellington, New Zealand
Works as
Writer and producer
Titles
17 on MovieCove · 25 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 28% in 30 days

What are Fran Walsh's films like?

Across their 15 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Bonds.

Genres

Adventure6 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 97th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Adventure movies
Comedy3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 82nd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Comedy movies
Action2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 64th percentile
: browse their Action 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
26%
Bonds
25%
Self
17%
Power
17%
Ideas
7%
Survival
5%
Society
2%
Justice4 titles, browse their movies with this themeSacrifice3 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds3 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship3 titles, browse their movies with this themeAmbition3 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love2 titles, browse their movies with this themeGreed3 titles, browse their movies with this themeGrief2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 15 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 2 · Serious 4 · Dark 9

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

Grounded 1 · Stylized 2 · Heightened 12

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

Gentle 0 · Charged 2 · Intense 13

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

Steady 2 · Shifting 8 · 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 9 · Some laughs 4 · Funny 2

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

A split, not a type: Slow burn 4 · Even-paced 4 · Relentless 7

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

Casual 1 · Engaged 9 · 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 2 · Affecting 5 · Heavy 8

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

Resolved 13 · Open-ended 2 · Ambiguous 0

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
12
Melancholic
11
Thrilling
5
Absurd
3
Manic
2
Other
12

How their films linger

Bittersweet6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteRousing5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 1 with a twist

  • Happy3
  • Bittersweet10
  • Tragic1
  • Ambiguous1

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 Fran Walsh's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 11 of their 17 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on HBO Max (7).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Fran Walsh'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

25 credits, 17 with a MovieCove page; 3 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2027)

    Producer · Writer

  • The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim(2024)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • Mortal Engines(2018)

    Producer · Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies(2014)

    Producer · Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug(2013)

    Producer · Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

  • Sex Box(2013)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 1st percentile of all shows (provisional, few ratings)

  • The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey(2012)

    Producer · Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

  • West of Memphis(2012)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • The Lovely Bones(2009)

    Producer · Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • Crossing the Line (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    Executive Producer

  • King Kong(2005)

    Producer · Writer

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King(2003)

    Producer · Screenplay · Songs

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers(2002)

    Producer · Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring(2001)

    Producer · Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • Forgotten Silver(1995)

    Script Supervisor

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • Jack Brown: Genius (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Writer

  • The Frighteners(1996)

    Associate Producer · Screenplay · as Passerby (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • Dirty Creature (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    Casting · Screenplay

  • Heavenly Creatures(1994)

    Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • Braindead(1992)

    Casting · Screenplay · as Mother at Park

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films

  • Meet the Feebles(1989)

    Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • The Ray Bradbury Theater: A Sound of Thunder (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Casting

  • Worzel Gummidge Down Under (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    Show 6 episodes · Writer

  • The Lord of the Rings: Shadow of the Past (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Producer

  • Untitled The Adventures of Tintin Sequel (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Writer

Career shape

A full career of 25 titles, 22 of them dated from 1987 to 2024.

Biggest box office

The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)

$1.1B worldwide

Highest rated

The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)

Midcredits 99th

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting3 of 25: 1 only acting, 2 with another roleWriting18 of 25: 5 only writing, 13 with another role · typical Midcredits score89thProducing15 of 25: 4 only producing, 11 with another role · typical Midcredits score91stOther crew5 of 25: 2 only other crew, 3 with another role

25 titles, 13 with more than one role — writing and producing overlap on 11 of them.

By decade

1980s3 · crew1990s6 · 2 acting · 6 crew2000s6 · crew2010s6 · 1 acting · 5 crew2020s1 · crew

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.

Awards

3 Oscars, a Golden Globe, 2 BAFTA Awards and 2 other major awards from 22 major nominations, 1995–2005.

WinNomination
  1. 2005
    • Grammy Award, won · Best Song Written for a Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media
  2. 2004
    • Oscar, won · Best Music, Original Song
    • Oscar, won · Best Picture
    • Oscar, won · Best Writing, Adapted Screenplay
    • Golden Globe, won · Best Original Song - Motion Picture
    • BAFTA Award, won · Best Film
    • BAFTA Award, won · Best Screenplay - Adapted
    • BAFTA Award, nominated · Best Feature Film
    • +2 other major bodies · 1 win and 1 nomination
      • Writers Guild Award, nominated · Best Adapted Screenplay
      • Producers Guild Award, won · Outstanding Producer of Theatrical Motion Pictures
  3. 2003
    • Oscar, nominated · Best Picture
    • BAFTA Award, nominated · Best Feature Film
    • BAFTA Award, nominated · Best Film
    • +1 other major body · 1 nomination
      • Producers Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Producer of Theatrical Motion Pictures
  4. 2002
    • Oscar, nominated · Best Picture
    • Oscar, nominated · Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material Previously Produced or Published
    • BAFTA Award, nominated · Best Feature Film
    • BAFTA Award, nominated · Best Screenplay - Adapted
    • +2 other major bodies · 2 nominations
      • Writers Guild Award, nominated · Best Screenplay Based on Material Previously Produced or Published
      • Producers Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Producer of Theatrical Motion Pictures
  5. 1995
    • Oscar, nominated · Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen
    • +1 other major body · 1 nomination
      • Writers Guild Award, nominated · Best Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen

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 Fran Walsh's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 90th percentile, the median of all 16; across their 15 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 88th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

88thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 15

Approval · how many liked their films

88thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 15

Reach · how many have seen their films

90thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 15

Midcredits score across 17 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up12
  • 50th to 74th3
  • 25th to 49th1
  • Below 25th1

Shape of the crowd

9 of their 17 titles are Universally Loved.

  • Universally Loved9
  • Crowd Pleaser5
  • Broadly Agreed1
  • Mixed2

Most loved · writer, producer

The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)

Midcredits 99th · 93% liked

Reviewers score the dialogue 54/100 and the plot and story 53/100 in their films, across 15 reviewed titles. The element that speaks to their work as a writer.

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 Fran Walsh's work okay for kids?

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

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore14 titles61–82 · median 67 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity14 titles7–48 · median 9 · minimallighter than most filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity14 titles4–43 · median 23 · mildlighter than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs14 titles21–37 · median 31 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense14 titles56–79 · median 67 · 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 Fran Walsh work with?

People who share at least 2 of Fran Walsh's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Peter Jackson shares the most, 15.

Directors

  • Peter Jackson15 titles · 12 as director    See newest 12 of 15 shared titles with Peter Jackson

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

  • Andrew Lesnie8 titles    See all 8 shared titles with Andrew Lesnie
  • Jamie Selkirk8 titles    See all 8 shared titles with Jamie Selkirk
  • Howard Shore6 titles    See all 6 shared titles with Howard Shore
  • Jabez Olssen4 titles    See all 4 shared titles with Jabez Olssen

Producers