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Orson Welles

Orson Welles

Actor, writer, director and producer, also editor and cinematographer · Died October 10, 1985, aged 70 · Kenosha, Wisconsin, USA

2 Oscars · Golden Globe nominee · BAFTA Award nominee · 5 other major award bodies

George Orson Welles (May 6, 1915 – October 10, 1985) was an American film director, actor, theatre director, screenwriter, and producer, who worked extensively in film, theatre, television and radio. Noted for his innovative dramatic productions as well as his distinctive voice and personality, Welles is widely acknowledged as one of the most accomplished dramatic artists of the twentieth century, especially for his significant and influential early work—despite his notoriously contentious relationship with Hollywood. His distinctive directorial style featured layered, nonlinear narrative forms, innovative uses of lighting such as chiaroscuro, unique camera angles, sound techniques borrowed from radio, deep focus shots, and long takes. Welles's long career in film is noted for his struggle for artistic control in the face of pressure from studios. Many of his films were heavily edited and others left unreleased. He has been praised as a major creative force and as "the ultimate auteur." After directing a number of high-profile theatrical productions in his early twenties, including an innovative adaptation of Macbeth and The Cradle Will Rock, Welles found national and international fame as the director and narrator of a 1938 radio adaptation of H. G. Wells's novel The War of the Worlds performed for the radio drama anthology series Mercury Theatre on the Air. It was reported to have caused widespread panic when listeners thought that an invasion by extraterrestrial beings was occurring. Although these reports of panic were mostly false and overstated, they rocketed Welles to instant notoriety. Citizen Kane (1941), his first film with RKO, in which he starred in the role of Charles Foster Kane, is often considered the greatest film ever made. Several of his other films, including The Magnificent Ambersons (1942), The Lady from Shanghai (1947), Touch of Evil (1958), Chimes at Midnight (1965), and F for Fake (1974), are also widely considered to be masterpieces. In 2002, he was voted the greatest film director of all time in two separate British Film Institute polls among directors and critics, and a wide survey of critical consensus, best-of lists, and historical retrospectives calls him the most acclaimed director of all time. Andrew Sarris in his influential book of film criticism The American Cinema: Directors and Directions 1929–1968 included him in the "pantheon" of the 14 greatest film directors who had worked in the United States. Well known for his baritone voice, Welles was also an extremely well regarded actor and was voted number 16 in AFI's 100 Years... 100 Stars list of the greatest American film actors of all time. He was also a celebrated Shakespearean stage actor and an accomplished magician, starring in troop variety shows in the war years.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
May 6, 1915
Died
October 10, 1985 (aged 70)
From
Kenosha, Wisconsin, USA
Works as
Actor, writer, director and producer, also editor and cinematographer
Titles
102 on MovieCove · 271 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 26% in 30 days

What are Orson Welles' films like?

Across their 75 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Self.

Genres

Drama20 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 80th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Documentary13 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 78th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Documentary movies
Comedy12 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 50th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Adventure7 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 49th percentile
: browse their Adventure movies
Crime6 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 87th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Crime movies
Action5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 68th percentile
: browse their Action movies
Biography5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 80th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Biography movies
Animation2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 91st percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Animation 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
22%
Self
18%
Society
16%
Power
15%
Bonds
12%
Ideas
10%
Survival
7%
Legacy14 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice11 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity8 titles, browse their movies with this themePower7 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose7 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception7 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds6 titles, browse their movies with this themeAmbition9 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 75 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 18 · Serious 23 · Dark 34

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

Grounded 23 · Stylized 32 · Heightened 20

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

Gentle 16 · Charged 34 · Intense 25

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

A split, not a type: Steady 39 · Shifting 27 · Whiplash 9

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

Straight-faced 45 · Some laughs 25 · Funny 5

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

Slow burn 44 · Even-paced 30 · Relentless 1

Engaged: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their engaged movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 23 · Engaged 41 · Full focus 11

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 31 · Affecting 28 · Heavy 16

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

Resolved 49 · Open-ended 12 · Ambiguous 14

Roles they play

50 analyzed roles

Usually the Shadow: 18 of 50 analyzed roles.

Shadow
18 of 50
Hero
9 of 50
Mentor
9 of 50
Trickster
6 of 50
Herald
4 of 50
Threshold guardian
3 of 50
Shapeshifter
1 of 50
Show the 50 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
43
Melancholic
33
Contemplative
24
Warm
15
Dread
12
Other
69

How their films linger

Thought-provoking27 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet22 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good18 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful16 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting14 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling14 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 8 with a twist

  • Happy22
  • Bittersweet27
  • Tragic9
  • Ambiguous17

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 Orson Welles' films?

As of October 24, 2026, 42 of their 102 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (25).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Orson Welles' 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

271 credits, 102 with a MovieCove page; 113 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • War of the Worlds (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2026)

    as narrator

  • WeirdWorld (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2025)

    as Troy2000 (Archive footage)

  • Human Nature in Eleven Parts (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2025)

    as Narrator "The Scorpion and the Frog" (archive footage)

  • The Scorpion and the Frog (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2025)

    as Narrator (archive footage)

  • The Battle of Grovers Mill (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2024)

    Original Story · as Radio Host (voice) (archival footage)

  • From Introduction to Orson Welles’s Falstaff: Chimes at Midnight (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2023)

    as Falstaff

  • Looking Back Before You Leap (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2023)

    as General Zaroff (voice)

  • My Guest is Orson Welles (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2021)

    Actor

  • Hopper/Welles (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2020)

    Director · as Self

  • Cerné par le diable (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2019)

    Thanks

  • Halston(2019)

    Theme Song Performance

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films

  • Emergency: Donald Trump’s "Touch of Evil" (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2019)

    as (archive footage)

  • The Other Side of the Wind(2018)

    Director · Editor · Screenplay · as Journalist (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films

  • Silent Times (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2018)

    Thanks

  • The Brother Side of the Wake (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2018)

    Thanks

  • The Magic History of Cinema (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    Actor

  • Embers & Dust (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    as Professor Richard Pierson / Self (voice) (archive sound)

  • Passage to Mars(2016)

    Theme Song Performance

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • Bucket (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    Show 1 episode · Thanks

  • Tim May Presents Reptile (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    Thanks

  • Too Much Johnson (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    Director · Editor · Producer · Screenplay · as Keystone Kop (uncredited)

  • Don't Say No Until I Finish Talking: The Story of Richard D. Zanuck(2013)

    as Jonathan Wilk

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • The Debridement of Rome (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    Thanks

  • Magic Mirror Maze (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    Actor

  • Final Cut: Ladies and Gentlemen(2012)

    as (archive footage)

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • Welcome to the Basement (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    Show 1 episode · Theme Song Performance

  • Incident at Barstow (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    Thanks

  • Jucy(2010)

    as Elephant Lamp (archive sound)

    Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all films

  • Variations on a High School Romance (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    Thanks

  • Beer and Board Games (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    Show 1 episode · Thanks

  • L'antre du Mea (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    Show 1 episode · Thanks

  • Cameraman: The Life and Work of Jack Cardiff(2010)

    as Genghis Khan / Bayan (archive footage)

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • Dahmer vs. Gacy(2010)

    Thanks

    Midcredits score: 4th percentile of all films

  • Hollywood sul Tevere (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    Actor

  • Lucifer et moi (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    as (archive footage 1982)

  • F for favor (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    Original Concept

  • The Deep(1970)

    Director · Producer · Screenplay · as Russ Brewer

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • The Hitchhiker (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    Original Concept

  • Orson Welles Talks With Roger Hill (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    Director · as (Self)

  • The Well (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    Actor

  • Orson Welles Uncut (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    Actor

  • The Hitch Hiker (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    as Ronald Adams

  • Filming 'The Trial' (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    Director · Producer · as Self

  • The Magnificent Ambersons (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    Original Film Writer

  • The Movie Movie (An Excerpt) (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    as (archive footage)

  • Citizen Toxie: The Toxic Avenger IV(2000)

    Thanks

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films

  • NASA: A Space Odyssey Vol. 3 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    as Narrator

  • Moby Dick (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Director · Editor · Theatre Play · as Captain Ahab / Starbuck / Ishmael (archive footage)

  • One Man Band (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    Director · Editor · Writer · as Presenter / Various

  • The Big Brass Ring(1999)

    Writer

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films

  • According to Occam's Razor (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    Actor

  • Hi-Fi (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    Actor

  • As Long as He Lives (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Thanks

  • The Way to Santiago (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Writer

  • The Big Brass Ring (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    Writer

  • The Hearts of Age (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    Original Concept

  • Treasury of Children's Stories (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Theme Song Performance

  • Valentines. A Bouquet of Letters and Poetry of Lovers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    Theme Song Performance

  • It's All True(1993)

    Director · as Self

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • Rosabella - La storia italiana di Orson Welles (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    Actor

  • Historias Breves 0: Distant encounters (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    Thanks

  • Don Quixote(1992)

    Director · Editor · Producer · Screenplay · as Self

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • Dieter & Andreas (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Thanks

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

    Thanks

  • Waxwork(1988)

    Thanks

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • On the tracks of a filmmaker (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    as Orson Welles

  • Someone to Love(1987)

    as Danny's Friend

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films

  • Unseen Lollo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    Director · Writer · as Himself

  • The Transformers: The Movie(1986)

    as Unicron (voice)

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • It's All True: Four Men on a Raft (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    Director · Writer

  • Scene of the Crime (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Show 4 episodes · Creator · Actor

  • Moonlighting(1985)

    Show 1 episode · Thanks · as Orson Welles

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all shows

  • The Dreamers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Director · Writer · as Marcus Kleek

  • Orson Welles' Magic Show (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Director · Producer · Writer · as Self

  • Almonds and Raisins (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    as Narrator

  • The Last Sailors: The Final Days of Working Sail (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    as Narrator

  • The Spirit of Charles Lindbergh (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    Director · as himself

  • Where Is Parsifal?(1984)

    as Klingsor

    Midcredits score: 8th percentile of all films

  • The Witching (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    as Mr. Cato

  • Can She Bake a Cherry Pie?(1983)

    as Magician (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films

  • The Psychic Connection (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    as Narrator

  • Hot Money (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    as Sheriff Paisley

  • Slapstick of Another Kind(1982)

    as Aliens' Father (voice) (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 1st percentile of all films

  • Wagner e Venezia (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    as Richard Wagner (voice)

  • Trick or Treats(1982)

    Other

    Midcredits score: 2nd percentile of all films

  • Genocide(1982)

    as Narrator (voice)

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • Butterfly(1981)

    as Judge Rauch

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films

  • The Quest for Fire Adventure (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    as Narrator

  • A Gift of Harvest (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    as Narrator

  • The War of the Worlds: Next Century(1981)

    Thanks

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films

  • History of the World: Part I(1981)

    as Narrator (voice)

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • Tales of the Klondike (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    Show 7 episodes · as Narrator

  • The Man Who Saw Tomorrow(1981)

    as Presenter / Narrator (voice)

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • Magnum, P.I.(1980)

    Show 6 episodes · as Robin Masters (voice)

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all shows

  • Franklin D. Roosevelt Four Freedoms Park (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    as Narrator

  • Shogun(1980)

    Show 5 episodes · as Narrator

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all shows

  • The Secret Life of Nikola Tesla(1980)

    as J.P. Morgan

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films

  • A Step Away (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    as English Narrator

  • The Greenstone (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    as Narrator (voice)

  • The New Media Bible: Book of Genesis (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    as Narrator

  • To Try Again... and Succeed (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    as Narrator (voice)

  • Filming Othello (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    Director · Writer · as Host

  • The Muppet Movie(1979)

    as Lew Lord

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

  • The Double McGuffin(1979)

    as Narrator (voice)

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • The Orson Welles Show (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    Director · Writer · as Self

  • The Greatest Adventure--The Story of Man's Voyage to the Moon (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    as Narrator

  • A Woman Called Moses(1978)

    Show 2 episodes · as Narrator (voice)

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all shows

  • The Magic of David Copperfield (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    Show 2 episodes · as Host

  • Orson Welles at The Magic Castle (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    Writer · as Self

  • The Biggest Battle(1978)

    as Narratore

    Midcredits score: 10th percentile of all films

  • Mysterious Castles of Clay (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    as Narrator

  • It Happened One Christmas(1977)

    as Henry F. Potter

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • The Lions of Capitalism: Some Call It Greed (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    as Narrator

  • Hot Tomorrows (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    as Parklawn Mortuary (voice)

  • From Fiber to Fabric: Wool's a Natural (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    as Narrator

  • The Rime of the Ancient Mariner (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    as Narrator

  • Voyage of the Damned(1976)

    as José Estedes

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • NBC: The First Fifty Years (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    Writer · as Self / Narrator

  • The New Deal for Artists(1976)

    as Narrator (voice)

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Bugs Bunny Superstar(1975)

    as Narrator (voice)

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • A Mother's Tale (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    as Narrator

  • Magnificent Monsters of the Deep (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    as Narrator

  • 3 A.M. (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    Editor · Editorial Services

  • Rikki-Tikki-Tavi(1975)

    as Narrator / Nag / Chuchundra (voice)

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • Who's Out There? (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    as Host

  • The Challenge... A Tribute to Modern Art (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    as Narrator

  • A Legend a Lifetime: Citizen Welles (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    Actor

  • Crónicas fantásticas (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    Show 1 episode · Thanks

  • Ten Little Indians(1974)

    as Voice on Tape

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • The Monkey's Paw (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    as Host

  • Kelly Country (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    as Narrator

  • F for Fake(1973)

    Director · Editor · Writer · as Self

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • Orson Welles' Great Mysteries (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    Show 26 episodes · Director · Creator · Screenplay · as Self - Host

  • The Battle of Sutjeska (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    as Winston Churchill

  • The Cave (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    as Narrator

  • The Man Who Came to Dinner(1972)

    as Sheridan Whiteside

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • Treasure Island(1972)

    Writer · as Long John Silver

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • Necromancy(1972)

    as Mr. Cato

    Midcredits score: 13th percentile of all films

  • Get to Know Your Rabbit(1972)

    as Mr. Delasandro

    Midcredits score: 17th percentile of all films

  • Malpertuis (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    as Cassavius

  • Future Shock (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    as Narrator

  • Ten Days' Wonder (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    as Théo Van Horn

  • A Safe Place (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    as The Magician

  • Directed by John Ford(1971)

    as Narrator (voice)

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films

  • The Silent Years (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Sentinels of Silence (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    Actor

  • Flame of Persia (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    as Narrator

  • Freedom River (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    Producer · as Narrator

  • An Evening with Orson Welles: American Heritage, Vol. I – Selections from George Ade, Thomas Wolfe, Mark Twain (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    Director · Producer · Writer · Actor

  • An Evening with Orson Welles: American Heritage, Vol. II – Clarence Darrow (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    Director · Producer · Writer · Actor

  • An Evening with Orson Welles: My Little Boy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    Director · Producer · Writer · Actor

  • An Evening with Orson Welles: The Golden Honeymoon (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    Director · Editor · Producer · Writer · Actor

  • An Evening with Orson Welles: The Happy Prince (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    Director · Producer · Writer · Actor

  • An Evening with Orson Welles: Two Wise Old Men – Socrates and Noah (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    Director · Producer · Writer · Actor

  • Night Gallery(1969)

    Show 1 episode · as Narrator

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all shows

  • Is It Always Right to Be Right? (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    as Narrator

  • Waterloo(1970)

    as Louis XVIII

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films

  • The Enemy Before Us (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    as Narrator

  • Catch-22(1970)

    as Brigadier General Dreedle

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • Start the Revolution Without Me(1970)

    as The Narrator

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • The Kremlin Letter(1970)

    as Bresnavitch

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • A Horse Called Nijinsky (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    as Narrator

  • The Merchant of Venice (Rushes) (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    Director · as Shylock

  • Upon This Rock (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    as Michelangelo (voice)

  • Soft Self-Portrait of Salvador Dali (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    as Narrator (voice)

  • The Merchant of Venice (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    Director · Editor · Producer · Screenplay · as Shylock

  • The Battle of Neretva(1969)

    as Četnik

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films

  • Twelve Plus One (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    as Markan

  • The Southern Star (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    as Plankett

  • The Fight for Rome II - The Betrayal (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    as Justinian

  • Tepepa(1969)

    as Colonel Cascorro

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • To Build a Fire (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    as Narrator (voice)

  • The Last Roman(1968)

    as Justinian

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • The Name of the Game (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    Show 1 episode · as Narrator

  • The Immortal Story(1968)

    Director · Screenplay · as Charles Clay

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films

  • House of Cards(1968)

    as Leschenhaut

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • Oedipus the King(1968)

    as Tiresias

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

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

    Director · Producer · Writer · as Himself

  • I'll Never Forget What's'isname(1967)

    as Jonathan Lute

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • Beggars Would Ride (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    as Narrator

  • Casino Royale(1967)

    as Le Chiffre

    Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all films

  • Ten Days That Shook the World (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    as Narrator

  • The Sailor from Gibraltar(1967)

    as Louis de Mozambique

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • A Man for All Seasons(1966)

    as Cardinal Wolsey

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • Is Paris Burning?(1966)

    as Konsul Nordling

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • The Bible in the Beginning...(1966)

    Additional Writing · Scenario Writer

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • Chimes at Midnight(1965)

    Director · Costume Design · Screenplay · as Falstaff

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • Americans on Everest (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    as Narrator- Self

  • National Geographic Specials(1965)

    Show 1 episode · as Narrator

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all shows

  • Marco the Magnificent(1965)

    as Akerman, Marco's Teacher

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all films

  • Profile No. 6: Orson Welles (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    Actor

  • A King's Story (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    as Narrator

  • The Finest Hours (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    as Narrator (voice)

  • Shindig! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    Show 1 episode · Theme Song Performance

  • In the Land of Don Quixote (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    Show 9 episodes · Director · Additional Camera · Creator · Editor · Producer · as Himself

  • The V.I.P.s(1963)

    as Max Buda

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • La ricotta (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    Actor

  • Ro.Go.Pa.G.(1963)

    as The 'Director' (segment "La ricotta")

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • River of the Ocean (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    as Narrator (English)

  • The Trial(1962)

    Director · Editor · Screenplay · as Albert Hastler

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • Lafayette(1962)

    as Benjamin Franklin

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • Tempo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    Show 1 episode · Director · Writer · as Self

  • King of Kings(1961)

    as Narrator (voice) (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • The Tartars (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    as Burundai

  • Survival (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    Show 1 episode · as Narrator

  • The Battle of Austerlitz(1960)

    as Robert Fulton

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • An Arabian Night (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    as Storyteller

  • Crack in the Mirror (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    as Hagolin / Lamerciere

  • Five Columns on the Front Page: Hong Kong as seen by Orson Welles (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    Director · as Self (narrator)

  • David and Goliath(1960)

    Director · as King Saul

    Midcredits score: 12th percentile of all films

  • High Journey (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    as Narrator

  • Ferry to Hong Kong(1959)

    as Captain Hart

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films

  • Compulsion(1959)

    as Jonathan Wilk

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • Masters of the Congo Jungle(1958)

    as Narrator (voice)

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • The Roots of Heaven(1958)

    as Cy Sedgewick

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • The Fountain of Youth (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

    Director · Music Arranger · Producer · Production Design · Writer · as the narrator

  • Orson Welles at Large: Portrait of Gina (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

    Director · Writer · as Self - Host

  • Colgate Theatre (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

    Show 1 episode · Director · Music Arranger · Producer · Screenplay · Actor

  • South Seas Adventure (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

    as Narrator

  • The Vikings(1958)

    as Narrator (voice) (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • The Long, Hot Summer(1958)

    as Will Varner

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • Touch of Evil(1958)

    Director · Screenplay · as Police Captain Hank Quinlan

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Monitor (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Man in the Shadow(1957)

    as Virgil Renchler

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • Moby Dick(1956)

    as Father Mapple

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • Orson Welles and People: Camille, the Naked Lady and the Musketeers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    Director · Music Arranger · Producer · Production Designer · Writer · as Self - Narrator (voice)

  • Around the World with Orson Welles (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    Show 7 episodes · Director · Creator · Writer · as Host: Orson Welles

  • The Land of the Basques (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    Director · as Himself

  • Ford Star Jubilee (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    Show 1 episode · as Oscar Jaffe

  • Confidential Report(1955)

    Director · Art Direction · Costume Design · Editor · Producer · Production Design · Screenplay · Story · as Gregory Arkadin

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • Moby Dick—Rehearsed (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    Director · Writer · as An Actor Manager /Father Mapple /Ahab

  • Orson Welles' Sketch Book (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    Show 7 episodes · Director · Creator · Writer · as Himself - Host

  • Napoleon(1955)

    as Sir Hudson Lowe

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • Three Cases of Murder (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    Theme Song Performance · as Lord Mountdrago ("Lord Mountdrago" segment)

  • Trouble in the Glen (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1954)

    as Sanin Cejador y Mengues

  • Royal Affairs in Versailles(1954)

    as Benjamin Franklin

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • King Lear (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    as King Lear

  • Man, Beast and Virtue (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    as Captain Perella, the Beast

  • Return to Glennascaul (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)

    as Narrator

  • Omnibus (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)

    Show 1 episode · as King Lear

  • Trent's Last Case (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)

    as Sigsbee Manderson

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

    Show 1 episode · as Sheridan Whiteside

  • Othello(1951)

    Director · Producer · Screenplay · as Othello

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • I Love Lucy(1951)

    Show 1 episode · as Orson Welles

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all shows

  • The Black Rose(1950)

    as Bayan

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • The Miracle of St. Anne (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

    Director · Writer · as The Director

  • Prince of Foxes(1949)

    as Cesare Borgia

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • The Third Man(1949)

    Writer · as Harry Lime

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • Black Magic(1949)

    Co-Director · as Joseph Balsamo aka Count Cagliostro

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • Macbeth(1948)

    Director · Costume Design · Producer · Screenplay · Set Designer · as Macbeth

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films

  • The Lady from Shanghai(1947)

    Director · Producer · Screenplay · as Michael O'Hara

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • Monsieur Verdoux(1947)

    Story

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Duel in the Sun(1946)

    as Narrator (voice) (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • Battle for Survival (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1946)

    as Narrator

  • The Stranger(1946)

    Director · Co-Writer · as Prof. Charles Rankin

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films

  • Tomorrow Is Forever(1946)

    as John Andrew MacDonald

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • Mexico City, Old and New (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1945)

    as Narrator

  • Follow the Boys (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1944)

    as Orson Welles (uncredited)

  • Know Your Ally: Britain (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1944)

    as Narrator/Bob (helpful taxi passenger)

  • Jane Eyre(1943)

    Associate Producer · as Edward Rochester

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • Journey Into Fear(1943)

    Director · Producer · Screenplay · as Colonel Haki

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • It's All True (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1943)

    Director · Screenplay

  • The Magnificent Ambersons(1942)

    Director · Additional Photography · Cinematographer · Producer · Screenplay · as Narrator (voice)

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • Citizen Kane(1941)

    Director · Producer · Screenplay · as Charles Foster Kane

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • Swiss Family Robinson(1940)

    as Opening Narrator (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • The Green Goddess (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    Director · Adaptation · Producer · as Rajah/Narrator

  • The Spanish Earth(1937)

    as Narrator (voice)

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • The Hearts of Age (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

    Director · Writer · as Death

  • Twelfth Night (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1933)

    Director · Adaptation · Cinematographer · Costume Design · as Narrator

  • Something Else (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Original Concept · Actor

  • Voyage of the Brigantine Yankee (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    as Narrator

Career shape

A full career of 270 titles, 268 of them dated from 1933 to 2026.

Biggest box office

The Transformers: The Movie (1986)

$5.9M worldwide

Highest rated

Citizen Kane (1941)

Midcredits 98th

Most popular right now

The Transformers: The Movie (1986)

Film career

MilestoneAward winNomination

Top draw in 27 MovieCove titles.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting212 of 270: 167 only acting, 45 with another role · typical Midcredits score72ndDirecting56 of 270: 5 only directing, 51 with another role · typical Midcredits score91stWriting61 of 270: 10 only writing, 51 with another role · typical Midcredits score91stProducing27 of 270: 0 only producing, 27 with another role · typical Midcredits score90thCinematography1 of 270: 0 only cinematography, 1 with another roleEditing12 of 270: 0 only editing, 12 with another role · typical Midcredits score83rdOther crew43 of 270: 26 only other crew, 17 with another role · typical Midcredits score75th

270 titles, 62 with more than one role — acting and writing overlap on 37 of them.

By decade

1930s4 · 4 acting · 3 crew1940s19 · 17 acting · 10 crew1950s36 · 32 acting · 13 crew1960s46 · 40 acting · 10 crew1970s65 · 58 acting · 17 crew1980s37 · 28 acting · 12 crew1990s14 · 4 acting · 11 crew2000s15 · 10 acting · 8 crew2010s23 · 9 acting · 16 crew2020s9 · 8 acting · 2 crew

Billing

usually 3rd · top billed in 28% of 61 roles
34445459646974

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.

Awards

2 Oscars and 9 other major awards from 27 major nominations, 1942–2018.

WinNomination
  1. 2018
    • Venice award, nominated
  2. 1993
    • Grammy Award, nominated · Best Spoken Word or Non-Musical Album
  3. 1992
    • Cannes award, nominated · Directors' Fortnight
  4. 1984
    • Directors Guild Award, won
  5. 1982
    • Golden Globe, nominated · Best Actor in a Supporting Role - Motion Picture
    • +1 other major body · 1 win
      • Grammy Award, won · Best Spoken Word, Documentary or Drama Recording
  6. 1981
    • Grammy Award, nominated · Best Spoken Word, Documentary or Drama Recording
  7. 1980
    • Grammy Award, nominated · Best Spoken Word, Documentary or Drama Recording
  8. 1979
    • Grammy Award, won · Best Spoken Word Recording
Show 12 earlier years
  1. 1977
    • Grammy Award, won · Best Spoken Word Recording
  2. 1976
    • Grammy Award, nominated · Best Spoken Word Recording
  3. 1971
    • Oscar, won
    • +1 other major body · 1 nomination
      • Grammy Award, nominated · Best Comedy Recording
  4. 1970
    • Venice award, won
  5. 1968
    • BAFTA Award, nominated · Best Foreign Actor
    • +1 other major body · 1 nomination
      • Berlinale award, nominated
  6. 1966
    • Cannes award, won ×2
    • Cannes award, nominated
  7. 1962
    • Venice award, nominated · Best Film
  8. 1959
    • Cannes award, won
  9. 1952
    • Cannes award, won
  10. 1948
    • Venice award, nominated
  11. 1947
    • Venice award, nominated
  12. 1942
    • Oscar, won · Best Writing, Original Screenplay
    • Oscar, nominated · Best Actor in a Leading Role
    • Oscar, nominated · Best Director

Major bodies only: the Oscars, Primetime Emmys, Golden Globes, BAFTAs and Screen Actors Guild Awards are named; Cannes, Venice, the Berlinale, Sundance, the directors', writers' and producers' guilds, the Grammys, Critics Choice and the Independent Spirit Awards count as other major bodies. Festival and regional prizes are not counted. Source: IMDb.

How do Orson Welles' films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 68th percentile, the median of all 95; across their 75 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 66th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

66thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 75

Approval · how many liked their films

66thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 75

Reach · how many have seen their films

56thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 75

Midcredits score across 102 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up48
  • 50th to 74th25
  • 25th to 49th16
  • Below 25th13

Shape of the crowd

44 of their 102 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved21
  • Universally Panned2
  • Divisive1
  • Cult Classic5
  • Crowd Pleaser44
  • Broadly Agreed3
  • Mixed26

Most divisive · actor

It Happened One Christmas (1977)

76th percentile spread · 21% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor, director, writer, producer

Citizen Kane (1941)

Midcredits 98th · 86% liked

Reviewers score the acting 69/100 in their films, across 64 reviewed titles; fans 77, detractors 43. 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 Orson Welles' work okay for kids?

Across up to 18 MovieCove titles with content scores, violence & gore, profanity and frightening / intense run lighter than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore13 titles2–54 · median 27 · mildlighter than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity18 titles1–45 · median 22 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity12 titles3–37 · median 14 · minimallighter than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs13 titles10–39 · median 33 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense13 titles11–57 · median 26 · mildlighter than most filmsMedian 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 Orson Welles work with?

People who share at least 2 of Orson Welles' MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Oja Kodar shares the most, 8.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles