Melanie Lynskey

Best known as a Supporting Actress based on credits in that role in 17 films, with $703,988,194 worldwide aggregate box office (rank #5,492)
Best-known acting roles: Lurlynn (Sweet Home Alabama), Julie Bingham (Up in the Air), Gloria (Coyote Ugly), Jacqueline de Ghent (Ever After: A Cinderella Story), Ginger Whitacre (The Informant!)
Born: May 16, 1977 (48 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 ActorSupporting17$451,430,746$252,557,448$703,988,194
Leading11$3,183,107$3,316,340$6,499,447
Lead Ensemble Member4$49,401$0$49,401
(Unclassified)7$17,219,884$6,142,964$23,362,848

Latest Ranking on Selected Box Office Record Lists


RecordRankAmount
Top 100 Stars in Leading Roles at the Domestic Box Office (Rank 5,101-5,200) 5,188 $3,232,508
Top Stars at the Domestic Box Office (Rank 3,301-3,400) 3,377 $471,883,138
Top 100 Stars in Leading Roles at the International Box Office (Rank 5,201-5,300) 5,227 $3,316,340
Top Stars at the International Box Office (Rank 9,601-9,700) 9,615 $262,016,752
Top 100 Stars in Leading Roles at the Worldwide Box Office (Rank 6,301-6,400) 6,352 $6,548,848
Top Stars at the Worldwide Box Office (Rank 5,901-6,000) 5,929 $733,899,890

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


Limited and VOD Releases: Limited Releases Have Something to Teach Us

October 12th, 2018

The Kindergarten Teacher

It’s an odd week for limited releases and I’m not sure any of them will have a real shot at box office success. There are some, like After Everything, that are earning excellent reviews, but are playing on VOD. There are others, like Beautiful Boy, that were earning loud pre-release buzz, but failed to live up to the hype with critics. I think The Kindergarten Teacher might have a shot at box office success, but I’m also hoping Liyana beats expectations. More...

All Acting Credits



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Release
Date		TitleRoleDomestic
Box Office		International
Box Office		Worldwide
Box Office
Jan 30, 2026Pike River Anna Osborne $811,658$811,658
Aug 29, 2025Griffin in Summer
Sep 17, 2021Lady Of The Manor Hannah
Feb 22, 2019The Changeover Kate Chant $112,648$112,648
Oct 12, 2018Sadie
May 12, 2017Folk Hero & Funny Guy Becky
Apr 14, 2017Little Boxes Gina
Apr 7, 20171 Mile to You Coach Rowan
Feb 24, 2017I Don’t Feel at Home i… Ruth Kimke
Nov 1, 2016Rainbow Time Lindsay
Aug 26, 2016The Intervention Annie $32,919$32,919
Aug 21, 2015Digging for Fire Squiggy $119,364$119,364
Jan 23, 2015We'll Never Have Paris Devon
Dec 17, 2014Goodbye to All That Annie Wall $13,790$13,790
Jul 25, 2014Happy Christmas Kelly $30,312$30,312
Jun 27, 2014They Came Together Brenda $82,780$82,780
May 20, 2014The Big Ask Hannah
Sep 21, 2012The Perks of Being a W… Aunt Helen $17,742,948$15,326,355$33,069,303
Sep 7, 2012Hello I Must Be Going Amy $106,709$106,709
Jun 22, 2012Seeking a Friend for t… Karen $7,078,738$4,688,221$11,766,959
Apr 13, 2012Touchback Macy $204,157$204,157
Mar 18, 2011Win Win Cindy Timmons $10,179,275$1,689,788$11,869,063
Nov 12, 2010Helena From the Wedding Alice $2,692$2,692
Apr 2, 2010Leaves of Grass $70,066$15,461$85,527
Dec 4, 2009Up in the Air Julie Bingham $83,823,381$83,019,358$166,842,739
Sep 18, 2009The Informant! Ginger Whitacre $33,316,821$8,454,347$41,771,168
Jun 5, 2009Away We Go Munch $9,451,946$656,070$10,108,016
Mar 24, 2009Big Stan $1,770,677$1,770,677
Nov 2, 2007Park Sheryl
Oct 20, 2006Flags of Our Fathers Pauline Harnois $33,602,376$30,055,565$63,657,941
Jun 23, 2006Say Uncle Susan $5,361$5,361
Oct 31, 2003Shattered Glass Amy Brand $2,207,975$1,248,627$3,456,602
Oct 18, 2002Abandon Mousy Julie $10,719,367$1,500,000$12,219,367
Sep 27, 2002Sweet Home Alabama Lurlynn $127,214,072$55,151,042$182,365,114
Aug 4, 2000Coyote Ugly Gloria $60,786,269$53,130,205$113,916,474
Jul 7, 2000But I’m a Cheerleader Hillary $2,205,627$303,717$2,509,344
Aug 13, 1999Detroit Rock City Beth Bumstein $4,217,115$1,608,199$5,825,314
Jul 31, 1998Ever After: A Cinderel… Jacqueline de Ghent $65,705,772$65,705,772
Nov 16, 1994Heavenly Creatures Pauline Yvonne (P… $3,046,086$2,392,034$5,438,120
 
Averages $19,661,797$13,790,355$26,210,710
Totals 39 $471,883,138$262,016,752$733,899,890


Leading or Lead Ensemble Roles


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Release
Date		TitleOpening
Weekend		Maximum
Theaters		Domestic
Box Office		Worldwide
Box Office		Domestic
Share
Jan 30, 2026Pike River $811,658
Sep 17, 2021Lady Of The Manor
Feb 22, 2019The Changeover $112,648
Apr 14, 2017Little Boxes
Feb 24, 2017I Don’t Feel at Home i…
Nov 1, 2016Rainbow Time
Aug 26, 2016The Intervention $23,31617$32,919$32,919100.0%
Jan 23, 2015We'll Never Have Paris
Dec 17, 2014Goodbye to All That 3$13,790$13,790100.0%
Jul 25, 2014Happy Christmas $7,5239$30,312$30,312100.0%
May 20, 2014The Big Ask
Sep 7, 2012Hello I Must Be Going $23,90415$106,709$106,709100.0%
Nov 12, 2010Helena From the Wedding $2,6921$2,692$2,692100.0%
Nov 2, 2007Park
Nov 16, 1994Heavenly Creatures 57$3,046,086$5,438,12056.0%
 
Averages $14,35917$538,751$818,60692.7%
Totals 15 $3,232,508$6,548,848


Supporting Roles


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Release
Date		TitleOpening
Weekend		Maximum
Theaters		Domestic
Box Office		Worldwide
Box Office		Domestic
Share
Aug 29, 2025Griffin in Summer
May 12, 2017Folk Hero & Funny Guy
Apr 7, 20171 Mile to You
Aug 21, 2015Digging for Fire $24,54430$119,364$119,364100.0%
Jun 27, 2014They Came Together $82,780
Sep 21, 2012The Perks of Being a W… $228,359745$17,742,948$33,069,30353.7%
Jun 22, 2012Seeking a Friend for t… $3,822,8031,625$7,078,738$11,766,95960.2%
Apr 13, 2012Touchback $66,99869$204,157$204,157100.0%
Mar 18, 2011Win Win $150,362388$10,179,275$11,869,06385.8%
Dec 4, 2009Up in the Air $1,181,4502,218$83,823,381$166,842,73950.2%
Sep 18, 2009The Informant! $10,464,3142,505$33,316,821$41,771,16879.8%
Jun 5, 2009Away We Go $130,411506$9,451,946$10,108,01693.5%
Oct 20, 2006Flags of Our Fathers $10,245,1902,375$33,602,376$63,657,94152.8%
Sep 27, 2002Sweet Home Alabama $35,648,7403,313$127,214,072$182,365,11469.8%
Aug 4, 2000Coyote Ugly $17,319,2822,664$60,786,269$113,916,47453.4%
Jul 7, 2000But I’m a Cheerleader $60,410115$2,205,627$2,509,34487.9%
Jul 31, 1998Ever After: A Cinderel… $8,526,9042,067$65,705,772$65,705,772100.0%
 
Averages $6,759,2131,432$34,725,442$50,284,87175.9%
Totals 17 $451,430,746$703,988,194

Latest Ranking on All Acting Box Office Record Lists


RecordRankAmount
Top 100 Stars in Leading Roles at the Domestic Box Office (Rank 5,101-5,200) 5,188 $3,232,508
Top 100 Stars in Supporting Roles at the Domestic Box Office (Rank 2,701-2,800) 2,767 $451,430,746
Top Live Action Stars at the Domestic Box Office (Rank 2,801-2,900) 2,850 $471,883,138
Top Above the Line Stars at the Domestic Box Office (Rank 3,501-3,600) 3,582 $99,223,895
Top Below the Line Stars at the Domestic Box Office (Rank 3,801-3,900) 3,835 $312,670,592
Top Stars at the Domestic Box Office (Rank 3,301-3,400) 3,377 $471,883,138
Top 100 Stars in Leading Roles at the International Box Office (Rank 5,201-5,300) 5,227 $3,316,340
Top 100 Stars in Supporting Roles at the International Box Office (Rank 9,001-9,100) 9,030 $252,557,448
Top Live Action Stars at the International Box Office (Rank 8,301-8,400) 8,400 $262,016,752
Top Above the Line Stars at the International Box Office (Rank 4,501-4,600) 4,565 $78,233,689
Top Below the Line Stars at the International Box Office (Rank 11,701-11,800) 11,783 $168,529,682
Top Stars at the International Box Office (Rank 9,601-9,700) 9,615 $262,016,752
Top 100 Stars in Leading Roles at the Worldwide Box Office (Rank 6,301-6,400) 6,352 $6,548,848
Top 100 Stars in Supporting Roles at the Worldwide Box Office (Rank 5,401-5,500) 5,492 $703,988,194
Top Live Action Stars at the Worldwide Box Office (Rank 5,101-5,200) 5,119 $733,899,890
Top Above the Line Stars at the Wordwide Box Office (Rank 4,001-4,100) 4,028 $177,457,584
Top Below the Line Stars at the Worldwide Box Office (Rank 6,801-6,900) 6,840 $481,200,274
Top Stars at the Worldwide Box Office (Rank 5,901-6,000) 5,929 $733,899,890
Top Domestic Leading Stars for Original Screenplay Movies (Rank 5,201-5,300) 5,270 $186,422
Top Domestic Leading Stars for Based on Real Life Events Movies (Rank 501-600) 576 $3,046,086
Top International Leading Stars for Based on Fiction Book/Short Story Movies (Rank 1,801-1,900) 1,834 $112,648
Top International Leading Stars for Based on Real Life Events Movies (Rank 601-700) 610 $3,203,692
Top Worldwide Leading Stars for Original Screenplay Movies (Rank 7,001-7,100) 7,083 $186,422
Top Worldwide Leading Stars for Based on Fiction Book/Short Story Movies (Rank 2,401-2,500) 2,500 $112,648
Top Worldwide Leading Stars for Based on Real Life Events Movies (Rank 701-800) 720 $6,249,778
Top Domestic Leading Stars for Live Action Movies (Rank 4,601-4,700) 4,669 $3,232,508
Top International Leading Stars for Live Action Movies (Rank 4,501-4,600) 4,567 $3,203,692
Top International Leading Stars for Animation/Live Action Movies (Rank 501-600) 568 $112,648
Top Worldwide Leading Stars for Live Action Movies (Rank 5,701-5,800) 5,706 $6,436,200
Top Worldwide Leading Stars for Animation/Live Action Movies (Rank 501-600) 599 $112,648
Top Domestic Leading Stars for Contemporary Fiction Movies (Rank 4,701-4,800) 4,752 $186,422
Top Domestic Leading Stars for Dramatization Movies (Rank 801-900) 815 $3,046,086
Top International Leading Stars for Fantasy Movies (Rank 901-1,000) 913 $112,648
Top International Leading Stars for Dramatization Movies (Rank 701-800) 741 $3,203,692
Top Worldwide Leading Stars for Contemporary Fiction Movies (Rank 6,401-6,500) 6,462 $186,422
Top Worldwide Leading Stars for Fantasy Movies (Rank 1,101-1,200) 1,137 $112,648
Top Worldwide Leading Stars for Dramatization Movies (Rank 901-1,000) 916 $6,249,778
Top Domestic Leading Stars for Comedy Movies (Rank 2,701-2,800) 2,783 $30,312
Top Domestic Leading Stars for Drama Movies (Rank 1,601-1,700) 1,643 $3,202,196
Top International Leading Stars for Drama Movies (Rank 1,701-1,800) 1,773 $3,316,340
Top Worldwide Leading Stars for Comedy Movies (Rank 3,401-3,500) 3,449 $30,312
Top Worldwide Leading Stars for Drama Movies (Rank 2,101-2,200) 2,142 $6,518,536
Top Domestic Leading Stars for R Movies (Rank 2,501-2,600) 2,513 $3,216,026
Top Domestic Leading Stars for Not Rated Movies (Rank 2,301-2,400) 2,392 $16,482
Top International Leading Stars for R Movies (Rank 2,101-2,200) 2,172 $2,392,034
Top International Leading Stars for Not Rated Movies (Rank 1,701-1,800) 1,758 $112,648
Top Worldwide Leading Stars for R Movies (Rank 2,701-2,800) 2,727 $5,608,060
Top Worldwide Leading Stars for Not Rated Movies (Rank 2,201-2,300) 2,255 $129,130

All Technical Credits