Steve Vai is an American guitarist, composer, and producer widely recognized as one of the most technically accomplished virtuosos in rock music history. Over a career spanning more than four decades, he has won three Grammy Awards, sold over 15 million records, and established himself as a definitive "guitar god" through his jaw-dropping speed, unique phrasing, and eccentric instrument designs.
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Biography from TMDB.
- June 6, 1960 (66)
- Long Island, New York, USA
- Actor, composer and producer
- 8 on Motif · 18 credits in all
What are Steve Vai's films like?
Across their 8 Motif titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Self and Society.
Themes
What they feel like to watch
Ironic 1 · Wry 0 · Earnest 6
Light 4 · Serious 2 · Dark 1
Grounded 5 · Stylized 2 · Heightened 0
Gentle 2 · Charged 5 · Intense 0
Steady 4 · Shifting 3 · Whiplash 0
Straight-faced 6 · Some laughs 0 · Funny 1
A split, not a type: Slow burn 4 · Even-paced 3 · Relentless 0
Casual 6 · Engaged 1 · Full focus 0
A split, not a type: Easy watch 3 · Affecting 4 · Heavy 0
Resolved 6 · Open-ended 1 · Ambiguous 0
Roles they play
- Shadowas Jack Butler in Crossroads (1986)
Moods and endings
- Happy4
- Bittersweet4
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 Steve Vai's films?
As of October 24, 2026, 5 of their 8 Motif titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (4).
Subscription and free streaming for Steve Vai's titles on Motif; 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
18 credits, 8 with a Motif page; 41 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.
Beat - Neon Heat Disease - Live In Los Angeles (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2025)
Steve Vai - His First 30 Years: The Documentary (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2022)
Studio 666(2022)
Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films
The Pedal Movie(2021)
Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films
Steve Vai: Rock In Rio 2015 (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2015)
Sepultura: Rock in Rio USA 2015 (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2015)
Remaking the Legend: Halo 2 Anniversary (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2014)
G3: Live in Moscow (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2012)
Live Music (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2009)
Crazy(2008)
Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films
G3 Live in Tokyo(2005)
Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films
RUMBLE ROSES Original Soundtrack DVD (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2005)
G3 Live in Denver(2004)
Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films
Steve Vai: Live at the Astoria London (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2003)
PCU(1994)
Midcredits score: 63rd percentile of all films
Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films
Crossroads(1986)
Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films
Whitesnake: Slip Of The Tongue (30th Anniversary Remaster MMXIX) (not in the Motif catalog yet)
Career shape
Star power in the 62nd percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 18 titles, 17 of them dated from 1986 to 2025; peak year 1986.
Biggest box office
Crossroads (1986)
Highest rated
Jason Becker: Not Dead Yet (2012)
Most popular right now
Crossroads (1986)
Film career
Peak 1986 · fewer prominent film roles lately. 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.
- 1986Screen debut· Crossroads
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 Motif, shown from 5 scored.
How do Steve Vai's films land?
Their typical Motif film has a Midcredits score in the 74th percentile, the median of all 8; across their 7 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 83rd percentile for acclaim.
- 75th and up4
- 50th to 74th3
- 25th to 49th1
Shape of the crowd
4 of their 8 titles are Crowd Pleasers.
- Universally Loved2
- Crowd Pleaser4
- Mixed2
Reviewers score the acting 57/100 in their films, across 5 reviewed titles; fans 65, detractors 46. 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 Midcredits 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.
Who does Steve Vai work with?
People who share at least 2 of Steve Vai's Motif titles, grouped by what they did on them; Joe Satriani shares the most, 3.
Directors
- A. Karim KarmiShared titles: G3 Live in Tokyo (2005), G3 Live in Denver (2004)See all 2 shared titles with A. Karim Karmi
Actors
- Joe SatrianiShared titles: Jason Becker: Not Dead Yet (2012), G3 Live in Tokyo (2005), G3 Live in Denver (2004)See all 3 shared titles with Joe Satriani
Editors
- Arthur St. GermainShared titles: G3 Live in Tokyo (2005), G3 Live in Denver (2004)See all 2 shared titles with Arthur St. Germain
Mixed roles
- Calvin AurandShared titles: G3 Live in Tokyo (2005), G3 Live in Denver (2004)See all 2 shared titles with Calvin Aurand