Skip to content
MovieCove
Michael Riley

Michael Riley

Actor · Born February 4, 1962 (64) · London, Ontario, Canada

Michael Riley (born February 4, 1962) is a Canadian stage, film and television actor. He's a graduate of the National Theatre School in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

Biography from TMDB.

Born
February 4, 1962 (64)
From
London, Ontario, Canada
Works as
Actor
Titles
26 on MovieCove · 57 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 39 days to Oct 28Down 10% in 30 days

What are Michael Riley's films like?

Across their 19 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Survival and Bonds.

Genres

Drama8 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 36th percentile
: browse their Drama movies
Comedy2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 67th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Comedy movies
Mystery2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 32nd percentile
: browse their Mystery 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
Survival
30%
Bonds
21%
Morality
19%
Self
18%
Ideas
5%
Power
5%
Society
1%
Survival7 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds8 titles, browse their movies with this themeTrauma4 titles, browse their movies with this themeAmbition3 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice3 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love2 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception2 titles, browse their movies with this themeGrief2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 16 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Dark: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their dark movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 2 · Serious 4 · Dark 10

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

Grounded 13 · Stylized 3 · Heightened 0

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

A split, not a type: Gentle 1 · Charged 6 · Intense 9

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

Steady 7 · Shifting 7 · Whiplash 2

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

Straight-faced 13 · Some laughs 1 · Funny 2

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

Slow burn 5 · Even-paced 9 · Relentless 2

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

Casual 5 · Engaged 11 · Full focus 0

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 2 · Affecting 5 · Heavy 9

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

Resolved 8 · Open-ended 7 · Ambiguous 1

Roles they play

12 analyzed roles

Usually the Mentor: 5 of 12 analyzed roles.

Mentor
5 of 12
Hero
3 of 12
Ally
1 of 12
Shadow
1 of 12
Threshold guardian
1 of 12
Trickster
1 of 12
Show the 12 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
13
Melancholic
7
Dread
7
Hopeful
7
Contemplative
5
Other
8

How their films linger

Hopeful9 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 1 with a twist

  • Happy3
  • Bittersweet14
  • Tragic1
  • Ambiguous1

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 Michael Riley's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 18 of their 26 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (10).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Michael Riley'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

57 credits, 26 with a MovieCove page.

  • Like a House on Fire(2020)

    as Jack

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • Transplant(2020)

    Show 3 episodes · as William Hunter

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all shows

  • Willed to Kill(2012)

    as Dr. Aaron Kade

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • My Mother's Secret (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    as Garrett Fowler

  • Being Erica(2009)

    Show 49 episodes · as Dr. Tom Wexler

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all shows

  • Flashpoint(2008)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all shows

  • The Tenth Circle(2008)

    as Mike Bartholomy

    Midcredits score: 34th percentile of all films

  • Murdoch Mysteries(2008)

    Show 1 episode · as Doctor Burrit Greyson

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all shows

  • Race to Mars(2007)

    Show 4 episodes · as Rick Erwin

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all shows

  • St. Urbain's Horseman (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    as Harry Stein

  • Normal(2007)

    as Carl

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • Mars Rising(2007)

    Show as Rick Erwin

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all shows

  • Supervolcano(2005)

    as Rick Lieberman

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • Saving Emily (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    as Kurt

  • Cube Zero(2004)

    as Jax

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films

  • Sugar (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    as The Man

  • Her Perfect Spouse(2004)

    as Ty Kellington

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films

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

    Show 39 episodes · as Elliot Sacks

  • Gettysburg: Three Days of Destiny (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    as General John Reynolds

  • Homeless to Harvard: The Liz Murray Story(2003)

    as Peter

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • Punch(2002)

    as Sam

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • Veritas: The Quest (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Show 1 episode · as Robert Fraser

  • 100 Days in the Jungle(2002)

    as Rod Dunbar

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • The Interrogation of Michael Crowe(2002)

    as Stephen Crowe

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • Ace Lightning (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    Show 39 episodes · as Ace Lightning (voice)

  • Black Swan (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    as Carl

  • Mile Zero (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    as Derek

  • CSI: Crime Scene Investigation(2000)

    Show 1 episode · as Steven McCormick

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all shows

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

    as Dennis Winslow

  • Win, Again! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    Actor

  • Power Play (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Show 26 episodes · Actor

  • Heart of the Sun (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    as Father Ed

  • Ice(1998)

    as Greg

    Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all films

  • Style & Substance (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Show 1 episode · as Michael

  • Amistad(1997)

    as British Officer

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • Every 9 Seconds (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    as Ray

  • Pale Saints (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    as Dody

  • The Prince (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Actor

  • Voice from the Grave(1996)

    as Adam Schuster

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • Heck's Way Home (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    as Rick Neufeld

  • French Kiss(1995)

    as M. Campbell

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

  • The Possession of Michael D.(1995)

    as Dr. Nick Galler

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all films

  • The Outer Limits(1995)

    Show 1 episode · as Gerard · as Jon Tarkman

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all shows

  • Butterbox Babies (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    as Russell Cameron

  • The Making of '...and God Spoke'(1993)

    as Clive Walton

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • Due South (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    Show 1 episode · as Walter Sparks

  • Race to Freedom: The Underground Railroad (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    as Alexander Ross

  • Because Why (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    as Alex

  • Lifeline to Victory (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    as Paul Devereaux

  • Mustard Bath (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    as Matthew

  • To Catch a Killer (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    as Joe 'Polock' Kozenczak

  • To Catch a Killer (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    Show 2 episodes · as Joe Kozenczak

  • Diplomatic Immunity (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    as Les

  • Perfectly Normal (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    as Renzo Parachi

  • Chasing Rainbows (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    Show 14 episodes · Actor

  • No Man's Land(1987)

    as Horton

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • The Comedy Factory (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Show 1 episode · as Gary

Career shape

Star power in the 93rd percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 56 titles from 1985 to 2021; peak year 2004.

Biggest box office

French Kiss (1995)

$102M worldwide

Highest rated

Homeless to Harvard: The Liz Murray Story (2003)

Midcredits 82nd

Most popular right now

Being Erica (2009)

Film career

19852021

Peak 2004 · steadily prominent in film for years. 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.

  • 1992Screen debut· To Catch a Killer
  • 2005First top-billed film· Supervolcano
  • 2005Career best· Supervolcano
  • 2009Career best· Being Erica

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting56 of 56: 56 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score48th

By decade

1980s3 · acting1990s26 · acting2000s23 · acting2010s2 · acting2020s2 · acting

Billing

usually 8th · top billed in 11% of 9 roles

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.

How do Michael Riley's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 36th percentile, the median of all 18; across their 16 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 35th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

35thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 16

Approval · how many liked their films

37thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 16

Reach · how many have seen their films

53rdpercentile
Typical film, the median of 16

Midcredits score across 26 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up7
  • 50th to 74th6
  • 25th to 49th9
  • Below 25th4

Shape of the crowd

12 of their 26 titles are Mixed.

  • Universally Loved1
  • Cult Classic1
  • Crowd Pleaser11
  • Broadly Agreed1
  • Mixed12

Most divisive · actor

Punch (2002)

78th percentile spread · 30% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Amistad (1997)

Midcredits 87th · 78% liked

Reviewers score the acting 60/100 in their films, across 15 reviewed titles; fans 72, detractors 36. 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 Michael Riley's work okay for kids?

Across up to 5 MovieCove titles with content scores, sex & nudity runs heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Sex & Nudity5 titles20–61 · median 49 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 32

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 Michael Riley work with?

People who share at least 2 of Michael Riley's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Sheila McCarthy shares the most, 2.

Actors

Producers