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Burt Lancaster

Burt Lancaster

Actor and producer, also director and writer · Died October 20, 1994, aged 80 · New York City, New York, USA

Burton Stephen "Burt" Lancaster (November 2, 1913 – October 20, 1994) was an American film actor noted for his athletic physique and distinctive smile (which he called "The Grin"). Later he took roles that went against his initial "tough guy" image. In the late 1950s Lancaster abandoned his "all-American" image and came to be regarded as one of the best actors of his generation. Lancaster was nominated four times for Academy Awards and won once — for his work in Elmer Gantry in 1960. He also won a Golden Globe for that performance and BAFTA Awards for The Birdman of Alcatraz (1962) and Atlantic City (1980). His production company, Hecht-Hill-Lancaster, was the most successful and innovative star-driven independent production company in Hollywood of the 1950s, making movies such as Marty (1955), Trapeze (1956), and Sweet Smell of Success (1957). Lancaster also directed two films: The Kentuckian (1955) and The Midnight Man (1974). In 1999, the American Film Institute named Lancaster nineteenth among the greatest male stars of all time. Description above from the Wikipedia article Burt Lancaster, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
November 2, 1913
Died
October 20, 1994 (aged 80)
From
New York City, New York, USA
Works as
Actor and producer, also director and writer
Titles
81 on MovieCove · 103 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 63 days to Oct 26Down 21% in 30 days

What are Burt Lancaster's films like?

Across their 78 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Bonds.

Genres

Drama31 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 83rd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Action16 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 60th percentile
: browse their Action movies
Crime9 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 80th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Crime movies
Comedy8 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 75th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Comedy movies
Adventure5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 79th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Adventure movies
Biography3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 84th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Biography movies
Documentary2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 61st percentile
: browse their Documentary 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
Morality
22%
Bonds
21%
Self
17%
Power
13%
Survival
11%
Society
10%
Ideas
5%
Justice16 titles, browse their movies with this themeLoyalty14 titles, browse their movies with this themeBetrayal13 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love10 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds9 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity10 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose8 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival8 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 76 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 19 · Serious 17 · Dark 40

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

A split, not a type: Grounded 40 · Stylized 24 · Heightened 11

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

A split, not a type: Gentle 12 · Charged 31 · Intense 33

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

A split, not a type: Steady 37 · Shifting 32 · Whiplash 7

Straight-faced: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their straight-faced movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 54 · Some laughs 18 · Funny 4

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

Slow burn 28 · Even-paced 46 · Relentless 2

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

Casual 26 · Engaged 37 · Full focus 13

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

Easy watch 19 · Affecting 31 · Heavy 26

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

Resolved 53 · Open-ended 19 · Ambiguous 4

Roles they play

62 analyzed roles

Usually the Hero: 33 of 62 analyzed roles.

Hero
33 of 62
Mentor
12 of 62
Shadow
6 of 62
Ally
3 of 62
Shapeshifter
3 of 62
Herald
2 of 62
Threshold guardian
2 of 62
Trickster
1 of 62
Show the 62 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
55
Melancholic
38
Dread
13
Warm
14
Contemplative
17
Other
65

How their films linger

Thought-provoking28 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet26 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful18 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting15 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good14 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun11 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 10 with a twist

  • Happy11
  • Bittersweet47
  • Tragic14
  • Ambiguous6

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 Burt Lancaster's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 51 of their 81 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (31).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Burt Lancaster'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

103 credits, 81 with a MovieCove page; 46 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Airports (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2025)

    Actor

  • Hollywood sul Tevere (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    Actor

  • La classe américaine(1993)

    as José (archive footage)

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • Separate but Equal (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    as John W. Davis

  • Separate But Equal(1991)

    Show 2 episodes · as John W. Davis

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all shows

  • Voyage of Terror: The Achille Lauro Affair(1990)

    as Leon Klinghoffer

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films

  • The Phantom of the Opera (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Show 2 episodes · as Gérard Carrière

  • I promessi sposi (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Show 5 episodes · as Cardinal Federigo Borromeo

  • Field of Dreams(1989)

    as Doc "Moonlight" Graham

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • The Jeweller's Shop(1988)

    as The Jeweller

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • Rocket Gibraltar(1988)

    as Levi Rockwell

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • Control (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    as Dr. Herbert Monroe

  • Barnum (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    as PT Barnum

  • Fathers and Sons: A German Tragedy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    Show 4 episodes · as Geheimrat Carl Julius Deutz

  • Tough Guys(1986)

    as Harry Doyle

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • On Wings of Eagles (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    Show 2 episodes · as Lieutenant Colonel Arthur E. 'Bull' Simons

  • Kiss of the Spider Woman(1985)

    Thanks

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • Little Treasure (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    as Delbert Teschmacher

  • Scandal Sheet (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    as Harold Fallen

  • Olympic Gala (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    Actor

  • The Osterman Weekend(1983)

    as Maxwell Danforth

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • Local Hero(1983)

    as Felix Happer

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • Marco Polo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Show 1 episode · as Teobaldo Visconti

  • Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid(1982)

    as (in "The Killers") (archive footage)

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • Race to Oblivion (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Thanks · as Self - Host / Narrator

  • The Skin(1981)

    as Generale Clark

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • Cattle Annie and Little Britches(1980)

    as Bill Doolin

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • Atlantic City(1980)

    as Lou

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • Arthur Miller on Home Ground(1979)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Zulu Dawn(1979)

    as Col. Anthony Durnford

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • Go Tell the Spartans(1978)

    as Maj. Asa Barker

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

  • The Island of Dr. Moreau(1977)

    as Dr. Paul Moreau

    Midcredits score: 34th percentile of all films

  • Twilight's Last Gleaming(1977)

    as Gen. Lawrence Dell

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • Victory at Entebbe(1976)

    as Shimon Peres

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • The Cassandra Crossing(1976)

    as Col. Stephen Mackenzie

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • 1900(1976)

    as Alfredo Berlinghieri the Elder

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • Buffalo Bill and the Indians, or Sitting Bull's History Lesson(1976)

    as The Legend Maker (Ned Buntline)

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • Moses the Lawgiver (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    as Moses

  • Moses the Lawgiver (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    Show 6 episodes · as Moses

  • Moses the Lawgiver (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    Show 7 episodes · as Moses

  • Conversation Piece(1974)

    as Professor

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • The Midnight Man(1974)

    Director · Producer · Screenplay · as Jim Slade

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • The Fighters (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    as Narrator

  • Executive Action(1973)

    as Farrington

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • Scorpio(1973)

    as Cross

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • Ulzana's Raid(1972)

    Producer · as McIntosh

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • Valdez Is Coming(1971)

    Executive Producer · as Valdez

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • Lawman(1971)

    as Bannock Marshal Jared Maddox

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • Muhammad Ali vs. Joe Frazier I (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    Actor

  • Airport(1970)

    as Mel Bakersfeld

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • Big Game America (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    as Narrator

  • The Gypsy Moths(1969)

    as Mike Rettig

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • Castle Keep(1969)

    as Maj. Abraham Falconer

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • Jenny is a Good Thing (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    as Narrator

  • The Swimmer(1968)

    as Ned Merrill

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

  • The Scalphunters(1968)

    Producer · as Joe Bass

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • The Professionals(1966)

    as Dolworth

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • The Hallelujah Trail(1965)

    as Col. Thaddeus P. Gearhart

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • The Train(1964)

    as Paul Labiche

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Seven Days in May(1964)

    as Gen. James Mattoon Scott

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • The List of Adrian Messenger(1963)

    as Protester

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • The Leopard(1963)

    as Prince Fabrizio Corbera of Salina

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • A Child Is Waiting(1963)

    as Dr. Matthew Clark

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • Birdman of Alcatraz(1962)

    as Robert Stroud

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Judgment at Nuremberg(1961)

    as Ernst Janning

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • The Young Savages(1961)

    as Hank Bell

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • Elmer Gantry(1960)

    as Elmer Gantry

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

  • The Unforgiven(1960)

    Producer · as Ben Zachary

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • The Devil's Disciple(1959)

    Producer · as Anthony Anderson

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • Take a Giant Step(1959)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • Separate Tables(1958)

    Presenter · Producer · as John Malcolm

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • Run Silent Run Deep(1958)

    as Lt. Jim Bledsoe

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • Sweet Smell of Success(1957)

    Executive Producer · as J.J. Hunsecker

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Gunfight at the O.K. Corral(1957)

    as Marshal Wyatt Earp

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all films

  • The Rainmaker(1956)

    as Bill Starbuck

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films

  • Trapeze(1956)

    Producer · as Mike Ribble

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • The Rose Tattoo(1955)

    as Alvaro Mangiacavallo

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films

  • The Kentuckian(1955)

    Director · as Elias Wakefield

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • Marty(1955)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

  • Vera Cruz(1954)

    Producer · as Joe Erin

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • Apache(1954)

    Producer · as Massai

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • His Majesty O'Keefe(1954)

    Director · as Capt. David Dion O'Keefe

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • Three Sailors and a Girl(1953)

    as Marine (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • From Here to Eternity(1953)

    as 1st Sgt. Milton Warden

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • South Sea Woman(1953)

    as Sgt. James O'Hearn

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • Come Back, Little Sheba(1952)

    as Doc Delaney

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films

  • The Crimson Pirate(1952)

    Producer · as Capt. Vallo (The Crimson Pirate)

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • Ten Tall Men(1951)

    as Sergeant Mike Kincaid

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • Jim Thorpe -- All-American(1951)

    as Jim Thorpe

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films

  • Vengeance Valley(1951)

    as Owen Daybright

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • Mister 880(1950)

    as Steve Buchanan

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • The Flame and the Arrow(1950)

    as Dardo Bartoli

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • Rope of Sand(1949)

    as Michael (Mike) Davis

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • Criss Cross(1949)

    as Steve Thompson

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films

  • Kiss the Blood Off My Hands(1948)

    as William Earle 'Bill' Saunders

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • Sorry, Wrong Number(1948)

    as Henry Stevenson

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • All My Sons(1948)

    as Chris Keller

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films

  • I Walk Alone(1947)

    as Frankie Madison

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films

  • Variety Girl(1947)

    as Burt Lancaster

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • Desert Fury(1947)

    as Tom Hanson

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • Brute Force(1947)

    as Joe Collins

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • The Killers(1946)

    as 'Swede' Andersen

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • Handle With Care (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    as Narrator

Career shape

Star power in the 99th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 102 titles, 101 of them dated from 1946 to 2025; peak year 1963.

Biggest box office

Airport (1970)

$100M worldwide

Highest rated

Judgment at Nuremberg (1961)

Midcredits 99th

Most popular right now

The Killers (1946)

Film career

19462025

Peak 1963 · fewer prominent film roles lately. Top draw in 53 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
Acting99 of 102: 89 only acting, 10 with another role · typical Midcredits score74thDirecting2 of 102: 0 only directing, 2 with another roleWriting1 of 102: 0 only writing, 1 with another roleProducing10 of 102: 1 only producing, 9 with another role · typical Midcredits score77thOther crew3 of 102: 2 only other crew, 1 with another role

102 titles, 10 with more than one role — acting and producing overlap on 9 of them.

By decade

1940s10 · acting1950s23 · 22 acting · 6 crew1960s18 · 18 acting · 2 crew1970s22 · 22 acting · 3 crew1980s21 · 19 acting · 2 crew1990s5 · acting2000s1 · acting2020s1 · acting

Billing

usually 1st · top billed in 69% of 68 roles
4651566166717681

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.

How do Burt Lancaster's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 75th percentile, the median of all 80; across their 76 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 71st percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

71stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 76

Approval · how many liked their films

77thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 76

Reach · how many have seen their films

76thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 76

Midcredits score across 81 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up40
  • 50th to 74th26
  • 25th to 49th15

Shape of the crowd

50 of their 81 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved18
  • Crowd Pleaser50
  • Broadly Agreed6
  • Mixed7

Most divisive · actor

Arthur Miller on Home Ground (1979)

68th percentile spread · 31% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Judgment at Nuremberg (1961)

Midcredits 99th · 89% liked

Reviewers score the acting 77/100 in their films, across 72 reviewed titles; fans 82, detractors 52. 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 Burt Lancaster's work okay for kids?

Across up to 27 MovieCove titles with content scores, every category sits near the median of all films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore17 titles6–67 · median 44 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity27 titles9–53 · median 28 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity17 titles7–39 · median 26 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs14 titles25–56 · median 35 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense16 titles7–64 · median 33 · mildnear the median of all 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 Burt Lancaster work with?

People who share at least 2 of Burt Lancaster's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Harold Hecht shares the most, 17.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers and cinematographers

Producers

Mixed roles