Frank Zappa: movies and TV shows
Frank Zappa has 184 credits in the archive: 168 films and 16 TV series, from 1962 to 2025. Highest rated: Beat-Club (8.8/10).
Career timeline
1962 – 2025 · busiest year: 1987 (15 credits)
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Full filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Type | Rating | Age then |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Ladies & Gentlemen... 50 Years of SNL Music | Self (archive footage) | Film | 7.8 | 84 |
| 2025 | Nova '78 | Self (archive footage) | Film | — | 84 |
| 2025 | Marc-André Hamelin @ Ruhr Piano Festival 2025 | Film | — | 84 | |
| 2025 | Frank Zappa: Cheaper Than Cheep | Self (guitar, vocals) | Film | — | 84 |
| 2025 | Frank Zappa: Cheaper Than Cheep | Film | — | 84 | |
| 2025 | Frank Zappa: Cheaper Than Cheep | Film | — | 84 | |
| 2024 | The Residents - A Documentary | Film | 10.0 | 83 | |
| 2024 | Frank Zappa and The Mothers of Invention: Live at Whisky a Go Go 1968 | Film | — | 83 | |
| 2024 | Frank Zappa and The Mothers of Invention: Live at Whisky a Go Go 1968 | Film | — | 83 | |
| 2023 | Cover Your Ears | Self - Musician (archive footage) | Film | 6.0 | 82 |
| 2022 | Steve Vai - His First 30 Years: The Documentary | Self (archive footage) | Film | 8.5 | 81 |
| 2022 | Rock this Town | Self (archive footage) | Film | — | 81 |
| 2021 | The Velvet Underground | Self (archive footage) (uncredited) | Film | 6.8 | 80 |
| 2021 | Kalvøyafestivalen - 50 år siden første riff | Self (archive footage) | Film | — | 80 |
| 2021 | The Art of Dissent | Self - Subject (archive footage) | Film | — | 80 |
| 2021 | Larry Flynt for President | Self (archive footage) | Film | 5.2 | 80 |
| 2021 | Classic Albums: Frank Zappa & The Mothers Of Invention - Freak Out! | Self | Film | 8.6 | 80 |
| 2020 | Laurel Canyon | Self (archive footage) | TV | 8.0 | 79 |
| 2020 | Zappa | Self (archive footage) | Film | 7.3 | 79 |
| 2020 | Zappa | Film | 7.3 | 79 | |
| 2019 | Stupor Mundi: Book 3, The Most Dangerous Encounter | Self (archive footage) | Film | — | 78 |
| 2019 | Manson: Music from an Unsound Mind | Self (archive footage) | Film | 6.7 | 78 |
| 2019 | Echo in the Canyon | Self (archive footage) (uncredited) | Film | 6.8 | 78 |
| 2019 | Linda Ronstadt: The Sound of My Voice | Self (archive footage) | Film | 7.6 | 78 |
| 2018 | Take Your Pills | Self (archive footage) | Film | 6.5 | 77 |
| 2018 | Marian Briozzo | Himself (archive footage) | Film | — | 77 |
| 2016 | Stupor Mundi: Livre 1, Rituel de décapitation du pape | Self (archive footage) | Film | — | 75 |
| 2016 | Stupor Mundi: Livre 1, Rituel de décapitation du pape | Film | — | 75 | |
| 2016 | Eat That Question: Frank Zappa in His Own Words | Self (archive footage) | Film | 7.4 | 75 |
| 2016 | Stupor Mundi: Livre 2, Les Hommes qui mangèrent la montagne | Self (archive footage) | Film | — | 75 |
| 2016 | Zapped: Frank Zappa par Frank Zappa | Self - Subject (archive footage) | Film | 9.5 | 75 |
| 2016 | Frank Zappa & the Mothers of Invention - The Lost Broadcast: The Beat Club '68 | Self | Film | — | 75 |
| 2015 | Frank Zappa & The Mothers: Roxy: The Movie | Himself | Film | 6.8 | 74 |
| 2015 | Frank Zappa & The Mothers: Roxy: The Movie | Film | 6.8 | 74 | |
| 2015 | Frank Zappa & The Mothers: Roxy: The Movie | Film | 6.8 | 74 | |
| 2015 | Frank Zappa & The Mothers: Roxy: The Movie | Film | 6.8 | 74 | |
| 2015 | Frank Zappa & The Mothers: Roxy: The Movie | Film | 6.8 | 74 | |
| 2015 | Feats First: The Life and Music of Lowell George | Self (archive footage) | Film | 8.0 | 74 |
| 2014 | Led Zeppelin Played Here | Self (archive footage) | Film | 8.0 | 73 |
| 2014 | Super Duper Alice Cooper | Self (archive footage) | Film | 7.1 | 73 |
| 2014 | Frank Zappa – Summer '82: When Zappa Came to Sicily | Himself (archive Footage) | Film | 7.8 | 73 |
| 2014 | Frank Zappa – Summer '82: When Zappa Came to Sicily | Film | 7.8 | 73 | |
| 2014 | Made in Japan: The Rise of Deep Purple Mk II | Self (archive footage) | Film | 7.4 | 73 |
| 2014 | Cheepnis | Himself | Film | — | 73 |
| 2014 | Cheepnis | Film | — | 73 | |
| 2014 | Cheepnis | Film | — | 73 | |
| 2014 | Cheepnis | Film | — | 73 | |
| 2014 | Cheepnis | Film | — | 73 | |
| 2013 | Frank Zappa: A Token Of His Extreme | Himself | Film | 6.1 | 72 |
| 2013 | Frank Zappa: A Token Of His Extreme | Film | 6.1 | 72 | |
| 2013 | Frank Zappa: A Token Of His Extreme | Film | 6.1 | 72 | |
| 2012 | From Straight to Bizarre | Self | Film | 3.8 | 71 |
| 2012 | 1982. L'estate di Frank | Film | — | 71 | |
| 2010 | Hart & Soul - The Hart Family Anthology | Self (archive footage) | Film | 8.0 | 69 |
| 2010 | Frank Zappa: The Freak Out List | Himself | Film | — | 69 |
| 2009 | Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention: In the 1960's | Himself | Film | — | 68 |
| 2008 | An Evening with Frank Zappa During Which... The Torture Never Stops | Self | Film | 5.8 | 67 |
| 2008 | An Evening with Frank Zappa During Which... The Torture Never Stops | Film | 5.8 | 67 | |
| 2008 | The Wrecking Crew | Self (archive footage) | Film | 7.3 | 67 |
| 2008 | Frank Zappa - Live in Paris 1980 | Self | Film | 8.0 | 67 |
| 2008 | Frank Zappa: The Broadcast Archives | Self | Film | — | 67 |
| 2008 | Frank Zappa: Music In Review | Self (archive footage) | Film | — | 67 |
| 2007 | Classic Albums: Frank Zappa - Apostrophe (') Over-Nite Sensation | Self (archive footage) | Film | 6.5 | 66 |
| 2007 | Frank Zappa: A Pioneer of the Future of Music | Film | — | 66 | |
| 2007 | Frank Zappa: Roxy, 1973 | Film | — | 66 | |
| 2007 | Frank Zappa: Roxy, 1973 | Film | — | 66 | |
| 2006 | Fuck | Self (archive footage) | Film | 6.4 | 65 |
| 2006 | EAV Rarities | Self (archive footage) | Film | — | 65 |
| 2005 | Girls and Boys - Sex and British Pop | Self (archive footage) | TV | — | 64 |
| 2005 | Derailroaded | Self (archive footage) | Film | 7.5 | 64 |
| 2005 | Frank Zappa: A Token of His Extreme | Himself | Film | 7.7 | 64 |
| 2004 | Frank Zappa - John, Dan And Me | Himself | Film | 6.0 | 63 |
| 2002 | Hollywood Rocks the Movies: The 1970s | Self (archive footage) | Film | 10.0 | 61 |
| 2002 | Frank Zappa: Phase II - The Big Note | Self (archive footage) | Film | 7.0 | 61 |
| 2002 | Band from Utopia: A Tribute to the Music of Frank Zappa | Film | — | 61 | |
| 2000 | Frank Zappa: The Present-Day Composer Refuses To Die | Self (archive footage) | Film | — | 59 |
| 1997 | Classic Albums | Self (archive footage) | TV | 7.7 | 56 |
| 1997 | Hey, Hey, We're The Monkees | Mike Nesmith (archive footage) | Film | 8.4 | 56 |
| 1997 | Porridge and kerosene | Self (archive footage) | Film | — | 56 |
| 1997 | Happy Birthday to John | Film | 5.3 | 56 | |
| 1997 | The Artist Formerly Known As Captain Beefheart | Himself (archive footage) | Film | — | 56 |
| 1994 | Duckman | TV | 7.2 | 53 | |
| 1994 | Duckman | TV | 7.2 | 53 | |
| 1994 | An American Dissident: un tributo a Frank Zappa | Self (archive footage) | Film | — | 53 |
| 1993 | Beasts | Film | — | 52 | |
| 1993 | The Revenge of the Dead Indians | Himself | Film | 7.0 | 52 |
| 1993 | A Life of Extravaganza - The Genius Frank Zappa | Self | Film | 9.0 | 52 |
| 1992 | The Yellow Shark | Self | Film | 8.0 | 51 |
| 1992 | The Yellow Shark | Film | 8.0 | 51 | |
| 1992 | The Yellow Shark | Film | 8.0 | 51 | |
| 1991 | The Ren & Stimpy Show | The Pope (voice) | TV | 7.6 | 50 |
| 1991 | Tom Arnold: The Naked Truth | Self | Film | 4.5 | 50 |
| 1991 | Frank Zappa: Peefeeyatko | Self | Film | 8.0 | 50 |
| 1991 | Frank Zappa: Peefeeyatko | Film | 8.0 | 50 | |
| 1991 | Frank Zappa: Peefeeyatko | Film | 8.0 | 50 | |
| 1991 | Pražákům, těm je hej | Frank Zappa | Film | 7.5 | 50 |
| 1991 | Your vote | Self | Film | — | 50 |
| 1990 | Cousteau: Alaska: Outrage at Valdez | Film | 7.0 | 49 | |
| 1989 | Služební cesta podporučíka Svěráka | Self (archive footage) | Film | 6.0 | 48 |
| 1989 | Decade | Self | Film | 8.5 | 48 |
| 1988 | Funny | Self | Film | 8.0 | 47 |
| 1988 | The True Story of Frank Zappa's 200 Motels | Self | Film | 7.3 | 47 |
| 1988 | The True Story of Frank Zappa's 200 Motels | Film | 7.3 | 47 | |
| 1988 | The True Story of Frank Zappa's 200 Motels | Film | 7.3 | 47 | |
| 1988 | The True Story of Frank Zappa's 200 Motels | Film | 7.3 | 47 | |
| 1988 | The True Story of Frank Zappa's 200 Motels | Film | 7.3 | 47 | |
| 1988 | Frank Zappa: Live in Barcelona | Film | 8.0 | 47 | |
| 1987 | Video from Hell | Self | Film | 7.3 | 46 |
| 1987 | Video from Hell | Film | 7.3 | 46 | |
| 1987 | Video from Hell | Film | 7.3 | 46 | |
| 1987 | Video from Hell | Film | 7.3 | 46 | |
| 1987 | Video from Hell | Film | 7.3 | 46 | |
| 1987 | Video from Hell | Film | 7.3 | 46 | |
| 1987 | The Amazing Mr. Bickford | Self | Film | 5.8 | 46 |
| 1987 | The Amazing Mr. Bickford | Film | 5.8 | 46 | |
| 1987 | The Amazing Mr. Bickford | Film | 5.8 | 46 | |
| 1987 | The Amazing Mr. Bickford | Film | 5.8 | 46 | |
| 1987 | The Amazing Mr. Bickford | Film | 5.8 | 46 | |
| 1987 | Uncle Meat | Self / The Imaginary Director | Film | 6.3 | 46 |
| 1987 | Uncle Meat | Film | 6.3 | 46 | |
| 1987 | Uncle Meat | Film | 6.3 | 46 | |
| 1987 | Uncle Meat | Film | 6.3 | 46 | |
| 1985 | Night Flight with Frank Zappa, Porn Wars | Self | Film | — | 44 |
| 1985 | Night Flight with Frank Zappa, Porn Wars | Film | — | 44 | |
| 1985 | Night Flight with Frank Zappa, Porn Wars | Film | — | 44 | |
| 1985 | Frank Zappa: Does Humor Belong in Music? | Self | Film | 8.1 | 44 |
| 1985 | Frank Zappa: Does Humor Belong in Music? | Film | 8.1 | 44 | |
| 1985 | Frank Zappa: Does Humor Belong in Music? | Film | 8.1 | 44 | |
| 1985 | Frank Zappa: Does Humor Belong in Music? | Film | 8.1 | 44 | |
| 1985 | Frank Zappa: Does Humor Belong in Music? | Film | 8.1 | 44 | |
| 1984 | Miami Vice | Mario Fuente | TV | 7.4 | 43 |
| 1984 | The Boy Who Left Home to Find Out About the Shivers | Attila | Film | 6.5 | 43 |
| 1983 | Cocaine Blues | Himself | Film | 7.0 | 42 |
| 1982 | Faerie Tale Theatre | Attilla | TV | 8.1 | 41 |
| 1982 | The Rolling Stones - The First 20 Years | Self | Film | — | 41 |
| 1982 | Frank Zappa: The Dub Room Special! | Self | Film | 6.4 | 41 |
| 1982 | Frank Zappa: The Dub Room Special! | Film | 6.4 | 41 | |
| 1982 | Frank Zappa: The Dub Room Special! | Film | 6.4 | 41 | |
| 1982 | Frank Zappa: The Dub Room Special! | Film | 6.4 | 41 | |
| 1980 | Frank Zappa: New York and Elsewhere | Self | Film | — | 39 |
| 1979 | Baby Snakes | Self | Film | 6.6 | 38 |
| 1979 | Baby Snakes | Film | 6.6 | 38 | |
| 1979 | Baby Snakes | Film | 6.6 | 38 | |
| 1979 | Baby Snakes | Film | 6.6 | 38 | |
| 1979 | Baby Snakes | Film | 6.6 | 38 | |
| 1979 | Baby Snakes | Film | 6.6 | 38 | |
| 1978 | Frank Zappa: We Don't Mess Around | Self | Film | 4.5 | 37 |
| 1975 | Saturday Night Live | Self - Musical Guest | TV | 6.9 | 34 |
| 1975 | Saturday Night Live | Self - Host & Musical Guest | TV | 6.9 | 34 |
| 1973 | Frank Zappa: Opopoppa Stockholm, Sweden | Film | — | 32 | |
| 1972 | Yoko Ono: This Is Not Here | Self | Film | 6.0 | 31 |
| 1972 | Deep Purple: Made In Japan | Self (archive footage) | Film | 10.0 | 31 |
| 1971 | 200 Motels | Member of Mothers of Invention (uncredited) | Film | 5.2 | 30 |
| 1971 | 200 Motels | Film | 5.2 | 30 | |
| 1971 | 200 Motels | Film | 5.2 | 30 | |
| 1971 | 200 Motels | Film | 5.2 | 30 | |
| 1971 | 200 Motels | Film | 5.2 | 30 | |
| 1971 | The Manipulator | Film | 4.5 | 30 | |
| 1971 | The Making of 200 Motels | Self | Film | — | 30 |
| 1971 | Frank Zappa | Self | Film | — | 30 |
| 1971 | Frank Zappa | Film | — | 30 | |
| 1971 | Frank Zappa, John Lennon & Yoko Ono: At Fillmore East | Film | — | 30 | |
| 1970 | Pink Floyd: Amougies Pop Festival | Film | — | 29 | |
| 1970 | Amougies (Music Power - European Music Revolution) | Self | Film | 7.0 | 29 |
| 1969 | Burnt Weeny Sandwich | Self | Film | — | 28 |
| 1969 | Burnt Weeny Sandwich | Film | — | 28 | |
| 1969 | Burnt Weeny Sandwich | Film | — | 28 | |
| 1968 | Head | The Critic | Film | 6.2 | 27 |
| 1968 | You Are What You Eat | Film | 4.4 | 27 | |
| 1968 | All My Loving | Self | Film | 6.5 | 27 |
| 1967 | Omnibus | Self | TV | 7.2 | 26 |
| 1967 | Inside Pop: The Rock Revolution | Self | TV | — | 26 |
| 1967 | Good Evening — I'm Jonathan King | Himself | TV | — | 26 |
| 1967 | Mondo Hollywood | Film | 6.7 | 26 | |
| 1967 | Sex in Today's World | Self | Film | 9.0 | 26 |
| 1967 | Luden’s Cough Drops | Film | — | 26 | |
| 1967 | Inside Pop: The Rock Revolution | Self | Film | — | 26 |
| 1966 | The Monkees | Self (uncredited) | TV | 6.5 | 25 |
| 1965 | Beat-Club | Self | TV | 8.8 | 24 |
| 1965 | The Big T.N.T. Show | Self (uncredited) | Film | 8.5 | 24 |
| 1965 | Run Home Slow | Film | 3.8 | 24 | |
| 1964 | Late Night Line-Up | Himself | TV | 6.7 | 23 |
| 1962 | The World's Greatest Sinner | Film | 6.9 | 21 | |
| The Male Swagger | Guitarist (archive footage) | Film | 7.0 | — |