When it comes to powerhouse actresses who can effortlessly steal any scene they’re in, few can match the sheer talent and presence of the incomparable Kathy Bates. With a career spanning over five decades across film, television, and theater, Bates has proven time and again why she’s considered one of the greatest performers of her generation.
From her Oscar-winning turn in the Stephen King adaptation Misery to her memorable supporting roles in blockbusters like Titanic, Bates has an uncanny ability to fully embody her characters, imbuing them with depth, nuance, and an electric spark that draws your eyes to her whenever she’s on screen. She can make you laugh, cry, and shiver in fright, often within the same film.
So today, we’re counting down Kathy Bates’ 20 best movies throughout her illustrious career. These are the roles that best showcase her immense range and talent, the characters that linger in your mind long after the credits roll. Let’s dive in and celebrate one of Hollywood’s true living legends.
20. Shadows and Fog (1991)
Kicking off our list is Woody Allen’s quirky black-and-white comedy Shadows and Fog, in which Bates plays a circus sword swallower opposite an all-star cast including Mia Farrow, John Malkovich, and Madonna. While it’s a small role, Bates brings her signature wit and presence, proving she can shine even in the most eccentric of ensembles.
19. Dragonfly (2002)
In this supernatural drama, Bates plays a supporting role as a nun who may hold the key to unlocking the mystery behind Kevin Costner’s dead wife’s ghostly messages. It’s an understated but effective performance that grounds the film’s more fantastical elements.
18. The Waterboy (1998)
Bates lets loose and has a ball in this goofy Adam Sandler comedy, playing the overprotective mother to Sandler’s dimwitted waterboy-turned-football star. Sporting a ridiculous wig and Cajun accent, Bates commits fully to the absurdity and gets big laughs as a result.
17. The Family That Preys (2008)
In Tyler Perry’s melodrama about two families torn apart by secrets and betrayal, Bates delivers a quietly powerful performance as the wealthy matriarch who takes a young woman (Sanaa Lathan) under her wing. It’s a small but pivotal role that Bates imbues with her trademark strength and grace.
16. Failure to Launch (2006)
This romantic comedy starring Matthew McConaughey and Sarah Jessica Parker is mostly forgettable, but Bates livens things up in a hilarious supporting turn as McConaughey’s kooky mother who’ll do anything to get her grown son to finally move out of the house. Her comedic timing is spot-on.
15. Midnight in Paris (2011)
Woody Allen makes great use of Bates’ warm screen presence in this whimsical comedy, casting her as the wise and worldly Gertrude Stein in 1920s Paris. Though her screen time is brief, Bates makes a strong impression, especially in a lovely scene opposite Owen Wilson’s time-traveling writer.
14. The Blind Side (2009)
As the tough-loving tutor Miss Sue who helps shape the future of football star Michael Oher, Bates brings both humor and heart to this inspirational sports drama. Her scenes opposite Sandra Bullock crackle with lived-in chemistry.
13. Revolutionary Road (2008)
In this searing portrait of a disintegrating 1950s marriage, Bates has a small but unforgettable role as the real estate agent who sells the central couple (Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet) their new home, planting the seeds for the domestic misery to come. With just a few scenes, Bates sketches a fully realized character.
12. Titanic (1997)
Speaking of DiCaprio and Winslet, Bates was part of the enormous ensemble in James Cameron’s blockbuster Titanic, playing real-life passenger Margaret “Molly” Brown with her signature verve and moxie. She’s a lively, welcome presence in the epic romance.
11. The Late Shift (1996)
In this HBO movie about the battle for The Tonight Show hosting gig between Jay Leno and David Letterman, Bates is in top comedic form as Leno’s tough-as-nails manager Helen Kushnick. It’s a showy, scenery-chewing role that Bates sinks her teeth into with gusto.
10. About Schmidt (2002)
As the free-spirited Roberta in Alexander Payne’s bittersweet comedy, Bates gets one of the film’s most memorable scenes: a nude hot tub heart-to-heart opposite Jack Nicholson’s repressed retiree. It’s a disarmingly vulnerable and human moment that Bates plays to perfection, earning an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress.
9. Richard Jewell (2019)
In Clint Eastwood’s gripping true-life drama, Bates plays the mother of Richard Jewell, the security guard wrongly accused of planting a bomb at the 1996 Olympics. As Bobi Jewell, Bates is the movie’s beating heart, fiercely defending her son while wrestling with her own doubts and fears. It’s an understated but enormously moving performance that netted Bates her fourth Oscar nomination.
8. Primary Colors (1998)
Mike Nichols’ political satire gave Bates one of her juiciest roles as Libby Holden, a brash political operative working for a charismatic Southern governor’s presidential campaign (a thinly veiled stand-in for Bill Clinton). Bates is an absolute force of nature, tearing into her scenes with reckless abandon and making a meal out of Elaine May’s razor-sharp dialogue. She’s both hilarious and heartbreaking, especially in a devastating final scene. It’s no wonder she scored an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress.
7. Fried Green Tomatoes (1991)
In this beloved adaptation of Fannie Flagg’s novel, Bates plays Evelyn Couch, an unhappy housewife who finds new purpose in life through the stories of an elderly woman (Jessica Tandy) recounting her youth in 1920s Alabama. As Evelyn undergoes a transformative journey of empowerment and self-discovery, Bates beautifully conveys her character’s blossoming sense of joy and confidence. Her chemistry with Tandy is one of the film’s greatest pleasures.
6. Dolores Claiborne (1995)
Bates reunited with Misery director Taylor Hackford for another Stephen King adaptation, this time playing the title character: a tough-as-nails housekeeper accused of murdering her wealthy employer. As Dolores, Bates is an absolute powerhouse, delivering a raw, vanity-free performance that’s both fearsome and deeply sympathetic. She brilliantly captures Dolores’ hard-edged resilience in the face of unspeakable trauma, crafting a complex and unforgettable portrait of survival.
5. Misery (1990)
The role that made Bates a household name and won her a much-deserved Oscar for Best Actress, Misery gave the actress the perfect showcase for her unique blend of folksy charm and terrifying intensity. As Annie Wilkes, the obsessive fan who holds her favorite author (James Caan) captive and forces him to resurrect her beloved character, Bates is both hilarious and utterly chilling, often in the same breath. Her unhinged energy electrifies every scene, making Annie one of cinema’s all-time great villains. It’s an iconic, endlessly quotable performance that still packs a wallop 30 years later.
4. The Late Shift (1996)
In this juicy HBO docudrama about the battle for The Tonight Show hosting gig between Jay Leno and David Letterman, Bates nearly walks away with the whole movie as Leno’s fiercely loyal and combative manager Helen Kushnick. Sporting a “Brooklyn” accent and an endless supply of chutzpah, Bates tears into the role with scenery-chewing gusto, barking orders and browbeating anyone who gets in her way. It’s a big, bold, larger-than-life performance that’s an absolute joy to watch from start to finish.
3. Titanic (1997)
James Cameron’s blockbuster romance is mostly remembered for the central love story between Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet, but Bates makes a strong impression in a crucial supporting role as real-life passenger Margaret “Molly” Brown. As the wealthy socialite who takes a liking to Winslet’s Rose, Bates brings her signature warmth and sass to the part, livening up every scene she’s in. And in the film’s harrowing final act, she gets a chance to show Molly’s heroic side, as she rallies the survivors in her lifeboat to go back and rescue those dying in the freezing water. It’s a small but pivotal role that Bates imbues with her usual depth and humanity.
2. Primary Colors (1998)
Mike Nichols’ razor-sharp political satire gave Bates one of the best roles of her career as Libby Holden, the brash, take-no-prisoners political operative working for John Travolta’s Bill Clinton-esque presidential candidate. Armed with a flawless Southern drawl and a seemingly endless supply of one-liners, Bates attacks the role with reckless abandon, chewing the scenery and spitting out Elaine May’s crackling dialogue with gleeful relish.
Whether she’s ruthlessly digging up dirt on the opposition or wrestling with her own disillusionment with the political process, Bates finds the wounded humanity beneath Libby’s tough exterior. And in the film’s shattering final scenes, as Libby grapples with a devastating personal betrayal, Bates delivers some of the most emotionally naked acting of her career. It’s a big, bold, tragicomic tour de force that ranks among her very finest work.
1. Misery (1990)
Was there ever any doubt? The role that made Bates a household name and won her a much-deserved Oscar for Best Actress, Misery is perhaps the purest distillation of Bates’ singular gifts as a performer. As Annie Wilkes, the obsessive fan who holds her favorite author (James Caan) captive and forces him to resurrect her beloved character, Bates is both hilarious and utterly terrifying, often in the same breath.
With her lilting voice, folksy mannerisms, and cheerful demeanor, Annie initially comes across as a harmless, if eccentric, superfan. But as her true nature is gradually revealed, Bates peels back the layers to expose the character’s psychotic rage and violent obsession. It’s a masterclass in slow-burn tension and unhinged intensity, with Bates’ wild-eyed stare and manic energy electrifying every scene.
But what makes the performance truly great is the way Bates never loses sight of Annie’s twisted humanity. Even as she commits unspeakable acts of cruelty and violence, Bates allows us to see the wounded child within, the lonely misfit desperate for connection and validation. It’s a complex, multi-faceted portrayal that’s as deeply unsettling as it is perversely entertaining.
More than 30 years later, Bates’ Annie Wilkes remains one of the most iconic movie villains of all time, a testament to the actress’s remarkable skill at bringing even the most extreme characters to vivid, unforgettable life. It’s the kind of once-in-a-lifetime role that most actors can only dream of, and Bates knocks it out of the park with astonishing force and precision. If you only know one Kathy Bates performance, make it this one.
So there you have it: our picks for Kathy Bates’ 20 best movies. Of course, with a career as long and varied as hers, there are plenty of other great performances we could have included. But these 20 roles represent the very best of what this extraordinary actress has to offer: her incredible range, her fearless commitment, her ability to make us laugh, cry, and scream in terror, sometimes all at once.
Bates is a true one-of-a-kind talent, a force of nature who brings her unique blend of warmth, wit, and intensity to every role she takes on. Whether she’s playing a villain, a hero, or something in between, she always finds the truth and humanity in her characters, making them feel like fully realized people rather than mere fictional constructs.
So let’s raise a glass to the incomparable Kathy Bates, one of the greatest actresses of her generation and a true legend of the screen. May she continue to surprise, delight, and terrify us for many years to come.
