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Sean McGinley

Sean McGinley

Actor · Born March 1, 1956 (70) · Gaoth Dobhair, Donegal, Ireland

Seán McGinley is an Irish film and TV actor. He's appeared in about 80 films and television series.

Biography from TMDB.

Born
March 1, 1956 (70)
From
Gaoth Dobhair, Donegal, Ireland
Works as
Actor
Titles
37 on MovieCove · 76 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 27Up 42% in 30 days

What are Sean McGinley's films like?

Across their 23 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Self and Bonds.

Genres

Drama8 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 61st percentile
: browse their Drama movies
Comedy7 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 42nd percentile
: browse their Comedy 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
Self
26%
Bonds
24%
Morality
18%
Society
12%
Survival
9%
Power
8%
Ideas
4%
Family bonds9 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity7 titles, browse their movies with this themeBetrayal4 titles, browse their movies with this themeSelf-worth3 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love2 titles, browse their movies with this themeTrauma2 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity3 titles, browse their movies with this themeFreedom3 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 18 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 6 · Serious 3 · Dark 9

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

Grounded 11 · Stylized 6 · Heightened 1

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

A split, not a type: Gentle 6 · Charged 4 · Intense 8

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

Steady 8 · Shifting 9 · Whiplash 1

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

Straight-faced 10 · Some laughs 7 · Funny 1

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

Slow burn 10 · Even-paced 8 · 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 8 · Engaged 9 · Full focus 1

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

Resolved 12 · Open-ended 3 · Ambiguous 3

Roles they play

4 analyzed roles
Ally
1 of 4
Mentor
1 of 4
Threshold guardian
1 of 4
Shapeshifter
1 of 4

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
15
Melancholic
11
Warm
9
Contemplative
6
Dread
3
Other
18

How their films linger

Thought-provoking10 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 2 with a twist

  • Happy5
  • Bittersweet7
  • Tragic7
  • Ambiguous4

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 Sean McGinley's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 24 of their 37 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (12).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Sean McGinley'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

76 credits, 37 with a MovieCove page; 4 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • National Theatre Live: The Brightening Air (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2025)

    as Pierre

  • That They May Face the Rising Sun(2023)

    as Johnny Murphy

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • The Last Rifleman(2023)

    as Brendan O'Brien

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films

  • Wait for Me (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2023)

    as Ged

  • Christmas at Castle Hart(2021)

    as Liam

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • The Curse of Audrey Earnshaw(2020)

    as Seamus Dwyer

    Midcredits score: 12th percentile of all films

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

    as Henry

  • Death and Nightingales (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2018)

    Show 3 episodes · as Bishop Donnelly

  • Butterfly(2018)

    Show 3 episodes · as Peter Duffy

    Midcredits score: 34th percentile of all shows

  • The Alienist(2018)

    Show 3 episodes · as Bishop Potter

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all shows

  • Paula(2017)

    Show 3 episodes · as Terry

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all shows

  • The Truth Commissioner (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    as Francis Gilroy

  • Clean Break(2015)

    Show 4 episodes · as Ben

    Midcredits score: 11th percentile of all shows

  • Shetland(2013)

    Show 5 episodes · as Drew McColl

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all shows

  • Republic of Doyle(2010)

    Show 77 episodes · as Malachy Doyle

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all shows

  • Wild Decembers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    as O'Dea

  • Closing the Ring(2007)

    as Campbell

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • Shrooms(2007)

    as Bernie

    Midcredits score: 9th percentile of all films

  • Inspector Lewis(2006)

    Show 1 episode · as Keiran Donnelly

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all shows

  • Single-Handed(2007)

    Show 6 episodes · as Dennis Costello

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all shows

  • Black Dog (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    as Grandfather

  • Sixty Six(2006)

    as Mr. O'Connor

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

  • The Tiger's Tail(2006)

    as Declan Murray

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • The Wind That Shakes the Barley(2006)

    as Father Denis

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

  • 48 Angels (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    as Dilly

  • On a Clear Day(2005)

    as Eddie

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films

  • The Mighty Celt(2005)

    as I'm A Cripple

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • Man About Dog (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    as J.P. McCallion

  • Freeze Frame (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    as Detective Louis Emeric

  • Conspiracy of Silence (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    as Rector Cathal

  • Dead Bodies(2003)

    as Detective Inspector Wheeler

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films

  • Watermelon(2003)

    as Joe Ryan

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films

  • Gangs of New York(2002)

    as Forty Thieves Leader

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • Do Armed Robbers Have Love Affairs? (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    as Mimms

  • On Home Ground (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Show 15 episodes · as Fergal Collins

  • Clare sa Spéir (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    as Eóin

  • Waking the Dead(2000)

    Show 2 episodes · as Dr. Donald Roper

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all shows

  • The Claim(2000)

    as Sweetley

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • American Women(2000)

    as Ian O'Donnell

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • What Where (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    as Bam

  • DDU: District Detective Unit (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    Show 4 episodes · as Det. Sgt. Carl McCadden

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

    as Mairtin O Cathain

  • Simon Magus (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    as Maximillian Hase

  • The Vice(1999)

    Show 1 episode · as Tommy Bowers

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all shows

  • Cold Feet(1997)

    Show 1 episode · as Roy

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all shows

  • The General(1998)

    as Gary

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • The Butcher Boy(1997)

    as Sergeant

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • Resurrection Man (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    as Sammy McClure

  • The Ambassador (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Disappearance of Finbar(1996)

    as Detective Roche

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

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

    as Mr D

  • Midsomer Murders(1997)

    Show 1 episode · as Sean O'Connell

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • The Informant (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    as Frankie Conroy

  • Scorned 2 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    Screenplay

  • The Break(1997)

    as Tommy Breen

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • Michael Collins(1996)

    as Smith

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all films

  • Trojan Eddie (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    as Raymie

  • Initiation (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Actor

  • Safe And Sound (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Show 6 episodes · as Dougy Flynn

  • Circles of Deceit: Dark Secret (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    as Jim Caine

  • Braveheart(1995)

    as MacClannough

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • Dangerous Lady (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    Show 4 episodes · Actor

  • The Hanging Gale(1995)

    Show 4 episodes · as Ferry

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all shows

  • Circle of Friends(1995)

    as Mr Duggan

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • Rik Mayall Presents: Dirty Old Town (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    as Michael

  • The Hanging Gale (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    as Ferry

  • Family (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    as Charlo Spencer

  • Family (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    Show 4 episodes · as Charlo Spencer

  • Rik Mayall Presents (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    Show 1 episode · as Michael

  • The Field(1990)

    as Father Chris Doran

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • Fools of Fortune (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    as Doyle

  • Who Bombed Birmingham? (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    as A

  • The Playboy of the Western World (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    as Shawn Keogh

  • Minder (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    Show 1 episode · as Alexie Nolan

  • Gilgamesh (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    as Utnapishtim

  • The Weir (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    as Jim

Career shape

Star power in the 95th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 76 titles, 74 of them dated from 1979 to 2025; peak year 1995.

Biggest box office

Braveheart (1995)

$213M worldwide

Highest rated

Braveheart (1995)

Midcredits 98th

Most popular right now

Republic of Doyle (2010)

Film career

19792025

Peak 1995 · back in prominent film roles after a quiet stretch. Top draw in 1 MovieCove title. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting75 of 76: 75 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score74thWriting1 of 76: 1 only writing, 0 with another role

By decade

1970s1 · acting1980s1 · acting1990s32 · 31 acting · 1 crew2000s25 · acting2010s9 · acting2020s6 · acting

Billing

usually 8th · top billed in 0% of 15 roles
9000

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. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

How do Sean McGinley's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 67th percentile, the median of all 24; across their 18 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 51st percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

51stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 18

Approval · how many liked their films

58thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 18

Reach · how many have seen their films

68thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 18

Midcredits score across 37 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up18
  • 50th to 74th9
  • 25th to 49th6
  • Below 25th4

Shape of the crowd

21 of their 37 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved7
  • Crowd Pleaser21
  • Mixed9

Most divisive · actor

Butterfly (2018)

84th percentile spread · 18% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Braveheart (1995)

Midcredits 98th · 90% liked

Reviewers score the acting 73/100 in their films, across 17 reviewed titles; fans 82, detractors 49. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

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 Sean McGinley's work okay for kids?

Across up to 6 MovieCove titles with content scores, sex & nudity runs heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore4 titlesmedian 83 · severeMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity6 titles21–62 · median 47 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity4 titlesmedian 62 · intenseMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs3 titlesmedian 33 · mildMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense3 titlesmedian 88 · severeMedian 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 Sean McGinley work with?

People who share at least 2 of Sean McGinley's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Brendan Gleeson shares the most, 6.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Cinematographers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles