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William Friedkin

William Friedkin

Director, writer, producer and actor · Died August 7, 2023, aged 87 · Chicago, Illinois, USA

Oscar winner · 2 Golden Globes · Primetime Emmy nominee · 4 other major award bodies

William David Friedkin (August 29, 1935 – August 7, 2023) was an American film, television and opera director, producer, and screenwriter who was closely identified with the "New Hollywood" movement of the 1970s. Beginning his career in documentaries in the early 1960s, he is best known for his crime thriller film The French Connection (1971), which won five Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director, and the horror film The Exorcist (1973), which earned him another Academy Award nomination for Best Director. Friedkin's other films in the 1970s and 1980s include the drama The Boys in the Band (1970), considered a milestone of queer cinema; the originally deprecated, now lauded thriller Sorcerer (1977); the crime comedy drama The Brink's Job (1978); the controversial thriller Cruising (1980); and the neo-noir thriller To Live and Die in L.A. (1985). Although Friedkin's works suffered an overall commercial and critical decline in the late 1980s, his last three feature films, all based on plays, were positively received by critics: the psychological horror film Bug (2006), the crime film Killer Joe (2011), and the legal drama film The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial (2023), released two months after his death. He also worked extensively as an opera director from 1998 until his death, and directed various television films and series episodes for television. Description above from the Wikipedia article William Friedkin, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
August 29, 1935
Died
August 7, 2023 (aged 87)
From
Chicago, Illinois, USA
Works as
Director, writer, producer and actor
Titles
29 on MovieCove · 48 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 27Down 26% in 30 days

What are William Friedkin's films like?

Across their 33 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Society.

Genres

Documentary10 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 87th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Documentary movies
Drama7 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 53rd percentile
: browse their Drama movies
Action5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 42nd percentile
: browse their Action movies
Crime5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 68th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Crime movies
Comedy4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 53rd percentile
: browse their Comedy 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
Morality
24%
Society
18%
Ideas
16%
Self
13%
Survival
11%
Bonds
11%
Power
7%
Art11 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice8 titles, browse their movies with this themeLegacy8 titles, browse their movies with this themeLoyalty5 titles, browse their movies with this themeTrauma5 titles, browse their movies with this themeDuty4 titles, browse their movies with this themeCorruption3 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival3 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 33 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 14 · Serious 5 · Dark 14

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

Grounded 21 · Stylized 12 · Heightened 0

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 9 · Intense 14

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

A split, not a type: Steady 16 · Shifting 12 · Whiplash 5

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

Straight-faced 23 · Some laughs 7 · Funny 3

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

Slow burn 15 · Even-paced 16 · 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 10 · Engaged 13 · Full focus 10

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 16 · Affecting 8 · Heavy 9

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

Resolved 22 · Open-ended 9 · Ambiguous 2

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
19
Contemplative
19
Warm
12
Dread
9
Cold
6
Other
14

How their films linger

Thought-provoking15 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling11 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteRousing5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 4 with a twist

  • Happy6
  • Bittersweet15
  • Ambiguous12

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 William Friedkin's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 17 of their 29 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (7).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for William Friedkin'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

48 credits, 29 with a MovieCove page; 58 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial(2023)

    Director · Teleplay

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • The Devil and Father Amorth (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2018)

    Director · Writer · as Self

  • Return to the Genre (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    Actor

  • Sorcerers: A Conversation with William Friedkin and Nicolas Winding Refn (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    Actor

  • Verdi Aida (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    Stage Director

  • Henri Langlois vu par... (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    Director · as Self

  • Killer Joe(2011)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • The Painter's Voice (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    Director

  • Bug(2006)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • Shadows in the Dark: The Val Lewton Legacy(2005)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films

  • The Hunted(2003)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • CSI: Crime Scene Investigation(2000)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all shows

  • Rules of Engagement(2000)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • Without Limits(1998)

    as TV Director

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • The Fear of God: 25 Years of 'The Exorcist'(1998)

    Thanks · as Self - Director

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • 12 Angry Men(1997)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Jade(1995)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films

  • Jailbreakers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    Director

  • Rebel Highway (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • Blue Chips(1994)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • The Guardian(1990)

    Director · Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all films

  • The Simpsons(1989)

    Show 1 episode · as Dr. Kenneth Humphries (voice)

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all shows

  • Tales from the Crypt(1989)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all shows

  • C.A.T. Squad: Python Wolf(1988)

    Director · Executive Producer · Story

    Midcredits score: 4th percentile of all films

  • Rampage(1987)

    Director · Producer · Writer

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • C.A.T. Squad(1986)

    Director · Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 12th percentile of all films

  • Putting It Together: The Making of the Broadway Album (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    Director · as Self

  • To Live and Die in L.A.(1985)

    Director · Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films

  • The Twilight Zone (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • Deal of the Century(1983)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 7th percentile of all films

  • Cruising(1980)

    Director · Writer

    Midcredits score: 63rd percentile of all films

  • The Brink's Job(1978)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • Sorcerer(1977)

    Director · Producer · Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Conversation with Fritz Lang (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    Director · as Self

  • The Exorcist(1973)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Paper Moon(1973)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • The French Connection(1971)

    Director · Writer

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • The Boys in the Band(1970)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films

  • The Night They Raided Minsky's(1968)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • The Birthday Party (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    Director

  • Good Times (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Director · Screenplay

  • Muggins (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Producer

  • The Pickle Brothers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Director

  • The Thin Blue Line (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

    Director · Producer · Story

  • Pro Football: Mayhem on a Sunday Afternoon (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    Director

  • The Bold Men (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    Director

  • The Alfred Hitchcock Hour(1962)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all shows

  • The People vs. Paul Crump (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    Director · Producer

Career shape

A full career of 47 titles from 1962 to 2023.

Biggest box office

The Exorcist (1973)

$431M worldwide

Highest rated

Paper Moon (1973)

Midcredits 99th

Most popular right now

The Exorcist (1973)

Film career

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting5 of 47: 5 only acting, 0 with another roleDirecting39 of 47: 27 only directing, 12 with another role · typical Midcredits score62ndWriting10 of 47: 0 only writing, 10 with another role · typical Midcredits score63rdProducing7 of 47: 1 only producing, 6 with another roleOther crew2 of 47: 2 only other crew, 0 with another role

47 titles, 12 with more than one role — directing and writing overlap on 10 of them.

By decade

1960s10 · crew1970s6 · crew1980s10 · 1 acting · 9 crew1990s8 · 1 acting · 7 crew2000s6 · 1 acting · 5 crew2010s6 · 2 acting · 4 crew2020s1 · crew

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.

Awards

an Oscar, 2 Golden Globes and 4 other major awards from 15 major nominations, 1972–2013.

WinNomination
  1. 2013
    • Venice award, won
  2. 2011
    • Venice award, won
    • Venice award, nominated
  3. 2006
    • Cannes award, won · Quinzaine des réalisateurs
    • Cannes award, nominated · Directors' Fortnight
    • Cannes award, nominated
  4. 1998
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Directing for a Miniseries or a Movie
    • +1 other major body · 1 nomination
      • Directors Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Dramatic Specials
  5. 1974
    • Oscar, nominated · Best Director
    • Golden Globe, won · Best Director - Motion Picture
    • +1 other major body · 1 nomination
      • Directors Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures
  6. 1973
    • BAFTA Award, nominated · Best Direction
  7. 1972
    • Oscar, won · Best Director
    • Golden Globe, won · Best Director - Motion Picture
    • +1 other major body · 1 win
      • Directors Guild Award, won · Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures

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 William Friedkin's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 63rd percentile, the median of all 25; across their 33 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 76th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

76thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 33

Approval · how many liked their films

72ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 33

Reach · how many have seen their films

76thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 33

Midcredits score across 29 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up14
  • 50th to 74th7
  • 25th to 49th3
  • Below 25th5

Shape of the crowd

10 of their 29 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved9
  • Crowd Pleaser10
  • Broadly Agreed2
  • Mixed8

Most divisive · director, writer, producer

C.A.T. Squad: Python Wolf (1988)

61st percentile spread · 58% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · producer

Paper Moon (1973)

Midcredits 99th · 90% liked

Reviewers score the atmosphere 72/100 and the pacing 52/100 in their films, across 26 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 William Friedkin's work okay for kids?

Across up to 15 MovieCove titles with content scores, violence & gore, profanity, alcohol & drugs and frightening / intense run heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore14 titles16–91 · median 81 · severeheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity15 titles5–73 · median 38 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity14 titles50–87 · median 74 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs13 titles28–67 · median 47 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense13 titles19–90 · median 75 · intenseheavier 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 William Friedkin work with?

People who share at least 2 of William Friedkin's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; David Salven shares the most, 7.

Directors

  • Gary Leva4 titles    See all 4 shared titles with Gary Leva

Writers

Actors

Editors

Producers

Mixed roles