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William S. Burroughs

William S. Burroughs

Actor and writer · Died August 2, 1997, aged 83 · St. Louis, Missouri, USA

William Seward Burroughs II (February 5, 1914 – August 2, 1997) was an American writer and visual artist, widely considered a primary figure of the Beat Generation and a major postmodern author who influenced popular culture and literature. Burroughs wrote eighteen novels and novellas, six collections of short stories and four collections of essays, and five books have been published of his interviews and correspondences; he was initially briefly known by the pen name William Lee. He also collaborated on projects and recordings with numerous performers and musicians, made many appearances in films, and created and exhibited thousands of visual artworks, including his celebrated "Shotgun Art". Description above from the Wikipedia article William S. Burroughs, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
February 5, 1914
Died
August 2, 1997 (aged 83)
From
St. Louis, Missouri, USA
Works as
Actor and writer
Titles
11 on MovieCove · 45 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 157 days to Oct 28Down 2% in 30 days

What are William S. Burroughs' films like?

Across their 10 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Society and Self.

Themes

share of theme weight
Society
28%
Self
23%
Ideas
20%
Survival
19%
Bonds
9%
Power
2%
Art3 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity3 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose3 titles, browse their movies with this themeIsolation3 titles, browse their movies with this themeAddiction2 titles, browse their movies with this themeLegacy2 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity2 titles, browse their movies with this themeFame2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 10 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 5 · Serious 2 · Dark 3

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

A split, not a type: Grounded 6 · Stylized 2 · Heightened 2

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

Gentle 3 · Charged 6 · Intense 1

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

Steady 5 · Shifting 5 · Whiplash 0

Some laughs: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their some laughs movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 4 · Some laughs 5 · Funny 1

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

Slow burn 7 · Even-paced 3 · 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 5 · Full focus 3

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 3 · Heavy 3

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

A split, not a type: Resolved 4 · Open-ended 2 · Ambiguous 4

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Contemplative
7
Absurd
4
Melancholic
3
Tense
3
Joyful
2
Other
8

How their films linger

Thought-provoking6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteWistful2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end

  • Bittersweet3
  • Ambiguous7

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 William S. Burroughs' films?

As of October 24, 2026, 7 of their 11 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (5).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for William S. Burroughs' 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

45 credits, 11 with a MovieCove page; 46 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Queer(2024)

    Novel

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • The Wild Boys(2017)

    Original Story

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • Robert E. Fulton III Edit of Burroughs: The Movie (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    Actor

  • William S. Burroughs: The Possessed (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    Actor

  • William S. Burroughs Birthday Bash (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    Writer

  • Neurons to Nirvana(2013)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films

  • The Ballad of Genesis and Lady Jaye(2011)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • Nova Express (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    Writer · as Narrator (voice)

  • Ma bande magnétique arrière (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    Writer

  • Joy Division(2007)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • The Japanese Sandman (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    Writer

  • Words of Advice: William S. Burroughs On the Road (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    Actor

  • Wanderlust (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    as Tom the Priest

  • The Last Words of Dutch Schultz (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Writer

  • The Making of Drugstore Cowboy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    Actor

  • The Book of Life(1998)

    as Preacher on Radio (voice)

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • Good Will Hunting(1997)

    In Memory Of

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • Ah Pook Is Here. (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    Novel · as Narrator

  • The Junky's Christmas (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    Novel · as Narrator

  • Naked Lunch(1991)

    Novel

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films

  • Wax, or The Discovery of Television Among the Bees (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    as James "Hive" Maker

  • Thanksgiving Prayer (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    Writer · as A Speaker

  • The Black Rider (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Writer

  • Bloodhounds of Broadway(1989)

    as Butler

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films

  • Drugstore Cowboy(1989)

    Writer · as Tom the Priest

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • Twister(1989)

    as Man in Barn

    Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all films

  • It Don't Pay to Be an Honest Citizen (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    as Mafioso

  • The Final Academy Documents (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    Actor

  • Decoder (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    as Old Man

  • Pirate Tape (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    Actor

  • The Discipline of D.E. (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Story

  • Taking Tiger Mountain (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Writer

  • American Playhouse (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Show 1 episode · as Butler

  • Ghost at No. 9 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Writer · Actor

  • Pirates: William Burroughs in London (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Actor

  • Energy and How to Get It (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    Actor

  • Shamans of the Blind Country (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    as Narrator (voice)

  • Une semaine dans la vie de camarades (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    Actor

  • Bill and Tony (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    Writer · as Self

  • Ice Cream (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    Writer

  • Witchcraft Through the Ages (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    Writer · as Narrator

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

    as Opium Jones

  • The Cut-Ups (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

    Story · Actor

  • Towers Open Fire (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    Writer · Actor

  • William Buys a Parrot (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    Writer · as Self

Career shape

A full career of 44 titles from 1963 to 2024.

Biggest box office

Queer (2024)

$7M worldwide

Highest rated

Neurons to Nirvana (2013)

Midcredits 91st

Most popular right now

Queer (2024)

Film career

  • 1984Screen debut· Decoder

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting30 of 44: 22 only acting, 8 with another role · typical Midcredits score72ndWriting21 of 44: 13 only writing, 8 with another roleOther crew1 of 44: 1 only other crew, 0 with another role

44 titles, 8 with more than one role — acting and writing overlap on 8 of them.

By decade

1960s5 · 4 acting · 4 crew1970s3 · 1 acting · 2 crew1980s14 · 12 acting · 3 crew1990s9 · 6 acting · 6 crew2000s7 · 4 acting · 4 crew2010s5 · 3 acting · 2 crew2020s1 · crew

Billing

usually 9th · top billed in 0% of 5 roles

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 William S. Burroughs' films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 74th percentile, the median of all 11; across their 10 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 79th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

79thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 10

Approval · how many liked their films

76thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 10

Reach · how many have seen their films

61stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 10

Midcredits score across 11 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up5
  • 50th to 74th4
  • 25th to 49th2

Shape of the crowd

5 of their 11 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved3
  • Cult Classic1
  • Crowd Pleaser5
  • Mixed2

Most divisive · actor

Bloodhounds of Broadway (1989)

77th percentile spread · 32% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Joy Division (2007)

Midcredits 97th · 88% liked

Reviewers score the acting 74/100 in their films, across 5 reviewed titles; fans 82, detractors 45. 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 William S. Burroughs' work okay for kids?

Across a limited sample of up to 3 MovieCove titles with content scores.

Their medianMedian of all films
Violence & Gore3 titlesmedian 52 · moderateMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity3 titlesmedian 61 · intenseMedian of all films: 32
Profanity3 titlesmedian 60 · moderateMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs3 titlesmedian 89 · severeMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense3 titlesmedian 62 · intenseMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted.

Who does William S. Burroughs work with?

People who share at least 2 of William S. Burroughs' MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; John Giorno shares the most, 4.

Directors

Actors

Producers

Mixed roles