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Michael Biehn

Michael Biehn

Actor, also producer, director and writer · Born July 31, 1956 (70) · Anniston, Alabama, USA

Michael Connell Biehn is an American actor whose work in 1980s and 1990s genre cinema helped define the modern action and science-fiction lead. He is most closely associated with James Cameron’s films, where he repeatedly embodied hardened, battle-tested characters grounded in realism rather than spectacle, most famously Kyle Reese in The Terminator (1984), Corporal Hicks in Aliens (1986), and Lieutenant Coffey in The Abyss (1989). Those performances became blueprints for the emotionally restrained, competent action hero and continue to influence how military and sci-fi protagonists are written and played. Beyond his Cameron collaborations, Biehn appeared in a run of cult and mainstream genre staples, including Navy SEALs (1990), Tombstone (1993), and The Rock (1996), often bringing a grounded intensity that contrasted with larger-than-life co-stars. His portrayal of Johnny Ringo in Tombstone is frequently cited as one of the era’s most memorable villains, defined by menace, precision, and restraint rather than excess. His cult status was later reinforced during the Tarantino–Rodriguez Grindhouse era with his appearance in Planet Terror (2007), part of the double-feature project released alongside Quentin Tarantino’s Death Proof, linking Biehn’s legacy to modern exploitation-inspired genre cinema. That legacy carried into modern franchise television with his appearance as Lang in The Mandalorian (2020), reinforcing his enduring connection to science fiction and action storytelling across generations. Biehn’s work has earned long-standing respect among filmmakers, actors, and genre fans, with his performance in Aliens earning a Saturn Award nomination and his overall body of work achieving lasting cult recognition. While never positioned as a traditional blockbuster star, his influence spans decades of science fiction, action, westerns, and modern franchise storytelling.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
July 31, 1956 (70)
From
Anniston, Alabama, USA
Works as
Actor, also producer, director and writer
Titles
78 on MovieCove · 114 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 17% in 30 days

What are Michael Biehn's films like?

Across their 71 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Survival.

Genres

Action20 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 25th percentile
: browse their Action movies
Drama9 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 38th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Comedy7 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 24th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Crime7 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 17th percentile
: browse their Crime movies
Horror6 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 7th percentile
: browse their Horror movies
Documentary5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 80th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Documentary movies
Thriller4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 8th percentile
: browse their Thriller movies
Adventure3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 58th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Adventure movies
Biography2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 84th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Biography movies
Sci-Fi2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 9th percentile
: browse their Sci-Fi 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
26%
Survival
23%
Bonds
17%
Self
15%
Power
8%
Society
7%
Ideas
4%
Survival23 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice15 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds13 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception8 titles, browse their movies with this themeTrauma8 titles, browse their movies with this themeRevenge6 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love6 titles, browse their movies with this themeArt4 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 68 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 15 · Serious 22 · Dark 31

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

A split, not a type: Grounded 39 · Stylized 24 · Heightened 5

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

A split, not a type: Gentle 7 · Charged 24 · Intense 37

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

Steady 16 · Shifting 45 · Whiplash 7

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

Straight-faced 46 · Some laughs 17 · Funny 5

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

Slow burn 20 · Even-paced 36 · Relentless 12

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

Casual 22 · Engaged 36 · Full focus 10

Affecting: How much it costs you emotionally; whether you need recovery time. Browse their affecting movies.
Demand · Emotional cost
easyheavy

Easy watch 19 · Affecting 33 · Heavy 15

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

Resolved 47 · Open-ended 18 · Ambiguous 2

Roles they play

52 analyzed roles

Usually the Shadow: 18 of 52 analyzed roles.

Shadow
18 of 52
Hero
13 of 52
Mentor
10 of 52
Ally
7 of 52
Threshold guardian
3 of 52
Trickster
1 of 52
Show the 52 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
57
Dread
26
Thrilling
20
Melancholic
21
Absurd
11
Other
47

How their films linger

Unsettling28 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun17 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet23 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful15 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking11 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting12 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 9 with a twist

  • Happy13
  • Bittersweet30
  • Tragic5
  • Ambiguous22

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 Michael Biehn's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 47 of their 78 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (30).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Michael Biehn'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

114 credits, 78 with a MovieCove page; 12 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Onslaught(2026)

    as Baylor

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films

  • Predator: Killer of Killers(2025)

    as Vandy (voice)

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

  • Rippy(2024)

    as Uncle Schmitty

    Midcredits score: 4th percentile of all films

  • The Lockdown(2024)

    as Max Hightower

    Midcredits score: 17th percentile of all films

  • Terminator: Hunter Killer (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2021)

    as Kyle Reese (voice) (archive footage)

  • Law & Order: Organized Crime(2021)

    Show 1 episode · as David Carver

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all shows

  • Red Handed(2019)

    as Reynolds

    Midcredits score: 2nd percentile of all films

  • Killer Weekend(2020)

    Executive Producer · as Dr. Carol

    Midcredits score: 1st percentile of all films

  • The Mandalorian(2019)

    Show 1 episode · as Lang

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • Altered Perception (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2018)

    Executive Producer

  • She Rises(2016)

    Executive Producer · as Daddy Longlegs

    Midcredits score: 8th percentile of all films

  • Cabaret of the Dead(2017)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films

  • The Shadow Effect(2017)

    as Sheriff Hodge

    Midcredits score: 8th percentile of all films

  • Psychophonia(2016)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 17th percentile of all films

  • The Night Visitor 2: Heather's Story (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    as Agent Walker

  • The Night Visitor(2013)

    Executive Producer · as Agent Walker

    Midcredits score: 6th percentile of all films

  • The Scorpion King 4: Quest for Power(2015)

    as King Yannick

    Midcredits score: 4th percentile of all films

  • Hidden in the Woods(2014)

    Producer · as Oscar Crocker

    Midcredits score: 5th percentile of all films

  • The Girl(2016)

    Executive Producer · as Father

    Midcredits score: 1st percentile of all films

  • Mindless (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    Executive Producer

  • Tapped Out(2014)

    as Reggie

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • The Legend of DarkHorse County (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    as Future Jon Ford

  • 24 Hour Rental(2014)

    Show as Buzz

    Midcredits score: 1st percentile of all shows

  • Treachery (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    as Henry

  • Sushi Girl(2012)

    as Mike

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • Metal Hurlant Chronicles (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    Show 1 episode · as Shérif Biehn

  • Among Friends(2012)

    as Actor in hallucination scene

    Midcredits score: 9th percentile of all films

  • The Divide(2011)

    as Mickey

    Midcredits score: 34th percentile of all films

  • From Darkness (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    as Agent Doug Albright

  • Yellow Rock(2011)

    as Tom Hanner

    Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all films

  • Jacob (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    as Lawrence Kell

  • Puncture(2011)

    as Red

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • The Victim(2011)

    Director · Screenplay · as Kyle

    Midcredits score: 10th percentile of all films

  • Take Me Home Tonight(2011)

    as Bill Franklin

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • The Walking Dead(2010)

    Show 1 episode · as Ian

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all shows

  • Bereavement(2010)

    as Jonathan Miller

    Midcredits score: 17th percentile of all films

  • The Blood Bond (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    Director · Screenplay · as John Tremayne

  • Psych:9 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    as Det. Marling

  • Dark Blue(2009)

    Show 1 episode · as Lt. Jay Frye

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all shows

  • Streets of Blood(2009)

    as Agent Brown

    Midcredits score: 7th percentile of all films

  • Saving Grace B. Jones(2009)

    as Landy Bretthorst

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films

  • Stiletto(2008)

    as Lee

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all films

  • They Wait(2007)

    as O'Connell

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • Grindhouse (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    as Sheriff Hague (segment "Planet Terror")

  • Planet Terror(2007)

    as Sheriff Hague

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • Before You Here(2007)

    as Tony Russo

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • The Insatiable(2006)

    as Strickland

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films

  • The Legend of Butch & Sundance(2004)

    as Mike Cassidy

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • Dragon Squad(2005)

    as Petros Angelo

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • Havoc(2005)

    as Stuart Lang

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all films

  • Criminal Minds(2005)

    Show 1 episode · as Detective Ron Fullwood

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all shows

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

    Show 8 episodes · as Sean Harrison

  • Borderline(2002)

    as Det. Macy Kobacek

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films

  • Adventure Inc.(2002)

    Show 22 episodes · as Judson Cross

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all shows

  • Clockstoppers(2002)

    as Henry Gates

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films

  • Law & Order: Criminal Intent(2001)

    Show 1 episode · as Leland Dockerty

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all shows

  • Megiddo: The Omega Code 2(2001)

    as David Alexander

    Midcredits score: 11th percentile of all films

  • Cherry Falls(1999)

    as Sherrif Brent Marken

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • The Art of War(2000)

    as Robert Bly

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films

  • Chain of Command(2000)

    as Craig Thornton

    Midcredits score: 13th percentile of all films

  • Silver Wolf(1999)

    as Roy McLean

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • Susan's Plan(1998)

    as Bill

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all films

  • American Dragons(1998)

    as Detective Tony Luca

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films

  • The Magnificent Seven(1998)

    Show 23 episodes · as Chris Larabee

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all shows

  • The Ride(1997)

    as Smokey Banks

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • Dead Men Can't Dance(1997)

    as Robert Hart

    Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all films

  • Asteroid(1997)

    as FEMA Director Jack Wallach

    Midcredits score: 17th percentile of all films

  • Asteroid (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    Show 2 episodes · as Jack Wallach

  • Mojave Moon(1996)

    as Boyd

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films

  • The Rock(1996)

    as Commander Charles Anderson

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • Conundrum (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    as Det. Stash Horvak

  • Jade(1995)

    as Bob Hargrove

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films

  • Blood of the Hunter (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    as Philip Thorton / Blake

  • In the Kingdom of the Blind, the Man with One Eye Is King(1995)

    as Jackie Ryan

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films

  • Breach of Trust (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    as Casey Woods

  • Deep Red (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    as Joe Keyes

  • Tombstone(1993)

    as Johnny Ringo

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • Deadfall(1993)

    as Joe Donan

    Midcredits score: 4th percentile of all films

  • Strapped (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    as Matthew McRae

  • A Taste for Killing(1992)

    as Bo Landry

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • The Tonight Show with Jay Leno (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • K2(1991)

    as Taylor Brooks

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • Timebomb(1991)

    as Eddy Kay / Oliver Dykstra

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films

  • The Word (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Navy Seals(1990)

    as Lt. James Curran

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films

  • The Abyss(1989)

    as Lieutenant Hiram Coffey

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films

  • In a Shallow Grave(1988)

    as Garnet Montrose

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • The Seventh Sign(1988)

    as Russell Quinn

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films

  • Martini Ranch: Reach (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    Thanks

  • Rampage(1987)

    as Anthony Fraser

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • Aliens(1986)

    as Corporal Hicks

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • Deadly Intentions (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    as Dr. Charles Raynor

  • Die Nacht aus Blei (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    as Eseleine

  • The Terminator(1984)

    as Kyle Reese

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • The Martyrdom of St. Sebastian(1984)

    as Sébastien

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • China Rose (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    as Daniel Allen

  • The Lords of Discipline(1983)

    as John Alexander

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • American Playhouse (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Show 1 episode · as Garnet Montrose

  • The Fan(1981)

    as Douglas Breen

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • Hill Street Blues(1981)

    Show 3 episodes · Actor

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all shows

  • Hog Wild (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    as Tim Warner

  • The Paradise Connection (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    as Larry DeWitt

  • A Fire in the Sky(1978)

    as Tom Rearden

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films

  • Zuma Beach(1978)

    as J.D.

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films

  • Grease(1978)

    as Mike (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • No Prince for My Cinderella (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    as Mark Johnson

  • The Runaways (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    Show 17 episodes · as Mark Johnson

  • Coach (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    as Jack

  • Logan's Run(1977)

    Show 1 episode · as Sandman

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all shows

  • James at 15 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    as Tony

  • Family (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    Show 1 episode · as Jake

  • ABC Afterschool Special (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    Show 1 episode · as Seth

  • The Dark Forest (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    as Peter

  • The Kellys (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Actor

Career shape

Star power in the 99th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 113 titles, 111 of them dated from 1972 to 2026; peak year 2011.

Biggest box office

The Rock (1996)

$335M worldwide

Highest rated

Aliens (1986)

Midcredits 99th

Most popular right now

Onslaught (2026)

Film career

MilestoneBreakout
19722026

Peak 2011 · steadily prominent in film for years. Top draw in 27 MovieCove titles. 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.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting108 of 113: 101 only acting, 7 with another role · typical Midcredits score25thDirecting2 of 113: 0 only directing, 2 with another roleWriting2 of 113: 0 only writing, 2 with another roleProducing9 of 113: 4 only producing, 5 with another role · typical Midcredits score6thOther crew1 of 113: 1 only other crew, 0 with another role

113 titles, 7 with more than one role — acting and producing overlap on 5 of them.

By decade

1970s11 · acting1980s16 · 15 acting · 1 crew1990s25 · acting2000s22 · acting2010s29 · 25 acting · 10 crew2020s8 · 8 acting · 1 crew

Billing

usually 3rd · top billed in 20% of 45 roles
819196010611

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

How do Michael Biehn's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 24th percentile, the median of all 67; across their 68 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 28th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

28thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 68

Approval · how many liked their films

26thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 68

Reach · how many have seen their films

66thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 68

Midcredits score across 78 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up14
  • 50th to 74th8
  • 25th to 49th20
  • Below 25th36

Shape of the crowd

45 of their 78 titles are Mixed.

  • Universally Loved9
  • Universally Panned3
  • Loved with Detractors1
  • Divisive1
  • Cult Classic4
  • Crowd Pleaser13
  • Broadly Agreed2
  • Mixed45

Most divisive · producer

Cabaret of the Dead (2017)

98th percentile spread · 31% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Aliens (1986)

Midcredits 99th · 91% liked

Reviewers score the acting 57/100 in their films, across 58 reviewed titles; fans 73, detractors 37. 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 Michael Biehn's work okay for kids?

Across up to 24 MovieCove titles with content scores, violence & gore, sex & nudity, profanity, alcohol & drugs and frightening / intense run heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore18 titles28–88 · median 78 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity24 titles17–66 · median 48 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity17 titles37–87 · median 76 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs15 titles15–75 · median 47 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense13 titles56–85 · median 67 · intenseheavier 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 Michael Biehn work with?

People who share at least 2 of Michael Biehn's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Jennifer Blanc-Biehn shares the most, 13.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles