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Michael Hurst

Michael Hurst

Actor and director · Born September 20, 1957 (69) · Lancashire, England, UK

Michael Eric Hurst, ONZM (born 20 September 1957) is a New Zealand actor, director and writer, mostly on stage and television. He is probably best known internationally for playing Iolaus in the television programs Hercules: The Legendary Journeys and companion series Xena: Warrior Princess. Most recently, he is known for directing Spartacus: Blood and Sand, Ash vs. Evil Dead, 800 Words, and Westside. Description above from the Wikipedia article Michael Hurst, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
September 20, 1957 (69)
From
Lancashire, England, UK
Works as
Actor and director
Titles
27 on MovieCove · 72 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 16% in 30 days

What are Michael Hurst's films like?

Across their 16 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Self.

Genres

Action6 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 41st percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Action movies
Drama2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 38th percentile
: 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
Bonds
37%
Self
18%
Survival
14%
Power
13%
Morality
10%
Society
6%
Ideas
2%
Friendship5 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds4 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival3 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose3 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity2 titles, browse their movies with this themeAmbition2 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 10 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 6 · Serious 2 · Dark 2

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

Grounded 2 · Stylized 5 · Heightened 3

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

Gentle 0 · Charged 8 · Intense 2

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

Steady 4 · Shifting 6 · Whiplash 0

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

Straight-faced 1 · Some laughs 7 · Funny 2

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

Slow burn 2 · Even-paced 7 · 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 7 · Engaged 2 · Full focus 1

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

Resolved 9 · Open-ended 1 · Ambiguous 0

Roles they play

9 analyzed roles

Usually the Ally: 3 of 9 analyzed roles.

Ally
3 of 9
Shadow
2 of 9
Threshold guardian
2 of 9
Trickster
2 of 9
Show the 9 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Thrilling
8
Tense
7
Warm
5
Joyful
4
Absurd
3
Other
13

How their films linger

Fun9 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteRousing2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 3 with a twist

  • Happy5
  • Bittersweet10
  • Ambiguous1

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 Michael Hurst's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 17 of their 27 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Prime Video (9).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Michael Hurst'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

72 credits, 27 with a MovieCove page.

  • Evil Dead Burn(2026)

    as Benjamin Price (voice)

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • Birthright (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2026)

    as Richard

  • Our Party (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2025)

    Actor

  • Spartacus: House of Ashur(2025)

    Show Director

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all shows

  • Northspur(2022)

    as Green

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • Mysterious Ways(2023)

    as Bishop

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • Princess of Chaos (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2022)

    as Len Brown

  • Sweet Tooth(2021)

    Show 3 episodes · as Walt

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all shows

  • Dead(2020)

    as Ross

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • Between Two Worlds (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2020)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

  • Mystic(2020)

    Show Director

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all shows

  • The Dead Lands(2020)

    Show Director

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all shows

  • My Life Is Murder(2019)

    Show 4 episodes · Director · as Otto Klein

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all shows

  • Vermilion (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2018)

    as Smoking Man

  • Terry Teo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    Show 1 episode · as Cornelius Jones

  • Ash vs Evil Dead(2015)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all shows

  • 800 Words(2015)

    Show 10 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all shows

  • Westside (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    Show 15 episodes · Director

  • Tatau (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

  • Our Big Blue Backyard (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    Show 12 episodes · as Narrator (voice)

  • The Brokenwood Mysteries(2014)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all shows

  • Step Dave (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    Show 5 episodes · Director

  • The Adventures of Suzy Boon (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    Show 1 episode · as Michael

  • View from Olympus (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    as Narrator (voice)

  • Auckland Daze (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    Show 3 episodes · as Michael

  • Femme Fatales (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    Show 1 episode · Director · Writer · as FBI Technician

  • The Almighty Johnsons(2011)

    Show 3 episodes · Director · as Kvasir

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all shows

  • Spartacus(2010)

    Show 6 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all shows

  • Art That Moves: The Work of Len Lye (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    as Voice

  • Bitch Slap(2009)

    as Gage

    Midcredits score: 10th percentile of all films

  • Legend of the Seeker(2008)

    Show 7 episodes · Director · as Amfortas

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all shows

  • The Map Reader (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    as Alison's father

  • The Tattooist(2007)

    as Crash

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films

  • We're Here to Help (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    as Rodney Hide

  • The Last Magic Show (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    as Trevor Norton

  • Maddigan's Quest (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Show 13 episodes · Actor

  • Treasure Island Kids: The Monster of Treasure Island (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Director · Actor

  • Treasure Island Kids: The Mystery of Treasure Island (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Director

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

    as Athol Peet

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

    Show 1 episode · as Dr. Forbes

  • Love Mussel (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Director · as Stephen Jessop

  • Andromeda(2000)

    Show 1 episode · as Ryan

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all shows

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

    Director

  • Jack of All Trades (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Show 2 episodes · Director · Actor

  • I'll Make You Happy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    as Lou

  • Young Hercules (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Show 1 episode · as Charon

  • Young Hercules(1998)

    as Jeweler

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • Hercules and Xena - The Animated Movie: The Battle for Mount Olympus(1998)

    as Ioalus (voice)

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films

  • Highwater (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    as Hugh Chance

  • Duggan (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    Show 2 episodes · as Michael Taylor

  • A Moment Passing (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    as Joey

  • Hercules & Xena: Wizards of the Screen (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    as Iolaus

  • Amazon High (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    Director

  • Project: Assassin (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    as Ellis Walker

  • The Hardy Boys (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    Show 1 episode · as Barman

  • Xena: Warrior Princess(1995)

    Show 6 episodes · Director · as Charon · as Iolaus

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all shows

  • Hercules: The Legendary Journeys(1995)

    Show 95 episodes · Director · as Charon · as Iolaus · as Iolaus / Charon · as Iolaus / Orestes

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all shows

  • Hercules in the Maze of the Minotaur(1994)

    as Iolaus

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films

  • Hercules in the Underworld(1994)

    as Charon the Boatman

    Midcredits score: 52nd percentile of all films

  • Hercules and the Amazon Women(1994)

    as Iolaus

    Midcredits score: 52nd percentile of all films

  • I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    Director · Screenplay

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

    as Willam Poyser

  • Mighty Morphin Power Rangers(1993)

    Show 12 episodes · Director · as Nibyro Guardian (voice) · as Vexacus (voice)

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all shows

  • Typhon's People (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    as Constantine

  • The Footstep Man (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    as Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec/Barman

  • The New Adventures of Black Beauty (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Constance (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    as Photographer

  • The Ray Bradbury Theater(1985)

    Show 1 episode · as Roger Shumway

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all shows

  • Dangerous Orphans (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    as Moir

  • Death Warmed Up (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    as Michael Tucker

  • Shearing the Love (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Actor

  • The Bar (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    as Man Discussing Break-Up

Career shape

Star power in the 93rd percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 69 titles, 67 of them dated from 1984 to 2026; peak year 2020.

Biggest box office

The Tattooist (2007)

$646K worldwide

Highest rated

800 Words (2015)

Midcredits 86th

Most popular right now

Spartacus: House of Ashur (2025)

Film career

19842026

Peak 2020 · their film career is on the way up. Top draw in 1 MovieCove title. 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.

  • 1984Screen debut· Death Warmed Up
  • 1984First top-billed film· Death Warmed Up
  • 2020Career best· Dead

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting57 of 69: 47 only acting, 10 with another role · typical Midcredits score45thDirecting22 of 69: 11 only directing, 11 with another role · typical Midcredits score81stWriting2 of 69: 0 only writing, 2 with another role

69 titles, 11 with more than one role — acting and directing overlap on 10 of them.

By decade

1980s4 · acting1990s22 · 20 acting · 5 crew2000s16 · 14 acting · 6 crew2010s16 · 9 acting · 10 crew2020s9 · 8 acting · 1 crew

Billing

usually 4th · top billed in 20% of 10 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 Michael Hurst's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 40th percentile, the median of all 11; across their 10 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 41st percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

41stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 10

Approval · how many liked their films

43rdpercentile
Typical film, the median of 10

Reach · how many have seen their films

63rdpercentile
Typical film, the median of 10

Midcredits score across 27 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up7
  • 50th to 74th6
  • 25th to 49th12
  • Below 25th2

Shape of the crowd

10 of their 27 titles are Mixed.

  • Universally Loved5
  • Divisive1
  • Cult Classic4
  • Crowd Pleaser7
  • Mixed10

Most divisive · actor

Northspur (2022)

94th percentile spread · 31% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · director

Spartacus (2010)

Midcredits 96th · 91% liked

Reviewers score the acting 61/100 in their films, across 9 reviewed titles; fans 72, detractors 41. 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 Michael Hurst's work okay for kids?

Across a limited sample of up to 4 MovieCove titles with content scores.

Their medianMedian of all films
Sex & Nudity4 titlesmedian 51 · moderateMedian of all films: 32

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted.

Who does Michael Hurst work with?

People who share at least 2 of Michael Hurst's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Rob Tapert shares the most, 6.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers