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Joe Pesci

Joe Pesci

Actor, also producer · Born February 9, 1943 (83) · Newark, New Jersey, USA

Oscar winner · BAFTA Award winner · Golden Globe nominee · 3 other major award bodies

Joseph Frank “Joe” Pesci (born February 9, 1943) is an American retired actor, comedian, singer and musician. He is known for his roles as violent mobsters, funnymen, comic foils and quirky sidekicks. Pesci has starred in a number of high profile films such as Goodfellas, Casino, Raging Bull, Once Upon a Time in America, My Cousin Vinny, Easy Money, JFK, Moonwalker, Home Alone, Home Alone 2: Lost in New York, and the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Lethal Weapon films. In 1990, Pesci won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role as the psychopathic mobster Tommy DeVito in Goodfellas, ten years after receiving a nomination in the same category for Raging Bull.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
February 9, 1943 (83)
From
Newark, New Jersey, USA
Works as
Actor, also producer
Titles
38 on MovieCove · 45 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 26Up 18% in 30 days

What are Joe Pesci's films like?

Across their 35 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Bonds.

Genres

Comedy10 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 33rd percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Action6 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 63rd percentile
: browse their Action movies
Biography5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 97th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Biography movies
Drama5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 67th percentile
: browse their Drama movies
Crime4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 99th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Crime movies
Adventure2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 47th percentile
: browse their Adventure movies
Documentary2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 91st percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Documentary 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
25%
Bonds
25%
Self
17%
Society
11%
Survival
10%
Power
7%
Ideas
4%
Family bonds11 titles, browse their movies with this themeBetrayal8 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity6 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice5 titles, browse their movies with this themeRedemption5 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose4 titles, browse their movies with this themeAmbition3 titles, browse their movies with this themeGreed3 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 34 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 16 · Serious 4 · Dark 14

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

A split, not a type: Grounded 21 · Stylized 6 · Heightened 7

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

Gentle 10 · Charged 12 · Intense 12

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

Steady 13 · Shifting 15 · Whiplash 6

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

A split, not a type: Straight-faced 15 · Some laughs 8 · Funny 11

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

Slow burn 13 · Even-paced 16 · Relentless 5

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

A split, not a type: Casual 18 · Engaged 11 · Full focus 5

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 16 · Affecting 6 · Heavy 12

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

Resolved 25 · Open-ended 6 · Ambiguous 3

Roles they play

31 analyzed roles

Usually the Shadow: 11 of 31 analyzed roles.

Shadow
11 of 31
Hero
6 of 31
Ally
5 of 31
Trickster
3 of 31
Mentor
3 of 31
Herald
1 of 31
Threshold guardian
1 of 31
Shapeshifter
1 of 31
Show the 31 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
20
Melancholic
16
Absurd
10
Warm
11
Joyful
9
Other
26

How their films linger

Feel-good12 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting11 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun11 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet10 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 2 with a twist

  • Happy14
  • Bittersweet14
  • Tragic5
  • Ambiguous2

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 Joe Pesci's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 23 of their 38 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (10).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Joe Pesci'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

45 credits, 38 with a MovieCove page; 28 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Day of the Fight(2023)

    Executive Producer · as Mike's Father

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • Yellow Door: '90s Lo-fi Film Club(2023)

    as Joey LaMotta (archive footage) (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • Bupkis(2023)

    Show 8 episodes · as Joe Larocca

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all shows

  • The Irishman(2019)

    as Russell Bufalino

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Final Cut: Ladies and Gentlemen(2012)

    as (archive footage)

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • Love Ranch(2010)

    as Charlie Bontempo

    Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all films

  • The Good Shepherd(2006)

    as Joseph Palmi

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • Home Alone - Making of & Behind the Scenes (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    as Harry

  • Lethal Weapon 4(1998)

    as Leo Getz

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • Gone Fishin'(1997)

    as Joe Waters

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films

  • 8 Heads in a Duffel Bag(1997)

    as Tommy

    Midcredits score: 17th percentile of all films

  • Casino(1995)

    as Nicky Santoro

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • All-Star 25th Birthday: Stars and Street Forever!(1994)

    as Ronald Grump

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • With Honors(1994)

    as Simon Wilder

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • Jimmy Hollywood(1994)

    as Jimmy Alto

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films

  • A Bronx Tale(1993)

    as Carmine

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • The Pink Panther (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    Show 60 episodes · Actor

  • The John Larroquette Show (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    Show 1 episode · as Joe Pesci

  • Home Alone 2: Lost in New York(1992)

    as Harry

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • The Public Eye(1992)

    as Leon Bernstein

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • Lethal Weapon 3(1992)

    as Leo Getz

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • My Cousin Vinny(1992)

    as Vinny Gambini

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • JFK(1991)

    as David Ferrie

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • The Super(1991)

    as Louie Kritski

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • Home Alone(1990)

    as Harry

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • GoodFellas(1990)

    as Tommy DeVito

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • Betsy's Wedding(1990)

    as Oscar Henner

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • Catchfire(1990)

    as Leo Carelli (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films

  • Lethal Weapon 2(1989)

    as Leo Getz

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • Tales from the Crypt(1989)

    Show 1 episode · as Vic / Jack

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all shows

  • Moonwalker(1988)

    as Mr. Big

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • The Legendary Life of Ernest Hemingway(1989)

    as John Dos Passos

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • Man on Fire(1987)

    as David

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • Half Nelson(1985)

    as Rocky Nelson

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • Half Nelson (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Show 8 episodes · as Rocky Nelson

  • All for the Moral Majority! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    as Corrado Parisi

  • Once Upon a Time in America(1984)

    as Frankie

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • Easy Money(1983)

    as Nicky Cerone

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • Eureka(1983)

    as Mayakofsky

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • Dear Mr. Wonderful (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    as Ruby Dennis

  • I'm Dancing as Fast as I Can(1982)

    as Roger

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • Raging Bull(1980)

    as Joey LaMotta

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • Short Eyes(1977)

    as Other Inmate (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • The Death Collector(1976)

    as Joe

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • Hey, Let's Twist! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    as Peppermint Club Dancer (uncredited)

Career shape

Star power in the 99th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 45 titles from 1961 to 2024; peak year 1991.

Biggest box office

Home Alone (1990)

$477M worldwide

Highest rated

GoodFellas (1990)

Midcredits 99th

Film career

MilestoneAward winNomination
19612024

Peak 1991 · fewer prominent film roles lately. Top draw in 22 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.

Show 1 more milestone

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting45 of 45: 44 only acting, 1 with another role · typical Midcredits score66thProducing1 of 45: 0 only producing, 1 with another role

By decade

1960s1 · acting1970s2 · acting1980s14 · acting1990s21 · acting2000s1 · acting2010s3 · acting2020s3 · 3 acting · 1 crew

Billing

usually 3rd · top billed in 20% of 30 roles
77879297

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

an Oscar, a BAFTA Award and 1 other major award from 12 major nominations, 1981–2020.

WinNomination
  1. 2020
    • Oscar, nominated · Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role
    • Golden Globe, nominated · Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture
    • BAFTA Award, nominated · Best Supporting Actor
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role
    • +1 other major body · 1 nomination
      • Critics Choice Award, nominated · Best Supporting Actor
  2. 2007
    • Berlinale award, won · Outstanding Artistic Contribution
  3. 1991
    • Oscar, won · Best Actor in a Supporting Role
    • Golden Globe, nominated · Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture
  4. 1982
    • BAFTA Award, won · Most Outstanding Newcomer to Leading Film Roles
  5. 1981
    • Oscar, nominated · Best Actor in a Supporting Role
    • Golden Globe, nominated · Best Actor in a Supporting Role - Motion Picture

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 Joe Pesci's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 66th percentile, the median of all 36; across their 34 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 65th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

65thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 34

Approval · how many liked their films

66thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 34

Reach · how many have seen their films

84thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 34

Midcredits score across 38 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up15
  • 50th to 74th9
  • 25th to 49th10
  • Below 25th4

Shape of the crowd

13 of their 38 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved10
  • Cult Classic2
  • Crowd Pleaser13
  • Broadly Agreed2
  • Mixed11

Most divisive · actor

All-Star 25th Birthday: Stars and Street Forever! (1994)

85th percentile spread · 36% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

GoodFellas (1990)

Midcredits 99th · 95% liked

Reviewers score the acting 74/100 in their films, across 30 reviewed titles; fans 81, detractors 50. 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 Joe Pesci's work okay for kids?

Across up to 21 MovieCove titles with content scores, violence & gore, profanity and frightening / intense run heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore16 titles45–93 · median 74 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity21 titles14–64 · median 41 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity17 titles35–93 · median 82 · severeheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs17 titles27–84 · median 39 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense15 titles41–87 · median 59 · 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 Joe Pesci work with?

People who share at least 2 of Joe Pesci's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Robert De Niro shares the most, 8.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles