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Thea von Harbou

Thea von Harbou

Writer · Died July 1, 1954, aged 65 · Tauperlitz, Germany

Thea Gabriele von Harbou was a German actress and author of Prussian aristocratic origin. She was born in Tauperlitz in the Kingdom of Bavaria. She is especially known for the 1927 science fiction film Metropolis directed by her husband Fritz Lang. She would often publish her screenplays as novels. In 1933, Lang fleed Nazi Germany as he was Jewish; whilst she made several Nazi propaganda films. She later married Ayi Tendulkar, a journalist of Indian origin - before dying in 1954.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
December 19, 1888
Died
July 1, 1954 (aged 65)
From
Tauperlitz, Germany
Works as
Writer
Titles
15 on MovieCove · 62 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 38 days to Oct 27Down 20% in 30 days

What are Thea von Harbou's films like?

Across their 15 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Power.

Genres

Adventure5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 88th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Adventure movies
Crime4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 96th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Crime movies
Drama4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 79th percentile
: browse their Drama 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%
Power
23%
Bonds
20%
Survival
10%
Self
7%
Ideas
4%
Society
3%
Romantic love5 titles, browse their movies with this themePower4 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice4 titles, browse their movies with this themeSacrifice3 titles, browse their movies with this themeRevenge2 titles, browse their movies with this themeBetrayal2 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception2 titles, browse their movies with this themeGreed2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 15 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 3 · Serious 5 · Dark 7

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

Grounded 1 · Stylized 4 · Heightened 10

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

Gentle 0 · Charged 7 · Intense 8

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

Steady 5 · Shifting 9 · Whiplash 1

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

Straight-faced 14 · Some laughs 1 · Funny 0

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

Slow burn 7 · Even-paced 8 · 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 11 · Full focus 3

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 3 · Affecting 5 · Heavy 7

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

Resolved 10 · Open-ended 5 · Ambiguous 0

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
12
Melancholic
7
Thrilling
6
Dread
3
Romantic
2
Other
5

How their films linger

Haunting7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteDevastating2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 3 with a twist

  • Happy5
  • Bittersweet6
  • Tragic2
  • 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 Thea von Harbou's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 9 of their 15 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service.

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Thea von Harbou'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

62 credits, 15 with a MovieCove page.

  • Metropolis(2001)

    Writer

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • M the Damned (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Original Film Writer

  • The Terror of Doctor Mabuse(1962)

    Writer

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • Journey to the Lost City (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    Novel · Screenplay

  • The Indian Tomb(1959)

    Novel

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

  • The Tiger of Eschnapur(1959)

    Novel

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • Dein Herz ist meine Heimat (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    Writer

  • M (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

    Original Story

  • Journey to Happiness (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1948)

    Writer

  • Via Mala (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1945)

    Screenplay

  • Das Leben geht weiter (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1945)

    Novel

  • Burning Hearts(1945)

    Writer

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • The Genius and the Nightingale (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1943)

    Screenplay · Story

  • Annelie (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1941)

    Screenplay

  • Wie konntest Du, Veronika! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

    Writer

  • Hurra, ich bin Papa (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    Writer

  • Menschen vom Varieté (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    Writer

  • The Stars of Variety Show (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    Screenplay

  • Covered Tracks(1938)

    Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

  • Die Frau am Scheidewege (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    Screenplay

  • Youth (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    Writer

  • Le Tigre du Bengale (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    Novel

  • The Indian Tomb (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    Novel

  • The Tiger of Eschnapur (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    Novel

  • Mother Song (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    Screenplay · Story

  • The Broken Jug (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    Screenplay

  • Versprich mir nichts! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    Writer

  • The Sovereign (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    Screenplay

  • Die unmögliche Frau (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

    Writer

  • I Was Jack Mortimer (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

    Writer

  • An Ideal Husband (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

    Writer

  • Turandot, princesse de Chine (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

    Writer

  • The Old and The Young King (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

    Writer

  • Prinzessin Turandot (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

    Screenplay

  • What Am I Without You (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

    Writer

  • The Assumption of Hannele (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

    Director · Writer

  • Elisabeth and the Jester (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

    Director · Writer

  • The Testament of Dr. Mabuse(1933)

    Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • The child's first right (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

    Screenplay

  • M(1931)

    Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • Woman in the Moon(1929)

    Novel · Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • Spies(1928)

    Novel · Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • Metropolis(1927)

    Novel · Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • The Chronicles of the Gray House (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1925)

    Writer

  • Michael (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1924)

    Adaptation · Screenplay

  • Die Nibelungen: Kriemhild's Revenge(1924)

    Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

  • Die Nibelungen: Siegfried(1924)

    Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • The Finances of the Grand Duke (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1924)

    Writer

  • The Expulsion (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1923)

    Writer

  • Die Prinzessin Suwarin (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1923)

    Screenplay

  • The Stone Rider (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1923)

    Idea

  • Phantom (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1922)

    Adaptation · Writer

  • Dr. Mabuse, the Gambler(1922)

    Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

  • The Burning Soil (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1922)

    Writer

  • The Indian Tomb, Part II: The Tiger of Eschnapur (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1921)

    Novel · Writer

  • The Indian Tomb, Part I: The Mission of the Yoghi (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1921)

    Novel · Writer

  • Destiny(1921)

    Writer

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films

  • Der Leidensweg der Inge Krafft (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1921)

    Story

  • Four Around the Woman (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1921)

    Screenplay

  • Die Frauen vom Gnadenstein (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1921)

    Screenplay

  • The Wandering Image (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1920)

    Writer

  • Die Legende von der heiligen Simplicia (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1920)

    Writer

Career shape

A full career of 59 titles from 1920 to 1982.

Biggest box office

Metropolis (2001)

$4M worldwide

Highest rated

Metropolis (1927)

Midcredits 98th

Most popular right now

M (1931)

By role

only this rolewith another role
Directing2 of 59: 0 only directing, 2 with another roleWriting59 of 59: 57 only writing, 2 with another role · typical Midcredits score94th

By decade

1920s22 · crew1930s25 · crew1940s6 · crew1950s4 · crew1960s1 · crew1980s1 · 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 Thea von Harbou's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 92nd percentile, the median of all 15; across their 15 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 90th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

90thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 15

Approval · how many liked their films

90thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 15

Reach · how many have seen their films

76thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 15

Midcredits score across 15 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up10
  • 50th to 74th4
  • 25th to 49th1

Shape of the crowd

7 of their 15 titles are Universally Loved.

  • Universally Loved7
  • Cult Classic2
  • Crowd Pleaser5
  • Broadly Agreed1

Most divisive · writer

Covered Tracks (1938)

76th percentile spread · 20% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · writer

Metropolis (1927)

Midcredits 98th · 86% liked

Reviewers score the dialogue 40/100 and the plot and story 52/100 in their films, across 14 reviewed titles. The element that speaks to their work as a writer.

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 Thea von Harbou's work okay for kids?

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

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore4 titlesmedian 39 · moderateMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity5 titles13–43 · median 18 · mildlighter than most filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity3 titlesmedian 21 · mildMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs3 titlesmedian 47 · moderateMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense4 titlesmedian 50 · moderateMedian 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 Thea von Harbou work with?

People who share at least 2 of Thea von Harbou's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Fritz Lang shares the most, 12.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers