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Karen Allen

Karen Allen

Actor · Born October 5, 1951 (75) · Carrollton, Illinois, USA

Independent Spirit Award nominee

Karen Jane Allen (born October 5, 1951) is an American actress best known for her role as Marion Ravenwood in Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) and Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008). Allen has also had roles in films including National Lampoon's Animal House (1978), The Wanderers (1979), Cruising (1980), Starman (1984), Scrooged (1988), The Sandlot (1993), and Poster Boy (2004).

Read more

Biography from TMDB.

Born
October 5, 1951 (75)
From
Carrollton, Illinois, USA
Works as
Actor
Titles
50 on MovieCove · 70 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 155 days to Oct 26

What are Karen Allen's films like?

Across their 45 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Self.

Genres

Drama21 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 39th percentile
: browse their Drama movies
Comedy7 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 37th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Action4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 50th percentile
: browse their Action movies
Crime3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 89th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Crime movies
Documentary3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 93rd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Documentary movies
Adventure2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 69th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Adventure movies
Horror2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 15th percentile
: browse their Horror 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
Bonds
25%
Self
18%
Survival
15%
Morality
14%
Society
14%
Power
9%
Ideas
5%
Family bonds12 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love7 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity6 titles, browse their movies with this themeGrief6 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice6 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose6 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship4 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception6 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 45 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 18 · Serious 8 · Dark 19

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

Grounded 29 · Stylized 12 · Heightened 4

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

Gentle 9 · Charged 24 · Intense 12

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

Steady 25 · Shifting 15 · Whiplash 5

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

Straight-faced 27 · Some laughs 14 · Funny 4

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

A split, not a type: Slow burn 25 · Even-paced 16 · Relentless 4

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

Casual 17 · Engaged 25 · Full focus 3

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 14 · Affecting 13 · Heavy 18

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

Resolved 29 · Open-ended 13 · Ambiguous 3

Roles they play

24 analyzed roles

Usually the Hero: 7 of 24 analyzed roles.

Hero
7 of 24
Ally
7 of 24
Shapeshifter
3 of 24
Herald
3 of 24
Threshold guardian
2 of 24
Shadow
1 of 24
Mentor
1 of 24
Show the 24 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
22
Melancholic
22
Warm
16
Contemplative
12
Hopeful
13
Other
35

How their films linger

Hopeful20 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good14 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet10 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking10 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting10 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling9 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 4 with a twist

  • Happy14
  • Bittersweet18
  • Tragic3
  • Ambiguous10

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 Karen Allen's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 25 of their 50 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (11).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Karen Allen'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

70 credits, 50 with a MovieCove page; 13 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Other Mommy(2026)

    as Grandma Ruth

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films

  • The Easy Kind (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2024)

    as Kathy

  • Unsinkable(2024)

    as Nancy Smith

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films

  • A Stage of Twilight(2022)

    as Cora

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny(2023)

    as Marion

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • The Last Movie Stars (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2022)

    Show 1 episode · as Frances Woodward (voice) · as Self · as Self / Frances Woodward

  • Going Home(2022)

    Show 1 episode · as Bonnie

    Midcredits score: 52nd percentile of all shows

  • Things Heard & Seen(2021)

    as Mare Laughton

    Midcredits score: 17th percentile of all films

  • 50 States of Fright (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2020)

    Show 3 episodes · as Sheriff Stallings

  • Colewell(2019)

    as Nora

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • A Tree. A Rock. A Cloud. (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    Director · Screenplay · as director

  • Spielberg(2017)

    as Marion

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • Year by the Sea(2016)

    as Joan

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • Bad Hurt(2015)

    as Elaine Kendall

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • November Christmas(2010)

    as Claire Sanford

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films

  • White Irish Drinkers(2010)

    as Margaret

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • Blue Bloods(2010)

    Show 1 episode · as Betty Lowe

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all shows

  • A Dog Year(2009)

    as Paula (voice)

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull(2008)

    as Marion Ravenwood

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • Shaka Zulu: The Citadel (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    as Katherine Farewell

  • When Will I Be Loved(2004)

    as Alexandra Barrie

    Midcredits score: 9th percentile of all films

  • Poster Boy(2004)

    as Eunice Kray

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films

  • Briar Patch(2002)

    as Butcher Lee

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • Where Are They Now?: A Delta Alumni Update (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    as Katy Schoenstein

  • World Traveler (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    as Delores

  • In the Bedroom(2001)

    as Marla Keyes

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films

  • My Horrible Year! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    as Belinda Faulkner

  • The Perfect Storm(2000)

    as Melissa Brown

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • Wind River(2000)

    as Martha

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • The Basket(1999)

    as Bessie Emery

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • Falling Sky (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    as Resse Nicholson

  • Law & Order: Special Victims Unit(1999)

    Show 1 episode · as Paula Varney

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • All the Winters That Have Been(1997)

    as Hannah Raven

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • 'Til There Was You(1997)

    as Betty Dawkan

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films

  • Hostile Advances: The Kerry Ellison Story(1996)

    as Margaret

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films

  • The Road Home (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    Show 6 episodes · as Alison Matson

  • Ghost in the Machine(1993)

    as Terry Munroe

    Midcredits score: 9th percentile of all films

  • King of the Hill(1993)

    as Miss Mathey

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films

  • Voyage (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    as Catherine 'Kit' Norvell

  • The Sandlot(1993)

    as Mom

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • Rapture (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    as Georgianne Corcoran

  • Malcolm X(1992)

    as Miss Dunne

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Nonsense and Lullabyes: Poems (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    as (voice)

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

    Show 2 episodes · Actor

  • Nonesense and Lullabyes: Nursery Rhymes(1992)

    as (voice)

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • The Turning (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    as Glory Lawson

  • Sweet Talker(1991)

    as Julie Maguire

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • Law & Order(1990)

    Show 1 episode · as Judith Sandler

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all shows

  • Secret Weapon (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    as Ruth

  • Challenger(1990)

    as Christa McAuliffe

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films

  • Animal Behavior (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    as Alex Bristow

  • Scrooged(1988)

    as Claire Phillips

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • Backfire(1987)

    as Mara McAndrew

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films

  • The Glass Menagerie(1987)

    as Laura Wingfield

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • Terminus(1987)

    as Gus

    Midcredits score: 2nd percentile of all films

  • The New Alfred Hitchcock Presents (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Show 1 episode · as Jackie Foster

  • Starman(1984)

    as Jenny Hayden

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • Until September(1984)

    as Mo Alexander

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • Split Image(1982)

    as Rebecca / Amy

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • Shoot the Moon(1982)

    as Sandy

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films

  • Raiders of the Lost Ark(1981)

    as Marion Ravenwood

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • East of Eden (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    Show 3 episodes · as Abra

  • A Small Circle of Friends(1980)

    as Jessica Bloom

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films

  • Cruising(1980)

    as Nancy Gates

    Midcredits score: 63rd percentile of all films

  • Knots Landing(1979)

    Show 1 episode · as Annie Fairgate

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all shows

  • The Wanderers(1979)

    as Nina

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • Manhattan(1979)

    as Television Actor #2

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Lovey: A Circle of Children, Part II(1978)

    as Elizabeth

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • National Lampoon's Animal House(1978)

    as Katy

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • The Cutting Room Floor (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 69 titles, 68 of them dated from 1978 to 2026; peak year 1987.

Biggest box office

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008)

$787M worldwide

Highest rated

Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)

Midcredits 99th

Most popular right now

Other Mommy (2026)

Film career

MilestoneBreakout
19782026

Peak 1987 · back in prominent film roles after a quiet stretch. Top draw in 8 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
Acting69 of 69: 68 only acting, 1 with another role · typical Midcredits score52ndDirecting1 of 69: 0 only directing, 1 with another roleWriting1 of 69: 0 only writing, 1 with another role

By decade

1970s5 · acting1980s14 · acting1990s20 · acting2000s13 · acting2010s7 · 7 acting · 1 crew2020s9 · acting

Billing

usually 3rd · top billed in 4% of 26 roles
78839808

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

2 major nominations and no wins, 1988–2020.

  1. 2020
    • Independent Spirit Award, nominated · Best Female Lead
  2. 1988
    • Independent Spirit Award, nominated · Best Supporting Female

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 Karen Allen's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 51st percentile, the median of all 45; across their 45 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 47th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

47thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 45

Approval · how many liked their films

54thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 45

Reach · how many have seen their films

62ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 45

Midcredits score across 50 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up16
  • 50th to 74th11
  • 25th to 49th14
  • Below 25th9

Shape of the crowd

15 of their 50 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved9
  • Universally Panned1
  • Loved with Detractors1
  • Divisive2
  • Cult Classic4
  • Crowd Pleaser15
  • Broadly Agreed3
  • Mixed15

Most divisive · actor

Nonesense and Lullabyes: Nursery Rhymes (1992)

96th percentile spread · 50% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)

Midcredits 99th · 93% liked

Reviewers score the acting 72/100 in their films, across 40 reviewed titles; fans 80, detractors 47. 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 Karen Allen's work okay for kids?

Across up to 17 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 & Gore13 titles35–81 · median 57 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity17 titles15–70 · median 37 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity13 titles37–73 · median 57 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs13 titles31–63 · median 40 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense12 titles27–80 · median 59 · moderateheavier 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 Karen Allen work with?

People who share at least 2 of Karen Allen's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Harrison Ford shares the most, 5.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles