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Barbara Kopple

Barbara Kopple

Director and producer, also editor and actor · Born July 30, 1946 (80) · New York City, New York, USA

2 Oscars · Primetime Emmy nominee · 3 other major award bodies

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Barbara Kopple (born July 30, 1946) is an American film director, primarily known for her work in documentary film. Description above from the Wikipedia article Barbara Kopple, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
July 30, 1946 (80)
From
New York City, New York, USA
Works as
Director and producer, also editor and actor
Titles
28 on MovieCove · 51 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 156 days to Oct 27Down 15% in 30 days

What are Barbara Kopple's films like?

Across their 23 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Society and Survival.

Themes

share of theme weight
Society
30%
Survival
20%
Self
16%
Ideas
14%
Power
11%
Morality
7%
Bonds
2%
Community8 titles, browse their movies with this themeTruth4 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity3 titles, browse their movies with this themeClass3 titles, browse their movies with this themeTrauma3 titles, browse their movies with this themePrejudice3 titles, browse their movies with this themeLegacy4 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice4 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 21 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 4 · Dark 9

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

Grounded 20 · Stylized 1 · Heightened 0

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

A split, not a type: Gentle 10 · Charged 6 · Intense 5

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

Steady 13 · Shifting 8 · Whiplash 0

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

Straight-faced 17 · Some laughs 3 · Funny 1

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

Slow burn 16 · Even-paced 5 · Relentless 0

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

Casual 9 · Engaged 10 · Full focus 2

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 3 · Heavy 9

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

Resolved 14 · Open-ended 5 · Ambiguous 2

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Contemplative
15
Tense
9
Hopeful
11
Melancholic
9
Warm
4
Other
12

How their films linger

Thought-provoking12 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful11 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteRousing6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 1 with a twist

  • Happy4
  • Bittersweet8
  • Ambiguous9
  • Cyclical1
  • Other1

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 Barbara Kopple's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 17 of their 28 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service.

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Barbara Kopple'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

51 credits, 28 with a MovieCove page; 3 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Union Town (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2026)

    Director

  • The Super Models(2023)

    Show 4 episodes · Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all shows

  • Gumbo Coalition(2022)

    Director · Producer

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Helter Skelter: An American Myth(2020)

    Show 6 episodes · Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all shows

  • The Dilemma of Desire(2020)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • Desert One(2019)

    Director · Producer

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films

  • New Homeland (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2018)

    Director · Producer

  • ReMastered: Tricky Dick and the Man in Black(2018)

    Director · Producer

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • A Murder in Mansfield(2017)

    Director · Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films

  • This Is Everything: Gigi Gorgeous(2017)

    Director · Producer

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • Killing the Colorado(2016)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Borderline (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    Executive Producer

  • Vinyl Generation(2016)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Miss Sharon Jones!(2015)

    Director · Producer

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films

  • The Nation(2015)

    Director · Producer

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • We the Economy: 20 Short Films You Can't Afford to Miss(2014)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films

  • Running Wild: The Life of Dayton O. Hyde(2013)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films

  • Running from Crazy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    Director · Producer

  • Gun Fight (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    Director · Producer

  • The House of Steinbrenner (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    Director · Producer · Writer

  • 30 for 30(2009)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all shows

  • Woodstock: Now & Then(2009)

    Director · Producer

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

  • The D.C. Sniper's Wife (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    Director · Producer · Writer

  • High School Musical: The Music in You (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    Director

  • Addiction(2007)

    Director · Producer

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • Shut Up & Sing(2006)

    Director · Producer

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films

  • Havoc(2005)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all films

  • Bearing Witness (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    Director

  • WMD: Weapons of Mass Deception (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    Executive Producer

  • The Hamptons (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    Director · Producer

  • The Hamptons (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    Show 2 episodes · Director · Creator · Producer

  • My Generation (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Director · Producer

  • A Conversation with Gregory Peck (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    Director · Producer

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

    Thanks

  • Oz(1997)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all shows

  • Wild Man Blues (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    Director

  • Fallen Champ: The Untold Story of Mike Tyson (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    Director · Producer

  • Homicide: Life on the Street(1993)

    Show 3 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all shows

  • Beyond 'JFK': The Question of Conspiracy(1992)

    Director · Producer

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

  • American Dream(1990)

    Director · Producer · Sound Recordist

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • Out of Darkness: The Mine Workers' Story (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Director

  • When Women Kill(1983)

    Sound

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • Keeping On (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    Director · Executive Producer

  • American Playhouse (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • Harlan County U.S.A.(1976)

    Director · Producer · Sound

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • Hearts and Minds(1974)

    Second Unit

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • Year of the Woman (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    Sound

  • Sondheim: A Musical Tribute (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    Camera Operator

  • Marjoe(1972)

    Thanks

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films

  • Winter Soldier(1972)

    Editor · Producer · Sound Mixer

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Secrets of Llewellyn Park (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Producer

Career shape

A full career of 49 titles, 48 of them dated from 1972 to 2026.

Biggest box office

Shut Up & Sing (2006)

$1.9M worldwide

Highest rated

Harlan County U.S.A. (1976)

Midcredits 99th

Most popular right now

The Super Models (2023)

By role

only this rolewith another role
Directing36 of 49: 14 only directing, 22 with another role · typical Midcredits score82ndWriting2 of 49: 0 only writing, 2 with another roleProducing29 of 49: 6 only producing, 23 with another role · typical Midcredits score80thEditing1 of 49: 0 only editing, 1 with another roleOther crew10 of 49: 6 only other crew, 4 with another role · typical Midcredits score96th

49 titles, 23 with more than one role — directing and producing overlap on 22 of them.

By decade

1970s6 · crew1980s3 · crew1990s9 · crew2000s12 · crew2010s14 · crew2020s4 · 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

2 Oscars and 6 other major awards from 13 major nominations, 1977–2014.

WinNomination
  1. 2014
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Special
  2. 2000
    • Venice award, nominated
  3. 1998
    • Sundance award, nominated · Documentary
    • Directors Guild Award, won · Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Dramatic Series - Night
  4. 1995
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Informational Series
  5. 1994
    • Directors Guild Award, won · Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Documentary/Actuality
  6. 1993
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Individual Achievement - Informational Programming
  7. 1992
    • Directors Guild Award, won · Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Documentary/Actuality
  8. 1991
    • Oscar, won · Best Documentary, Features
    • +1 other major body · 3 wins
      • Sundance award, won ×3 · Documentary
Show 1 earlier year
  1. 1977
    • Oscar, won · Best Documentary, Features

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 Barbara Kopple's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 80th percentile, the median of all 23; across their 21 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 81st percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

81stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 21

Approval · how many liked their films

67thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 21

Reach · how many have seen their films

34thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 21

Midcredits score across 28 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up16
  • 50th to 74th6
  • 25th to 49th3
  • Below 25th3

Shape of the crowd

8 of their 28 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved7
  • Divisive3
  • Cult Classic1
  • Crowd Pleaser8
  • Broadly Agreed1
  • Mixed8

Most divisive · director, producer

Gumbo Coalition (2022)

99th percentile spread · 41% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · director, producer

Harlan County U.S.A. (1976)

Midcredits 99th · 90% liked

Reviewers score the atmosphere 68/100 and the pacing 52/100 in their films, across 12 reviewed titles. The element that speaks to their work as a director.

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.

Who does Barbara Kopple work with?

People who share at least 2 of Barbara Kopple's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; David Cassidy shares the most, 10.

Directors

Cinematographers and editors

Producers