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Anders Thomas Jensen

Anders Thomas Jensen

Writer and director · Born April 6, 1972 (54) · Frederiksværk, Danmark

Oscar winner

Anders Thomas Jensen (born 6 April 1972 in Frederiksværk) is a Danish screenwriter and film director. Jensen won the Oscar for his 1998 film Election Night. He also received Oscar nominations in the live-action short category for his films Ernst & The Light (1996) and Wolfgang (1997). From the end of the 1990s and into the new millennium he wrote the screenplays for most of the Danish movie blockbusters of the period, including Mifune's Last Song (co-written with Søren Kragh-Jacobsen), In China They Eat Dogs, Open Hearts, Stealing Rembrandt, and Brothers. In 2000 Anders Thomas Jensen for the first time directed a feature film: the action-comedy Flickering Lights, and since then directed The Green Butchers and Adam's Apples. In 2005 he received the Nordisk Film Award (1000 Danish kroner times the age of Nordisk Film).

Read more

Biography from TMDB.

Born
April 6, 1972 (54)
From
Frederiksværk, Danmark
Works as
Writer and director
Titles
40 on MovieCove · 68 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 157 days to Oct 28Down 8% in 30 days

What are Anders Thomas Jensen's films like?

Across their 35 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Survival.

Genres

Comedy11 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 54th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Drama11 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 77th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Action8 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 83rd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Action movies
Biography2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 86th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: 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
29%
Survival
21%
Morality
21%
Self
15%
Power
8%
Society
4%
Ideas
2%
Family bonds13 titles, browse their movies with this themeGrief8 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity5 titles, browse their movies with this themeTrauma5 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship4 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose5 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice7 titles, browse their movies with this themeGuilt6 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 35 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 8 · Serious 13 · Dark 14

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

A split, not a type: Grounded 21 · Stylized 11 · Heightened 3

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

A split, not a type: Gentle 4 · Charged 14 · Intense 17

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

Steady 12 · Shifting 17 · Whiplash 6

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

A split, not a type: Straight-faced 18 · Some laughs 10 · Funny 7

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

Slow burn 15 · Even-paced 19 · 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 13 · Engaged 19 · Full focus 3

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 9 · Affecting 8 · Heavy 18

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

A split, not a type: Resolved 20 · Open-ended 9 · Ambiguous 6

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
26
Melancholic
16
Absurd
11
Dread
7
Hopeful
8
Other
29

How their films linger

Bittersweet17 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking12 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun10 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful11 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 7 with a twist

  • Happy4
  • Bittersweet20
  • Tragic2
  • Ambiguous9

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 Anders Thomas Jensen's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 22 of their 40 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service.

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Anders Thomas Jensen'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

68 credits, 40 with a MovieCove page.

  • Sonny Mango (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2026)

    as Ærkeenglen Anders

  • The Last Viking(2025)

    Director · Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • The Promised Land(2023)

    Writer

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Agent (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2023)

    Show 1 episode · as Robert gæst

  • Dansk films bedste (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2022)

    Show 8 episodes · as Sig selv

  • The Marco Effect(2021)

    Script Consultant

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films

  • Riders of Justice(2020)

    Director · Idea · Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

  • Idioterne der startede Festen(2020)

    as Sig selv

  • When Danish Film Crosses the Line (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2020)

    as Sig selv

  • Abbi fede (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2020)

    Original Film Writer

  • Between Us(2019)

    Show 8 episodes · Script Consultant

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all shows

  • Minkavlerne (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2019)

    Show 32 episodes · Script Consultant

  • Held for Ransom(2019)

    Writer

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • After the Wedding(2019)

    Original Film Writer

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • The Dark Tower(2017)

    Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films

  • The Shamer's Daughter(2015)

    Writer

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • People Get Eaten (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    Script Consultant

  • Men & Chicken(2015)

    Director · Writer

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • A Second Chance(2014)

    Story · Writer

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • The Salvation(2014)

    Writer

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

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

    Show 24 episodes · Script Consultant · Writer

  • All for Two(2013)

    Writer

    Midcredits score: 43rd percentile of all films

  • Love Is All You Need(2012)

    Screenplay · Story

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • Those Who Kill: Shadow of the Past(2011)

    Production Manager

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

  • Boys On Film: Bad Romance (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    Writer

  • In a Better World(2010)

    Screenplay · Story

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • The New Tenants (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    Writer

  • Brothers(2009)

    Writer

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films

  • At World's End (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    Writer

  • Antichrist(2009)

    Story Supervisor

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • Den du frygter(2008)

    Writer

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • The Duchess(2008)

    Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • White Night (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    Writer

  • Til døden os skiller(2007)

    Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • Cinema 16: European Short Films (U.S. Edition) (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    Director

  • Red Road(2006)

    Writer

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • Sprængfarlig bombe(2006)

    Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • Cinema 16: European Short Films (European Edition) (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Director

  • After the Wedding(2006)

    Screenplay · Story

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

  • Murk(2005)

    Writer

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

  • Adam's Apples(2005)

    Director · Writer

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

  • The Sun King (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    Writer

  • Too Fat Too Furious (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    Screenplay

  • Brothers(2004)

    Writer

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films

  • Rembrandt(2002)

    Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • Skagerrak(2003)

    Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • The Green Butchers(2003)

    Director · Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • Wilbur Wants to Kill Himself(2002)

    Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • Open Hearts(2002)

    Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films

  • Old Men in New Cars(2002)

    Idea · Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • Count Axel(2001)

    Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • Flickering Lights(2000)

    Director · Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films

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

    Writer

  • The King Is Alive(2000)

    Writer

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • In China They Eat Dogs(1999)

    Writer

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films

  • Mifune(1999)

    Writer

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • Albert (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Screenplay

  • Baby Doom(1998)

    Writer

    Midcredits score: 9th percentile of all films

  • Election Night (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Director · Writer

  • Restless Heart (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Writer

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

    Director · Screenplay

  • Ernst & the Light (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Director · Writer

  • Café Hector (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Screenplay

  • Davids bog (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Writer

  • My Fairytale Life (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Writer

  • The Monster of Florence (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Director

  • Upcoming Remake of 'Riders of Justice' (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Original Film Writer

  • Winter Warriors (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Co-Writer

Career shape

A full career of 68 titles, 64 of them dated from 1996 to 2026.

Biggest box office

The Dark Tower (2017)

$113M worldwide

Highest rated

The Promised Land (2023)

Midcredits 97th

Most popular right now

The Dark Tower (2017)

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting5 of 68: 5 only acting, 0 with another roleDirecting12 of 68: 3 only directing, 9 with another role · typical Midcredits score90thWriting59 of 68: 50 only writing, 9 with another role · typical Midcredits score71stOther crew1 of 68: 1 only other crew, 0 with another role

68 titles, 9 with more than one role — writing and directing overlap on 9 of them.

By decade

1990s10 · crew2000s28 · crew2010s16 · crew2020s10 · 5 acting · 5 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 MovieCove, shown from 5 scored.

Awards

an Oscar from 3 major nominations, 1997–1999.

WinNomination
  1. 1999
    • Oscar, won · Best Short Film, Live Action
  2. 1998
    • Oscar, nominated · Best Short Film, Live Action
  3. 1997
    • Oscar, nominated · Best Short Film, Live Action

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 Anders Thomas Jensen's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 71st percentile, the median of the 38 of 39 with a score; across their 35 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 70th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

70thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 35

Approval · how many liked their films

74thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 35

Reach · how many have seen their films

85thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 35

Midcredits score across 39 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up16
  • 50th to 74th15
  • 25th to 49th5
  • Below 25th3

Shape of the crowd

17 of their 39 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved9
  • Crowd Pleaser17
  • Broadly Agreed9
  • Mixed4

Most divisive · writer

Count Axel (2001)

67th percentile spread · 21% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · writer

The Promised Land (2023)

Midcredits 97th · 90% liked

Reviewers score the dialogue 60/100 and the plot and story 54/100 in their films, across 32 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.

Is Anders Thomas Jensen's work okay for kids?

Across up to 18 MovieCove titles with content scores, violence & gore, sex & nudity, alcohol & drugs and frightening / intense run heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore11 titles62–92 · median 75 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity18 titles18–59 · median 44 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity12 titles26–83 · median 44 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs10 titles34–67 · median 44 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense11 titles49–85 · median 66 · 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 Anders Thomas Jensen work with?

People who share at least 2 of Anders Thomas Jensen's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Nikolaj Lie Kaas shares the most, 13.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles