Skip to content
MovieCove
Frank Cottrell Boyce

Frank Cottrell Boyce

Writer and actor, also producer · Born September 23, 1959 (67) · Liverpool

BAFTA Award nominee

​​From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Frank Cottrell Boyce (born 23 September 1959) is a British screenwriter, novelist and occasional actor, known for his children's fiction and for his collaborations with film director Michael Winterbottom. Description above from the Wikipedia article Frank Cottrell Boyce, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

Read more

Biography from TMDB.

Born
September 23, 1959 (67)
From
Liverpool
Works as
Writer and actor, also producer
Titles
20 on MovieCove · 38 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 156 days to Oct 27Down 19% in 30 days

What are Frank Cottrell Boyce's films like?

Across their 20 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Morality.

Genres

Biography6 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 82nd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Biography movies
Comedy5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 71st percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Comedy movies
Drama5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 55th percentile
: browse their Drama movies
Documentary2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 74th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Documentary 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
20%
Morality
20%
Society
16%
Survival
16%
Ideas
15%
Self
12%
Power
1%
Family bonds5 titles, browse their movies with this themeArt4 titles, browse their movies with this themeRedemption4 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity3 titles, browse their movies with this themeGrief3 titles, browse their movies with this themeBetrayal2 titles, browse their movies with this themeTrauma2 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 19 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Serious: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their serious movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

A split, not a type: Light 6 · Serious 3 · Dark 10

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

Grounded 8 · Stylized 8 · Heightened 3

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

Gentle 4 · Charged 10 · Intense 5

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

Steady 8 · Shifting 9 · Whiplash 2

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

Straight-faced 12 · Some laughs 5 · Funny 2

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

Slow burn 12 · 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 5 · Engaged 12 · Full focus 2

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 4 · Affecting 7 · Heavy 8

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

A split, not a type: Resolved 10 · Open-ended 6 · Ambiguous 3

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
10
Melancholic
10
Contemplative
10
Bittersweet
6
Warm
4
Other
13

How their films linger

Bittersweet10 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 2 with a twist

  • Happy2
  • Bittersweet11
  • Tragic4
  • Ambiguous2
  • Cyclical1

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 Frank Cottrell Boyce's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 15 of their 20 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (8).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Frank Cottrell Boyce'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

38 credits, 20 with a MovieCove page; 4 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Of People And Place (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2025)

    Actor

  • The Real Ken Dodd: The Man I Loved (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2024)

    Actor

  • The Beautiful Game(2024)

    Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • Kensuke's Kingdom(2023)

    Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • Paddington Meets The Queen (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2022)

    Writer

  • Stephen(2021)

    Show 3 episodes · Creator · Executive Producer · Writer

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all shows

  • The Gruffalo and Me: The Remarkable Julia Donaldson (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2020)

    as interviewed guest

  • Sometimes Always Never(2018)

    Writer

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • Goodbye Christopher Robin(2017)

    Writer

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • Earth: One Amazing Day(2017)

    Writer

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • One Night In 2012 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    Actor

  • The Railway Man(2013)

    Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • London 2012 Olympic Opening Ceremony: Isles of Wonder (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    Writer

  • Framed (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    Writer · as Car Boot Dealer

  • God on Trial(2008)

    Writer

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • Grow Your Own(2007)

    Writer

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • Tristram Shandy(2005)

    Writer

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • Millions(2004)

    Writer · as Nativity Teacher

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • Doctor Who(2005)

    Show 2 episodes · Writer

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all shows

  • Celebrity Mastermind (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Code 46(2003)

    Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • Revengers Tragedy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    Screenplay

  • 24 Hour Party People(2002)

    Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films

  • Pandaemonium(2000)

    Writer

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • The Claim(2000)

    Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • Hilary and Jackie(1998)

    Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • Captain Star (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    Show Creator

  • Welcome to Sarajevo(1997)

    Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • New York Crossing (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Writer

  • Saint-Ex(1996)

    Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films

  • Springhill (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Show Creator

  • Butterfly Kiss(1995)

    Writer

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • A Woman's Guide to Adultery (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    Show Creator

  • All Good Friends: The Case of the Handless Corpse (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    Writer

  • In Suspicious Circumstances (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    Show 2 episodes · Writer

  • Forget About Me (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Screenplay

  • Damon and Debbie (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    Show 3 episodes · Writer

  • Screen Two (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Show 1 episode · Writer

Career shape

A full career of 38 titles from 1985 to 2025.

Biggest box office

The Railway Man (2013)

$24M worldwide

Highest rated

Earth: One Amazing Day (2017)

Midcredits 97th

Film career

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting7 of 38: 5 only acting, 2 with another roleWriting29 of 38: 27 only writing, 2 with another role · typical Midcredits score72ndProducing1 of 38: 0 only producing, 1 with another roleOther crew4 of 38: 3 only other crew, 1 with another role

38 titles, 3 with more than one role — writing and acting overlap on 2 of them.

By decade

1980s2 · crew1990s11 · crew2000s12 · 3 acting · 11 crew2010s6 · 1 acting · 5 crew2020s7 · 3 acting · 4 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.

Awards

2 major nominations and no wins, 1999–2022.

  1. 2022
    • BAFTA Award, nominated · Mini-Series
  2. 1999
    • BAFTA Award, nominated · Best Screenplay - Adapted

Major bodies only: the Oscars, Primetime Emmys, Golden Globes, BAFTAs and Screen Actors Guild Awards are named; Cannes, Venice, the Berlinale, Sundance, the directors', writers' and producers' guilds, the Grammys, Critics Choice and the Independent Spirit Awards count as other major bodies. Festival and regional prizes are not counted. Source: IMDb.

How do Frank Cottrell Boyce's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 72nd percentile, the median of all 18; across their 19 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 71st percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

71stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 19

Approval · how many liked their films

72ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 19

Reach · how many have seen their films

82ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 19

Midcredits score across 20 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up8
  • 50th to 74th10
  • 25th to 49th1
  • Below 25th1

Shape of the crowd

15 of their 20 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved3
  • Cult Classic1
  • Crowd Pleaser15
  • Mixed1

Most divisive · writer

Saint-Ex (1996)

82nd percentile spread · 34% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · writer

Earth: One Amazing Day (2017)

Midcredits 97th · 86% liked

Reviewers score the dialogue 62/100 and the plot and story 51/100 in their films, across 17 reviewed titles. The element that speaks to their work as a writer.

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 Frank Cottrell Boyce's work okay for kids?

Across up to 9 MovieCove titles with content scores, sex & nudity runs heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore4 titlesmedian 43 · moderateMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity9 titles25–64 · median 44 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity3 titlesmedian 23 · mildMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs3 titlesmedian 26 · mildMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense4 titlesmedian 46 · 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 Frank Cottrell Boyce work with?

People who share at least 2 of Frank Cottrell Boyce's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Michael Winterbottom shares the most, 6.

Directors

Actors

Cinematographers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles