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Boris Karloff

Boris Karloff

Actor · Died February 2, 1969, aged 81 · Camberwell, London, England, UK

William Henry Pratt (November 23, 1887 – February 2, 1969), better known as Boris Karloff, was an English-born actor who emigrated to Canada in 1909. Karloff is best remembered for his roles in horror films and his portrayal of Frankenstein's monster in Frankenstein (1931), Bride of Frankenstein (1935), and Son of Frankenstein (1939). His popularity following Frankenstein was such that for a brief time he was billed simply as "Karloff" or "Karloff the Uncanny". His best-known non-horror role is as the Grinch in the television special of Dr. Seuss’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas!. Description above from the Wikipedia article Boris Karloff, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

Read more

Biography from TMDB.

Born
November 23, 1887
Died
February 2, 1969 (aged 81)
From
Camberwell, London, England, UK
Works as
Actor
Titles
92 on MovieCove · 239 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 29% in 30 days

What are Boris Karloff's films like?

Across their 76 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Self.

Genres

Crime16 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 69th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Crime movies
Horror14 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 51st percentile
: browse their Horror movies
Drama10 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 62nd percentile
: browse their Drama movies
Documentary8 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 85th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Documentary movies
Adventure7 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 38th percentile
: browse their Adventure movies
Comedy7 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 64th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Comedy movies
Action4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 59th percentile
: browse their Action movies
Animation4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 72nd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Animation movies
Fantasy2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 61st percentile
: browse their Fantasy 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
35%
Self
14%
Bonds
12%
Survival
11%
Society
11%
Power
10%
Ideas
8%
Justice19 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception19 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival12 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds11 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love9 titles, browse their movies with this themeLegacy9 titles, browse their movies with this themeRevenge7 titles, browse their movies with this themeObsession7 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 30 · Serious 21 · Dark 24

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

A split, not a type: Grounded 34 · Stylized 23 · Heightened 18

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

Gentle 22 · Charged 33 · Intense 20

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

Steady 45 · Shifting 29 · Whiplash 1

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

Straight-faced 47 · Some laughs 19 · Funny 9

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

Slow burn 31 · Even-paced 41 · Relentless 3

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

Casual 33 · Engaged 42 · Full focus 0

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

Easy watch 47 · Affecting 17 · Heavy 11

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

Resolved 64 · Open-ended 10 · Ambiguous 1

Roles they play

68 analyzed roles

Usually the Shadow: 35 of 68 analyzed roles.

Shadow
35 of 68
Hero
17 of 68
Mentor
7 of 68
Threshold guardian
4 of 68
Ally
3 of 68
Trickster
1 of 68
Shapeshifter
1 of 68
Show the 68 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
53
Dread
32
Warm
14
Melancholic
19
Absurd
13
Other
60

How their films linger

Fun29 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good24 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting18 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling18 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet18 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking11 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 17 with a twist

  • Happy28
  • Bittersweet30
  • Tragic10
  • Ambiguous8

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 Boris Karloff's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 51 of their 92 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (26).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Boris Karloff'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

239 credits, 92 with a MovieCove page; 42 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • The Orbit of Minor Satellites (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2026)

    Vocals · as Roger Ashley Norton

  • The Last Repair Shop(2023)

    as The Monster (archive footage) (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films

  • Hollywood Dreams & Nightmares: The Robert Englund Story(2022)

    as The Monster

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • Greetings from Tromaville(2017)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • Monster Madness: The Golden Age of the Horror Film(2014)

    as Various roles (archive footage)

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • The Complete Bob Wilkins Creature Features (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    Actor

  • Ian Rankin Investigates: Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    as Cabman John Gray (archive footage)

  • Terror in the Tropics (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    as Mr. Wong (archive footage)

  • Monster Movie Trivia Quiz (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    Actor

  • Edgar G. Ulmer: The Man Off-Screen(2004)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • The Dead Will Walk(2004)

    as The Monster

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

  • The Mesmerist (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    as (archive footage)

  • Heroes of Horror (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    as (archive footage)

  • The Many Faces of Dracula(2000)

    as The Monster (archive footage)

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Universal Horror (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    as (archive footage)

  • How the Grinch Stole Christmas! Special Edition (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    as (voice - archive footage)

  • Dracula in the Movies(1992)

    as (archive footage)

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

  • Halloween Monster Bash (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    as Baron Von Leppe (archive footage)

  • Dracula: A Cinematic Scrapbook (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    as Doctor Gustav Niemann (archive footage)

  • Frankenstein: A Cinematic Scrapbook (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    as The Monster / Gustav Niemann / Dr. Jekyll / Mr. Hyde / etc.

  • Myrna Loy: So Nice to Come Home to(1990)

    as (archive footage)

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • Abbott and Costello in the Movies (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    as Archival

  • Transylvania Twist(1989)

    as Man in Room (archive footage)

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • Hollywood Scandals and Tragedies (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    as (archive footage) (uncredited)

  • Creepy Classics (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    as Dr. Scarabus - (archive footage)

  • Going Hollywood: The '30s(1984)

    as (archive footage)

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • The Horror of It All (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    as Frankenstein / Cabman John Gray (archive footage)

  • Monsters on the March (and a Pair of Marvels!) (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    Actor

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

    as (archive footage)

  • Madhouse(1974)

    as (archive footage)

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • The Incredible Invasion(1971)

    as Prof. John Mayer

    Midcredits score: 1st percentile of all films

  • Isle of the Snake People (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    as Carl van Molder / Damballah

  • Hatchet for the Honeymoon(1970)

    as Gorca (archive footage)

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • McCloud(1970)

    Show 1 episode · as Hjalmar Poelzig (archive footage) (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all shows

  • The Crimson Cult(1968)

    as Professor John Marsh

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films

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

    Show 1 episode · as Mikhail Orlov

  • Targets(1968)

    as Byron Orlok

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films

  • Fear Chamber (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    as Dr. Carl Mandel

  • Macabre Serenade (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    as Matthias Morteval

  • Cauldron of Blood(1968)

    as Franz Badulescu

    Midcredits score: 6th percentile of all films

  • The Sorcerers(1967)

    as Prof. Marcus Monserrat

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • Mad Monster Party?(1967)

    as Baron Boris von Frankenstein (voice)

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

  • How the Grinch Stole Christmas!(1966)

    as Narrator / The Grinch (voice)

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • The Venetian Affair(1966)

    as Dr. Pierre Vaugiroud

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • The Girl from U.N.C.L.E.(1966)

    Show 1 episode · as Mother Muffin

    Midcredits score: 34th percentile of all shows

  • The Daydreamer(1966)

    as The Rat (voice)

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • The Ghost in the Invisible Bikini(1966)

    as The Corpse

    Midcredits score: 12th percentile of all films

  • Doom of Dracula (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

    as The Madman (archive footage)

  • Die, Monster, Die!(1965)

    as Nahum Witley

    Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all films

  • The Wild Wild West (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    Show 1 episode · as Mr. Singh

  • Bikini Beach(1964)

    Thanks · as Art Dealer

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • Today's Teens (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    as Narrator

  • The Comedy of Terrors(1963)

    as Amos Hinchley

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • A Fool's World (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    as Narrator

  • Black Sabbath(1963)

    as Gorca (segment "The Wurdalak")

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all films

  • The Terror(1963)

    as Baron Victor Frederick Von Leppe

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all films

  • The Raven(1963)

    as Dr. Scarabus

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • Lizard's Leg and Owlet's Wing (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    Actor

  • Little Lost Robot (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    as Host

  • Out of This World (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    Show 14 episodes · as Host

  • The Incredible Doktor Markesan (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    as Dr. Konrad Markesan

  • Arsenic & Old Lace (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    as Jonathan Brewster

  • The Storm (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    Actor

  • Who Killed Chung Ling Soo? (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    as Narrator

  • Route 66(1960)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all shows

  • Thriller (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    Show 67 episodes · as Clayton Mace · as Doktor Konrad Markesan · as Dr. Albert Farnham · as Dr. Thorne · as Pop Jenkins / Col. Jackson Beauregard Finchess · as Self - Host

  • Corridors of Blood(1958)

    as Dr. Thomas Bolton

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • Heart of Darkness (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

    as Mr. Kurtz

  • Frankenstein 1970(1958)

    as Baron Viktor von Frankenstein

    Midcredits score: 11th percentile of all films

  • Grip of the Strangler (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

    as James Rankin

  • Destination Nightmare (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

    as Host / Ira Perry / Pete Wade Sr. / Professor Charles Goncourt / Morgan Debs

  • Jack the Ripper (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

    as Host / Capt. John Elwood / Jonas Atterbury / Dr. Francis Mason

  • Shirley Temple's Storybook(1958)

    Show 1 episode · as Narrator (voice) / Father Knickerbocker

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all shows

  • La création du monde(1958)

    as Narrator

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • The Veil(1958)

    Show 10 episodes · Actor

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all shows

  • The Juggler of Our Lady (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    as Narrator (voice)

  • Suspicion (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    Show 1 episode · as Judge Winthrop Gelsey

  • DuPont Show of the Month (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Lark (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    as Bishop Cauchon

  • Voodoo Island(1957)

    as Phillip Knight

    Midcredits score: 8th percentile of all films

  • Rendezvous in Black (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    as Ward Allen

  • Telephone Time (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Colonel March of Scotland Yard (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    Show 26 episodes · as Colonel March Of Scotland Yard

  • A Connecticut Yankee (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    as King Arthur

  • Sting of Death (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    as Mr. Mycroft

  • Sabaka(1954)

    as General Pollegar

    Midcredits score: 2nd percentile of all films

  • Climax! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1954)

    Show 1 episode · as Dr. Philip Nestri · as Vicar Tellworth

  • The Island Monster(1954)

    as Don Gaetano

    Midcredits score: 1st percentile of all films

  • The United States Steel Hour (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    Show 1 episode · as George Redford

  • Abbott and Costello Meet Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde(1953)

    as Dr. Henry Jekyll / Mr. Hyde

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • Colonel March Investigates (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    as Colonel March

  • General Electric Theater (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    Show 1 episode · as Henry E. Church · as Mr. Blue Ocean

  • The Black Castle (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)

    as Dr. Meissen

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

    Show 1 episode · as Cauchon · as Jonathan Brewster

  • The Strange Door(1951)

    as Voltan

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • Schlitz Playhouse of Stars (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

    Show 1 episode · as Charles Brandon

  • The Red Skelton Hour(1951)

    Show 1 episode · as Professor Townsend

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all shows

  • Tales of Tomorrow (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

    Show 2 episodes · Actor

  • Lux Video Theatre (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

    Show 1 episode · as Larkin · as Montgomery Royle · as Sir Arthur Strangeways

  • Robert Montgomery Presents (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

    Show 1 episode · as Bennett Kimball

  • Starring Boris Karloff (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1949)

    Show 13 episodes · Actor

  • Lights Out (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1949)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Bud Abbott Lou Costello Meet the Killer Boris Karloff(1949)

    as Swami Talpur

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • Suspense (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1949)

    Show 3 episodes · as Bronson · as Rasputin · as Toff

  • Studio One (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1948)

    Show 1 episode · as King Arthur · as Professor Koernig · as Skaggs

  • Tap Roots(1948)

    as Tishomingo

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • Unconquered(1947)

    as Guyasuta, Chief of the Senecas

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • Dick Tracy Meets Gruesome(1947)

    as Gruesome

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • The Secret Life of Walter Mitty(1947)

    as Dr. Hollingshead

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • Lured(1947)

    as Charles van Druten

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films

  • Bedlam(1946)

    as George Sims

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • Isle of the Dead(1945)

    as Gen. Nikolas Pherides

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • The Body Snatcher(1945)

    as John Gray

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • The Mummy's Curse(1944)

    as Kharis in Flashback (archive footage / uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films

  • House of Frankenstein(1944)

    as Dr. Gustav Niemann

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • The Climax(1944)

    as Dr. Friedrich Hohner

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films

  • The Boogie Man Will Get You (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1942)

    as Prof. Nathaniel Billings

  • The Devil Commands (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1941)

    as Dr. Julian Blair

  • You'll Find Out(1940)

    as Judge Spencer Mainwaring

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films

  • The Ape(1940)

    as Dr. Bernard Adrian

    Midcredits score: 7th percentile of all films

  • The Mummy's Hand(1940)

    as Kharis (archive footage / uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • Before I Hang(1940)

    as Dr. John Garth

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films

  • Doomed to Die(1940)

    as James Lee Wong

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films

  • The Man with Nine Lives(1940)

    as Dr. Leon Kravaal

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • Black Friday (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

    as Dr. Ernest Sovac

  • The Fatal Hour(1940)

    as James Lee Wong

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • Tower of London(1939)

    as Mord

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • British Intelligence(1939)

    as Valdar

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films

  • The Man They Could Not Hang(1939)

    as Dr. Henryk Savaard

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • Mr. Wong in Chinatown(1939)

    as Mr. James Lee Wong

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • The Mystery of Mr. Wong(1939)

    as James Lee Wong

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • Son of Frankenstein(1939)

    as The Monster

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films

  • Devil's Island(1938)

    as Dr. Charles Gaudet

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • Mr. Wong, Detective(1938)

    as James Lee Wong

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films

  • The Invisible Menace (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    as Jevries

  • West of Shanghai (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    as "General" Wu Yen Fang

  • Night Key(1937)

    as David Mallory

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • Charlie Chan at the Opera(1936)

    as Gravelle

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • The Man Who Lived Again(1936)

    as Dr. Laurence

    Midcredits score: 63rd percentile of all films

  • Juggernaut (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

    as Dr. Victor Sartorius

  • The Walking Dead(1936)

    as John Ellman

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • The Invisible Ray(1936)

    as Dr. Janos Rukh

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • The Black Room(1935)

    as Baron Gregor de Berghman / Anton de Berghman

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films

  • The Raven(1935)

    as Edmond Bateman

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • Bride of Frankenstein(1935)

    as The Monster

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

  • The Black Cat(1934)

    as Hjalmar Poelzig

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • The House of Rothschild(1934)

    as Count Ledrantz

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • The Lost Patrol(1934)

    as Sanders

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • The Ghoul (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1933)

    as Prof. Morlant

  • The Mummy(1932)

    as Imhotep / Ardath Bey

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • Boo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

    as Frankenstein's Monster (edited from "Frankenstein")

  • The Mask of Fu Manchu(1932)

    as Dr. Fu Manchu

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films

  • The Old Dark House(1932)

    as Morgan

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • Skyscraper Souls (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

    as Man Approaching Ticket Counter

  • Night World (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

    as 'Happy' MacDonald

  • Scarface(1932)

    as Gaffney

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

  • The Miracle Man (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

    as Nikko

  • The Cohens and Kellys in Hollywood (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

    as Boris Karloff

  • Behind the Mask (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

    as Jim Henderson

  • Business and Pleasure (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

    as Sheik Ali-Ben Joseph

  • Frankenstein(1931)

    as The Monster

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

  • The Guilty Generation (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)

    as Tony Ricca

  • The Yellow Ticket (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)

    as Drunken Orderly

  • The Mad Genius (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)

    as Fedor's Father (uncredited)

  • Five Star Final(1931)

    as T. Vernon Isopod

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • Graft (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)

    as Terry

  • I Like Your Nerve (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)

    as Luigi - Pacheco's Butler

  • The Public Defender (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)

    as The Professor

  • Smart Money(1931)

    as Sport Williams

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • Young Donovan's Kid (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)

    as Cokey Joe

  • The Vanishing Legion (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)

    as The Voice (voice)

  • Cracked Nuts (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)

    as Boris - First Revolutionary

  • King of the Wild (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)

    as Mustapha

  • Tonight or Never(1931)

    as Waiter

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • The Criminal Code(1931)

    as Ned Galloway

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films

  • The Utah Kid (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1930)

    as Henchman Baxter

  • The Sea Bat (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1930)

    as Corsican

  • The Bad One (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1930)

    as Monsieur Gaston

  • The Unholy Night (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1929)

    as Abdul Mohammed Bey - the Hindu Lawyer (uncredited)

  • The King of the Kongo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1929)

    as Scarface Macklin

  • Behind That Curtain (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1929)

    as Beetham's Manservent

  • The Phantom of the North (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1929)

    as Jules Gregg

  • Anne Against the World (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1929)

    Actor

  • Two Sisters (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1929)

    as Cecil

  • The Devil's Chaplain (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1929)

    as Boris

  • The Fatal Warning (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1929)

    as Mullins

  • Burning the Wind (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1929)

    as Pug Doran

  • The Little Wild Girl (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1928)

    as Maurice Kent

  • Vultures of the Sea (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1928)

    as Grouchy

  • The Vanishing Rider (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1928)

    as The Villain

  • Sharp Shooters (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1928)

    as Cafe Proprietor (uncredited)

  • The Love Mart (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1927)

    as Fleming

  • Two Arabian Knights (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1927)

    as Purser

  • Soft Cushions(1927)

    as The Chief Conspirator

    Midcredits score: 8th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • The Phantom Buster (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1927)

    as Ramon

  • The Meddlin' Stranger (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1927)

    as Al Meggs

  • Tarzan and the Golden Lion (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1927)

    as Owaza

  • The Princess from Hoboken (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1927)

    as Pavel

  • Let It Rain (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1927)

    as Crook

  • Old Ironsides (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1926)

    as Saracen Guard (uncredited)

  • Flaming Fury (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1926)

    as Gaspard

  • The Nickel-Hopper (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1926)

    as Dance Hall Masher

  • The Eagle of the Sea (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1926)

    as Pirate (uncredited)

  • Flames (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1926)

    as Blackie Blanchette

  • The Golden Web (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1926)

    as Dave Sinclair

  • The Bells (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1926)

    as The Mesmerist

  • Her Honor, the Governor (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1926)

    as Snipe Collins

  • The Man in the Saddle (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1926)

    as Robber (uncredited)

  • The Greater Glory (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1926)

    as Scissors Grinder

  • Without Mercy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1925)

    as Madame Gordon's 2nd Henchman (uncredited)

  • Parisian Nights (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1925)

    as Pierre

  • Never the Twain Shall Meet (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1925)

    Actor

  • Perils of the Wild (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1925)

    Actor

  • Lady Robinhood (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1925)

    as Cabraza

  • The Prairie Wife (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1925)

    as Diego

  • Forbidden Cargo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1925)

    as Pietro Castillano

  • Dynamite Dan (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1924)

    as Tony Garcia

  • Riders of the Plains (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1924)

    Actor

  • The Hellion (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1924)

    as The Outlaw

  • The White Panther (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1924)

    as Shere Ali's Aide (as Karloff Boris)

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

    as Prince Kapolski

  • Omar the Tentmaker (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1922)

    as Imam Mowaffak

  • The Altar Stairs (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1922)

    as Hugo

  • The Woman Conquers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1922)

    as Raoul Maris

  • The Infidel (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1922)

    as The Nabob

  • The Man from Downing Street (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1922)

    as Maharajah Jehan

  • Nan of the North (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1922)

    as Undetermined Role (uncredited)

  • The Cave Girl (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1921)

    as Baptiste

  • Cheated Hearts (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1921)

    as Nei Hamid

  • Without Benefit of Clergy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1921)

    as Ahmed Khan

  • The Hope Diamond Mystery (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1921)

    as Priest of Kama-Sita / Dakar

  • The Last of the Mohicans(1920)

    as Indian (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • The Courage of Marge O'Doone (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1920)

    as Tavish

  • The Woman and the Puppet (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1920)

    as (uncredited)

  • The Deadlier Sex (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1920)

    as Jules Borney

  • The Prince and Betty (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1919)

    as Undetermined Role

  • His Majesty, the American (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1919)

    as Henchman in cloth cap

  • The Lightning Raider (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1919)

    Actor

  • Suspense: A Night at an Inn (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    as Toff

Career shape

Star power in the 99th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 234 titles, 233 of them dated from 1919 to 2026; peak year 2024.

Biggest box office

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (1947)

$957K worldwide

Highest rated

How the Grinch Stole Christmas! (1966)

Midcredits 98th

Most popular right now

The Mummy (1932)

Film career

19192026

Peak 2024 · steadily prominent in film for years. Top draw in 44 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
Acting234 of 234: 232 only acting, 2 with another role · typical Midcredits score59thOther crew2 of 234: 0 only other crew, 2 with another role

By decade

1910s3 · acting1920s57 · acting1930s52 · acting1940s26 · acting1950s33 · acting1960s32 · 32 acting · 1 crew1970s6 · acting1980s6 · acting1990s8 · acting2000s6 · acting2010s2 · acting2020s2 · 2 acting · 1 crew

Billing

usually 1st · top billed in 55% of 69 roles
2035404550606570

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 Boris Karloff's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 60th percentile, the median of all 86; across their 75 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 60th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

60thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 75

Approval · how many liked their films

62ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 75

Reach · how many have seen their films

57thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 75

Midcredits score across 92 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up26
  • 50th to 74th32
  • 25th to 49th20
  • Below 25th14

Shape of the crowd

49 of their 92 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved7
  • Universally Panned4
  • Divisive1
  • Crowd Pleaser49
  • Broadly Agreed17
  • Mixed14

Most divisive · actor

Dracula in the Movies (1992)

91st percentile spread · 27% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

How the Grinch Stole Christmas! (1966)

Midcredits 98th · 89% liked

Reviewers score the acting 73/100 in their films, across 67 reviewed titles; fans 80, detractors 52. 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 Boris Karloff's work okay for kids?

Across up to 15 MovieCove titles with content scores, sex & nudity and profanity run lighter than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore14 titles28–58 · median 43 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity15 titles3–27 · median 11 · minimallighter than most filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity12 titles2–17 · median 6 · minimallighter than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs13 titles18–42 · median 30 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense14 titles31–67 · median 48 · moderatenear the median of all 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 Boris Karloff work with?

People who share at least 2 of Boris Karloff's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Bela Lugosi shares the most, 7.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Cinematographers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles