Skip to content
MovieCove
Cliff Curtis

Cliff Curtis

Actor and producer · Born July 27, 1968 (58) · Rotorua, North Island, New Zealand

Independent Spirit Award winner

Clifford Vivian Devon Curtis (born July 27, 1968) is a New Zealand actor. His film credits include Once Were Warriors (1994), Three Kings (1999), Training Day (2001), Whale Rider (2002), Collateral Damage (2002), Sunshine, Live Free or Die Hard (both 2007), The Dark Horse (2014), for which he won the Asia Pacific Screen Award for Best Performance by an Actor, Doctor Sleep (2019), Avatar, and Avatar: The Way of Water (2022). His television roles include NBC's Trauma, and ABC's Body of Proof and Missing. From 2015 to 2017, he portrayed Travis Manawa on the AMC horror drama series Fear the Walking Dead. He is the co-owner of the independent New Zealand production company Whenua Films.

Read more

Biography from TMDB.

Born
July 27, 1968 (58)
From
Rotorua, North Island, New Zealand
Works as
Actor and producer
Titles
55 on MovieCove · 72 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 155 days to Oct 26Down 23% in 30 days

What are Cliff Curtis' films like?

Across their 47 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Survival.

Genres

Action20 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 49th percentile
: browse their Action movies
Drama8 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 79th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Crime5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 88th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Crime movies
Comedy3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 70th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Biography2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 92nd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Biography movies
Documentary2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 83rd 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
23%
Survival
21%
Morality
18%
Self
14%
Power
13%
Society
8%
Ideas
4%
Family bonds14 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival13 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice7 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love5 titles, browse their movies with this themeRedemption6 titles, browse their movies with this themeLoyalty5 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity5 titles, browse their movies with this themeGrief5 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 43 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 11 · Serious 14 · Dark 18

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

A split, not a type: Grounded 17 · Stylized 15 · Heightened 11

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

Gentle 4 · Charged 13 · Intense 26

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

Steady 13 · Shifting 24 · Whiplash 6

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

Straight-faced 32 · Some laughs 9 · Funny 2

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

Slow burn 12 · Even-paced 24 · Relentless 7

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

Casual 10 · Engaged 24 · Full focus 9

Affecting: How much it costs you emotionally; whether you need recovery time. Browse their affecting movies.
Demand · Emotional cost
easyheavy

Easy watch 10 · Affecting 18 · Heavy 15

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

Resolved 30 · Open-ended 10 · Ambiguous 3

Roles they play

24 analyzed roles

Usually the Ally: 8 of 24 analyzed roles.

Ally
8 of 24
Mentor
5 of 24
Shadow
3 of 24
Shapeshifter
3 of 24
Threshold guardian
2 of 24
Trickster
1 of 24
Herald
1 of 24
Hero
1 of 24
Show the 24 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
36
Melancholic
22
Thrilling
16
Dread
9
Hopeful
13
Other
42

How their films linger

Hopeful19 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet19 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking15 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun12 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteCathartic9 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 7 with a twist

  • Happy11
  • Bittersweet28
  • Tragic1
  • 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 Cliff Curtis' films?

As of October 24, 2026, 44 of their 55 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (15).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Cliff Curtis' 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

72 credits, 55 with a MovieCove page; 6 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Avatar 5 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2031)

    as Tonowari

  • Avatar 4 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2029)

    as Tonowari

  • Avatar: Fire and Ash(2025)

    as Tonowari

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • Chief of War(2025)

    Show 9 episodes · Co-Producer · as Keoua

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all shows

  • Last Breath(2025)

    as Andre Jenson (Captain)

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • Kaos(2024)

    Show 6 episodes · as Poseidon

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all shows

  • In the Fire of War(2024)

    as Wi Toka

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • Swift Street (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2024)

    Show 8 episodes · as Robert

  • Monarch: Legacy of Monsters(2023)

    Show 4 episodes · as Jason Trissop

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all shows

  • Meg 2: The Trench(2023)

    as Mac

    Midcredits score: 13th percentile of all films

  • True Spirit(2023)

    as Ben Bryant

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • Avatar: The Way of Water(2022)

    as Tonowari

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films

  • The Raid (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2022)

    Executive Producer · as Tāwharau ‘Taffy’

  • Murina(2021)

    as Javier

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • Reminiscence(2021)

    as Cyrus Booth

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • Invincible(2021)

    Show 12 episodes · as Paul (voice)

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all shows

  • Doctor Sleep(2019)

    as Billy Freeman

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • Herbs: Songs of Freedom (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2019)

    Producer

  • Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw(2019)

    as Jonah Hobbs

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • Merata: How Mom Decolonized the Screen(2018)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • The Meg(2018)

    as James 'Mac' Mackreides

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • Risen(2016)

    as Yeshua

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • Fear the Walking Dead(2015)

    Show 37 episodes · as Travis Manawa

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all shows

  • Last Knights(2015)

    as Lt. Cortez

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • The Dark Horse(2014)

    Executive Producer · as Genesis

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films

  • Gang Related(2014)

    Show 13 episodes · as Javier Acosta

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all shows

  • Great Expectations(2012)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • Missing(2012)

    Show 10 episodes · as Dax Miller

    Midcredits score: 43rd percentile of all shows

  • A Thousand Words(2012)

    as Dr. Sinja

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • Saving Grace - Te Whakarauora Tangata (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    Co-Producer · as Himself

  • Colombiana(2011)

    as Emilio

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • Body of Proof(2011)

    Show 2 episodes · as FBI Special Agent Derek Ames

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all shows

  • The Last Airbender(2010)

    as Fire Lord Ozai

    Midcredits score: 3rd percentile of all films

  • Boy(2010)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

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

    Show 18 episodes · as Reuben 'Rabbit' Palchuck

  • Crossing Over(2009)

    as Hamid Baraheri

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • Push(2009)

    as Hook Waters

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films

  • 10,000 BC(2008)

    as Tic-Tic

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all films

  • Coffee and Allah (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    Executive Producer

  • Live Free or Die Hard(2007)

    as Deputy Director Miguel Bowman

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • Eagle vs Shark(2007)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • Fracture(2007)

    as Detective Flores

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • Sunshine(2007)

    as Searle

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • The Fountain(2006)

    as Captain Ariel

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • River Queen(2005)

    as Wiremu

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films

  • Spooked (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    as Mort Whitman

  • Tama Tū (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    Producer

  • Fracture (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    as Inspector Franklin

  • Heinous Crime (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    as Pizza Delivery Man

  • Traffic (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    Show 3 episodes · as Adam Kadyrov

  • Runaway Jury(2003)

    as Frank Herrera

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • Whale Rider(2002)

    as Porourangi

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films

  • Point of Origin(2002)

    as Mike Camello

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • Collateral Damage(2002)

    as Claudio Perrini

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films

  • The Majestic(2001)

    as The Evil But Handsome Prince Khalid

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • Training Day(2001)

    as Smiley

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Blow(2001)

    as Pablo Escobar

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films

  • Jubilee (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    as Billy Williams

  • The Insider(1999)

    as Sheikh Fadlallah

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • Bringing Out the Dead(1999)

    as Cy Coates

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • Three Kings(1999)

    as Amir Abdullah

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • Virus(1999)

    as Hiko

    Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all films

  • Six Days Seven Nights(1998)

    as Kip

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • Deep Rising(1998)

    as Mamooli

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

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

    as Zeke

  • Hercules: The Legendary Journeys(1995)

    Show 1 episode · as Nemis

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all shows

  • Overnight (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    as Jim

  • Hercules in the Underworld(1994)

    as Nessus

    Midcredits score: 52nd percentile of all films

  • Once Were Warriors(1994)

    as Bully

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Rapa Nui(1994)

    as Short Ears

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • Desperate Remedies (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    as Fraser

  • The Piano(1993)

    as Mana

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

Career shape

Star power in the 99th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 72 titles, 70 of them dated from 1993 to 2025; peak year 2008.

Biggest box office

Avatar: The Way of Water (2022)

$2.3B worldwide

Highest rated

Training Day (2001)

Midcredits 97th

Most popular right now

Avatar: Fire and Ash (2025)

Film career

19932025

Peak 2008 · back in prominent film roles after a quiet stretch. Top draw in 18 MovieCove titles. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting64 of 72: 61 only acting, 3 with another role · typical Midcredits score60thProducing11 of 72: 8 only producing, 3 with another role · typical Midcredits score78th

72 titles, 3 with more than one role — acting and producing overlap on 3 of them.

By decade

1990s14 · acting2000s24 · 21 acting · 3 crew2010s18 · 13 acting · 6 crew2020s14 · 14 acting · 2 crew

Billing

usually 5th · top billed in 3% of 40 roles
93030813

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; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

Awards

Won an Independent Spirit Award in 2026, Best Ensemble Cast in a New Scripted Series.

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 Cliff Curtis' films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 69th percentile, the median of all 46; across their 43 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 66th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

66thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 43

Approval · how many liked their films

68thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 43

Reach · how many have seen their films

95thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 43

Midcredits score across 55 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up22
  • 50th to 74th17
  • 25th to 49th11
  • Below 25th5

Shape of the crowd

27 of their 55 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved10
  • Crowd Pleaser27
  • Broadly Agreed6
  • Mixed12

Most divisive · actor

The Last Airbender (2010)

74th percentile spread · 58% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Invincible (2021)

Midcredits 99th · 95% liked

Reviewers score the acting 68/100 in their films, across 41 reviewed titles; fans 76, detractors 46. 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 Cliff Curtis' work okay for kids?

Across up to 38 MovieCove titles with content scores, violence & gore, profanity and frightening / intense run heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore36 titles29–87 · median 66 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity38 titles5–56 · median 31 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity35 titles23–79 · median 55 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs34 titles6–70 · median 32 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense34 titles42–84 · 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 Cliff Curtis work with?

People who share at least 2 of Cliff Curtis' MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Temuera Morrison shares the most, 4.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Cinematographers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles