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Jeannot Szwarc

Jeannot Szwarc

Director, also writer · Died January 14, 2025, aged 85 · Paris, France

Jeannot Szwarc (November 21, 1939 - January 14, 2025) was a French film director. Szwarc was born in Paris. He began working as a director in US television during the 1960s, in particular on Ironside. He is also associated with The Rockford Files, Kojak, Night Gallery, JAG, Bones, Numb3rs, and Columbo. His feature films include Bug (1975), Jaws 2 (1978), Somewhere in Time (1980), Supergirl (1984), and Santa Claus: The Movie (1985). Since then, he has mainly directed television movies and series. In 2003, Szwarc joined the crew of The WB television series Smallville as a director. One of the major episodes he directed was "Homecoming", the 200th episode of Smallville. He also directed six episodes of Heroes, at least once for each season.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
November 21, 1939
Died
January 14, 2025 (aged 85)
From
Paris, France
Works as
Director, also writer
Titles
43 on MovieCove · 75 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 26Down 43% in 30 days

What are Jeannot Szwarc's films like?

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

Genres

Crime4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 48th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Crime movies
Action3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 9th percentile
: browse their Action movies
Adventure2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 46th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Adventure movies
Drama2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 62nd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Horror2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 33rd percentile
: browse their Horror movies
Thriller2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 33rd percentile
: browse their Thriller 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
Morality
34%
Self
17%
Bonds
15%
Survival
12%
Ideas
11%
Society
10%
Power
2%
Deception5 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice5 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival3 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity4 titles, browse their movies with this themeDuty2 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity2 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose2 titles, browse their movies with this themeTruth2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 16 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 8 · Serious 5 · Dark 3

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

A split, not a type: Grounded 11 · Stylized 4 · Heightened 1

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

Gentle 4 · Charged 8 · Intense 4

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

Steady 9 · Shifting 6 · Whiplash 1

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 8 · Some laughs 5 · Funny 3

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

Slow burn 4 · Even-paced 12 · Relentless 0

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 8 · Engaged 5 · Full focus 3

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

Resolved 11 · Open-ended 3 · Ambiguous 2

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
9
Warm
6
Dread
6
Thrilling
3
Contemplative
4
Other
11

How their films linger

Feel-good8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteCathartic2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 5 with a twist

  • Happy9
  • Bittersweet5
  • Tragic1
  • Ambiguous1
  • 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 Jeannot Szwarc's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 27 of their 43 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on The Roku Channel (11).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Jeannot Szwarc'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

75 credits, 43 with a MovieCove page; 7 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Doubt(2017)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 12th percentile of all shows

  • Designated Survivor(2016)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all shows

  • Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders(2016)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all shows

  • Almost Human(2013)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all shows

  • Scandal(2012)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all shows

  • The Protector (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • Castle(2009)

    Show 3 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all shows

  • Fringe(2008)

    Show 7 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all shows

  • Raising the Bar(2008)

    Show 3 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all shows

  • Private Practice(2007)

    Show 4 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all shows

  • Heroes(2006)

    Show 6 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all shows

  • Bones(2005)

    Show 15 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • Supernatural(2005)

    Show 5 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all shows

  • Grey's Anatomy(2005)

    Show 15 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all shows

  • Numb3rs(2005)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all shows

  • Boston Legal(2004)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all shows

  • Cold Case (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Show 7 episodes · Director

  • Without a Trace(2002)

    Show 12 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all shows

  • CSI: Miami(2002)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all shows

  • Smallville(2001)

    Show 14 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all shows

  • Philly(2001)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all shows

  • Boston Public (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

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

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • Seven Days (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • Ally McBeal(1997)

    Show 5 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all shows

  • Les Sœurs Soleil (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    Director

  • The Practice(1997)

    Show 19 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all shows

  • Hercule & Sherlock(1996)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 10th percentile of all films

  • The Rockford Files: If the Frame Fits...(1996)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • JAG(1995)

    Show 18 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 43rd percentile of all shows

  • The Rockford Files: A Blessing in Disguise(1995)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films

  • Schrecklicher Verdacht (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    Director

  • Revenge of a Blonde (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    Director

  • Mountain of Diamonds (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    Director

  • Mountain of Diamonds (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    Show 4 episodes · Director

  • The Burning Shore (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    Show 4 episodes · Director · Creator

  • Have a Nice Night(1990)

    Director · Writer

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films

  • Honor Bound (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    Director

  • Grand Larceny(1987)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • The Murders in the Rue Morgue(1986)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films

  • Santa Claus(1985)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • The Twilight Zone (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

  • Supergirl(1984)

    Director · Art Direction

    Midcredits score: 9th percentile of all films

  • Enigma(1982)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films

  • Somewhere in Time(1980)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all films

  • Jaws 2(1978)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • Code Name: Diamond Head(1977)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 1st percentile of all films

  • Bug(1975)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films

  • Crime Club (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    Director

  • Baretta (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    Show 4 episodes · Director

  • The Rockford Files(1974)

    Show 3 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all shows

  • The Six Million Dollar Man(1974)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all shows

  • A Summer Without Boys (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    Director

  • Lisa, Bright and Dark (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    Director

  • Kojak(1973)

    Show 14 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all shows

  • Toma (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • The New Perry Mason (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • Extreme Close-Up (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    Director

  • The Small Miracle (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    Director

  • You'll Never See Me Again(1973)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • The Devil's Daughter(1973)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • The Weekend Nun (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    Director

  • Night of Terror(1972)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • Columbo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • The Man and the City (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • Sarge (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    Show 1 episode · Director

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

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • Night Gallery(1969)

    Show 18 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all shows

  • Matt Lincoln (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • Paris 7000 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

  • Marcus Welby, M.D.(1969)

    Show 4 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all shows

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

    Associate Producer

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

    Show 191 episodes · Director · Producer

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

    Show 2 episodes · Director

  • Hallmark Hall of Fame (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

Career shape

A full career of 75 titles from 1951 to 2017.

Biggest box office

Jaws 2 (1978)

$188M worldwide

Highest rated

Somewhere in Time (1980)

Midcredits 84th

Most popular right now

Marcus Welby, M.D. (1969)

By role

only this rolewith another role
Directing74 of 75: 70 only directing, 4 with another role · typical Midcredits score57thWriting1 of 75: 0 only writing, 1 with another roleProducing2 of 75: 1 only producing, 1 with another roleOther crew2 of 75: 0 only other crew, 2 with another role

75 titles, 4 with more than one role — directing and other crew overlap on 2 of them.

By decade

1950s1 · crew1960s4 · crew1970s25 · crew1980s8 · crew1990s15 · crew2000s16 · crew2010s6 · 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 Jeannot Szwarc's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 35th percentile, the median of all 16; across their 16 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 39th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

39thpercentile
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

49thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 16

Midcredits score across 43 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up16
  • 50th to 74th9
  • 25th to 49th12
  • Below 25th6

Shape of the crowd

17 of their 43 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved8
  • Universally Panned1
  • Crowd Pleaser17
  • Broadly Agreed4
  • Mixed13

Most divisive · director

Doubt (2017)

77th percentile spread · 27% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · director

Fringe (2008)

Midcredits 96th · 91% liked

Reviewers score the atmosphere 60/100 and the pacing 35/100 in their films, across 12 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 Jeannot Szwarc's work okay for kids?

Across a limited sample of up to 4 MovieCove titles with content scores.

Their medianMedian of all films
Violence & Gore4 titlesmedian 26 · mildMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity4 titlesmedian 25 · mildMedian of all films: 32
Profanity3 titlesmedian 39 · moderateMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs3 titlesmedian 25 · mildMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense3 titlesmedian 43 · moderateMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted.

Who does Jeannot Szwarc work with?

People who share at least 2 of Jeannot Szwarc's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Ian McShane shares the most, 3.

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers