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David Byrne

David Byrne

Actor, composer, director, writer and producer · Born May 14, 1952 (74) · Dumbarton, Dunbartonshire, Scotland, UK

Oscar winner · Golden Globe winner · Primetime Emmy nominee · 3 other major award bodies

David Byrne (/bɜːrn/; born 14 May 1952) is a Scottish-American musician, writer, visual artist, and filmmaker. He was a founding member, principal songwriter, lead singer, and guitarist of the American new wave band Talking Heads. Byrne has released solo recordings and worked with various media, including film, photography, opera, fiction, and non-fiction. He has received an Academy Award, a Grammy Award, a Special Tony Award, and a Golden Globe Award, and he is an inductee to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as part of Talking Heads. Description above from the Wikipedia article David Byrne, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
May 14, 1952 (74)
From
Dumbarton, Dunbartonshire, Scotland, UK
Works as
Actor, composer, director, writer and producer
Titles
21 on MovieCove · 54 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Official site (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 156 days to Oct 27Down 15% in 30 days

What are David Byrne's films like?

Across their 21 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Society and Self.

Genres

Documentary14 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 86th percentile
: browse their Documentary movies
Comedy3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 88th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: 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
Society
30%
Self
30%
Ideas
22%
Morality
9%
Survival
4%
Bonds
3%
Power
2%
Community9 titles, browse their movies with this themeArt10 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose5 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity4 titles, browse their movies with this themeSelf-worth2 titles, browse their movies with this themeLegacy3 titles, browse their movies with this themeHope3 titles, browse their movies with this themeRedemption2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 21 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Light: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their light movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 18 · Serious 1 · Dark 2

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

A split, not a type: Grounded 12 · Stylized 7 · Heightened 2

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

Gentle 12 · Charged 7 · Intense 2

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

Steady 17 · Shifting 4 · Whiplash 0

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

A split, not a type: Straight-faced 12 · Some laughs 5 · Funny 4

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

Slow burn 18 · Even-paced 2 · Relentless 1

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

Casual 15 · Engaged 5 · Full focus 1

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

Resolved 16 · Open-ended 3 · Ambiguous 2

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Joyful
12
Warm
9
Contemplative
9
Hopeful
6
Melancholic
3
Other
12

How their films linger

Hopeful11 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteRousing5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end

  • Happy7
  • Bittersweet9
  • Ambiguous4
  • 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 David Byrne's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 14 of their 21 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (4).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for David Byrne'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

54 credits, 21 with a MovieCove page; 70 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • The Twits(2025)

    Songs · as Gordon Sniffles (voice)

    Midcredits score: 12th percentile of all films

  • John Mulaney: Baby J(2023)

    Composer · Musician

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • Everything Everywhere All at Once(2022)

    Songs

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

  • Social! Distance Dance Club (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2021)

    Actor

  • David Byrne's American Utopia(2020)

    Composer · Executive Producer · Producer · Writer · as Self - Lead Singer & Performer

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • John Mulaney & the Sack Lunch Bunch(2019)

    as David Byrne

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • Triple-Chaser (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2019)

    as Narrator

  • Hream (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2019)

    as David Byrne

  • Real Life (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2018)

    as Narrator / Self

  • Contemporary Color(2016)

    Producer · Actor

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • Lo and Behold: Reveries of the Connected World(2016)

    Musician

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • Temporary Color (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    Actor

  • We're Gonna Die (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    as David Byrne

  • La Casa del Ritmo: A Film About Los Amigos Invisibles (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    Actor

  • GLOW: The Story of the Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling(2012)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • Talking Heads - Chronology (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    Actor

  • This Must Be the Place(2011)

    Composer · as David Byrne

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • Tom Zé Liberated Astronaut(2009)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • New York Rock at the BBC (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    Actor

  • Untitled Patton/Byrne Piece (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    Actor

  • The Vanguard (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    Composer

  • Îlé Aiyé (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    Director

  • She Hate Me(2004)

    Thanks

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films

  • Dennis Cleveland (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    Actor

  • David Byrne: Live At Union Chapel (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Actor

  • Young Adam(2003)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • The Truth About Charlie(2002)

    Thanks

    Midcredits score: 11th percentile of all films

  • In Spite of Wishing and Wanting (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    Composer · Lyricist

  • The Art of Amália (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    as Introduction (English version)

  • PJ Harvey: Sessions at West 54th (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Actor

  • Lulu on the Bridge(1998)

    as "Laughing Man" Escort

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • After 68 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    Second Assistant Director

  • Between the Teeth (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    Director · Actor

  • Red Hot + Blue: A Tribute to Cole Porter(1990)

    Director · as Self

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • The Simpsons(1989)

    Show 1 episode · as David Byrne (voice)

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all shows

  • Plymptoons: The Complete Early Works of Bill Plympton (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Show 1 episode · Composer

  • Umbabarauma (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Producer

  • Checking Out (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    as Bartender

  • Married to the Mob(1988)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • Talking Heads: Storytelling Giant (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    Director · Writer · as Self

  • The Last Emperor(1987)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Something Wild(1986)

    Main Title Theme Composer

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • True Stories(1986)

    Director · Composer · Songs · Writer · as Narrator / Lip-Syncher

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • The Kitchen Presents: Two Moon July (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    Actor

  • Dead End Kids (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    as Minister

  • Alive from Off Center (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Show 26 episodes · Theme Song Performance

  • Stop Making Sense(1984)

    Composer · Sound Supervisor · as Self - Vocals, Guitar

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • Talking Heads: The Name of this Programme is Once In A Lifetime (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    Creative Consultant · as Self

  • Talking Heads: Live at Montreux Jazz Festival (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Actor

  • The Catherine Wheel (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Composer

  • Mea Culpa (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    Composer

  • America Is Waiting (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    Composer

  • Talking Heads: Rock Pop in Concert (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    Actor

  • Talking Heads: 77 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Actor

Career shape

A full career of 53 titles, 52 of them dated from 1981 to 2025.

Biggest box office

The Last Emperor (1987)

$44M worldwide

Highest rated

Stop Making Sense (1984)

Midcredits 99th

Most popular right now

The Last Emperor (1987)

Film career

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting29 of 53: 24 only acting, 5 with another role · typical Midcredits score81stDirecting5 of 53: 2 only directing, 3 with another roleWriting4 of 53: 0 only writing, 4 with another roleProducing3 of 53: 1 only producing, 2 with another roleMusic15 of 53: 9 only music, 6 with another role · typical Midcredits score88thOther crew11 of 53: 7 only other crew, 4 with another role · typical Midcredits score85th

53 titles, 10 with more than one role — acting and music overlap on 2 of them.

By decade

1980s19 · 7 acting · 13 crew1990s5 · 3 acting · 3 crew2000s12 · 6 acting · 6 crew2010s11 · 10 acting · 3 crew2020s5 · 2 acting · 4 crew

Billing

usually 15th · top billed in 20% 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.

Awards

an Oscar, a Golden Globe and 1 other major award from 13 major nominations, 1984–2023.

WinNomination
  1. 2023
    • Oscar, nominated · Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures (Original Song)
  2. 2022
    • Grammy Award, nominated · Best Music Film
  3. 2021
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Variety Special (Pre-Recorded)
    • +1 other major body · 1 nomination
      • Grammy Award, nominated · Best Musical Theater Album
  4. 2019
    • Grammy Award, nominated · Best Alternative Music Album
  5. 2010
    • Grammy Award, nominated · Best Alternative Music Album
  6. 1989
    • BAFTA Award, nominated · Best Score
    • +1 other major body · 1 win and 1 nomination
      • Grammy Award, won · Best Album of Original Instrumental Background Score Written for a Motion Picture or Television
      • Grammy Award, nominated · Best Concept Music Video
  7. 1988
    • Oscar, won · Best Music, Original Score
    • Golden Globe, won · Best Original Score - Motion Picture
  8. 1987
    • Independent Spirit Award, nominated · Best First Feature
Show 1 earlier year
  1. 1984
    • Grammy Award, nominated · Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal

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 David Byrne's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 80th percentile, the median of all 20; across their 21 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 87th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

87thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 21

Approval · how many liked their films

81stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 21

Reach · how many have seen their films

60thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 21

Midcredits score across 21 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up13
  • 50th to 74th5
  • Below 25th3

Shape of the crowd

9 of their 21 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved6
  • Crowd Pleaser9
  • Broadly Agreed1
  • Mixed5

Most divisive · actor, director

Red Hot + Blue: A Tribute to Cole Porter (1990)

67th percentile spread · 13% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor, composer

Stop Making Sense (1984)

Midcredits 99th · 93% liked

Reviewers score the acting 76/100 in their films, across 10 reviewed titles; fans 81, detractors 42. 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 David Byrne's work okay for kids?

Across up to 6 MovieCove titles with content scores, violence & gore runs lighter than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore6 titles7–74 · median 32 · mildlighter than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity6 titles10–67 · median 40 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity6 titles7–61 · median 39 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs5 titles20–54 · median 40 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense6 titles5–58 · median 32 · mildnear the median of all 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 David Byrne work with?

People who share at least 2 of David Byrne's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Jonathan Demme shares the most, 4.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Producers

Mixed roles