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Laurence Olivier

Laurence Olivier

Actor, also producer, director and writer · Died July 11, 1989, aged 82 · Dorking, Surrey, England, UK

3 Oscars · 5 Primetime Emmys · 3 Golden Globes · 3 other major award bodies

Laurence Kerr Olivier, Baron Olivier, OM (22 May 1907 – 11 July 1989) was an English actor and director who, along with his contemporaries Ralph Richardson, Peggy Ashcroft and John Gielgud, dominated the British stage of the mid-20th century. He also worked in films throughout his career, playing more than fifty cinema roles. Late in his career, he had considerable success in television roles. His family had no theatrical connections, but Olivier's father, a clergyman, decided that his son should become an actor. After attending a drama school in London, Olivier learned his craft in a succession of acting jobs during the late 1920s. In 1930 he had his first important West End success in Noël Coward's Private Lives, and he appeared in his first film. In 1935 he played in a celebrated production of Romeo and Juliet alongside Gielgud and Ashcroft, and by the end of the decade he was an established star. In the 1940s, together with Richardson and John Burrell, Olivier was the co-director of the Old Vic, building it into a highly respected company. There his most celebrated roles included Shakespeare's Richard III and Sophocles's Oedipus. In the 1950s Olivier was an independent actor-manager, but his stage career was in the doldrums until he joined the avant garde English Stage Company in 1957 to play the title role in The Entertainer, a part he later played on film. From 1963 to 1973 he was the founding director of Britain's National Theatre, running a resident company that fostered many future stars. His own parts there included the title role in Othello (1965) and Shylock in The Merchant of Venice (1970). Among Olivier's films are Wuthering Heights (1939), Rebecca (1940), and a trilogy of Shakespeare films as actor-director: Henry V (1944), Hamlet (1948), and Richard III (1955). His later films included The Shoes of the Fisherman (1968), Sleuth (1972), Marathon Man (1976), and The Boys from Brazil (1978). His television appearances included an adaptation of The Moon and Sixpence (1960), Long Day's Journey into Night (1973), Love Among the Ruins (1975), Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1976), Brideshead Revisited (1981) and King Lear (1983). Olivier's honours included a knighthood (1947), a life peerage (1970) and the Order of Merit (1981). For his on-screen work he received four Academy Awards, two British Academy Film Awards, five Emmy Awards and three Golden Globe Awards. The National Theatre's largest auditorium is named in his honour, and he is commemorated in the Laurence Olivier Awards, given annually by the Society of London Theatre. He was married three times, to the actresses Jill Esmond from 1930 to 1940, Vivien Leigh from 1940 to 1960, and Joan Plowright from 1961 until his death.

Read more

Biography from TMDB.

Born
May 22, 1907
Died
July 11, 1989 (aged 82)
From
Dorking, Surrey, England, UK
Works as
Actor, also producer, director and writer
Titles
62 on Motif · 108 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Official site (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 157 days to Oct 28Down 28% in 30 days

What are Laurence Olivier's films like?

Across their 54 Motif titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Bonds.

Genres

Drama23 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 75th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Comedy8 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 72nd percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Action5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 74th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Action movies
Adventure5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 83rd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Adventure movies
Documentary4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 77th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Documentary movies
Crime3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 41st percentile
: browse their Crime movies
Biography2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 85th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Biography movies

Their Motif 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
28%
Bonds
21%
Self
15%
Society
13%
Power
12%
Survival
9%
Ideas
3%
Romantic love15 titles, browse their movies with this themeDuty8 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception10 titles, browse their movies with this themeSacrifice8 titles, browse their movies with this themeClass7 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity5 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival5 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice5 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 53 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 11 · Dark 23

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

A split, not a type: Grounded 22 · Stylized 20 · Heightened 11

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

Gentle 15 · Charged 23 · Intense 15

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

Steady 28 · Shifting 22 · Whiplash 3

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

Straight-faced 33 · Some laughs 18 · Funny 2

Slow burn: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their slow burn movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 33 · Even-paced 20 · Relentless 0

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

Casual 16 · Engaged 30 · Full focus 7

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

A split, not a type: Easy watch 20 · Affecting 17 · Heavy 16

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

Resolved 33 · Open-ended 15 · Ambiguous 5

Roles they play

47 analyzed roles

Usually the Shadow: 13 of 47 analyzed roles.

Shadow
13 of 47
Hero
13 of 47
Mentor
8 of 47
Shapeshifter
5 of 47
Ally
2 of 47
Trickster
2 of 47
Herald
2 of 47
Threshold guardian
2 of 47
Show the 47 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
30
Melancholic
25
Romantic
17
Warm
10
Contemplative
14
Other
50

How their films linger

Bittersweet21 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking16 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good14 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting12 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful12 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun10 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 7 with a twist

  • Happy11
  • Bittersweet26
  • Tragic9
  • Ambiguous7
  • 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 Laurence Olivier's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 36 of their 62 Motif titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (24).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Laurence Olivier's titles on Motif; 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

108 credits, 62 with a Motif page; 54 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Marilyn Monroe: In The Movies (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2012)

    Actor

  • Marilyn despite herself (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2012)

    Actor

  • Discovering Hamlet (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2011)

    as Hamlet (archive footage)

  • Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow(2004)

    as Dr. Totenkopf (archive footage)

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films

  • The Body of Marilyn Monroe (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2004)

    as archive footage

  • The Filth and the Fury(2000)

    as Richard III (archive footage)

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • Preminger: Anatomy of a Filmmaker(1991)

    as Superintendent Newhouse (archive footage) (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • War Requiem (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1989)

    as The Old Soldier

  • Lost Empires (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1986)

    Show 7 episodes · as Harry Burrard

  • Marilyn Monroe: Beyond the Legend(1986)

    as archive footage

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • Peter the Great (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1986)

    Show 4 episodes · as King William III of Orange

  • Marilyn Monroe (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1986)

    as archive footage

  • Wild Geese II(1985)

    as Rudolf Hess

    Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all films

  • The Golden Gong(1985)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • The Last Days of Pompeii (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1984)

    Show 3 episodes · as Gaius

  • The Bounty(1984)

    as Admiral Hood

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • A Voyage Round My Father(1982)

    as Clifford Mortimer

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • The Ebony Tower (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1984)

    as Henry Breasley

  • A Talent for Murder (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1983)

    as Dr. Anthony Wainwright

  • The Jigsaw Man(1983)

    as Adm. Sir Gerald Scaith

    Midcredits score: 11th percentile of all films

  • Wagner(1983)

    Show 10 episodes · as Pfeuffer

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all shows

  • Mr. Halpern and Mr. Johnson (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1983)

    as Joe Halpern

  • King Lear (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1983)

    as King Lear

  • Natalie - A Tribute to a Very Special Lady(1982)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Brideshead Revisited(1981)

    Show 2 episodes · as Alexander Flyte

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all shows

  • Clash of the Titans(1981)

    as Zeus

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • Inchon(1981)

    as Gen. Douglas MacArthur

    Midcredits score: 2nd percentile of all films

  • The Jazz Singer(1980)

    as Cantor Rabinovitch

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • Dracula(1979)

    as Prof. Abraham Van Helsing

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • A Little Romance(1979)

    as Julius

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • The Boys from Brazil(1978)

    as Ezra Lieberman

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • The Betsy(1978)

    as Loren Hardeman

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films

  • Daphne Laureola(1978)

    Executive Producer · as Sir Joseph

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Saturday, Sunday, Monday (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1978)

    Producer · as Antonio

  • Come Back, Little Sheba (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1977)

    Creative Producer · as Doc Delaney

  • A Bridge Too Far(1977)

    as Dr. Jan Spaander

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films

  • Jesus of Nazareth(1977)

    Show 4 episodes · as Nicodemus

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all shows

  • Hindle Wakes(1976)

    Director · Producer

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Cat on a Hot Tin Roof(1976)

    Producer · as Big Daddy

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • Laurence Olivier Presents (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1976)

    Show 1 episode · Creator · as Antonio · as Big Daddy · as Doc Delaney · as Sir Joseph

  • The Seven-Per-Cent Solution(1976)

    as Professor James Moriarty

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • The Gentleman Tramp (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1976)

    as Narrator

  • Marathon Man(1976)

    as Dr. Christian Szell

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films

  • Love Among the Ruins(1975)

    as Sir Arthur Glanville-Jones

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films

  • The Collection (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1976)

    Producer · as Harry

  • The World at War(1973)

    Show 26 episodes · as Narrator

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all shows

  • The Merchant of Venice(1973)

    as Shylock

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • Long Day's Journey Into Night (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1973)

    as James Tyrone Sr.

  • Sleuth(1972)

    as Andrew Wyke

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • Lady Caroline Lamb (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1972)

    as Duke of Wellington

  • Nicholas and Alexandra(1971)

    as Count Witte

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • Great Performances (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1971)

    Show 1 episode · as Harry · as Self

  • Tree of Life (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1971)

    as Narrator

  • Three Sisters(1970)

    Director · as Dr. Ivan Chebutikin

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • David Copperfield (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1969)

    as Mr. Creakle

  • Battle of Britain(1969)

    as Air Chief Marshal Sir Hugh Dowding

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • The Dance of Death (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1969)

    as Edgar

  • Oh! What a Lovely War(1969)

    as Field Marshal Sir John French

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • ITV Saturday Night Theatre (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1969)

    Show 2 episodes · as James Tyrone Sr. · as Narrator

  • Male of the Species (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1969)

    as Presenter

  • The Shoes of the Fisherman(1968)

    as Piotr Ilyich Kamenev

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • Romeo and Juliet(1968)

    as Narrator (voice) (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films

  • The Legend of Marilyn Monroe (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1966)

    Actor

  • Khartoum(1966)

    as Mahdi

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • Othello (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1965)

    as Othello

  • Bunny Lake Is Missing(1965)

    as Newhouse

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films

  • Uncle Vanya (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1963)

    Director · as Dr. Astrov

  • The Power and the Glory(1961)

    as Priest

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films

  • Term of Trial (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1962)

    as Graham Weir

  • Spartacus(1960)

    as Marcus Licinius Crassus

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • The Entertainer(1960)

    as Archie Rice

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • The Moon and Sixpence (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1959)

    as Charles Strickland

  • The Devil's Disciple(1959)

    as Gen. Burgoyne

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • The Prince and the Showgirl(1957)

    Director · Producer · as The Regent

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • Richard III(1955)

    Director · Producer · Screenplay · as Richard III

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • The Beggar's Opera(1953)

    Producer · as MacHeath

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • A Queen Is Crowned(1953)

    as Narrator

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • The Drawings of Leonardo da Vinci (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1953)

    as Narrator

  • Carrie(1952)

    as George Hurstwood

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • The Magic Box (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1952)

    as Police Constable 94-B

  • Rebecca (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1950)

    as Maxim de winter

  • Hamlet(1948)

    Director · Producer · Screenplay · as Hamlet - Prince of Denmark / Voice of Ghost

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films

  • Henry V(1944)

    Director · Producer · Writer · as King Henry

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • This Happy Breed(1944)

    as Narrator (voice)

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • The Demi-Paradise (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1943)

    as Ivan Kouznetsoff

  • Malta G.C. (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1942)

    as Narrator

  • The 49th Parallel(1941)

    as Johnnie, the Trapper

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • That Hamilton Woman(1941)

    as Lord Horatio Nelson

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • Words for Battle (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1941)

    as Narrator (voice)

  • Private Lives (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1940)

    as Elyot Chase

  • Pride and Prejudice(1940)

    as Mr. Darcy

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all films

  • Rebecca(1940)

    as Maxim de Winter

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • 21 Days Together(1940)

    as Larry Durrant

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • Wuthering Heights(1939)

    as Heathcliff

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • Clouds Over Europe(1939)

    as Tony McVane

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • The Divorce of Lady X(1938)

    as Everard Logan

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • Fire Over England(1937)

    as Michael Ingolby

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • As You Like It(1936)

    as Orlando

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • Moscow Nights (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1934)

    as Captain Ivan Ignatoff

  • No Funny Business (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1933)

    as Clive Dering

  • Perfect Understanding(1933)

    as Nicholas Randall

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • Westward Passage(1932)

    as Nicholas 'Nick' Allen

    Midcredits score: 22nd percentile of all films

  • The Conquest of the Air (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1931)

    as Vincent Lunardi

  • The Yellow Ticket (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1931)

    as Julian Rolfe

  • Friends and Lovers (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1931)

    as Lieutenant Ned Nichols

  • Potiphar's Wife (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1931)

    as Straker

  • Too Many Crooks (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1930)

    as The Boy

  • The Temporary Widow (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1930)

    as Peter Bille

Career shape

Star power in the 99th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 108 titles from 1930 to 2012; peak year 1979.

Biggest box office

Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow (2004)

$58M worldwide

Highest rated

Rebecca (1940)

Midcredits 98th

Film career

MilestoneBreakoutAward winNomination
19302012

Peak 1979 · fewer prominent film roles lately. Top draw in 27 Motif 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.

Show 11 more milestones

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting107 of 108: 94 only acting, 13 with another role · typical Midcredits score78thDirecting7 of 108: 0 only directing, 7 with another role · typical Midcredits score80thWriting4 of 108: 0 only writing, 4 with another roleProducing10 of 108: 0 only producing, 10 with another role · typical Midcredits score74thOther crew1 of 108: 0 only other crew, 1 with another role

108 titles, 14 with more than one role — acting and producing overlap on 9 of them.

By decade

1930s15 · acting1940s12 · 12 acting · 2 crew1950s10 · 10 acting · 3 crew1960s18 · 18 acting · 1 crew1970s26 · 25 acting · 8 crew1980s20 · acting1990s1 · acting2000s3 · acting2010s3 · acting

Billing

usually 2nd · top billed in 27% of 41 roles
374257677282

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 Motif, 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

3 Oscars, 5 Primetime Emmys, 3 Golden Globes, 3 BAFTA Awards and 3 other major awards from 42 major nominations, 1940–1987.

WinNomination
  1. 1987
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or a Special
  2. 1984
    • Primetime Emmy, won · Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or a Special
  3. 1983
    • Golden Globe, won
    • BAFTA Award, nominated · Best Actor
  4. 1982
    • Primetime Emmy, won · Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or a Special
  5. 1980
    • Golden Globe, nominated · Best Actor in a Supporting Role - Motion Picture
  6. 1979
    • Oscar, won
    • Oscar, nominated · Best Actor in a Leading Role
  7. 1977
    • Oscar, nominated · Best Actor in a Supporting Role
    • Golden Globe, won · Best Actor in a Supporting Role - Motion Picture
  8. 1976
    • BAFTA Award, won · Film
Show 19 earlier years
  1. 1975
    • Primetime Emmy, won · Outstanding Lead Actor in a Special Program - Drama or Comedy
  2. 1974
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Best Lead Actor in a Drama
    • BAFTA Award, nominated ×2 · Best Actor
  3. 1973
    • Oscar, nominated · Best Actor in a Leading Role
    • Primetime Emmy, won · Outstanding Single Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role
    • Golden Globe, nominated · Best Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama
  4. 1970
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Single Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role
    • BAFTA Award, won · Best Supporting Actor
  5. 1968
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Dramatic Program
  6. 1966
    • Oscar, nominated · Best Actor in a Leading Role
  7. 1963
    • BAFTA Award, nominated · Best British Actor
  8. 1961
    • Oscar, nominated · Best Actor in a Leading Role
    • Golden Globe, nominated · Best Actor - Drama
    • BAFTA Award, nominated · Best British Actor
  9. 1960
    • Primetime Emmy, won · Outstanding Single Performance by an Actor (Lead or Support)
    • BAFTA Award, nominated · Best British Actor
  10. 1958
    • BAFTA Award, nominated · Best British Actor
  11. 1957
    • Oscar, nominated · Best Actor in a Leading Role
  12. 1956
    • BAFTA Award, won · Best British Actor
    • +1 other major body · 1 win
      • Berlinale award, won · International Prize
  13. 1953
    • BAFTA Award, nominated · Best British Actor
  14. 1949
    • Oscar, won · Best Actor in a Leading Role
    • Oscar, nominated · Best Director
    • Golden Globe, won · Best Actor
  15. 1948
    • Venice award, won
  16. 1947
    • Oscar, won
    • Oscar, nominated · Best Actor in a Leading Role
  17. 1946
    • Venice award, won · Feature Films
  18. 1941
    • Oscar, nominated · Best Actor in a Leading Role
  19. 1940
    • Oscar, nominated · Best Actor in a Leading Role

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 Laurence Olivier's films land?

Their typical Motif film has a Midcredits score in the 77th percentile, the median of all 58; across their 53 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 53

Approval · how many liked their films

79thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 53

Reach · how many have seen their films

66thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 53

Midcredits score across 62 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up36
  • 50th to 74th13
  • 25th to 49th8
  • Below 25th5

Shape of the crowd

34 of their 62 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved12
  • Loved with Detractors1
  • Cult Classic1
  • Crowd Pleaser34
  • Broadly Agreed3
  • Mixed11

Most divisive · actor

Inchon (1981)

83rd percentile spread · 74% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Rebecca (1940)

Midcredits 98th · 88% liked

Reviewers score the acting 72/100 in their films, across 47 reviewed titles; fans 80, detractors 45. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on Motif; 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 Motif 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 Laurence Olivier's work okay for kids?

Across up to 17 Motif titles with content scores, profanity runs lighter than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore14 titles22–75 · median 41 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity17 titles6–53 · median 25 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity13 titles2–42 · median 10 · minimallighter than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs12 titles12–36 · median 25 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense11 titles24–70 · median 40 · moderatenear 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 Laurence Olivier work with?

People who share at least 2 of Laurence Olivier's Motif titles, grouped by what they did on them; Alexander Korda shares the most, 6.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles