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Ted Nicolaou

Ted Nicolaou

Director, editor and writer, also producer

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Ted Nicolaou is an American film director, screenwriter and producer. After graduating from the University of Texas film program, he joined the crew of The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974) as a sound recordist (and provided the famous van used by the protagonists). Later, he joined Charles Band's Empire Pictures, where he worked as an editor on such films as Ghoulies (1985) and eventually debuted as a director with The Dungeonmaster (1985) and TerrorVision (1986). His most famous directorial effort is the Subspecies film series. Apart from his feature film projects, he also works in television. Description above from the Wikipedia article Ted Nicolaou, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

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Biography from TMDB.

Works as
Director, editor and writer, also producer
Titles
39 on MovieCove · 63 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 64 days to Oct 27Up 20% in 30 days

What are Ted Nicolaou's films like?

Across their 38 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Survival and Bonds.

Genres

Horror10 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 6th percentile
: browse their Horror movies
Adventure7 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 20th percentile
: browse their Adventure movies
Fantasy6 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 27th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Fantasy movies
Action5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 24th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Action movies
Comedy4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 12th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Documentary2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 55th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Documentary movies
Family2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 4th percentile
: browse their Family 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
Survival
28%
Bonds
26%
Self
17%
Power
9%
Morality
9%
Society
7%
Ideas
5%
Survival17 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds12 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose6 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity5 titles, browse their movies with this themePower6 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love4 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship4 titles, browse their movies with this themeViolence3 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 38 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 18 · Serious 16 · Dark 4

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

Grounded 13 · Stylized 18 · Heightened 7

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

Gentle 10 · Charged 18 · Intense 10

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

Steady 16 · Shifting 18 · Whiplash 4

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 20 · Some laughs 13 · Funny 5

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

Slow burn 14 · Even-paced 19 · Relentless 5

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

Casual 26 · Engaged 12 · Full focus 0

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

Resolved 33 · Open-ended 3 · Ambiguous 2

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
26
Absurd
14
Dread
11
Thrilling
12
Warm
7
Other
24

How their films linger

Fun19 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good12 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling12 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 5 with a twist

  • Happy18
  • Bittersweet10
  • Tragic1
  • Ambiguous9

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 Ted Nicolaou's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 33 of their 39 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (32).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Ted Nicolaou'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

63 credits, 39 with a MovieCove page; 7 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Death Streamer(2024)

    Editor

    Midcredits score: 2nd percentile of all films

  • Subspecies V: Bloodrise(2023)

    Director · Writer

    Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all films

  • Tales of the Fantastic(2023)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 1st percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Dragon Tales(2023)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 7th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Charles Band’s Full Moon Freakshow (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2022)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Don't Let Her In (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2021)

    Director · Writer

  • Vampire Slaughter: Eaten Alive(2018)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 1st percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Bunker of Blood: Chapter 2 - Deadly Dolls: Deepest Cuts(2018)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 4th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Cool as Hell 2(2019)

    as Ted Nicolaou

    Midcredits score: 13th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Martin Scorsese's Journey Into Silence (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    Director · Editor

  • The Wolf Pack (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    Editor · Writer

  • Finding Happiness(2014)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • DevilDolls (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    Director

  • The Cinemagician, Georges Méliès(2012)

    Writer

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Dalí & Disney: A Date with Destino (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    Director · Writer

  • The Etruscan Mask (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    Director · Screenplay

  • Urban Evil: Trilogy of Fear (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    Director

  • Puppet Master vs Demonic Toys(2004)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 5th percentile of all films

  • My Name Is Modesty: A Modesty Blaise Adventure(2004)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all films

  • I, Vampire(2004)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 1st percentile of all films

  • The Horrible Dr. Bones(2000)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 1st percentile of all films

  • The St. Francisville Experiment(2000)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 7th percentile of all films

  • American Beauty: Look Closer...(2000)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • Lip Service (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    Director

  • Ragdoll (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    Director

  • The Making of 'The Haunting' (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    Director

  • Dragonworld: The Legend Continues(1999)

    Director · Writer

    Midcredits score: 6th percentile of all films

  • Subspecies 4: Bloodstorm(1998)

    Director · Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films

  • Subspecies 4 Behind the Scenes (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Actor

  • The Shrunken City(1998)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 9th percentile of all films

  • Vampire Journals(1997)

    Director · Writer

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films

  • Magic in the Mirror: Fowl Play (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    Director

  • Spellbreaker: Secret of the Leprechauns (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Director · Writer

  • Magic in the Mirror(1996)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • Leapin' Leprechauns (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    Director · Writer

  • Dragonworld(1994)

    Director · Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films

  • Bloodlust: Subspecies III(1994)

    Director · Writer

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • Videozone: The Making of Bloodlust Subspecies 3 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    Actor

  • Remote(1993)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all films

  • Bloodstone: Subspecies II(1993)

    Director · Writer

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films

  • Bad Channels(1992)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films

  • Lucky Luke (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    Show 8 episodes · Director

  • Lucky Luke 2 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    Director

  • Trancers II(1991)

    Editor

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films

  • Subspecies(1991)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • Robot Jox(1989)

    Editor

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • Meridian(1990)

    Editor

    Midcredits score: 13th percentile of all films

  • Crash and Burn(1990)

    Editor

    Midcredits score: 11th percentile of all films

  • Assault of the Killer Bimbos (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    Screenplay · Story

  • TerrorVision(1986)

    Director · Writer

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • Zone Troopers(1985)

    Editor

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all films

  • Savage Island (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Director · Writer

  • Ghoulies(1984)

    Editor

    Midcredits score: 5th percentile of all films

  • Trancers(1984)

    Editor

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • The Dungeonmaster(1984)

    Director · Editor · Writer

    Midcredits score: 8th percentile of all films

  • Young Warriors (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    Editor

  • The Alchemist (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    Editor

  • Butcher, Baker, Nightmare Maker(1981)

    Editor

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • Roar(1981)

    Additional Editing · Editor

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • The Day Time Ended(1979)

    Editor · Sound Effects Editor

    Midcredits score: 1st percentile of all films

  • Tourist Trap(1979)

    Editor

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • Barbenheimer (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Director

  • Videozone: Making of Subspecies (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Actor

Career shape

A full career of 59 titles, 57 of them dated from 1979 to 2024.

Biggest box office

Robot Jox (1989)

$1.3M worldwide

Highest rated

Butcher, Baker, Nightmare Maker (1981)

Midcredits 57th

Most popular right now

Trancers II (1991)

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting5 of 59: 5 only acting, 0 with another roleDirecting38 of 59: 22 only directing, 16 with another role · typical Midcredits score19thWriting17 of 59: 1 only writing, 16 with another role · typical Midcredits score28thEditing17 of 59: 12 only editing, 5 with another role · typical Midcredits score20thOther crew2 of 59: 0 only other crew, 2 with another role

59 titles, 19 with more than one role — directing and editing overlap on 2 of them.

By decade

1970s1 · crew1980s12 · crew1990s25 · 2 acting · 23 crew2000s6 · crew2010s7 · 1 acting · 6 crew2020s6 · 1 acting · 5 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 Ted Nicolaou's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 19th percentile, the median of all 39; across their 38 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 22nd percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

22ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 38

Approval · how many liked their films

19thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 38

Reach · how many have seen their films

61stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 38

Midcredits score across 39 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up1
  • 50th to 74th2
  • 25th to 49th12
  • Below 25th24

Shape of the crowd

26 of their 39 titles are Mixed.

  • Universally Loved1
  • Universally Panned5
  • Divisive2
  • Cult Classic2
  • Crowd Pleaser1
  • Broadly Agreed2
  • Mixed26

Most divisive · actor

Cool as Hell 2 (2019)

99th percentile spread · 61% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · producer

American Beauty: Look Closer... (2000)

Midcredits 64th · 49% liked

Reviewers score the atmosphere 52/100 and the pacing 38/100 in their films, across 31 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 Ted Nicolaou's work okay for kids?

Across up to 12 MovieCove titles with content scores, violence & gore, sex & nudity and frightening / intense run heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore8 titles55–78 · median 65 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity12 titles19–55 · median 44 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity6 titles21–62 · median 36 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs5 titles16–39 · median 32 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense5 titles47–72 · median 61 · intenseheavier 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 Ted Nicolaou work with?

People who share at least 2 of Ted Nicolaou's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Charles Band shares the most, 29.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers