Sam Waterston

Best known as an Actor based on credits in that role in 21 films, with $229,439,140 worldwide aggregate box office (rank #18,074)
Best-known acting roles: Erwin Griswold (On the Basis of Sex), David Tolchin (Hannah and Her Sisters), Sydney Schanberg (The Killing Fields), Chester Walker (Le Divorce), Ben (Crimes and Misdemeanors)
Most productive collaborators: Mimi Leder, Felicity Jones, Armie Hammer, Daniel Stiepleman, Justin Theroux
Born: November 15, 1940 (83 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 ActorLead Ensemble Member2$10,459,165$35,121$10,494,286
Supporting2$28,205,442$18,343,705$46,549,147
Leading1$708,440$0$708,440
Narrator1$0$0$0
(Unclassified)15$167,773,384$3,913,883$171,687,267

Career Trend

This graph shows Sam Waterston’s score on our annual analysis of leading stars at the box office. The Star Score represents points assigned to each of the leading stars of the top 100 movies (based on box office) in the current year and two preceding years. For appearing in the number one movie in a year a star gets 100 points, the number two movie 99 points and so on..

Latest Ranking on Selected Box Office Record Lists


RecordRankAmount
Top 100 Stars in Leading Roles at the Domestic Box Office (Rank 3,801-3,900) 3,820 $11,167,605
Top Stars at the Domestic Box Office (Rank 9,101-9,200) 9,142 $207,146,431
Top 100 Stars in Leading Roles at the International Box Office (Rank 7,301-7,400) 7,308 $35,121
Top Stars at the International Box Office (Rank 40,001-40,100) 40,082 $22,292,709
Top 100 Stars in Leading Roles at the Worldwide Box Office (Rank 4,801-4,900) 4,862 $11,202,726
Top Stars at the Worldwide Box Office (Rank 18,001-18,100) 18,074 $229,439,140

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


Featured Blu-ray and DVD Review: On the Basis of Sex

April 20th, 2019

On the Basis of Sex

On the Basis of Sex opened in limited release at the very end of last year, so it was clearly aiming for Oscars. That didn’t happen. However, while it wasn’t an Awards Season player, it did very well in limited release and earned nearly $25 million despite never expanding truly wide. Did the film deserve to win awards? Or is it more of a mainstream crowd-pleaser? More...

Featured TV on DVD Review: The Newsroom: The Complete First Season

June 11th, 2013

The Newsroom was one of three new shows to debut on HBO last year, and the only drama. It was created by Aaron Sorkin, who has won countless awards including an Oscar, a Golden Globe, numerous Prime Time Emmys, WGAs, PGAs, etc. Needless to say, it had high expectations associated with it. Can it live up to those expectations? Will it appeal to fans of Aaron Sorkin? Will it only appeal to fans of Aaron Sorkin? More...

Featured Blu-ray Review: Hannah and Her Sisters

March 7th, 2013

Hannah and Her Sisters made its Blu-ray debut the same week as Sleeper did. While Hannah and Her Sisters earned more critical praise, I was always a bigger fan of Sleeper, but it didn't arrive and Hannah and Her Sisters did. More...

All Acting Credits



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Release
Date		TitleRoleDomestic
Box Office		International
Box Office		Worldwide
Box Office
Dec 25, 2018On the Basis of Sex Erwin Griswold $24,704,837$14,076,051$38,780,888
Aug 15, 2017Monkey Business: The A… Narrator
Nov 25, 2016Miss Sloane George Dupont $3,500,605$4,267,654$7,768,259
Jan 8, 2016Anesthesia Walter Zarrow $26,799$35,121$61,920
UnknownThe Commission
Aug 8, 2003Le Divorce Chester Walker $9,074,550$3,910,939$12,985,489
Jan 31, 1997Shadow Conspiracy The President $2,154,540$2,154,540
Apr 13, 1994Serial Mom Eugene Sutphin, D… $7,881,335$2,752$7,884,087
Oct 11, 1991Mindwalk Jack Edwards $708,440$708,440
Oct 4, 1991The Man in the Moon Matthew Trant $2,853,801$2,853,801
Oct 13, 1989Crimes and Misdemeanors Ben $18,254,702$18,254,702
Sep 29, 1989Welcome Home Woody $1,029,822$1,029,822
Dec 18, 1987September Peter $486,434$486,434
Mar 21, 1986Just Between Friends Harry Crandall $6,408,791$6,408,791
Feb 7, 1986Hannah and Her Sisters David Tolchin $40,084,041$40,084,041
Aug 23, 1985Warning Sign Cal Morse $1,918,117$1,918,117
Nov 2, 1984The Killing Fields Sydney Schanberg $34,609,720$34,609,720
Nov 19, 1980Heaven's Gate Frank Canton $3,484,331$192$3,484,523
1980Hopscotch Cutter $13,000,000$13,000,000
Aug 2, 1978Interiors Mike $10,432,366$10,432,366
Mar 29, 1974The Great Gatsby Nick Carraway $26,533,200$26,533,200
 
Averages $10,902,444$3,715,452$12,075,744
Totals 21 $207,146,431$22,292,709$229,439,140


Leading or Lead Ensemble Roles


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Release
Date		TitleOpening
Weekend		Maximum
Theaters		Domestic
Box Office		Worldwide
Box Office		Domestic
Share
Jan 8, 2016Anesthesia $6,7477$26,799$61,92043.3%
Oct 11, 1991Mindwalk $7,62114$708,440$708,440100.0%
Aug 2, 1978Interiors $10,432,366$10,432,366100.0%
 
Averages $7,18411$3,722,535$3,734,24281.1%
Totals 3 $11,167,605$11,202,726


Supporting Roles


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Release
Date		TitleOpening
Weekend		Maximum
Theaters		Domestic
Box Office		Worldwide
Box Office		Domestic
Share
Dec 25, 2018On the Basis of Sex $686,3551,957$24,704,837$38,780,88863.7%
Nov 25, 2016Miss Sloane $59,7971,648$3,500,605$7,768,25945.1%
 
Averages $373,0761,803$14,102,721$23,274,57454.4%
Totals 2 $28,205,442$46,549,147

Latest Ranking on All Acting Box Office Record Lists


RecordRankAmount
Top 100 Stars in Leading Roles at the Domestic Box Office (Rank 3,801-3,900) 3,820 $11,167,605
Top 100 Stars in Supporting Roles at the Domestic Box Office (Rank 40,501-40,600) 40,527 $28,205,442
Top Live Action Stars at the Domestic Box Office (Rank 8,201-8,300) 8,214 $207,146,431
Top Above the Line Stars at the Domestic Box Office (Rank 5,001-5,100) 5,031 $39,373,047
Top Stars at the Domestic Box Office (Rank 9,101-9,200) 9,142 $207,146,431
Top 100 Stars in Leading Roles at the International Box Office (Rank 7,301-7,400) 7,308 $35,121
Top 100 Stars in Supporting Roles at the International Box Office (Rank 39,501-39,600) 39,532 $18,343,705
Top Live Action Stars at the International Box Office (Rank 37,401-37,500) 37,401 $22,292,709
Top Above the Line Stars at the International Box Office (Rank 6,401-6,500) 6,493 $18,378,826
Top Stars at the International Box Office (Rank 40,001-40,100) 40,082 $22,292,709
Top 100 Stars in Leading Roles at the Worldwide Box Office (Rank 4,801-4,900) 4,862 $11,202,726
Top 100 Stars in Supporting Roles at the Worldwide Box Office (Rank 41,301-41,400) 41,322 $46,549,147
Top Live Action Stars at the Worldwide Box Office (Rank 16,401-16,500) 16,436 $229,439,140
Top Above the Line Stars at the Wordwide Box Office (Rank 5,801-5,900) 5,822 $57,751,873
Top Stars at the Worldwide Box Office (Rank 18,001-18,100) 18,074 $229,439,140
Highest Grossing Stars of 1980 at the Domestic Box Office (Rank 201-300) 208 58
Top Domestic Leading Stars for Original Screenplay Movies (Rank 2,401-2,500) 2,462 $11,167,605
Top International Leading Stars for Original Screenplay Movies (Rank 5,301-5,400) 5,312 $35,121
Top Worldwide Leading Stars for Original Screenplay Movies (Rank 3,101-3,200) 3,172 $11,202,726
Top Domestic Leading Stars for Live Action Movies (Rank 3,301-3,400) 3,366 $11,167,605
Top International Leading Stars for Live Action Movies (Rank 6,601-6,700) 6,684 $35,121
Top Worldwide Leading Stars for Live Action Movies (Rank 4,301-4,400) 4,302 $11,202,726
Top Domestic Leading Stars for Contemporary Fiction Movies (Rank 3,601-3,700) 3,659 $735,239
Top International Leading Stars for Contemporary Fiction Movies (Rank 4,801-4,900) 4,876 $35,121
Top Worldwide Leading Stars for Contemporary Fiction Movies (Rank 4,701-4,800) 4,717 $770,360
Top Domestic Leading Stars for Drama Movies (Rank 1,001-1,100) 1,045 $11,167,605
Top International Leading Stars for Drama Movies (Rank 3,001-3,100) 3,068 $35,121
Top Worldwide Leading Stars for Drama Movies (Rank 1,501-1,600) 1,551 $11,202,726
Top Domestic Leading Stars for R Movies (Rank 3,601-3,700) 3,638 $26,799
Top Domestic Leading Stars for PG Movies (Rank 1,701-1,800) 1,772 $708,440
Top International Leading Stars for R Movies (Rank 2,901-3,000) 2,974 $35,121
Top Worldwide Leading Stars for R Movies (Rank 3,801-3,900) 3,821 $61,920
Top Worldwide Leading Stars for PG Movies (Rank 1,901-2,000) 1,914 $708,440

All Technical Credits