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Vincent Gallo

Vincent Gallo

Actor, director, composer, producer and writer, also editor and cinematographer · Born April 11, 1961 (65) · Buffalo - New York - USA

Vincent Gallo (born April 11, 1961) is an American film actor, director, producer, screenwriter, singer-songwriter, and painter. Although he has had minor roles in mainstream films such as Goodfellas, he is most associated with independent movies, including Buffalo '66, which he wrote, directed, did the music for and starred in; The Brown Bunny, which he also wrote, directed, produced, starred in and photographed; Arizona Dream; The Funeral; and Palookaville. In the late 1970s and early 1980s, Gallo was a painter in the New York City art scene showing with famed art dealer Annina Nosei, performed in a rap duo and was part of the first hip hop television broadcast Graffiti Rock, and played in an industrial band called Bohack which released an album title It Took Several Wives. In the early 2000s, he released several solo recordings on WARP records. Gallo is known for his outspoken views and generally sarcastic nature, once stating: "I stopped painting in 1990 at the peak of my success just to deny people my beautiful paintings; and I did it out of spite." Gallo was awarded the Coppa Volpi for Best Actor at the 67th Venice International Film Festival for his performance as a wordless escaping Muslim prisoner in Jerzy Skolimowski's Essential Killing. His own feature film Promises Written In Water, which he wrote, directed, produced and starred in, also screened In Competition at the festival.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
April 11, 1961 (65)
From
Buffalo - New York - USA
Works as
Actor, director, composer, producer and writer, also editor and cinematographer
Titles
28 on Motif · 64 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 39 days to Oct 28Down 10% in 30 days

What are Vincent Gallo's films like?

Across their 23 Motif titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Self and Survival.

Genres

Comedy9 titlesTypical Motif score: 44th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Comedy movies
Drama7 titlesTypical Motif score: 45th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Crime3 titlesTypical Motif score: 29th percentile
: browse their Crime movies
Action2 titlesTypical Motif score: 51st percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Action movies

Their Motif films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Motif 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
25%
Survival
22%
Bonds
17%
Morality
16%
Power
7%
Ideas
7%
Society
7%
Survival6 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose6 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds5 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love3 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity4 titles, browse their movies with this themeRedemption3 titles, browse their movies with this themeGreed2 titles, browse their movies with this themeTrauma3 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 23 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Dark: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their dark movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 5 · Serious 4 · Dark 14

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

A split, not a type: Grounded 10 · Stylized 8 · Heightened 5

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

A split, not a type: Gentle 6 · Charged 5 · Intense 12

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

Steady 9 · Shifting 9 · Whiplash 5

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

Straight-faced 14 · Some laughs 8 · Funny 1

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

Slow burn 12 · Even-paced 10 · Relentless 1

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

Casual 8 · Engaged 12 · Full focus 3

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 5 · Affecting 6 · Heavy 12

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

A split, not a type: Resolved 9 · Open-ended 5 · Ambiguous 9

Roles they play

17 analyzed roles

Usually the Hero: 7 of 17 analyzed roles.

Hero
7 of 17
Shadow
5 of 17
Mentor
2 of 17
Ally
1 of 17
Herald
1 of 17
Trickster
1 of 17
Show the 17 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
13
Dread
9
Melancholic
9
Contemplative
6
Cold
4
Other
18

How their films linger

Haunting8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteDevastating5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 5 with a twist

  • Happy4
  • Bittersweet6
  • Tragic3
  • Ambiguous10

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 Vincent Gallo's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 18 of their 28 Motif titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (12).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Vincent Gallo's titles on Motif; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Motif 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

64 credits, 28 with a Motif page; 14 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Memória (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2023)

    Songs

  • Shut In(2022)

    as Sammy

    Motif score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • Short Plays (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2014)

    Director

  • United States Wins the World Cup (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2014)

    Director · Composer

  • The Human Trust (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2013)

    as Harold Marcus

  • The Legend of Kaspar Hauser (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2013)

    as The Pusher / The Sheriff

  • Loosies(2011)

    as Jax

    Motif score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • Wretches & Jabberers (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2011)

    Composer

  • 42 One Dream Rush (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2010)

    as Pan

  • The Agent (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2010)

    Director · Art Direction · Composer · Editor · Executive Producer · Producer · Screenplay · as The Talent

  • Promises Written in Water (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2010)

    Director · Art Direction · Composer · Editor · Producer · Screenplay · as Kevin

  • Essential Killing(2010)

    as Mohammed

    Motif score: 49th percentile of all films

  • Anea 17 (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2010)

    Director

  • Metropia(2009)

    as Roger Olofsson (voice)

    Motif score: 51st percentile of all films

  • Tetro(2009)

    as Angelo 'Tetro' Tetrocini

    Motif score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • 1989 (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2009)

    as Ernest

  • The Mother of Invention(2009)

    Thanks

    Motif score: 58th percentile of all films

  • Night of Pan (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2009)

    as Pan - The Legend

  • Oliviero Rising (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2009)

    as Oliviero

  • Dirt (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2007)

    Show 1 episode · as Sammy Winter

  • Moscow Zero(2006)

    as Owen

    Motif score: 2nd percentile of all films

  • Vic (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2006)

    Thanks

  • Kill Your Idols (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2004)

    Thanks

  • The Undesirables(2003)

    as Tony Bendando

    Motif score: 8th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • The Brown Bunny(2003)

    Director · Art Direction · Camera Operator · Cinematographer · Editor · Makeup Artist · Producer · Screenplay · Set Designer · as Bud Clay

    Motif score: 27th percentile of all films

  • The Groovenians (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2002)

    as Nixon

  • The Groovenians (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2002)

    Show 1 episode · as Nixon (voice)

  • Get Well Soon(2001)

    as Bobby Bishop / Kevin Moss

    Motif score: 21st percentile of all films

  • Stranded(2001)

    as Luca Baglioni

    Motif score: 24th percentile of all films

  • Honey Bunny (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2001)

    Director · Editor · Producer · Writer · as The Emotional Man

  • Downtown 81(2000)

    Composer · Thanks

    Motif score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • Trouble Every Day(2001)

    as Dr. Shane Brown

    Motif score: 45th percentile of all films

  • John Frusciante Plays and Sings (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2001)

    Director

  • Hide and Seek(2000)

    as Frank

    Motif score: 29th percentile of all films

  • Freeway II: Confessions of a Trickbaby(1999)

    as Sister Gomez

    Motif score: 34th percentile of all films

  • Goodbye Lover(1998)

    as Mike

    Motif score: 29th percentile of all films

  • L.A. Without a Map(1998)

    Composer · as Moss

    Motif score: 44th percentile of all films

  • Late August, Early September(1998)

    Thanks

    Motif score: 74th percentile of all films

  • Johnny 316 (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1998)

    as Johnny

  • Buffalo '66(1998)

    Director · Composer · Screenplay · Story · as Billy Brown

    Motif score: 91st percentile of all films

  • Looking for Enemies Finding Friends (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1997)

    Director · as Vincent Gallo NYC 1997

  • Vincent Gallo Directs (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1997)

    Director · Writer · as Self

  • Truth or Consequences, N.M.(1997)

    as Raymond Lembecke

    Motif score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • Nenette and Boni (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1997)

    as Vincenzo Brown

  • Palookaville(1995)

    as Russell Pataki

    Motif score: 61st percentile of all films

  • Basquiat(1996)

    as Party Guest (uncredited)

    Motif score: 75th percentile of all films

  • Angela(1995)

    as Preacher

    Motif score: 60th percentile of all films

  • The Funeral(1996)

    as Johnny

    Motif score: 70th percentile of all films

  • The Perez Family(1995)

    as Orlando

    Motif score: 46th percentile of all films

  • U.S. Go Home (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1995)

    as Captain Brown

  • The House of the Spirits(1993)

    as Esteban García

    Motif score: 74th percentile of all films

  • Figaro Story (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1993)

    as Vito Brown (segment "Keep It for Yourself")

  • Arizona Dream(1993)

    as Paul Leger

    Motif score: 85th percentile of all films

  • Keep It for Yourself (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1991)

    as Vito Brown

  • Alex (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1991)

    as Mário

  • Breath of Life (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1990)

    Producer

  • GoodFellas(1990)

    as Henry's 70's Crew

    Motif score: 99th percentile of all films

  • Doc's Kingdom (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1988)

    as Jimmy

  • Fatal Temptation (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1988)

    Producer

  • Vampire Lestat (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1987)

    Actor

  • The Way It Is (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1986)

    Composer · as Victor / Heurtebise

  • The Equalizer (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1985)

    Show 1 episode · as Tony Santiago

  • Vincent Gallo as Flying Christ (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1981)

    Composer · Executive Producer · as Jesus

  • Golden State Killer (not in the Motif catalog yet)

    Director · Writer · as Joseph James DeAngelo

Career shape

Star power in the 99th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 64 titles, 63 of them dated from 1981 to 2023; peak year 1997.

Biggest box office

The House of the Spirits (1993)

$6.3M worldwide

Highest rated

Buffalo '66 (1998)

Motif 91st

Most popular right now

The House of the Spirits (1993)

Film career

MilestoneBreakout
19812023

Peak 1997 · fewer prominent film roles lately. Top draw in 10 Motif 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
Acting50 of 64: 40 only acting, 10 with another role · typical Motif score46thDirecting12 of 64: 3 only directing, 9 with another roleWriting7 of 64: 0 only writing, 7 with another roleProducing7 of 64: 2 only producing, 5 with another roleMusic9 of 64: 1 only music, 8 with another roleCinematography1 of 64: 0 only cinematography, 1 with another roleEditing4 of 64: 0 only editing, 4 with another roleOther crew9 of 64: 5 only other crew, 4 with another role

64 titles, 13 with more than one role — acting and directing overlap on 7 of them.

By decade

1980s6 · 5 acting · 3 crew1990s22 · 19 acting · 6 crew2000s22 · 17 acting · 7 crew2010s11 · 7 acting · 6 crew2020s2 · 1 acting · 1 crew

Billing

usually 2nd · top billed in 42% of 24 roles
939803

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 Motif score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on Motif, 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 Vincent Gallo's films land?

Their typical Motif film has a Motif score in the 50th percentile, the median of all 28; across their 23 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 46th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

46thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 23

Approval · how many liked their films

46thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 23

Reach · how many have seen their films

77thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 23

Motif score across 28 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up4
  • 50th to 74th10
  • 25th to 49th10
  • Below 25th4

Shape of the crowd

12 of their 28 titles are Mixed.

  • Universally Loved2
  • Cult Classic2
  • Crowd Pleaser11
  • Broadly Agreed1
  • Mixed12

Most divisive · actor

The Undesirables (2003)

86th percentile spread · 58% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

GoodFellas (1990)

Motif 99th · 95% liked

Reviewers score the acting 65/100 in their films, across 21 reviewed titles; fans 75, detractors 42. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on Motif; 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 Motif score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their Motif 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 Vincent Gallo's work okay for kids?

Across up to 11 Motif titles with content scores, violence & gore, sex & nudity, profanity and frightening / intense run heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore7 titles47–85 · median 74 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity11 titles25–78 · median 57 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity6 titles37–71 · median 64 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs6 titles31–67 · median 43 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense7 titles35–88 · median 67 · 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 Vincent Gallo work with?

People who share at least 2 of Vincent Gallo's Motif titles, grouped by what they did on them; María Lidón shares the most, 2.

Directors

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers