
Hilary Swank
ActingAbout Hilary Swank
Hilary Ann Swank (born July 30, 1974) is an American actress and film producer. She first became known in 1992 for her role on the television series Camp Wilder and made her film debut with a minor role in Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1992). She then had her breakthrough for starring as Julie Pierce in The Next Karate Kid (1994), the fourth installment of The Karate Kid franchise, and as Carly Reynolds on the eighth season of Beverly Hills, 90210 (1997–1998). Swank came to international recognition for her performances as Brandon Teena, a transgender man, in Kimberly Peirce's Boys Don't Cry (1999), and as Maggie Fitzgerald, an aspiring boxer, in Clint Eastwood's Million Dollar Baby (2004). Both of her performances earned her critical acclaim, and she earned numerous accolades, including two Academy Awards, two Golden Globe Awards, two Critics' Choice Movie Awards and a Screen Actors Guild Award. She was named by Time magazine as one of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2005. Swank later ventured into producing with the films Amelia (2009), Conviction (2010), You're Not You (2014), and What They Had (2018), all of which she also starred in. Her other notable films include the television film Iron Jawed Angels (2004), and the feature films Freedom Writers (2007), Logan Lucky (2017), The Hunt (2020), and Fatale (2020).
Career Statistics & Market Influence
Analyzing the cinematic journey of Hilary Swank reveals a career defined by diverse artistic exploration. With a total of 50 major appearances, the actor has established a significant footprint in global cinema.
Genre Dominance: Drama
The majority of Hilary Swank's filmography leans towards the Drama genre. Audience data suggests that viewers respond most favorably to this persona, though their versatility has allowed for successful crossovers into other categories.
The "Box Office" Signature
With a 40% Success Ratio (movies rated above 6.5), Hilary Swank remains a reliable draw for studios. Their peak performance was recorded in Million Dollar Baby, which continues to be the benchmark for their career rating-wise.
Best Hilary Swank Movies Ranked
Must-watch hits from Hilary Swank's career based on audience ratings.
Complete Filmography & Success Status
Tracking the career evolution and box office verdicts of Hilary Swank.
| Year | Movie | Character | Success | More |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Ordinary Angels | Sharon Stevens | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 2023 | The Good Mother | Marissa Bennings | Flop | Similar → |
| 2020 | Fatale | Det. Valerie Quinlan | Average | Similar → |
| 2020 | Disclosure | Brandon Teena / Self (archive footage) | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 2020 | The Hunt | Athena | Hit | Similar → |
| 2019 | I Am Mother | Woman | Hit | Similar → |
| 2018 | What They Had | Bridget | Hit | Similar → |
| 2018 | Kadyrov, The Dictator of Chechnya | Self (archive footage) | Flop | Similar → |
| 2018 | 55 Steps | Colette Hughes | Hit | Similar → |
| 2017 | Double Dutchess: Seeing Double | - | Average | Similar → |
| 2017 | Logan Lucky | Special Agent Sarah Grayson | Hit | Similar → |
| 2016 | Spark: A Space Tail | The Queen (voice) | Flop | Similar → |
| 2014 | You're Not You | Kate | Hit | Similar → |
| 2014 | The Homesman | Mary Bee Cuddy | Hit | Similar → |
| 2013 | Eastwood Directs: The Untold Story | Self | Average | Similar → |
| 2013 | Mary and Martha | Mary | Average | Similar → |
| 2011 | New Year's Eve | Claire Morgan | Average | Similar → |
| 2011 | The Resident | Juliet Devereau | Average | Similar → |
| 2010 | Conviction | Betty Anne Waters | Hit | Similar → |
| 2009 | Amelia | Amelia Earhart | Average | Similar → |
| 2008 | Birds of America | Laura | Flop | Similar → |
| 2007 | P.S. I Love You | Holly | Hit | Similar → |
| 2007 | The Reaping | Katherine | Average | Similar → |
| 2007 | Freedom Writers | Erin Gruwell | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 2006 | ...So Goes the Nation | Self | Hit | Similar → |
| 2006 | The Black Dahlia | Madeleine Linscott | Average | Similar → |
| 2006 | On Native Soil | Narrator (voice) | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 2005 | Shelter from the Storm: A Concert for the Gulf Coast | Self - Presenter | Flop | Similar → |
| 2004 | Million Dollar Baby | Maggie Fitzgerald | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 2004 | Iron Jawed Angels | Alice Paul | Hit | Similar → |
| 2004 | Red Dust | Sarah Barcant | Average | Similar → |
| 2003 | Sex at 24 Frames Per Second | Self | Flop | Similar → |
| 2003 | 11:14 | Buzzy | Hit | Similar → |
| 2003 | The Core | Maj. Rebecca Childs | Average | Similar → |
| 2003 | Under Antarctic Ice | Narrator (voice) | Flop | Similar → |
| 2002 | Insomnia | Ellie Burr | Hit | Similar → |
| 2001 | The Affair of the Necklace | Jeanne St. Remy de Valois | Average | Similar → |
| 2001 | The Concert for New York City | Self | Flop | Similar → |
| 2000 | The Gift | Valerie Barksdale | Hit | Similar → |
| 1999 | Boys Don't Cry | Brandon Teena | Hit | Similar → |
| 1998 | Heartwood | Sylvia Orsini | Flop | Similar → |
| 1997 | The Sleepwalker Killing | Lauren Schall | Average | Similar → |
| 1997 | Dying to Belong | Lisa Connors | Flop | Similar → |
| 1997 | Quiet Days in Hollywood | Lolita | Flop | Similar → |
| 1996 | Kounterfeit | Colleen | Flop | Similar → |
| 1996 | Sometimes They Come Back... Again | Michelle Porter | Flop | Similar → |
| 1996 | Terror in the Family | Deena Marten | Average | Similar → |
| 1994 | The Next Karate Kid | Julie Pierce | Flop | Similar → |
| 1994 | Cries Unheard: The Donna Yaklich Story | Patty Yaklich | Average | Similar → |
| 1992 | Buffy the Vampire Slayer | Kimberly Hannah | Average | Similar → |
Hilary Swank - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best movie of Hilary Swank?
According to audience ratings, the best movie starring Hilary Swank is "Million Dollar Baby" with a rating of 8.0/10.
How many movies has Hilary Swank acted in?
Hilary Swank has been featured in at least 50 major films throughout their career.
What are some other popular movies by Hilary Swank?
Other notable films include "Freedom Writers", "Disclosure", and "Ordinary Angels".




