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Elisabeth Shue

Elisabeth Shue

Actor, also producer · Born October 6, 1963 (63) · Wilmington, Delaware, USA

Oscar nominee · Golden Globe nominee · BAFTA Award nominee · 2 other major award bodies

Elisabeth Judson Shue (born October 6, 1963) is an American actress, best known for her starring roles in the films The Karate Kid (1984), Adventures in Babysitting (1987), Cocktail (1988), Back to the Future Part II (1989), Back to the Future Part III (1990), Soapdish (1991), Leaving Las Vegas (1995), The Saint (1997), Hollow Man (2000), and Piranha 3D (2010). She has won several acting awards and has been nominated for an Academy Award, a Golden Globe and a BAFTA. She starred as Julie Finlay in the CBS procedural forensics crime drama CSI: Crime Scene Investigation from 2012 to 2015. More recently she had supporting roles in Battle of the Sexes (2017) and Death Wish (2018). She was also a series regular in the first season of the Amazon series The Boys (2019).

Read more

Biography from TMDB.

Born
October 6, 1963 (63)
From
Wilmington, Delaware, USA
Works as
Actor, also producer
Titles
52 on MovieCove · 65 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 155 days to Oct 26Up 12% in 30 days

What are Elisabeth Shue's films like?

Across their 39 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Self.

Genres

Comedy12 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 40th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Drama8 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 38th percentile
: browse their Drama movies
Action6 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 50th percentile
: browse their Action movies
Adventure4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 85th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Adventure movies
Biography4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 68th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Biography movies
Crime2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 41st percentile
: browse their Crime movies
Horror2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 41st percentile
: browse their Horror movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Bonds
26%
Self
21%
Morality
19%
Survival
17%
Society
8%
Ideas
5%
Power
3%
Family bonds11 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love7 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity7 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival5 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose5 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship5 titles, browse their movies with this themeRedemption5 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception4 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 38 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Serious: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their serious movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

A split, not a type: Light 15 · Serious 11 · Dark 12

Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

A split, not a type: Grounded 22 · Stylized 11 · Heightened 5

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 9 · Charged 15 · Intense 14

Shifting: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their shifting movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 12 · Shifting 23 · Whiplash 3

Some laughs: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their some laughs movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

A split, not a type: Straight-faced 20 · Some laughs 13 · Funny 5

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 14 · Even-paced 20 · Relentless 4

Engaged: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their engaged movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

A split, not a type: Casual 17 · Engaged 16 · Full focus 5

Affecting: How much it costs you emotionally; whether you need recovery time. Browse their affecting movies.
Demand · Emotional cost
easyheavy

Easy watch 14 · Affecting 17 · Heavy 7

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 27 · Open-ended 6 · Ambiguous 5

Roles they play

26 analyzed roles

Usually the Ally: 10 of 26 analyzed roles.

Ally
10 of 26
Hero
5 of 26
Shapeshifter
4 of 26
Threshold guardian
3 of 26
Mentor
1 of 26
Trickster
1 of 26
Shadow
1 of 26
Herald
1 of 26
Show the 26 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
21
Melancholic
15
Hopeful
12
Thrilling
9
Dread
7
Other
44

How their films linger

Feel-good12 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful14 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling11 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun10 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteCathartic6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 10 with a twist

  • Happy15
  • Bittersweet16
  • Tragic1
  • Ambiguous6
  • Cyclical1

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Elisabeth Shue's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 35 of their 52 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Prime Video (12).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Elisabeth Shue's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

65 credits, 52 with a MovieCove page; 10 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Whalefall(2026)

    as Zara Gardiner

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • The Good Half(2023)

    as Lily Wheeland

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • Gen V(2023)

    Show 1 episode · as Madelyn Stillwell

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all shows

  • Diabolical(2022)

    Show 1 episode · as Madelyn Stillwell (voice)

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all shows

  • Super Pumped(2022)

    Show 4 episodes · as Bonnie Kalanick

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all shows

  • Super Pumped: The Battle for Uber (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2022)

    as Bonnie Kalanick

  • On the Verge(2021)

    Show 12 episodes · Executive Producer · as Anne

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all shows

  • Greyhound(2020)

    as Evelyn

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • The Boys(2019)

    Show 10 episodes · as Madelyn Stillwell

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all shows

  • Cobra Kai(2018)

    Show 2 episodes · as Ali Mills · as Ali Mills (archive footage)

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all shows

  • Death Wish(2018)

    as Lucy Kersey

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • Back to the Future: The Hill Valley Chronicles (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2018)

    Show 11 episodes · as Jennifer Parker

  • Battle of the Sexes(2017)

    as Priscilla Riggs

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • Blunt Talk(2015)

    Show 1 episode · as Suzanne Mayview

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all shows

  • Behaving Badly(2014)

    as Pamela Bender

    Midcredits score: 17th percentile of all films

  • Chasing Mavericks(2012)

    as Christy Moriarity

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • House at the End of the Street(2012)

    as Dr. Sarah Cassidy

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films

  • Hope Springs(2012)

    as Karen, The Bartender

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • Waking Madison (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    as Dr. Elizabeth Barnes

  • Janie Jones(2010)

    as Mary Ann Jones

    Midcredits score: 63rd percentile of all films

  • Piranha 3D(2010)

    as Julie Forester

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • Don McKay(2009)

    as Sonny

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • Hamlet 2(2008)

    as Elisabeth Shue

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • Gracie(2007)

    Producer · as Lindsay Bowen

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • First Born(2007)

    as Laura

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all films

  • Dreamer(2005)

    as Lily

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • Mysterious Skin(2004)

    as Mrs. McCormick

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • American Dad!(2005)

    Show 1 episode · as Female Detective (voice)

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all shows

  • Hide and Seek(2005)

    as Elizabeth

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • Tuck Everlasting(2002)

    as Narrator (voice)

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • Leo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    as Mary Bloom

  • The First Year (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    as Narrator

  • Amy & Isabelle (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    as Isabelle Goodrow

  • Curb Your Enthusiasm(2000)

    Show 2 episodes · as Virginia

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • CSI: Crime Scene Investigation(2000)

    Show 71 episodes · as Julie Finlay

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all shows

  • Hollow Man(2000)

    as Linda McKay

    Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all films

  • Molly(1999)

    as Molly McKay

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • Cousin Bette(1998)

    as Jenny Cadine

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films

  • City of Angels(1998)

    as Pregnant Woman (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • Palmetto(1998)

    as Rhea Malroux

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films

  • Deconstructing Harry(1997)

    as Fay Sexton

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • The Saint(1997)

    as Emma Russell

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • The Trigger Effect(1996)

    as Annie

    Midcredits score: 34th percentile of all films

  • Leaving Las Vegas(1995)

    as Sera

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films

  • The Underneath(1995)

    as Susan Crenshaw

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • Blind Justice(1994)

    as Caroline

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • Radio Inside (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    as Natalie

  • Twenty Bucks(1993)

    as Emily Adams

    Midcredits score: 52nd percentile of all films

  • Heart and Souls(1993)

    as Anne

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • Soapdish(1991)

    as Lori Craven

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

  • The Marrying Man(1991)

    as Adele Horner

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • The General Motors Playwrights Theater (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    Show 1 episode · as Alice Adams

  • Dream On (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Show 1 episode · as Maura Barish

  • Back to the Future Part III(1990)

    as Jennifer

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films

  • Back to the Future Part II(1989)

    as Jennifer

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Cocktail(1988)

    as Jordan Mooney

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • Adventures in Babysitting(1987)

    as Chris Parker

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • Double Switch (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    as Kathy

  • Link(1986)

    as Jane Chase

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films

  • Call to Glory (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    as Jackie Sarnac

  • Call to Glory (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    Show 22 episodes · as Jackie Sarnac

  • The Karate Kid(1984)

    as Ali

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films

  • Somewhere, Tomorrow(1983)

    as Margie

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • The Royal Romance of Charles and Diana(1982)

    as Lynn Osborne (as Lisa Shue)

    Midcredits score: 34th percentile of all films

  • Greyhound 2 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    as Evelyn

Career shape

Star power in the 99th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 65 titles, 64 of them dated from 1982 to 2026; peak year 2011.

Biggest box office

Back to the Future Part II (1989)

$333M worldwide

Highest rated

Back to the Future Part II (1989)

Midcredits 97th

Most popular right now

Whalefall (2026)

Film career

MilestoneBreakoutNomination
19822026

Peak 2011 · fewer prominent film roles lately. Top draw in 25 MovieCove titles. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting65 of 65: 63 only acting, 2 with another role · typical Midcredits score54thProducing2 of 65: 0 only producing, 2 with another role

By decade

1980s10 · acting1990s18 · acting2000s15 · 15 acting · 1 crew2010s13 · acting2020s8 · 8 acting · 1 crew

Billing

usually 4th · top billed in 15% of 40 roles
8494990914

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

Awards

1 major award from 5 major nominations, 1996.

WinNomination
  1. 1996
    • Oscar, nominated · Best Actress in a Leading Role
    • Golden Globe, nominated · Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama
    • BAFTA Award, nominated · Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role
    • +1 other major body · 1 win
      • Independent Spirit Award, won · Best Female Lead

Major bodies only: the Oscars, Primetime Emmys, Golden Globes, BAFTAs and Screen Actors Guild Awards are named; Cannes, Venice, the Berlinale, Sundance, the directors', writers' and producers' guilds, the Grammys, Critics Choice and the Independent Spirit Awards count as other major bodies. Festival and regional prizes are not counted. Source: IMDb.

How do Elisabeth Shue's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 51st percentile, the median of all 42; across their 38 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 48th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

48thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 38

Approval · how many liked their films

51stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 38

Reach · how many have seen their films

91stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 38

Midcredits score across 52 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up14
  • 50th to 74th16
  • 25th to 49th18
  • Below 25th4

Shape of the crowd

23 of their 52 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved6
  • Cult Classic2
  • Crowd Pleaser23
  • Broadly Agreed9
  • Mixed12

Most divisive · actor

The Royal Romance of Charles and Diana (1982)

85th percentile spread · 23% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Back to the Future Part II (1989)

Midcredits 97th · 87% liked

Reviewers score the acting 71/100 in their films, across 38 reviewed titles; fans 79, detractors 47. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is Elisabeth Shue's work okay for kids?

Across up to 26 MovieCove titles with content scores, profanity and frightening / intense run heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore18 titles27–88 · median 43 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity26 titles13–75 · median 41 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity20 titles26–87 · median 54 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs17 titles16–80 · median 36 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense16 titles24–86 · median 54 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted. The band's colour is the severity of their median, named beside it.

Who does Elisabeth Shue work with?

People who share at least 2 of Elisabeth Shue's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Christopher Lloyd shares the most, 4.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers and editors

Producers