If Christopher Walken (1943-) is not the best character actor performing right now , then he is close to the top of that list. When I think of Mr. Walken, the following movies scenes pop into my head. His Colonel Koons telling young Butch Coolidge about the history of Butch’s watch in the classic Pulp Fiction (1994). His interrogation of Dennis Hooper in True Romance (1993). And of course playing Russian roulette with Robert DeNiro in The Deer Hunter (1978).
Christopher Walken has been appearing in movies since 1969. He became an overnight sensation 8 years later with his Oscar® winning performance in The Deer Hunter (1969). After a few lead roles, he pretty much slipped into supporting roles. It is a role that suites him pretty well.
His IMDb page shows 133 acting credits since 1969. This page will rank 73 Christopher Walken movies from Best to Worst in five different sortable columns of information. Television shows, shorts, cameos and movies that were not released in theaters were not included in the rankings.
Christopher Walken Movies Ranked By Combination of Box Office, Reviews and Awards (UMR Score) *Classic UMR Table (the one with all the stats is the second table)
CreditRank
Movie (Year)
UMR Co-Star Links
UMR Score
S
CreditRank Movie (Year) UMR Co-Star Links UMR Score S
1
Annie Hall (1977)
AA Best Picture WinWoody Allen
99.9
2
The Deer Hunter (1978)
AA Best Picture Win
AA Best Supp Actor WinRobert De Niro &
Meryl Streep99.9
3
Pulp Fiction (1994)
AA Best Picture NomBruce Willis &
Samuel L. Jackson99.7
4
Catch Me if You Can (2002)
AA Best Supp Actor NomTom Hanks &
Leonardo DiCaprio98.5
7
Dune: Part Two (2024)
Timothée Chalamet &
Zendaya98.5
5
The Jungle Book (2016)
Voice OnlyBill Murray &
Scarlett Johansson98.5
6
Antz (1998)
Voice OnlySylvester Stallone &
Woody Allen98.2
7
Hairspray (2007)
John Travolta
97.2
8
Batman Returns (1992)
Michael Keaton &
Michelle Pfeiffer96.7
9
Sleepy Hollow (1999)
Johnny Depp &
Directed by Tim Burton96.7
10
Wedding Crashers (2005)
Owen Wilson &
Bradley Cooper95.6
11
Click (2006)
Adam Sandler
89.2
12
Biloxi Blues (1988)
Matthew Broderick
86.0
14
The Dead Zone (1983)
Martin Sheen
84.9
15
America's Sweethearts (2001)
John Cusack &
Julia Roberts84.3
16
Mousehunt (1997)
Nathan Lane &
Lee Evans84.0
17
Man on Fire (2004)
Denzel Washington
83.4
18
Wayne's World 2 (1993)
Mike Myers
83.3
19
The Rundown (2003)
Dwayne Johnson
81.7
21
A View to a Kill (1985)
Roger Moore
81.5
20
True Romance (1993)
Brad Pitt &
Christian Slater81.1
22
Pennies from Heaven (1981)
Steve Martin
74.7
23
Seven Psychopaths (2012)
Woody Harrelson &
Sam Rockwell74.2
24
Jersey Boys (2014)
Directed by Clint Eastwood
73.3
25
The Dogs of War (1980)
Tom Berenger
70.3
26
At Close Range (1986)
Sean Penn
68.9
27
Blast from the Past (1999)
Brendan Fraser
64.6
28
The Milagro Beanfield War (1988)
Directed by Robert Redford
62.4
29
Eddie The Eagle (2016)
Hugh Jackman &
Christopher Walken62.0
30
Brainstorm (1983)
Natalie Wood
58.6
32
Joe Dirt (2001)
David Spade
58.3
33
The Stepford Wives (2004)
Nicole Kidman &
Matthew Broderick58.3
31
A Late Quartet (2012)
Philip Seymour Hoffman &
Directed by Dustin Hoffman58.1
34
Basquiat (1996)
Gary Oldman &
David Bowie56.6
35
King of New York (1990)
Laurence Fishburne
53.8
36
The Addiction (1995)
Annabella Sciorra &
Lili Taylor49.9
37
The Family Fang (2015)
Nicole Kidman &
Jason Bateman48.6
38
Last Man Standing (1996)
Bruce Willis &
Bruce Dern48.6
39
Dark Horse (2011)
Selma Blair
44.4
40
The Funeral (1996)
Chris Penn
43.9
41
The War With Grandpa (2020)
Robert DeNiro
43.1
42
The Prophecy (1995)
Virginia Madsen
42.9
43
Percy Vs Goliath (2020)
Christina Ricci
42.1
44
$5 a Day (2008)
Sharon Stone
41.4
45
The Opportunists (2000)
Vera Farmiga
38.6
46
Kill the Irishman (2011)
Ray Stevenson
37.1
47
Heaven's Gate (1980)
Jeff Bridges
37.0
48
Mistress (1992)
Robert DeNiro &
Robert Wuhl33.7
49
Kangaroo Jack (2003)
Jerry O'Connell
32.6
51
Man of the Year (2006)
Robin Williams
32.2
49
The Comfort of Strangers (1990)
Helen Mirren
31.7
50
Scotland, Pa. (2001)
Maura Tierney
31.5
53
Irreplaceable You (2018)
NetflixBrian Tyree Henry
29.8
54
The Happiness Cage (1972)
Joss Ackland
25.9
55
Romance and Cigarettes (2007)
Susan Sarandon &
Kate Winslet25.9
56
Witness in the War Zone (1987)
Marita Marschall
24.7
57
Illuminata (1998)
Susan Sarandon
22.4
58
Balls of Fury (2007)
Dan Folger
21.0
59
Homeboy (1988)
Mickey Rourke
17.0
60
The Power of Few (2013)
Christian Slater
16.9
61
A Business Affair (1994)
Jonathan Pryce
16.8
62
Stand Up Guys (2012)
Al Pacino
15.9
64
Nick of Time (1995)
Johnny Depp
15.5
63
Suicide Kings (1997)
Denis Leary
15.5
65
Puss in Boots (1988)
Jason Connery
14.9
66
Things to Do in Denver When You're Dead (1995)
Andy Garcia
14.2
67
Excess Baggage (1997)
Benicio Del Toro
14.0
69
The Country Bears (2002)
Haley Joel Osment
13.4
68
Father Figures (2017)
Owen Wilson &
Glenn Close13.4
70
The Affair of the Necklace (2001)
Hilary Swank
12.6
71
McBain (1991)
Michael Ironside
12.4
72
One More Time (2015)
Film Festival Circuit OnlyAmber Heard
11.4
73
The Maiden Heist (2009)
Morgan Freeman
11.3
74
Poolhall Junkies (2002)
Rod Steiger
10.1
75
Around the Bend (2004)
Michael Caine
8.0
76
Touch (1997)
Bridget Fonda
7.6
77
Domino (2005)
Keira Knightley &
Directed by Tony Scott7.6
78
Search and Destroy (1995)
Ethan Hawke
5.5
79
Wild Mountain Thyme (2020)
Emily Blunt
5.2
81
Nine Lives (2016)
Kevin Spacey
3.8
80
Communion (1989)
Lindsay Crouse
3.8
82
The Jesus Rolls (2019)
John Turturro &
Susan Sarandon3.7
83
Envy (2004)
Jack Black &
Ben Stiller2.4
84
New Rose Hotel (1998)
Willem Dafoe
1.5
85
Gigli (2003)
Ben Affleck &
Al Pacino0.0
Christopher Walken Movies Can Be Ranked 5 Ways In This Table
The really cool thing about this table is that it is “user-sortable”. Rank the movies anyway you want.
- Sort by Christopher Walken movies by his co-stars
- Sort Christopher Walken movies by adjusted domestic box office grosses using current movie ticket cost (in millions)
- Sort Christopher Walken movies by yearly domestic box office rank
- Sort Christopher Walken movies how they were received by critics and audiences. 60% rating or higher should indicate a good movie.
- Sort by how many Oscar® nominations and how many Oscar® wins each Christopher Walken movie received.
- Sort Christopher Walken movies by Ultimate Movie Rankings (UMR) Score. UMR Score puts box office, reviews and awards into a mathematical equation and gives each movie a score.
| CreditRank | Movie (Year) | UMR Co-Star Links | Review % | Oscar Nom / Win | S | UMR Score | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CreditRank | Movie (Year) | UMR Co-Star Links | Actual B.O. Domestic (mil) | Adj. B.O. Domestic (mil) | Adj. B.O. Worldwide (mil) | B.O. Rank by Year | Review % | Oscar Nom / Win | S | UMR Score |
| 1 | Annie Hall (1977) AA Best Picture Win |
Woody Allen | 48.90 | 236.4 | 236.4 | 11 | 92 | 05 / 04 | 99.9 | |
| 2 | The Deer Hunter (1978) AA Best Picture Win AA Best Supp Actor Win |
Robert De Niro & Meryl Streep |
49.00 | 225.6 | 225.6 | 9 | 87 | 09 / 05 | 99.9 | |
| 3 | Pulp Fiction (1994) AA Best Picture Nom |
Bruce Willis & Samuel L. Jackson |
107.90 | 285.2 | 565.2 | 10 | 94 | 07 / 01 | 99.7 | |
| 4 | Catch Me if You Can (2002) AA Best Supp Actor Nom |
Tom Hanks & Leonardo DiCaprio |
164.60 | 306.0 | 654.4 | 11 | 86 | 02 / 00 | 98.5 | |
| 7 | Dune: Part Two (2024) | Timothée Chalamet & Zendaya |
282.10 | 282.1 | 711.8 | 5 | 87 | 00 / 00 | 98.5 | |
| 5 | The Jungle Book (2016) Voice Only |
Bill Murray & Scarlett Johansson |
360.00 | 448.6 | 1,199.6 | 6 | 86 | 01 / 00 | 98.5 | |
| 6 | Antz (1998) Voice Only |
Sylvester Stallone & Woody Allen |
90.80 | 208.6 | 394.8 | 20 | 85 | 00 / 00 | 98.2 | |
| 7 | Hairspray (2007) | John Travolta | 118.90 | 186.3 | 317.4 | 23 | 85 | 00 / 00 | 97.2 | |
| 8 | Batman Returns (1992) | Michael Keaton & Michelle Pfeiffer |
162.80 | 423.0 | 693.1 | 3 | 75 | 02 / 00 | 96.7 | |
| 9 | Sleepy Hollow (1999) | Johnny Depp & Directed by Tim Burton |
101.10 | 215.3 | 439.0 | 21 | 73 | 03 / 01 | 96.7 | |
| 10 | Wedding Crashers (2005) | Owen Wilson & Bradley Cooper |
209.30 | 352.5 | 480.3 | 6 | 73 | 00 / 00 | 95.6 | |
| 11 | Click (2006) | Adam Sandler | 137.40 | 225.0 | 389.4 | 14 | 50 | 01 / 00 | 89.2 | |
| 12 | Biloxi Blues (1988) | Matthew Broderick | 43.20 | 113.3 | 135.6 | 23 | 68 | 00 / 00 | 86.0 | |
| 14 | The Dead Zone (1983) | Martin Sheen | 20.80 | 71.1 | 71.1 | 36 | 80 | 00 / 00 | 84.9 | |
| 15 | America's Sweethearts (2001) | John Cusack & Julia Roberts |
93.60 | 178.6 | 263.7 | 23 | 46 | 00 / 00 | 84.3 | |
| 16 | Mousehunt (1997) | Nathan Lane & Lee Evans |
61.90 | 145.4 | 145.4 | 25 | 55 | 00 / 00 | 84.0 | |
| 17 | Man on Fire (2004) | Denzel Washington | 77.90 | 135.2 | 226.2 | 34 | 56 | 00 / 00 | 83.4 | |
| 18 | Wayne's World 2 (1993) | Mike Myers | 48.20 | 125.5 | 188.0 | 29 | 59 | 00 / 00 | 83.3 | |
| 19 | The Rundown (2003) | Dwayne Johnson | 47.70 | 85.3 | 144.7 | 63 | 68 | 00 / 00 | 81.7 | |
| 21 | A View to a Kill (1985) | Roger Moore | 50.30 | 152.8 | 462.9 | 13 | 48 | 00 / 00 | 81.5 | |
| 20 | True Romance (1993) | Brad Pitt & Christian Slater |
12.30 | 32.0 | 32.9 | 98 | 85 | 00 / 00 | 81.1 | |
| 22 | Pennies from Heaven (1981) | Steve Martin | 9.20 | 35.6 | 35.6 | 79 | 73 | 03 / 00 | 74.7 | |
| 23 | Seven Psychopaths (2012) | Woody Harrelson & Sam Rockwell |
15.00 | 20.3 | 26.3 | 121 | 80 | 00 / 00 | 74.2 | |
| 24 | Jersey Boys (2014) | Directed by Clint Eastwood | 47.00 | 62.1 | 89.3 | 74 | 66 | 00 / 00 | 73.3 | |
| 25 | The Dogs of War (1980) | Tom Berenger | 5.50 | 22.7 | 22.7 | 98 | 75 | 00 / 00 | 70.3 | |
| 26 | At Close Range (1986) | Sean Penn | 2.30 | 6.8 | 6.8 | 142 | 79 | 00 / 00 | 68.9 | |
| 27 | Blast from the Past (1999) | Brendan Fraser | 26.50 | 56.5 | 56.5 | 75 | 59 | 00 / 00 | 64.6 | |
| 28 | The Milagro Beanfield War (1988) | Directed by Robert Redford | 13.80 | 36.3 | 36.3 | 70 | 63 | 01 / 01 | 62.4 | |
| 29 | Eddie The Eagle (2016) | Hugh Jackman & Christopher Walken |
15.80 | 19.7 | 57.5 | 121 | 70 | 00 / 00 | 62.0 | |
| 30 | Brainstorm (1983) | Natalie Wood | 10.20 | 35.0 | 35.0 | 65 | 63 | 00 / 00 | 58.6 | |
| 32 | Joe Dirt (2001) | David Spade | 27.10 | 51.7 | 59.1 | 85 | 58 | 00 / 00 | 58.3 | |
| 33 | The Stepford Wives (2004) | Nicole Kidman & Matthew Broderick |
59.50 | 103.3 | 177.1 | 50 | 41 | 00 / 00 | 58.3 | |
| 31 | A Late Quartet (2012) | Philip Seymour Hoffman & Directed by Dustin Hoffman |
1.60 | 2.1 | 10.9 | 181 | 73 | 00 / 00 | 58.1 | |
| 34 | Basquiat (1996) | Gary Oldman & David Bowie |
3.00 | 7.3 | 7.3 | 169 | 71 | 00 / 00 | 56.6 | |
| 35 | King of New York (1990) | Laurence Fishburne | 2.60 | 6.5 | 6.5 | 136 | 69 | 00 / 00 | 53.8 | |
| 36 | The Addiction (1995) | Annabella Sciorra & Lili Taylor |
0.30 | 0.8 | 0.8 | 223 | 69 | 00 / 00 | 49.9 | |
| 37 | The Family Fang (2015) | Nicole Kidman & Jason Bateman |
0.30 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 193 | 69 | 00 / 00 | 48.6 | |
| 38 | Last Man Standing (1996) | Bruce Willis & Bruce Dern |
18.10 | 44.2 | 115.3 | 88 | 54 | 00 / 00 | 48.6 | |
| 39 | Dark Horse (2011) | Selma Blair | 0.20 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 225 | 67 | 00 / 00 | 44.4 | |
| 40 | The Funeral (1996) | Chris Penn | 1.20 | 3.0 | 3.5 | 194 | 66 | 00 / 00 | 43.9 | |
| 41 | The War With Grandpa (2020) | Robert DeNiro | 21.10 | 24.8 | 44.9 | 17 | 58 | 00 / 00 | 43.1 | |
| 42 | The Prophecy (1995) | Virginia Madsen | 16.10 | 39.9 | 39.9 | 91 | 53 | 00 / 00 | 42.9 | |
| 43 | Percy Vs Goliath (2020) | Christina Ricci | 0.10 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 320 | 66 | 00 / 00 | 42.1 | |
| 44 | $5 a Day (2008) | Sharon Stone | 0.00 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 421 | 65 | 00 / 00 | 41.4 | |
| 45 | The Opportunists (2000) | Vera Farmiga | 0.60 | 1.2 | 1.2 | 207 | 64 | 00 / 00 | 38.6 | |
| 46 | Kill the Irishman (2011) | Ray Stevenson | 1.20 | 1.6 | 1.6 | 188 | 63 | 00 / 00 | 37.1 | |
| 47 | Heaven's Gate (1980) | Jeff Bridges | 3.50 | 14.4 | 14.4 | 122 | 58 | 01 / 00 | 37.0 | |
| 48 | Mistress (1992) | Robert DeNiro & Robert Wuhl |
1.10 | 2.9 | 2.9 | 168 | 61 | 00 / 00 | 33.7 | |
| 49 | Kangaroo Jack (2003) | Jerry O'Connell | 66.90 | 119.7 | 119.7 | 42 | 23 | 00 / 00 | 32.6 | |
| 51 | Man of the Year (2006) | Robin Williams | 37.30 | 61.2 | 67.6 | 82 | 42 | 00 / 00 | 32.2 | |
| 49 | The Comfort of Strangers (1990) | Helen Mirren | 1.20 | 3.2 | 3.2 | 179 | 60 | 00 / 00 | 31.7 | |
| 50 | Scotland, Pa. (2001) | Maura Tierney | 0.40 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 234 | 61 | 00 / 00 | 31.5 | |
| 53 | Irreplaceable You (2018) Netflix |
Brian Tyree Henry | 0.10 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 279 | 60 | 00 / 00 | 29.8 | |
| 54 | The Happiness Cage (1972) | Joss Ackland | 0.70 | 4.3 | 4.3 | 152 | 57 | 00 / 00 | 25.9 | |
| 55 | Romance and Cigarettes (2007) | Susan Sarandon & Kate Winslet |
0.60 | 0.9 | 4.9 | 235 | 58 | 00 / 00 | 25.9 | |
| 56 | Witness in the War Zone (1987) | Marita Marschall | 0.10 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 233 | 57 | 00 / 00 | 24.7 | |
| 57 | Illuminata (1998) | Susan Sarandon | 0.80 | 1.9 | 1.9 | 199 | 56 | 00 / 00 | 22.4 | |
| 58 | Balls of Fury (2007) | Dan Folger | 32.90 | 51.5 | 51.5 | 81 | 39 | 00 / 00 | 21.0 | |
| 59 | Homeboy (1988) | Mickey Rourke | 0.10 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 251 | 53 | 00 / 00 | 17.0 | |
| 60 | The Power of Few (2013) | Christian Slater | 0.10 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 242 | 53 | 00 / 00 | 16.9 | |
| 61 | A Business Affair (1994) | Jonathan Pryce | 0.00 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 278 | 53 | 00 / 00 | 16.8 | |
| 62 | Stand Up Guys (2012) | Al Pacino | 3.30 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 161 | 51 | 00 / 00 | 15.9 | |
| 64 | Nick of Time (1995) | Johnny Depp | 8.20 | 20.3 | 20.3 | 121 | 46 | 00 / 00 | 15.5 | |
| 63 | Suicide Kings (1997) | Denis Leary | 1.70 | 4.1 | 4.1 | 179 | 51 | 00 / 00 | 15.5 | |
| 65 | Puss in Boots (1988) | Jason Connery | 0.00 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 280 | 52 | 00 / 00 | 14.9 | |
| 66 | Things to Do in Denver When You're Dead (1995) | Andy Garcia | 0.50 | 1.3 | 1.3 | 207 | 51 | 00 / 00 | 14.2 | |
| 67 | Excess Baggage (1997) | Benicio Del Toro | 14.50 | 34.1 | 34.1 | 98 | 40 | 00 / 00 | 14.0 | |
| 69 | The Country Bears (2002) | Haley Joel Osment | 17.00 | 31.6 | 31.6 | 117 | 41 | 00 / 00 | 13.4 | |
| 68 | Father Figures (2017) | Owen Wilson & Glenn Close |
17.50 | 21.0 | 27.6 | 106 | 44 | 00 / 00 | 13.4 | |
| 70 | The Affair of the Necklace (2001) | Hilary Swank | 0.50 | 0.9 | 0.9 | 225 | 49 | 01 / 00 | 12.6 | |
| 71 | McBain (1991) | Michael Ironside | 0.50 | 1.2 | 1.2 | 189 | 49 | 00 / 00 | 12.4 | |
| 72 | One More Time (2015) Film Festival Circuit Only |
Amber Heard | 0.00 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 398 | 49 | 00 / 00 | 11.4 | |
| 73 | The Maiden Heist (2009) | Morgan Freeman | 0.00 | 0.1 | 0.2 | 437 | 49 | 00 / 00 | 11.3 | |
| 74 | Poolhall Junkies (2002) | Rod Steiger | 0.60 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 217 | 47 | 00 / 00 | 10.1 | |
| 75 | Around the Bend (2004) | Michael Caine | 0.20 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 254 | 45 | 00 / 00 | 8.0 | |
| 76 | Touch (1997) | Bridget Fonda | 0.40 | 0.9 | 0.9 | 215 | 45 | 00 / 00 | 7.6 | |
| 77 | Domino (2005) | Keira Knightley & Directed by Tony Scott |
10.20 | 17.1 | 38.6 | 149 | 39 | 00 / 00 | 7.6 | |
| 78 | Search and Destroy (1995) | Ethan Hawke | 0.40 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 217 | 42 | 00 / 00 | 5.5 | |
| 79 | Wild Mountain Thyme (2020) | Emily Blunt | 0.20 | 0.3 | 1.7 | 76 | 42 | 00 / 00 | 5.2 | |
| 81 | Nine Lives (2016) | Kevin Spacey | 19.70 | 24.6 | 72.1 | 114 | 32 | 00 / 00 | 3.8 | |
| 80 | Communion (1989) | Lindsay Crouse | 1.90 | 5.2 | 5.2 | 140 | 38 | 00 / 00 | 3.8 | |
| 82 | The Jesus Rolls (2019) | John Turturro & Susan Sarandon |
0.10 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 385 | 39 | 00 / 00 | 3.7 | |
| 83 | Envy (2004) | Jack Black & Ben Stiller |
13.60 | 23.5 | 25.3 | 126 | 29 | 00 / 00 | 2.4 | |
| 84 | New Rose Hotel (1998) | Willem Dafoe | 0.00 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 275 | 34 | 00 / 00 | 1.5 | |
| 85 | Gigli (2003) | Ben Affleck & Al Pacino |
6.10 | 10.9 | 13.0 | 139 | 15 | 00 / 00 | 0.0 |
Stats and Possibly Interesting Things From The Above Christopher Walken Table
- Fifteen Christopher Walken movies crossed the magical $100 million domestic gross mark. That is a percentage of 48.38% of his movies listed. 1992’s Batman Returns is his biggest box office hit.
- An average Christopher Walken movie grosses $58.20 million in adjusted box office gross.
- Using RottenTomatoes.com’s 60% fresh meter. 30 Christopher Walken movies are rated as good movies…or 46.15% of his movies. Pulp Fiction (1994) is his highest rated movie while Gigli (2003) is his lowest rated movie.
- Ten Christopher Walken movies received at least one Oscar® nomination in any category…..or 15.38% of his movies.
- Five Christopher Walken movies won at least one Oscar® in any category…..or 7.69% of his movies.
- A “good movie” Ultimate Movie Rankings (UMR) Score is 60.00. 26 Christopher Walken movies scored higher that average….or 33.84% of his movies. The Deer Hunter (1978) got the the highest UMR Score while Gigli (2003) got the lowest UMR Score.
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Christopher Walken is the # 7 most connected actor of the 1990’s and # 70 of the 2000’s.