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Gunnar Björnstrand

Gunnar Björnstrand

Actor · Died May 26, 1986, aged 76 · Stockholm, Stockholms län, Sweden

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Gunnar Björnstrand (November 13, 1909 – May 26, 1986) was a Swedish actor known for his frequent work with writer/director Ingmar Bergman. He was born in Stockholm. He appeared in over 120 films. Björnstrand at first had trouble finding work but got an engagement in Helsinki with his wife 1936-1938. Back in Stockholm he met Ingmar Bergman, at that time a mostly unknown theatre director. In the 1940s he got his first major film roles, making a breakthrough with the 1946 movie Kristin kommenderar. He was a versatile actor who could play tough and tender as well as comedy and tragedy. His daughter Veronica Björnstrand is also an actress. One of his most famous roles was as the worldly squire who makes such a contrast to his austere and spiritual master in Bergman's most famous film The Seventh Seal. Description above from the Wikipedia article Gunnar Björnstrand, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia​

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
November 13, 1909
Died
May 26, 1986 (aged 76)
From
Stockholm, Stockholms län, Sweden
Works as
Actor
Titles
21 on MovieCove · 135 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 38 days to Oct 27Down 32% in 30 days

What are Gunnar Björnstrand's films like?

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

Genres

Drama14 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 95th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Comedy4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 88th percentile
: browse their Comedy 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
25%
Self
23%
Survival
17%
Morality
15%
Society
11%
Power
5%
Ideas
4%
Marriage5 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity5 titles, browse their movies with this themeFaith3 titles, browse their movies with this themeMortality3 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love3 titles, browse their movies with this themeMental illness2 titles, browse their movies with this themeSelf-worth2 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception3 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 18 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Dark: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their dark movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 2 · Serious 4 · Dark 12

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

A split, not a type: Grounded 9 · Stylized 7 · Heightened 2

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

Gentle 0 · Charged 9 · Intense 9

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

A split, not a type: Steady 8 · Shifting 7 · Whiplash 3

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

Straight-faced 15 · Some laughs 2 · Funny 1

Slow burn: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their slow burn movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 11 · Even-paced 7 · 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 2 · Engaged 12 · Full focus 4

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

Easy watch 2 · Affecting 5 · Heavy 11

Open-ended: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their open-ended movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 5 · Open-ended 7 · Ambiguous 6

Roles they play

11 analyzed roles

Usually the Hero: 3 of 11 analyzed roles.

Hero
3 of 11
Mentor
3 of 11
Shadow
3 of 11
Threshold guardian
2 of 11
Show the 11 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
10
Melancholic
12
Contemplative
9
Dread
5
Bittersweet
6
Other
5

How their films linger

Thought-provoking11 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteDevastating2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end

  • Happy2
  • Bittersweet6
  • Ambiguous10

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 Gunnar Björnstrand's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 17 of their 21 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on The Criterion Channel (17).

Subscription and free streaming for Gunnar Björnstrand'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

135 credits, 21 with a MovieCove page; 7 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Stjärnbilder (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    as (archive footage)

  • Minns ni? (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    as (archive footage)

  • Fanny and Alexander (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    Show 1 episode · as Filip Landahl

  • Fanny and Alexander(1982)

    as Filip Landahl

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • The Farewell (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    as isoisä

  • Charlotte Löwensköld och Anna Svärd (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    Show 5 episodes · as Forsius

  • Charlotte Löwensköld(1979)

    as Rural dean Forsius

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Skeppsredaren (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    Show 3 episodes · as Göran Borg

  • Autumn Sonata(1978)

    as Paul

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • Nationalmonumentet (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    as Svante Puke

  • Taboo(1977)

    as Rådmanskan

    Midcredits score: 7th percentile of all films

  • Face to Face (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    Show 4 episodes · as Jenny's Grandfather

  • Face to Face(1976)

    as Jenny's Grandfather

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films

  • Engeln (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    Show 1 episode · as Bäckman

  • Gustav III (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    as Fersen

  • Någonstans i Sverige (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    Show 3 episodes · as Svärfadern

  • Pistolen (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    Actor

  • The Ghost Sonata (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    as Översten

  • Lockfågeln (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    as The major

  • Blow Hot, Blow Cold (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    as Prof. Gunnar Lindmark

  • The Rite(1969)

    as Hans Winkelmann

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • The lift that went down into hell (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    as The husband

  • Tunneln (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    Actor

  • Pappa varför är du arg? Du gjorde likadant själv när du var ung (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    as Admiral Carl

  • Shame(1968)

    as Mr. Jacobi

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • The Girls (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    as Hugo

  • Pygmalion (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    as Prof. Henry Higgins

  • Henpecked (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Actor

  • Stimulantia (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    as Paul Hartman

  • The Red Mantle (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    as King Sigvor

  • Here Is Your Life(1966)

    as Lundgren

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • Pälsen (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

    as Fondmäklare Rickardt

  • Persona(1966)

    as Herr Vogler

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Sadist (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

    as Dr. Rune Wester

  • My Sister My Love (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

    as Count Schwartz

  • Loving Couples (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    as Dr. Jacob Lewin

  • The Marriage Wrestler (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    as Herr Fotograf Fäger

  • The Dress (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    as Helmer Berg

  • My Love Is Like a Rose (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    as Georg Ehnström

  • Lyckodrömmen (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    as Sebastian

  • Winter Light(1963)

    as Tomas Ericsson

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Handen på hjärtat (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    Actor

  • The Pleasure Garden (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    as David Franzén

  • Through a Glass Darkly(1961)

    as David

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Barna Hedenhös (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    as Narrator (voice)

  • The Devil's Eye(1960)

    as The Actor

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all films

  • Mälarpirater (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    Actor

  • Heaven and Pancakes (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    as Ernst C:son Kruuse

  • Crime in Paradise (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    as Adam Palmquist

  • Swinging at the Castle (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    as Agne C:son Stressberg

  • The Magician(1958)

    as Dr. Vergerus / Minister of Health

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • Miss April (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

    as Marcus Arwidson

  • You Are My Adventure (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

    as Tore Hall

  • Summer Place Wanted (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    as Gustaf Dahlström

  • Night Light (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    as Purman

  • Wild Strawberries(1957)

    as Evald

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • The Seventh Seal(1957)

    as Jöns

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • Skorpan (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    Actor

  • Seventh Heaven (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    as Maj. Ernst C:son Kruuse

  • It Is Never Too Late (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    as Arne's father

  • Smiles of a Summer Night(1955)

    as Fredrik Egerman

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

  • Dreams(1955)

    as Otto Sönderby, konsul

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • Stampen (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    as Acke Kullerstedt

  • Gabrielle (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1954)

    as Robert Holmén

  • A Lesson in Love(1954)

    as David Erneman

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • Seger i mörker (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1954)

    as Henrik Kugelström

  • Flottans glada gossar (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1954)

    as Ludvig "Ludde" Ekman

  • The Glass Mountain (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    as Dr. Dalander

  • Möte med livet (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    as Narrator (voice)

  • Sawdust and Tinsel(1953)

    as Mr. Sjuberg

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films

  • We Three Debutantes (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    as Director Brummer

  • Dance, My Doll (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    as Zdenko Zapatil

  • Oppåt med Gröna Hissen (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)

    as Malte Lövman

  • Flyg-Bom (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)

    as Niklas Slevbrink

  • Secrets of Women(1952)

    as Fredrik Lobelius

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • Klackarna i taket (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)

    Actor

  • One Fiancé at a Time (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)

    as Valentin Fredriksson-Frisk, alias ''Dynamit-Valle'', dynamitard

  • Säg det med blommor (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)

    Actor

  • Livat på luckan (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

    Actor

  • The Nuthouse (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

    Actor

  • Tull-Bom (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

    as Frans Melin, aka Hamn-Casanova

  • The Quartet That Split Up (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

    as Engineer Planertz

  • The White Cat (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

    as Jarl Eksell

  • Kyssen på kryssen (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

    as Lars Brenner, film director

  • Fianceé for Hire (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

    as Julius Brumse

  • My Sister and I (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

    as Gunnar Stenwall

  • Father Bom (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1949)

    as Fritjoff Krafft

  • The Girl from the Third Row (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1949)

    as Edvin Burelius

  • Playing Truant (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1949)

    as Bertil Kronberg

  • Private Bom (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1948)

    as Berglund

  • Little Martin Returns (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1948)

    as The Captain

  • En svensk tiger (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1948)

    as Hans Wolff

  • Each to His Own Way (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1948)

    as Sture Widman

  • Music in Darkness (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1948)

    as Klasson

  • Två kvinnor(1947)

    as Bengt Larsson

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Här kommer vi ... (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1947)

    as Skådespelare

  • One Swallow Does Not Make a Summer (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1947)

    as 40-talisten

  • Krigsmans erinran (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1947)

    Actor

  • Daddy Wanted (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1947)

    as Shoe-shiner Tom, 'Plutten'

  • The Bride Came Through the Ceiling (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1947)

    as Sune Eriksson

  • While the Door Was Locked (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1946)

    as Erik Sahlén

  • It Rains on Our Love (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1946)

    as Mr. Purman

  • Incorrigible (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1946)

    as Dr. Bertil Langenfeldt

  • Kristin Commands (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1946)

    as Dr. Westman Senior / Vilhelm Westman

  • Peggy på vift (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1946)

    as Harald Haraldsson

  • Midwinter Sacrifice (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1946)

    as Hövdingen

  • You Who Are About to Enter (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1945)

    as Hagman

  • Sussie (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1945)

    as Harry Hellberg

  • New Order at Sjogarda (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1944)

    as Felix Palmer

  • Torment (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1944)

    as Teacher

  • Mitt folk är icke ditt (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1944)

    Actor

  • Lev farligt (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1944)

    as Dr. Hahn

  • Appassionata (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1944)

    as Svensson, Editor of Vecko-Bilden

  • Jag dräpte (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1943)

    as Lindén

  • Natt i hamn (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1943)

    as Sven Eriksson

  • General von Döbeln (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1942)

    as Lieutenant Bäckström

  • En äventyrare (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1942)

    Actor

  • Trygghet och trivsel (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1942)

    Actor

  • Snapphanar (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1941)

    as Soldier

  • The Ghost Reporter (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1941)

    Actor

  • Everybody at His Station (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

    as Military Doctor

  • Man of the Forest (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

    as Clerk

  • Hennes melodi (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

    Actor

  • June Night (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

    as Journalist (uncredited)

  • Hjältar i gult och blått (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

    as Sergeant Frisk

  • Mot nya tider (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    as August Palm's Associate

  • We Two (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    as Doctor

  • Panik (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    as Ryder, Banker

  • Vi som går scenvägen (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    Actor

  • Bergslagsfolk (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    Actor

  • Uppsagd (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

    Actor

  • National match (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

    as Young student watching competition (uncredited)

  • His Life's Match (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

    Actor

  • Ship Ahoy! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)

    Actor

  • My Heart and Its Millions (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)

    as Chorister (uncredited)

Career shape

Star power in the 99th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 135 titles from 1931 to 1995; peak year 1962.

Biggest box office

The Seventh Seal (1957)

$336K worldwide

Highest rated

The Seventh Seal (1957)

Midcredits 98th

Film career

MilestoneBreakout
19311995

Peak 1962 · fewer prominent film roles lately. Top draw in 12 MovieCove titles. 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.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting135 of 135: 135 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score92nd

By decade

1930s10 · acting1940s39 · acting1950s40 · acting1960s27 · acting1970s13 · acting1980s4 · acting1990s2 · acting

Billing

usually 4th · top billed in 9% of 22 roles
445459

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; 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 Gunnar Björnstrand's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 92nd percentile, the median of all 21; across their 18 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 91st percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

91stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 18

Approval · how many liked their films

92ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 18

Reach · how many have seen their films

82ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 18

Midcredits score across 21 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up18
  • 25th to 49th1
  • Below 25th2

Shape of the crowd

10 of their 21 titles are Universally Loved.

  • Universally Loved10
  • Cult Classic1
  • Crowd Pleaser8
  • Broadly Agreed1
  • Mixed1

Most divisive · actor

Charlotte Löwensköld (1979)

80th percentile spread · 31% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

The Seventh Seal (1957)

Midcredits 98th · 86% liked

Reviewers score the acting 87/100 in their films, across 15 reviewed titles; fans 90, detractors 58. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

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 Gunnar Björnstrand's work okay for kids?

Across up to 10 MovieCove titles with content scores, frightening / intense runs heavier than most films and violence & gore and profanity lighter.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore7 titles6–68 · median 28 · mildlighter than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity10 titles5–59 · median 26 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity6 titles6–24 · median 11 · minimallighter than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs6 titles19–33 · median 30 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense8 titles45–76 · median 60 · 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 Gunnar Björnstrand work with?

People who share at least 2 of Gunnar Björnstrand's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Ingmar Bergman shares the most, 15.

Directors

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles