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Lea Thompson

Lea Thompson

Actor and director, also producer · Born May 31, 1961 (65) · Rochester, Minnesota, USA

Lea Katherine Thompson (born May 31, 1961) is an American actress, singer, dancer, and director. She is best known for her roles as Lorraine Baines-McFly in the Back to the Future film trilogy (1985–1990), Beverly Switzler in Howard the Duck (1986), and Amanda Jones in Some Kind of Wonderful (1987). Other films for which she is known include All the Right Moves (1983), Red Dawn (1984), Dennis the Menace (1993), and The Beverly Hillbillies (1993). In the 1990s, she played the title character in the sitcom Caroline in the City. From 2011 to 2017, she co-starred as Kathryn Kennish in the ABC Family-turned-Freeform series Switched at Birth.

Read more

Biography from TMDB.

Born
May 31, 1961 (65)
From
Rochester, Minnesota, USA
Works as
Actor and director, also producer
Titles
89 on MovieCove · 117 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 156 days to Oct 27Up 20% in 30 days

What are Lea Thompson's films like?

Across their 66 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Self.

Genres

Comedy21 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 31st percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Drama13 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 46th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Adventure7 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 36th percentile
: browse their Adventure movies
Crime6 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 56th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Crime movies
Action4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 14th percentile
: browse their Action movies
Documentary4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 57th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Documentary movies
Mystery3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 51st percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Mystery 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
32%
Self
25%
Morality
13%
Society
11%
Survival
10%
Power
5%
Ideas
4%
Family bonds27 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love13 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity12 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice12 titles, browse their movies with this themeSelf-worth10 titles, browse their movies with this themeComing of age8 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity10 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival8 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 62 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Light: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their light movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 43 · Serious 9 · Dark 10

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

Grounded 46 · Stylized 14 · Heightened 2

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

A split, not a type: Gentle 32 · Charged 24 · Intense 6

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

Steady 38 · Shifting 21 · Whiplash 3

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

Straight-faced 23 · Some laughs 27 · Funny 12

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 30 · Even-paced 27 · Relentless 5

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

Casual 42 · Engaged 19 · Full focus 1

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

Resolved 52 · Open-ended 7 · Ambiguous 3

Roles they play

37 analyzed roles

Usually the Hero: 17 of 37 analyzed roles.

Hero
17 of 37
Ally
12 of 37
Shapeshifter
4 of 37
Threshold guardian
2 of 37
Mentor
1 of 37
Trickster
1 of 37
Show the 37 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Warm
31
Tense
27
Joyful
17
Hopeful
16
Contemplative
15
Other
67

How their films linger

Feel-good39 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun21 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful21 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet17 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking10 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteWistful6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 6 with a twist

  • Happy31
  • Bittersweet27
  • Ambiguous8

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 Lea Thompson's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 66 of their 89 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (25).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Lea Thompson'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

117 credits, 89 with a MovieCove page; 27 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Anna Pigeon (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2026)

    Show 10 episodes · Director · Executive Producer

  • The Chicken Sisters(2024)

    Show 16 episodes · Director · as Nancy Hillier

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all shows

  • The Spencer Sisters(2023)

    Show 10 episodes · as Victoria Spencer

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all shows

  • Will Trent(2023)

    Show 3 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all shows

  • The Disappearance of Cari Farver(2022)

    as Nancy Farver

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • Ten Tricks(2022)

    as Grace

    Midcredits score: 9th percentile of all films

  • Dinner in America(2020)

    as Betty

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

  • Unplugging(2022)

    as Perkins

    Midcredits score: 12th percentile of all films

  • Next Stop, Christmas(2021)

    as Evelyn

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • Mark, Mary & Some Other People(2021)

    as Aunty Carol

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • Invincible(2021)

    Show 1 episode · as Carol (voice)

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all shows

  • Resident Alien(2021)

    Show 3 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all shows

  • Stargirl(2020)

    Show 5 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all shows

  • Katy Keene(2020)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all shows

  • Star Trek: Picard(2020)

    Show 2 episodes · Director · as Diane Werner

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all shows

  • You Are Here (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2019)

    as Helen

  • Cool Cat's Crazy Dream(2019)

    as Dream World Lea

    Midcredits score: 3rd percentile of all films

  • Schooled(2019)

    Show 5 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all shows

  • Little Women(2018)

    as Margaret "Marmee" March

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films

  • Sierra Burgess Is a Loser(2018)

    as Mrs. Burgess

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films

  • The Year of Spectacular Men(2017)

    Director · as Deb Klein

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films

  • Who We Are Now(2017)

    as Alana

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • Back to the Future: The Hill Valley Chronicles (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2018)

    Show 11 episodes · as Lorraine Baines-McFly

  • Over the Hill (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2018)

    as Sally

  • Young Sheldon(2017)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all shows

  • Literally, Right Before Aaron(2017)

    as Deb (Adam's Mom)

    Midcredits score: 7th percentile of all films

  • American Housewife(2016)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all shows

  • The Dog Lover(2016)

    as Liz Holloway

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • Stars Are Already Dead (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    as Aunt Sophia

  • Penn Zero: Part-Time Hero(2014)

    Show 61 episodes · as Vonnie (voice)

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all shows

  • Left Behind(2014)

    as Irene Steele

    Midcredits score: 1st percentile of all films

  • A to Z (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    Show 1 episode · as Lea Thompson

  • Scorpion(2014)

    Show 4 episodes · as Veronica Dineen

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all shows

  • Ping Pong Summer(2014)

    as Mrs. Miracle

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • My Mother's Future Husband(2014)

    as René Henderson

    Midcredits score: 34th percentile of all films

  • The Goldbergs(2013)

    Show 10 episodes · Director · as Fran

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all shows

  • Mom(2013)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all shows

  • Call Me Crazy: A Five Film(2013)

    as Julia

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • Love at the Christmas Table(2012)

    as Elissa Beth

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • Bound by Flesh(2012)

    as Voiceover

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • The Trouble with the Truth(2012)

    Producer · as Emily

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • Thin Ice(2011)

    as Jo Ann Prohaska

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • Game of Your Life (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    as Abbie

  • J. Edgar(2011)

    as Lela Rogers

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • The Cabin (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    as Lily MacDougal

  • Mayor Cupcake(2011)

    Producer · as Mary Maroni

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • Switched at Birth(2011)

    Show 103 episodes · Director · as Kathryn Kennish

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all shows

  • Rock Slyde (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    as Master Bartologist

  • I Was a 7th Grade Dragon Slayer(2010)

    as Laura

    Midcredits score: 4th percentile of all films

  • Splinterheads(2009)

    as Susan Frost

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films

  • Looking Back to the Future(2009)

    Thanks · as Self

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Fatal Secrets(2009)

    Associate Producer · as Rebecca

    Midcredits score: 3rd percentile of all films

  • The Christmas Clause (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    as Sophie

  • My Best Friend's Girl(2008)

    Thanks

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • Exit Speed(2008)

    as Maudie McMinn

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films

  • Final Approach(2007)

    as Alicia Bender

    Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all films

  • Senior Skip Day(2008)

    as Cathleen Harris

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films

  • Spy School(2008)

    as Claire Miller

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films

  • Jane Doe: Eye of the Beholder(2008)

    Director · as Cathy Davis / Jane Doe

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • Greek(2007)

    Show 1 episode · as April

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all shows

  • Jane Doe: How to Fire Your Boss(2007)

    as Cathy Davis

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • A Life Interrupted (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    as Debbie Smith

  • Jane Doe: Ties That Bind(2007)

    as Cathy Davis / Jane Doe

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • California Dreaming (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    as Ginger Gainor

  • Celebrity Duets (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Show 9 episodes · Actor

  • Jane Doe: The Harder They Fall(2006)

    Director · as Cathy Davis

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • Jane Doe: Yes, I Remember It Well(2006)

    as Cathy Davis

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • Jane Doe: The Wrong Face(2005)

    as Cathy Davis

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • Jane Doe: Til Death Do Us Part(2005)

    as Cathy Davis

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • Jane Doe: Now You See It, Now You Don't(2005)

    as Cathy Davis

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • American Dad!(2005)

    Show 1 episode · as Caroline Duffy (voice)

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all shows

  • Jane Doe: Vanishing Act(2005)

    as Cathy Davis

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • Come Away Home(2005)

    as Carol

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • Stealing Christmas(2003)

    as Sarah Gibson

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films

  • Haunted Lighthouse 4-D (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    as Peg Van Legge

  • For the People (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    Show 18 episodes · as Chief Deputy District Attorney Camille Paris

  • Fish Don't Blink(2002)

    as Clara

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films

  • Ed (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Show 3 episodes · as Liz Stevens

  • CSI: Crime Scene Investigation(2000)

    Show 1 episode · as Jennifer Rhodes

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all shows

  • Law & Order: Special Victims Unit(1999)

    Show 1 episode · as Michelle Osborne

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • Family Guy(1999)

    Show 1 episode · as Lorraine McFly (voice) · as Teenaged Girl in Diner (voice)

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all shows

  • A Will of their Own (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Show 2 episodes · as Amanda Steward

  • The Unknown Cyclist (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    as Melissa Cavatelli

  • E! True Hollywood Story (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Right to Remain Silent(1996)

    as Christine Paley

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • The Unspoken Truth(1995)

    as Brianne Hawkins

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • Caroline in the City(1995)

    Show 97 episodes · as Caroline Duffy

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all shows

  • Friends(1994)

    Show 1 episode · as Caroline Duffy (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all shows

  • The Little Rascals(1994)

    as Ms. Roberts

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • The Substitute Wife (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    as Amy Hightower

  • The Beverly Hillbillies(1993)

    as Laura Jackson

    Midcredits score: 22nd percentile of all films

  • Dennis the Menace(1993)

    as Alice Mitchell

    Midcredits score: 34th percentile of all films

  • Stolen Babies (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    as Annie Beales

  • The Larry Sanders Show(1992)

    Show 1 episode · as Lea Thompson

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all shows

  • Article 99(1992)

    as Dr. Robin Van Dorn

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • Back to the Future Part III(1990)

    as Maggie McFly / Lorraine McFly

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films

  • Montana (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    as Peg Guthrie

  • Back to the Future Part II(1989)

    as Lorraine

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Tales from the Crypt(1989)

    Show 1 episode · as Sylvia Vane

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all shows

  • Nightbreaker(1989)

    as Sally Matthews

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • The Wizard of Loneliness(1988)

    as Sybil

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films

  • Going Undercover(1985)

    as Marigold de la Hunt

    Midcredits score: 2nd percentile of all films

  • Casual Sex?(1988)

    as Stacy

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films

  • Some Kind of Wonderful(1987)

    as Amanda Jones

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • Howard the Duck(1986)

    as Beverly Switzler

    Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all films

  • SpaceCamp(1986)

    as Kathryn

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • Back to the Future(1985)

    as Lorraine Baines

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • The Wild Life(1984)

    as Anita

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • Red Dawn(1984)

    as Erica

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • All the Right Moves(1983)

    as Lisa

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films

  • Jaws 3-D(1983)

    as Kelly Ann Bukowski

    Midcredits score: 1st percentile of all films

  • The Making of Jaws 3-D: Sharks Don't Die (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    Actor

  • American Playhouse (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Show 1 episode · as Aunt Sybil

  • A Pretty Good Movie (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    as Ramona

  • Manville (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Director

  • Queen (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    as Dr. Page

  • What If (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 118 titles, 114 of them dated from 1982 to 2026; peak year 1985.

Biggest box office

Back to the Future (1985)

$392M worldwide

Highest rated

Back to the Future (1985)

Midcredits 99th

Most popular right now

Switched at Birth (2011)

Film career

MilestoneBreakout
19822026

Peak 1985 · back in prominent film roles after a quiet stretch. Top draw in 17 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
Acting106 of 118: 98 only acting, 8 with another role · typical Midcredits score48thDirecting17 of 118: 9 only directing, 8 with another role · typical Midcredits score68thProducing2 of 118: 0 only producing, 2 with another roleOther crew2 of 118: 2 only other crew, 0 with another role

118 titles, 9 with more than one role — acting and directing overlap on 7 of them.

By decade

1980s17 · acting1990s18 · acting2000s30 · 28 acting · 5 crew2010s34 · 30 acting · 7 crew2020s15 · 10 acting · 7 crew

Billing

usually 4th · top billed in 8% of 36 roles
83880313

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 Lea Thompson's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 40th percentile, the median of all 64; across their 62 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 41st percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

41stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 62

Approval · how many liked their films

41stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 62

Reach · how many have seen their films

65thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 62

Midcredits score across 89 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up20
  • 50th to 74th27
  • 25th to 49th24
  • Below 25th18

Shape of the crowd

43 of their 89 titles are Mixed.

  • Universally Loved9
  • Universally Panned2
  • Divisive1
  • Cult Classic3
  • Crowd Pleaser28
  • Broadly Agreed3
  • Mixed43

Most divisive · actor

Cool Cat's Crazy Dream (2019)

95th percentile spread · 78% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Back to the Future (1985)

Midcredits 99th · 93% liked

Reviewers score the acting 62/100 in their films, across 57 reviewed titles; fans 75, detractors 40. 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 Lea Thompson's work okay for kids?

Across up to 21 MovieCove titles with content scores, every category sits near the median of all films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore16 titles16–65 · median 38 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity21 titles14–54 · median 35 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity18 titles33–56 · median 43 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs17 titles31–55 · median 36 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense17 titles11–63 · median 30 · mildnear the median of all 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 Lea Thompson work with?

People who share at least 2 of Lea Thompson's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Robert A. Halmi shares the most, 10.

Directors

Writers

Actors

  • Jessy Schram9 titles    See all 9 shared titles with Jessy Schram
  • Joe Penny9 titles    See all 9 shared titles with Joe Penny
  • William R. Moses9 titles    See all 9 shared titles with William R. Moses
  • Zack Shada9 titles    See all 9 shared titles with Zack Shada

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers

  • Robert A. Halmi10 titles    See all 10 shared titles with Robert A. Halmi
  • Larry Levinson9 titles    See all 9 shared titles with Larry Levinson
  • Nick Lombardo9 titles    See all 9 shared titles with Nick Lombardo
  • Kyle A. Clark8 titles    See all 8 shared titles with Kyle A. Clark