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Tim Hunter

Tim Hunter

Director, also writer · Born June 15, 1947 (79) · Los Angeles, California, USA

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Tim Hunter (June 15, 1947 in Los Angeles, California) is an American television and film director. Since the late 1980s he has mostly worked on television, directing episodes for dozens of televisions series including Breaking Bad, Carnivàle, Chicago Hope, Crossing Jordan, Deadwood, Falcon Crest, Homicide: Life on the Street, House M.D., Law & Order, Lie to Me, Mad Men, and Twin Peaks. During the early-to-mid 1980s, Hunter directed feature films, including 1986's River's Edge, which won that year's award for best picture at the Independent Spirit Awards.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
June 15, 1947 (79)
From
Los Angeles, California, USA
Works as
Director, also writer
Titles
54 on MovieCove · 76 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 155 days to Oct 26Down 27% in 30 days

What are Tim Hunter's films like?

Across their 18 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Morality.

Genres

Drama8 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 49th percentile
: browse their Drama movies
Crime3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 76th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Crime 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
Bonds
29%
Morality
28%
Self
15%
Society
13%
Survival
11%
Ideas
3%
Power
2%
Friendship3 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival4 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice3 titles, browse their movies with this themeIsolation4 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds2 titles, browse their movies with this themeSacrifice2 titles, browse their movies with this themeComing of age3 titles, browse their movies with this themeMarriage2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 15 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Dark: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their dark movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 1 · Serious 4 · Dark 10

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

Grounded 13 · Stylized 2 · Heightened 0

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

Gentle 0 · Charged 6 · Intense 9

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

Steady 4 · Shifting 10 · Whiplash 1

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

Straight-faced 14 · Some laughs 1 · Funny 0

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

Slow burn 4 · Even-paced 11 · Relentless 0

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

Casual 4 · Engaged 11 · Full focus 0

Affecting: How much it costs you emotionally; whether you need recovery time. Browse their affecting movies.
Demand · Emotional cost
easyheavy

A split, not a type: Easy watch 3 · Affecting 4 · Heavy 8

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

Resolved 12 · Open-ended 2 · Ambiguous 1

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
14
Melancholic
8
Hopeful
6
Dread
5
Warm
5
Other
13

How their films linger

Hopeful7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteRousing3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 2 with a twist

  • Happy3
  • Bittersweet9
  • Tragic1
  • Ambiguous5

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 Tim Hunter's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 39 of their 54 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service.

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Tim Hunter'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

76 credits, 54 with a MovieCove page; 1 appearance as themselves is hidden until asked for.

  • By Kevin Thomas (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2024)

    Director

  • Smiley Face Killers(2020)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 3rd percentile of all films

  • Next(2020)

    Show 10 episodes · Director · Co-Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all shows

  • Looking Glass(2018)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 6th percentile of all films

  • Frequency(2016)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all shows

  • Underground(2016)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all shows

  • Scream: The TV Series(2015)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all shows

  • Wayward Pines(2015)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all shows

  • The Messengers(2015)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all shows

  • Powers(2015)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all shows

  • Bosch(2014)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • Gotham(2014)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all shows

  • Intelligence(2014)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all shows

  • The Blacklist(2013)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all shows

  • Hannibal(2013)

    Show 4 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • American Horror Story(2011)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all shows

  • Revenge(2011)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all shows

  • Necessary Roughness(2011)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all shows

  • Pretty Little Liars(2010)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all shows

  • Caprica(2009)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 52nd percentile of all shows

  • Darwin's Brave New World (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    Show 3 episodes · as Parslow

  • Glee(2009)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all shows

  • Lie to Me(2009)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all shows

  • Sons of Anarchy(2008)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • Breaking Bad(2008)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all shows

  • Saving Grace(2007)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all shows

  • Mad Men(2007)

    Show 6 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • Army Wives(2007)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all shows

  • Kings of South Beach(2007)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films

  • The Far Side of Jericho (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Director

  • Dexter(2006)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • Brotherhood(2006)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all shows

  • South Beach (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • What Is It? (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    Thanks

  • Control(2004)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • House(2004)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all shows

  • The Failures (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    Director

  • CSI: NY(2004)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all shows

  • The 4400 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • Deadwood(2004)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all shows

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

    Show 3 episodes · Director

  • Carnivàle(2003)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all shows

  • Nip/Tuck(2003)

    Show 3 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all shows

  • Out of Order(2003)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all shows

  • Video Voyeur: The Susan Wilson Story(2002)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • Crossing Jordan(2001)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all shows

  • Anatomy of a Hate Crime(2001)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • Soul Food (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • Mean Streak (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    Director

  • Rescuers: Stories of Courage: Two Couples(1998)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • Four Corners (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • Rescuers: Stories of Courage: Two Families(1998)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • The Maker (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    Director

  • The People Next Door(1996)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films

  • The Colony (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Director

  • Central Park West (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • Nowhere Man (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • Chicago Hope (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • The Saint of Fort Washington(1993)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • Bakersfield P.D. (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • Fallen Angels (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • Homicide: Life on the Street(1993)

    Show 3 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all shows

  • Eerie, Indiana(1991)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all shows

  • Lies of the Twins(1991)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 11th percentile of all films

  • Dark Justice (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • Beverly Hills, 90210(1990)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all shows

  • Law & Order(1990)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all shows

  • Twin Peaks(1990)

    Show 3 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • Paint It Black (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Director

  • Hard Copy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • River's Edge(1986)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • Sylvester(1985)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • Tex(1982)

    Director · Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • Falcon Crest(1981)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 17th percentile of all shows

  • Over the Edge(1979)

    Writer

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • Returning to Earth (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Director

Career shape

A full career of 76 titles, 75 of them dated from 1979 to 2024.

Biggest box office

Tex (1982)

$7.4M worldwide

Highest rated

Eerie, Indiana (1991)

Midcredits 91st

Most popular right now

Beverly Hills, 90210 (1990)

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting1 of 76: 1 only acting, 0 with another roleDirecting73 of 76: 71 only directing, 2 with another role · typical Midcredits score71stWriting2 of 76: 1 only writing, 1 with another roleProducing1 of 76: 0 only producing, 1 with another roleOther crew1 of 76: 1 only other crew, 0 with another role

By decade

1970s1 · crew1980s5 · crew1990s21 · crew2000s28 · 1 acting · 27 crew2010s17 · crew2020s3 · 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 Tim Hunter's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 47th percentile, the median of all 15; across their 15 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 15

Approval · how many liked their films

51stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 15

Reach · how many have seen their films

60thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 15

Midcredits score across 54 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up26
  • 50th to 74th11
  • 25th to 49th12
  • Below 25th5

Shape of the crowd

20 of their 54 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved16
  • Cult Classic2
  • Crowd Pleaser20
  • Broadly Agreed1
  • Mixed15

Most divisive · director

Rescuers: Stories of Courage: Two Couples (1998)

85th percentile spread · 21% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · director

Breaking Bad (2008)

Midcredits 99th · 94% liked

Reviewers score the atmosphere 60/100 and the pacing 40/100 in their films, across 13 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 Tim Hunter's work okay for kids?

Across up to 5 MovieCove titles with content scores, sex & nudity runs heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore4 titlesmedian 50 · moderateMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity5 titles31–60 · median 53 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity4 titlesmedian 50 · moderateMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs4 titlesmedian 63 · intenseMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense4 titlesmedian 48 · moderateMedian 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 Tim Hunter work with?

People who share at least 2 of Tim Hunter's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Sunny Hodge shares the most, 5.

Writers

Actors

Composers and editors

Producers