Marilyn Monroe (born Norma Jeane Mortenson; June 1, 1926 – August 4, 1962) was an American actress. Famous for playing comedic "blonde bombshell" characters, she became one of the most popular sex symbols of the 1950s and early 1960s, as well as an emblem of the era's sexual revolution. She was a top-billed actress for a decade, and her films grossed $200 million (equivalent to $2 billion in 2021) by the time of her death in 1962. Long after her death, Monroe remains a major icon of pop culture. In 1999, the American Film Institute ranked her sixth on their list of the greatest female screen legends from the Golden Age of Hollywood. Multiple film critics and media outlets have cited Monroe as one of the best actors never to have received an Academy Award nomination. Born and raised in Los Angeles, Monroe spent most of her childhood in a total of 12 foster homes and an orphanage; she married at age sixteen. She was working in a factory during World War II when she met a photographer from the First Motion Picture Unit and began a successful pin-up modeling career, which led to short-lived film contracts with 20th Century Fox and Columbia Pictures. After a series of minor film roles, she signed a new contract with Fox in late 1950. Over the next two years, she became a popular actress with roles in several comedies, including As Young as You Feel and Monkey Business, and in the dramas Clash by Night and Don't Bother to Knock. She faced a scandal when it was revealed that she had posed for nude photographs prior to becoming a star, but the story did not damage her career and instead resulted in increased interest in her films. By 1953, Monroe was one of the most marketable Hollywood stars; she had leading roles in the film noir Niagara, which overtly relied on her sex appeal, and the comedies Gentlemen Prefer Blondes and How to Marry a Millionaire, which established her star image as a "dumb blonde". The same year, her nude images were used as the centerfold and on the cover of the first issue of Playboy. She played a significant role in the creation and management of her public image throughout her career, but she was disappointed when she was typecast and underpaid by the studio. She was briefly suspended in early 1954 for refusing a film project but returned to star in The Seven Year Itch (1955), one of the biggest box office successes of her career. When the studio was still reluctant to change Monroe's contract, she founded her own film production company in 1954. She dedicated 1955 to building the company and began studying method acting under Lee Strasberg at the Actors Studio. Later that year, Fox awarded her a new contract, which gave her more control and a larger salary. Her subsequent roles included a critically acclaimed performance in Bus Stop (1956) and her first independent production in The Prince and the Showgirl (1957). She won a Golden Globe for Best Actress for her role in Some Like It Hot (1959), a critical and commercial success. Her last completed film was the drama The Misfits (1961).
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Biography from TMDB.
- June 1, 1926
- August 5, 1962 (aged 36)
- Los Angeles, California, USA
- Actor, also writer
- 41 on MovieCove · 81 credits in all
What are Marilyn Monroe's films like?
Across their 29 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Self.
Genres
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
What they feel like to watch
Ironic 2 · Wry 2 · Earnest 24
Light 19 · Serious 7 · Dark 3
Grounded 20 · Stylized 7 · Heightened 2
Gentle 18 · Charged 11 · Intense 0
Steady 21 · Shifting 7 · Whiplash 1
A split, not a type: Straight-faced 11 · Some laughs 7 · Funny 11
Slow burn 23 · Even-paced 6 · Relentless 0
Casual 21 · Engaged 8 · Full focus 0
Easy watch 21 · Affecting 6 · Heavy 2
Resolved 27 · Open-ended 2 · Ambiguous 0
Roles they play
Usually the Hero: 6 of 17 analyzed roles.
Show the 17 rolesHide the roles
- Heroas Peggy Martin in Ladies of the Chorus (1948)
- Allyas Joyce Mannering in Let's Make It Legal (1951)
- Heraldas Roberta 'Bobbie' Stevens in Love Nest (1951)
- Shadowas Peggy in Clash by Night (1952)
- Shadowas Nell Forbes in Don't Bother to Knock (1952)
- Tricksteras Nell Forbes in Don't Bother to Knock (1952)
- Heroas Annabel Jones Norris in We're Not Married! (1952)
- Heroas Lorelei Lee in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953)
- Allyas Pola Debevoise in How to Marry a Millionaire (1953)
- Shapeshifteras Rose Loomis in Niagara (1953)
- Shapeshifteras Kay Weston in River of No Return (1954)
- Shadowas Vicky Parker in There's No Business Like Show Business (1954)
- Shapeshifteras The Girl in The Seven Year Itch (1955)
- Heroas Cherie in Bus Stop (1956)
- Heroas Elsie in The Prince and the Showgirl (1957)
- Shapeshifteras Amanda Dell in Let's Make Love (1960)
- Heroas Roslyn Taber in The Misfits (1961)
Moods and endings
- Happy16
- Bittersweet9
- Tragic2
- Ambiguous2
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 Marilyn Monroe's films?
As of October 24, 2026, 10 of their 41 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (6).
Subscription and free streaming for Marilyn Monroe'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
81 credits, 41 with a MovieCove page; 90 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.
Marilyn and the Mob(2025)
Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all shows (provisional, few ratings)
Bardot(2025)
Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films
Crushtime (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2025)
My Life as Marilyn (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2023)
Fatal Addiction: Marilyn Monroe (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2022)
Marilyn, Her Final Secret (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2022)
Marilyn, a woman of today (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2022)
Reframed: Marilyn Monroe (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2022)
Mythos Côte d'Azur - Liebe, Luxus, Leidenschaft (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2021)
Scandalous: The Death of Marilyn Monroe (Director's Cut) (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2019)
Making Montgomery Clift(2018)
Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films
Andy Warhol, Fluorescent (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)
Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films
Destins secrets d’étoiles - Grace, Jackie, Liz, Marilyn… (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)
Love, Marilyn(2012)
Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films
Footsteps on the Ceiling (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)
Marilyn Monroe: In The Movies (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)
Marilyn despite herself (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)
Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all filmsMarilyn Monroe: The Last Torments (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)
Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films
Hollywood Invasion(2011)
Epic Rap Battles of History (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)
Marilyn Monroe: I Want to Be Loved (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)
The Body of Marilyn Monroe (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)
Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)
Playboy's 50th Anniversary Celebration (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)
Marilyn vs Marilyn (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)
Marilyn Monroe: The Final Days (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)
Prayer for Marilyn Monroe (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)
Hollywood Hall Of Fame - Marilyn Monroe (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)
We Remember Marilyn (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)
Marilyn Monroe: Portrait of a Legend...Suicide Or Murder? (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)
The Casting Couch (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)
Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films
Faces of Death VII (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)
Murderers, Mobsters, & Madmen: Volume 6: Hollywood Police Files (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)
The Discovery Of Marilyn Monroe (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)
Death In Hollywood (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)
Hollywood Heaven: Tragic Lives, Tragic Deaths (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)
Norma Jean Alias Marilyn Monroe (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)
Voyage to Nowhere(1986)
Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films
Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films
Cœur bleu (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)
Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)
Marilyn Magdalene (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)
Marilyn (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)
Lykke og krone (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)
The Misfits(1961)
Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films
Let's Make Love(1960)
Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films
Some Like It Hot(1959)
Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films
Zwischen Glück und Krone (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)
Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films
Bus Stop(1956)
Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films
The Seven Year Itch(1955)
Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films
Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films
River of No Return(1954)
Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films
Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films
Gentlemen Prefer Blondes(1953)
Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films
Niagara(1953)
Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films
O. Henry's Full House(1952)
Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films
Monkey Business(1952)
Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films
Don't Bother to Knock(1952)
Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films
We're Not Married!(1952)
Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films
Clash by Night(1952)
Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films
Let's Make It Legal(1951)
Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films
Love Nest(1951)
Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films
As Young as You Feel(1951)
Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films
Home Town Story(1951)
Midcredits score: 11th percentile of all films
All About Eve(1950)
Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films
The Fireball (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)
The Jack Benny Program (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)
Right Cross (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)
A Ticket to Tomahawk(1950)
Midcredits score: 43rd percentile of all films
The Asphalt Jungle(1950)
Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films
Love Happy(1949)
Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films
Ladies of the Chorus(1948)
Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films
Green Grass of Wyoming (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1948)
Scudda Hoo! Scudda Hay!(1948)
Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films
Dangerous Years(1947)
Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films
Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films
Career shape
Star power in the 99th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 80 titles from 1947 to 2026; peak year 2013.
Film career
Peak 2013 · their film career is on the way up. Top draw in 18 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.
- 1948Screen debut· Ladies of the Chorus
- 1953First top-billed film· Niagara
- 1955Career best· The Seven Year Itch
Billing
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 Marilyn Monroe's films land?
Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 75th percentile, the median of the 39 of 40 with a score; across their 29 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 71st percentile for acclaim.
- 75th and up20
- 50th to 74th10
- 25th to 49th8
- Below 25th2
Shape of the crowd
24 of their 40 titles are Crowd Pleasers.
- Universally Loved5
- Crowd Pleaser24
- Broadly Agreed4
- Mixed7
Reviewers score the acting 72/100 in their films, across 25 reviewed titles; fans 78, detractors 44. 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 Marilyn Monroe's work okay for kids?
Across up to 11 MovieCove titles with content scores, violence & gore, profanity and frightening / intense run lighter than most films.
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 Marilyn Monroe work with?
People who share at least 2 of Marilyn Monroe's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Cyril J. Mockridge shares the most, 8.
Directors
- Jean NegulescoShared titles: River of No Return (1954), How to Marry a Millionaire (1953), O. Henry's Full House (1952)See all 3 shared titles with Jean Negulesco
- Howard HawksShared titles: Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953), Monkey Business (1952), O. Henry's Full House (1952)See all 3 shared titles with Howard Hawks
- Billy WilderShared titles: Love, Marilyn (2012), Some Like It Hot (1959), The Seven Year Itch (1955)See all 3 shared titles with Billy Wilder
- Henry HathawayShared titles: Niagara (1953), O. Henry's Full House (1952)See all 2 shared titles with Henry Hathaway
Writers
- I.A.L. DiamondShared titles: Some Like It Hot (1959), Monkey Business (1952), Let's Make It Legal (1951), Love Nest (1951)See all 4 shared titles with I.A.L. Diamond
- Arthur MillerShared titles: Love, Marilyn (2012), The Misfits (1961), Let's Make Love (1960)See all 3 shared titles with Arthur Miller
- Charles LedererShared titles: Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953), Monkey Business (1952), O. Henry's Full House (1952)See all 3 shared titles with Charles Lederer
- Nunnally JohnsonShared titles: How to Marry a Millionaire (1953), O. Henry's Full House (1952), We're Not Married! (1952)See all 3 shared titles with Nunnally Johnson
Actors
- Clark GableShared titles: Making Montgomery Clift (2018), Love, Marilyn (2012), Arthur Miller on Home Ground (1979), The Misfits (1961)See all 4 shared titles with Clark Gable
- David WayneShared titles: How to Marry a Millionaire (1953), O. Henry's Full House (1952), We're Not Married! (1952), As Young as You Feel (1951)See all 4 shared titles with David Wayne
- Richard WidmarkShared titles: Making Montgomery Clift (2018), Don't Bother to Knock (1952), O. Henry's Full House (1952)See all 3 shared titles with Richard Widmark
- Thelma RitterShared titles: The Misfits (1961), As Young as You Feel (1951), All About Eve (1950)See all 3 shared titles with Thelma Ritter
Composers and cinematographers
- Cyril J. MockridgeShared titles: Let's Make Love (1960), Bus Stop (1956), River of No Return (1954), We're Not Married! (1952), As Young as You Feel (1951), Let's Make It Legal (1951), Love Nest (1951), Scudda Hoo! Scudda Hay! (1948)See all 8 shared titles with Cyril J. Mockridge
- Alfred NewmanShared titles: Bus Stop (1956), The Seven Year Itch (1955), How to Marry a Millionaire (1953), O. Henry's Full House (1952), All About Eve (1950)See all 5 shared titles with Alfred Newman
- Milton R. KrasnerShared titles: Bus Stop (1956), The Seven Year Itch (1955), Monkey Business (1952), O. Henry's Full House (1952), All About Eve (1950)See all 5 shared titles with Milton R. Krasner
- Joseph MacDonaldShared titles: How to Marry a Millionaire (1953), Niagara (1953), O. Henry's Full House (1952), As Young as You Feel (1951)See all 4 shared titles with Joseph MacDonald
Producers
- Sol C. SiegelShared titles: There's No Business Like Show Business (1954), Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953), Monkey Business (1952)See all 3 shared titles with Sol C. Siegel
- Jerry WaldShared titles: Let's Make Love (1960), Clash by Night (1952)See all 2 shared titles with Jerry Wald
- Doane HarrisonShared titles: Some Like It Hot (1959), The Seven Year Itch (1955)See all 2 shared titles with Doane Harrison
Mixed roles
- Norman KrasnaShared titles: Let's Make Love (1960), Clash by Night (1952)See all 2 shared titles with Norman Krasna
