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Gene Hackman

Gene Hackman

Actor, also producer · Died February 17, 2025, aged 95 · San Bernardino, California, USA

Eugene Allen Hackman (January 30, 1930 – c. February 18, 2025) was an American actor. Hackman made his credited film debut in the drama Lilith (1964). He later won two Academy Awards, his first for Best Actor for his role as Jimmy "Popeye" Doyle in William Friedkin's action thriller The French Connection (1971) and his second for Best Supporting Actor for playing a sheriff in Clint Eastwood's Western Unforgiven (1992). He was Oscar-nominated for playing Buck Barrow in the crime drama Bonnie and Clyde (1967), a college professor in the drama I Never Sang for My Father (1970), and an FBI agent in the historical drama Mississippi Burning (1988).

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
January 30, 1930
Died
February 17, 2025 (aged 95)
From
San Bernardino, California, USA
Works as
Actor, also producer
Titles
84 on MovieCove · 104 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 26Down 38% in 30 days

What are Gene Hackman's films like?

Across their 78 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Self.

Genres

Action27 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 64th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Action movies
Drama22 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 61st percentile
: browse their Drama movies
Comedy10 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 58th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Crime10 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 68th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Crime movies
Adventure4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 47th percentile
: browse their Adventure movies
Documentary3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 80th 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
Morality
31%
Self
18%
Bonds
18%
Survival
13%
Power
9%
Society
6%
Ideas
4%
Justice21 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity12 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds11 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival10 titles, browse their movies with this themeLoyalty11 titles, browse their movies with this themeSelf-worth8 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception10 titles, browse their movies with this themeRedemption8 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 78 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 19 · Serious 19 · Dark 40

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

A split, not a type: Grounded 50 · Stylized 21 · Heightened 7

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

A split, not a type: Gentle 11 · Charged 32 · Intense 35

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

Steady 34 · Shifting 38 · Whiplash 6

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

Straight-faced 51 · Some laughs 20 · Funny 7

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

Slow burn 27 · Even-paced 43 · Relentless 8

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

Casual 30 · Engaged 31 · Full focus 17

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

Easy watch 17 · Affecting 35 · Heavy 26

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

Resolved 53 · Open-ended 19 · Ambiguous 6

Roles they play

76 analyzed roles

Usually the Hero: 27 of 76 analyzed roles.

Hero
27 of 76
Shadow
20 of 76
Mentor
17 of 76
Trickster
4 of 76
Ally
3 of 76
Shapeshifter
3 of 76
Threshold guardian
2 of 76
Show the 76 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
54
Melancholic
32
Thrilling
22
Contemplative
22
Dread
15
Other
58

How their films linger

Thought-provoking28 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet26 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling17 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun15 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting14 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful15 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 18 with a twist

  • Happy17
  • Bittersweet41
  • Tragic6
  • Ambiguous13
  • 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 Gene Hackman's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 46 of their 84 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (24).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Gene Hackman'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

104 credits, 84 with a MovieCove page; 52 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • The Watergate Caper: Richard Nixon and the Death of the American Dream(2026)

    as Harry Caul

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Electric Boogaloo: The Wild, Untold Story of Cannon Films(2014)

    as Lex Luthor (archive footage) (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films

  • Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut(2006)

    as Lex Luthor

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films

  • Shipibo Konibo: A Rite of Passage (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    as Narrator (voice)

  • Welcome to Mooseport(2004)

    as Monroe Cole

    Midcredits score: 13th percentile of all films

  • Imaginary Witness: Hollywood and the Holocaust(2004)

    as Narrator

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • Runaway Jury(2003)

    as Rankin Fitch

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • De Superman à Spider-Man: L'aventure des super-héros(2001)

    as Lex Luthor (archive footage)

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • Behind Enemy Lines(2001)

    as Admiral Leslie Reigart, Commander Adriatic Battle Group

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • Heist(2001)

    as Joe Moore

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • The Royal Tenenbaums(2001)

    as Royal Tenenbaum

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

  • Heartbreakers(2001)

    as William B. Tensy

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • The Mexican(2001)

    as Margolese

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films

  • Under Suspicion(2000)

    Executive Producer · as Henry Hearst

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • The Replacements(2000)

    as Jimmy McGinty

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • Hitchcock, Selznick and the End of Hollywood (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    as Narrator (voice)

  • Enemy of the State(1998)

    as Brill

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • Antz(1998)

    as General Mandible (voice)

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • Twilight(1998)

    as Jack Ames

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • Absolute Power(1997)

    as President Richmond

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • The Chamber(1996)

    as Sam Cayhall

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • Extreme Measures(1996)

    as Dr. Lawrence Myrick

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • The Birdcage(1996)

    as Senator Kevin Keeley

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • Making Frankensense of Young Frankenstein (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    as Blind Man (archive footage)

  • Get Shorty(1995)

    as Harry Zimm

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • Crimson Tide(1995)

    as Captain Franklin "Frank" Ramsey

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • The Quick and the Dead(1995)

    as Herod

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • Wyatt Earp(1994)

    as Nicholas Earp

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • Geronimo: An American Legend(1993)

    as Brig. Gen. George Crook

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • The Firm(1993)

    as Avery Tolar

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • Earth and the American Dream(1992)

    as Reader (voice)

    Midcredits score: 52nd percentile of all films

  • Unforgiven(1992)

    as 'Little' Bill Daggett

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • Company Business(1991)

    as Sam Boyd

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • Class Action(1991)

    as Jedediah Tucker Ward

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • Narrow Margin(1990)

    as Robert Caulfield

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • Postcards from the Edge(1990)

    as Lowell Kolchek

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • Miami Blues(1990)

    Thanks

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • Loose Cannons(1990)

    as MacArthur Stern

    Midcredits score: 11th percentile of all films

  • The Package(1989)

    as Sgt. Johnny Gallagher

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • Mississippi Burning(1988)

    as Agent Rupert Anderson

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Full Moon in Blue Water(1988)

    as Floyd

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • Another Woman(1988)

    as Larry

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • Bat*21(1988)

    as Lt. Col. Iceal Hambleton

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • Split Decisions(1988)

    as Dan McGuinn

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films

  • No Way Out(1987)

    as Defense Secretary David Brice

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films

  • Superman IV: The Quest for Peace(1987)

    as Lex Luthor

    Midcredits score: 1st percentile of all films

  • Hoosiers(1986)

    as Norman Dale

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • Power(1986)

    as Wilfred Buckley

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • Target(1985)

    as Walter Lloyd

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • Twice in a Lifetime(1985)

    as Harry MacKenzie

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • Uncommon Valor(1983)

    as Col. Cal Rhodes

    Midcredits score: 52nd percentile of all films

  • Two of a Kind(1983)

    as God (voice) (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films

  • Misunderstood (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    as Ned Rawley

  • Under Fire(1983)

    as Alex Grazier

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films

  • Eureka(1983)

    as Jack McCann

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • Reds(1981)

    as Pete van Wherry

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • All Night Long(1981)

    as George Dupler

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • Superman II(1980)

    as Lex Luthor

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films

  • Superman(1978)

    as Lex Luthor

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films

  • March or Die(1977)

    as Major William Sherman Foster

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • The Hollywood Greats (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • A Bridge Too Far(1977)

    as Maj. Gen. Stanislaw F. Sosabowski

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films

  • The Domino Principle(1977)

    as Tucker

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • Lucky Lady(1975)

    as Kibby

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • Bite the Bullet(1975)

    as Sam Clayton

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • Night Moves(1975)

    as Harry Moseby

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films

  • French Connection II(1975)

    as "Popeye" Doyle

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • Young Frankenstein(1974)

    as Blindman

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Zandy's Bride(1974)

    as Zandy Allen

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • The Conversation(1974)

    as Harry Caul

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • Scarecrow(1973)

    as Max Millan

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • The Poseidon Adventure(1972)

    as Reverend Scott

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films

  • Prime Cut(1972)

    as Mary Ann

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • Cisco Pike(1971)

    as Officer Leo Holland

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • The French Connection(1971)

    as Jimmy "Popeye" Doyle

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • The Hunting Party(1971)

    as Brandt Ruger

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • Doctors' Wives (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    as Dave Randolph

  • I Never Sang for My Father(1970)

    as Gene Garrison

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • Marooned(1969)

    as Buzz Lloyd

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • Downhill Racer(1969)

    as Eugene Claire

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • The Gypsy Moths(1969)

    as Joe Browdy

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • Riot (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    as Red Fraker

  • Shadow on the Land (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    as Rev. Thomas Davis

  • The Split(1968)

    as Lt. Walter Brill

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films

  • Banning(1967)

    as Tommy Del Gaddo

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • Bonnie and Clyde(1967)

    as Buck Barrow

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • A Covenant with Death(1967)

    as Harmsworth

    Midcredits score: 34th percentile of all films

  • First to Fight(1967)

    as Sergeant Tweed

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • The Invaders (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Show 1 episode · as Tom Jessup

  • CBS Playhouse (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

    Show 1 episode · as Ned

  • Hawaii(1966)

    as John Whipple

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • Hawk (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

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

    Show 1 episode · as Herb Kenyon

  • The Trials of O'Brien (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    Show 1 episode · as Roger Nathan

  • Lilith(1964)

    as Norman

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • East Side/West Side (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The DuPont Show of the Week (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    Show 1 episode · as Douglas McCann

  • The Defenders (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    Show 2 episodes · as Stanley McGuirk

  • Mad Dog Coll (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    as Cop (uncredited)

  • Tallahassee 7000 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    Show 1 episode · as Joe Lawson

  • Route 66(1960)

    Show 1 episode · as Motorist

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all shows

  • Naked City(1958)

    Show 1 episode · as Mr. Jasper

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all shows

  • The United States Steel Hour (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    Show 5 episodes · Actor

  • Close-Up on The Conversation (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 104 titles, 103 of them dated from 1953 to 2026; peak year 1974.

Biggest box office

Superman (1978)

$300M worldwide

Highest rated

Unforgiven (1992)

Midcredits 99th

Most popular right now

The Quick and the Dead (1995)

Film career

19532026

Peak 1974 · fewer prominent film roles lately. Top draw in 50 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.

  • 1964Screen debut· Lilith
  • 1970First top-billed film· I Never Sang for My Father
  • 2001Career best· The Royal Tenenbaums

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting103 of 104: 102 only acting, 1 with another role · typical Midcredits score62ndProducing1 of 104: 0 only producing, 1 with another roleOther crew1 of 104: 1 only other crew, 0 with another role

By decade

1950s2 · acting1960s23 · acting1970s20 · acting1980s20 · acting1990s23 · 22 acting · 1 crew2000s13 · 13 acting · 1 crew2010s1 · acting2020s1 · acting

Billing

usually 2nd · top billed in 41% of 70 roles
64747984899499

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 Gene Hackman's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 61st percentile, the median of all 82; across their 78 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 64th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

64thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 78

Approval · how many liked their films

59thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 78

Reach · how many have seen their films

88thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 78

Midcredits score across 84 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up29
  • 50th to 74th32
  • 25th to 49th17
  • Below 25th6

Shape of the crowd

47 of their 84 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved11
  • Universally Panned1
  • Cult Classic1
  • Crowd Pleaser47
  • Broadly Agreed13
  • Mixed11

Most divisive · actor

Earth and the American Dream (1992)

89th percentile spread · 28% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Unforgiven (1992)

Midcredits 99th · 90% liked

Reviewers score the acting 75/100 in their films, across 74 reviewed titles; fans 82, detractors 52. 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 Gene Hackman's work okay for kids?

Across up to 53 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 & Gore40 titles32–77 · median 56 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity53 titles5–57 · median 36 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity42 titles30–79 · median 54 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs37 titles30–59 · median 36 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense38 titles12–64 · median 53 · 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 Gene Hackman work with?

People who share at least 2 of Gene Hackman's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Geoffrey Unsworth shares the most, 5.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers and cinematographers

Producers

Mixed roles