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Neil Young

Neil Young

Actor, director, composer, producer and writer · Born November 12, 1945 (80) · Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Neil Percival Young OC OM (born November 12, 1945) is a Canadian-American singer, musician and songwriter. After embarking on a music career in Winnipeg in the 1960s, Young moved to Los Angeles, joining Buffalo Springfield with Stephen Stills, Richie Furay and others. Since the beginning of his solo career with his backing band Crazy Horse, Young has released many critically acclaimed and important albums, such as Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere, After the Gold Rush, Harvest and Rust Never Sleeps. He was a part-time member of Crosby, Stills & Nash. Young has received several Grammy and Juno Awards. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inducted him twice: in 1995 as a solo artist and in 1997 as a member of Buffalo Springfield. In 2000, Rolling Stone named Young No. 34 on their list of the 100 greatest musical artists. According to Acclaimed Music, he is the seventh most celebrated artist in popular music history. His guitar work, deeply personal lyrics and signature high tenor singing voice define his long career. He also plays piano and harmonica on many albums, which frequently combine folk, rock, country and other musical genres. His often distorted electric guitar playing, especially with Crazy Horse, earned him the nickname "Godfather of Grunge" and led to his 1995 album Mirror Ball with Pearl Jam. More recently he has been backed by Promise of the Real. 21 of his albums and singles have been certified Gold and Platinum in U.S by RIAA certification. Young directed (or co-directed) films using the pseudonym "Bernard Shakey", including Journey Through the Past (1973), Rust Never Sleeps (1979), Human Highway (1982), Greendale (2003), and CSNY/Déjà Vu (2008). He also contributed to the soundtracks of the films Philadelphia (1993) and Dead Man (1995). Description above from the Wikipedia article Neil Young, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
November 12, 1945 (80)
From
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Works as
Actor, director, composer, producer and writer
Titles
15 on MovieCove · 59 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 156 days to Oct 27Down 14% in 30 days

What are Neil Young's films like?

Across their 17 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Society and Ideas.

Genres

Documentary11 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 76th percentile
: browse their Documentary movies
Music2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 84th 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
34%
Ideas
24%
Self
22%
Bonds
9%
Power
6%
Morality
4%
Community9 titles, browse their movies with this themeArt10 titles, browse their movies with this themeLegacy4 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship3 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose3 titles, browse their movies with this themeMemory3 titles, browse their movies with this themeFreedom3 titles, browse their movies with this themeHope2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 16 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 1 · Dark 2

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

A split, not a type: Grounded 11 · Stylized 2 · Heightened 3

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

Gentle 9 · Charged 6 · Intense 1

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

Steady 13 · Shifting 2 · Whiplash 1

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

Straight-faced 13 · Some laughs 3 · Funny 0

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

Slow burn 14 · Even-paced 1 · Relentless 1

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 4 · Full focus 0

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

Resolved 13 · Open-ended 0 · Ambiguous 3

Roles they play

1 analyzed role
  • Heroas Neil Young in Coastal (2024)

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Warm
13
Contemplative
10
Joyful
6
Melancholic
5
Hopeful
4
Other
6

How their films linger

Feel-good7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteWistful7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteRousing3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end

  • Happy7
  • Bittersweet6
  • Ambiguous3
  • 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 Neil Young'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 Neil Young'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

59 credits, 15 with a MovieCove page; 76 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Corduroy Plants (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2026)

    Producer · as Self

  • The Boxer (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2025)

    Composer

  • Coastal(2024)

    Composer · as Self

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • LincVolt (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2024)

    Show 5 episodes · Director · Creator · as Self

  • Across the Water (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2024)

    Director · Actor

  • Catalyst (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2024)

    Director · Sound Mixer · as Self

  • Neil Young - Boarding House 1978 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2024)

    Director · Music Producer · Writer · as Himself

  • Trans: The Animated Story (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2024)

    as Dialogue

  • Neil Young: Harvest Time(2022)

    Director · Composer · Executive Producer · as Self

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • Neil Young: Young Shakespeare (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2022)

    Director · as Self

  • Neil Young & Crazy Horse: World Record: The Making Of - A Chronicle of the Music (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2022)

    Director · as Himself

  • Neil Young + The Promise of the Real: Noise & Flowers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2022)

    Director · as Himself

  • Barn (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2021)

    Producer · Actor

  • Neil Young & Crazy Horse: Way Down in the Rust Bucket (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2021)

    Producer · as Himself

  • Return to Greendale (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2020)

    Director · Composer · as Himself

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

    Actor

  • Yield (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2020)

    as Pa Carnago

  • Mountaintop (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2019)

    Director · as Himself

  • Neil Young in London (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2019)

    Producer · Actor

  • Bachman(2018)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 63rd percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Paradox(2018)

    Composer · Producer · as The Man in the Black Hat

    Midcredits score: 7th percentile of all films

  • Neil Young: Hometown (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    Producer · as Himself

  • The Silent Scream (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    Digital Imaging Technician

  • Seeding Fear (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    Executive Producer

  • The Monsanto Years (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    Producer · Songs · as Himself / Vocals / Guitar / Production

  • Neil Young - Haskell Wexler - Teatro Session(2015)

    Composer · as Self

  • Muddy Track (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    Director · as Himself

  • A Letter Home (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    Director · Music Producer · as Self

  • Neil Young with Crazy Horse: Psychedelic Pill (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    Actor

  • Neil Young & Crazy Horse: Canadian Horsepower (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    Actor

  • Neil Young With Crazy Horse - Americana (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    Actor

  • Neil Young Journeys(2011)

    Composer · Executive Producer · as Self

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • A Day at the Gallery (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    Director · as Author

  • Neil Young - Le Noise (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    Producer · Songs · as Neil Young

  • Neil Young - Archives Vol.1 (1963-1972) (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    Actor

  • CSNY/Déjà Vu(2008)

    Director · Composer · Writer · as Himself

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • Neil Young: Under Review - 1976-2006(2007)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Neil Young: Heart of Gold(2006)

    Composer · Executive Producer · as Self

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • Neil Young: Prairie Wind (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    Actor

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

    Director · Cinematographer · Composer · Music Producer · Writer · as Wayne Newton

  • Neil Young: Greendale: Live at Vicar Street (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Actor

  • Neil Young: Red Rocks Live (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Executive Producer · Actor

  • Neil Young: Silver & Gold (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Actor

  • Year of the Horse(1997)

    Composer · Executive Producer · as Self - Crazy Horse (Guitar/Vocals)

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • Emmylou Harris: Building the Wrecking Ball (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Composer · as Self

  • Dead Man(1995)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films

  • Neil Young with Pearl Jam - Live at Hasselt Belgium (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    Actor

  • Neil Young and Crazy Horse: The Complex Sessions (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    Mixing Engineer · Producer · as Himself

  • Phone (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    Thanks

  • Neil Young and Crazy Horse: Weld (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    Director · as Himself

  • Love at Large(1990)

    as Rick

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • '68 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    as Westy

  • Made in Heaven(1987)

    as Truck Driver

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • Neil Young: Solo Trans (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    Producer · Writer · as Himself

  • Human Highway (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Director · Composer · Screenplay · as Lionel Switch / Frankie Fontaine

  • Out of the Blue(1980)

    Theme Song Performance

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • Where the Buffalo Roam(1980)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 63rd percentile of all films

  • Neil Young & Crazy Horse: Rust Never Sleeps (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    Director · Editor · as Self

  • Journey Through the Past (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    Director · Editor · as Self

Career shape

Star power in the 68th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 59 titles from 1972 to 2026; peak year 1982.

Biggest box office

Where the Buffalo Roam (1980)

$6.7M worldwide

Highest rated

The Last Waltz (1978)

Midcredits 99th

Most popular right now

Dead Man (1995)

Film career

19722026

Peak 1982 · fewer prominent film roles lately. 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.

  • 1982Screen debut· Human Highway
  • 1982First top-billed film· Human Highway

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting25 of 59: 16 only acting, 9 with another role · typical Midcredits score33rdDirecting19 of 59: 7 only directing, 12 with another roleWriting4 of 59: 0 only writing, 4 with another roleProducing16 of 59: 4 only producing, 12 with another role · typical Midcredits score67thMusic16 of 59: 6 only music, 10 with another role · typical Midcredits score75thCinematography1 of 59: 0 only cinematography, 1 with another roleEditing2 of 59: 0 only editing, 2 with another roleOther crew8 of 59: 3 only other crew, 5 with another role

59 titles, 23 with more than one role — acting and directing overlap on 4 of them.

By decade

1970s2 · crew1980s6 · 3 acting · 4 crew1990s8 · 2 acting · 6 crew2000s9 · 7 acting · 4 crew2010s17 · 8 acting · 13 crew2020s17 · 5 acting · 14 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 Neil Young's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 66th percentile, the median of the 14 of 15 with a score; across their 16 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 82nd percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

82ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 16

Approval · how many liked their films

75thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 16

Reach · how many have seen their films

40thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 16

Midcredits score across 14 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up5
  • 50th to 74th6
  • 25th to 49th1
  • Below 25th2

Shape of the crowd

6 of their 14 titles are Mixed.

  • Universally Loved3
  • Crowd Pleaser5
  • Mixed6

Most divisive · actor, producer, composer

Paradox (2018)

82nd percentile spread · 54% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor, director, producer, composer

Neil Young: Harvest Time (2022)

Midcredits 99th · 90% liked

Reviewers score the acting 48/100 in their films, across 10 reviewed titles; fans 64, detractors 33. 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 Neil Young work with?

People who share at least 2 of Neil Young's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Elliot Rabinowitz shares the most, 5.

Directors

Actors

Editors

Producers