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Joseph E. Levine

Joseph E. Levine

Producer · Died July 31, 1987, aged 81 · Boston, Massachusetts, USA

Golden Globe winner

Joseph Edward Levine (September 9, 1905 – July 31, 1987) was an American film distributor, financier and producer. At the time of his death, it was said he was involved in one or another capacity with 497 films. Levine was responsible for the American releases of Godzilla, King of the Monsters!, Attila and Hercules, which helped revolutionize American film marketing, and was founder and president of Embassy Pictures. Levine's biggest hit was director Mike Nichols' The Graduate (1967), a blockbuster hit that was considered, then and now, a watershed film that inaugurated the New Hollywood and made Dustin Hoffman a superstar. At the time of its release, The Graduate became one of the Top Ten All-Time Box Office hits. With the great success of the film, Levine sold his company to the conglomerate Avco, though he continued on as the CEO of the renamed Avco-Embassy film production division. Other films produced and/or financed by Levine included Two Women (1960), Contempt (1963), The 10th Victim (1965), Marriage Italian Style (1964), The Lion in Winter (1968), The Producers (1968), Carnal Knowledge (1971) and The Night Porter (1974). After leaving Avco-Embassy, he became an independent again, producing A Bridge Too Far (1977). Description above from the Wikipedia article Joseph E. Levine, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
September 9, 1905
Died
July 31, 1987 (aged 81)
From
Boston, Massachusetts, USA
Works as
Producer
Titles
45 on MovieCove · 55 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 155 days to Oct 26Up 12% in 30 days

What are Joseph E. Levine's films like?

Across their 43 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Morality.

Genres

Drama16 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 71st percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Comedy11 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 65th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Comedy movies
Action8 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 40th percentile
: browse their Action movies
Adventure3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 20th percentile
: browse their Adventure movies
Animation2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 56th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Animation movies
Biography2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 63rd 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
28%
Morality
25%
Survival
17%
Self
14%
Power
6%
Society
5%
Ideas
4%
Romantic love9 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds13 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival7 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception9 titles, browse their movies with this themeBetrayal6 titles, browse their movies with this themeRevenge4 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice3 titles, browse their movies with this themeAmbition4 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 43 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 8 · Dark 20

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

A split, not a type: Grounded 19 · Stylized 14 · Heightened 10

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

A split, not a type: Gentle 11 · Charged 13 · Intense 19

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

A split, not a type: Steady 19 · Shifting 18 · 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 25 · Some laughs 8 · Funny 10

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

Slow burn 18 · Even-paced 22 · Relentless 3

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

A split, not a type: Casual 20 · Engaged 19 · 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 18 · Affecting 8 · Heavy 17

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

Resolved 32 · Open-ended 8 · Ambiguous 3

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
26
Melancholic
21
Dread
11
Joyful
9
Absurd
11
Other
36

How their films linger

Fun14 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet16 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting11 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good12 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling9 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 6 with a twist

  • Happy10
  • Bittersweet17
  • Tragic8
  • Ambiguous8

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 Joseph E. Levine's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 27 of their 45 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (18).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Joseph E. Levine'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

55 credits, 45 with a MovieCove page.

  • Tattoo(1981)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • Magic(1978)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • A Bridge Too Far(1977)

    Presenter · Producer

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films

  • Godzilla(1977)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • The Night Porter(1974)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • The Day of the Dolphin(1973)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • Thumb Tripping (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    Executive Producer

  • Rivals (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    Executive Producer

  • Trinity Is Still My Name(1971)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • Carnal Knowledge(1971)

    Executive Producer · Presenter

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • Macho Callahan(1970)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films

  • The Ski Bum (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    Producer

  • C.C. & Company(1970)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films

  • Soldier Blue(1970)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • Sunflower(1970)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films

  • The Adventurers(1970)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all films

  • They Call Me Trinity(1970)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • Generation (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    Presenter

  • Don't Drink the Water(1969)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films

  • Stiletto (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    Executive Producer

  • Baby Love(1969)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films

  • The Lion in Winter(1968)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • The Graduate(1967)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • The Wacky World of Mother Goose (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Executive Producer

  • Woman Times Seven(1967)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films

  • Robbery(1967)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • The Caper of the Golden Bulls(1967)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • Mad Monster Party?(1967)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

  • The Producers(1967)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • The Tiger and the Pussycat(1967)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • The Spy with a Cold Nose(1966)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all films

  • Nevada Smith(1966)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • The Daydreamer(1966)

    Executive Producer · Presenter

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • The Idol (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

    Executive Producer

  • A Man Called Adam(1966)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

  • Darling(1965)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • Harlow(1965)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • DoDo, The Kid from Outer Space (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    Show 71 episodes · Executive Producer

  • Hercules and the Princess of Troy(1965)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all films

  • Sands of the Kalahari(1965)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • The 10th Victim(1965)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • Santa Claus Conquers the Martians(1964)

    Executive Producer · Presenter

    Midcredits score: 2nd percentile of all films

  • Where Love Has Gone(1964)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • The Carpetbaggers(1964)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • Zulu(1964)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

  • Marriage Italian Style(1964)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • Contempt(1963)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • Showman (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    Actor

  • Long Day's Journey Into Night(1962)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films

  • Boys' Night Out(1962)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • The Wonders of Aladdin(1961)

    Presenter · Producer

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all films

  • Fury at Smugglers' Bay (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    Executive Producer

  • Uncle Was a Vampire(1959)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films

  • Godzilla(1957)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • Godzilla: King of the Monsters!(1956)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

Career shape

A full career of 43 titles from 1956 to 1981.

Biggest box office

The Graduate (1967)

$105M worldwide

Highest rated

The Graduate (1967)

Midcredits 97th

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting1 of 43: 1 only acting, 0 with another roleProducing41 of 43: 36 only producing, 5 with another role · typical Midcredits score65thOther crew6 of 43: 1 only other crew, 5 with another role · typical Midcredits score46th

43 titles, 5 with more than one role — producing and other crew overlap on 5 of them.

By decade

1950s2 · crew1960s27 · 1 acting · 26 crew1970s13 · crew1980s1 · 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

Won a Golden Globe in 1964.

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 Joseph E. Levine's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 66th percentile, the median of all 45; across their 43 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 62nd percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

62ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 43

Approval · how many liked their films

59thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 43

Reach · how many have seen their films

67thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 43

Midcredits score across 45 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up17
  • 50th to 74th11
  • 25th to 49th8
  • Below 25th9

Shape of the crowd

20 of their 45 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved7
  • Cult Classic1
  • Crowd Pleaser20
  • Broadly Agreed3
  • Mixed14

Most divisive · producer

Santa Claus Conquers the Martians (1964)

84th percentile spread · 74% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · producer

The Graduate (1967)

Midcredits 97th · 87% liked

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 Joseph E. Levine's work okay for kids?

Across up to 17 MovieCove titles with content scores, sex & nudity runs heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore13 titles18–75 · median 36 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity17 titles20–70 · median 44 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity12 titles12–66 · median 33 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs12 titles23–44 · median 36 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense12 titles9–64 · median 40 · moderatenear 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 Joseph E. Levine work with?

People who share at least 2 of Joseph E. Levine's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Vittorio De Sica shares the most, 4.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles