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Richard Linklater

Richard Linklater

Director, producer, writer and actor, also cinematographer · Born July 30, 1960 (66) · Houston, Texas, USA

Golden Globe winner · 2 BAFTA Awards · Oscar nominee · 10 other major award bodies

Richard Linklater (/ˈlɪŋkleɪtər/; born July 30, 1960) is an American filmmaker. He is known for making films that deal thematically with suburban culture and the effects of the passage of time. In 2015, Linklater was included on the annual Time 100 list of the most influential people in the world. His films include the comedies Slacker (1990) and Dazed and Confused (1993); the Before trilogy of romance films: Before Sunrise (1995), Before Sunset (2004), and Before Midnight (2013); the music-themed comedy School of Rock (2003); the adult animated films Waking Life (2001), A Scanner Darkly (2006), and Apollo 10½: A Space Age Childhood (2022); the coming-of-age drama Boyhood (2014); the comedy film Everybody Wants Some!! (2016); and the romantic comedy Hit Man (2023). Many of Linklater's films are noted for their loosely structured narratives. The Before trilogy and Boyhood both feature the same actors filmed over an extended period of years. He has received five Academy Award nominations and won the Silver Bear for Best Director for Before Sunrise. He also won a Golden Globe Award for directing Boyhood. Description above from the Wikipedia article Richard Linklater, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
July 30, 1960 (66)
From
Houston, Texas, USA
Works as
Director, producer, writer and actor, also cinematographer
Titles
40 on MovieCove · 68 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Official site (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 157 days to Oct 28Down 36% in 30 days

What are Richard Linklater's films like?

Across their 32 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Self and Bonds.

Genres

Comedy15 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 76th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Documentary4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 65th percentile
: browse their Documentary movies
Animation3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 87th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Animation movies
Biography3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 76th percentile
: browse their Biography movies
Drama3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 97th 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
Self
41%
Bonds
18%
Society
16%
Morality
11%
Ideas
6%
Power
6%
Survival
2%
Community10 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose10 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity6 titles, browse their movies with this themeAmbition5 titles, browse their movies with this themeSelf-worth5 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love4 titles, browse their movies with this themeComing of age4 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds4 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 30 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 18 · Serious 7 · Dark 5

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

Grounded 21 · Stylized 5 · Heightened 4

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

A split, not a type: Gentle 14 · Charged 13 · Intense 3

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

Steady 18 · Shifting 8 · Whiplash 4

Some laughs: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their some laughs movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 8 · Some laughs 16 · Funny 6

Slow burn: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their slow burn movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 23 · Even-paced 7 · Relentless 0

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 16 · Engaged 9 · 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 14 · Affecting 11 · Heavy 5

Open-ended: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their open-ended movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

A split, not a type: Resolved 15 · Open-ended 10 · Ambiguous 5

Roles they play

1 analyzed role
  • Tricksteras Should Have Stayed at Bus Station in Slacker (1990)

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Contemplative
13
Tense
12
Warm
12
Melancholic
9
Absurd
8
Other
27

How their films linger

Thought-provoking13 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet10 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful9 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteWistful6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 2 with a twist

  • Happy8
  • Bittersweet10
  • Tragic1
  • Ambiguous11
  • 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 Richard Linklater's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 31 of their 40 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (9).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Richard Linklater'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

68 credits, 40 with a MovieCove page; 48 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • How To Not Have Sex (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2026)

    Executive Producer

  • Brenda (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2026)

    Executive Producer

  • Blue Moon(2025)

    Director · Producer

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • Nouvelle Vague(2025)

    Director · Producer

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • Clemente(2024)

    Executive Producer · as Self

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • The Confession (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2025)

    Executive Producer

  • The Wasps (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2025)

    Executive Producer

  • Tape (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2024)

    Executive Producer

  • Hit Man(2023)

    Director · Producer · Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • God Save Texas(2024)

    Show 3 episodes · Director · Executive Producer · as Self

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all shows

  • Help Her Live (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2022)

    Executive Producer

  • Apollo 10½: A Space Age Childhood(2022)

    Director · Producer · Writer

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • Shouting Down Midnight (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2022)

    Executive Producer

  • The Pushback(2020)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Another Day at the Office (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2019)

    Director · Producer · Writer · as Rick

  • Where'd You Go, Bernadette(2019)

    Director · Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • Diane(2018)

    Thanks

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • Blaze(2018)

    as Oilman 1

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • Also Starring Austin (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2018)

    Actor

  • Last Flag Flying(2017)

    Director · Producer · Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • I Dream Too Much (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    Executive Producer

  • Everybody Wants Some!!(2016)

    Director · Producer · Writer

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films

  • Boyhood(2014)

    Director · Producer · Writer

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • Computer Chess(2013)

    Thanks

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • Before Midnight(2013)

    Director · Characters · Producer · Writer

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Up to Speed(2012)

    Show 6 episodes · Director · Executive Producer · Writer

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all shows

  • Bernie(2011)

    Director · Producer · Screenplay · as Deadbeat Dad (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films

  • Me and Orson Welles(2008)

    Director · Producer

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • Inning by Inning: A Portrait of a Coach (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    Director

  • RSO: Registered Sex Offender(2008)

    as Principal Mallard

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films

  • The Hottest State(2006)

    Thanks · as John Wayne Enthusiast

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • In Search of a Midnight Kiss(2007)

    Thanks

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all films

  • Fast Food Nation(2006)

    Director · Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • A Scanner Darkly(2006)

    Director · Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • Bad News Bears(2005)

    Director · Producer

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • Before Sunset: Behind the Scenes (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    Actor

  • Before Sunset(2004)

    Director · Characters · Producer · Screenplay · Story

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • School of Rock(2003)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • Live from Shiva's Dance Floor (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Director

  • Tape(2001)

    Director · Camera Operator

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • Waking Life(2001)

    Director · Cinematographer · Writer · as Pinball Playing Man / Man on Back of Boat

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

  • Chelsea Walls(2001)

    as Crony 2

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films

  • Spy Kids(2001)

    as Cool Spy

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films

  • Scotch and Milk (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    as Cab Passenger

  • The Newton Boys(1998)

    Director · Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • Good Will Hunting(1997)

    Thanks

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • SubUrbia(1996)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • Beavis and Butt-Head Do America(1996)

    as Tour Bus Driver (voice)

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • The Underneath(1995)

    as Ember Doorman

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • Before Sunrise(1995)

    Director · Writer · as Man in Shonen Knife T-Shirt Playing Foosball (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • Totally F***ed Up(1993)

    Thanks

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • Dazed and Confused(1993)

    Director · Producer · Writer

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • North on Evers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    Actor

  • Heads I Win/Tails You Lose (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    Director

  • Slacker(1990)

    Director · Producer · Writer · as Should Have Stayed at Bus Station

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • Never Leave Nevada (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Video Assist Operator

  • It's Impossible to Learn to Plow by Reading Books (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    Director · Cinematographer · Editor · Producer · Screenplay · Actor

  • Woodshock (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Director

  • Last Night at the Alamo(1983)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • Before Sunrise: Behind the Scenes (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Actor

  • Dazed and Confused: Behind the Scenes (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Actor

  • Deep Eddy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Executive Producer

  • Hippies (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Director · Writer

  • Merrily We Roll Along (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Director · Producer · Screenplay

  • Queen Takes Bishop (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Executive Producer

  • Untitled Lou Gehrig Biopic (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Director

  • Untitled Richard Linklater Bill Hicks Project (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Director · Producer · Screenplay

  • Untitled Richard Linklater John Brinkley Project (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Director · Producer · Screenplay

Career shape

A full career of 68 titles, 59 of them dated from 1985 to 2026.

Biggest box office

School of Rock (2003)

$131M worldwide

Highest rated

Before Sunrise (1995)

Midcredits 99th

Most popular right now

School of Rock (2003)

Film career

Top draw in 1 MovieCove title.

  • 1988Screen debut· It's Impossible to Learn to Plow by Reading Books
  • 1988First top-billed film· It's Impossible to Learn to Plow by Reading Books

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting20 of 68: 13 only acting, 7 with another role · typical Midcredits score72ndDirecting36 of 68: 8 only directing, 28 with another role · typical Midcredits score80thWriting22 of 68: 0 only writing, 22 with another role · typical Midcredits score83rdProducing32 of 68: 12 only producing, 20 with another role · typical Midcredits score77thCinematography2 of 68: 0 only cinematography, 2 with another roleEditing1 of 68: 0 only editing, 1 with another roleOther crew8 of 68: 6 only other crew, 2 with another role · typical Midcredits score74th

68 titles, 29 with more than one role — directing and producing overlap on 20 of them.

By decade

1980s2 · 1 acting · 2 crew1990s13 · 6 acting · 9 crew2000s16 · 6 acting · 12 crew2010s13 · 4 acting · 11 crew2020s15 · 1 acting · 14 crew

Billing

usually 15th · top billed in 22% of 9 roles

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.

Awards

a Golden Globe, 2 BAFTA Awards and 10 other major awards from 46 major nominations, 1991–2025.

WinNomination
  1. 2025
    • Cannes award, nominated
    • Berlinale award, nominated · Best Film
    • Writers Guild Award, nominated · Adapted Screenplay
  2. 2017
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Children's Program
  3. 2015
    • Oscar, nominated · Best Achievement in Directing
    • Oscar, nominated · Best Motion Picture of the Year
    • Oscar, nominated · Best Writing, Original Screenplay
    • Golden Globe, won · Best Director - Motion Picture
    • Golden Globe, nominated · Best Screenplay - Motion Picture
    • BAFTA Award, won · Best Film
    • BAFTA Award, won
    • BAFTA Award, nominated · Best Original Screenplay
    • +5 other major bodies · 2 wins and 5 nominations
      • Directors Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Feature Film
      • Writers Guild Award, nominated · Best Original Screenplay
      • Producers Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Producer of Theatrical Motion Pictures
      • Critics Choice Award, won · Best Director
      • Critics Choice Award, nominated · Best Original Screenplay
      • Independent Spirit Award, won · Best Director
      • Independent Spirit Award, nominated · Best Feature
  4. 2014
    • Oscar, nominated · Best Writing, Adapted Screenplay
    • +4 other major bodies · 4 wins and 4 nominations
      • Berlinale award, won · Best Director
      • Berlinale award, won ×2
      • Berlinale award, nominated
      • Writers Guild Award, nominated · Best Adapted Screenplay
      • Critics Choice Award, won
      • Critics Choice Award, nominated · Best Adapted Screenplay
      • Independent Spirit Award, nominated · Best Screenplay
  5. 2013
    • Berlinale award, won
    • Independent Spirit Award, nominated · Best Feature
  6. 2006
    • Cannes award, nominated ×2
  7. 2005
    • Oscar, nominated · Best Writing, Adapted Screenplay
    • +2 other major bodies · 2 nominations
      • Writers Guild Award, nominated · Best Adapted Screenplay
      • Independent Spirit Award, nominated · Best Screenplay
  8. 2004
    • Berlinale award, nominated
Show 5 earlier years
  1. 2002
    • Independent Spirit Award, nominated · Best Director
    • Independent Spirit Award, nominated · Best Screenplay
  2. 2001
    • Venice award, won · Best Film
    • Venice award, won
    • Venice award, nominated
  3. 1995
    • Berlinale award, won · Best Director
    • Berlinale award, nominated
  4. 1992
    • Independent Spirit Award, nominated · Best Director
    • Independent Spirit Award, nominated · Best First Feature
  5. 1991
    • Sundance award, nominated · Dramatic

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 Richard Linklater's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 76th percentile, the median of all 38; across their 30 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 78th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

78thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 30

Approval · how many liked their films

74thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 30

Reach · how many have seen their films

91stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 30

Midcredits score across 40 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up21
  • 50th to 74th8
  • 25th to 49th8
  • Below 25th3

Shape of the crowd

20 of their 40 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved7
  • Divisive1
  • Cult Classic2
  • Crowd Pleaser20
  • Broadly Agreed4
  • Mixed6

Most divisive · producer

The Pushback (2020)

94th percentile spread · 62% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor, director, writer

Before Sunrise (1995)

Midcredits 99th · 89% liked

Reviewers score the atmosphere 75/100 and the pacing 47/100 in their films, across 28 reviewed titles. The element that speaks to their work as a director.

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 Richard Linklater's work okay for kids?

Across up to 22 MovieCove titles with content scores, profanity runs heavier than most films and violence & gore and frightening / intense lighter.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore18 titles3–49 · median 21 · mildlighter than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity22 titles13–62 · median 31 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity20 titles32–82 · median 67 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs18 titles30–75 · median 43 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense20 titles6–53 · median 12 · minimallighter 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 Richard Linklater work with?

People who share at least 2 of Richard Linklater's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; John Sloss shares the most, 17.

Writers

Actors

Composers and cinematographers

Producers

Mixed roles