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Derek Jarman

Derek Jarman

Director, cinematographer and writer · Died February 19, 1994, aged 52 · London, England, UK

Michael Derek Elworthy Jarman (January 31, 1942 – February 19, 1994) was an English film director, stage designer, diarist, artist, gardener and author.

Biography from TMDB.

Born
January 31, 1942
Died
February 19, 1994 (aged 52)
From
London, England, UK
Works as
Director, cinematographer and writer
Titles
13 on Motif · 85 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 39 days to Oct 28Down 17% in 30 days

What are Derek Jarman's films like?

Across their 8 Motif titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Society and Bonds.

Genres

Drama4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 68th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Biography2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 71st percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Biography movies
Comedy2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 45th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies

Their Motif 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
23%
Bonds
18%
Power
17%
Morality
14%
Self
13%
Ideas
9%
Survival
6%
Romantic love3 titles, browse their movies with this themeIsolation3 titles, browse their movies with this themeOppression2 titles, browse their movies with this themeFreedom2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 8 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Dark: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their dark movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 2 · Serious 1 · Dark 5

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

Grounded 0 · Stylized 0 · Heightened 8

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

A split, not a type: Gentle 1 · Charged 3 · Intense 4

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

Steady 1 · Shifting 5 · Whiplash 2

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

Straight-faced 5 · Some laughs 3 · Funny 0

Slow burn: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their slow burn movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 7 · Even-paced 1 · Relentless 0

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

Casual 0 · Engaged 4 · Full focus 4

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

A split, not a type: Easy watch 2 · Affecting 2 · Heavy 4

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

Resolved 0 · Open-ended 1 · Ambiguous 7

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
5
Melancholic
4
Contemplative
4
Dread
2
Cold
2
Other
6

How their films linger

Thought-provoking6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end

  • Bittersweet2
  • Tragic3
  • Ambiguous3

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 Derek Jarman's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 10 of their 13 Motif titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (5).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Derek Jarman's titles on Motif; 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

85 credits, 13 with a Motif page; 14 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Timeslip (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2025)

    Director

  • Blue Again: An Ode To Derek Jarman (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2024)

    as (Voice)

  • Ask (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2024)

    Director

  • Untitled (For Derek Jarman) (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2023)

    as Derek Jarman (voice)

  • Alma (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2020)

    Book

  • Will You Dance With Me? (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2014)

    Director · Cinematographer · Producer · Production Manager

  • LS19012 (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2005)

    Actor

  • The Clearing (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1994)

    Actor

  • Glitterbug (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1994)

    Director · Cinematographer · as Self

  • Camp Christmas (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1993)

    Actor

  • Projections (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1993)

    Director

  • Blue (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1993)

    Director · Writer · as (voice)

  • Wittgenstein(1993)

    Director · Writer

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • The Smiths: The Complete Picture (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1992)

    Director

  • Edward II(1991)

    Director · Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films

  • Pet Shop Boys - Highlights On Tour (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1990)

    Director

  • The Garden(1990)

    Director · Camera Operator · Cinematographer · Writer · as Himself

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • Cactusland (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1989)

    as The Voice

  • War Requiem (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1989)

    Director · Writer

  • Dead Cat (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1989)

    as Medicine man

  • The Yob (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1988)

    as Workman (uncredited)

  • Behind Closed Doors (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1988)

    as Deposition

  • Clause and Effect (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1988)

    Actor

  • L'ispirazione (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1988)

    Director

  • Ostia (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1987)

    as Pier Paolo Pasolini

  • The Last of England(1987)

    Director · Cinematographer · Writer · as Himself (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • Aria(1987)

    Director · Writer

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • Depuis le Jour (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1987)

    Director

  • Prick Up Your Ears(1987)

    as Patrick Proktor (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • The Angelic Conversation (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1987)

    Director · Cinematographer

  • Caravaggio(1986)

    Director · Screenplay · as Papal Aide (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • The Dream Machine (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1986)

    Director

  • Screen Two (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1985)

    Show 1 episode · Director · Writer

  • Imagining October (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1984)

    Director · Cinematographer · Editor · Writer

  • Catalan (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1984)

    Director

  • ICA (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1984)

    Director

  • Orange Juice (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1984)

    Director · as Self

  • Pirate Tape (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1983)

    Director · Cinematographer

  • The Comic Strip Presents... (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1982)

    Show 1 episode · as Workman

  • A Message From the Temple (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1982)

    as Spokesman

  • Pirates: William Burroughs in London (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1982)

    Cinematographer

  • Pontormo and Punks at Santa Croce (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1982)

    Director

  • Waiting for Waiting for Godot (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1982)

    Director · Cinematographer · Editor · Producer

  • T.G.: Psychic Rally in Heaven (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1981)

    Director

  • Cinématon n°105 : Derek Jarman (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1981)

    Actor

  • Cinématon XI (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1981)

    as N°105

  • In the Shadow of the Sun (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1981)

    Director · Editor

  • The Tempest(1979)

    Director · Writer

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • Broken English: Three Songs by Marianne Faithfull (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1979)

    Director

  • Cinématon(1984)

    as N°105

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • Nighthawks(1978)

    as Clubber

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • Jubilee(1978)

    Director · Writer

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • It Happened By Chance Vol 6 (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1977)

    Director

  • Jordan's Dance (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1977)

    Director · Cinematographer · Editor

  • Sebastiane (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1976)

    Director · Production Design · Writer

  • Sloane Square: A Room of One's Own (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1976)

    Director

  • Gerald's Film (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1976)

    Director

  • Sebastian Wrap (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1975)

    Director

  • The Making of ‘Sebastiane’ (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1975)

    Director · as Himself

  • Ulla's Fete (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1974)

    Director · Cinematographer

  • Arabia (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1974)

    Director

  • Duggie Fields (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1974)

    Director

  • My Very Beautiful Movie (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1974)

    Director

  • The Devils at the Elgin (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1974)

    Director

  • Art of Mirrors (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1973)

    Director

  • Ashden's Walk on Møn (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1973)

    Director · Cinematographer · Editor

  • Death Dance (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1973)

    Director

  • Garden of Luxor (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1973)

    Director · Cinematographer

  • Miss World (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1973)

    Director · Editor

  • Stolen Apples for Karen Blixen (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1973)

    Director

  • Sulphur (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1973)

    Director

  • Savage Messiah(1972)

    Set Designer

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • Andrew Logan Kisses The Glitterati (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1972)

    Director

  • At Low Tide (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1972)

    Director

  • Miss Gaby (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1972)

    Director

  • Tarot (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1972)

    Director

  • The Devils(1971)

    Production Design

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • A Journey to Avebury (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1971)

    Director · Cinematographer · Editor

  • Electric Fairy (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1971)

    Director

  • Studio Bankside (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1971)

    Director

  • Jazz Calendar (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1968)

    Costume Design · Set Designer

  • It Happened by Chance (not in the Motif catalog yet)

    Director · Cinematographer · Editor

  • It Happened by Chance (vol. 10) (not in the Motif catalog yet)

    Director

  • It Happened by Chance (vol. 11) (not in the Motif catalog yet)

    Director

  • It Happened by Chance (vol. 9) (not in the Motif catalog yet)

    Director

Career shape

A full career of 85 titles, 81 of them dated from 1968 to 2025.

Biggest box office

Aria (1987)

$1M worldwide

Highest rated

Wittgenstein (1993)

Midcredits 77th

Most popular right now

Caravaggio (1986)

Film career

  • 1978Screen debut· Nighthawks
  • 1993First top-billed film· Blue

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting20 of 85: 18 only acting, 2 with another roleDirecting62 of 85: 36 only directing, 26 with another role · typical Midcredits score66thWriting14 of 85: 1 only writing, 13 with another role · typical Midcredits score66thProducing2 of 85: 0 only producing, 2 with another roleCinematography15 of 85: 1 only cinematography, 14 with another roleEditing8 of 85: 0 only editing, 8 with another roleOther crew6 of 85: 3 only other crew, 3 with another role

85 titles, 26 with more than one role — directing and acting overlap on 2 of them.

By decade

1960s1 · crew1970s33 · 2 acting · 31 crew1980s30 · 12 acting · 19 crew1990s10 · 3 acting · 8 crew2000s1 · acting2010s1 · crew2020s5 · 2 acting · 3 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 Motif, shown from 5 scored.

How do Derek Jarman's films land?

Their typical Motif film has a Midcredits score in the 67th percentile, the median of all 13; across their 8 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 67th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

67thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 8

Approval · how many liked their films

61stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 8

Reach · how many have seen their films

71stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 8

Midcredits score across 13 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up5
  • 50th to 74th5
  • 25th to 49th3

Shape of the crowd

6 of their 13 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved1
  • Cult Classic1
  • Crowd Pleaser6
  • Mixed5

Most divisive · actor

Cinématon (1984)

88th percentile spread · 26% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Prick Up Your Ears (1987)

Midcredits 83rd · 76% liked

Reviewers score the atmosphere 74/100 and the pacing 33/100 in their films, across 8 reviewed titles. The element that speaks to their work as a director.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on Motif; 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 Motif 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 Derek Jarman's work okay for kids?

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

Their medianMedian of all films
Sex & Nudity4 titlesmedian 61 · intenseMedian of all films: 32

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

Who does Derek Jarman work with?

People who share at least 2 of Derek Jarman's Motif titles, grouped by what they did on them; Tilda Swinton shares the most, 5.

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles