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Crispin Glover

Crispin Glover

Actor, also director, editor and producer · Born April 20, 1964 (62) · New York City, New York, USA

Crispin Hellion Glover (born April 20, 1964) is an American actor, filmmaker, and author. Glover is known for portraying eccentric characters on screen such as George McFly in Back to the Future (1985), Layne in River's Edge (1986), Rubin Farr in Rubin and Ed (1991), the "Thin Man" in the 2000 film adaptation of Charlie's Angels and its 2003 sequel, Bittleman in Like Mike (2002), Willard Stiles in the 2003 Willard remake, Grendel in Beowulf (2007), The Knave of Hearts in Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland (2010), and as Phil in Hot Tub Time Machine (2010). He has collaborated with filmmakers such as David Lynch, John Boorman, Jerzy Skolimowski, Oliver Stone, Gus Van Sant, Dennis Hopper, Jim Jarmusch, and Miloš Forman. In the late 1980s Glover started his company, Volcanic Eruptions, which issues his books and also serves as the production company of his self-produced art films, What Is It? (2005), It is Fine. Everything is Fine! (2007), and No! YOU'RE WRONG. or: Spooky Action at a Distance (2025). Glover tours with these films around the world and is currently in production on his fourth feature, filmed on sound stages at the property he owns in the Czech Republic.

Read more

Biography from TMDB.

Born
April 20, 1964 (62)
From
New York City, New York, USA
Works as
Actor, also director, editor and producer
Titles
56 on MovieCove · 78 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 155 days to Oct 26Down 5% in 30 days

What are Crispin Glover's films like?

Across their 45 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Self.

Genres

Comedy14 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 37th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Drama7 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 38th percentile
: browse their Drama movies
Action5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 19th percentile
: browse their Action movies
Adventure5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 62nd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Adventure movies
Animation4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 37th percentile
: browse their Animation movies
Horror4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 11th percentile
: browse their Horror movies
Biography2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 73rd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Biography 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
Bonds
24%
Self
24%
Morality
17%
Society
12%
Survival
12%
Power
6%
Ideas
4%
Identity10 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival9 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship7 titles, browse their movies with this themeIsolation10 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds8 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose7 titles, browse their movies with this themeLoyalty7 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice7 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 43 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 19 · Serious 8 · Dark 16

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

Grounded 16 · Stylized 16 · Heightened 11

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

Gentle 9 · Charged 18 · Intense 16

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

Steady 12 · Shifting 23 · Whiplash 8

Some laughs: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their some laughs movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 15 · Some laughs 15 · Funny 13

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

Slow burn 14 · Even-paced 22 · Relentless 7

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

Casual 19 · Engaged 22 · Full focus 2

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 24 · Affecting 7 · Heavy 12

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

Resolved 24 · Open-ended 11 · Ambiguous 8

Roles they play

25 analyzed roles

Usually the Shadow: 11 of 25 analyzed roles.

Shadow
11 of 25
Trickster
4 of 25
Hero
4 of 25
Threshold guardian
3 of 25
Ally
2 of 25
Herald
1 of 25
Show the 25 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
25
Dread
15
Absurd
16
Joyful
11
Thrilling
13
Other
39

How their films linger

Fun16 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling15 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet14 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good11 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking10 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful10 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 10 with a twist

  • Happy9
  • Bittersweet19
  • Tragic1
  • Ambiguous16

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 Crispin Glover's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 36 of their 56 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (23).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Crispin Glover'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

78 credits, 56 with a MovieCove page; 7 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • The Third Parent (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2027)

    as Tommy Taffy

  • No! YOU'RE WRONG. or: Spooky Action at a Distance (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2025)

    Director · Editor · Producer · Writer · as Brutus Muldoon (1888) / Chronos Muldoon (1918) / Damocles Muldoon (1948)

  • A Blind Bargain (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2025)

    as Dr. Gruber

  • Mr. K(2024)

    as Mr. K

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • Guillermo del Toro's Cabinet of Curiosities(2022)

    Show 1 episode · as Richard Upton Pickman

    Midcredits score: 52nd percentile of all shows

  • Smiley Face Killers(2020)

    as Hooded Figure

    Midcredits score: 3rd percentile of all films

  • Red Bird Lane(2021)

    as Jonah

    Midcredits score: 4th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Lucky Day(2019)

    as Luc

    Midcredits score: 17th percentile of all films

  • We Have Always Lived in the Castle(2018)

    as Uncle Julian Blackwood

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films

  • Saat des Terrors (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2018)

    as James Logan Davis

  • By the Rivers of Babylon (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2018)

    as William

  • The Con is On(2018)

    as Gabriel Anderson

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films

  • Back to the Future: The Hill Valley Chronicles (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2018)

    Show 11 episodes · as George McFly

  • American Gods(2017)

    Show 9 episodes · as Mr. World

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all shows

  • Aimy in a Cage (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    as Claude Bohringer

  • Texas Rising(2015)

    Show 5 episodes · as Mosley Baker

    Midcredits score: 34th percentile of all shows

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

    as Dr Manfred Abuse

  • The Bag Man(2014)

    as Ned

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films

  • Freaky Deaky(2012)

    as Woody Ricks

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • Open Season 3(2010)

    as Fifi (voice)

    Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all films

  • Mr. Nice(2010)

    as Ernie Combs

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • Hot Tub Time Machine(2010)

    as Phil

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • Alice in Wonderland(2010)

    as Ilosovic Stayne / Knave of Hearts

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • The Donner Party(2009)

    as William Foster

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films

  • 9(2009)

    as #6 (voice)

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • Open Season 2(2008)

    as Fifi (voice)

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • Freezer Burn: The Invasion of Laxdale (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    as Viergacht

  • It Is Fine! Everything Is Fine.(2007)

    Director · Editor · Music Supervisor · Producer

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • Beowulf(2007)

    as Grendel (Voice)

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • Simon Says(2006)

    as Simon / Stanley

    Midcredits score: 9th percentile of all films

  • The Wizard of Gore(2007)

    as Montag the Magnificent

    Midcredits score: 13th percentile of all films

  • Epic Movie(2007)

    as Willy

    Midcredits score: 1st percentile of all films

  • Drop Dead Sexy(2005)

    as Eddie

    Midcredits score: 11th percentile of all films

  • What Is It? (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    Director · Additional Photography · Editor · Music Supervisor · Producer · Writer · as Dueling Demi-God Auteur / The Young Man's Inner Psyche and Id

  • Love, Death, Elvis & Oz: The Making of Wild at Heart (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    Actor

  • The Year of the Rat (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Actor

  • Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle(2003)

    as Thin Man

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films

  • Willard(2003)

    as Willard Stiles

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • Like Mike(2002)

    as Stan Bittleman

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • Crime and Punishment(2002)

    as Rodion Raskolnikov

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films

  • Fast Sofa (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    as Jules Langdon

  • Bartleby(2001)

    as Bartleby

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • Charlie's Angels(2000)

    as Thin Man

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films

  • Nurse Betty(2000)

    as Roy

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • The Beaver Trilogy(2000)

    as Larry Huff

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • EP Daily (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The People vs. Larry Flynt(1996)

    as Arlo

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • Dead Man(1995)

    as Train Fireman

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films

  • Even Cowgirls Get the Blues(1993)

    as Howard Barth

    Midcredits score: 9th percentile of all films

  • Chasers(1994)

    as Howard Finster

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all films

  • What's Eating Gilbert Grape(1993)

    as Bobby McBurney

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Hotel Room (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    Show 3 episodes · as Danny

  • Rubin & Ed (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    as Rubin Farr

  • Little Noises (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    as Joey Kremple

  • 30 Door Key (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    as Miętus

  • The Doors(1991)

    as Andy Warhol

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films

  • Wild at Heart(1990)

    as Dell

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • Where the Heart Is(1990)

    as Lionel

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • Back to the Future Part II(1989)

    as George McFly (archive footage)

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Twister(1989)

    as Howdy

    Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all films

  • River's Edge(1986)

    as Layne

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • At Close Range(1986)

    as Lucas

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • The Orkly Kid (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    as Larry

  • Back to the Future(1985)

    as George McFly

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • Teachers(1984)

    as Danny

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films

  • High School U.S.A.(1984)

    as Bo Middleton

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films

  • Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter(1984)

    as Jimmy Mortimer

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • Racing with the Moon(1984)

    as Gatsby Boy

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • High School U.S.A.(1983)

    as Archie Feld

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • My Tutor(1983)

    as Jack

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films

  • The Kid with the 200 I.Q.(1983)

    as New Student

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all films

  • Family Ties(1982)

    Show 2 episodes · as Doug

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all shows

  • The Best of Times(1981)

    as Crispin

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films

  • The Facts of Life(1979)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all shows

  • Happy Days(1974)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all shows

  • A Hero's Journey: The Making of Beowulf (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    as Grendel

  • Death of a Brewer (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Actor

  • Skinemax (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 78 titles, 74 of them dated from 1974 to 2025; peak year 2009.

Biggest box office

Alice in Wonderland (2010)

$1B worldwide

Highest rated

Back to the Future (1985)

Midcredits 99th

Most popular right now

Alice in Wonderland (2010)

Film career

MilestoneBreakout
19742025

Peak 2009 · fewer prominent film roles lately. Top draw in 17 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
Acting77 of 78: 75 only acting, 2 with another role · typical Midcredits score40thDirecting3 of 78: 0 only directing, 3 with another roleWriting2 of 78: 0 only writing, 2 with another roleProducing3 of 78: 0 only producing, 3 with another roleEditing3 of 78: 0 only editing, 3 with another roleOther crew2 of 78: 0 only other crew, 2 with another role

78 titles, 3 with more than one role — acting and directing overlap on 2 of them.

By decade

1970s2 · acting1980s15 · acting1990s13 · acting2000s22 · 21 acting · 2 crew2010s16 · acting2020s6 · 6 acting · 1 crew

Billing

usually 5th · top billed in 14% of 44 roles
83889398030813

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 Crispin Glover's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 39th percentile, the median of all 50; across their 43 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 37th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

37thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 43

Approval · how many liked their films

42ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 43

Reach · how many have seen their films

87thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 43

Midcredits score across 56 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up11
  • 50th to 74th13
  • 25th to 49th15
  • Below 25th17

Shape of the crowd

22 of their 56 titles are Mixed.

  • Universally Loved5
  • Divisive1
  • Cult Classic6
  • Crowd Pleaser16
  • Broadly Agreed6
  • Mixed22

Most divisive · actor

Red Bird Lane (2021)

98th percentile spread · 72% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Back to the Future (1985)

Midcredits 99th · 93% liked

Reviewers score the acting 64/100 in their films, across 41 reviewed titles; fans 78, detractors 38. 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 Crispin Glover's work okay for kids?

Across up to 29 MovieCove titles with content scores, violence & gore, sex & nudity, profanity and frightening / intense run heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore20 titles38–91 · median 58 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity29 titles15–68 · median 45 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity22 titles31–89 · median 53 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs19 titles23–73 · median 38 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense19 titles30–80 · median 56 · moderateheavier 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 Crispin Glover work with?

People who share at least 2 of Crispin Glover's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Johnny Depp shares the most, 3.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles