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Sam Neill

Sam Neill

Actor, also director · Died July 13, 2026, aged 78 · Omagh, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland, UK

Primetime Emmy nominee · Golden Globe nominee

Sir Nigel John Dermot 'Sam' Neill (September 14, 1947 – July 13, 2026) was a New Zealand actor. His career included leading roles in both dramas and blockbusters. Considered an 'international leading man', he is regarded as one of the most versatile actors of his generation. Born in Northern Ireland to an English mother and New Zealand father, Neill moved to Christchurch with his family in 1954. He first achieved recognition with his appearance in the film Sleeping Dogs (1977), which he followed with leading roles in My Brilliant Career (1979), Omen III: The Final Conflict, Possession (both 1981), Evil Angels (1988), Dead Calm (1989), The Hunt for Red October (1990), The Piano (1993), and In the Mouth of Madness (1994). He came to international prominence as Dr. Alan Grant in Jurassic Park (1993), reprising the role in Jurassic Park III (2001) and Dominion (2022). Outside of film, Neill appeared in numerous television series in guest and recurring roles, including Reilly, Ace of Spies (1983), The Simpsons (1994), The Tudors (2007), Crusoe (2008–2010), Happy Town (2010), Alcatraz (2012), and Rick and Morty (2019). He also starred as the titular character in Merlin (1998) and Merlin's Apprentice (2006), and as Major Chester Campbell in the first two series of Peaky Blinders (2013–2014). He has presented and narrated several documentaries. Neill received the AACTA Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role, the Longford Lyell Award, the New Zealand Film Award, and the Logie Award for Most Outstanding Actor. He also had three Golden Globe and two Primetime Emmy nominations. He won the Silver Logie for Most Popular Actor at the 2023 Logies. Neill passed away at age 78 on 13 July 2026, in Sydney, Australia. The loss was sudden and unexpected but blessed by the fact that he remained cancer free. Description above from the Wikipedia article Sam Neill, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

Read more

Biography from TMDB.

Born
September 14, 1947
Died
July 13, 2026 (aged 78)
From
Omagh, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland, UK
Works as
Actor, also director
Titles
108 on MovieCove · 174 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 32% in 30 days

What are Sam Neill's films like?

Across their 98 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Self.

Genres

Drama22 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 51st percentile
: browse their Drama movies
Action12 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 47th percentile
: browse their Action movies
Adventure12 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 49th percentile
: browse their Adventure movies
Comedy12 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 54th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Biography10 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 73rd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Biography movies
Animation4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 37th percentile
: browse their Animation movies
Crime3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 39th percentile
: browse their Crime movies
Horror3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 67th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Horror movies
Documentary2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 77th 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
Bonds
22%
Self
19%
Survival
17%
Morality
17%
Society
9%
Power
9%
Ideas
7%
Family bonds26 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival20 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love15 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity14 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice12 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose10 titles, browse their movies with this themeAmbition9 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception9 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 80 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 21 · Serious 26 · Dark 33

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

A split, not a type: Grounded 40 · Stylized 33 · 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 16 · Charged 31 · Intense 33

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

Steady 34 · Shifting 39 · Whiplash 7

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

Straight-faced 53 · Some laughs 21 · Funny 6

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 38 · Even-paced 33 · 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 30 · Engaged 39 · Full focus 11

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

Easy watch 23 · Affecting 29 · Heavy 28

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

Resolved 61 · Open-ended 11 · Ambiguous 8

Roles they play

78 analyzed roles

Usually the Mentor: 26 of 78 analyzed roles.

Mentor
26 of 78
Shadow
15 of 78
Hero
12 of 78
Ally
11 of 78
Threshold guardian
8 of 78
Shapeshifter
4 of 78
Trickster
1 of 78
Herald
1 of 78
Show the 78 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
62
Melancholic
43
Dread
33
Hopeful
23
Thrilling
20
Other
82

How their films linger

Bittersweet39 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful37 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking29 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting20 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling18 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun12 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 19 with a twist

  • Happy23
  • Bittersweet52
  • Tragic8
  • Ambiguous12
  • Cyclical2
  • 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 Neill's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 67 of their 108 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (26).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Sam Neill'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

174 credits, 108 with a MovieCove page; 39 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • The Legend of Zelda (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2027)

    Actor

  • Godzilla x Kong: Supernova (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2027)

    Actor

  • The Fox(2025)

    as The Magpie (voice)

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films

  • Untamed(2025)

    Show 6 episodes · as Paul Souter

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all shows

  • Apples Never Fall(2024)

    Show 7 episodes · as Stan Delaney

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all shows

  • Bring Him to Me(2023)

    as Frank

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films

  • Scarygirl(2023)

    as Dr. Maybee (voice)

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • The Portable Door(2023)

    as Dennis Tanner

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • Assassin Club(2023)

    as Caldwell

    Midcredits score: 8th percentile of all films

  • Thor: Love and Thunder(2022)

    as Actor Odin

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • The Twelve (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2022)

    Show 26 episodes · as Brett Colby

  • Voice Activated (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2022)

    as Audiobook Narrator (voice)

  • Jurassic World: Dominion(2022)

    as Alan Grant

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films

  • Invasion(2021)

    Show 1 episode · as Jim Bell Tyson

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all shows

  • Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway(2021)

    as Tommy Brock (voice)

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • Daisy Quokka: World's Scariest Animal(2020)

    as Frankie Scales (voice)

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films

  • Rams(2020)

    as Colin

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • Lindy Chamberlain: The True Story (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2020)

    as Narrator (voice)

  • Sea Lions: Life By a Whisker (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2020)

    as Narrator (voice)

  • Ride Like a Girl(2019)

    as Paddy Payne

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • Blackbird(2019)

    as Tom

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • Palm Beach(2019)

    as Leo

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • Flack (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2019)

    Show 2 episodes · as Duncan Paulson

  • Peter Rabbit(2018)

    as Mr. McGregor / Tommy Brock (voice)

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • Sweet Country(2017)

    as Fred Smith

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films

  • The Commuter(2018)

    as Captain Hawthorne

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • Thor: Ragnarok(2017)

    as Actor Odin

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Tommy's Honour(2016)

    as Alexander Boothby

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • House of Bond (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    Show 2 episodes · as Roland “Tiny” Rowland

  • Tutankhamun(2016)

    Show 4 episodes · as Lord Carnarvon

    Midcredits score: 52nd percentile of all shows

  • New Zealand: Earth's Mythical Islands (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    as Narrator (voice)

  • New Zealand: Earth's Mythical Islands(2016)

    Show 3 episodes · as Narrator (voice)

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all shows

  • Hunt for the Wilderpeople(2016)

    as Hec

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • And Then There Were None(2015)

    Show 3 episodes · as General John MacArthur

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all shows

  • The Daughter(2015)

    as Walter

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • MindGamers(2015)

    as Kreutz

    Midcredits score: 4th percentile of all films

  • Backtrack(2015)

    as Duncan Stewart

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • Odyssey sur les traces de Sam Neill (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    as God

  • The Dovekeepers(2015)

    Show 2 episodes · Actor

    Midcredits score: 10th percentile of all shows

  • House of Hancock (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    Show 2 episodes · as Lang Hancock

  • United Passions(2014)

    as Joao Havelange

    Midcredits score: 1st percentile of all films

  • Old School (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    Show 8 episodes · as Ted McCabe

  • A Long Way Down(2014)

    as Chris Crichton

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • The Adventurer: The Curse of the Midas Box(2013)

    as Otto Luger

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films

  • Rick and Morty(2013)

    Show 1 episode · as Monogatron Leader (voice)

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all shows

  • Escape Plan(2013)

    as Dr. Kyrie

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • Peaky Blinders(2013)

    Show 6 episodes · as C.I. Chester Campbell · as Major Chester Campbell

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all shows

  • The Ordained(2013)

    as Governor Michael Thomas Riley

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Harry (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    Show 6 episodes · as DSS Jim Stockton

  • The Vow(2012)

    as Bill Thornton

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • Alcatraz(2012)

    Show 13 episodes · as Emerson Hauser

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all shows

  • The Hunter(2011)

    as Jack Mindy

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • The Dragon Pearl(2011)

    as Chris Chase

    Midcredits score: 17th percentile of all films

  • Ice (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    as Anthony Kavanagh

  • Ice (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    Show 2 episodes · as Anthony Kavanagh

  • Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole(2010)

    as Allomere (voice)

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films

  • Happy Town(2010)

    Show 8 episodes · as Merritt Grieves

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all shows

  • Daybreakers(2009)

    as Charles Bromley

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • Under the Mountain(2009)

    as Mr. Jones

    Midcredits score: 13th percentile of all films

  • Iron Road (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    Show 2 episodes · as Alfred Nichol

  • Skin(2008)

    as Abraham Laing

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • Iron Road (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    as Alfred Nichol

  • In Her Skin(2009)

    as Mr. Reid

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • The Man in the Hat (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    as Reader of Correspondence

  • Dean Spanley(2008)

    as Dean Spanley

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • Crusoe(2008)

    Show 13 episodes · as Jeremiah Blackthorn

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all shows

  • Verity Lambert: Drama Queen(2008)

    as Narrator

  • The Pixar Story(2007)

    as Alan Grant (archive footage)

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • The Tudors(2007)

    Show 10 episodes · as Cardinal Thomas Wolsey

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all shows

  • Angel(2007)

    as Théo

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • Two Twisted (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Show 1 episode · as Mick

  • Irresistible(2006)

    as Craig

    Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all films

  • Merlin's Apprentice(2006)

    Show 2 episodes · as Merlin

    Midcredits score: 3rd percentile of all shows

  • Voyage of the Nautilus (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    as Hubert Wilkins

  • The Triangle(2005)

    Show 3 episodes · as Eric Benerall

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all shows

  • Mary Bryant(2005)

    Show 2 episodes · as Governor Arthur Phillip

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all shows

  • Yes(2004)

    as Anthony

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • Little Fish(2005)

    as The Jockey

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • To the Ends of the Earth(2005)

    Show 3 episodes · as Mr. Prettiman

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all shows

  • Gallipoli(2005)

    as Narrator

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • Colin McCahon: I Am (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    as Narrator

  • Wimbledon(2004)

    as Dennis Bradbury

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • The Brush-Off (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    Director · Producer

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

    as Richard Runche

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

    Show 3 episodes · Actor

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

    Producer · as Lionel Merricks

  • Perfect Strangers(2003)

    as Man

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all films

  • Doctor Zhivago(2002)

    Show 3 episodes · as Victor Ippolitovich Komarovsky

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all shows

  • Dirty Deeds(2002)

    as Ray

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • Framed(2002)

    as Eddie Meyers

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • The Zookeeper(2001)

    as Ludovic

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • SuperCroc (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    as narrator

  • Jurassic Park III(2001)

    as Dr. Alan Grant

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films

  • Submerged (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    as Lt. Cmdr. Charles B. 'Swede' Momsen

  • The Magic Pudding(2000)

    as Sam Sawnoff (voice)

    Midcredits score: 34th percentile of all films

  • The Dish(2000)

    as Cliff Buxton - Dish Master

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • My Mother Frank (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    as Professor Mortlock

  • Sally Hemings: An American Scandal (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    as Thomas Jefferson

  • Sally Hemings: An American Scandal (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Show 2 episodes · as Thomas Jefferson

  • Bicentennial Man(1999)

    as Sir

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • Molokai(1999)

    as Prime Minister Gibson

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • The Games (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Show 1 episode · as Citytrans World CEO

  • The Revengers' Comedies(1998)

    as Henry Bell

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • Merlin(1998)

    Show 2 episodes · as Merlin

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all shows

  • The Horse Whisperer(1998)

    as Robert MacLean

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • Event Horizon(1997)

    as Weir

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • Snow White: A Tale of Terror(1997)

    as Lord Friedrich Hoffman

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • The Rainbow Warrior (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    as Chief Inspector Alan Galbraith

  • Children of the Revolution(1996)

    as David 'Dave' Hoyle, aka Agent 'Nine'

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

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

    as Mr. Jones

  • In Cold Blood(1996)

    Show 2 episodes · as Agent Alvin Dewey

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all shows

  • Restoration(1995)

    as King Charles II

    Midcredits score: 63rd percentile of all films

  • Cinema of Unease: A Personal Journey by Sam Neill (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    Director · Writer · as Narrator / Host

  • In the Mouth of Madness(1994)

    as John Trent

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films

  • The Jungle Book(1994)

    as Colonel Geofferey Brydon

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • Country Life(1994)

    as Dr. Max Askey

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

  • Sirens(1994)

    as Norman Lindsay

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films

  • Split Enz: Spellbound (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    as Narrator

  • Jurassic Park(1993)

    as Grant

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • The Piano(1993)

    as Alisdair Stewart

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • Family Pictures (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    Show 2 episodes · as David Eberlin

  • Hostage (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    as John Rennie

  • Memoirs of an Invisible Man(1992)

    as David Jenkins

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • One Against the Wind(1991)

    as Major James Leggatt, The Guards

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • Until the End of the World(1991)

    as Eugene Fitzpatrick

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • Fever(1991)

    as Elliot

    Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all films

  • Death in Brunswick (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    as Carl

  • Shadow of China (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    as TV Reporter

  • The Hunt for Red October(1990)

    as Capt. 2nd Vasily Borodin

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

  • The Simpsons(1989)

    Show 1 episode · as Molloy (voice)

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all shows

  • The French Revolution(1989)

    as Marquis de Lafayette

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

  • Dead Calm(1989)

    as John Ingram

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • A Cry in the Dark(1988)

    as Michael Chamberlain

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • Leap of Faith(1988)

    as Oscar Ogg

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • The Good Wife(1987)

    as Neville Gifford

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • Amerika (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    Show 7 episodes · as Colonel Andrei Denisov

  • For Love Alone (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    as James Quick

  • Strong Medicine (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    Show 2 episodes · as Vince Lord

  • Strong Medicine (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    as Vince Lord

  • Kane & Abel (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Show 3 episodes · as William Lowell Kane

  • Plenty(1985)

    as Lazar

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films

  • Robbery Under Arms (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    as Capt. Starlight

  • The Blood of Others(1984)

    as Bergman

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films

  • The Country Girls (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    as Mr. Gentleman

  • Reilly: Ace of Spies(1983)

    Show 12 episodes · as Sidney Reilly

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • Enigma(1982)

    as Dimitri Vasilikov

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films

  • Attack Force Z(1981)

    as Sergeant Costello

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films

  • Ivanhoe(1982)

    as Brian de Bois-Guilbert

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • From a Far Country(1981)

    as Marian

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • Possession(1981)

    as Mark

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • The Final Conflict(1981)

    as Damien Thorn

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films

  • Lucinda Brayford (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    Show 4 episodes · as Tony Duff

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

    as Rex

  • Just Out Of Reach (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    as Mike

  • My Brilliant Career(1979)

    as Harry Beecham

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • On the Road with Red Mole (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    Director · Writer

  • Surf Sail (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    Director · as Narrator (voice)

  • Sleeping Dogs(1977)

    as Smith

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • New Country - New People (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    Director

  • Flare - A Ski Trip (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    Director

  • The Governor (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    Show 1 episode · as Colonial Bachelor

  • Architect Athfield(1977)

    Director · as Narrator

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • The Sullivans (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    Show 40 episodes · as Ben Dawson

  • Four Shorts on Architecture (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    Director · Editor · Writer · as Narrator (voice)

  • Ashes (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    as Priest

  • Landfall (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    as Eric

  • Phone (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    Director · Editor · Writer

  • The Sealhunters (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    Editor

  • Hunt's Duffer (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    as Bradley

  • The Water Cycle (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    as Hydro enthusiast

  • The City of No (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    as The neighbour

  • Hallmark Hall of Fame (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

    Show 1 episode · as British Flier

  • Mystery Ride (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    as Duncan Connelly

  • The Last Resort (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    as Gerard

Career shape

Star power in the 99th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 174 titles, 169 of them dated from 1951 to 2025; peak year 1994.

Biggest box office

Jurassic Park (1993)

$1.1B worldwide

Highest rated

Jurassic Park (1993)

Midcredits 99th

Most popular right now

Jurassic World: Dominion (2022)

Film career

19512025

Peak 1994 · back in prominent film roles after a quiet stretch. Top draw in 51 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.

  • 1978Screen debut· Sleeping Dogs
  • 1978First top-billed film· Sleeping Dogs
  • 1993Career best· Jurassic Park
  • 2012Career best· Alcatraz

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting168 of 174: 163 only acting, 5 with another role · typical Midcredits score55thDirecting9 of 174: 2 only directing, 7 with another roleWriting4 of 174: 0 only writing, 4 with another roleProducing2 of 174: 0 only producing, 2 with another roleEditing3 of 174: 1 only editing, 2 with another role

174 titles, 8 with more than one role — acting and directing overlap on 4 of them.

By decade

1950s1 · acting1970s19 · 14 acting · 8 crew1980s23 · acting1990s30 · 30 acting · 1 crew2000s41 · 40 acting · 2 crew2010s39 · acting2020s16 · acting

Billing

usually 3rd · top billed in 16% of 68 roles
7883939803081318

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

5 major nominations and no wins, 1985–2017.

  1. 2017
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Narrator
  2. 1999
    • Golden Globe, nominated · Best Performance by an Actor in a Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television
  3. 1998
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie
  4. 1992
    • Golden Globe, nominated · Best Performance by an Actor in a Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television
  5. 1985
    • Golden Globe, nominated · Best Performance by an Actor in a Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television

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 Sam Neill's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 57th percentile, the median of the 85 of 86 with a score; across their 80 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 53rd percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

53rdpercentile
Typical film, the median of 80

Approval · how many liked their films

54thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 80

Reach · how many have seen their films

80thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 80

Midcredits score across 107 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up28
  • 50th to 74th34
  • 25th to 49th31
  • Below 25th14

Shape of the crowd

48 of their 107 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved15
  • Universally Panned1
  • Divisive1
  • Cult Classic3
  • Crowd Pleaser48
  • Broadly Agreed12
  • Mixed27

Most divisive · actor

The Ordained (2013)

98th percentile spread · 41% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Peaky Blinders (2013)

Midcredits 99th · 95% liked

Reviewers score the acting 71/100 in their films, across 74 reviewed titles; fans 80, detractors 46. 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 Neill's work okay for kids?

Across up to 49 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 & Gore33 titles10–84 · median 57 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity49 titles10–58 · median 26 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity35 titles28–67 · median 43 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs32 titles21–48 · median 31 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense35 titles25–79 · median 54 · 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 Neill work with?

People who share at least 2 of Sam Neill's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Bryan Brown shares the most, 5.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Cinematographers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles