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Steve McQueen

Steve McQueen

Actor and producer · Died November 7, 1980, aged 50 · Beech Grove, Indiana, USA

Terrence Stephen "Steve" McQueen (March 24, 1930 – November 7, 1980) was an American actor. His antihero persona, emphasized during the height of the counterculture of the 1960s, made him a top box-office draw for his films of the late 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s. He was nicknamed the "King of Cool" and used the alias Harvey Mushman in motor races. McQueen received an Academy Award nomination for his role in The Sand Pebbles (1966). His other popular films include Love With the Proper Stranger (1963), The Cincinnati Kid (1965), Nevada Smith (1966), The Thomas Crown Affair (1968), Bullitt (1968), Le Mans (1971), The Getaway (1972), and Papillon (1973). In addition, he starred in the all-star ensemble films The Magnificent Seven (1960), The Great Escape (1963), and The Towering Inferno (1974). In 1974, McQueen became the highest-paid movie star in the world, although he did not act in film for another four years. He was combative with directors and producers, but his popularity placed him in high demand and enabled him to command the largest salaries.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
March 24, 1930
Died
November 7, 1980 (aged 50)
From
Beech Grove, Indiana, USA
Works as
Actor and producer
Titles
34 on MovieCove · 53 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 31% in 30 days

What are Steve McQueen's films like?

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

Genres

Drama8 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 75th percentile
: browse their Drama movies
Action6 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 86th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Action movies
Documentary5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 84th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Documentary movies
Comedy4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 68th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Adventure3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 92nd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Adventure movies
Crime3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 36th percentile
: browse their Crime movies
Biography2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 86th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Biography 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
23%
Morality
20%
Bonds
20%
Survival
16%
Society
11%
Power
5%
Ideas
5%
Survival7 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose5 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love4 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity4 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship3 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice3 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds5 titles, browse their movies with this themeSacrifice3 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 32 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 9 · Serious 10 · Dark 13

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

Grounded 26 · Stylized 5 · Heightened 1

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

A split, not a type: Gentle 10 · Charged 7 · Intense 15

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

Steady 14 · Shifting 17 · Whiplash 1

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

Straight-faced 21 · Some laughs 10 · Funny 1

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

Slow burn 11 · Even-paced 19 · 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 14 · Engaged 16 · Full focus 2

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

Easy watch 12 · Affecting 13 · Heavy 7

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

Resolved 27 · Open-ended 4 · Ambiguous 1

Roles they play

26 analyzed roles

Usually the Hero: 20 of 26 analyzed roles.

Hero
20 of 26
Mentor
2 of 26
Shadow
1 of 26
Ally
1 of 26
Threshold guardian
1 of 26
Shapeshifter
1 of 26
Show the 26 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
20
Melancholic
14
Warm
7
Contemplative
8
Thrilling
4
Other
26

How their films linger

Bittersweet15 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking9 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteRousing6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 1 with a twist

  • Happy5
  • Bittersweet18
  • Tragic5
  • Ambiguous3
  • 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 Steve McQueen's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 17 of their 34 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (9).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Steve McQueen'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

53 credits, 34 with a MovieCove page; 29 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Man on the Run(2025)

    as Hilts 'The Cooler King' (archive footage) (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • i and i (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2023)

    Executive Producer

  • Boffo! Tinseltown's Bombs and Blockbusters(2006)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 63rd percentile of all films

  • The Unbeatable Bruce Lee(2001)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • On Any Sunday: Revisited (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Actor

  • Death In Hollywood (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Actor

  • Creepy Classics (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    as Steve Andrews - (archive footage)

  • The Hunter(1980)

    Stunts · as Ralph "Papa" Thorson

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • Tom Horn(1980)

    Executive Producer · as Tom Horn

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • An Enemy of the People(1978)

    Executive Producer · as Dr. Thomas Stockmann

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • Dixie Dynamite (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    Stunt Driver · as Dirt-Bike Rider

  • The Towering Inferno(1974)

    Stunts · as Chief O'Hallorhan

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • Papillon(1973)

    as Henri "Papillon" Charriere

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • The Getaway(1972)

    Executive Producer · as Carter "Doc" McCoy

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • Junior Bonner(1972)

    Associate Producer · as Junior Bonner

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • On Any Sunday(1971)

    Producer · Stunt Driver · as Self

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • Le Mans(1971)

    Executive Producer · as Michael Delaney

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • Adam at Six A.M.(1970)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • The Reivers(1969)

    Associate Producer · as Boon Hogganbeck

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

  • Bullitt(1968)

    Executive Producer · Stunts · as Lt. Frank Bullitt

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films

  • The Thomas Crown Affair(1968)

    Executive Producer · as Thomas Crown

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • Mondo Hollywood (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Actor

  • The Sand Pebbles(1966)

    Executive Producer · as Jake Holman

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films

  • Nevada Smith(1966)

    Executive Producer · as Max Sand

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • The Cincinnati Kid(1965)

    Co-Producer · as Eric Stoner ("The Cincinnati Kid")

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • Baby the Rain Must Fall(1965)

    Executive Producer · as Henry Thomas

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • Love with the Proper Stranger(1963)

    as Rocky Papasano

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • Soldier in the Rain(1963)

    Executive Producer · as Eustis Clay

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • The Great Escape(1963)

    Stunt Driver · as Hilts 'The Cooler King'

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • The War Lover(1962)

    as Capt. Buzz Rickson

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • Hell Is for Heroes(1962)

    as Pvt. John Reese

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • The Honeymoon Machine(1961)

    as Lt. Ferguson 'Fergie' Howard

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • The Magnificent Seven(1960)

    as Vin

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • Never So Few(1959)

    as Corp. Bill Ringa

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • The St. Louis Bank Robbery(1959)

    as George Fowler

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • The Blob(1958)

    as Steve Andrews

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • Wanted: Dead or Alive (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

    Show 94 episodes · as Josh Randall

  • Never Love a Stranger(1958)

    as Martin Cabell

    Midcredits score: 17th percentile of all films

  • Trackdown (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    Show 1 episode · as Josh Randall · as Wes & Mal Cody

  • Tales of Wells Fargo(1957)

    Show 1 episode · as Bill Longley

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all shows

  • The Defender (Studio One) (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    as Joseph Gordon

  • West Point (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    Show 1 episode · as Rick

  • Somebody Up There Likes Me(1956)

    as Fidel (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • The 20th Century Fox Hour (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    Show 1 episode · as Kinsella

  • Playwrights '56 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Alfred Hitchcock Presents(1955)

    Show 1 episode · as Bill Everett · as Gambler

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all shows

  • Climax! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1954)

    Show 1 episode · as Henry Reeves / Anthony Reeves

  • Girl on the Run (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    as Young Man Trying to Ring the Bell

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

    Show 1 episode · as Bushy

  • Family Affair (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)

    as Freddie

  • Goodyear Television Playhouse (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Armstrong Circle Theatre (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

    Show 1 episode · as bit role (uncredited)

  • Studio One (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1948)

    Show 2 episodes · as Joseph Gordon

Career shape

Star power in the 99th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 52 titles from 1948 to 2026; peak year 1973.

Biggest box office

The Towering Inferno (1974)

$116M worldwide

Highest rated

The Great Escape (1963)

Midcredits 99th

Film career

MilestoneBreakout
19482026

Peak 1973 · fewer prominent film roles lately. Top draw in 19 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
Acting49 of 52: 32 only acting, 17 with another role · typical Midcredits score77thProducing16 of 52: 2 only producing, 14 with another role · typical Midcredits score76thOther crew6 of 52: 0 only other crew, 6 with another role · typical Midcredits score91st

52 titles, 18 with more than one role — acting and producing overlap on 13 of them.

By decade

1940s1 · acting1950s19 · acting1960s15 · 15 acting · 9 crew1970s9 · 7 acting · 8 crew1980s3 · 3 acting · 2 crew1990s1 · acting2000s2 · acting2020s2 · 1 acting · 1 crew

Billing

usually 1st · top billed in 79% of 24 roles
56616671

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 Steve McQueen's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 76th percentile, the median of all 32; across their 32 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 73rd percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

73rdpercentile
Typical film, the median of 32

Approval · how many liked their films

75thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 32

Reach · how many have seen their films

72ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 32

Midcredits score across 34 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up19
  • 50th to 74th9
  • 25th to 49th5
  • Below 25th1

Shape of the crowd

19 of their 34 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved8
  • Cult Classic1
  • Crowd Pleaser19
  • Broadly Agreed3
  • Mixed3

Most divisive · actor

The Unbeatable Bruce Lee (2001)

84th percentile spread · 19% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

The Great Escape (1963)

Midcredits 99th · 91% liked

Reviewers score the acting 72/100 in their films, across 28 reviewed titles; fans 79, detractors 44. 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 Steve McQueen's work okay for kids?

Across up to 12 MovieCove titles with content scores, violence & gore and frightening / intense run heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore12 titles24–67 · median 60 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity12 titles8–50 · median 26 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity10 titles18–44 · median 27 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs9 titles18–39 · median 32 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense10 titles29–71 · median 52 · 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 Steve McQueen work with?

People who share at least 2 of Steve McQueen's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Robert E. Relyea shares the most, 5.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles