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Bill Paxton

Bill Paxton

Actor, also director and producer · Died February 25, 2017, aged 61 · Fort Worth, Texas, USA

Screen Actors Guild Award winner · Primetime Emmy nominee · Golden Globe nominee

Bill Paxton (May 17, 1955 – February 25, 2017) was an American actor. He appeared in films including Aliens and Titanic and starred as practising polygamist Bill Henrickson in the HBO series Big Love. On February 25, 2017 he died from complications following heart surgery.

Biography from TMDB.

Born
May 17, 1955
Died
February 25, 2017 (aged 61)
From
Fort Worth, Texas, USA
Works as
Actor, also director and producer
Titles
77 on MovieCove · 100 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 155 days to Oct 26Down 27% in 30 days

What are Bill Paxton's films like?

Across their 64 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Survival and Bonds.

Genres

Action19 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 39th percentile
: browse their Action movies
Drama10 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 52nd percentile
: browse their Drama movies
Comedy8 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 45th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Crime6 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 86th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Crime movies
Horror5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 35th percentile
: browse their Horror movies
Biography4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 65th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Biography movies
Documentary3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 82nd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Documentary movies
Adventure2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 54th percentile
: browse their Adventure 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
25%
Bonds
22%
Morality
18%
Self
17%
Power
7%
Ideas
6%
Society
6%
Survival20 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds17 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice10 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love7 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity6 titles, browse their movies with this themeAmbition5 titles, browse their movies with this themeSelf-worth5 titles, browse their movies with this themeGrief6 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 60 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 17 · Serious 15 · Dark 28

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

A split, not a type: Grounded 39 · Stylized 15 · Heightened 6

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 19 · Intense 34

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

Steady 19 · Shifting 34 · Whiplash 7

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

Straight-faced 37 · Some laughs 20 · Funny 3

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

Slow burn 19 · Even-paced 29 · Relentless 12

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

Casual 19 · Engaged 37 · Full focus 4

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

Easy watch 16 · Affecting 23 · Heavy 21

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

Resolved 38 · Open-ended 15 · Ambiguous 7

Roles they play

40 analyzed roles

Usually the Hero: 11 of 40 analyzed roles.

Hero
11 of 40
Shadow
7 of 40
Mentor
6 of 40
Trickster
5 of 40
Ally
5 of 40
Threshold guardian
5 of 40
Herald
1 of 40
Show the 40 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
47
Melancholic
20
Dread
16
Thrilling
14
Hopeful
17
Other
54

How their films linger

Bittersweet24 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling17 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful16 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good14 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun12 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking12 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 10 with a twist

  • Happy19
  • Bittersweet25
  • Tragic3
  • Ambiguous16
  • 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 Bill Paxton's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 52 of their 77 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (23).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Bill Paxton'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

100 credits, 77 with a MovieCove page; 26 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • You Gotta Believe(2024)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • The Circle(2017)

    as Vinnie Holland

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all films

  • Training Day (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    Show 13 episodes · as Frank Rourke

  • Mean Dreams(2016)

    as Wayne Caraway

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • Term Life(2016)

    as Detective Keenan

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • The Gamechangers(2015)

    as Jack Thompson

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • Pixies(2015)

    as Eddie Beck (voice)

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films

  • Texas Rising(2015)

    Show 5 episodes · as Sam Houston

    Midcredits score: 34th percentile of all shows

  • Nightcrawler(2014)

    as Joe Loder

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • Edge of Tomorrow(2014)

    as Master Sergeant Farell

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • Million Dollar Arm(2014)

    as Tom House

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • JFK: The Final Hours (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    as Narrator (voice)

  • Red Wing(2013)

    as Jim Verret

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • Parkland(2013)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.(2013)

    Show 6 episodes · as John Garrett

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all shows

  • 2 Guns(2013)

    as Earl

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • The Colony(2013)

    as Mason

    Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all films

  • Hatfields & McCoys(2012)

    Show 3 episodes · as Randall McCoy

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • Shanghai Calling(2012)

    as Donald

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • Haywire(2011)

    as John Kane

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • Tattoo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    Director · Story

  • Curiosity(2011)

    Show as Narrator (US version)

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all shows

  • The Good Life (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    Executive Producer · as Robbie

  • Big Love(2006)

    Show 53 episodes · as Bill Henrickson

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all shows

  • The Greatest Game Ever Played(2005)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films

  • Magnificent Desolation: Walking on the Moon (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    as Ed Mitchell (voice)

  • Haven(2004)

    as Carl Ridley

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • Thunderbirds(2004)

    as Jeff Tracy

    Midcredits score: 10th percentile of all films

  • Club Dread(2004)

    as Coconut Pete

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films

  • Spy Kids 3: Game Over(2003)

    as Dinky Winks

    Midcredits score: 11th percentile of all films

  • Resistance(2003)

    as Ted Brice

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films

  • Spy Kids 2: Island of Lost Dreams(2002)

    as Dinky Winks

    Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all films

  • Frailty(2001)

    Director · as Dad Meiks

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films

  • Vertical Limit(2000)

    as Elliot Vaughn

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films

  • U-571(2000)

    as Lt. Cmdr. Mike Dahlgren

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • Mighty Joe Young(1998)

    as Gregg O'Hara

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • A Simple Plan(1998)

    as Hank Mitchell

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • A Bright Shining Lie(1998)

    as John Paul Vann

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • Titanic(1997)

    as Brock Lovett

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Traveller(1997)

    Producer · as Bokky

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • The Evening Star(1996)

    as Jerry Bruckner

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films

  • Twister(1996)

    as Bill

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • The Last Supper(1995)

    as Zachary Cody

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • Apollo 13(1995)

    as Fred Haise

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Frank & Jesse(1994)

    as Frank James

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • True Lies(1994)

    as Simon

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • Future Shock(1994)

    as Vince

    Midcredits score: 6th percentile of all films

  • Tombstone(1993)

    as Morgan Earp

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • Frasier(1993)

    Show 1 episode · as Ernie (voice)

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all shows

  • Monolith(1993)

    as Tucker

    Midcredits score: 10th percentile of all films

  • Indian Summer(1993)

    as Jack Belston

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • Boxing Helena(1993)

    as Ray O'Malley

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all films

  • Trespass(1992)

    as Vince

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • The Tonight Show with Jay Leno (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    Show 2 episodes · Actor

  • The Vagrant(1992)

    as Graham Krakowski

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films

  • One False Move(1991)

    as Dale "Hurricane" Dixon

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • The Dark Backward(1991)

    as Gus

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films

  • Predator 2(1990)

    as Jerry Lambert

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • Navy Seals(1990)

    as Floyd Dane

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films

  • The Last of the Finest(1990)

    as Howard 'Hojo' Jones

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • Brain Dead(1990)

    as Jim Reston

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • The Making of Slipstream (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Actor

  • Next of Kin(1989)

    as Gerald Gates

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films

  • Slipstream(1989)

    as Matt Owens

    Midcredits score: 10th percentile of all films

  • Tales from the Crypt(1989)

    Show 1 episode · as Billy DeLuca

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all shows

  • The Roommate (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Actor

  • Back to Back (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    as Bo Brand

  • Pass the Ammo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    as Jesse Wilkes

  • Martini Ranch: Reach (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    Producer · Writer · as The Outlaw

  • Near Dark(1987)

    as Severen

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

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

    Director · Actor

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

    Show 5 episodes · as Billy Joe Bobb

  • Aliens(1986)

    as Private Hudson

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • Commando(1985)

    as Intercept Officer

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • Weird Science(1985)

    as Chet

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • An Early Frost(1985)

    as Bob Maracek

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • The Atlanta Child Murders (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Show 2 episodes · as Campbell

  • The Terminator(1984)

    as Punk Leader

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • Impulse(1984)

    as Eddie

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • Miami Vice(1984)

    Show 1 episode · as Vic Romano

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all shows

  • Streets of Fire(1984)

    as Clyde the Bartender

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • The Hitchhiker (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    Show 1 episode · as Trout

  • Deadly Lessons (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    as Eddie Fox

  • The Lords of Discipline(1983)

    as Gilbreath

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • Great Day (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    as Rudy

  • Riding Fast (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    as Bobo

  • Taking Tiger Mountain (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Production Design · as Billy Hampton

  • Mortuary(1982)

    as Paul Andrews

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films

  • Butcher, Baker, Nightmare Maker(1981)

    as Eddie

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • Galaxy of Terror(1981)

    Set Decoration

    Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all films

  • Stripes(1981)

    as Soldier

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • Fish Heads (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    Director · Cinematographer · Editor · Producer · Actor

  • The Six O'Clock Follies (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    Show 6 episodes · Actor

  • The Egyptian Princess (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    Producer · as The Man

  • Death Game(1977)

    Assistant Art Director

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • Eat My Dust(1976)

    Set Decoration

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films

  • Beach Blanket Bango (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    Art Direction

  • Saturday Night Live(1975)

    Show 1 episode · Director · as Man in Fish Heads (uncredited) · as Self - Host

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all shows

  • Crazy Mama(1975)

    as John

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films

  • Big Bad Mama(1974)

    Set Dresser

    Midcredits score: 35th 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 98 titles from 1974 to 2017; peak year 1993.

Biggest box office

Titanic (1997)

$2.3B worldwide

Highest rated

Aliens (1986)

Midcredits 99th

Most popular right now

Titanic (1997)

Film career

MilestoneAward winNomination
19742017

Peak 1993 · back in prominent film roles after a quiet stretch. Top draw in 30 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.

Show 1 more milestone

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting90 of 98: 81 only acting, 9 with another role · typical Midcredits score53rdDirecting6 of 98: 1 only directing, 5 with another roleWriting2 of 98: 0 only writing, 2 with another roleProducing6 of 98: 1 only producing, 5 with another roleCinematography1 of 98: 0 only cinematography, 1 with another roleEditing1 of 98: 0 only editing, 1 with another roleOther crew6 of 98: 5 only other crew, 1 with another role

98 titles, 10 with more than one role — acting and directing overlap on 4 of them.

By decade

1970s7 · 3 acting · 6 crew1980s32 · 31 acting · 5 crew1990s26 · 26 acting · 1 crew2000s13 · 12 acting · 3 crew2010s20 · 18 acting · 2 crew

Billing

usually 4th · top billed in 11% of 56 roles
758590950005

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.

Awards

a Screen Actors Guild Award from 8 major nominations, 1996–2013.

WinNomination
  1. 2013
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries
  2. 2012
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie
  3. 2010
    • Golden Globe, nominated · Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Drama
  4. 2008
    • Golden Globe, nominated · Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Drama
  5. 2007
    • Golden Globe, nominated · Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Drama
  6. 1999
    • Golden Globe, nominated · Best Performance by an Actor in a Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television
  7. 1998
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Performance by a Cast
  8. 1996
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, won · Outstanding Performance by a Cast

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 Bill Paxton's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 48th percentile, the median of all 68; across their 60 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 50th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

50thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 60

Approval · how many liked their films

51stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 60

Reach · how many have seen their films

86thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 60

Midcredits score across 77 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up20
  • 50th to 74th22
  • 25th to 49th21
  • Below 25th14

Shape of the crowd

31 of their 77 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved10
  • Universally Panned1
  • Cult Classic2
  • Crowd Pleaser31
  • Broadly Agreed9
  • Mixed24

Most divisive · actor

Red Wing (2013)

76th percentile spread · 19% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Aliens (1986)

Midcredits 99th · 91% liked

Reviewers score the acting 68/100 in their films, across 55 reviewed titles; fans 77, detractors 42. 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 Bill Paxton's work okay for kids?

Across up to 35 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 & Gore28 titles37–85 · median 67 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity35 titles9–66 · median 26 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity30 titles39–87 · median 62 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs27 titles26–60 · median 33 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense28 titles33–80 · median 62 · intenseheavier 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 Bill Paxton work with?

People who share at least 2 of Bill Paxton's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Tom Hanks shares the most, 5.

Directors

Actors

Composers and cinematographers

Producers

Mixed roles