Serge Gainsbourg (born Lucien Ginsburg; 2 April 1928 – 2 March 1991) was a French singer-songwriter, actor, composer, and director. Regarded as one of the most important figures in French pop, he was renowned for often provocative releases which caused uproar in France, dividing public opinion. His artistic output ranged from his early work in jazz, chanson, and yé-yé to later efforts in rock, zouk, funk, reggae, and electronica. Gainsbourg's varied musical style and individuality make him difficult to categorise, although his legacy has been firmly established and he is often regarded as one of the world's most influential popular musicians. Gainsbourg wrote over 550 songs, which have been covered more than 1,000 times by diverse artists. His lyrical works incorporated wordplay, with humorous, bizarre, provocative, sexual, satirical or subversive overtones. Since his death from a second heart attack in 1991, Gainsbourg's music has reached legendary stature in France. While controversial in his lifetime, he has become one of France's best-loved public figures. He has also gained a cult following across the world with chart success in the United Kingdom and Belgium with "Je t'aime... moi non plus" and "Bonnie and Clyde", respectively. Serge Gainsbourg was born in Paris on 2 April 1928, in the maternity ward of the Hôtel-Dieu de Paris on the Île de la Cité. He was the son of Jewish immigrants from modern Ukraine, Joseph and Olga Ginsburg. Born Brucha Goda Besman (nicknamed Olia/Olga) in Feodosiya in 1894, Serge's mother was a mezzo-soprano singer. Serge's father Joseph was born in Constantinople in the Ottoman Empire of Ukrainian Jewish heritage in 1896. Originally interested in painting, he entered the Petrograd Conservatory and then the Moscow Conservatory to study music, becoming a classically trained pianist. He came to Crimea, where he met and married Olga in 1918. The couple fled Odesa for Paris via Georgia and then Istanbul in the years following the Russian Revolution. The couple arrived in Marseille in 1921, settling in Paris near Olga's brother, who worked for the Louis Dreyfus Bank. Joseph became a piano performer at bars, casinos, and cabarets, while Olga sang at the Conservatoire Rachmaninoff. Serge and his twin sister Liliane had an elder brother Marcel, born in 1922, who died at sixteen months of pneumonia. They also had an older sister Jacqueline, born in 1926. The family lived in the working-class districts of Paris, first at 35 Rue de la Chine in the 20th arrondissement, and then at 11 Rue Chaptal in the 9th arrondissement. They obtained French nationality in 1932. Joseph taught Serge and Liliane to play the piano. At age 12, Serge enrolled at the École Normale de Musique de Paris. Gainsbourg's childhood was profoundly affected by the occupation of France by Germany during World War II. The identifying yellow star that Jews were required to wear haunted Gainsbourg; in later years he was able to transmute this memory into creative inspiration. Early in the summer of 1941, the family temporarily sought refuge in the commune of Courgenard in the Sarthe department, at a place called "La Bassetière," with Baptiste and Irma Dumur. ... Source: Article "Serge Gainsbourg" from Wikipedia in English, licensed under CC-BY-SA.
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Biography from TMDB.
- April 2, 1928
- March 2, 1991 (aged 62)
- Paris, France
- Composer, actor and writer, also director
- 27 on MovieCove · 82 credits in all
What are Serge Gainsbourg's films like?
Across their 23 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Self.
Genres
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
What they feel like to watch
Ironic 2 · Wry 5 · Earnest 16
Light 13 · Serious 7 · Dark 3
Grounded 5 · Stylized 9 · Heightened 9
Gentle 6 · Charged 14 · Intense 3
Steady 12 · Shifting 9 · Whiplash 2
A split, not a type: Straight-faced 11 · Some laughs 7 · Funny 5
A split, not a type: Slow burn 11 · Even-paced 10 · Relentless 2
Casual 12 · Engaged 11 · Full focus 0
Easy watch 15 · Affecting 6 · Heavy 2
A split, not a type: Resolved 14 · Open-ended 2 · Ambiguous 7
Roles they play
Usually the Hero: 2 of 5 analyzed roles.
- Tricksteras Corvino in The Revolt of the Slaves (1960)
- Shadowas Warkalla in Sansone (1961)
- Heroas Serge Fabergé in Slogan (1969)
- Heroas Serge Morgan in The Mafia Wants Blood (1970)
- Heraldas Police inspector in Seven Deaths in the Cats Eyes (1973)
Moods and endings
- Happy6
- Bittersweet6
- Tragic2
- Ambiguous9
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 Serge Gainsbourg's films?
As of October 24, 2026, 10 of their 27 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (3).
Subscription and free streaming for Serge Gainsbourg'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
82 credits, 27 with a MovieCove page; 62 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.
Choral Music, from Dutilleux to Poulenc Featuring Birds on a Wire and the Théâtre de Chaillot (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2026)
Bardot(2025)
Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films
Brigitte Bardot confidentiel (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2022)
Gainsbourg, toute une vie (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2021)
Pretend It's a City(2021)
Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all shows
Oh Les Filles! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2019)
Bardot Amoureuse (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)
The Discreet Françoise Hardy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)
The truth about Brigitte Bardot (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)
Bardot, The Misunderstanding (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)
Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films
Brigitte Bardot: The Icon of France (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)
Eletrodoméstica (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)
Serge Gainsbourg – D'autres nouvelles des étoiles (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)
Belle & Sebastian: The Black Sessions (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)
Élisa(1995)
Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films
Tous les garçons... (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)
Stan the Flasher (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)
Le Zenith de Gainsbourg (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)
Charlotte for Ever (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)
Gainsbourg... Casino de Paris 1986 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)
Ménage(1986)
Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films
Mode in France (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)
The Soldier's Tale(1984)
Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films
Equator (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)
I Love You All (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)
Nocturnal Uproar(1979)
Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films
Melancoly Baby (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)
French Fried Vacation(1978)
Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films
Aurais dû faire gaffe... le choc est terrible (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)
You Won't Have Alsace-Lorraine (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)
Emmanuelle 3 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)
Madame Claude(1977)
Midcredits score: 17th percentile of all films
Je t'aime moi non plus(1976)
Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films
Serious as Pleasure(1975)
Midcredits score: 12th percentile of all films
Private Screening (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)
Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all films
Midcredits score: 3rd percentile of all films
Sex Shop (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)
Melody (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)
Romance of a Horsethief (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)
The Rage of War (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)
The Mafia Wants Blood(1970)
Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films
The Horse (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)
Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films
Paris Does Not Exist (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)
Katmandu (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)
Slogan(1969)
Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films
Erotissimo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)
Mr. Freedom (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)
Love in the Night (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)
The Marriage Came Tumbling Down (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)
Anna (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)
Pasha(1968)
Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films
Les Dossiers de l'Agence O (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)
Manon 70(1968)
Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all filmsThe Other One (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)
If I Were a Spy(1967)
Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films
The Looters (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)
All Mad About Him (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)
The Unknown Man of Shandigor (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)
Horizon (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)
Vidocq (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)
Christmas at Vaugirard (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)
Naked Hearts (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)
The Defector(1966)
Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films
Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all films
Four Queens for an Ace (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)
Dim Dam Dom (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)
Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films
The River of Diamonds (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)
How Do You Like My Sister? (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)
Dans le vent (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)
L'inconnue de Hong Kong (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)
Sweet Skin(1963)
Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films
The Fury of Hercules (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)
Sansone(1961)
Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all filmsLe Trésor des treize maisons (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)
The Revolt of the Slaves(1960)
Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films
The Wolves in the Sheepfold (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)
L'Eau à la bouche(1960)
Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films
Come Dance with Me!(1959)
Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films
Career shape
Star power in the 87th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 81 titles from 1959 to 2026; peak year 1968.
Biggest box office
Ménage (1986)
Highest rated
Jane B. for Agnes V. (1988)
Most popular right now
Pasha (1968)
Film career
Peak 1968 · fewer prominent film roles lately. Top draw in 1 MovieCove title. 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.
- 1959Screen debut· Come Dance with Me!
- 1969First top-billed film· Slogan
Billing
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.
How do Serge Gainsbourg's films land?
Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 39th percentile, the median of all 26; across their 23 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 40th percentile for acclaim.
- 75th and up6
- 50th to 74th6
- 25th to 49th7
- Below 25th8
Shape of the crowd
14 of their 27 titles are Mixed.
- Universally Panned1
- Crowd Pleaser9
- Broadly Agreed3
- Mixed14
Reviewers score the sound and music 67/100 in their films, across 17 reviewed titles; fans 76, detractors 51. The element that speaks to their work as a composer.
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 Serge Gainsbourg's work okay for kids?
Across a limited sample of up to 3 MovieCove titles with content scores.
Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted.
Who does Serge Gainsbourg work with?
People who share at least 2 of Serge Gainsbourg's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Jane Birkin shares the most, 8.
Directors
- Bertrand BlierShared titles: Ménage (1986), If I Were a Spy (1967)See all 2 shared titles with Bertrand Blier
Writers
- Giovanni SimonelliShared titles: Seven Deaths in the Cats Eyes (1973), Sansone (1961)See all 2 shared titles with Giovanni Simonelli
Actors
- Jane BirkinShared titles: Jane by Charlotte (2021), Jane B. for Agnes V. (1988), Je t'aime moi non plus (1976), Serious as Pleasure (1975), Seven Deaths in the Cats Eyes (1973), Trop jolies pour être honnêtes (1972), The Mafia Wants Blood (1970), Slogan (1969)See all 8 shared titles with Jane Birkin
- Charlotte GainsbourgShared titles: Jane by Charlotte (2021), Jane B. for Agnes V. (1988)See all 2 shared titles with Charlotte Gainsbourg
- Bruno CremerShared titles: Ménage (1986), If I Were a Spy (1967)See all 2 shared titles with Bruno Cremer
- Gérard DepardieuShared titles: Ménage (1986), Je t'aime moi non plus (1976)See all 2 shared titles with Gérard Depardieu
Composers, cinematographers and editors
- Kenout PeltierShared titles: Je t'aime moi non plus (1976), If I Were a Spy (1967)See all 2 shared titles with Kenout Peltier
- Willy KurantShared titles: Je t'aime moi non plus (1976), The Mafia Wants Blood (1970)See all 2 shared titles with Willy Kurant
- Michel ColombierShared titles: If I Were a Spy (1967), The Gardener of Argenteuil (1966)See all 2 shared titles with Michel Colombier
- Raoul CoutardShared titles: The Defector (1966), The World's Most Beautiful Swindlers (1964)See all 2 shared titles with Raoul Coutard
Producers
- Luggi WaldleitnerShared titles: The Mafia Wants Blood (1970), Manon 70 (1968)See all 2 shared titles with Luggi Waldleitner
Mixed roles
- Jean-Luc GodardShared titles: The Defector (1966), The World's Most Beautiful Swindlers (1964)See all 2 shared titles with Jean-Luc Godard
