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Sergio Leone

Sergio Leone

Writer, director, actor and producer · Died April 30, 1989, aged 60 · Rome, Italy

Sergio Leone (January 3, 1929 – April 30, 1989) was an Italian film director, producer and screenwriter most associated with the "Spaghetti Western" genre. Leone's film-making style includes juxtaposing extreme close-up shots with lengthy long shots. His movies include The Colossus of Rhodes, the Dollars Trilogy (A Fistful of Dollars; For a Few Dollars More; and The Good, the Bad and the Ugly), Once Upon a Time in the West; Duck, You Sucker!; and Once Upon a Time in America. Description above from the Wikipedia article Sergio Leone,  licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
January 3, 1929
Died
April 30, 1989 (aged 60)
From
Rome, Italy
Works as
Writer, director, actor and producer
Titles
25 on MovieCove · 50 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 37 days to Oct 26Down 8% in 30 days

What are Sergio Leone's films like?

Across their 19 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Bonds.

Genres

Comedy6 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 83rd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Comedy movies
Drama5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 98th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Adventure4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 31st percentile
: browse their Adventure movies
Action2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 32nd percentile
: browse their Action 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
29%
Bonds
23%
Power
20%
Society
19%
Self
7%
Survival
1%
Ideas
1%
Betrayal8 titles, browse their movies with this themeGreed4 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love4 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds4 titles, browse their movies with this themeFaith3 titles, browse their movies with this themeRedemption3 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice3 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 19 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

A split, not a type: Grounded 3 · Stylized 5 · Heightened 11

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

A split, not a type: Gentle 3 · Charged 7 · Intense 9

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

A split, not a type: Steady 9 · Shifting 8 · Whiplash 2

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 12 · Some laughs 2 · Funny 5

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

Slow burn 5 · Even-paced 14 · Relentless 0

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

Casual 8 · Engaged 10 · Full focus 1

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 9 · Affecting 8 · Heavy 2

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

Resolved 15 · Open-ended 4 · Ambiguous 0

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
12
Melancholic
10
Thrilling
6
Joyful
5
Warm
4
Other
15

How their films linger

Bittersweet8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteRousing6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 2 with a twist

  • Happy5
  • Bittersweet13
  • Ambiguous1

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 Sergio Leone's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 14 of their 25 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (8).

Subscription and free streaming for Sergio Leone'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

50 credits, 25 with a MovieCove page; 28 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Sad Hill Unearthed(2017)

    In Memory Of · as Self - Filmmaker (archive footage)

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films

  • Vivaldi, the Red Priest (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    as And with

  • Unforgiven(1992)

    Thanks

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • The King of Ads (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    Director

  • Troppo forte(1986)

    Producer · Screenplay · Story

    Midcredits score: 63rd percentile of all films

  • Once Upon a Time in America(1984)

    Director · Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • Bianco, rosso e Verdone(1981)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • Fun Is Beautiful(1980)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • The Cat(1977)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • A Genius, Two Partners and a Dupe(1975)

    Assistant Director · Director of Operations · Executive Producer · Idea · Producer · Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • My Name Is Nobody(1973)

    Executive Producer · Idea · Second Assistant Director · Second Unit Director

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • Duck, You Sucker!(1971)

    Director · Screenplay · Story

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

  • Once Upon a Time in the West(1968)

    Director · Screenplay · Story

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • The Good, the Bad and the Ugly(1966)

    Director · Screenplay · Story

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • For a Few Dollars More(1965)

    Director · Screenplay · Story · as Whistling Bounty Hunter (voice) (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • A Fistful of Dollars(1964)

    Director · Screenplay · Screenstory

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • Slave Girls of Sheba (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    Screenplay

  • The Changing of the Guard (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    Second Unit Director

  • Sodom and Gomorrah(1962)

    Director · Second Unit Director

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • Duel of the Titans(1961)

    Screenplay · Story

    Midcredits score: 34th percentile of all films

  • The Colossus of Rhodes(1961)

    Director · Screenplay · Story

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • The Seven Revenges (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    Screenplay

  • Ben-Hur(1959)

    Second Unit Director

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • The Last Days of Pompeii(1959)

    Co-Director · Writer

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • Son of the Red Corsair (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    First Assistant Director

  • The Nun's Story(1959)

    Assistant Director

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films

  • Sign of the Gladiator(1959)

    Screenplay · Story

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all films

  • Quai des illusions (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    Assistant Director

  • Aphrodite, Goddess of Love(1958)

    First Assistant Director · Screenplay · Story

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films

  • The Teacher and the Miracle (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    Assistant Director

  • Mi permette babbo! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    First Assistant Director

  • Helen of Troy(1956)

    Second Unit Director

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • La ladra (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    First Assistant Director

  • They Stole a Tram (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1954)

    First Assistant Director · as Presentatore del concorso

  • Night of Love (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1954)

    First Assistant Director

  • Of Life and Love (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1954)

    First Assistant Director

  • Frine cortigiana d'Oriente (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    Assistant Director

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

    Script Supervisor

  • Past Lovers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    Second Assistant Director

  • Jolanda, the Daughter of the Black Corsair (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    Assistant Director

  • I tre corsari (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)

    Assistant Director · Script Supervisor

  • Girls Marked Danger (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)

    Script Supervisor

  • Quo Vadis(1951)

    Second Unit Director

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films

  • Milano miliardaria (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

    Editorial Staff · as Extra (uncredited)

  • Il folle di Marechiaro (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

    as Soldato statunitense

  • Taxi di notte (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

    Second Assistant Director

  • La forza del destino (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

    Assistant Director

  • Bicycle Thieves(1948)

    as A Seminary Student (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • La bocca sulla strada (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1941)

    as Un bambino

  • Colt (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Original Story

Career shape

A full career of 50 titles, 49 of them dated from 1941 to 2018.

Biggest box office

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (1966)

$25M worldwide

Highest rated

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (1966)

Midcredits 99th

Film career

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting7 of 50: 4 only acting, 3 with another roleDirecting9 of 50: 1 only directing, 8 with another role · typical Midcredits score99thWriting17 of 50: 6 only writing, 11 with another role · typical Midcredits score77thProducing5 of 50: 3 only producing, 2 with another role · typical Midcredits score90thOther crew28 of 50: 23 only other crew, 5 with another role · typical Midcredits score88th

50 titles, 13 with more than one role — other crew and writing overlap on 3 of them.

By decade

1940s2 · acting1950s25 · 3 acting · 24 crew1960s10 · 1 acting · 10 crew1970s4 · crew1980s4 · crew1990s2 · crew2000s1 · acting2010s1 · crew

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.

How do Sergio Leone's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 90th percentile, the median of all 25; across their 19 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 85th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

85thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 19

Approval · how many liked their films

90thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 19

Reach · how many have seen their films

77thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 19

Midcredits score across 25 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up16
  • 50th to 74th2
  • 25th to 49th5
  • Below 25th2

Shape of the crowd

None of their 25 titles divides audiences: 11 are Universally Loved.

  • Universally Loved11
  • Crowd Pleaser7
  • Broadly Agreed2
  • Mixed5

Most loved · director, writer

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (1966)

Midcredits 99th · 93% liked

Reviewers score the dialogue 51/100 and the plot and story 51/100 in their films, across 16 reviewed titles. The element that speaks to their work as a writer.

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 Sergio Leone's work okay for kids?

Across up to 8 MovieCove titles with content scores, violence & gore, alcohol & drugs and frightening / intense run heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore7 titles52–79 · median 66 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity8 titles10–62 · median 33 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity7 titles11–77 · median 38 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs7 titles38–61 · median 44 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense7 titles41–75 · median 58 · 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 Sergio Leone work with?

People who share at least 2 of Sergio Leone's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Ennio Morricone shares the most, 11.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles