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Herbie Hancock

Herbie Hancock

Actor and composer · Born April 12, 1940 (86) · Chicago, Illinois, USA

Oscar winner · Golden Globe nominee · BAFTA Award nominee · 1 other major award body

Herbert Jeffrey Hancock (born April 12, 1940) is an American pianist, bandleader and composer. As part of Miles Davis's "second great quintet", Hancock helped redefine the role of a jazz rhythm section, and was one of the primary architects of the "post-bop" sound. He was one of the first jazz musicians to embrace synthesizers and funk. Hancock's music is often melodic and accessible; he has had many songs "cross over" and achieved success among pop audiences. His music embraces elements of funk and soul while adopting freer stylistic elements from jazz. In his jazz improvisation, he possesses a unique creative blend of jazz, blues, and modern classical music, with harmonic stylings much like the styles of Claude Debussy and Maurice Ravel. Hancock's best-known solo works include "Cantaloupe Island", "Watermelon Man" (later performed by dozens of musicians, including bandleader Mongo Santamaría), "Maiden Voyage", "Chameleon", and the singles "I Thought It Was You" and "Rockit". His 2007 tribute album River: The Joni Letters won the 2008 Grammy Award for Album of the Year, only the second jazz album ever to win the award after Getz/Gilberto in 1965. As a member of Soka Gakkai, Hancock is an adherent of the Nichiren school of Mahayana Buddhism.

Read more

Biography from TMDB.

Born
April 12, 1940 (86)
From
Chicago, Illinois, USA
Works as
Actor and composer
Titles
20 on MovieCove · 39 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 155 days to Oct 26Down 32% in 30 days

What are Herbie Hancock's films like?

Across their 26 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Society and Ideas.

Genres

Documentary13 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 89th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Documentary movies
Action4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 68th percentile
: browse their Action movies
Biography2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 54th percentile
: browse their Biography movies
Crime2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 78th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Crime movies
Drama2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 91st percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama 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
25%
Ideas
23%
Self
19%
Morality
13%
Survival
7%
Power
7%
Bonds
7%
Art13 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity8 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose5 titles, browse their movies with this themeLegacy7 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice5 titles, browse their movies with this themePrejudice3 titles, browse their movies with this themeAddiction2 titles, browse their movies with this themeOppression2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 26 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 15 · Serious 5 · Dark 6

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

Grounded 20 · Stylized 2 · Heightened 4

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

Gentle 10 · Charged 13 · Intense 3

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

Steady 17 · Shifting 8 · Whiplash 1

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

Straight-faced 20 · 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 19 · Even-paced 6 · 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 11 · Engaged 14 · Full focus 1

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

Resolved 23 · Open-ended 2 · Ambiguous 1

Roles they play

1 analyzed role

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Contemplative
14
Tense
8
Hopeful
9
Warm
9
Joyful
7
Other
25

How their films linger

Hopeful15 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking10 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteRousing7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 1 with a twist

  • Happy12
  • Bittersweet8
  • Ambiguous4

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 Herbie Hancock's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 12 of their 20 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (6).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Herbie Hancock'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

39 credits, 20 with a MovieCove page; 77 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Tuner(2025)

    as Herbie Hancock

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films

  • Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets(2017)

    as Defence Minister

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • River of Gold (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    as Narrator

  • Miles Ahead(2015)

    as Live Concert Band

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • Charles Lloyd: Arrows Into Infinity(2012)

    as Piano

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Gustavo Dudamel and Herbie Hancock Celebrate Gershwin (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    Actor

  • The Girls in the Band(2011)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • Miles Davis: Around Midnight (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    as Piano

  • On the Shoulders of Giants(2011)

    Composer · Actor

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • Herbie Hancock - The River Of Possibilities Tour - Jazz a Vienne (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    as Piano

  • Herbie Hancock: Possibilities(2006)

    Composer · as Self

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • Janet Jackson: From Janet. To Damita Jo: The Videos (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    Musical

  • Herbie Hancock Special (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    Actor

  • Santana: Hymns for Peace - Live at Montreux(2004)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Hitters(2002)

    as District Attorney

    Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all films

  • Herbie Hancock: Jazz Channel (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Director · as Herbie Hancock

  • Traffic(2000)

    Musician

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • Wayne Shorter: Live at Montreux 1996 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Actor

  • The Tonight Show with Jay Leno (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Neville Brothers: Tell It Like It Is (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    Music Director · Actor

  • Livin' Large! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    Composer

  • Rabbit Ears - Koi and the Kola Nuts (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    Composer

  • Dejohnette, Hancock, Holland and Metheny in Concert (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Actor

  • Jack DeJohnette, Pat Metheny, Herbie Hancock, Dave Holland: Parallel Realities Live... (Live at Mellon Jazz Festival) (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    as Keyboards

  • Harlem Nights(1989)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • The George McKenna Story(1986)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • Colors(1988)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • Action Jackson(1988)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • Live at Munich Summer Piano Festiva (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    Actor

  • 'Round Midnight(1986)

    Composer · Conductor · as Eddie Wayne

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films

  • Jo Jo Dancer, Your Life Is Calling(1986)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • A Soldier's Story(1984)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • Death Wish(1974)

    Composer · Orchestrator

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • PBS Soundstage 1974: Chick Corea & Return to Forever + Herbie Hancock & The Headhunters (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    Actor

  • The Spook Who Sat by the Door(1973)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • Hey, Hey, Hey, It's Fat Albert (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    Composer

  • Blow-Up(1966)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films

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

    Composer

  • Miles Davis Quintet: Milan 1964 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    Actor

Career shape

A full career of 38 titles from 1964 to 2026.

Biggest box office

Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets (2017)

$226M worldwide

Highest rated

Miles Davis: Birth of the Cool (2019)

Midcredits 94th

Most popular right now

Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets (2017)

Film career

  • 1986Screen debut· 'Round Midnight

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting23 of 38: 19 only acting, 4 with another role · typical Midcredits score89thDirecting1 of 38: 0 only directing, 1 with another roleWriting1 of 38: 1 only writing, 0 with another roleMusic15 of 38: 12 only music, 3 with another role · typical Midcredits score78thOther crew4 of 38: 1 only other crew, 3 with another role

38 titles, 5 with more than one role — acting and music overlap on 2 of them.

By decade

1960s4 · 1 acting · 3 crew1970s3 · 1 acting · 2 crew1980s8 · 2 acting · 7 crew1990s7 · 5 acting · 3 crew2000s7 · 5 acting · 3 crew2010s8 · 8 acting · 1 crew2020s1 · acting

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.

Awards

an Oscar and 15 other major awards from 40 major nominations, 1969–2016.

WinNomination
  1. 2016
    • Grammy Award, won · Lifetime Achievement Award
  2. 2011
    • Grammy Award, won · Best Improvised Jazz Solo
    • Grammy Award, won · Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals
    • Grammy Award, nominated · Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist(s)
  3. 2008
    • Grammy Award, won · Album of the Year
    • Grammy Award, won · Best Contemporary Jazz Album
    • Grammy Award, nominated · Best Jazz Instrumental Solo
  4. 2006
    • Grammy Award, nominated · Best Jazz Instrumental Solo
    • Grammy Award, nominated · Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals
    • Grammy Award, nominated · Best Pop Instrumental Performance
  5. 2005
    • Grammy Award, won · Best Jazz Instrumental Solo
  6. 2003
    • Grammy Award, won · Best Jazz Instrumental Album, Individual or Group
    • Grammy Award, won · Best Jazz Instrumental Solo
  7. 1999
    • Grammy Award, won · Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocal(s)
    • Grammy Award, won · Best Jazz Instrumental Performance, Individual or Group
  8. 1998
    • Grammy Award, nominated · Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal
    • Grammy Award, nominated · Best Rhythm & Blues Song
Show 15 earlier years
  1. 1997
    • Grammy Award, won · Best Instrumental Composition
  2. 1996
    • Grammy Award, nominated · Best Jazz Instrumental Solo
    • Grammy Award, nominated · Best Music Video, Short Form
  3. 1995
    • Grammy Award, won · Best Jazz Instrumental Performance, Individual or Group
  4. 1994
    • Grammy Award, nominated · Best Jazz Instrumental Solo
  5. 1988
    • Grammy Award, won · Best Instrumental Composition
    • Grammy Award, nominated · Best Rock Instrumental Performance (Orchestra, Group or Soloist)
  6. 1987
    • Oscar, won · Best Music, Original Score
    • Golden Globe, nominated · Best Original Score - Motion Picture
    • BAFTA Award, nominated · Best Score
  7. 1985
    • Grammy Award, won · Best R&B Instrumental Performance
  8. 1984
    • Grammy Award, won · Best R&B Instrumental Performance
    • Grammy Award, nominated · Best Instrumental Composition
    • Grammy Award, nominated · Best Jazz Instrumental Performance, Group
  9. 1980
    • Grammy Award, nominated · Best R&B Instrumental Performance
  10. 1977
    • Grammy Award, nominated · Best R&B Instrumental Performance
  11. 1976
    • Grammy Award, nominated · Best R&B Instrumental Performance
  12. 1975
    • Grammy Award, nominated · Album of Best Original Score Written for a Motion Picture or a Television Special
    • Grammy Award, nominated · Best Instrumental Composition
    • Grammy Award, nominated · Best Pop Instrumental Performance
  13. 1972
    • Grammy Award, nominated · Best Jazz Performance by a Group
  14. 1971
    • Grammy Award, nominated · Best Jazz Performance, Small Group or Soloist with Small Group
  15. 1969
    • Grammy Award, nominated · Best Instrumental Jazz Performance - Small Group or Soloist with Small Group

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 Herbie Hancock's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 78th percentile, the median of all 20; across their 26 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 88th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

88thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 26

Approval · how many liked their films

80thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 26

Reach · how many have seen their films

45thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 26

Midcredits score across 20 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up11
  • 50th to 74th5
  • 25th to 49th3
  • Below 25th1

Shape of the crowd

10 of their 20 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved2
  • Loved with Detractors1
  • Crowd Pleaser10
  • Mixed7

Most divisive · actor

Charles Lloyd: Arrows Into Infinity (2012)

91st percentile spread · 23% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor, composer

'Round Midnight (1986)

Midcredits 91st · 78% liked

Reviewers score the acting 69/100 in their films, across 13 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 Herbie Hancock's work okay for kids?

Across up to 6 MovieCove titles with content scores, violence & gore, sex & nudity and profanity run heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore6 titles33–83 · median 73 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity6 titles34–76 · median 51 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity5 titles27–89 · median 70 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs5 titles19–57 · median 42 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense5 titles23–80 · median 29 · 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 Herbie Hancock work with?

People who share at least 2 of Herbie Hancock's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Wayne Shorter shares the most, 4.

Actors

Editors

Mixed roles