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László Szabó

László Szabó

Actor · Born March 24, 1936 (90) · Budapest, Hungary

László Szabó (born 24 March 1936) is a Hungarian actor, film director and screenwriter. Since 1952, he has appeared in more than 120 films. These include seven films that have been screened at the Cannes Film Festival. He was born to Béla Szabó and Margit Gulyás. Between 1954-1956 he was a student at the Budapest University of Technology , during which he performed in an amateur theater group. He applied to the Theater and Film Academy as an actor, but was not accepted. He left the country in the fall of 1956 and went to Paris . Like the French new wavers, he also visited Henri Langlois ' "liberty university of film history" at the Cinématheque, watched the film series, met and talked to the directors who presented their films, and while writing in the "cahiers", interviewed Buster Keaton together with Jacques Rivette . He and a friend dropped by on the set of Chabrol (Cousins), from whom he immediately received a one-sentence role. And in his next film, Locked with the Key , a longer one. After that, Godard gave him the role of the interrogator in The Little Soldier , which was followed by other roles in more recent Godard films. He is the favorite character actor of all the directors of the new wave, everyone has a role for him, they entrust him with strange, boho characters, who always have some disturbing and annoying ulterior motives. He also took a liking to directing, and made two new-wave French films. Truffaut wrote an appreciative review of the amusing film noir The White Gloves of the Devil . Zig-Zig was played by the new wave's favorite anti-star actress, Bernadette Lafont , and a cool star, Catherine Deneuve . This is also where the self-confidence and sardonic pungency of the new wavers can be felt. Like all actor-directors, he brought out the best in his actresses, skillfully mixing dark humor and tenderness. In the meantime, from the end of the 1960s he appeared in Hungarian films, and after many character roles, he got the lead role from Zsolt Kézdi-Kovács : Miklós Dibusz, the big snooty, sumák organizer, The nice neighbor . His first and so far the only Hungarian-French direction was based on Nándor Gion's novel: Sortűz for a Black Buffalo , and his first and so far only Hungarian direction: The Man Who Slept During the Day

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
March 24, 1936 (90)
From
Budapest, Hungary
Works as
Actor
Titles
24 on MovieCove · 99 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 28Up 15% in 30 days

What are László Szabó's films like?

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

Genres

Comedy5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 73rd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Comedy movies
Drama5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 69th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Crime2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 57th percentile
: browse their Crime 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%
Morality
22%
Power
19%
Bonds
15%
Survival
9%
Ideas
6%
Society
2%
Identity5 titles, browse their movies with this themeRedemption3 titles, browse their movies with this themeClass2 titles, browse their movies with this themeComing of age2 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds2 titles, browse their movies with this themeFreedom2 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 13 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 6 · Stylized 3 · Heightened 4

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

Gentle 4 · Charged 7 · Intense 2

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

Steady 8 · Shifting 4 · Whiplash 1

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

Straight-faced 8 · Some laughs 4 · Funny 1

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

Slow burn 9 · Even-paced 4 · 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 1 · Engaged 9 · Full focus 3

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

A split, not a type: Resolved 4 · Open-ended 3 · Ambiguous 6

Roles they play

2 analyzed roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Contemplative
7
Tense
6
Melancholic
5
Absurd
4
Warm
3
Other
9

How their films linger

Thought-provoking5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 1 with a twist

  • Happy2
  • Bittersweet7
  • 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 László Szabó's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 12 of their 24 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on The Criterion Channel (8).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for László Szabó'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

99 credits, 24 with a MovieCove page; 3 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Ismael's Ghosts(2017)

    as Henri Bloom

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • Parc (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    as Balthazar Rutuola

  • Gardens in Autumn (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Actor

  • Un an (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    as Poussin

  • Quand les anges s'en mêlent (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    as M. Jules

  • Playing 'In the Company of Men' (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    as Claude Doniol

  • The Man Who Slept at Daylight (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Director · Screenplay

  • The Outskirts of Alphaville (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Actor

  • Special Delivery (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    as Le gardien

  • Like An Airplane (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    as Jean, le taxi

  • Léaud l'unique (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    as Narrator (voice)

  • Abandoned (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    as Policeman

  • On appelle ça… le printemps (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    as Jean

  • Esther Kahn (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    as Ytzhok Kahn

  • Seaside, Dusk (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Actor

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

    as Le père

  • The Diary of the Hurdy-Gurdy Man (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    Actor

  • Place Vendôme(1998)

    as Charlie Rosen

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • The Alchemist and the Virgin (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    as Charlie Rosen

  • Mange ta soupe (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    as Father

  • Modré z neba (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    Actor

  • Up, Down, Fragile(1995)

    as Le père de Louise (voice)

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • Cold Water(1994)

    as Le père de Gilles

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • The Children Play Russian (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    as Jack Valenti, the Producer

  • Grand bonheur (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    as Jean-Paul

  • Laços de Sangue (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    as Pastelero

  • The Sentinel (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    as Pamiat

  • Rome Roméo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    as Producer

  • The Last Summer (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    Actor

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

    as Bernheim

  • Paperback Woman (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    as Bernard

  • Coupe franche (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    as Dédé

  • Pleure Pas My Love (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Actor

  • The Mysterious Death of Nina Chereau (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    as Marais

  • Hanussen (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    Actor

  • Le Testament d'un poète juif assassiné (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    as Paul Hamburger

  • The Unbearable Lightness of Being(1988)

    as Russian Interrogator

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • Accroche-cœur (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    as Friend director

  • The Big O (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    as Kovacs

  • Volley for a Black Buffalo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Director · Writer

  • Favourites of the Moon(1984)

    as Terrorist

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • Paroles et musique (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    as Alain

  • Love on the Ground(1984)

    as Virgil (as Laszlo Szabo)

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • Liberty at Night (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    as Le marionnettiste

  • Full Moon in Paris(1984)

    as Painter at Cafe

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • Point mort (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    Writer

  • Stand Up Crabs, the Sea Is Rising! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    as Le directeur

  • Cinématon XXIX (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    as N°282

  • Deuil en 24 heures (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Show 4 episodes · as Pollock

  • Laissé inachevé à Tokyo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Actor

  • The Vulture (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    as Kovács százados

  • Godard's Passion (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    as Laszlo

  • Temporary Paradise (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    as László / Gérard

  • The Last Metro(1980)

    as Lieutnant Bergen

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films

  • Légitime défense (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    Actor

  • Girls(1980)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films

  • Rue du Pied de Grue (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    as Inspecteur Paluche

  • Wrong-doers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    as Írnok

  • The Last Judgement But One (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    as A másik nyomozó

  • A Nice Neighbor (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    Actor

  • Minden szerdán(1979)

    as Gazsi

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Cinématon(1984)

    as N°282

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • La Barricade du Point-du-Jour (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    as Léo Frankel

  • Just Like at Home (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    as Laci

  • Judith Therpauve (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    as Lepage

  • The Song of Roland (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    as Duc Naimes / Chevalier hongrois

  • Dossier 51 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    as Sarah Robski's contact

  • The Red Poster (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    as Joseph Boczov

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

    as Jóska

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

    Director · Writer

  • Male of the Century (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    as The gangster

  • Hajdúk(1975)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Dreaming Youth(1974)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Salut, voleurs! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    as Jo

  • The White Gloves of the Devil (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    Director · Writer

  • Valparaiso, Valparaiso (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    as Lazlo

  • Le Dernier voyage du commandant le Bihan (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    Director · Writer · as le lieutenant Le Bihan

  • The Confession(1970)

    as Secret Policeman

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Winter Wind(1969)

    Assistant Director · as Allied Translator

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • Do You Know Sunday-Monday? (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    as Szabó mérnök

  • Binding Sentiments (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    as Szõlõsgazda

  • Happening (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    Actor

  • The Fatal Shot (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    as Bandi

  • Silence and Cry (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    as Detective

  • The Girl (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    as Francia autós (uncredited)

  • Weekend(1967)

    as L'Arabe (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • Le Désir attrapé par la queue (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Actor

  • Made in U.S.A(1966)

    as Paul Widmark

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • Pierrot le fou(1965)

    as The Political Exile (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films

  • Alphaville(1965)

    as Chief Engineer (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • Le Grand Escroc (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    as The Police Inspector

  • The World's Most Beautiful Swindlers(1964)

    as Police Inspector (segment "Le Grand escroc")

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films

  • Ophélia (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    Actor

  • Le Petit Soldat (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    as Laszlo

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

    as Pascual

  • My Life to Live(1962)

    as Injured Man (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

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

    Actor

  • Adorable Sinner(1959)

    as (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films

  • Web of Passion(1959)

    as Vlado

    Midcredits score: 63rd percentile of all films

Career shape

Star power in the 96th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 99 titles from 1959 to 2017; peak year 1983.

Biggest box office

Ismael's Ghosts (2017)

$3.1M worldwide

Highest rated

The Confession (1970)

Midcredits 97th

Film career

MilestoneBreakout
19592017

Peak 1983 · fewer prominent film roles lately. 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.

  • 1959Screen debut· À double tour
  • 1967Breakout· Made in U.S.A
  • 1967Career best· Made in U.S.A

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting94 of 99: 92 only acting, 2 with another role · typical Midcredits score69thDirecting5 of 99: 0 only directing, 5 with another roleWriting6 of 99: 1 only writing, 5 with another roleOther crew1 of 99: 0 only other crew, 1 with another role

99 titles, 6 with more than one role — acting and writing overlap on 1 of them.

By decade

1950s2 · acting1960s19 · 19 acting · 1 crew1970s22 · 20 acting · 3 crew1980s27 · 25 acting · 2 crew1990s14 · acting2000s14 · 13 acting · 1 crew2010s1 · acting

Billing

usually 9th · top billed in 0% of 23 roles
59698494

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 László Szabó's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 69th percentile, the median of all 24; across their 13 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 67th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

67thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 13

Approval · how many liked their films

62ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 13

Reach · how many have seen their films

59thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 13

Midcredits score across 24 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up10
  • 50th to 74th7
  • 25th to 49th5
  • Below 25th2

Shape of the crowd

12 of their 24 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved3
  • Divisive1
  • Cult Classic2
  • Crowd Pleaser12
  • Broadly Agreed1
  • Mixed5

Most divisive · actor

Minden szerdán (1979)

93rd percentile spread · 30% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

My Life to Live (1962)

Midcredits 97th · 85% liked

Reviewers score the acting 73/100 in their films, across 10 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.

Who does László Szabó work with?

People who share at least 2 of László Szabó's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Jacques Rivette shares the most, 2.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Cinematographers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles