Skip to content
MovieCove
John Wayne

John Wayne

Actor, also producer and director · Died June 11, 1979, aged 72 · Winterset, Iowa, USA

Marion Mitchell Morrison (born Marion Robert Morrison) (May 26, 1907 – June 11, 1979), known professionally as John Wayne and nicknamed Duke, was an American actor and filmmaker. An Academy Award-winner for True Grit (1969), Wayne was among the top box office draws for three decades. Born in Winterset, Iowa, Wayne grew up in Southern California. He was president of Glendale High class of 1925. He found work at local film studios when he lost his football scholarship to the University of Southern California as a result of a bodysurfing accident. Initially working for the Fox Film Corporation, he appeared mostly in small bit parts. His first leading role came in Raoul Walsh's The Big Trail (1930), which led to leading roles in numerous B movies throughout the 1930s, many of them in the Western genre. Wayne's career took off in 1939, with John Ford's Stagecoach making him an instant star. He went on to star in 142 pictures. Biographer Ronald Davis said, "John Wayne personified for millions the nation's frontier heritage. Eighty-three of his movies were Westerns, and in them, he played cowboys, cavalrymen, and unconquerable loners extracted from the Republic's central creation myth." Wayne's other well-known Western roles include a cattleman driving his herd north on the Chisholm Trail in Red River (1948), a Civil War veteran whose young niece is abducted by a tribe of Comanches in The Searchers (1956), and a troubled rancher competing with a lawyer for a woman's hand in marriage in The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962). He is also remembered for his roles in The Quiet Man (1952), Rio Bravo (1959), and The Longest Day (1962). In his final screen performance, he starred as an aging gunfighter battling cancer in The Shootist (1976). He appeared with many important Hollywood stars of his era, and his last public appearance was at the Academy Awards ceremony on April 9, 1979.

Read more

Biography from TMDB.

Born
May 26, 1907
Died
June 11, 1979 (aged 72)
From
Winterset, Iowa, USA
Works as
Actor, also producer and director
Titles
150 on MovieCove · 234 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 65 days to Oct 28Down 34% in 30 days

What are John Wayne's films like?

Across their 134 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Bonds.

Genres

Drama57 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 58th percentile
: browse their Drama movies
Action30 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 49th percentile
: browse their Action movies
Adventure22 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 64th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Adventure movies
Comedy9 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 71st percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Comedy movies
Western7 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 50th percentile
: browse their Western movies
Documentary4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 76th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Documentary movies
Biography2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 74th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Biography movies
Crime2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 27th percentile
: browse their Crime 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
41%
Bonds
26%
Society
11%
Self
8%
Survival
8%
Power
6%
Ideas
1%
Justice50 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love26 titles, browse their movies with this themeLoyalty28 titles, browse their movies with this themeDuty24 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity29 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds21 titles, browse their movies with this themeRedemption18 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival18 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 134 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 61 · Serious 47 · Dark 26

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

Grounded 88 · Stylized 41 · Heightened 5

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

Gentle 27 · Charged 85 · Intense 22

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

Steady 77 · Shifting 56 · Whiplash 1

Some laughs: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their some laughs movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

A split, not a type: Straight-faced 75 · Some laughs 53 · Funny 6

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

Slow burn 40 · Even-paced 91 · Relentless 3

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

Casual 85 · Engaged 49 · Full focus 0

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

Easy watch 79 · Affecting 42 · Heavy 13

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

Resolved 121 · Open-ended 10 · Ambiguous 3

Roles they play

118 analyzed roles

Usually the Hero: 96 of 118 analyzed roles.

Hero
96 of 118
Mentor
9 of 118
Ally
7 of 118
Trickster
2 of 118
Shapeshifter
1 of 118
Shadow
1 of 118
Threshold guardian
1 of 118
Herald
1 of 118
Show the 118 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
88
Thrilling
47
Hopeful
46
Warm
28
Romantic
28
Other
99

How their films linger

Feel-good57 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun52 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet42 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful43 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteRousing38 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking9 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 7 with a twist

  • Happy73
  • Bittersweet50
  • Tragic2
  • Ambiguous9

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 John Wayne's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 86 of their 150 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (57).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for John Wayne'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

234 credits, 150 with a MovieCove page; 87 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Proust Palimpsesto: Pastiches e Misturas (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2026)

    as Ethan Edwards (archive footage) (uncredited)

  • Spiritual day in Minneapolis (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2026)

    Actor

  • John Ford and Throwing (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2022)

    Actor

  • Making Montgomery Clift(2018)

    as Thomas Dunson

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • Keith Richards: Under the Influence(2015)

    as Ethan Edwards

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • Mr. Untouchable(2007)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • The Shootist: The Legend Lives On (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Actor

  • La classe américaine(1993)

    as George Abitbol (archive footage)

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • The John Wayne Story: The Early Years (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    Actor

  • John Wayne's 'The Alamo' (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    as Davy Crockett

  • John Wayne - Eine amerikanische Legende (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    as (archive footage)

  • John Wayne: American Hero Of The Movies (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Actor

  • Going Hollywood: The '30s(1984)

    as (archive footage)

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Western von gestern (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    Show 1 episode · as John Wyatt aka John Allen · as John Wyatt aka John Allen (archive footage) · as Stony Brooke (archive footage)

  • This Little Bullet (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    as Host

  • Bob Hope's Comedy Christmas Special (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    Actor

  • The Shootist(1976)

    as J.B. Books

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • Meanwhile, Back at the Ranch (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    as Jerry Mason

  • Rooster Cogburn(1975)

    as Reuben J. "Rooster" Cogburn

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • Texaco Presents: A Quarter Century of Bob Hope on Television (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    as (archive footage)

  • Brannigan(1975)

    Producer · as Lt. Jim Brannigan

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films

  • McQ(1974)

    Executive Producer · as McQ

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • Cahill U.S. Marshal(1973)

    Producer · as J.D. Cahill

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • The Train Robbers(1973)

    Executive Producer · as Lane

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • The Cowboys(1972)

    as Wil Andersen

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • Big Jake(1971)

    Director · Executive Producer · as Jacob McCandles

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • Chisum(1970)

    Producer · as John Chisum

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • Rio Lobo(1970)

    as Col. Cord McNally

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • No Substitute for Victory(1971)

    as Sekf

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films

  • Swing Out, Sweet Land(1970)

    Producer · as Self - Host

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films

  • The Undefeated(1969)

    as Colonel John Henry Thomas

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • True Grit(1969)

    as Reuben J. "Rooster" Cogburn

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • Hellfighters(1968)

    as Chance Buckman

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • The Green Berets(1968)

    Director · Producer · as Colonel Mike Kirby

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • The War Wagon(1967)

    Executive Producer · as Taw Jackson

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films

  • Dateline: Hollywood (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • A Nation Builds Under Fire (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    as Narrator

  • Hondo and the Apaches(1967)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • El Dorado(1966)

    as Cole Thornton

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

  • Cast a Giant Shadow(1966)

    Producer · as Gen. Mike Randolph

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • The Sons of Katie Elder(1965)

    as John Elder

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • The Greatest Story Ever Told(1965)

    as Centurion at crucifixion

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • In Harm's Way(1965)

    as Capt. Rockwell Torrey

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • Circus World(1964)

    as Matt Masters

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • Choice (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    as Host

  • McLintock!(1963)

    Producer · as George Washington McLintock

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films

  • Donovan's Reef(1963)

    as Michael "Guns" Donovan

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • How the West Was Won(1962)

    as William Sherman

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • Flashing Spikes (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    as Marine Sergeant

  • The Lucy Show(1962)

    Show 1 episode · as John Wayne

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all shows

  • The Beverly Hillbillies(1962)

    Show 1 episode · as John Wayne (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all shows

  • The Longest Day(1962)

    as Lt. Col. Benjamin Vandervoort

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • Hatari!(1962)

    as Sean Mercer

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all films

  • The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance(1962)

    as Tom Doniphon

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • The Comancheros(1961)

    Director · as Jake Cutter

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • Alcoa Premiere (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The 10 from Texas (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    as (archive footage)

  • The Colter Craven Story (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    Actor

  • North to Alaska(1960)

    as Sam McCord

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • The Alamo(1960)

    Director · Producer · as Col. Davy Crockett

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • The Horse Soldiers(1959)

    as Col John Marlowe

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all films

  • Rio Bravo(1959)

    as Sheriff John T. Chance

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • Escort West(1959)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • The Barbarian and the Geisha(1958)

    as Townsend Harris

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • I Married a Woman (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

    as Actor in a Movie (uncredited)

  • China Doll(1958)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • Legend of the Lost(1957)

    as Joe January

    Midcredits score: 43rd percentile of all films

  • Jet Pilot(1957)

    as Col. Jim Shannon

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • Wagon Train(1957)

    Show 1 episode · as Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all shows

  • The Wings of Eagles(1957)

    as Frank W. 'Spig' Wead

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • 7 Men from Now(1956)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films

  • The Searchers(1956)

    as Ethan Edwards

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • Good-bye, My Lady(1956)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • The Conqueror(1956)

    as Temujin

    Midcredits score: 3rd percentile of all films

  • Gun the Man Down(1956)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • Man in the Vault(1956)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films

  • Screen Director's Playhouse (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    Show 1 episode · as Mike Cronin

  • Blood Alley(1955)

    Director · Producer · as Capt. Tom Wilder

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • Casablanca (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    Show 10 episodes · Actor

  • The Sea Chase(1955)

    as Captain Karl Ehrlich

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • Track of the Cat(1954)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • Ring of Fear(1954)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 9th percentile of all films

  • The High and the Mighty(1954)

    Producer · as Dan Roman

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

  • Hondo(1953)

    Producer · as Hondo Lane

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films

  • Island in the Sky(1953)

    Producer · as Captain Dooley

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • Trouble Along the Way(1953)

    as Stephen Aloysius Williams

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • Plunder of the Sun(1953)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • Big Jim McLain(1952)

    Producer · as Jim McLain

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • The Quiet Man(1952)

    as Sean Thornton

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • Santa and the Fairy Snow Queen (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

    Producer

  • I Love Lucy(1951)

    Show 1 episode · as John Wayne

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all shows

  • The Red Skelton Hour(1951)

    Show 2 episodes · as John Wayne · as Rooster Cogburn · as Self (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all shows

  • Flying Leathernecks(1951)

    as Maj. Daniel Xavier Kirby

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • Bullfighter and the Lady(1951)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • Operation Pacific(1951)

    as Duke E. Gifford

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • Rio Grande(1950)

    as Lt. Col. Kirby Yorke

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • The Jack Benny Program (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

    Show 1 episode · as John Wayne

  • The Dangerous Stranger (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

    Producer

  • Sands of Iwo Jima(1949)

    as Sgt. John M. Stryker

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • She Wore a Yellow Ribbon(1949)

    as Capt. Nathan Cutting Brittles

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • The Fighting Kentuckian(1949)

    Producer · as John Breen

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • 3 Godfathers(1948)

    as Robert Marmaduke Sangster Hightower

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films

  • Wake of the Red Witch(1948)

    as Capt. Ralls

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • Red River(1948)

    as Thomas Dunson

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • Fort Apache(1948)

    as Capt. Kirby York

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films

  • Tycoon(1947)

    as Johnny Munroe

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • Angel and the Badman(1947)

    Producer · as Quirt Evans

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • Desert Command (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1946)

    as Tom Wayne

  • Without Reservations(1946)

    as Rusty Thomas

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • Dakota(1945)

    as John Devlin

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films

  • They Were Expendable(1945)

    as Lt. (J.G.) 'Rusty' Ryan

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • Back to Bataan(1945)

    as Colonel Joseph Madden

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • Flame of Barbary Coast(1945)

    as Duke Fergus

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • Tall in the Saddle(1944)

    as Rocklin

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • The Fighting Seabees(1944)

    as Lt. Cmdr. Wedge Donovan

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • In Old Oklahoma(1943)

    as Daniel F Somers

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • A Lady Takes a Chance(1943)

    as Duke Hudkins

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • Reunion in France(1942)

    as Pat Talbot

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • Pittsburgh (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1942)

    as Charles 'Pittsburgh' Markham

  • Flying Tigers(1942)

    as Jim Gordon

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • The Spoilers(1942)

    as Glennister

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • In Old California(1942)

    as Tom Craig

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • Reap the Wild Wind(1942)

    as Captain Jack Stuart

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • Lady for a Night(1942)

    as Jackson Morgan

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • The Shepherd of the Hills(1941)

    as Young Matt Matthews

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • Lady from Louisiana (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1941)

    as John Reynolds

  • A Man Betrayed(1941)

    as Lynn Hollister

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • The Long Voyage Home(1940)

    as Ole Olsen

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • Seven Sinners(1940)

    as Dan

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • Three Faces West(1940)

    as John Phillips

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • Dark Command(1940)

    as Bob Seton

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • Allegheny Uprising(1939)

    as Jim Smith

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • New Frontier(1939)

    as Stony Brooke

    Midcredits score: 22nd percentile of all films

  • Wyoming Outlaw (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    as Stony Brooke

  • Three Texas Steers(1939)

    as Stony Brooke

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films

  • The Night Riders (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    as Stony Brooke

  • Stagecoach(1939)

    as The Ringo Kid

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • Red River Range(1938)

    as Stony Brooke

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • Santa Fe Stampede(1938)

    as Stony Brooke

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films

  • Overland Stage Raiders(1938)

    as Stony Brooke

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • Pals of the Saddle (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    as Stony Brooke

  • Born to the West(1937)

    as Dare Rudd

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • Hell Town (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    as Dare Rudd

  • Adventure's End (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    as Duke Slade

  • Idol of the Crowds (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    as Johnny Hanson

  • I Cover the War! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    as Bob Adams

  • California Straight Ahead (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    as Biff Smith

  • Conflict (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

    as Pat Glendon

  • Sea Spoilers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

    as Bob Randall

  • Winds of the Wasteland(1936)

    as John Blair

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • The Stagecoach Race (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

    as John Blair

  • The Lonely Trail(1936)

    as Captain John Ashley

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films

  • King of the Pecos (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

    as John Clayborn

  • The Lawless Nineties (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

    as John Tipton

  • The Oregon Trail (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

    as Capt John Delmont

  • Lawless Range(1935)

    as John Middleton

    Midcredits score: 11th percentile of all films

  • The New Frontier (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

    as John Dawson

  • Texas Terror(1935)

    as John Higgins

    Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all films

  • Guns Along The Trail (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

    as John Wyatt

  • Westward Ho(1935)

    as John Wyatt

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • Cowboy G-Man (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

    as John Wyatt

  • Paradise Canyon(1935)

    as John Wyatt

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films

  • The Dawn Rider(1935)

    as John Mason

    Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all films

  • Avenging Angel (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

    as John Mason

  • On the Run (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

    as John Jones

  • The Desert Trail(1935)

    as John Scott / John Jones

    Midcredits score: 17th percentile of all films

  • Rainbow Valley(1935)

    as John Martin

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films

  • 'Neath the Arizona Skies(1934)

    as Chris Morrell

    Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all films

  • The Lawless Frontier(1934)

    as John Tobin

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all films

  • Vengence is Mine (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

    as John Tobin

  • Klondike Gold (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

    as Rod Drew

  • The Trail Beyond(1934)

    as Rod Drew

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films

  • The Star Packer(1934)

    as U.S. Marshal John Travers

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all films

  • The Drifter (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

    as Randy

  • Randy Rides Alone(1934)

    as Randy Bowers

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films

  • Bandits of the Badlands (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

    as John Carruthers

  • Next Of Kin (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

    as Ted Hayden aka Gat Ganns

  • The Shadow Gang (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

    as U.S. Marshal John Travers

  • Rodeo Rocketeers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

    as John Weston

  • The Man from Utah(1934)

    as John Weston

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all films

  • Blue Steel(1934)

    as John Carruthers

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films

  • West of the Divide(1934)

    as Ted Hayden aka Gat Ganns

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all films

  • Claim Jumpers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

    as Jerry Mason

  • The Lucky Texan(1934)

    as Jerry Mason

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films

  • Fugitive (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1933)

    as John

  • Sagebrush Trail(1933)

    as John Brant

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films

  • College Coach (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1933)

    as Football player (uncredited)

  • Riders of Destiny(1933)

    as Singin' Sandy Saunders

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films

  • The Man from Monterey(1933)

    as John Holmes

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • Baby Face(1933)

    as Jimmy McCoy Jr.

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • His Private Secretary (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1933)

    as Dick Wallace

  • The Life of Jimmy Dolan(1933)

    as Smith

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • Somewhere in Sonora(1933)

    as John Bishop

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • Central Airport(1933)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • The Three Musketeers(1933)

    as Lt. Tom Wayne

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • The Telegraph Trail(1933)

    as John Trent

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • Haunted Gold(1932)

    as John Mason

    Midcredits score: 22nd percentile of all films

  • The Big Stampede(1932)

    as Deputy Sheriff John Steele

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films

  • Ride Him, Cowboy(1932)

    as John Drury

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • The Hollywood Handicap (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

    Actor

  • The Hurricane Express(1932)

    as The Air Pilot

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • Lady and Gent (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

    as Buzz Kinney

  • Two-Fisted Law (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

    as Duke

  • Texas Cyclone(1932)

    as Steve Pickett

    Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all films

  • The Shadow of the Eagle (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

    as Craig McCoy

  • Running Hollywood (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

    as Emcee

  • The Deceiver (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)

    as Reginald Thorpe as a corpse

  • The Range Feud (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)

    as Clint Turner

  • Maker of Men (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)

    as Dusty Rhodes

  • Arizona (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)

    as Lt. Bob Denton

  • Three Girls Lost (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)

    as Gordon Wales

  • Girls Demand Excitement (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)

    as Peter Brooks

  • The Big Trail(1930)

    as Breck Coleman

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • Cheer Up and Smile (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1930)

    as Roy

  • Rough Romance(1930)

    Props · as Lumberjack (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films

  • Born Reckless(1930)

    as Extra (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 22nd percentile of all films

  • Men Without Women(1930)

    as Radioman on Surface (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films

  • Salute (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1929)

    as Midshipman Bill

  • Words and Music (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1929)

    as Pete Donahue (as Duke Morrison)

  • The Black Watch(1929)

    as Black Watch Soldier (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • Speakeasy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1929)

    as Extra

  • Noah's Ark(1928)

    as Flood Extra (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • A Home Made Man (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1928)

    as Man on Stool

  • Hangman's House(1928)

    as Horse Race Spectator / Condemned Man in Flashback

    Midcredits score: 63rd percentile of all films

  • Four Sons(1928)

    Property Master · Actor

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films

  • Mother Machree (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1927)

    Property Master · Actor

  • The Drop Kick (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1927)

    as Football Player / Extra in Stands

  • Annie Laurie (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1927)

    Actor

  • The Draw-Back (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1927)

    as Opposing Football Player

  • The Great K&A Train Robbery (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1926)

    as Extra (uncredited)

  • Bardelys the Magnificent (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1926)

    as Guard (uncredited)

  • Brown of Harvard (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1926)

    as Yale LIneback Player

  • Desert Command (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    as Tom Wayne

  • Rodeo Racketeers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Actor

Career shape

Star power in the 99th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 224 titles, 222 of them dated from 1926 to 2026; peak year 1961.

Biggest box office

The Shootist (1976)

$8.1M worldwide

Highest rated

The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962)

Midcredits 99th

Most popular right now

Fort Apache (1948)

Film career

19262026

Peak 1961 · fewer prominent film roles lately. Top draw in 91 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
Acting217 of 224: 202 only acting, 15 with another role · typical Midcredits score58thDirecting2 of 224: 0 only directing, 2 with another roleProducing18 of 224: 7 only producing, 11 with another role · typical Midcredits score71stOther crew3 of 224: 0 only other crew, 3 with another role

224 titles, 15 with more than one role — acting and producing overlap on 11 of them.

By decade

1920s15 · 15 acting · 2 crew1930s86 · 86 acting · 1 crew1940s32 · 32 acting · 2 crew1950s34 · 27 acting · 11 crew1960s29 · 29 acting · 3 crew1970s16 · 16 acting · 3 crew1980s1 · acting1990s5 · acting2000s1 · acting2020s3 · acting

Billing

usually 1st · top billed in 88% of 96 roles
283843485358636873

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 John Wayne's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 58th percentile, the median of all 145; across their 134 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 60th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

60thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 134

Approval · how many liked their films

55thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 134

Reach · how many have seen their films

64thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 134

Midcredits score across 150 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up43
  • 50th to 74th46
  • 25th to 49th30
  • Below 25th31

Shape of the crowd

73 of their 150 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved16
  • Divisive1
  • Crowd Pleaser73
  • Broadly Agreed14
  • Mixed46

Most divisive · actor

No Substitute for Victory (1971)

96th percentile spread · 41% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962)

Midcredits 99th · 88% liked

Reviewers score the acting 63/100 in their films, across 130 reviewed titles; fans 73, detractors 41. 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 John Wayne's work okay for kids?

Across up to 27 MovieCove titles with content scores, sex & nudity runs lighter than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore24 titles30–60 · median 41 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity27 titles3–28 · median 17 · mildlighter than most filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity25 titles3–45 · median 27 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs24 titles29–51 · median 41 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense18 titles14–59 · median 37 · 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 John Wayne work with?

People who share at least 2 of John Wayne's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Archie Stout shares the most, 24.

Directors

Writers

Actors

  • Ward Bond16 titles    See newest 12 of 16 shared titles with Ward Bond
  • George 'Gabby' Hayes14 titles    See newest 12 of 14 shared titles with George 'Gabby' Hayes
  • Yakima Canutt13 titles    See newest 12 of 13 shared titles with Yakima Canutt
  • Earl Dwire13 titles    See newest 12 of 13 shared titles with Earl Dwire

Cinematographers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles