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Nancy Allen

Nancy Allen

Actor · Born June 24, 1950 (76) · New York City, New York, USA

Nancy Anne Allen (born June 24, 1950) is an American actress. She came to prominence for her performances in several films directed by Brian De Palma in the 1970s and early 1980s. Her accolades include a Golden Globe Award nomination and three Saturn Award nominations. The daughter of a New York City police lieutenant, Allen was raised in the Bronx, and attended the High School of Performing Arts, aspiring to have a career as a dancer. In her early twenties, she shifted her focus to acting and relocated to Los Angeles to pursue a career there. Her first major role was as Chris Hargensen in Brian De Palma's film adaptation of Carrie (1976). Allen was subsequently cast as the lead in the Robert Zemeckis-directed comedy I Wanna Hold Your Hand (1978), followed by a supporting part in Steven Spielberg's 1941 (1979). Allen married De Palma in 1979, and her subsequent portrayal of a prostitute who witnesses a murder in his feature Dressed to Kill (1980) earned her a Golden Globe nomination for New Star of the Year. She then appeared in De Palma's neo-noir film Blow Out (1981), playing a woman implicated in an assassination. Allen and DePalma divorced in 1984. She appeared in the science fiction films Strange Invaders (1983) and The Philadelphia Experiment (1984), and Abel Ferrara's television film The Gladiator (1986). Allen garnered mainstream fame playing Anne Lewis in Paul Verhoeven's RoboCop (1987), a role she reprised for the two sequels that followed. Other credits include Poltergeist III (1988), Limit Up (1990), and Les patriotes (1994). Allen stepped back from acting in 2008, and became involved in cancer support after her friend, Wendie Jo Sperber, died of breast cancer. In 2010, she was named executive director of the weSPARK Cancer Support Center in Los Angeles, which was founded by Sperber.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
June 24, 1950 (76)
From
New York City, New York, USA
Works as
Actor
Titles
30 on MovieCove · 44 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 63 days to Oct 26Up 4% in 30 days

What are Nancy Allen's films like?

Across their 27 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Self.

Genres

Action6 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 14th percentile
: browse their Action movies
Documentary5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 55th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Documentary movies
Comedy4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 48th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Comedy movies
Horror4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 15th percentile
: browse their Horror movies
Crime3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 83rd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Crime movies
Adventure2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 37th percentile
: browse their Adventure movies
Drama2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 57th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama 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
26%
Self
20%
Bonds
15%
Survival
14%
Society
9%
Ideas
9%
Power
7%
Justice7 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds6 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity5 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival5 titles, browse their movies with this themeArt3 titles, browse their movies with this themeRevenge3 titles, browse their movies with this themeSelf-worth3 titles, browse their movies with this themeCorruption3 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 27 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 10 · Serious 9 · Dark 8

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

A split, not a type: Grounded 12 · Stylized 10 · Heightened 5

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

Gentle 7 · Charged 13 · Intense 7

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

Steady 11 · Shifting 13 · Whiplash 3

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 15 · Some laughs 9 · Funny 3

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

Slow burn 9 · Even-paced 16 · Relentless 2

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

A split, not a type: Casual 14 · Engaged 11 · Full focus 2

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 13 · Affecting 7 · Heavy 7

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

Resolved 22 · Open-ended 5 · Ambiguous 0

Roles they play

13 analyzed roles

Usually the Ally: 6 of 13 analyzed roles.

Ally
6 of 13
Hero
3 of 13
Herald
2 of 13
Trickster
1 of 13
Shapeshifter
1 of 13
Show the 13 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
14
Dread
9
Thrilling
9
Melancholic
9
Warm
6
Other
21

How their films linger

Fun10 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good9 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 6 with a twist

  • Happy11
  • Bittersweet11
  • Tragic2
  • Ambiguous2
  • 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 Nancy Allen's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 20 of their 30 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Pluto TV (11).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Nancy 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

44 credits, 30 with a MovieCove page; 13 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Bound by Flesh(2012)

    as Voiceover

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • My Apocalypse (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    as Linda Savage

  • The Curse of Poltergeist (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    Actor

  • Circuit(2001)

    as Louise

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • The Division (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Show 1 episode · as Christine Ogden

  • Kiss Toledo Goodbye (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    as Madge

  • Children of the Corn 666: Isaac's Return(1999)

    as Rachel Colby

    Midcredits score: 3rd percentile of all films

  • Law & Order: Special Victims Unit(1999)

    Show 1 episode · as Carin Healy

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • Secret of the Andes(1998)

    as Brenda Willings

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • Out of Sight(1998)

    as Midge

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • The Pass(1998)

    as Shirley Duprey

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all films

  • Against the Law(1997)

    as Maggie Hewitt

    Midcredits score: 9th percentile of all films

  • Dusting Cliff 7 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    as Anna Bishop

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

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Making of '1941'(1996)

    as Donna Stratton

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • Valerie 23 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    as Rachel Rose

  • The Outer Limits(1995)

    Show 1 episode · as Rachel Rose

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all shows

  • Touched by an Angel(1994)

    Show 1 episode · as Megan

    Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all shows

  • The Patriots(1994)

    as Catherine Pelman

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • The Man Who Wouldn't Die(1994)

    as Jessie Gallardo

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • Acting on Impulse (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    as Cathy Thomas

  • RoboCop 3(1993)

    as Anne Lewis

    Midcredits score: 4th percentile of all films

  • The Commish(1991)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all shows

  • Memories of Murder (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    as Alice

  • RoboCop 2(1990)

    as Officer Anne Lewis

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • Limit Up (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    as Casey Falls

  • Poltergeist III(1988)

    as Patricia Wilson-Gardner

    Midcredits score: 9th percentile of all films

  • RoboCop(1987)

    as Officer Anne Lewis

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

  • Sweet Revenge(1987)

    as Jillian Grey

    Midcredits score: 5th percentile of all films

  • The Gladiator(1986)

    as Susan Neville

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films

  • Not for Publication(1984)

    as Lois

    Midcredits score: 17th percentile of all films

  • The Philadelphia Experiment(1984)

    as Allison Hayes

    Midcredits score: 43rd percentile of all films

  • The Buddy System (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    as Carrie

  • The Princess and the Pea (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    as Princess Elizabeth

  • Strange Invaders(1983)

    as Betty Walker

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films

  • Faerie Tale Theatre (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Show 1 episode · as Princess Elizabeth

  • Blow Out(1981)

    as Sally Badina

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • Dressed to Kill(1980)

    as Liz Blake

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • Home Movies(1979)

    as Kristina

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films

  • 1941(1979)

    as Donna Stratton

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • I Wanna Hold Your Hand(1978)

    as Pam Mitchell

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • Carrie(1976)

    as Chris Hargenson

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • Forced Entry (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    as Hitch Hiker

  • The Last Detail(1973)

    as Nancy

    Midcredits score: 94th 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 43 titles from 1973 to 2012; peak year 1980.

Biggest box office

RoboCop (1987)

$53M worldwide

Highest rated

RoboCop (1987)

Midcredits 95th

Most popular right now

Carrie (1976)

Film career

MilestoneBreakout
19732012

Peak 1980 · fewer prominent film roles lately. Top draw in 9 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
Acting43 of 43: 43 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score32nd

By decade

1970s5 · acting1980s14 · acting1990s19 · acting2000s4 · acting2010s1 · acting

Billing

usually 2nd · top billed in 24% of 17 roles
738393

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 Nancy Allen's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 31st percentile, the median of all 26; across their 27 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 41st percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

41stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 27

Approval · how many liked their films

36thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 27

Reach · how many have seen their films

55thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 27

Midcredits score across 30 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up10
  • 50th to 74th2
  • 25th to 49th8
  • Below 25th10

Shape of the crowd

11 of their 30 titles are Mixed.

  • Universally Loved3
  • Universally Panned1
  • Cult Classic4
  • Crowd Pleaser9
  • Broadly Agreed2
  • Mixed11

Most divisive · actor

Circuit (2001)

84th percentile spread · 34% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

RoboCop (1987)

Midcredits 95th · 83% liked

Reviewers score the acting 58/100 in their films, across 24 reviewed titles; fans 72, detractors 37. 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 Nancy Allen's work okay for kids?

Across up to 11 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 & Gore8 titles56–92 · median 75 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity11 titles11–71 · median 33 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity9 titles48–87 · median 66 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs8 titles33–73 · median 36 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense8 titles42–86 · median 70 · 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 Nancy Allen work with?

People who share at least 2 of Nancy Allen's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Brian De Palma shares the most, 5.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles