Melissa Leo

Best known as a Supporting Actress based on credits in that role in 24 films, with $2,017,379,090 worldwide aggregate box office (rank #1,020)
Best-known acting roles: Susan Plummer (The Equalizer 2), Susan Plummer (The Equalizer), Secretary of Defense Ruth McMillian (Olympus Has Fallen), Susan Plummer (The Equalizer 3), Sally (Oblivion)
Most productive collaborators: Antoine Fuqua, Morgan Freeman, Denzel Washington, Christian Bale, Joseph Kosinski
Born: September 14, 1960 (65 years old)
                                    

  1. Summary
  2. News
  3. Acting Credits
  4. Technical Credits

Career Summary


  MoviesDomestic
Box Office		International
Box Office		Worldwide
Box Office
As an ActorSupporting24$991,553,651$1,025,825,439$2,017,379,090
Leading16$1,811,554$1,255,152$3,066,706
Lead Ensemble Member6$8,705,359$5,035,918$13,741,277
Narrator1$0$0$0
(Unclassified)12$23,878,581$55,364,367$79,242,948
In Technical RolesProducer1$0$0$0

Latest Ranking on Selected Box Office Record Lists


RecordRankAmount
Top 100 Stars in Leading Roles at the Domestic Box Office (Rank 4,101-4,200) 4,132 $10,516,913
Top Stars at the Domestic Box Office (Rank 1,101-1,200) 1,176 $1,025,949,145
Top 100 Stars in Leading Roles at the International Box Office (Rank 4,801-4,900) 4,806 $6,291,070
Top Stars at the International Box Office (Rank 1,601-1,700) 1,632 $1,087,480,876
Top 100 Stars in Leading Roles at the Worldwide Box Office (Rank 5,201-5,300) 5,233 $16,807,983
Top Stars at the Worldwide Box Office (Rank 1,301-1,400) 1,397 $2,113,430,021

See the Acting Credits tab for all Acting Box Office Records and the Technical Credits tab for all Technical Box Office Records.


Novitiate Trailer

October 12th, 2017

Drama starring Margaret Qualley and Melissa Leo opens October 27 ... Full Movie Details. More...

Limited Releases take on the Oscars

February 28th, 2014

Ernest & Celestine poster

It is Oscar weekend, so it should come as no surprise there are not a lot of limited releases with the usual target audience. Art house aficionados will be paying more attention to the Awards than to new releases. Ernest & Celestine is the lone exception, which is the only Oscar-nominated film on this week's list and the best reviewed as well. Most of the rest of the movies are earning reviews that range from mixed to outright terrible. The Lunchbox could be the break-out hit of the weekend, if there is a break-out hit. More...

Weekend Predictions: Prisoners Free to Capture Top Spot

September 20th, 2013

There might be a close race at the box office this weekend. The buzz surrounding Prisoners is growing enough that it should earn first place, but Insidious Chapter 2 might hold on well enough to challenge the newcomer for top spot. The other new release for the week is Battle of the Year, which is opening in fewer theaters than I thought it would and with much worse reviews. It likely won't be a factor. In fact, there's a slim chance that the 3-D re-release of The Wizard of Oz will earn more this weekend than Battle of the Year will. The best new releases from this week last year was End of Watch, which only managed $13.15 million. This is close to what it cost to make, but it is low for a number one film. On the other hand, last year had much better depth than this year will have, so 2013's winning streak might come to an end. More...

Featured Blu-ray / DVD Review: Oblivion

August 5th, 2013

Oblivion was a spring release, which isn't a great time to release a film, but it is far from a terrible time either. It opened in first place at the box office, but quickly faded away after that. It is hard to get excited by its box office numbers, but it wasn't a real bomb either. It will need help on the home market to recoup its $120 million production budget. Does it deserve to be seen by more on the home market? And is the DVD and / or Blu-ray worth picking up? More...

All Acting Credits



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Release
Date		TitleRoleDomestic
Box Office		International
Box Office		Worldwide
Box Office
May 29, 2026Passenger
Nov 14, 2025King Ivory Ginger Greene $154,681$154,681
Aug 15, 2025The Knife
Jul 18, 2025Guns Up $175,183$175,183
Sep 20, 2024Long Gone Heroes $4,585$4,585
Aug 20, 2024Clean Up Crew
Sep 1, 2023The Equalizer 3 Susan Plummer $92,373,751$98,693,809$191,067,560
Aug 26, 2022Jane Principal Rhodes
Jul 22, 2022Alone Together $6,723$6,723
Mar 18, 2022Measure of Revenge Lillian Cooper
Nov 5, 2021Ida Red Ida "Red" Walker
Apr 9, 2021Thunder Force Allie
Feb 19, 2021Body Brokers Dr. White $6,634$6,634
Sep 10, 2019The Parting Glass Al
Nov 2, 2018Unlovable Maddie
Jul 20, 2018The Equalizer 2 Susan Plummer $102,084,362$88,291,819$190,376,181
Apr 10, 2018Mabel, Mabel, Tiger Tr… Narrator
Mar 27, 2018The Ashram Chandra $2,171$2,171
Mar 16, 2018Furlough $8,472$8,472
Oct 27, 2017Novitiate Reverend Mother $580,346$580,346
Dec 9, 2016Burn Country Gloria
Sep 16, 2016Snowden Laura Poitras $21,587,519$13,793,399$35,380,918
Mar 4, 2016London Has Fallen DS Ruth McMillan $62,524,260$132,669,825$195,194,085
Dec 11, 2015The Big Short Georgia Hale $70,259,870$62,364,811$132,624,681
Jan 20, 2015Veronika Decides to Die Mari $2,243$2,243
Sep 26, 2014The Equalizer Susan Plummer $101,530,738$91,372,886$192,903,624
Aug 29, 2014Dwegons and Leprechauns Butterfly McDweg …
May 23, 2014The Angriest Man in Br… Bette Altmann $127,167$127,167
Feb 28, 2014Bottled Up Fay
Nov 15, 2013Charlie Countryman Katie
Sep 20, 2013Prisoners Holly Jones $61,002,302$52,308,245$113,310,547
Apr 19, 2013Oblivion Sally $89,107,235$198,809,398$287,916,633
Mar 22, 2013Olympus Has Fallen Secretary of Defe… $98,927,592$73,909,401$172,836,993
Nov 2, 2012Flight Ellen Block $93,772,375$66,786,063$160,558,438
Sep 21, 2012Brooklyn Brothers Beat… Sarah $8,418$8,418
Sep 12, 2012Francine Francine
Aug 17, 2012Why Stop Now Penny Bloom $2,432$2,432
Jan 13, 2012Santa Mesa Maggie $10,490$10,490
Sep 23, 2011Red State Sara $1,065,429$918,167$1,983,596
Sep 2, 2011Seven Days In Utopia Lily $4,367,448$4,367,448
Mar 4, 2011Dear Lemon Lima
UnknownBall Don't Lie
Dec 10, 2010The Fighter Alice Ward $93,617,009$35,645,379$129,262,388
Oct 29, 2010Welcome to the Rileys Lois Riley $152,857$203,062$355,919
Oct 15, 2010Conviction Nancy Taylor $6,797,696$5,029,284$11,826,980
Jul 30, 2010The Dry Land $11,777$11,777
Apr 2, 2010Don McKay $13,722$13,722
Dec 11, 2009According to Greta Karen
Dec 4, 2009Everybody’s Fine $9,208,876$9,208,876
Feb 24, 2009Lullaby
Sep 12, 2008Righteous Kill Cheryl Brooks $40,081,410$38,400,000$78,481,410
Aug 1, 2008Frozen River Ray Eddy $2,511,476$3,518,653$6,030,129
Oct 26, 2007Black Irish $6,900$6,900
Apr 20, 2007Stephanie Daley $25,751$25,751
Mar 22, 2006American Gun $24,098$24,098
Dec 14, 2005Los tres entierros de … $5,027,684$8,426,790$13,454,474
Jan 28, 2005Hide and Seek Laura $51,100,486$72,596,255$123,696,741
Nov 21, 200321 Grams Marianne $16,248,701$43,418,924$59,667,625
Nov 28, 1986Deadtime Stories Judith “MaMa” Bae… $1,752,982$1,752,982
 
Averages $31,089,368$41,826,188$52,835,751
Totals 59 $1,025,949,145$1,087,480,876$2,113,430,021


Leading or Lead Ensemble Roles


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Release
Date		TitleOpening
Weekend		Maximum
Theaters		Domestic
Box Office		Worldwide
Box Office		Domestic
Share
May 29, 2026Passenger
Nov 14, 2025King Ivory $98,565752$154,681$154,681100.0%
Sep 20, 2024Long Gone Heroes $4,585
Aug 20, 2024Clean Up Crew
Aug 26, 2022Jane
Mar 18, 2022Measure of Revenge
Nov 5, 2021Ida Red
Feb 19, 2021Body Brokers $6,634
Nov 2, 2018Unlovable
Mar 27, 2018The Ashram $2,171
Oct 27, 2017Novitiate $22,724163$580,346$580,346100.0%
Dec 9, 2016Burn Country
Aug 29, 2014Dwegons and Leprechauns
May 23, 2014The Angriest Man in Br… $127,167
Feb 28, 2014Bottled Up
Sep 12, 2012Francine
Aug 17, 2012Why Stop Now $1,6413$2,432$2,432100.0%
Jan 13, 2012Santa Mesa $3,8463$10,490$10,490100.0%
Sep 23, 2011Red State 2$1,065,429$1,983,59653.7%
Oct 29, 2010Welcome to the Rileys $42,14511$152,857$355,91942.9%
Oct 15, 2010Conviction $102,351672$6,797,696$11,826,98057.5%
Nov 28, 1986Deadtime Stories $708,112707$1,752,982$1,752,982100.0%
 
Averages $139,912289$1,314,614$1,400,66581.8%
Totals 22 $10,516,913$16,807,983


Supporting Roles


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Release
Date		TitleOpening
Weekend		Maximum
Theaters		Domestic
Box Office		Worldwide
Box Office		Domestic
Share
Aug 15, 2025The Knife
Jul 18, 2025Guns Up $175,183
Sep 1, 2023The Equalizer 3 $34,604,2293,965$92,373,751$191,067,56048.3%
Jul 22, 2022Alone Together $6,723
Apr 9, 2021Thunder Force
Sep 10, 2019The Parting Glass
Jul 20, 2018The Equalizer 2 $36,011,6403,388$102,084,362$190,376,18153.6%
Sep 16, 2016Snowden $8,000,0582,443$21,587,519$35,380,91861.0%
Mar 4, 2016London Has Fallen $21,635,6013,492$62,524,260$195,194,08532.0%
Dec 11, 2015The Big Short $705,5272,529$70,259,870$132,624,68153.0%
Jan 20, 2015Veronika Decides to Die $2,243
Sep 26, 2014The Equalizer $34,137,8283,236$101,530,738$192,903,62452.6%
Nov 15, 2013Charlie Countryman
Sep 20, 2013Prisoners $20,817,0533,290$61,002,302$113,310,54753.8%
Apr 19, 2013Oblivion $37,054,4853,792$89,107,235$287,916,63330.9%
Mar 22, 2013Olympus Has Fallen $30,373,7943,106$98,927,592$172,836,99357.2%
Nov 2, 2012Flight $24,900,5662,638$93,772,375$160,558,43858.4%
Sep 21, 2012Brooklyn Brothers Beat… $3,8503$8,418$8,418100.0%
Sep 2, 2011Seven Days In Utopia $1,304,500561$4,367,448$4,367,448100.0%
Dec 10, 2010The Fighter $300,0102,534$93,617,009$129,262,38872.4%
Dec 11, 2009According to Greta
Dec 4, 2009Everybody’s Fine $3,852,0682,141$9,208,876$9,208,876100.0%
Sep 12, 2008Righteous Kill $16,288,3613,152$40,081,410$78,481,41051.1%
Jan 28, 2005Hide and Seek $21,959,2333,005$51,100,486$123,696,74141.3%
 
Averages $18,246,8002,705$61,972,103$106,177,84760.4%
Totals 24 $991,553,651$2,017,379,090

Latest Ranking on All Acting Box Office Record Lists


RecordRankAmount
Top 100 Stars in Leading Roles at the Domestic Box Office (Rank 4,101-4,200) 4,132 $10,516,913
Top 100 Stars in Supporting Roles at the Domestic Box Office (Rank 701-800) 708 $991,553,651
Top Live Action Stars at the Domestic Box Office (Rank 901-1,000) 903 $1,025,940,673
Top Above the Line Stars at the Domestic Box Office (Rank 601-700) 682 $790,146,657
Top Below the Line Stars at the Domestic Box Office (Rank 7,101-7,200) 7,106 $202,715,031
Top Stars at the Domestic Box Office (Rank 1,101-1,200) 1,176 $1,025,949,145
Top 100 Stars in Leading Roles at the International Box Office (Rank 4,801-4,900) 4,806 $6,291,070
Top 100 Stars in Supporting Roles at the International Box Office (Rank 1,201-1,300) 1,282 $1,025,825,439
Top Live Action Stars at the International Box Office (Rank 1,201-1,300) 1,242 $1,087,480,876
Top Above the Line Stars at the International Box Office (Rank 901-1,000) 919 $832,657,889
Top Below the Line Stars at the International Box Office (Rank 10,001-10,100) 10,012 $199,458,620
Top Stars at the International Box Office (Rank 1,601-1,700) 1,632 $1,087,480,876
Top 100 Stars in Leading Roles at the Worldwide Box Office (Rank 5,201-5,300) 5,233 $16,807,983
Top 100 Stars in Supporting Roles at the Worldwide Box Office (Rank 1,001-1,100) 1,020 $2,017,379,090
Top Live Action Stars at the Worldwide Box Office (Rank 1,001-1,100) 1,056 $2,113,421,549
Top Above the Line Stars at the Wordwide Box Office (Rank 701-800) 791 $1,622,804,546
Top Below the Line Stars at the Worldwide Box Office (Rank 8,401-8,500) 8,497 $402,173,651
Top Stars at the Worldwide Box Office (Rank 1,301-1,400) 1,397 $2,113,430,021
Top Domestic Leading Stars for Original Screenplay Movies (Rank 3,901-4,000) 3,920 $1,966,235
Top Domestic Leading Stars for Based on Real Life Events Movies (Rank 401-500) 481 $6,797,696
Top International Leading Stars for Original Screenplay Movies (Rank 4,201-4,300) 4,260 $1,255,152
Top International Leading Stars for Based on Real Life Events Movies (Rank 501-600) 561 $5,035,918
Top Worldwide Leading Stars for Original Screenplay Movies (Rank 4,901-5,000) 4,999 $3,221,387
Top Worldwide Leading Stars for Based on Real Life Events Movies (Rank 501-600) 598 $11,833,614
Top Domestic Leading Stars for Live Action Movies (Rank 3,601-3,700) 3,656 $10,516,913
Top International Leading Stars for Live Action Movies (Rank 4,101-4,200) 4,138 $6,291,070
Top Worldwide Leading Stars for Live Action Movies (Rank 4,601-4,700) 4,602 $16,807,983
Top Domestic Leading Stars for Contemporary Fiction Movies (Rank 3,701-3,800) 3,707 $1,385,889
Top Domestic Leading Stars for Historical Fiction Movies (Rank 1,501-1,600) 1,560 $580,346
Top Domestic Leading Stars for Dramatization Movies (Rank 601-700) 663 $6,797,696
Top International Leading Stars for Contemporary Fiction Movies (Rank 3,801-3,900) 3,808 $1,255,152
Top International Leading Stars for Dramatization Movies (Rank 601-700) 678 $5,035,918
Top Worldwide Leading Stars for Contemporary Fiction Movies (Rank 4,701-4,800) 4,754 $2,641,041
Top Worldwide Leading Stars for Historical Fiction Movies (Rank 1,901-2,000) 1,993 $580,346
Top Worldwide Leading Stars for Dramatization Movies (Rank 701-800) 762 $11,833,614
Top Domestic Leading Stars for Comedy Movies (Rank 3,201-3,300) 3,265 $2,432
Top Domestic Leading Stars for Drama Movies (Rank 1,201-1,300) 1,256 $7,541,389
Top Domestic Leading Stars for Thriller/Suspense Movies (Rank 1,101-1,200) 1,149 $154,681
Top Domestic Leading Stars for Horror Movies (Rank 901-1,000) 925 $2,818,411
Top International Leading Stars for Action Movies (Rank 1,701-1,800) 1,725 $4,585
Top International Leading Stars for Comedy Movies (Rank 2,101-2,200) 2,160 $127,167
Top International Leading Stars for Drama Movies (Rank 1,601-1,700) 1,631 $5,232,346
Top International Leading Stars for Thriller/Suspense Movies (Rank 1,601-1,700) 1,619 $8,805
Top International Leading Stars for Horror Movies (Rank 801-900) 886 $918,167
Top Worldwide Leading Stars for Action Movies (Rank 2,001-2,100) 2,006 $4,585
Top Worldwide Leading Stars for Comedy Movies (Rank 3,001-3,100) 3,070 $129,599
Top Worldwide Leading Stars for Drama Movies (Rank 1,701-1,800) 1,766 $12,773,735
Top Worldwide Leading Stars for Thriller/Suspense Movies (Rank 1,501-1,600) 1,576 $163,486
Top Worldwide Leading Stars for Horror Movies (Rank 1,001-1,100) 1,003 $3,736,578
Top Domestic Leading Stars for R Movies (Rank 2,001-2,100) 2,035 $8,753,441
Top Domestic Leading Stars for Not Rated Movies (Rank 2,601-2,700) 2,641 $10,490
Top International Leading Stars for R Movies (Rank 1,801-1,900) 1,897 $6,284,314
Top Worldwide Leading Stars for R Movies (Rank 2,101-2,200) 2,145 $15,037,755
Top Worldwide Leading Stars for Not Rated Movies (Rank 3,401-3,500) 3,434 $10,490
Top International Leading Stars for Lionsgate Movies (Rank 701-800) 717 $131,752
Top Worldwide Leading Stars for Lionsgate Movies (Rank 801-900) 804 $131,752

All Technical Credits



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Release
Date		TitleRoleDomestic
Box Office		International
Box Office		Worldwide
Box Office
Feb 28, 2014Bottled Up Producer
 
Averages n/an/an/a
Totals 1 n/an/an/a