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John Landis

John Landis

Actor, director, producer and writer · Born August 3, 1950 (76) · Chicago, Illinois, USA

Primetime Emmy winner

John David Landis (born August 3, 1950) is an American film director, screenwriter, actor, and producer. He is known for his comedies, his horror films, and his music videos with singer Michael Jackson.

Biography from TMDB.

Born
August 3, 1950 (76)
From
Chicago, Illinois, USA
Works as
Actor, director, producer and writer
Titles
76 on MovieCove · 118 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 26% in 30 days

What are John Landis' films like?

Across their 50 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Self and Ideas.

Genres

Comedy17 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 55th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Comedy movies
Documentary17 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 86th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Documentary movies
Action4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 35th percentile
: browse their Action movies
Adventure4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 46th percentile
: browse their Adventure movies
Horror3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 41st 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
Self
21%
Ideas
18%
Bonds
18%
Society
18%
Morality
13%
Survival
6%
Power
6%
Art16 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity12 titles, browse their movies with this themeLegacy12 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds9 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity7 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice6 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship5 titles, browse their movies with this themeAmbition5 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 47 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Light: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their light movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 36 · Serious 8 · Dark 3

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

A split, not a type: Grounded 18 · Stylized 17 · Heightened 12

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

Gentle 17 · Charged 24 · Intense 6

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

A split, not a type: Steady 28 · Shifting 12 · Whiplash 7

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 11 · Some laughs 15 · Funny 21

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

Slow burn 15 · Even-paced 25 · Relentless 7

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

Casual 24 · Engaged 23 · Full focus 0

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

Resolved 44 · Open-ended 3 · Ambiguous 0

Roles they play

1 analyzed role

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Warm
26
Joyful
23
Absurd
20
Tense
12
Contemplative
13
Other
32

How their films linger

Fun25 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good24 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteRousing10 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful9 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet9 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 5 with a twist

  • Happy21
  • Bittersweet17
  • Tragic3
  • Ambiguous7
  • Cyclical2

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 John Landis' films?

As of October 24, 2026, 52 of their 76 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (28).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for John Landis' 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

118 credits, 76 with a MovieCove page; 84 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Robot Dracula(2026)

    as John

  • The Credible Adventures of Mr. T (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2023)

    as Stranger

  • Blue (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2022)

    Executive Producer

  • Stan Lee's Superhero Kindergarten(2021)

    Show 1 episode · Director · Producer

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all shows

  • I Hate Kids(2019)

    Executive Producer · as Psychic #4

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • The Body (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2018)

    as Man in Bathroom

  • The World Is Yours(2018)

    as Couple

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • Deconstructing Dunning (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    Actor

  • Sidemen: Long Road to Glory(2016)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • Tales of Halloween(2015)

    as Jebediah Rex

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • Remembering 'Dead of Night' (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    Actor

  • Destruction: Las Vegas(2013)

    as Salesman #1

    Midcredits score: 2nd percentile of all films

  • Attack of the 50 Foot Cheerleader(2012)

    as Professor

    Midcredits score: 9th percentile of all films

  • The Complete Bob Wilkins Creature Features (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    Actor

  • Grabbers(2012)

    Thanks

    Midcredits score: 52nd percentile of all films

  • Franklin & Bash(2011)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all shows

  • Some Guy Who Kills People(2011)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • Face Off(2011)

    Show 1 episode · as Guest Judge

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • Burke and Hare(2010)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 43rd percentile of all films

  • The Scenesters(2009)

    as Judge Paxton B. Johnson

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • Psychoville (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Starz Inside: The Face Is Familiar(2009)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • Parasomnia(2008)

    as Department Store Manager

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films

  • In Sickness and in Health (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    Director

  • Fear Itself(2008)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all shows

  • Mr. Warmth: The Don Rickles Project(2007)

    Director · Producer · as Self

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films

  • British Film Forever (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Family (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Director

  • Deer Woman (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Director · Writer

  • The Great Sketch Experiment (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Director

  • Psych(2006)

    Show 3 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all shows

  • Busby Berkeley's Kaleidoscopic Eyes (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Actor

  • Footlight Parade: Music for the Decades (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Actor

  • Masters of Horror(2005)

    Show 2 episodes · Director · Writer

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all shows

  • Torrente 3: El protector(2005)

    as Embajador árabe

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • The Ax(2005)

    as Maxime's Friend's Father

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • Spider-Man 2(2004)

    as Doctor

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

  • Slasher (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    Director · Writer

  • The Kronenberg Chronicles (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    Director

  • The Lost World - Gladiator (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Executive Producer

  • Teddy Bears' Picnic (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Thanks

  • Freeway II: Confessions of a Trickbaby(1999)

    as Judge

    Midcredits score: 34th percentile of all films

  • Diamonds(1999)

    as Gambler

    Midcredits score: 22nd percentile of all films

  • The Lost World (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    Show 10 episodes · Executive Producer

  • Monster by Moonlight! The Immortal Saga of 'The Wolf Man'(1999)

    as Host / Self

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • Susan's Plan(1998)

    Director · Producer · Writer

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all films

  • The Lost World (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Executive Producer

  • Blues Brothers 2000(1998)

    Director · Producer · Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films

  • Mad City(1997)

    as Doctor

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • Honey, I Shrunk the Kids: The TV Show(1997)

    Show 66 episodes · Director · Producer

    Midcredits score: 12th percentile of all shows

  • An American Werewolf in Paris(1997)

    Characters

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films

  • HIStory on Film, Volume II (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    Director · Producer · Writer

  • Quicksilver Highway(1997)

    as Surgical Assistant

    Midcredits score: 12th percentile of all films

  • Laws of Deception (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    as Judge Trevino

  • The Munsters' Scary Little Christmas(1996)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 22nd percentile of all films

  • Vampirella (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    as Astronaut #1

  • The Stupids(1996)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all films

  • Caroline in the City(1995)

    Show 1 episode · as John Landis

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all shows

  • Michael Jackson Video Greatest Hits: HIStory (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    Director · Producer

  • Sliders(1995)

    Show 87 episodes · Producer

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all shows

  • Here Come the Munsters(1995)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films

  • The World of Jim Henson (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    as Leanord Winesop (archive footage)

  • Beverly Hills Cop III(1994)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films

  • The Stand(1994)

    Show 1 episode · as Russ Dorr

    Midcredits score: 52nd percentile of all shows

  • The Silence of the Hams(1994)

    as FBI Agent

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all films

  • Weird Science(1994)

    Show 88 episodes · Producer

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all shows

  • Michael Jackson: Dangerous - The Short Films (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    Director

  • Innocent Blood(1992)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • Eek! The Cat (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    Show 1 episode · as John Landis (voice)

  • Body Chemistry II: The Voice of a Stranger(1991)

    as Dr. Edwards

    Midcredits score: 5th percentile of all films

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

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Sleepwalkers(1992)

    as Lab Technician

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films

  • Michael Jackson´s Black or White (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    Director

  • Oscar(1991)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

  • Psycho IV: The Beginning(1990)

    as Mike Calveccio

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films

  • Darkman(1990)

    as Physician

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • Dream On (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Show 120 episodes · Director · Producer · as Herb

  • Disneyland's 35th Anniversary Special(1990)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Spontaneous Combustion(1989)

    as Radio Technician

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films

  • Coming to America(1988)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • Amazon Women on the Moon(1987)

    Director · Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • RoboCop(1987)

    as Man in '6000 SUX' Commercial (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

  • ¡Three Amigos!(1986)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 63rd percentile of all films

  • Fuzzbucket (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    Producer

  • Clue(1985)

    Executive Producer · Story

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • Spies Like Us(1985)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • George Burns Comedy Week (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • Into the Night(1985)

    Director · as SAVAK

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • B.B. King: Into the Night (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Director · Producer · as Self

  • The Muppets Take Manhattan(1984)

    as Leonard Winesop

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • Making Michael Jackson's Thriller (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    Producer · as Self

  • Michael Jackson's Thriller (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    Director · Producer · Screenplay

  • Twilight Zone: The Movie(1983)

    Director · Producer · Writer

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • Trading Places(1983)

    Director · as Man with Briefcase (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • Eating Raoul(1982)

    as Man at Bank (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • Coming Soon (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Director · Producer · Writer

  • An American Werewolf in London(1981)

    Director · Screenplay · as Man Smashed into Window (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films

  • Making an American Werewolf in London (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    Actor

  • The Blues Brothers(1980)

    Director · Writer · as Trooper La Fong

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • 1941(1979)

    as Mizerany

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • The Muppet Movie(1979)

    as Additional Muppet Performer

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

  • National Lampoon's Animal House(1978)

    Director · as Cafeteria Dishwasher

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • The Kentucky Fried Movie(1977)

    Director · as TV Technician Thrown by Gorilla (segment "A.M. Today")

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • Death Race 2000(1975)

    as Mechanic

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • The Six Million Dollar Man(1974)

    Show 1 episode · as Michael

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all shows

  • My Name Is Nobody(1973)

    Stunts

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • Battle for the Planet of the Apes(1973)

    as Jake's Friend

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films

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

    Director · Writer · as Schlock

  • Chato's Land(1972)

    Stunts

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • Red Sun(1971)

    as Henchman (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • Kelly's Heroes(1970)

    Production Assistant · as Sister Rosa Stigmata

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • Once Upon a Time in the West(1968)

    Stunts

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • The Charge of the Light Brigade(1968)

    Stunts

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • The Good, the Bad and the Ugly(1966)

    Stunts

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • An American Werewolf in London (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Executive Producer · Original Film Writer

  • Bad Vibes (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Executive Producer

  • The AckerMonster Chronicles! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Actor

  • Under the Moon (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    as High School Principal

Career shape

A full career of 118 titles, 114 of them dated from 1966 to 2026.

Biggest box office

Coming to America (1988)

$289M worldwide

Highest rated

The Blues Brothers (1980)

Midcredits 97th

Most popular right now

Clue (1985)

Film career

  • 1971Screen debut· Red Sun
  • 1973First top-billed film· Schlock

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting62 of 118: 52 only acting, 10 with another role · typical Midcredits score54thDirecting42 of 118: 20 only directing, 22 with another role · typical Midcredits score56thWriting15 of 118: 1 only writing, 14 with another role · typical Midcredits score62ndProducing27 of 118: 12 only producing, 15 with another role · typical Midcredits score37thOther crew8 of 118: 7 only other crew, 1 with another role · typical Midcredits score90th

118 titles, 26 with more than one role — acting and directing overlap on 8 of them.

By decade

1960s3 · crew1970s12 · 10 acting · 6 crew1980s21 · 9 acting · 16 crew1990s36 · 17 acting · 20 crew2000s23 · 11 acting · 12 crew2010s15 · 11 acting · 5 crew2020s4 · 2 acting · 2 crew

Billing

usually 16th · top billed in 5% of 22 roles
71819106

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

Won a Primetime Emmy in 2008, Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Special.

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 John Landis' films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 54th percentile, the median of the 63 of 64 with a score; across their 47 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 63rd percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

63rdpercentile
Typical film, the median of 47

Approval · how many liked their films

64thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 47

Reach · how many have seen their films

79thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 47

Midcredits score across 75 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up21
  • 50th to 74th21
  • 25th to 49th14
  • Below 25th19

Shape of the crowd

25 of their 75 titles are Mixed.

  • Universally Loved14
  • Divisive1
  • Cult Classic4
  • Crowd Pleaser23
  • Broadly Agreed8
  • Mixed25

Most divisive · director, producer

Stan Lee's Superhero Kindergarten (2021)

96th percentile spread · 26% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor, director, writer

The Blues Brothers (1980)

Midcredits 97th · 86% liked

Reviewers score the acting 64/100 in their films, across 30 reviewed titles; fans 76, detractors 38. 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 John Landis' work okay for kids?

Across up to 20 MovieCove titles with content scores, sex & nudity and profanity run heavier than most films and frightening / intense lighter.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore18 titles28–83 · median 40 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity20 titles18–72 · median 57 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity17 titles37–79 · median 62 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs16 titles27–64 · median 36 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense16 titles9–78 · median 26 · mildlighter 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 John Landis work with?

People who share at least 2 of John Landis' MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Joe Dante shares the most, 11.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles