From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Zdeněk Svěrák (born 28 March 1936 in Prague) is a Czech actor, humorist and scriptwriter. He is one of the most popular Czech cultural personalities. In 1989, he was a member of the jury at the 39th Berlin International Film Festival. In 1958, he graduated in Czech language and literature at the Faculty of Education of Charles University in Prague. He has worked in a wide variety of capacities. His work contains more than 300 musical texts, plays and more than ten movies. Among his film scripts are Kolya (Czech: Kolja, Academy Award winning film) and The Elementary School (Czech: Obecná Škola, nomination for Academy Award), both directed by his son Jan Svěrák. With his close friend Ladislav Smoljak, he created the fictional personality (universal genius, inventor, sportsman, criminalist, poet, writer and philosopher) Jára Cimrman who won the voting for The Greatest Czech in 2005 (only the fact that Cimrman is fictional prevented him from actually winning). Zdeněk Svěrák also founded a charity organization Paraple (in English, "Umbrella") which focuses on helping paralyzed individuals.
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Biography from TMDB.
- March 28, 1936 (90)
- Prague, Czechoslovakia [now Czech Republic]
- Actor and writer
- 11 on Motif · 95 credits in all
What are Zdeněk Svěrák's films like?
Across their 10 Motif titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Power.
Genres
Their Motif films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Motif 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 0 · Earnest 8
Light 9 · Serious 0 · Dark 1
A split, not a type: Grounded 6 · Stylized 1 · Heightened 3
Gentle 7 · Charged 2 · Intense 1
Steady 8 · Shifting 1 · Whiplash 1
A split, not a type: Straight-faced 1 · Some laughs 4 · Funny 5
Slow burn 5 · Even-paced 5 · Relentless 0
Casual 7 · Engaged 3 · Full focus 0
Easy watch 5 · Affecting 4 · Heavy 1
Resolved 8 · Open-ended 2 · Ambiguous 0
Roles they play
- Allyas Fanous Soucek in The Elementary School (1991)
- Heroas Louka in Kolya (1996)
- Mentoras Hergot in Kuky se vrací (2010)
Moods and endings
- Happy4
- Bittersweet6
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 Zdeněk Svěrák's films?
As of October 24, 2026, none of Zdeněk Svěrák's 11 Motif titles is streaming on a subscription or free service.
Subscription and free streaming for Zdeněk Svěrák's titles on Motif; rent and buy are not counted.
Filmography
95 credits, 11 with a Motif page; 15 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.
Zdeněk Svěrák 90 (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2026)
Cimrmani zblízka (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2024)
Prince Mama's Boy (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2022)
Bethlehem Light (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2022)
My Freedom (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2019)
Psaní do nebe (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2017)
Barefoot(2017)
Motif score: 67th percentile of all filmsOperky (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2016)
Three Brothers(2014)
Motif score: 45th percentile of all films
Fimfarum - To the good of all (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2011)
Nepřítelem osudu (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2010)
Kuky se vrací(2010)
Motif score: 84th percentile of all films
Láska rohatá (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2009)
Czech Heaven (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2008)
Anatomie gagu (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2008)
40 let Divadla Járy Cimrmana aneb Ze hry do hry (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2007)
Long, Broad and Nearsight (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2007)
The Conquest of the North Pole (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2007)
Empties (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2007)
Cimrman in the World of Music (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2006)
StarDance (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2006)
Největší Čech (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2005)
Africa (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2002)
Dark Blue World(2001)
Motif score: 81st percentile of all films
Investigation of the Loss of a Class Book (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1998)
The Nude (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1998)
Plum Tree (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1997)
The Stand In (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1997)
Ruffiano and Sweeteeth (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1997)
Dvě z policejní brašny (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1997)
Blaník (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1997)
Dumb Bobes, or Czech Tarzan (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1997)
Lijavec (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1997)
Murder in a Parlor Car Compartment (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1997)
Posel z Liptákova (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1997)
Pub in the Glade (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1997)
Kolya(1996)
Motif score: 96th percentile of all filmsÚsměvy (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1996)
Motif score: 78th percentile of all films
The Ride (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1994)
Accumulator 1 (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1994)
Osvětová přednáška v Suché Vrbici (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1992)
Cimrman sobě (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1991)
The Elementary School(1991)
Motif score: 96th percentile of all films
The Witches of the Suburbs (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1991)
Dobytí severního pólu (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1991)
Šaráda (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1990)
Larks on a String(1969)
Motif score: 87th percentile of all filmsTvrdý chleba (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1990)
Utopím si ho sám (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1989)
Radovanovy radovánky (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1989)
Chirurgie (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1989)
An Uncertain Season (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1988)
Veselé příhody z natáčení (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1988)
Narostl mu hřebínek (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1987)
As Good as Poison (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1986)
The Horns (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1986)
Give the Devil His Due (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1985)
Prípad Platfus (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1985)
My Sweet Little Village(1985)
Motif score: 96th percentile of all films
What's Up Doc? (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1985)
How Poets Are Losing Their Illusions (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1985)
Dissolved and Effused (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1985)
Ruffiano and Sweeteeth (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1984)
Bridal Tour to Jilji (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1984)
The Three Veterans(1984)
Motif score: 96th percentile of all filmsInzerát (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1984)
Galasuperšou (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1984)
The Snowdrop Festival (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1984)
Jára Cimrman Lying, Sleeping (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1983)
Hearty Greetings from the Globe (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1983)
Like Rabbits (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1982)
Basically Normal (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1982)
Calamity (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1982)
Chain (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1981)
Princové jsou na draka (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1981)
The Hit (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1981)
Run, Waiter, Run! (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1981)
Brontosaurus (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1980)
Kulový blesk(1979)
Motif score: 96th percentile of all films
Long Live Ghosts! (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1977)
30 Maidens and Pythagoras (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1977)
Dveře (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1977)
Marecek, Pass Me the Pen! (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1976)
Secluded, Near Woods (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1976)
Hledám paní na hlídání (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1975)
Who Looks for Gold? (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1974)
Joachim, Put It in the Machine (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1974)
Muž, který se spustil (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1974)
Spolužáci (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1973)
Lucie and the Miracles (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1971)
You Are a Widow, Sir (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1971)
Moderní byt (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1971)
Stopa vede do Liptákova (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1969)
Crime in the Night Club (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1968)
Career shape
A full career of 95 titles from 1968 to 2026.
Film career
Top draw in 2 Motif titles.
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 Motif score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on Motif, 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.
How do Zdeněk Svěrák's films land?
Their typical Motif film has a Motif score in the 87th percentile, the median of all 11; across their 10 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 88th percentile for acclaim.
- 75th and up9
- 50th to 74th1
- 25th to 49th1
Shape of the crowd
None of their 11 titles divides audiences: 5 are Universally Loved.
- Universally Loved5
- Crowd Pleaser5
- Mixed1
Reviewers score the acting 77/100 in their films, across 5 reviewed titles; fans 80, detractors 58. 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 Motif 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 Zdeněk Svěrák work with?
People who share at least 2 of Zdeněk Svěrák's Motif titles, grouped by what they did on them; Jan Svěrák shares the most, 6.
Directors
- Jan SvěrákShared titles: Barefoot (2017), Three Brothers (2014), Kuky se vrací (2010), Dark Blue World (2001), Kolya (1996), The Elementary School (1991)See all 6 shared titles with Jan Svěrák
- Jiří MenzelShared titles: Zivot a neobycejna dobrodruzstvi vojaka Ivana Conkina (1994), My Sweet Little Village (1985)See all 2 shared titles with Jiří Menzel
Actors
- Ondřej VetchýShared titles: Barefoot (2017), Kuky se vrací (2010), Dark Blue World (2001), Kolya (1996), The Elementary School (1991)See all 5 shared titles with Ondřej Vetchý
- Rudolf HrušínskýShared titles: The Elementary School (1991), My Sweet Little Village (1985), The Three Veterans (1984), Kulový blesk (1979)See all 4 shared titles with Rudolf Hrušínský
- Miroslav TáborskýShared titles: Barefoot (2017), Kuky se vrací (2010), Dark Blue World (2001)See all 3 shared titles with Miroslav Táborský
- Oldřich KaiserShared titles: Barefoot (2017), Three Brothers (2014), Dark Blue World (2001)See all 3 shared titles with Oldřich Kaiser
Composers, cinematographers and editors
- Vladimír SmutnýShared titles: Barefoot (2017), Three Brothers (2014), Kuky se vrací (2010), Dark Blue World (2001), Kolya (1996)See all 5 shared titles with Vladimír Smutný
- Alois FišárekShared titles: Three Brothers (2014), Kuky se vrací (2010), Dark Blue World (2001), Kolya (1996), The Elementary School (1991)See all 5 shared titles with Alois Fišárek
- Michal NovinskiShared titles: Barefoot (2017), Three Brothers (2014), Kuky se vrací (2010)See all 3 shared titles with Michal Novinski
- Jiří BrožekShared titles: Zivot a neobycejna dobrodruzstvi vojaka Ivana Conkina (1994), My Sweet Little Village (1985), Kulový blesk (1979)See all 3 shared titles with Jiří Brožek
Producers
- Eric AbrahamShared titles: Three Brothers (2014), Kuky se vrací (2010), Dark Blue World (2001), Kolya (1996), Zivot a neobycejna dobrodruzstvi vojaka Ivana Conkina (1994)See all 5 shared titles with Eric Abraham
- Danuta KrasnohorskaShared titles: Barefoot (2017), Three Brothers (2014)See all 2 shared titles with Danuta Krasnohorska
- Domenico ProcacciShared titles: Dark Blue World (2001), Zivot a neobycejna dobrodruzstvi vojaka Ivana Conkina (1994)See all 2 shared titles with Domenico Procacci
