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Wes Craven

Wes Craven

Writer, director, actor, producer and editor · Died August 30, 2015, aged 76 · Cleveland, Ohio, USA

Wesley Earl "Wes" Craven (August 2, 1939 – August 30, 2015) was a prolific and influential American film director, writer, producer, and occasional actor known for his pioneering work in the horror genre, and particularly in the teen slasher subgenre. Among his best-known works are such landmark films as "The Last House on the Left" (1972), "The Hills Have Eyes" (1977), "A Nightmare on Elm Street" (1984) and the "Scream" series (1996–2011).

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
August 2, 1939
Died
August 30, 2015 (aged 76)
From
Cleveland, Ohio, USA
Works as
Writer, director, actor, producer and editor
Titles
61 on MovieCove · 93 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 13% in 30 days

What are Wes Craven's films like?

Across their 53 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Survival and Self.

Genres

Horror23 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 25th percentile
: browse their Horror movies
Comedy6 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 38th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Comedy movies
Drama6 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 34th percentile
: browse their Drama movies
Fantasy6 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 50th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Fantasy movies
Documentary4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 86th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Documentary movies
Action3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 16th percentile
: browse their Action movies
Crime3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 7th 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
Survival
34%
Self
15%
Morality
14%
Bonds
13%
Society
13%
Ideas
7%
Power
4%
Survival20 titles, browse their movies with this themeTrauma14 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity11 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds14 titles, browse their movies with this themeViolence8 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity5 titles, browse their movies with this themeArt5 titles, browse their movies with this themeFame5 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 12 · Serious 19 · Dark 22

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

A split, not a type: Grounded 27 · Stylized 16 · Heightened 10

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

A split, not a type: Gentle 7 · Charged 14 · Intense 32

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

Steady 15 · Shifting 28 · Whiplash 10

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

Straight-faced 30 · Some laughs 21 · Funny 2

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

Slow burn 12 · Even-paced 34 · Relentless 7

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

Casual 22 · Engaged 28 · Full focus 3

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

Easy watch 18 · Affecting 25 · Heavy 10

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

Resolved 38 · Open-ended 13 · Ambiguous 2

Roles they play

2 analyzed roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
40
Dread
32
Absurd
15
Thrilling
12
Warm
7
Other
34

How their films linger

Fun22 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling21 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet11 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteCathartic9 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking9 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteDevastating7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 20 with a twist

  • Happy13
  • Bittersweet23
  • Tragic4
  • Ambiguous13

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 Wes Craven's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 49 of their 61 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (28).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Wes Craven'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

93 credits, 61 with a MovieCove page; 41 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • The Spot (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2023)

    Thanks

  • Dylan’s New Nightmare (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2023)

    Characters

  • Scream(2022)

    In Memory Of

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • AGFA Mystery Mixtape #2: Later in L.A. (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2020)

    as (archive footage)

  • The AGFA Mystery Mixtape Vault (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2020)

    as (archive footage)

  • Terrifier(2016)

    In Memory Of

    Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all films

  • Mortal Nightmare (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    Thanks

  • The Girl in the Photographs(2015)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 6th percentile of all films

  • Scream: The TV Series(2015)

    Show 16 episodes · Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all shows

  • Scream 4(2011)

    Director · Producer

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • My Soul to Take(2010)

    Director · Producer · Writer

    Midcredits score: 13th percentile of all films

  • Never Sleep Again: The Elm Street Legacy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    Show 2 episodes · Actor

  • A Nightmare on Elm Street(2010)

    Characters · Original Film Writer

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films

  • The Last House on the Left(2009)

    Characters · Original Film Writer · Producer

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • Diary of the Dead(2007)

    Thanks · as Newsreader (voice) (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all films

  • On the Lot (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Hills Have Eyes 2(2007)

    Characters · Producer · Writer

    Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all films

  • Pulse(2006)

    Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 10th percentile of all films

  • Paris, Je T'aime(2006)

    Director · Writer · as La victime de la vampire (Quartier de la Madeleine)

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • The Breed(2006)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films

  • The Tripper(2006)

    as Hippie (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films

  • The Hills Have Eyes(2006)

    Characters · Original Film Writer · Producer

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • Feast(2005)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • Red Eye(2005)

    Director · as Airline Passenger (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • Dracula III: Legacy(2005)

    Presenter

    Midcredits score: 9th percentile of all films

  • Becoming a Werewolf (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    as Wes Craven

  • Cursed(2005)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 17th percentile of all films

  • Tales from the Crapper(2004)

    as Party Goer (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 10th percentile of all films

  • Freddy vs. Jason(2003)

    Characters

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films

  • Dracula II: Ascension(2003)

    Presenter

    Midcredits score: 10th percentile of all films

  • They(2002)

    Presenter

    Midcredits score: 11th percentile of all films

  • They Shoot Divas, Don't They?(2002)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films

  • Tales That'll Tear Your Heart Out (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    Director · as Undead Cowboy (uncredited)

  • Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back(2001)

    as Wes Craven

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • Dracula 2000(2000)

    Executive Producer · Presenter

    Midcredits score: 13th percentile of all films

  • Welcome to Hollywood(1998)

    as Wes Craven

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films

  • Scream 3(2000)

    Director · as Man with Video Camera on Studio Tour (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 34th percentile of all films

  • Music of the Heart(1999)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • Stark Raving Mad (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    Show 1 episode · as Terrance Sterling

  • Don't Look Down(1998)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 12th percentile of all films

  • Carnival of Souls(1998)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 1st percentile of all films

  • Unmasking the Horror (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Actor

  • Hollyweird (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Executive Producer · Presenter

  • Scream 2(1997)

    Director · as Doctor (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • Wishmaster(1997)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films

  • Scream(1996)

    Director · as Fred the Janitor (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • Shadow Zone: The Undead Express (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    as Counsellor

  • E! True Hollywood Story (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Show 2 episodes · Actor

  • Vampire in Brooklyn(1995)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 9th percentile of all films

  • Mind Ripper(1995)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 2nd percentile of all films

  • The Fear (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    as Dr. Arnold

  • New Nightmare(1994)

    Director · Characters · Executive Producer · Writer · as Wes Craven

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • Body Bags(1993)

    as Pasty Faced Man

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • The Nightmare Begins Again (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    Characters · Creator

  • Nightmare Cafe (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    Show 6 episodes · Director · Creator · Producer

  • The People Under the Stairs(1991)

    Director · Executive Producer · Writer

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • Freddy's Dead: The Final Nightmare(1991)

    Characters

    Midcredits score: 9th percentile of all films

  • Night Visions(1990)

    Director · Executive Producer · Writer

    Midcredits score: 7th percentile of all films

  • Bloodfist II(1990)

    Other

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films

  • The People Next Door (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Show Creator

  • A Nightmare on Elm Street: The Dream Child(1989)

    Characters

    Midcredits score: 13th percentile of all films

  • Shocker(1989)

    Director · Executive Producer · Writer · as Man Neighbor

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • Freddy's Nightmares (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    Show 44 episodes · Characters · Creator

  • No More Mr. Nice Guy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    Writer

  • A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master(1988)

    Characters

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • The Serpent and the Rainbow(1988)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors(1987)

    Characters · Executive Producer · Screenplay · Story

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • Deadly Friend(1986)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all films

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

    Director

  • A Nightmare on Elm Street Part 2: Freddy's Revenge(1985)

    Characters

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films

  • The Twilight Zone (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Show 5 episodes · Director · as (segment "Children's Zoo")

  • The Hills Have Eyes Part II(1984)

    Director · Characters · Writer

    Midcredits score: 1st percentile of all films

  • Chiller(1985)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 3rd percentile of all films

  • A Nightmare on Elm Street(1984)

    Director · Writer

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • Invitation to Hell(1984)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all films

  • Swamp Thing(1982)

    Director · Writer

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films

  • Deadly Blessing(1981)

    Director · Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films

  • Kent State(1981)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films

  • Summer of Fear(1978)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • The Evolution of Snuff (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    Cinematographer

  • Here Come the Tigers(1978)

    Gaffer

    Midcredits score: 5th percentile of all films

  • The Hills Have Eyes(1977)

    Director · Editor · Writer

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • Sweet Cakes (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    as Photographer (uncredited)

  • The Fireworks Woman (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    Director · Editor · Writer · as Nicholas Burns / The Fireworks Man (uncredited)

  • Kitty Can't Help It (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    Editor

  • It Happened in Hollywood (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    Assistant Director · Editor · as Kings Litter Bearer

  • The Last House on the Left(1972)

    Director · Editor · Writer

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films

  • Deep Throat (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    Other

  • Together(1971)

    Associate Producer · Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films

  • You've Got To Walk It Like You Talk It or You'll Lose That Beat (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    Editor

  • It's a Miserable Life (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Writer

  • The People Under the Stairs (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Original Film Writer

  • Untitled A Nightmare on Elm Street Film (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Characters · Original Film Writer

Career shape

A full career of 93 titles, 90 of them dated from 1971 to 2023.

Biggest box office

Scream (1996)

$173M worldwide

Highest rated

Never Sleep Again: The Elm Street Legacy (2010)

Midcredits 99th

Most popular right now

Scream (1996)

Film career

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting28 of 93: 16 only acting, 12 with another role · typical Midcredits score47thDirecting30 of 93: 9 only directing, 21 with another role · typical Midcredits score34thWriting31 of 93: 12 only writing, 19 with another role · typical Midcredits score29thProducing24 of 93: 10 only producing, 14 with another role · typical Midcredits score35thCinematography2 of 93: 1 only cinematography, 1 with another roleEditing6 of 93: 2 only editing, 4 with another roleOther crew18 of 93: 11 only other crew, 7 with another role · typical Midcredits score13th

93 titles, 32 with more than one role — writing and directing overlap on 13 of them.

By decade

1970s12 · 3 acting · 11 crew1980s19 · 2 acting · 19 crew1990s22 · 9 acting · 16 crew2000s24 · 11 acting · 18 crew2010s8 · 1 acting · 7 crew2020s5 · 2 acting · 3 crew

Billing

usually 11th · top billed in 0% of 6 roles

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.

How do Wes Craven's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 25th percentile, the median of all 60; across their 53 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 38th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

38thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 53

Approval · how many liked their films

30thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 53

Reach · how many have seen their films

92ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 53

Midcredits score across 61 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up4
  • 50th to 74th15
  • 25th to 49th12
  • Below 25th30

Shape of the crowd

31 of their 61 titles are Mixed.

  • Universally Loved2
  • Universally Panned3
  • Cult Classic3
  • Crowd Pleaser16
  • Broadly Agreed6
  • Mixed31

Most divisive · actor

Tales from the Crapper (2004)

86th percentile spread · 52% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor, director

Scream (1996)

Midcredits 93rd · 79% liked

Reviewers score the dialogue 40/100 and the plot and story 38/100 in their films, across 49 reviewed titles. The element that speaks to their work as a writer.

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 Wes Craven's work okay for kids?

Across up to 39 MovieCove titles with content scores, violence & gore, profanity and frightening / intense run heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore36 titles58–94 · median 84 · severeheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity39 titles17–69 · median 41 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity34 titles42–87 · median 66 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs32 titles25–63 · median 36 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense32 titles63–90 · median 82 · severeheavier than most 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 Wes Craven work with?

People who share at least 2 of Wes Craven's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Marianne Maddalena shares the most, 19.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles