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Rachel Talalay

Rachel Talalay

Director and producer, also writer · Born July 16, 1958 (68) · Chicago, Illinois, USA

BAFTA Award nominee · 1 other major award body

Rachel Talalay (born July 16, 1958 in Chicago, Illinois) is an American director and producer, best known for directing "Freddy's Dead: The Final Nightmare" (1991) and "Tank Girl" (1995). Since the 1990s she has worked extensively as a television director. She is also a film professor at the University of British Columbia.

Read more

Biography from TMDB.

Born
July 16, 1958 (68)
From
Chicago, Illinois, USA
Works as
Director and producer, also writer
Titles
56 on MovieCove · 86 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 157 days to Oct 28Down 16% in 30 days

What are Rachel Talalay's films like?

Across their 15 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Self and Bonds.

Genres

Comedy5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 48th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Comedy movies
Action2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 31st percentile
: browse their Action movies
Adventure2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 49th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Adventure movies
Fantasy2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 41st percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Fantasy movies
Horror2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 21st percentile
: browse their Horror 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
33%
Bonds
22%
Morality
15%
Power
9%
Society
9%
Survival
7%
Ideas
4%
Identity5 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship4 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love2 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception3 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity2 titles, browse their movies with this themeTrauma2 titles, browse their movies with this themeComing of age2 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 13 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Light: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their light movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 10 · Serious 1 · Dark 2

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

A split, not a type: Grounded 2 · Stylized 5 · Heightened 6

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

Gentle 4 · Charged 5 · Intense 4

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

A split, not a type: Steady 6 · Shifting 5 · Whiplash 2

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

Straight-faced 2 · Some laughs 6 · Funny 5

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

Slow burn 3 · Even-paced 9 · Relentless 1

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

Casual 8 · Engaged 5 · Full focus 0

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

Resolved 12 · Open-ended 1 · Ambiguous 0

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
7
Joyful
8
Warm
5
Thrilling
5
Dread
4
Other
14

How their films linger

Feel-good9 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteCathartic3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 3 with a twist

  • Happy6
  • Bittersweet7
  • Ambiguous2

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 Rachel Talalay's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 46 of their 56 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Prime Video (16).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Rachel Talalay'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

86 credits, 56 with a MovieCove page; 6 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Yaga(2026)

    Show Director · Producer

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all shows

  • Doctor Who: 60th Anniversary Specials (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2023)

    Director

  • Doctor Who(2023)

    Show Director

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all shows

  • Quantum Leap(2022)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all shows

  • Superman & Lois(2021)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all shows

  • An Introvert's Guide to High School (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2020)

    Editor · Writer

  • A Babysitter's Guide to Monster Hunting(2020)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • Good Omens(2019)

    Show 1 episode · Director · Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all shows

  • Doom Patrol(2019)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all shows

  • Chilling Adventures of Sabrina(2018)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all shows

  • Doctor Who: Twice Upon a Time (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    Director

  • American Gods(2017)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all shows

  • Iron Fist(2017)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all shows

  • Riverdale(2017)

    Show 4 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all shows

  • On the Farm (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    Director

  • Legends of Tomorrow(2016)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all shows

  • South of Hell(2015)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 7th percentile of all shows

  • Supergirl(2015)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all shows

  • Doctor Who: Dark Water / Death in Heaven (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    Director

  • The Dorm (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    Director

  • The Flash(2014)

    Show 6 episodes · Director · Producer

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all shows

  • Reign(2013)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all shows

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

    Show 2 episodes · Director

  • Hannah's Law(2012)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • Continuum(2012)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all shows

  • Bomb Girls (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

  • XIII: The Series(2011)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all shows

  • Endgame(2011)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all shows

  • Sherlock(2010)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all shows

  • Haven(2010)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all shows

  • Hiccups (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • Bloodletting & Miraculous Cures (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    Show 3 episodes · Director

  • Cra$h & Burn (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

  • jPod (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

  • 'Da Kink in My Hair(2007)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 4th percentile of all shows

  • Flash Gordon: A Modern Space Opera(2007)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 4th percentile of all shows

  • Greek(2007)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all shows

  • Durham County(2007)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all shows

  • The Wind in the Willows(2006)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • Kyle XY(2006)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all shows

  • Whistler (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Show 4 episodes · Director

  • What About Brian(2006)

    Show 24 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all shows

  • Terminal City (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    Show 4 episodes · Director

  • Sex, Love & Secrets (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • Supernatural(2005)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all shows

  • Wildfire(2005)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all shows

  • Doctor Who(2005)

    Show 6 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all shows

  • Life As We Know It (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • Unfabulous(2004)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all shows

  • Touching Evil (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    Show 1 episode · Director

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

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • A Tale of Two Wives(2003)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films

  • Without a Trace(2002)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all shows

  • The Dead Zone(2002)

    Show 3 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all shows

  • Dice (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Show 6 episodes · Director

  • Crossing Jordan(2001)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all shows

  • Wolf Lake (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • State of Grace (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • The Division (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

  • Boston Public (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • That's Life (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • Randall & Hopkirk (Deceased) (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

  • To Have & to Hold (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

  • The Borrowers(1997)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • Ally McBeal(1997)

    Show 4 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all shows

  • Touching Evil(1997)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all shows

  • Tank Girl(1995)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • Band of Gold(1995)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all shows

  • Ghost in the Machine(1993)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 9th percentile of all films

  • Space Rangers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    Show 1 episode · Producer

  • Freddy's Dead: The Final Nightmare(1991)

    Director · Story

    Midcredits score: 9th percentile of all films

  • Book of Love(1990)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • Cry-Baby(1990)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • The Prince of Pennsylvania(1988)

    Executive In Charge Of Production

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master(1988)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • Hairspray(1988)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors(1987)

    Line Producer

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • Return to Horror High(1987)

    First Assistant Director

    Midcredits score: 8th percentile of all films

  • A Nightmare on Elm Street Part 2: Freddy's Revenge(1985)

    Production Manager

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films

  • A Nightmare on Elm Street(1984)

    Assistant Production Manager

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • The House on Sorority Row(1982)

    Script Supervisor

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • Alone in the Dark(1982)

    Production Accountant

    Midcredits score: 43rd percentile of all films

  • Android (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    as Terrapol: Landing Party

  • What is the name of this film? (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Director · as Herself

  • Polyester(1981)

    Production Assistant

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films

  • The Underground (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Director

Career shape

A full career of 84 titles, 83 of them dated from 1981 to 2023.

Biggest box office

A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master (1988)

$49M worldwide

Highest rated

Hairspray (1988)

Midcredits 81st

Most popular right now

Yaga (2026)

Film career

  • 1982Screen debut· Android

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting1 of 84: 1 only acting, 0 with another roleDirecting68 of 84: 65 only directing, 3 with another role · typical Midcredits score56thWriting2 of 84: 0 only writing, 2 with another roleProducing9 of 84: 7 only producing, 2 with another role · typical Midcredits score68thEditing1 of 84: 0 only editing, 1 with another roleOther crew7 of 84: 7 only other crew, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score36th

84 titles, 4 with more than one role — directing and producing overlap on 2 of them.

By decade

1980s12 · 1 acting · 11 crew1990s11 · crew2000s30 · crew2010s25 · 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

2 major nominations and no wins, 1989–1998.

  1. 1998
    • BAFTA Award, nominated
  2. 1989
    • Independent Spirit Award, nominated · Best Feature

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 Rachel Talalay's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 36th percentile, the median of all 20; across their 13 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 40th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

40thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 13

Approval · how many liked their films

33rdpercentile
Typical film, the median of 13

Reach · how many have seen their films

92ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 13

Midcredits score across 56 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up14
  • 50th to 74th15
  • 25th to 49th17
  • Below 25th10

Shape of the crowd

25 of their 56 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved5
  • Divisive2
  • Cult Classic2
  • Crowd Pleaser25
  • Broadly Agreed5
  • Mixed17

Most divisive · director

Doctor Who (2023)

94th percentile spread · 36% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · director

Sherlock (2010)

Midcredits 99th · 95% liked

Reviewers score the atmosphere 57/100 and the pacing 49/100 in their films, across 12 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 Rachel Talalay's work okay for kids?

Across up to 8 MovieCove titles with content scores, violence & gore, profanity and frightening / intense run heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore7 titles29–90 · median 66 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity8 titles23–55 · median 34 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity7 titles33–64 · median 54 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs7 titles25–58 · median 36 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense7 titles17–81 · median 59 · 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 Rachel Talalay work with?

People who share at least 2 of Rachel Talalay's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Janice Hampton shares the most, 4.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles