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Todd Haynes

Todd Haynes

Producer, director, writer and actor, also editor · Born January 2, 1961 (65) · Los Angeles, California, USA

Oscar nominee · Primetime Emmy nominee · Golden Globe nominee · 9 other major award bodies

Todd Haynes (/heɪnz/; born January 2, 1961; Los Angeles) is an American filmmaker. His films span four decades with themes examining the personalities of well-known musicians, dysfunctional and dystopian societies, and blurred gender roles. Haynes first gained public attention with his controversial short film Superstar: The Karen Carpenter Story (1987), which chronicles singer Karen Carpenter's life and death, using Barbie dolls as actors. Superstar became a cult classic. Haynes's feature directorial debut, Poison (1991), a provocative exploration of AIDS-era queer perceptions and subversions, established him as a figure of a new transgressive cinema. Poison won the Sundance Film Festival's Grand Jury Prize and is regarded as a seminal work of New Queer Cinema. Haynes received further acclaim for his second feature film, Safe (1995), a symbolic portrait of a housewife who develops multiple chemical sensitivity. Safe was later voted the best film of the 1990s by The Village Voice Film Poll. His next feature, Velvet Goldmine (1998), is a tribute to the 1970s glam rock era. The film received the Special Jury Prize for Best Artistic Contribution at the 1998 Cannes Film Festival. Haynes gained acclaim and a measure of mainstream success with Far from Heaven (2002) earning his first Academy Award nomination for Best Original Screenplay. He continued to direct critically lauded films such as I'm Not There (2007), Carol (2015), Wonderstruck (2017) and Dark Waters (2019). He directed his first feature-length documentary, The Velvet Underground (2021). Haynes directed and co-wrote the HBO mini-series Mildred Pierce (2011) for which he was nominated for three Primetime Emmy Awards.

Read more

Biography from TMDB.

Born
January 2, 1961 (65)
From
Los Angeles, California, USA
Works as
Producer, director, writer and actor, also editor
Titles
26 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 19% in 30 days

What are Todd Haynes' films like?

Across their 21 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Self and Society.

Genres

Drama10 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 80th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Biography3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 78th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Biography movies
Documentary3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 92nd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Documentary movies
Adventure2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 63rd percentile
: browse their Adventure movies
Comedy2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 50th 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
Self
25%
Society
23%
Survival
14%
Morality
12%
Ideas
9%
Bonds
9%
Power
8%
Identity6 titles, browse their movies with this themeIsolation5 titles, browse their movies with this themeComing of age4 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival3 titles, browse their movies with this themeArt3 titles, browse their movies with this themeFame3 titles, browse their movies with this themeLegacy3 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose3 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 21 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 8 · Serious 2 · Dark 11

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

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

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 7 · Intense 8

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

Steady 14 · Shifting 6 · Whiplash 1

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

Straight-faced 16 · Some laughs 5 · Funny 0

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

Slow burn 15 · Even-paced 6 · Relentless 0

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

Casual 4 · Engaged 11 · Full focus 6

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 6 · Affecting 3 · 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 6 · Open-ended 7 · Ambiguous 8

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Melancholic
13
Tense
10
Contemplative
9
Warm
6
Cold
4
Other
17

How their films linger

Haunting10 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteWistful4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end

  • Bittersweet9
  • Tragic4
  • Ambiguous7

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 Todd Haynes' films?

As of October 24, 2026, 19 of their 26 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on The Criterion Channel (6).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Todd Haynes' 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, 26 with a MovieCove page; 15 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Earthlings (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2025)

    Executive Producer

  • May December(2023)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • Image Book (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2023)

    Director

  • Cal State Long Beach, CA, January 2020 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2021)

    Thanks

  • The Velvet Underground(2021)

    Director · Producer · Writer

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films

  • Dark Waters(2019)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • Earthquake Bird(2019)

    Thanks

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • Wonderstruck(2017)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • Certain Women(2016)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

  • Carol(2015)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films

  • Still Alice(2014)

    Thanks

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

  • Night Moves(2013)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • Six by Sondheim(2013)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

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

    Executive Producer

  • The Last of Robin Hood(2013)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films

  • Enlightened(2011)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all shows

  • Meek's Cutoff(2010)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • Mildred Pierce(2011)

    Show 5 episodes · Director · Executive Producer · Teleplay · Writer

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all shows

  • Wendy and Lucy(2008)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films

  • I'm Not There(2007)

    Director · Screenplay · Story

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • Infinite Pleasure: Todd Haynes on Max Ophuls' Le Plaisir (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    as Interviewee

  • Quinceañera(2006)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films

  • Old Joy(2006)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • Far from Heaven: "Making of" (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Actor

  • Far from Heaven(2002)

    Director · Writer

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • Madame Satã(2002)

    Thanks

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • SexTV (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Velvet Goldmine(1998)

    Director · Screenplay · Story

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • Office Killer(1997)

    Co-Writer

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • Safe(1995)

    Director · Writer

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • Totally F***ed Up(1993)

    Thanks

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • Dottie Gets Spanked (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    Director · Writer

  • Swoon(1992)

    as Phrenology Head

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

  • Goo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    Director

  • Poison(1991)

    Director · Editor · Writer

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • Anemone Me (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Producer

  • La Divina (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Assistant Director · Co-Producer

  • He Was Once (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Producer · Production Manager · as Randy

  • Natural History (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Producer · as Child

  • Muddy Hands (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    Producer

  • Cause and Effect (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    Assistant Director · Producer

  • American Lunch (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    Producer

  • Superstar: The Karen Carpenter Story (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    Director · Editor · Producer · Screenplay · as Todd Donovan

  • Tommy's (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Producer

  • Assassins: A Film Concerning Rimbaud (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Director · Actor

  • A Man in Your Room (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    Producer

  • The Suicide (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    Director · Producer · Screenplay

  • De Noche (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Director · Writer

Career shape

A full career of 47 titles, 46 of them dated from 1978 to 2025.

Biggest box office

Carol (2015)

$44M worldwide

Highest rated

Six by Sondheim (2013)

Midcredits 97th

Most popular right now

Dark Waters (2019)

Film career

  • 1987Screen debut· Superstar: The Karen Carpenter Story

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting8 of 47: 4 only acting, 4 with another roleDirecting20 of 47: 8 only directing, 12 with another role · typical Midcredits score81stWriting12 of 47: 1 only writing, 11 with another role · typical Midcredits score80thProducing21 of 47: 13 only producing, 8 with another role · typical Midcredits score75thEditing2 of 47: 0 only editing, 2 with another roleOther crew8 of 47: 5 only other crew, 3 with another role

47 titles, 16 with more than one role — producing and directing overlap on 4 of them.

By decade

1970s1 · crew1980s10 · 4 acting · 10 crew1990s10 · 2 acting · 8 crew2000s8 · 2 acting · 6 crew2010s12 · crew2020s5 · 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

10 major awards from 38 major nominations, 1991–2025.

WinNomination
  1. 2025
    • Berlinale award, won
  2. 2024
    • Independent Spirit Award, nominated · Best Director
  3. 2023
    • Cannes award, nominated
  4. 2021
    • Cannes award, nominated
  5. 2017
    • Cannes award, nominated
  6. 2016
    • Golden Globe, nominated · Best Director - Motion Picture
    • BAFTA Award, nominated
    • +2 other major bodies · 2 nominations
      • Critics Choice Award, nominated · Best Director
      • Independent Spirit Award, nominated · Best Director
  7. 2015
    • Cannes award, won
    • Cannes award, nominated
  8. 2012
    • Writers Guild Award, nominated · Long Form - Adapted
    • Producers Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Producer of Long-Form Television
Show 11 earlier years
  1. 2011
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Directing for a Miniseries, Movie or a Dramatic Special
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Miniseries or Movie
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Writing for a Miniseries, Movie or a Dramatic Special
  2. 2008
    • Independent Spirit Award, won
    • Independent Spirit Award, nominated · Best Director
  3. 2007
    • Venice award, won · Best Film
    • Venice award, won
    • Venice award, nominated · Best Film
    • Venice award, nominated
  4. 2003
    • Oscar, nominated · Best Writing, Original Screenplay
    • Golden Globe, nominated · Best Screenplay - Motion Picture
    • +2 other major bodies · 1 win and 1 nomination
      • Writers Guild Award, nominated · Best Original Screenplay
      • Independent Spirit Award, won · Best Director
  5. 2002
    • Venice award, won
    • Venice award, nominated
  6. 1999
    • Independent Spirit Award, nominated · Best Director
  7. 1998
    • Cannes award, won
    • Cannes award, nominated
  8. 1996
    • Independent Spirit Award, nominated · Best Director
    • Independent Spirit Award, nominated · Best Screenplay
  9. 1995
    • Cannes award, nominated · Directors' Fortnight
  10. 1992
    • Independent Spirit Award, nominated · Best Director
    • Independent Spirit Award, nominated · Best First Feature
  11. 1991
    • Berlinale award, won · Best Feature Film
    • Sundance award, won · Dramatic

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 Todd Haynes' films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 77th percentile, the median of all 24; across their 21 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 79th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

79thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 21

Approval · how many liked their films

72ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 21

Reach · how many have seen their films

89thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 21

Midcredits score across 26 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up13
  • 50th to 74th9
  • 25th to 49th4

Shape of the crowd

17 of their 26 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved3
  • Crowd Pleaser17
  • Broadly Agreed2
  • Mixed4

Most divisive · writer

Office Killer (1997)

58th percentile spread · 36% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · director

Six by Sondheim (2013)

Midcredits 97th · 88% liked

Reviewers score the atmosphere 77/100 and the pacing 42/100 in their films, across 21 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 Todd Haynes' work okay for kids?

Across up to 12 MovieCove titles with content scores, violence & gore runs lighter than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore8 titles9–38 · median 34 · mildlighter than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity12 titles24–76 · median 37 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity10 titles29–70 · median 45 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs8 titles26–69 · median 38 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense8 titles16–54 · median 38 · moderatenear 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 Todd Haynes work with?

People who share at least 2 of Todd Haynes' MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Christine Vachon shares the most, 15.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Cinematographers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles