Elaine May

Best known as a Screenwriter based on credits in that role in 4 films, with $294,935,734 worldwide aggregate box office (rank #1,023)

Best-known technical roles: The Birdcage (Screenwriter), Heaven Can Wait (Screenwriter), Ishtar (Director), Ishtar (Screenwriter)

Best-known acting roles: May (Small Time Crooks), Millie Michaels (California Suite)

Born: April 21, 1932 (93 years old)

Career Summary

		Movies	Domestic Box Office	International Box Office	Worldwide Box Office
As an Actor	Lead Ensemble Member	1	$42,913,571	$0	$42,913,571
	Leading	1	$0	$311	$311
	Supporting	1	$0	$0	$0
	(Unclassified)	1	$17,266,359	$12,668,118	$29,934,477
In Technical Roles	Screenwriter	4	$237,235,734	$57,700,000	$294,935,734
	Director	3	$14,375,181	$311	$14,375,492

Career Trend

This graph shows Elaine May’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

Record	Rank	Amount
Top 100 Stars in Leading Roles at the Domestic Box Office (Rank 2,501-2,600)	2,580	$42,913,571
Top Stars at the Domestic Box Office (Rank 29,301-29,400)	29,307	$60,179,930
Top 100 Stars in Leading Roles at the International Box Office (Rank 9,401-9,500)	9,494	$311
Top Stars at the International Box Office (Rank 45,901-46,000)	45,934	$12,668,429
Top 100 Stars in Leading Roles at the Worldwide Box Office (Rank 3,701-3,800)	3,762	$42,913,882
Top Stars at the Worldwide Box Office (Rank 37,601-37,700)	37,614	$72,848,359
Top Grossing Director at the Domestic Box Office (Rank 1,901-2,000)	1,989	$14,375,181
Top Grossing Screenwriter at the Domestic Box Office (Rank 501-600)	593	$237,235,734
Top Grossing Director at the International Box Office (Rank 18,901-19,000)	19,000	$311
Top Grossing Screenwriter at the International Box Office (Rank 2,001-2,100)	2,045	$57,700,000
Top Grossing Director at the Worldwide Box Office (Rank 3,101-3,200)	3,175	$14,375,492
Top Grossing Screenwriter at the Worldwide Box Office (Rank 1,001-1,100)	1,023	$294,935,734

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

All Acting Credits

Release Date	Title	Role	Domestic Box Office	International Box Office	Worldwide Box Office
Oct 14, 2022	The Same Storm
May 19, 2000	Small Time Crooks	May	$17,266,359	$12,668,118	$29,934,477
Dec 15, 1978	California Suite	Millie Michaels	$42,913,571		$42,913,571
Dec 31, 1971	A New Leaf	Henrietta Lowell		$311	$311

Averages			$30,089,965	$6,334,215	$24,282,786
Totals	4		$60,179,930	$12,668,429	$72,848,359

Leading or Lead Ensemble Roles

Release Date	Title	Opening Weekend	Maximum Theaters	Domestic Box Office	Worldwide Box Office	Domestic Share
Dec 15, 1978	California Suite			$42,913,571	$42,913,571	100.0%
Dec 31, 1971	A New Leaf				$311

Averages		n/a	n/a	$42,913,571	$21,456,941	100.0%
Totals	2			$42,913,571	$42,913,882

Supporting Roles

Release Date	Title	Opening Weekend	Maximum Theaters	Domestic Box Office	Worldwide Box Office	Domestic Share
Oct 14, 2022	The Same Storm

Averages		n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	0.0%
Totals	1			n/a	n/a

Latest Ranking on All Acting Box Office Record Lists

Record	Rank	Amount
Top 100 Stars in Leading Roles at the Domestic Box Office (Rank 2,501-2,600)	2,580	$42,913,571
Top Live Action Stars at the Domestic Box Office (Rank 27,301-27,400)	27,313	$60,179,930
Top Above the Line Stars at the Domestic Box Office (Rank 5,001-5,100)	5,076	$42,913,571
Top Stars at the Domestic Box Office (Rank 29,301-29,400)	29,307	$60,179,930
Top 100 Stars in Leading Roles at the International Box Office (Rank 9,401-9,500)	9,494	$311
Top Live Action Stars at the International Box Office (Rank 43,001-43,100)	43,045	$12,668,429
Top Above the Line Stars at the International Box Office (Rank 20,201-20,300)	20,248	$311
Top Stars at the International Box Office (Rank 45,901-46,000)	45,934	$12,668,429
Top 100 Stars in Leading Roles at the Worldwide Box Office (Rank 3,701-3,800)	3,762	$42,913,882
Top Live Action Stars at the Worldwide Box Office (Rank 35,101-35,200)	35,107	$72,848,359
Top Above the Line Stars at the Wordwide Box Office (Rank 7,001-7,100)	7,029	$42,913,882
Top Stars at the Worldwide Box Office (Rank 37,601-37,700)	37,614	$72,848,359
Highest Grossing Stars of 1980 at the Domestic Box Office	94	90
Top Domestic Leading Stars for Original Screenplay Movies (Rank 1,501-1,600)	1,598	$42,913,571
Top International Leading Stars for Original Screenplay Movies (Rank 7,001-7,100)	7,098	$311
Top Worldwide Leading Stars for Original Screenplay Movies (Rank 2,401-2,500)	2,449	$42,913,882
Top Domestic Leading Stars for Live Action Movies (Rank 2,101-2,200)	2,150	$42,913,571
Top International Leading Stars for Live Action Movies (Rank 8,701-8,800)	8,771	$311
Top Worldwide Leading Stars for Live Action Movies (Rank 3,201-3,300)	3,213	$42,913,882
Top Domestic Leading Stars for Contemporary Fiction Movies (Rank 1,401-1,500)	1,419	$42,913,571
Top International Leading Stars for Contemporary Fiction Movies (Rank 6,501-6,600)	6,547	$311
Top Worldwide Leading Stars for Contemporary Fiction Movies (Rank 2,201-2,300)	2,233	$42,913,882
Top Domestic Leading Stars for Comedy Movies (Rank 701-800)	775	$42,913,571
Top International Leading Stars for Romantic Comedy Movies (Rank 801-900)	816	$311
Top Worldwide Leading Stars for Comedy Movies (Rank 1,001-1,100)	1,087	$42,913,571
Top Worldwide Leading Stars for Romantic Comedy Movies (Rank 1,101-1,200)	1,167	$311
Top Domestic Leading Stars for PG Movies (Rank 1,001-1,100)	1,059	$42,913,571
Top Worldwide Leading Stars for PG Movies (Rank 1,201-1,300)	1,222	$42,913,571

All Technical Credits

Release Date	Title	Role	Domestic Box Office	International Box Office	Worldwide Box Office
Mar 8, 1996	The Birdcage	Screenwriter	$124,060,553	$57,700,000	$181,760,553
May 15, 1987	Ishtar	Director Screenwriter	$14,375,181		$14,375,181
Jun 28, 1978	Heaven Can Wait	Screenwriter	$98,800,000		$98,800,000
Dec 21, 1976	Mikey and Nicky	Director Screenwriter
Dec 31, 1971	A New Leaf	Director		$311	$311

Averages			$79,078,578	$28,850,156	$73,734,011
Totals	5		$237,235,734	$57,700,311	$294,936,045

Director Credits

Release Date	Title	Opening Weekend	Maximum Theaters	Domestic Box Office	Worldwide Box Office	Domestic Share
May 15, 1987	Ishtar	$4,331,817	1,139	$14,375,181	$14,375,181	100.0%
Dec 21, 1976	Mikey and Nicky
Dec 31, 1971	A New Leaf				$311

Averages		$4,331,817	1,139	$14,375,181	$7,187,746	100.0%
Totals	3			$14,375,181	$14,375,492

Writer Credits

Release Date	Title	Opening Weekend	Maximum Theaters	Domestic Box Office	Worldwide Box Office	Domestic Share
Mar 8, 1996	The Birdcage	$18,275,828	2,285	$124,060,553	$181,760,553	68.3%
May 15, 1987	Ishtar	$4,331,817	1,139	$14,375,181	$14,375,181	100.0%
Jun 28, 1978	Heaven Can Wait	$3,652,486	540	$98,800,000	$98,800,000	100.0%
Dec 21, 1976	Mikey and Nicky

Averages		$8,753,377	1,321	$79,078,578	$98,311,911	89.4%
Totals	4			$237,235,734	$294,935,734

Latest Ranking on All Technical Box Office Record Lists

Record	Rank	Amount
Top Grossing Director at the Domestic Box Office (Rank 1,901-2,000)	1,989	$14,375,181
Top Grossing Screenwriter at the Domestic Box Office (Rank 501-600)	593	$237,235,734
Top Grossing Director at the International Box Office (Rank 18,901-19,000)	19,000	$311
Top Grossing Screenwriter at the International Box Office (Rank 2,001-2,100)	2,045	$57,700,000
Top Grossing Director at the Worldwide Box Office (Rank 3,101-3,200)	3,175	$14,375,492
Top Grossing Screenwriter at the Worldwide Box Office (Rank 1,001-1,100)	1,023	$294,935,734