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Ken Loach

Ken Loach

Director, actor, writer and producer · Born June 17, 1936 (90) · Nuneaton, Warwickshire, England, UK

Kenneth Charles Loach (born 17 June 1936; Nuneaton) is a retired British film director, screenwriter and producer. His humanist values and socialist political views are evident in his film treatment of social issues such as poverty (Poor Cow, 1967), homelessness (Cathy Come Home, 1966), labour rights (Riff-Raff, 1991; The Navigators, 2001), and revolutionary struggle (Land and Freedom, 1995; The Wind That Shakes the Barley, 2006). Kenneth Charles Loach was born on 17 June 1936 in Nuneaton, Warwickshire, the son of Vivien (née Hamlin) and John Loach. He attended King Edward VI Grammar School and at the age of 19 went to serve in the Royal Air Force. He read law at St Peter's College, Oxford and graduated with a third-class degree. As a member of the Oxford University Experimental Theatre Club he directed an open-air production of Bartholomew Fair for the Shakespeare Memorial Theatre, Stratford, in 1959 (when he also took the role of the shady horse-dealer Dan Jordan Knockem). After Oxford, he began a career in the dramatic arts. Loach's film Kes (1969) was voted the seventh greatest British film of the 20th century in a poll by the British Film Institute. Two of his films, The Wind That Shakes the Barley (2006) and I, Daniel Blake (2016), received the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival, making him one of only nine filmmakers to win the award twice.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
June 17, 1936 (90)
From
Nuneaton, Warwickshire, England, UK
Works as
Director, actor, writer and producer
Titles
31 on MovieCove · 86 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 64 days to Oct 27Down 32% in 30 days

What are Ken Loach's films like?

Across their 34 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Society and Power.

Genres

Drama15 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 86th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Documentary8 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 82nd percentile
: browse their Documentary movies
Comedy6 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 83rd percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Crime2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 84th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Crime 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
Society
24%
Power
16%
Morality
16%
Bonds
13%
Self
13%
Survival
11%
Ideas
7%
Community10 titles, browse their movies with this themeClass7 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice7 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose6 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds5 titles, browse their movies with this themeIsolation4 titles, browse their movies with this themeArt3 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love3 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 34 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Dark: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their dark movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 5 · Serious 10 · Dark 19

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

Grounded 32 · Stylized 2 · Heightened 0

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

Gentle 9 · Charged 15 · Intense 10

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

Steady 16 · Shifting 16 · Whiplash 2

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

Straight-faced 25 · Some laughs 9 · Funny 0

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

Slow burn 17 · Even-paced 16 · Relentless 1

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 16 · Engaged 13 · Full focus 5

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 8 · Affecting 10 · Heavy 16

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

Resolved 24 · Open-ended 6 · Ambiguous 4

Roles they play

1 analyzed role

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
19
Melancholic
14
Contemplative
11
Hopeful
11
Bittersweet
10
Other
20

How their films linger

Thought-provoking18 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful15 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteDevastating6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteInfuriating5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 2 with a twist

  • Happy3
  • Bittersweet16
  • Tragic4
  • Ambiguous10
  • 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 Ken Loach's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 18 of their 31 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (8).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Ken Loach'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

86 credits, 31 with a MovieCove page; 46 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Forgotten Spaceman (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2026)

    Executive Producer

  • Palestine 36(2025)

    Thanks

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films

  • Loach vs Corbyn: The Bad Patriots(2024)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Uomini in Marcia (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2024)

    Actor

  • On Falling(2024)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • The Old Oak(2023)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • Oh Jeremy Corbyn - The Big Lie (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2023)

    as (himself)

  • C'era una volta in Italia - Giacarta sta arrivando (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2022)

    as Sé stesso

  • Sorry We Missed You(2019)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

  • The Dream Palace: A People's History of Tyneside Cinema (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2018)

    Actor

  • I, Daniel Blake(2016)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • In Conversation With Jeremy Corbyn (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    Director · Producer · Writer

  • Jimmy's Hall(2014)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • Idyll (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    Writer

  • The Spirit of '45(2013)

    Director · Writer

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • The Angels' Share(2012)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all films

  • Route Irish(2010)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • Looking for Eric(2009)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films

  • To Each His Own Cinema(2007)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • It's a Free World...(2007)

    Director · Producer

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • British Film Forever (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Wind That Shakes the Barley(2006)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

  • Carry On Ken (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Actor

  • Carry On Ken (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • McLibel(2005)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • Tickets (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    Director

  • A Fond Kiss(2004)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films

  • Sweet Sixteen(2002)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • September 11(2002)

    Director · Writer

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • The Navigators(2001)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • Bread and Roses(2000)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • The Limey(1999)

    Thanks

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • My Name Is Joe(1998)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films

  • Another City: A Week in the Life of Bath's Football Club (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Director

  • The Flickering Flame (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Director · Screenplay

  • Carla's Song (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Director

  • Land and Freedom(1995)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • Modern Times (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • A Contemporary Case for Common Ownership (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    Director

  • Ladybird Ladybird(1994)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films

  • Raining Stones(1993)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • Riff-Raff(1991)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • The Arthur Legend (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    Director

  • Hidden Agenda(1990)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • The View from the Woodpile (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Director · Producer

  • Time to Go (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Director

  • Dispatches (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • Fatherland (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    Director

  • Split Screen (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • Which Side Are You On? (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Director · Producer

  • End of the Battle... Not the End of the War (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Director

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

    Show 2 episodes · Actor

  • The Red and the Blue (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    Director

  • Looks and Smiles(1981)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • A Question of Leadership (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    Director · Producer

  • Auditions (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    Director · Producer

  • The Gamekeeper (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    Director · Writer

  • Black Jack(1979)

    Director · Writer

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • The South Bank Show (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Price of Coal, Part 2: Back to Reality (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    Director

  • The Price of Coal, Part 1: Meet the People (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    Director

  • Days of Hope (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    Show 4 episodes · Director · Creator

  • Right to Work March (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    Actor

  • Full House (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    Show 1 episode · Director · Writer

  • Talk About Work (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    Director

  • Family Life (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    Director

  • The Rank and File (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    Director

  • The Save the Children Fund Film (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    Director

  • Play for Today (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    Show 3 episodes · Director

  • Kes(1969)

    Director · Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • The Big Flame (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    Director

  • ITV Saturday Night Theatre (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • The Golden Vision (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    Director

  • Poor Cow(1967)

    Director · Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • In Two Minds (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Director

  • Cathy Come Home (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

    Director

  • The Coming Out Party (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    Director

  • The End of Arthur's Marriage (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    Director

  • Up the Junction (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    Director

  • Three Clear Sundays (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    Director

  • Wear a Very Big Hat (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    Director

  • A Tap on the Shoulder (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    Director

  • The Wednesday Play (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    Show 11 episodes · Director · Writer

  • Diary of a Young Man (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    Show 3 episodes · Director

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

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • Z-Cars (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    Show 3 episodes · Director

Career shape

A full career of 85 titles from 1962 to 2026.

Biggest box office

The Wind That Shakes the Barley (2006)

$23M worldwide

Highest rated

I, Daniel Blake (2016)

Midcredits 97th

Most popular right now

Jimmy's Hall (2014)

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting11 of 85: 11 only acting, 0 with another roleDirecting70 of 85: 54 only directing, 16 with another role · typical Midcredits score82ndWriting11 of 85: 1 only writing, 10 with another role · typical Midcredits score74thProducing7 of 85: 1 only producing, 6 with another roleOther crew3 of 85: 2 only other crew, 1 with another role

85 titles, 16 with more than one role.

By decade

1960s16 · crew1970s13 · 2 acting · 11 crew1980s13 · 1 acting · 12 crew1990s13 · crew2000s14 · 3 acting · 11 crew2010s9 · 1 acting · 8 crew2020s7 · 4 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 MovieCove, shown from 5 scored.

How do Ken Loach's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 82nd percentile, the median of all 31; across their 34 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 80th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

80thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 34

Approval · how many liked their films

82ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 34

Reach · how many have seen their films

78thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 34

Midcredits score across 31 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up24
  • 50th to 74th7

Shape of the crowd

23 of their 31 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved6
  • Divisive1
  • Crowd Pleaser23
  • Mixed1

Most divisive · actor

Loach vs Corbyn: The Bad Patriots (2024)

90th percentile spread · 30% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · director

I, Daniel Blake (2016)

Midcredits 97th · 88% liked

Reviewers score the atmosphere 73/100 and the pacing 50/100 in their films, across 31 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.

Is Ken Loach's work okay for kids?

Across up to 8 MovieCove titles with content scores, violence & gore and profanity run heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore7 titles24–75 · median 55 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity8 titles4–44 · median 22 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity7 titles62–91 · median 83 · severeheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs6 titles9–52 · median 38 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense5 titles31–68 · median 44 · 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 Ken Loach work with?

People who share at least 2 of Ken Loach's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Rebecca O'Brien shares the most, 20.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles