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Jean Cocteau

Jean Cocteau

Writer, actor and director · Died October 11, 1963, aged 74 · Maison Laffitte, Yvelines, France

Jean Maurice Eugène Clément Cocteau (French pronunciation: [ʒɑ̃ kɔkto]; 5 July 1889 – 11 October 1963) was a French poet, novelist, dramatist, designer, boxing manager, playwright, artist and filmmaker. Along with other avant-garde artists of his generation (Jean Anouilh and René Char for example) Cocteau grappled with the algebra of verbal codes old and new, mise en scène language and technologies of modernism to create a paradox: a classical avant-garde.[citation needed] His circle of associates, friends and lovers included Kenneth Anger, Pablo Picasso, Jean Hugo, Jean Marais, Henri Bernstein, Marlene Dietrich, Coco Chanel, Erik Satie, María Félix, Édith Piaf (whom he cast in one of his one-act plays entitled Le Bel Indifferent in 1940), and Raymond Radiguet. His work was played out in the theatrical world of the Grands Theatres, the Boulevards and beyond during the Parisian epoque he both lived through and helped define and create. His versatile, unconventional approach and enormous output brought him international acclaim. Description above from the Wikipedia article Jean Cocteau, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
July 5, 1889
Died
October 11, 1963 (aged 74)
From
Maison Laffitte, Yvelines, France
Works as
Writer, actor and director
Titles
10 on MovieCove · 78 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 33% in 30 days

What are Jean Cocteau's films like?

Across their 10 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Ideas.

Genres

Drama6 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 73rd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Biography2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 71st percentile
: browse their Biography 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
38%
Ideas
19%
Morality
17%
Survival
16%
Self
7%
Power
3%
Romantic love6 titles, browse their movies with this themeArt3 titles, browse their movies with this themeMortality4 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds2 titles, browse their movies with this themeSacrifice2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 10 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Heightened: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their heightened movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 1 · Stylized 2 · Heightened 7

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

Gentle 2 · Charged 6 · Intense 2

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

Steady 3 · Shifting 6 · Whiplash 1

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

Straight-faced 8 · Some laughs 1 · 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 2 · Relentless 1

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

Casual 1 · Engaged 7 · Full focus 2

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

A split, not a type: Resolved 7 · Open-ended 0 · Ambiguous 3

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Melancholic
9
Romantic
5
Tense
6
Contemplative
4
Absurd
1
Other
4

How their films linger

Bittersweet5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 1 with a twist

  • Happy2
  • Bittersweet3
  • Tragic3
  • Ambiguous2

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 Jean Cocteau's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 5 of their 10 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service.

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Jean Cocteau'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

78 credits, 10 with a MovieCove page; 35 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Daedalus (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2024)

    as Sampled Interview (voice) (uncredited)

  • Les parents terribles (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2022)

    Dialogue · Writer

  • The Human Voice (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2022)

    Original Story

  • The Human Voice (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2021)

    Writer

  • Morceaux de Cannes (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2021)

    Actor

  • The Human Voice (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2021)

    Story

  • The Human Voice: A Story for Our Times (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2020)

    Story

  • The Human Voice (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2020)

    Theatre Play

  • The Human Voice (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2019)

    Writer

  • The Image Book(2018)

    as (archive footage)

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • Poulenc's The Human Voice / Bartók's Bluebeard's Castle (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2018)

    Writer

  • The Human Voice (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2018)

    Theatre Play

  • The Human Voice (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2018)

    Story

  • The Human Voice (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2018)

    Writer

  • The Eagle with Two Heads (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    Original Story

  • The Human Voice (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    Story

  • Human Voice (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    Story

  • Opium (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    Writer

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

    Theatre Play

  • The Last Days of an Icon: Edith Piaf (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Actor

  • Beautiful (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    Theatre Play

  • La Voix Humaine (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    Writer

  • Oedipus Rex (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    Writer

  • Edwige Feuillère en scène (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    Writer

  • Merlín (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    Writer

  • The Human Voice (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Writer

  • La Voix Humaine: Tragédie Lyrique en un Acte (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Writer

  • Oidipus Rex (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    Opera

  • Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown(1988)

    Writer

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • The Human Voice (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Story

  • The Mystery of Oberwald (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    Theatre Play

  • The Human Voice (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    Story

  • La Dame de Monte-Carlo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    Original Story

  • La Voce Umana (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    Story

  • Le Bel Indifférent (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    Writer

  • L'aigle à deux têtes (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    Theatre Play

  • The Human Voice (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    Book

  • The Human Voice (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

    Theatre Play

  • Thomas the Impostor (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    Author · Dialogue · Scenario Writer

  • Ľudský hlas (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    Theatre Play

  • In This Atrocious Garden (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    Writer · as Narrator (voice)

  • The Infernal Machine (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    Theatre Play · as Self (voice)

  • Jean Cocteau Addresses the Year 2000 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    Director · Writer · as Self

  • In Search of Marcel Proust (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    Actor

  • Princess of Cleves(1961)

    Adaptation · Writer

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • Beyond the Riviera (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    Actor

  • America as Seen by a Frenchman (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    as Narrator (Afterword)

  • Testament of Orpheus(1960)

    Director · Writer · as Le poète

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • Le Bel Indifférent (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

    Theatre Play

  • Anna the Maid (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

    Writer

  • Anna the Maid (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

    Writer

  • 8 x 8: A Chess-Sonata in 8 Movements (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    Director · Actor

  • Django Reinhardt (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    Writer

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

    Screenplay

  • Intimate Relations (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    Theatre Play

  • La Villa Santo-Sospir (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)

    Director · as Self

  • Black Crown (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

    Writer

  • Orpheus(1950)

    Director · Writer · as Narrator (voice) (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • The Strange Ones (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

    Novel · Writer · as Narrator (voice)

  • Daughter of the Sands (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1949)

    as Narrator (voice)

  • The Terrible Parents(1948)

    Director · Writer · as Narrator (voice) (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films

  • L'Amore (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1948)

    Theatre Play

  • The Eagle with Two Heads(1948)

    Director · Theatre Play · Writer

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

  • Ruy Blas(1948)

    Adaptation

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • Rhythm of Africa (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1947)

    Director

  • Beauty and the Beast(1946)

    Director · Dialogue · Screenplay · Story · as The Voice of Magic (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • Black Friendship (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1946)

    Writer · as Narrator

  • Les Dames du bois de Boulogne (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1945)

    Dialogue

  • From Joan of Arc to Philippe Pétain (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1944)

    as Reciter (voice)

  • La Malibran(1944)

    as Alfred de Musset

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • The Eternal Return (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1943)

    Screenplay

  • The Phantom Baron (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1943)

    Writer · as Le baron Julius Carol - le baron fantôme

  • The Four-Poster Bed (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1942)

    Screenplay

  • Comedy of Happiness (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

    Adaptation

  • The Blood of a Poet (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

    Director · Editor · Writer · as Bit Part (uncredited)

  • Jean Cocteau Makes Cinema (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1925)

    Director · Actor

  • La macchina da scrivere (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Show Creator

  • Parade (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Writer

Career shape

A full career of 77 titles, 75 of them dated from 1925 to 2024.

Biggest box office

Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown (1988)

$7.3M worldwide

Highest rated

Orpheus (1950)

Midcredits 96th

Most popular right now

Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown (1988)

Film career

Top draw in 1 MovieCove title.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting21 of 77: 10 only acting, 11 with another role · typical Midcredits score84thDirecting11 of 77: 2 only directing, 9 with another role · typical Midcredits score87thWriting62 of 77: 51 only writing, 11 with another role · typical Midcredits score80thEditing1 of 77: 0 only editing, 1 with another roleOther crew1 of 77: 1 only other crew, 0 with another role

77 titles, 13 with more than one role — writing and acting overlap on 9 of them.

By decade

1920s1 · 1 acting · 1 crew1930s1 · 1 acting · 1 crew1940s15 · 7 acting · 12 crew1950s11 · 3 acting · 11 crew1960s11 · 5 acting · 8 crew1970s6 · crew1980s4 · crew1990s5 · crew2000s3 · 1 acting · 2 crew2010s10 · 1 acting · 9 crew2020s8 · 2 acting · 6 crew

Billing

usually 8th · top billed in 14% of 7 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 Jean Cocteau's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 73rd percentile, the median of all 10; across their 10 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 73rd percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

73rdpercentile
Typical film, the median of 10

Approval · how many liked their films

71stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 10

Reach · how many have seen their films

65thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 10

Midcredits score across 10 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up5
  • 50th to 74th4
  • 25th to 49th1

Shape of the crowd

5 of their 10 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved3
  • Crowd Pleaser5
  • Mixed2

Most divisive · actor

The Image Book (2018)

60th percentile spread · 21% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor, director, writer

Orpheus (1950)

Midcredits 96th · 84% liked

Reviewers score the dialogue 65/100 and the plot and story 48/100 in their films, across 8 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.

Who does Jean Cocteau work with?

People who share at least 2 of Jean Cocteau's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Jean Marais shares the most, 8.

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers