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Carl Franklin

Carl Franklin

Actor, director, producer and writer · Born April 11, 1949 (77) · Richmond, California, USA

Carl Franklin  (born April 11, 1949) is an American actor, screenwriter and film and television director. Franklin is a graduate of University of California, Berkeley and continued his education at the AFI Conservatory, where he graduated with an M.F.A. degree in directing in 1986. Franklin is most noted for Devil in a Blue Dress, which was based on the book by Walter Mosley and starred Denzel Washington and Don Cheadle. Description above from the Wikipedia article Carl Franklin, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
April 11, 1949 (77)
From
Richmond, California, USA
Works as
Actor, director, producer and writer
Titles
37 on MovieCove · 67 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 39 days to Oct 28Down 3% in 30 days

What are Carl Franklin's films like?

Across their 12 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Bonds.

Genres

Crime4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 69th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Crime movies
Drama3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 38th percentile
: browse their Drama 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
49%
Bonds
21%
Self
15%
Survival
5%
Power
4%
Society
4%
Ideas
3%
Justice6 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception3 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds4 titles, browse their movies with this themeBetrayal3 titles, browse their movies with this themePrejudice2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 10 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Grounded: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their grounded movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 6 · Stylized 4 · 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 2 · Charged 3 · Intense 5

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

Steady 4 · Shifting 6 · Whiplash 0

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

Straight-faced 7 · Some laughs 2 · Funny 1

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

Slow burn 4 · Even-paced 5 · 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 3 · Engaged 5 · Full focus 2

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

Resolved 6 · Open-ended 4 · Ambiguous 0

Roles they play

2 analyzed roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
8
Melancholic
5
Dread
3
Thrilling
3
Warm
3
Other
8

How their films linger

Unsettling5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 5 with a twist

  • Happy2
  • Bittersweet7
  • Tragic2
  • Ambiguous1

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 Carl Franklin's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 27 of their 37 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (7).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Carl Franklin'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

67 credits, 37 with a MovieCove page; 4 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2026)

    Show 8 episodes · Executive Producer

  • Monster: The Ed Gein Story (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2025)

    Show 8 episodes · Executive Producer

  • Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2024)

    Show 2 episodes · Director · Executive Producer

  • American Sports Story(2024)

    Show 10 episodes · Director · Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all shows

  • Manhunt(2024)

    Show 7 episodes · Director · Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all shows

  • DAHMER - Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2022)

    Show 1 episode · Director · Executive Producer

  • Monster(2022)

    Show Director · Producer

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all shows

  • I Am the Night (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2019)

    Show 6 episodes · Director

  • Mindhunter(2017)

    Show 4 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all shows

  • Ten Days in the Valley (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • 13 Reasons Why(2017)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all shows

  • Good Behavior(2016)

    Show 1 episode · Director · Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all shows

  • Vinyl (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • Bloodline(2015)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all shows

  • The Affair(2014)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all shows

  • The Leftovers(2014)

    Show 4 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all shows

  • Ray Donovan(2013)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all shows

  • Bless Me, Ultima(2012)

    Director · Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • House of Cards(2013)

    Show 4 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • The Newsroom(2012)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • Magic City(2012)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all shows

  • Homeland(2011)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all shows

  • Falling Skies(2011)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all shows

  • The Pacific(2010)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all shows

  • The Riches(2007)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all shows

  • Rome(2005)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • Out of Time(2003)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • High Crimes(2002)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • One True Thing(1998)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • Devil in a Blue Dress(1995)

    Director · Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • Laurel Avenue (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    Show 2 episodes · Director · Creator

  • One False Move(1991)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • In the Heat of Passion(1992)

    as Police Det. Rooker

    Midcredits score: 11th percentile of all films

  • Full Fathom Five (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Director · as Fletcher

  • Capital News (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Show 1 episode · as Cop

  • Last Stand at Lang Mei (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Writer · as Sergeant T. Deveraux

  • Eye of the Eagle 2: Inside the Enemy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Director · Writer · as Col. Rawlins

  • Nowhere to Run (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Director

  • Too Good to Be True(1988)

    as Dr. Boyd

    Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all films

  • Roseanne(1988)

    Show 3 episodes · Actor

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all shows

  • A Smoky Mountain Christmas(1986)

    as Lt. Danvers

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • ALF(1986)

    Show 1 episode · as Dr. Willoughby

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all shows

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

    Director · Writer

  • MacGyver (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Show 1 episode · as Andrew T. Wiley

  • Cover Up (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • One Cooks, the Other Doesn't (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    as Officer Lloyd Green

  • The A-Team(1983)

    Show 14 episodes · as Captain Crane

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all shows

  • McClain's Law (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    Show 16 episodes · as Det. Jerry Cross

  • Hill Street Blues(1981)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all shows

  • Joshua's World (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    Actor

  • Trapper John, M.D. (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Legend of the Golden Gun(1979)

    as Joshua Brown

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films

  • Loose Change (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    Show 1 episode · as Ed Thomas

  • The Incredible Hulk(1977)

    Show 1 episode · as Crosby

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all shows

  • Lou Grant (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Fantastic Journey (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    as Dr. Fred Walters

  • The Fantastic Journey (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    Show 10 episodes · as Dr. Fred Walters

  • Battle of the Network Stars (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Quincy, M.E. (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Caribe (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    Show 13 episodes · as Sgt. Mark Walters

  • It Couldn't Happen to a Nicer Guy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    as Hovey

  • The Rockford Files(1974)

    Show 2 episodes · as Roger Orloff

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all shows

  • Good Times(1974)

    Show 2 episodes · Actor

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all shows

  • The Laughing Policeman(1973)

    as Man on Bus

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • Five on the Black Hand Side(1973)

    as Marvin

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • The Streets of San Francisco (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Cannon (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    Show 2 episodes · Actor

Career shape

A full career of 66 titles from 1971 to 2026.

Biggest box office

High Crimes (2002)

$64M worldwide

Highest rated

One False Move (1991)

Midcredits 86th

Most popular right now

The A-Team (1983)

Film career

  • 1983Screen debut· The A-Team
  • 1986First film· A Smoky Mountain Christmas

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting33 of 66: 30 only acting, 3 with another role · typical Midcredits score65thDirecting33 of 66: 22 only directing, 11 with another role · typical Midcredits score81stWriting5 of 66: 0 only writing, 5 with another roleProducing7 of 66: 2 only producing, 5 with another roleOther crew1 of 66: 0 only other crew, 1 with another role

66 titles, 12 with more than one role — acting and directing overlap on 2 of them.

By decade

1970s17 · acting1980s15 · 13 acting · 4 crew1990s7 · 3 acting · 5 crew2000s4 · crew2010s17 · crew2020s6 · 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.

How do Carl Franklin's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 62nd percentile, the median of all 12; across their 10 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 61st percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

61stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 10

Approval · how many liked their films

62ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 10

Reach · how many have seen their films

78thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 10

Midcredits score across 37 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up21
  • 50th to 74th12
  • 25th to 49th2
  • Below 25th2

Shape of the crowd

20 of their 37 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved11
  • Cult Classic1
  • Crowd Pleaser20
  • Broadly Agreed1
  • Mixed4

Most divisive · actor

Too Good to Be True (1988)

77th percentile spread · 37% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · director

Mindhunter (2017)

Midcredits 99th · 96% liked

Reviewers score the acting 72/100 in their films, across 9 reviewed titles; fans 79, detractors 48. 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 Carl Franklin's work okay for kids?

Across up to 7 MovieCove titles with content scores, violence & gore, sex & nudity, profanity, alcohol & drugs and frightening / intense run heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore6 titles48–92 · median 70 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity6 titles25–66 · median 45 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity7 titles39–89 · median 58 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs6 titles37–86 · median 53 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense6 titles38–84 · median 56 · moderateheavier 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 Carl Franklin work with?

People who share at least 2 of Carl Franklin's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Jesse Beaton shares the most, 6.

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers