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Hal Needham

Hal Needham

Actor, director and writer, also producer · Died October 25, 2013, aged 82 · Memphis, Tennessee, USA

Hal Brett Needham (March 6, 1931 – October 25, 2013) was an American stuntman, film director, actor and writer. He is best known for his frequent collaborations with actor Burt Reynolds, usually in films involving fast cars, such as Smokey and the Bandit (1977), Hooper (1978), The Cannonball Run (1981) and Stroker Ace (1983). In his later years, Needham moved out of stunt work, and focused his energy on the World land speed record project. In 2001, Needham received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Taurus World Stunt Awards, and in 2012, he was awarded a Governors Award by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Description above from the Wikipedia article Hal Needham, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
March 6, 1931
Died
October 25, 2013 (aged 82)
From
Memphis, Tennessee, USA
Works as
Actor, director and writer, also producer
Titles
94 on MovieCove · 119 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 37 days to Oct 26Down 22% in 30 days

What are Hal Needham's films like?

Across their 17 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Self.

Genres

Action10 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 23rd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Action movies
Comedy4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 22nd percentile
: browse their Comedy 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
37%
Self
25%
Society
13%
Morality
11%
Survival
8%
Power
6%
Friendship6 titles, browse their movies with this themeLoyalty4 titles, browse their movies with this themeAmbition5 titles, browse their movies with this themeSelf-worth3 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice3 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love3 titles, browse their movies with this themeFreedom2 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 17 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Light: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their light movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 13 · Serious 3 · Dark 1

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

Grounded 5 · Stylized 8 · Heightened 4

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

Gentle 6 · Charged 8 · Intense 3

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

Steady 6 · Shifting 8 · Whiplash 3

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 4 · Some laughs 4 · Funny 9

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

Slow burn 3 · Even-paced 12 · Relentless 2

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

Casual 12 · Engaged 5 · Full focus 0

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

Resolved 15 · Open-ended 2 · Ambiguous 0

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Joyful
9
Thrilling
9
Absurd
8
Tense
3
Manic
2
Other
13

How their films linger

Fun13 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good11 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteRousing2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteWistful2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 2 with a twist

  • Happy12
  • Bittersweet2
  • Ambiguous2
  • Cyclical1

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 Hal Needham's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 44 of their 94 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (29).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Hal Needham'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

119 credits, 94 with a MovieCove page; 11 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Hard Time: Hostage Hotel(1999)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films

  • The Sunchaser(1996)

    Stunts

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • Cybill (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    Show 1 episode · as Hal Needham

  • Bandit: Bandit's Silver Angel(1994)

    Director · Characters · Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • Bandit: Beauty and the Bandit(1994)

    Director · Characters · Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films

  • Bandit: Bandit, Bandit (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    Director · Characters · Executive Producer

  • Bandit: Bandit Goes Country (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    Director · Characters · Executive Producer · Story

  • B.L. Stryker (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • Body Slam(1986)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all films

  • Rad(1986)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • Cannonball Run II(1984)

    Director · Screenplay · as Porsche 928 Driver with Cowboy Hat (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films

  • Smokey and the Bandit Part 3(1983)

    Characters

    Midcredits score: 2nd percentile of all films

  • Stroker Ace(1983)

    Director · Screenplay · as Man Punching Stroker Into Ladies Room

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all films

  • Megaforce(1982)

    Director · Screenplay · as Technician (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 6th percentile of all films

  • The Cannonball Run(1981)

    Director · as Ambulance EMT (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • Smokey and the Bandit II(1980)

    Director · Characters

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films

  • Stunts Unlimited (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    Director · as H.N. (uncredited)

  • Death Car on the Freeway(1979)

    Director · as Mr. Blanchard

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • The Villain(1979)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • Hooper(1978)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • Foul Play(1978)

    Stunts

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • The End(1978)

    Stunt Coordinator

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • Smokey and the Bandit(1977)

    Director · Story · Stunts

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • Billy Jack Goes to Washington(1977)

    Stunt Coordinator

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all films

  • Nickelodeon(1976)

    Stunt Coordinator

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • A Star Is Born(1976)

    Stunts

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • Charlie's Angels(1976)

    Show 1 episode · as Julio · as Spencer

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all shows

  • Gator(1976)

    Second Unit Director · Stunt Coordinator

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films

  • Jackson County Jail(1976)

    as Chief of Fallsburg Police

    Midcredits score: 43rd percentile of all films

  • Gable and Lombard(1976)

    Stunts

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • Lucky Lady(1975)

    Stunts

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • Peeper(1975)

    Stunt Coordinator

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • Take a Hard Ride(1975)

    Second Unit Director · Stunt Coordinator · as Garmes (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • W.W. and the Dixie Dancekings(1975)

    Stunt Coordinator · as Trooper Carson

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • French Connection II(1975)

    Stunt Coordinator · as Doyle Kidnapper (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • The Longest Yard(1974)

    Second Unit Director · Stunt Coordinator

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films

  • Three the Hard Way(1974)

    Stunt Coordinator

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • Chinatown(1974)

    Stunt Coordinator

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • Busting(1974)

    Stunts

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • Blazing Saddles(1974)

    Stunts · as Outlaw (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • McQ(1974)

    Stunt Driver · as Santiago Henchman (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • White Lightning(1973)

    Second Unit Director · Stunt Coordinator · Stunt Double · Stunts

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • The Man Who Loved Cat Dancing(1973)

    Stunt Coordinator

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • Call to Danger (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    Stunts · as Connors

  • The Life and Times of Judge Roy Bean(1972)

    Stunts

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films

  • The Heist (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    Stunts

  • The Bounty Man (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    as Pike

  • Goodnight, My Love (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    Stunt Coordinator

  • The Culpepper Cattle Co.(1972)

    Stunt Coordinator · as Burgess

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • Hardcase(1972)

    Stunt Coordinator

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films

  • Sometimes a Great Notion(1971)

    Stunts · as Man at Racetrack

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • Something Big(1971)

    Stunt Coordinator

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • The Organization(1971)

    Stunts

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films

  • The French Connection(1971)

    Stunts

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Chrome and Hot Leather(1971)

    Stunts

    Midcredits score: 22nd percentile of all films

  • One More Train to Rob(1971)

    Stunt Coordinator · as Bert Gant

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • Alias Smith and Jones (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Angel Unchained(1970)

    Stunt Coordinator

    Midcredits score: 17th percentile of all films

  • Dirty Dingus Magee(1970)

    Stunts

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films

  • C.C. & Company(1970)

    Stunts

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films

  • Chisum(1970)

    Stunt Coordinator

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • Rio Lobo(1970)

    Stunts

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • The Animals(1971)

    Stunts

    Midcredits score: 3rd percentile of all films

  • The Undefeated(1969)

    Stunt Coordinator · as Yankee Corporal at River Crossing (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • The Bridge at Remagen(1969)

    Stunt Coordinator

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • The Great Bank Robbery(1969)

    Stunts

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • Hellfighters(1968)

    Stunt Coordinator

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • Bandolero!(1968)

    Stunt Coordinator

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • The Devil's Brigade(1968)

    Stunt Coordinator · as The Sergeant

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • The Ballad of Josie(1967)

    Stunts

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films

  • Camelot(1967)

    Stunts

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • Mannix(1967)

    Show 1 episode · as Henchman #2 (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all shows

  • Cimarron Strip (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Hells Angels on Wheels(1967)

    Stunts

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films

  • The War Wagon(1967)

    Stunt Coordinator · Stunt Double · Stunts · as Hite

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films

  • The Way West(1967)

    Stunts

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • Ironside (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Show 1 episode · as Officer Connell

  • Tobruk(1967)

    Stunts

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • Alvarez Kelly(1966)

    Stunts

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • Beau Geste (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

    Stunt Coordinator

  • The Rare Breed(1966)

    Stunt Coordinator

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • Our Man Flint(1966)

    Stunts

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • The War Lord(1965)

    Stunts

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

  • The Wild Wild West (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    Show 1 episode · Stunts · as Henchman (uncredited)

  • Laredo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Great Race(1965)

    as Saloon Brawler (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • Shenandoah(1965)

    Stunts

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • In Harm's Way(1965)

    Stunts · as Airman in the Blue Lagoon (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • Major Dundee(1965)

    Stunts

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • Advance to the Rear(1964)

    as Rebel Soldier (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • Mail Order Bride(1964)

    Stunts

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • 4 for Texas(1963)

    Stunts · as Thomas Worker (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • Kings of the Sun(1963)

    Stunts

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • The Raiders(1963)

    Stunts

    Midcredits score: 11th percentile of all films

  • McLintock!(1963)

    Stunts · as Carter (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films

  • The Great Adventure (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    Show 1 episode · as Recruiting Officer

  • Wall of Noise (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    Stunts

  • Donovan's Reef(1963)

    Stunts

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • How the West Was Won(1962)

    Stunts

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • Stoney Burke (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Virginian (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    Show 1 episode · as Bounty Hunter · as The Man

  • Shootout at Big Sag (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    as Saloon Brawler (uncredited)

  • The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance(1962)

    Stunts

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • A Thunder of Drums(1961)

    Stunt Double

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • Coronado 9 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Guns of the Timberland(1960)

    as Townsman (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • The Rebel(1959)

    Show 1 episode · as Indian

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all shows

  • Thunder in the Sun(1959)

    Stunts

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films

  • Paratroop Command(1959)

    Stunts · as German (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films

  • Rawhide (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    Show 1 episode · as Brawler (uncredited) · as Corporal Williams · as Tom (uncredited)

  • Yancy Derringer (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

    Show 1 episode · as Guard (uncredited) · as Judge Randall's guard (uncredited)

  • The Big Country(1958)

    Stunts

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • The Fiend Who Walked the West(1958)

    as Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • Zorro(1957)

    Show 1 episode · as Don (uncredited) · as Lancer (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all shows

  • Wagon Train(1957)

    Show 1 episode · as Saloon Tough (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all shows

  • Have Gun, Will Travel (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    Show 2 episodes · Stunt Double · as 2nd Deputy · as 3rd Posseman · as Apache · as Band member (uncredited) · as Body Guard #2 · as Buddy Webster · as Cal - Posse Member · as Club Bartender · as Cowhand · as Dink Turner · as Emmet Trager · as First Guide · as Gandy Dancer · as Gleet · as Gunman #1 - Joe · as Ham Turner · as Harry Beldon · as Little Horse · as Lookout · as Mac · as Morgan - Trooper · as Saloon Brawler (uncredited) · as Shaw · as Soldier · as Trail Hand Mabry · as Turner · as Wiggen - Wagonmaster

  • The Spirit of St. Louis(1957)

    Stunts

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • Tales of Wells Fargo(1957)

    Show 1 episode · as 2nd Cowhand · as Indian Brave · as Outlaw · as Stage Passenger (uncredited) · as Townsman (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all shows

  • Gunsmoke (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    Show 1 episode · as Charlie (uncredited) · as Cowboy · as Ed · as Gang Member (uncredited) · as Henchman (uncredited) · as Renegade · as Townsman (uncredited)

Career shape

Star power in the 87th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 119 titles from 1955 to 1999; peak year 1975.

Biggest box office

Smokey and the Bandit (1977)

$127M worldwide

Highest rated

Smokey and the Bandit (1977)

Midcredits 82nd

Most popular right now

Hooper (1978)

Film career

19551999

Peak 1975 · fewer prominent film roles lately. 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
Acting49 of 119: 25 only acting, 24 with another role · typical Midcredits score53rdDirecting18 of 119: 6 only directing, 12 with another role · typical Midcredits score23rdWriting10 of 119: 1 only writing, 9 with another role · typical Midcredits score18thProducing4 of 119: 0 only producing, 4 with another roleOther crew76 of 119: 57 only other crew, 19 with another role · typical Midcredits score54th

119 titles, 30 with more than one role — other crew and acting overlap on 18 of them.

By decade

1950s13 · 10 acting · 5 crew1960s43 · 19 acting · 31 crew1970s46 · 14 acting · 42 crew1980s10 · 5 acting · 10 crew1990s7 · 1 acting · 6 crew

Billing

usually 19th · top billed in 0% of 11 roles
6373

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 Hal Needham's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 48th percentile, the median of all 88; across their 17 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 27th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

27thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 17

Approval · how many liked their films

27thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 17

Reach · how many have seen their films

79thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 17

Midcredits score across 94 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up20
  • 50th to 74th27
  • 25th to 49th26
  • Below 25th21

Shape of the crowd

40 of their 94 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved7
  • Universally Panned2
  • Cult Classic2
  • Crowd Pleaser40
  • Broadly Agreed12
  • Mixed31

Most divisive · actor, director, writer

Megaforce (1982)

82nd percentile spread · 63% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Blazing Saddles (1974)

Midcredits 94th · 83% liked

Reviewers score the acting 51/100 in their films, across 14 reviewed titles; fans 66, detractors 28. 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 Hal Needham's work okay for kids?

Across up to 9 MovieCove titles with content scores, profanity runs heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore3 titlesmedian 24 · mildMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity9 titles16–59 · median 30 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity6 titles36–63 · median 47 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs3 titlesmedian 36 · moderateMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense3 titlesmedian 3 · minimalMedian 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 Hal Needham work with?

People who share at least 2 of Hal Needham's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Burt Reynolds shares the most, 9.

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers