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Ellen Barkin

Ellen Barkin

Actor, also producer · Born April 16, 1954 (72) · New York City, New York, USA

Ellen Rona Barkin (born April 16, 1954) is an American actress. Her breakthrough role was in the 1982 film Diner, and in the following years, she had starring roles in films such as Tender Mercies (1983), Eddie and the Cruisers (1983), The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension (1984), The Big Easy (1986), Johnny Handsome, and Sea of Love (both 1989).

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
April 16, 1954 (72)
From
New York City, New York, USA
Works as
Actor, also producer
Titles
60 on MovieCove · 69 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 64 days to Oct 27Down 17% in 30 days

What are Ellen Barkin's films like?

Across their 51 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Self.

Genres

Comedy16 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 35th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Drama10 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 45th percentile
: browse their Drama movies
Action8 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 25th percentile
: browse their Action movies
Crime5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 62nd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Crime movies
Biography4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 51st percentile
: browse their Biography movies
Adventure3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 69th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Adventure movies
Documentary2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 81st percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Documentary 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
30%
Self
23%
Morality
20%
Survival
11%
Society
7%
Power
6%
Ideas
4%
Family bonds16 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity9 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love8 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception8 titles, browse their movies with this themeComing of age6 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice6 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship4 titles, browse their movies with this themeRedemption5 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 49 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Serious: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their serious movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 16 · Serious 17 · Dark 16

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

A split, not a type: Grounded 22 · Stylized 21 · Heightened 6

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

Gentle 12 · Charged 21 · Intense 16

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

Steady 13 · Shifting 28 · Whiplash 8

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 24 · Some laughs 15 · Funny 10

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

Slow burn 18 · Even-paced 29 · Relentless 2

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

Casual 21 · Engaged 23 · Full focus 5

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

Easy watch 17 · Affecting 20 · Heavy 12

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

Resolved 30 · Open-ended 15 · Ambiguous 4

Roles they play

32 analyzed roles

Usually the Ally: 8 of 32 analyzed roles.

Ally
8 of 32
Hero
6 of 32
Shapeshifter
5 of 32
Herald
4 of 32
Shadow
4 of 32
Threshold guardian
3 of 32
Trickster
2 of 32
Show the 32 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
29
Melancholic
24
Absurd
16
Warm
12
Contemplative
11
Other
52

How their films linger

Bittersweet18 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful14 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking12 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good12 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun11 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting13 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 9 with a twist

  • Happy14
  • Bittersweet23
  • Tragic5
  • Ambiguous8
  • 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 Ellen Barkin's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 38 of their 60 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (18).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Ellen Barkin'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

69 credits, 60 with a MovieCove page; 13 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • The Out-Laws(2023)

    as Lilly McDermott

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films

  • Poker Face(2023)

    Show 1 episode · as Kathleen Townsend

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all shows

  • The Man from Toronto(2022)

    as The Handler

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • Breaking News in Yuba County(2021)

    as Debbie

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films

  • Active Adults(2017)

    as Lucy

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films

  • The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks(2017)

    as Sasha Walz

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • Hands of Stone(2016)

    as Stephanie Arcel

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • Animal Kingdom(2016)

    Show 49 episodes · as Janine "Smurf" Cody

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all shows

  • Happyish(2015)

    Show 10 episodes · as Dani Kirschenbloom

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all shows

  • Larry Kramer in Love and Anger(2015)

    as Dr. Emma Brookner

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • The Cobbler(2014)

    as Elaine Greenawalt

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • Very Good Girls(2013)

    as Norma Berger

    Midcredits score: 34th percentile of all films

  • The New Normal(2012)

    Show 22 episodes · as Jane Forrest

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all shows

  • Another Happy Day(2011)

    Producer · as Lynn

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • Twelve(2010)

    as Jessica's Mother

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • Operation: Endgame(2010)

    as Empress

    Midcredits score: 12th percentile of all films

  • The Chameleon(2010)

    as Kimberly Miller

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films

  • Shit Year(2010)

    Executive Producer · as Colleen West

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films

  • Letters to Juliet(2010)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • Brooklyn's Finest(2009)

    as Agent Smith

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • Happy Tears(2009)

    as Shelly

    Midcredits score: 17th percentile of all films

  • Modern Family(2009)

    Show 1 episode · as Mitzi Roth

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all shows

  • Ocean's Thirteen(2007)

    as Abigail Sponder

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • Trust the Man(2005)

    as Norah

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films

  • Palindromes(2004)

    as Joyce Victor

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • She Hate Me(2004)

    as Margo Chadwick

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films

  • Someone Like You(2001)

    as Diane Roberts

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films

  • Crime + Punishment in Suburbia(2000)

    as Maggie Skolnick

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • Mercy(2000)

    as Det. Catherine Palmer

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films

  • Drop Dead Gorgeous(1999)

    as Annette Atkins

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • The White River Kid(1999)

    as Eva Nell La Fangroy

    Midcredits score: 12th percentile of all films

  • Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas(1998)

    as Waitress at North Star Cafe

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • Before Women Had Wings (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    as Glory Marie Jackson

  • King of the Hill(1997)

    Show 1 episode · as Lenore (voice)

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all shows

  • Mad Dog Time(1996)

    as Rita Everly

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films

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

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Fan(1996)

    as Jewel Stern

    Midcredits score: 34th percentile of all films

  • Wild Bill(1995)

    as Calamity Jane

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films

  • Bad Company(1995)

    as Margaret Wells

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films

  • This Boy's Life(1993)

    as Caroline

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • Into the West(1992)

    as Kathleen

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • Mac(1992)

    as Oona Goldfarb

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • Man Trouble(1992)

    as Joan Spruance

    Midcredits score: 7th percentile of all films

  • Switch(1991)

    as Amanda Brooks

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • Sea of Love(1989)

    as Helen Cruger

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • Johnny Handsome(1989)

    as Sunny Boyd

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • Blood Money(1988)

    as Nadine Powers

    Midcredits score: 5th percentile of all films

  • Siesta(1987)

    as Claire

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • Made in Heaven(1987)

    as Lucille (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • The Big Easy(1986)

    as Anne Osborne

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • Down by Law(1986)

    as Laurette

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • Act of Vengeance(1986)

    as Annette Gilly

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films

  • The Princess Who Had Never Laughed (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    as Princess Henrietta

  • Desert Bloom(1986)

    as Aunt Starr

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • Terminal Choice (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    as Mary O'Connor

  • The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension(1984)

    as Penny Priddy

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • Terrible Joe Moran (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    as Ronnie

  • Harry & Son (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    as Katie Wilowski

  • Eddie and the Cruisers(1983)

    as Maggie Foley

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films

  • Daniel(1983)

    as Phyllis Isaacson

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • Tender Mercies(1983)

    as Sue Anne

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • Enormous Changes at the Last Minute(1983)

    as Virginia

    Midcredits score: 8th percentile of all films

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

    Show 1 episode · as Princess Henrietta

  • Parole (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    as Donna

  • Diner(1982)

    as Beth Schreiber

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • We're Fighting Back(1981)

    as Chris Capoletti

    Midcredits score: 43rd percentile of all films

  • Kent State(1981)

    as Student (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films

  • Up in Smoke(1978)

    as Woman Playing Guitar (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • White Lies (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 68 titles, 67 of them dated from 1978 to 2023; peak year 1992.

Biggest box office

Ocean's Thirteen (2007)

$311M worldwide

Highest rated

Down by Law (1986)

Midcredits 96th

Most popular right now

Animal Kingdom (2016)

Film career

19782023

Peak 1992 · steadily prominent in film for years. Top draw in 13 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
Acting67 of 68: 65 only acting, 2 with another role · typical Midcredits score44thProducing3 of 68: 1 only producing, 2 with another role

By decade

1970s1 · acting1980s23 · acting1990s15 · acting2000s9 · acting2010s15 · 14 acting · 3 crew2020s4 · acting

Billing

usually 3rd · top billed in 12% of 42 roles
8287970212

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 Ellen Barkin's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 42nd percentile, the median of all 54; across their 49 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 40th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

40thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 49

Approval · how many liked their films

42ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 49

Reach · how many have seen their films

84thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 49

Midcredits score across 60 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up15
  • 50th to 74th13
  • 25th to 49th22
  • Below 25th10

Shape of the crowd

22 of their 60 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved4
  • Cult Classic1
  • Crowd Pleaser22
  • Broadly Agreed11
  • Mixed22

Most divisive · actor

We're Fighting Back (1981)

85th percentile spread · 28% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Down by Law (1986)

Midcredits 96th · 85% liked

Reviewers score the acting 70/100 in their films, across 48 reviewed titles; fans 79, 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 Ellen Barkin's work okay for kids?

Across up to 31 MovieCove titles with content scores, violence & gore, sex & nudity and profanity run heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore21 titles6–80 · median 60 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity31 titles13–69 · median 44 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity21 titles39–88 · median 62 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs16 titles19–72 · median 37 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense18 titles8–68 · median 34 · mildnear 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 Ellen Barkin work with?

People who share at least 2 of Ellen Barkin's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Robert De Niro shares the most, 3.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles