| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1967 | Up the Down Staircase | Charlotte Wolf | - |
| 1967 | The Tiger Makes Out | Lady on Bus | - |
| 1971 | The Hospital | Mrs. Cushing | - |
| 1973 | Two People | Mrs. McCluskey | - |
| 1978 | Fedora | Miss Balfour | - |
| 1979 | Starting Over | Marva Potter | - |
| 1981 | Outland | Dr. Marian Lazarus | Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actress |
| 1983 | Independence Day | Carla Taylor | - |
| 1983 | Romantic Comedy | Blanche Dailey | - |
| 1986 | Resting Place | Eudora McCallister | - |
| 1988 | Bright Lights, Big City | Clara | - |
| 1989 | Communion | Dr. Janet Duffy | - |
| 1989 | See You in the Morning | Neenie | - |
| 1990 | Sibling Rivalry | Rose Turner | - |
| 1990 | Misery | Virginia | Nominated—Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actress |
| 1991 | Doc Hollywood | Lillian | - |
| 1991 | Walking the Dog | Antique Dealer | Short film |
| 1992 | Raising Cain | Dr. Lynn Waldheim | Nominated—Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actress |
| 1998 | It All Came True | Amy | - |
| 2000 | Midnight Gospel | Ruth | Short film |
| 2001 | Landfall | Emily Thornton | - |
| 2001 | The Rising Place | Ruth Wilder | - |
| 2002 | Highway | Mrs. Murray | - |
| 2007 | The Mist | Irene Reppler | - |
| 2009 | Julie & Julia | Irma Rombauer | - |
| 2011 | Dolphin Tale | Gloria Forrest | - |
| 2014 | And So It Goes | Claire | - |