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Sam Elliott

Sam Elliott

Actor, also producer and writer · Born August 9, 1944 (82) · Sacramento, California, USA

Samuel Pack Elliott (born August 9, 1944) is an American actor. His rangy physique, thick horseshoe mustache, and deep, resonant voice (with a Western twang/drawl) match the iconic image of a cowboy or rancher, and he has often been cast in such roles.

Biography from TMDB.

Born
August 9, 1944 (82)
From
Sacramento, California, USA
Works as
Actor, also producer and writer
Titles
79 on MovieCove · 107 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 12% in 30 days

What are Sam Elliott's films like?

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

Genres

Drama17 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 70th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Action15 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 36th percentile
: browse their Action movies
Documentary8 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 87th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Documentary movies
Comedy6 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 61st percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Comedy movies
Biography4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 77th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Biography movies
Animation3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 46th percentile
: browse their Animation movies
Horror2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 18th 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
Morality
24%
Bonds
18%
Self
18%
Survival
14%
Society
12%
Ideas
8%
Power
5%
Family bonds13 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice14 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival10 titles, browse their movies with this themeSelf-worth8 titles, browse their movies with this themeLegacy7 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity8 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose5 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception6 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 59 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Serious: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their serious movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 21 · Serious 21 · Dark 17

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

Grounded 37 · Stylized 19 · Heightened 3

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

Gentle 15 · Charged 24 · Intense 20

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

A split, not a type: Steady 29 · Shifting 22 · 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 32 · Some laughs 22 · Funny 5

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 27 · Even-paced 23 · Relentless 9

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

Casual 25 · Engaged 29 · Full focus 5

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 23 · Affecting 20 · Heavy 16

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

Resolved 46 · Open-ended 11 · Ambiguous 2

Roles they play

40 analyzed roles

Usually the Hero: 16 of 40 analyzed roles.

Hero
16 of 40
Mentor
10 of 40
Ally
5 of 40
Threshold guardian
5 of 40
Shadow
2 of 40
Trickster
1 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
36
Warm
19
Melancholic
23
Contemplative
14
Thrilling
10
Other
65

How their films linger

Bittersweet27 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good18 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful18 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking14 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun13 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteRousing11 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 10 with a twist

  • Happy22
  • Bittersweet30
  • Tragic5
  • Ambiguous5
  • Cyclical1
  • Other1

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 Sam Elliott's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 50 of their 79 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (23).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Sam Elliott'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

107 credits, 79 with a MovieCove page; 14 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • The Gettysburg Address(2025)

    as Ward Hill Lamon (voice)

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Landman(2024)

    Show 10 episodes · as Thomas 'T.L.' Norris

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all shows

  • 1883(2021)

    Show 10 episodes · as Shea Brennan

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • MacGruber(2021)

    Show 4 episodes · as Perry MacGruber

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all shows

  • Honor Guard(2020)

    Show as Narrator

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all shows (provisional, few ratings)

  • Lady and the Tramp(2019)

    as Trusty (voice)

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • The Man Who Killed Hitler and Then the Bigfoot(2018)

    as Calvin Barr

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • A Star Is Born(2018)

    as Bobby Maine

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

  • Audubon(2017)

    as Narrator (voice)

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • The Hero(2017)

    as Lee Hayden

    Midcredits score: 63rd percentile of all films

  • Rock Dog(2016)

    as Fleetwood Yak (voice)

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • The Ranch(2016)

    Show 80 episodes · as Beau

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all shows

  • Limbo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    as The Dog (voice)

  • A Tale of Two Cities: Part 2 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    as Narrator (voice)

  • A Tale of Two Cities (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    as Narrator (voice)

  • The Good Dinosaur(2015)

    as Butch (voice)

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • Digging for Fire(2015)

    as Pop Pop

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • Grandma(2015)

    as Karl

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • I'll See You in My Dreams(2015)

    as Bill

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • Grace and Frankie(2015)

    Show 4 episodes · as Phil

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all shows

  • Draft Day(2014)

    as Coach Moore

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • The Company You Keep(2012)

    as Mac McLeod

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • November Christmas(2010)

    as Jess Sanford

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films

  • The Big Bang(2010)

    as Simon Kestral

    Midcredits score: 22nd percentile of all films

  • Marmaduke(2010)

    as Chupadogra (voice)

    Midcredits score: 10th percentile of all films

  • Justified(2010)

    Show 4 episodes · as Avery Markham

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • Did You Hear About the Morgans?(2009)

    as Clay Wheeler

    Midcredits score: 11th percentile of all films

  • Up in the Air(2009)

    as Maynard Finch

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films

  • Parks and Recreation(2009)

    Show 3 episodes · as Ron Dunn

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • The Golden Compass(2007)

    as Lee Scoresby

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films

  • Ghost Rider(2007)

    as Carter Slade / Phantom Rider

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films

  • Barnyard(2006)

    as Ben (voice)

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films

  • Avenger(2006)

    as Calvin Dexter

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • Lies & Alibis(2006)

    as The Mormon

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • Thank You for Smoking(2005)

    as Lorne Lutch

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • Robot Chicken(2005)

    Show 1 episode · as Sam Elliott / Commissioner Gordon (voice) · as White Wine Narrator / Skito / Reporter (voice)

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all shows

  • American Dad!(2005)

    Show 1 episode · as Big John Tanner (voice)

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all shows

  • Off the Map(2003)

    as Charley

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • Hulk(2003)

    as Ross

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • Cher: The Farewell Tour(2003)

    as Gar

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • We Were Soldiers(2002)

    as Sgt. Maj. Basil Plumley

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • Pretty When You Cry(2001)

    as Detective Lukas Black

    Midcredits score: 4th percentile of all films

  • The Contender(2000)

    as Kermit Newman

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • Fail Safe(2000)

    as Congressman Raskob

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • You Know My Name(1999)

    Producer · as Bill Tilghman

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • Family Guy(1999)

    Show 26 episodes · as Sam Elliott (voice) · as Wild Wild West (voice)

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all shows

  • The Hi-Lo Country(1998)

    as Jim Ed Love

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • The Big Lebowski(1998)

    as The Stranger

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • Dog Watch(1997)

    as Charlie Falon

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films

  • Rough Riders(1997)

    Show 2 episodes · as Capt. Bucky O'Neil

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all shows

  • Woman Undone(1996)

    as Ross Bishop

    Midcredits score: 13th percentile of all films

  • Blue River (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    as Henry Howland

  • The Final Cut(1995)

    as John Pierce

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • The Ranger, the Cook and a Hole in the Sky(1995)

    as Bill Bell

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • Buffalo Girls (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    as Wild Bill Hickok

  • The Desperate Trail(1994)

    as Marshall Bill Speakes

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • Tombstone(1993)

    as Virgil Earp

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • Fugitive Nights: Danger in the Desert(1993)

    as Lyn Cutter

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • Gettysburg(1993)

    as Brig. Gen. John Buford

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • Rush(1991)

    as Dodd

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • Conagher(1991)

    Producer · Teleplay · as Conn Conagher

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films

  • Sibling Rivalry(1990)

    as Charles Turner Jr.

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films

  • Prancer(1989)

    as John Riggs

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • Road House(1989)

    as Wade Garrett

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • Shakedown(1988)

    as Richie Marks

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • Fatal Beauty(1987)

    as Mike Marshak

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • The Quick and the Dead(1987)

    as Con Villian

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • Houston: The Legend of Texas(1986)

    Producer · as Sam Houston

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • The Blue Lightning (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    as Harry Wingate

  • A Death in California (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Show 2 episodes · as D. Jordan Williams

  • Mask(1985)

    as Gar

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • The Yellow Rose (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    Show 22 episodes · as Chance McKenzie

  • Travis McGee (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    as Travis McGee

  • The Shadow Riders(1982)

    as Dal Traven

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • Murder in Texas (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    Show 2 episodes · as Dr. John Hill

  • Wild Times (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    Show 2 episodes · as Hugh Cardiff

  • The Sacketts (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    Show 2 episodes · as Tell Sacket

  • The Legacy(1978)

    as Pete Danner

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • Aspen (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    Show 3 episodes · as Tom Keating

  • Once an Eagle (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    Show 7 episodes · as Sam Damon

  • Lifeguard(1976)

    as Rick Carlson

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • I Will Fight No More Forever(1975)

    as Captain Wood

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • Police Woman (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    Show 1 episode · as Michael Gregory

  • The Manhunter (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Evel Knievel (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    as Evel Knievel

  • The Blue Knight (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    as Detective Charlie Bronski

  • The Blue Knight (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    Show 4 episodes · as Detective Charlie Bronski

  • Doc Elliot (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Hawkins (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    Show 1 episode · as Luther Wilkes

  • Molly and Lawless John(1972)

    as Johnny Lawler

    Midcredits score: 17th percentile of all films

  • The Streets of San Francisco (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    Show 1 episode · as Ken Johnson

  • Frogs(1972)

    as Pickett Smith

    Midcredits score: 7th percentile of all films

  • Assault on the Wayne(1971)

    as Ens. William 'Bill' Sandover

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • The Games(1970)

    as Richie Robinson

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • The Challenge(1970)

    as Bryant

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid(1969)

    as Card Player #2

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • Hawaii Five-O(1968)

    Show 1 episode · as Jack Houston

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all shows

  • Lancer (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    Show 3 episodes · Actor

  • The Mod Squad (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Land of the Giants(1968)

    Show 1 episode · as Martin Reed

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all shows

  • Mannix(1967)

    Show Actor

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all shows

  • The Way West(1967)

    as Missouri Townsman (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • Mission: Impossible(1966)

    Show 13 episodes · as Doug Robert

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all shows

  • Felony Squad (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

    Show 3 episodes · Actor

  • The F.B.I. (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    Show 1 episode · as SAC Kendall Lisbon

  • Gunsmoke (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    Show 1 episode · as Cory Soames

  • Grendel (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    as The Dragon

Career shape

Star power in the 99th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 105 titles, 104 of them dated from 1955 to 2025; peak year 2019.

Biggest box office

A Star Is Born (2018)

$440M worldwide

Highest rated

1883: The Road West (2022)

Midcredits 99th

Most popular right now

Ghost Rider (2007)

Film career

19552025

Peak 2019 · at the high point of their film career. Top draw in 18 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
Acting105 of 105: 104 only acting, 1 with another role · typical Midcredits score63rdWriting1 of 105: 0 only writing, 1 with another roleProducing1 of 105: 0 only producing, 1 with another role

By decade

1950s1 · acting1960s10 · acting1970s19 · acting1980s14 · acting1990s18 · 18 acting · 1 crew2000s17 · acting2010s21 · acting2020s4 · acting

Billing

usually 4th · top billed in 17% of 46 roles
698494040914

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 Sam Elliott's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 58th percentile, the median of all 63; across their 59 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 61st percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

61stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 59

Approval · how many liked their films

62ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 59

Reach · how many have seen their films

72ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 59

Midcredits score across 79 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up26
  • 50th to 74th25
  • 25th to 49th19
  • Below 25th9

Shape of the crowd

35 of their 79 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved14
  • Universally Panned1
  • Loved with Detractors1
  • Divisive1
  • Crowd Pleaser35
  • Broadly Agreed7
  • Mixed20

Most divisive · actor

The Gettysburg Address (2025)

98th percentile spread · 43% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

1883 (2021)

Midcredits 98th · 94% liked

Reviewers score the acting 70/100 in their films, across 53 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 Sam Elliott's work okay for kids?

Across up to 27 MovieCove titles with content scores, profanity and frightening / intense run heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore21 titles29–83 · median 54 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity27 titles10–63 · median 33 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity21 titles17–82 · median 54 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs19 titles18–76 · median 35 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense19 titles20–68 · median 58 · 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 Sam Elliott work with?

People who share at least 2 of Sam Elliott's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Katharine Ross shares the most, 4.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles