Skip to content
MovieCove
Chris Sarandon

Chris Sarandon

Actor · Born July 24, 1942 (84) · Beckley, West Virginia, USA

Oscar nominee · Golden Globe nominee

Christopher Sarandon Jr. (born July 24, 1942) is an American actor. He is best known for playing Jerry Dandrige in Fright Night (1985), Prince Humperdinck in The Princess Bride (1987), Detective Mike Norris in Child's Play (1988), and Jack Skellington in The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993). He was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance as Leon Shermer in Dog Day Afternoon (1975).

Read more

Biography from TMDB.

Born
July 24, 1942 (84)
From
Beckley, West Virginia, USA
Works as
Actor
Titles
59 on MovieCove · 90 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 155 days to Oct 26Up 6% in 30 days

What are Chris Sarandon's films like?

Across their 41 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Morality.

Genres

Drama12 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 51st percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Comedy7 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 28th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Horror5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 51st percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Horror movies
Action4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 22nd percentile
: browse their Action movies
Crime3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 31st percentile
: browse their Crime movies
Documentary3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 81st percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Documentary movies
Adventure2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 64th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Adventure movies
Biography2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 58th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Biography 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
25%
Morality
25%
Self
17%
Survival
16%
Society
9%
Ideas
7%
Power
1%
Romantic love9 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival7 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds6 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice8 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose4 titles, browse their movies with this themeRedemption4 titles, browse their movies with this themeSacrifice6 titles, browse their movies with this themeBetrayal5 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 40 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 12 · Serious 13 · Dark 15

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

Grounded 27 · Stylized 9 · Heightened 4

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

Gentle 10 · Charged 18 · Intense 12

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

Steady 18 · Shifting 19 · Whiplash 3

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

A split, not a type: Straight-faced 23 · Some laughs 11 · Funny 6

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

Slow burn 14 · Even-paced 24 · 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 15 · Engaged 22 · Full focus 3

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

Easy watch 11 · Affecting 18 · Heavy 11

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

Resolved 31 · Open-ended 8 · Ambiguous 1

Roles they play

21 analyzed roles

Usually the Shadow: 7 of 21 analyzed roles.

Shadow
7 of 21
Hero
5 of 21
Shapeshifter
3 of 21
Mentor
3 of 21
Threshold guardian
2 of 21
Herald
1 of 21
Show the 21 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
25
Melancholic
18
Dread
10
Warm
10
Contemplative
10
Other
37

How their films linger

Hopeful15 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good12 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking13 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling11 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet10 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 9 with a twist

  • Happy13
  • Bittersweet20
  • Tragic4
  • Ambiguous3
  • Cyclical1

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 Chris Sarandon's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 38 of their 59 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (12).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Chris Sarandon'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

90 credits, 59 with a MovieCove page; 13 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Death Wish (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2024)

    as Manny

  • A Virtual Princess Bride Reunion (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2020)

    as Prince Humperdinck

  • Disclosure(2020)

    as Leon / Self (archive footage)

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • Edgar Allan Poe: Buried Alive(2016)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • I Smile Back(2015)

    as Roger

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • Frank the Bastard (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    as Tristan Pace

  • Big Stone Gap(2014)

    as Mario Barbari

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films

  • Curse of Chucky(2013)

    as Mike Norris (archive footage) (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • Orange Is the New Black(2013)

    Show 1 episode · as Kip Carnigan

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • Safe(2012)

    as Mayor Tremello

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • Fright Night(2011)

    as Jay Dee

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • Multiple Sarcasms(2010)

    as Larry

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all films

  • God in America(2010)

    Show as Abraham Lincoln

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all shows

  • The Good Wife(2009)

    Show 1 episode · as Judge Howard Matchick

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all shows

  • The Unusuals(2009)

    Show 2 episodes · Actor

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all shows

  • Cyrano de Bergerac (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    as De Guiche

  • My Sassy Girl(2008)

    as Dr. Roark

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • Cyrano de Bergerac (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    as De Guiche

  • The Chosen One (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    as Zebulon 'Zeb' Kirk (voice)

  • Psych(2006)

    Show 1 episode · as Ashton Bonaventure

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all shows

  • The Light in the Piazza: Live from Lincoln Center (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    as Signor Naccarelli

  • Loggerheads(2005)

    as Robert

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films

  • The Dead Will Tell(2004)

    as Paul Hamlin

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all films

  • Voices in Wartime (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    as Homer (voice)

  • Cold Case (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Show 1 episode · as Adam Clarke (2004)

  • The Court (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    Show 6 episodes · Actor

  • Perfume(2001)

    as Gary Packer

    Midcredits score: 8th percentile of all films

  • Race Against Time (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    as Dr. Anton Stofeles

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

    as Luke Sinclair

  • Stark Raving Mad (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    Show 2 episodes · as Cesar Radford

  • Law & Order: Special Victims Unit(1999)

    Show 1 episode · as Wesley Masoner

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • Judging Amy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    Show 6 episodes · as Judge Barry Krumble

  • Let the Devil Wear Black(1999)

    as Jack's Father

    Midcredits score: 17th percentile of all films

  • Charmed(1998)

    Show 1 episode · as Necromancer / Armand

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all shows

  • Felicity(1998)

    Show 6 episodes · as Dr. Peter McGrath

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all shows

  • The Wild Thornberrys(1998)

    Show 1 episode · as Myka (voice)

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all shows

  • Little Men(1998)

    as Fritz Bhaer

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • Road Ends (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    as Esteban Maceda

  • American Perfekt(1997)

    as Sammy

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • Perversions of Science (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    Show 1 episode · as Carson Walls

  • The Practice(1997)

    Show 2 episodes · as Dr. Jeffrey Winslow

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all shows

  • Pulp Comics (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Show 1 episode · as St. Paul

  • Bordello of Blood(1996)

    as Reverend Current

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films

  • Edie & Pen(1996)

    as Max

    Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all films

  • Terminal Justice(1996)

    as Reginald Matthews

    Midcredits score: 7th percentile of all films

  • The Vampyre Wars (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Actor

  • Temptress (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    as Matt Christianson

  • When the Dark Man Calls (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    as Lloyd Carson

  • No Greater Love(1995)

    as Sam Horowitz

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • The Outer Limits(1995)

    Show 1 episode · as Dr. Pallas

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all shows

  • Just Cause(1995)

    as Lyle Morgan

    Midcredits score: 52nd percentile of all films

  • ER(1994)

    Show 3 episodes · as Dr. Burke

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • Chicago Hope (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    Show 3 episodes · as Gordon Mays

  • David's Mother(1994)

    as Philip

    Midcredits score: 52nd percentile of all films

  • Dark Tide (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    as Tim

  • The Nightmare Before Christmas(1993)

    as Jack Skellington (voice)

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Star Trek: Deep Space Nine(1993)

    Show 1 episode · as Martus Mazur

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all shows

  • Lincoln and the War Within(1992)

    as Abraham Lincoln

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Love & War(1992)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all shows

  • Picket Fences(1992)

    Show 1 episode · as Cole

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all shows

  • A Murderous Affair: The Carolyn Warmus Story(1992)

    as Paul Solomon

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films

  • The Resurrected(1991)

    as Charles Dexter Ward / Joseph Curwen

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • Whispers(1990)

    as Sgt. Tony Clemenza

    Midcredits score: 6th percentile of all films

  • The Stranger Within (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    as Dan

  • Law & Order(1990)

    Show 2 episodes · as Defense Attorney Howard Pincham

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all shows

  • Shangri-La Plaza (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    as Victorio

  • Forced March (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    as Ben Kline / Miklos Radnoti

  • Tailspin: Behind the Korean Airliner Tragedy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    as John Lenczowski

  • Collision Course(1989)

    as Philip Madras

    Midcredits score: 10th percentile of all films

  • Slaves of New York(1989)

    as Victor Okrent

    Midcredits score: 34th percentile of all films

  • Goodbye, Miss 4th of July(1988)

    as George Janus

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • Child's Play(1988)

    as Mike Norris

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • Mayflower Madam (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    as Matt Whittington

  • The Princess Bride(1987)

    as Prince Humperdinck

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • Frankenstein(1986)

    as The Creature

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Liberty (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    as Jacque Marchant

  • This Child Is Mine(1985)

    as Craig Wilkerson

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • Fright Night(1985)

    as Jerry Dandrige

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • Protocol(1984)

    as Michael Ransome

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films

  • The Osterman Weekend(1983)

    as Joseph Cardone

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • Broken Promise (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    as Bud Griggs

  • A Tale of Two Cities(1980)

    as Sydney Carton / Charles Darnay

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • The Day Christ Died(1980)

    as Jesus Christ

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • Cuba(1979)

    as Juan Pulido

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • You Can't Go Home Again(1979)

    as George Webber

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • The Sentinel(1977)

    as Michael Lerman

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • Lipstick(1976)

    as Gordon Stuart

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films

  • Dog Day Afternoon(1975)

    as Leon

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • Thursday's Game (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    as Counselor

  • The Satan Murders (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    as George

Career shape

Star power in the 99th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 89 titles from 1974 to 2024; peak year 1986.

Biggest box office

The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)

$109M worldwide

Highest rated

Dog Day Afternoon (1975)

Midcredits 99th

Most popular right now

The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)

Film career

MilestoneBreakout
19742024

Peak 1986 · back in prominent film roles after a quiet stretch. Top draw in 9 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.

  • 1975Screen debut· Dog Day Afternoon
  • 1985First top-billed film· Fright Night
  • 1985Breakout· Fright Night
  • 1985Career best· Fright Night

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting89 of 89: 89 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score52nd

By decade

1970s7 · acting1980s17 · acting1990s37 · acting2000s16 · acting2010s9 · acting2020s3 · acting

Billing

usually 4th · top billed in 5% of 20 roles
758595

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

2 major nominations and no wins, 1976.

  1. 1976
    • Oscar, nominated · Best Actor in a Supporting Role
    • Golden Globe, nominated · Best Acting Debut in a Motion Picture - Male

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 Chris Sarandon's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 46th percentile, the median of all 43; across their 40 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 45th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

45thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 40

Approval · how many liked their films

48thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 40

Reach · how many have seen their films

50thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 40

Midcredits score across 59 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up20
  • 50th to 74th13
  • 25th to 49th16
  • Below 25th10

Shape of the crowd

23 of their 59 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved8
  • Universally Panned1
  • Cult Classic1
  • Crowd Pleaser23
  • Broadly Agreed3
  • Mixed23

Most divisive · actor

The Day Christ Died (1980)

77th percentile spread · 20% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Dog Day Afternoon (1975)

Midcredits 99th · 90% liked

Reviewers score the acting 66/100 in their films, across 33 reviewed titles; fans 75, detractors 41. 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 Chris Sarandon's work okay for kids?

Across up to 11 MovieCove 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 & Gore9 titles42–92 · median 68 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity11 titles8–68 · median 52 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity8 titles20–79 · median 57 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs8 titles12–52 · median 30 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense7 titles43–74 · median 66 · 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 Chris Sarandon work with?

People who share at least 2 of Chris Sarandon's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Stockard Channing shares the most, 3.

Directors

Actors

Cinematographers and editors

Mixed roles