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Bruce McDonald

Bruce McDonald

Director, actor, producer and writer · Born May 28, 1959 (67) · Kingston, Ontario, Canada

Bruce McDonald (born May 28, 1959) is a Canadian film and television director, writer and producer. He is known for his award-winning cult films Roadkill (1989) and Hard Core Logo (1996). He was part of a loosely-affiliated group of filmmakers to emerge from Toronto known as the Toronto New Wave.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
May 28, 1959 (67)
From
Kingston, Ontario, Canada
Works as
Director, actor, producer and writer
Titles
28 on MovieCove · 67 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 26

What are Bruce McDonald's films like?

Across their 13 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Self and Survival.

Genres

Comedy3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 82nd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Comedy movies
Drama2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 36th percentile
: browse their Drama movies
Horror2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 45th percentile
: browse their Horror 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
Self
38%
Survival
23%
Morality
19%
Bonds
14%
Society
6%
Survival5 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity5 titles, browse their movies with this themeComing of age4 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship3 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose4 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice2 titles, browse their movies with this themeRedemption2 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 9 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

A split, not a type: Grounded 4 · Stylized 1 · Heightened 4

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

Gentle 1 · Charged 5 · Intense 3

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

Steady 3 · Shifting 4 · Whiplash 2

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

Straight-faced 3 · Some laughs 5 · Funny 1

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

Slow burn 4 · 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 2 · Engaged 4 · Full focus 3

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

Resolved 3 · Open-ended 3 · Ambiguous 3

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
10
Dread
4
Hopeful
4
Melancholic
4
Warm
3
Other
7

How their films linger

Unsettling5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 2 with a twist

  • Happy2
  • Bittersweet4
  • Ambiguous7

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 Bruce McDonald's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 22 of their 28 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (11).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Bruce McDonald'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

67 credits, 28 with a MovieCove page; 1 appearance as themselves is hidden until asked for.

  • Malory Towers: The Traitor & The Final Day of Malory Towers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2025)

    Director

  • Sight Unseen(2024)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 34th percentile of all shows

  • Davey & Jonesie's Locker(2024)

    Show Director

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all shows

  • Ride(2023)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all shows

  • Christmas at Malory Towers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2022)

    Director

  • From(2022)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all shows

  • Dreamland(2019)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 17th percentile of all films

  • Creeped Out(2017)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all shows

  • Ransom(2017)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all shows

  • Weirdos(2016)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • The Hexecutioners (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    as Old Bugger (uncredited)

  • Hellions(2015)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 4th percentile of all films

  • Dark Matter (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

  • Hellmouth(2014)

    as Paul Kemp

    Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all films

  • The Husband (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    Director

  • Reign(2013)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all shows

  • The Transporter(2012)

    Show 3 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all shows

  • My Babysitter's a Vampire (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    Show 3 episodes · Director

  • XIII: The Series(2011)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all shows

  • Yonge Street: Toronto Rock & Roll Stories (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    Show 3 episodes · Director

  • Hard Core Logo 2 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    Director · Writer · as Bruce the Filmmaker

  • My Babysitter's a Vampire(2010)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • Music from the Big House (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    Director

  • Lost Girl(2010)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all shows

  • Trigger (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    Director

  • This Movie Is Broken (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    Director · Idea

  • Pontypool(2008)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • Less Than Kind(2008)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all shows

  • Heartland(2007)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all shows

  • The Tracey Fragments (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    Director

  • Killer Wave(2007)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 1st percentile of all shows

  • Kevin Hill (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • The love crimes of Gillian Guess (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    Director

  • The Collector(2004)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all shows

  • This Is Wonderland (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    Show 3 episodes · Director

  • Playmakers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • Radio Free Roscoe (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • Degrassi: The Next Generation(2001)

    Show 17 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all shows

  • Picture Claire(2001)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • Road Songs: A Portrait of Robbie Robertson (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Director

  • Queer as Folk(2000)

    Show 8 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all shows

  • Code Name: Eternity (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • Stuff (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    Executive Producer

  • Scandalous Me: The Jacqueline Susann Story (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Director

  • Last Night(1998)

    as Wild Guy #3

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • American Whiskey Bar (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Director

  • Elimination Dance (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Director · Writer

  • Welcome to Paradox (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • Twitch City (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Show 13 episodes · Director · Executive Producer

  • Emily of New Moon(1998)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all shows

  • The Show: Stories Within a Film (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Additional Camera · as The Director

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

    Director

  • Lexx(1996)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all shows

  • Hard Core Logo(1996)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films

  • Taking the Falls (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • Dance Me Outside(1994)

    Director · Producer · Writer

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • The Mysterious Moon-Men of Canada (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    Editor

  • Ready or Not (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

  • Blue (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    Producer

  • Highway 61 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    Director · Producer · Story

  • The Hidden Room (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    Show 4 episodes · Director

  • Speaking Parts (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Editor

  • Roadkill (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Director · Producer · Story · as Bruce Shack, the Director

  • Family Viewing (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    Editor

  • Next of Kin (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    Editorial Production Assistant

  • The Bill (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    Show 4 episodes · Director

  • Pontypool Changes (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Director

Career shape

A full career of 66 titles, 65 of them dated from 1984 to 2025.

Biggest box office

Dance Me Outside (1994)

$66K worldwide

Highest rated

Hard Core Logo (1996)

Midcredits 85th

Most popular right now

Sight Unseen (2024)

Film career

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting6 of 66: 3 only acting, 3 with another roleDirecting56 of 66: 49 only directing, 7 with another role · typical Midcredits score62ndWriting6 of 66: 0 only writing, 6 with another roleProducing6 of 66: 2 only producing, 4 with another roleEditing3 of 66: 3 only editing, 0 with another roleOther crew2 of 66: 1 only other crew, 1 with another role

66 titles, 8 with more than one role — directing and acting overlap on 2 of them.

By decade

1980s4 · 1 acting · 4 crew1990s20 · 2 acting · 19 crew2000s16 · crew2010s20 · 3 acting · 18 crew2020s5 · 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 Bruce McDonald's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 65th percentile, the median of all 10; across their 9 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 60th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

60thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 9

Approval · how many liked their films

63rdpercentile
Typical film, the median of 9

Reach · how many have seen their films

61stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 9

Midcredits score across 28 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up10
  • 50th to 74th5
  • 25th to 49th9
  • Below 25th4

Shape of the crowd

14 of their 28 titles are Mixed.

  • Universally Loved2
  • Universally Panned1
  • Cult Classic1
  • Crowd Pleaser10
  • Mixed14

Most divisive · director

Davey & Jonesie's Locker (2024)

83rd percentile spread · 25% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · director

Queer as Folk (2000)

Midcredits 95th · 88% liked

Reviewers score the atmosphere 72/100 and the pacing 50/100 in their films, across 9 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 Bruce McDonald work with?

People who share at least 2 of Bruce McDonald's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Stephen McHattie shares the most, 5.

Writers

Actors

Cinematographers and editors

Producers