Skip to content
MovieCove
Pete Townshend

Pete Townshend

Actor, also writer and producer · Born May 19, 1945 (81) · Chiswick, London, England, UK

Peter Dennis Blandford "Pete" Townshend (born 19 May 1945) is an English rock guitarist, vocalist, songwriter and author, known principally as the guitarist and songwriter for the rock group The Who, as well as for his own solo career. His career with The Who spans more than forty years, during which time the band grew to be considered one of the most influential bands of the 60s and 70s, and, according to Eddie Vedder, "possibly the greatest live band ever." Townshend is the primary songwriter for The Who, having written well over one hundred songs for the band's eleven studio albums, including concept albums and the rock operas Tommy and Quadrophenia, plus popular rock and roll radio staples like Who's Next, and dozens more that appeared as non-album singles, bonus tracks on reissues, and tracks on rarities compilations like Odds & Sods. He has also written over one hundred songs that have appeared on his solo albums, as well as radio jingles and television theme songs. Although known primarily as a guitarist, he also plays other instruments such as keyboards, banjo, accordion, synthesiser, bass guitar and drums, on his own solo albums, several Who albums, and as a guest contributor to a wide array of other artists' recordings. Townshend has never had formal lessons in any of the instruments he plays. Townshend has also been a contributor and author of newspaper and magazine articles, book reviews, essays, books, and scripts, as well as collaborating as a lyricist (and composer) for many other musical acts. Townshend was ranked #3 in Dave Marsh's list of Best Guitarists in The New Book of Rock Lists, #10 in Gibson.com's list of the top fifty guitarists, and #50 in Rolling Stone magazine's 2003 list: 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time. Townshend was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of The Who in 1990. Description above from the Wikipedia article Pete Townshend, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia​

Read more

Biography from TMDB.

Born
May 19, 1945 (81)
From
Chiswick, London, England, UK
Works as
Actor, also writer and producer
Titles
9 on MovieCove · 82 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Official site (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 157 days to Oct 28Up 17% in 30 days

What are Pete Townshend's films like?

Across their 18 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Society and Self.

Genres

Documentary12 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 89th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Documentary movies
Drama2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 80th percentile
: browse their Drama movies
Music2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 94th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Music 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
Society
39%
Self
27%
Ideas
18%
Bonds
9%
Power
4%
Survival
3%
Legacy9 titles, browse their movies with this themeArt8 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity6 titles, browse their movies with this themeFame5 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity5 titles, browse their movies with this themeAmbition3 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 18 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 2

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

Grounded 14 · Stylized 3 · Heightened 1

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

Gentle 7 · Charged 8 · Intense 3

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

Steady 14 · Shifting 3 · Whiplash 1

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

Straight-faced 9 · Some laughs 9 · Funny 0

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

Slow burn 12 · Even-paced 6 · Relentless 0

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 6 · 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 1

Roles they play

1 analyzed role

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Warm
9
Contemplative
10
Melancholic
6
Joyful
5
Hopeful
4
Other
14

How their films linger

Rousing7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 1 with a twist

  • Happy7
  • Bittersweet9
  • Ambiguous2

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 Pete Townshend's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 8 of their 9 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service.

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Pete Townshend'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

82 credits, 9 with a MovieCove page; 103 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • The Who: Quadrophenia Super Deluxe Edition (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2026)

    Actor

  • The Who: Who's Next - Life House Super Deluxe Edition (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2023)

    Actor

  • The Who With Orchestra Live At Wembley (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2023)

    Actor

  • The Who Hits 50! Live (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2022)

    Actor

  • Her Majesty (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2021)

    Composer · Executive Producer

  • The Hat (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2020)

    Composer

  • The Night That Changed Rock (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2019)

    Actor

  • Come Together The Rise of the Festival (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2018)

    Actor

  • The Who: Rock in Rio 2017 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    as guitar

  • A Silent Voice: The Movie(2016)

    Main Title Theme Composer · Theme Song Performance

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • The Who: French TV Archives 1965-1967 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    Actor

  • The Who: Quadrophenia - Live in London (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    Actor

  • 12-12-12 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    Actor

  • The Who: Purple Hearts and Power Chords (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    Actor

  • Woodstock: Untold Stories (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    Actor

  • The Who: Live at the Isle of Wight Festival 1970 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    as Himselft

  • The Who: At Kilburn 1977(2009)

    as guitar

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • The Who: Live at the London Coliseum 1969 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    Writer · as Himself - guitars, vocals

  • The Who: Stockholm 7/6/2007 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    Actor

  • The Who: Dublin 6/29/2007 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    Actor

  • The Who: Cheshire 6/23/2007 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    Actor

  • The Who: Lisbon 5/16/2007 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    Actor

  • The Who: Atlantic City 3/9/2007 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    Actor

  • The Who: Fresno 2/25/2007 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    Actor

  • The Who: Grand Rapids 12/5/2006 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Actor

  • The Who: Quadrophenia Live With Special Guests (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    as Pete Townshend

  • The Who: Palm Springs 11/11/2006 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Actor

  • The Who: Baltimore 9/23/2006 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Actor

  • The Who: Holmdel 9/21/2006 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Actor

  • The Who: Boston 9/16/2006 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Actor

  • The Who: Wantagh 9/13/2006 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Actor

  • The Who: Philadelphia 9/12/2006 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Actor

  • The Who: Zaragoza 7/29/2006 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Actor

  • The Who: Madrid 7/27/2006 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Actor

  • The Who: Ulm 7/23/2006 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Actor

  • The Who: St. Polten 7/22/2006 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Actor

  • The Who: Nyon 7/20/2006 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Actor

  • The Who: Metz 7/18/2006 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Actor

  • The Who: Lyon 7/17/2006 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Actor

  • The Who: Monte Carlo 7/15/2006 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Actor

  • The Who: Locarno 7/14/2006 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Actor

  • The Who: Bonn 7/11/2006 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Actor

  • The Who: Glasgow 7/9/2006 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Actor

  • The Who: Dublin 7/8/2006 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Actor

  • The Who: Liverpool 7/6/2006 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Actor

  • The Who: Liverpool 7/5/2006 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Actor

  • The Who: Hampshire 7/3/2006 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Actor

  • The Who: Werchter 6/30/2006 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Actor

  • The Who: Brighton 6/18/2006 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Actor

  • The Who: Tommy Live With Special Guests (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Writer · as Self

  • VH1 Rock Honors (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Cloud Chaser (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Composer

  • The Who – Broadcast In Roundhouse Electric Proms 2006 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Actor

  • The World's Greatest Gigs (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    Actor

  • Live Aid (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    Actor

  • Monterey Pop - The Outtake Performances (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    as The Who

  • CSI: Miami(2002)

    Show 1 episode · Theme Song Performance

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all shows

  • Pete Townshend: Music from Lifehouse (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    Composer · Actor

  • American Beauty(1999)

    Thanks

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • The Iron Giant(1999)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • Pete Townshend - Live at Fillmore West, April 30th, 1996 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    as guitar, vocals

  • 1996 VH1 Honors (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Actor

  • TFI Friday (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Secret Adventures of Tom Thumb (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    as Voice

  • Later... with Jools Holland (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    Show 3 episodes · Actor

  • The Simpsons(1989)

    Show 1 episode · as Pete Townshend (voice)

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all shows

  • MTV Rockumentary (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Dogs in Space (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    Thanks

  • The Who at Live Aid (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Actor

  • White City (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Writer · as Pete Fountain

  • Miami Vice(1984)

    Show 1 episode · Songs

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all shows

  • The Who: Live from Toronto (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    Actor

  • All The Best Cowboys Have Chinese Eyes (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Writer · as Self

  • Video EP: Pete Townshend (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Actor

  • Quadrophenia(1979)

    Executive Producer · Music Director · Story Consultant

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • The South Bank Show (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • O Parvardigar (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    Composer

  • Tommy(1975)

    Composer · Original Concept · Original Story · as Himself

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • Double Pisces, Scorpio Rising (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    Composer

  • Seize millions de jeunes: Mods (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    as Interviewee

  • The Who: Philadelphia 11/25/2006 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Actor

  • The Who: Vancouver 10/8/2006 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Actor

Career shape

Star power in the 33rd percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 83 titles, 81 of them dated from 1965 to 2026.

Biggest box office

Tommy (1975)

$35M worldwide

Highest rated

The Iron Giant (1999)

Midcredits 99th

Film career

  • 1993Screen debut· The Secret Adventures of Tom Thumb

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting67 of 83: 65 only acting, 2 with another roleWriting6 of 83: 3 only writing, 3 with another roleProducing3 of 83: 1 only producing, 2 with another roleMusic8 of 83: 4 only music, 4 with another roleOther crew6 of 83: 4 only other crew, 2 with another role · typical Midcredits score89th

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

By decade

1960s1 · acting1970s6 · 2 acting · 4 crew1980s9 · 6 acting · 4 crew1990s7 · 5 acting · 2 crew2000s44 · 40 acting · 5 crew2010s8 · 7 acting · 1 crew2020s6 · 4 acting · 2 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 Pete Townshend's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 98th percentile, the median of all 6; across their 18 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 92nd percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

92ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 18

Approval · how many liked their films

86thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 18

Reach · how many have seen their films

31stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 18

Midcredits score across 9 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up7
  • 50th to 74th1
  • 25th to 49th1

Shape of the crowd

5 of their 9 titles are Universally Loved.

  • Universally Loved5
  • Crowd Pleaser3
  • Mixed1

Most loved · composer

A Silent Voice: The Movie (2016)

Midcredits 99th · 91% liked

Reviewers score the acting 65/100 in their films, across 7 reviewed titles; fans 77, detractors 41. 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 Pete Townshend's work okay for kids?

Across a limited sample of up to 3 MovieCove titles with content scores.

Their medianMedian of all films
Violence & Gore3 titlesmedian 42 · moderateMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity3 titlesmedian 45 · moderateMedian of all films: 32
Profanity3 titlesmedian 23 · mildMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs3 titlesmedian 70 · intenseMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense3 titlesmedian 54 · 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 Pete Townshend work with?

People who share at least 2 of Pete Townshend's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Roger Daltrey shares the most, 11.

Actors

  • Roger Daltrey11 titles · 10 as actor    See all 11 shared titles with Roger Daltrey
  • John Entwistle11 titles · 10 as actor    See all 11 shared titles with John Entwistle
  • Keith Moon9 titles · 7 as actor    See all 9 shared titles with Keith Moon
  • Kenney Jones3 titles    See all 3 shared titles with Kenney Jones

Producers

Mixed roles